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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 1312.PDF
400 FLIGHT THE FLYING-DISPLAY PILOTS . . . C. A. Capper (Sea Vixen): dc Havilland experi-mental test pilot since 1953. Joined R.A.F. in 1942. Flying instructor in Canada from 1943-44,and test pilot with 308 M.U. Allahabad in 1946. With 4 Sqn. B.A.F.O. 1946-48, going to E.T.P.S.in 1948. Test pilot Aero Flight at Farnborough 1949-52, and joined Bristol Aeroplane Co. in 1952,subsequently moving to de Havillands in 1953. W/C. N. J. Capper Twin Pioneer): Startedflying in the R.A.F. in 1929. Civil pilot with Hillman's Airways and Imperial Airways,1934-36, Was flying instructor and then C.F.I. with Scottish Aviation until 1939. Served withthe R.A.F. from 1939 to 1944, gaining A.F.C. Rejoined Scottish Aviation in 1945, and has over7,500 hr, including over 300 hr on helicopters. D. A. S. Colvin Widgeon): Test pilot of WestlandAircraft, Ltd. Served in the R.A.F. from 1940-46, attaining rank of squadron leader. Flew with 64and 249 Sqns. and was awarded the D.F.C. whilst serving with the latter. Joined Scottish Aviation,Ltd., after the war as an airline pilot, and first flew a helicopter in 1948. Joined Westland's in1949, and is the company's longest-serving test pilot. Has flown 4,700 hr, including 1,700 hron helicopters. G/C. J. Cunningham (Comet 3): de Havillandchief test pilot since 1946. Started test flying for de Havillands in 1938, and served in the R.A.F.during the war, destroying 20 enemy aircraft. Flew first Comet in July 1949, subsequently set-ting up several inter-city records. Established London-Khartoum point-to-point record in Comet2 in 1954, and was chief pilot on the Comet 3 world flight in 1955. Is an O.B.E. and holdsD.S.O. and two Bars and D.F.C. and Bar. S/L. S. Das, Indian Air Force (Gnat): JoinedI.A.F. in 1943, and trained under the Empire Training Scheme in Canada. Served in a single-engine fighter /bomber squadron and later in transport squadron with I.A.F. AttendedE.T.P.S. in 1949, returning to India to under- take type testing and development flying of thefirst Indian-built aircraft, the HT-2, and then commanded a fighter/bomber squadron. In 1956was seconded to Follands to take part in the development flying of ihe Gnat. W/C D. de Villiers (P.IA): Joined English Elec-tric in 1955 and is now chief experimental test pilot. Flew Beaufighters with Nos. 68 and 252 Sqns. during the war in the Middle East andreturned to the U.K. in 1943. Was soon seconded to de Havilland for Beaunghter flight trials andleft R.A.F. in 1946. Was a member of No. 500 (County of Kent) Sqn., R.Aux.A.F. and its CO.During this time was awarded the A.F.C. J. Elliot (Sea Vixen): Chief test pilot at de Havil-land Christchurch factory since January 1954. Served in the R.N. from 1941-54. Won McKennaTrophy at E.T.P.S. in 1946 and was with R.A.E. from 1949-52. Served in the Mediterranean untiljoining de Havillands. Was on active service in Korea, and an instructor at E.T.P.S. F/L. W. H. Else (Javelin reserve pilot): Joinedthe R.A.F. in 1940 and trained with the U.S.A.F. South-Eastern Air Corps, and was then postedto Fighter Command. Went to Boscombe Down as a test pilot in 1944, graduated at E.T.P.S. andjoined Armstrong Whitworth in 1947. R. J. Falk, (Vulcan): Joined A. V. Roe and Co.,Ltd., in 1950 and was appointed Superintendent of Flying four years later. Flew in the Abyssinianwar and in Spain in 1936. Was an A.R.B. test pilot 1936-39, and became chief test pilot atFarnborough in 1943. Has flown over 300 differ- ent aircraft, including flying-boats and jet- androcket-propelled types, and flew the Vulcan on its maiden flight. Has over 7,000 hr as pilot incharge. Is an O.B.E. and holds the A.F.C. J. S. Fay (Whirlwind Mk. VII): Westland test pilotand chief flying instructor. Joined Fleet, Air Arm in 1940, and first flew helicopters in 1944. Afterleaving the Service in 1945 he flew for five years with B.E.A.'s helicopter unit, joining Westlandsin 1952. Has 3,000 hr on helicopters, including 1,250 hr as instructor. I. Forbes (H.D.M. 105): Learned to fly in 1937,and was an instructor and V.I.P. pilot in A.T.A. during the war years. Has been with the Milesbrothers since 1946 as test pilot and aircraft sales manager. F/L. R. W. Ford (Gannet T. Mk. 5): Served inthe R.A.F. during the war in Italy, Greece and Palestine on day fighter /bomber operations, return-ing to the U.K. in 1946. He was then in No. 41 Group, Maintenance Command, later as a testpilot. Rejoined Fighter Command in 1951 as Flight Commander to No. 247 Sqn. Left theService in 1953, and joined Faireys in April 1954. He has flown 2,420 hr on 35 types. E. G. Franklin (Javelin reserve pilot): Chief testpilot with Armstrong Whitworth. Was apprenticed to A.W.A. in 1937, and was with Bomber Com-mand during the war. Took E.T.P.S. course in 1944, and rejoined Armstrong Whirworth in 1945,becoming chief test pilot in January 1948. S/L. W. R. Gellatly (Fairey Ultra-Light): Joinedthe R.N.Z.A.F. -n 1940 and between 1942-45 did operational flying on light bombers and generalreconnaissance. Became chief ground instructor, No. 231 O.C.U. in 1947 and Flight Commander,No. 139 Sqn., 1948-50. Completed E.T.P.S. course and served at A. and A.E.E. as HelicopterFlight Commander, 1951-54. Attended R.A.F. Staff College 1954-55 and then joined Faireys.Piloted Duke of Edinburgh for first Royal flights in helicopter, 1954. W. F. Gibb (Orion-Britannia): Chief test pilot ofBristols. Was apprenticed to the company in 1937, rejoining in 1946, after service in the R.A.F.,where he flew mainly on night fighter operations. Was awarded the D.S.O. and D.F.C. Was co-pilotof the Brabazon on its first flight, and set up the world altitude record of 63,668ft in 1953, raisingit to 65,890ft in 1955, in the Olympus rCanberra. S/L. H. G. Hazelden (Herald): Joined theR.A.F.V.R. in 1939 and later served with No. 44 Sqn., flying Hampdens. Was awarded D.F.C.and Bar. After service with No. 14 O.T.U. as instructor and with No. 83 Sqn., went to E.T.P.S.and then to A. and A.E.E., later taking command of Heavy Aircraft Test Sqn. Appointed O.C. ofCivil Aircraft Test Section and awarded King's Commendation for his work. Joined HandleyPage in 1947 and was appointed chief test pilot three months later. A. J. Heyworth (Conviay Vulcan): Served withNo. 12 Sqn. Bomber Command during the war and completed two tours of operations, gainingbar to D.F.C. and Mention in Despatches. Was posted to Rolls-Royce for special duties in 1944,and was appointed chief test pilot in 1954. P. Hillwood (Canberra B(I)8): Became an experi-mental test pilot with English Electric in 1949. Joined the R.A.F.V.R. in 1938 and served withFighter Command, in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme and with the 2nd T.A.F.during the war; was awarded the D.F.C. In 1952 was co-pilot of the record-breaking Canberra inthe double Atlantic trip between N. Ireland and Newfoundland. He also set a new London-Cairorecord in 1956 in a Canberra. Has flown 50 types, including the P.I. CIA. Capper W/C. N. J. Capper O. A. S. Colvin G\C. J. Cunningham S/L. S. Das WjC. D. de Villiers J. Elliot F/L. W. H. Else R. J. Falk J. S. Fay I. Forbes F/L. R. W. ford £. G. Franklin S/L W. R. Gellatly W. F. Gibb S/L H. G. Haztlden A. J. Heyworth P. Hillwood I
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