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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 1867.PDF
PLIGHT, 9 September I960 THE FLYING-DISPLAY PILOTS Forty-eight Industry Test Pilots who are Demonstrating Aircraft at this Week's Show 435 Abbreviations: A and AEE, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment; AFRAeS, associate fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society; ARB,Air Registration Board; ATA, Air Transport Auxiliary; BAFO, British Air Forces of Occupation; CFE, Central Fighter Establishment; CFI, chief living instructor; CFS, Central Flying School; ETPS, Empire Test Pilots' School; FAA, Fleet Air Arm; FTS, flying training school; GAP AN, Guildof Air Pilots and Air Navigators; MU, maintenance unit; OTU, operational training unit; PFF, pathfinder force; RAE, Royal Aircraft Establishment; RAFO, Reserve of Air Force Officers; RAFVR, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; RAuxAF, Royal Auxiliary Air Force; TAF, Tactical Air Force;UAS, University Air Sqn Fit U J. W. Allam (.Victor B.2): Deputy chief testpilot of Handley Page, which he joined in 1954 after serving with the RAF and RAFVR since194' Pilot of the first Victor to fly at supersonic srieed; made first flight of Victor B.2 on February20 1959- To4* No 9 ETPS course and No 5 course Test Pilot Training Division, US Navy;with "B" Sqn, A and AEE, 1951-53. C Allen (Avro 748): After production and experi-mental test flying with Vickers-Armstrongs (wey- bridge) from 1952-59, joined A. V. Roe and wasco-pilot on the first Avro 748 flight. Served with the RAF from 1943, flying Mosquitos withNo 540 (PR) Sqn. After leaving the RAF in 1947, flew with Central African Airways. Thenflew with BEA and at the same time was a pilot with No 604 Sqn, RAuxAF. Sqn L* P. P. Baker (Victor B.2): Entered RAF in1943; flew Sunderlands (1946-49) with Nos 201, 209 and 239 Sqns. Attended CFS course, then(1950-52) was instructor at FTS and advanced FTS. Took No 12 course, ETPS, in 1953; atA and AEE, Boscombe Down, 1954-56. Tutor at ETPS, 1957-59; in July 1959 retired fromRAF to join Handley Page. Wg Cdr R. P. Beamont (Lightning): Deputy chieftest pilot, British Aircraft Corporation, and chief test pilot of English Electric. Had a distin-guished wartime career in the RAF, in which he served from 1938. Commanded No 609 (WestRiding) Sqn, with whom he introduced the day- and-night "train-busting" technique, and Nos 122and 150 Wings. During the anti-flying bomb offensive destroyed 32 of these weapons. Takenprisoner in 1944; on returning to this country commanded the Air Fighting Development Sqnat the CFE. Is an OBE; holds the DSO and DFC. A. W. Bedford (Hunter): Chief test pilot ofHawker Aircraft, having joined the company in 1951 after being at the RAE Farnborough (1950-51). Entered the RAF in 1940 and served with Nos 135 and 605 Sqns in the Far East; in1944 was a flight commander at the Armament Practice Camp and the following year went toNo 65 Sqn, becoming a flight commander. Attended the ETPS where he was OC Instru-ment Weather Flight in 1949. Holds many gliding records and a Goid "C" with two diamonds.Appointed Hawker chief test pilot in 1956. A. L. Blackmail (Vulcan): Test pilot with A. V.Roe since leaving the RAF, which he joined in 1948 after taking an Honours degree in physicsat Cambridge University. Flew with Nos 5 and 11 Sqns in 2nd TAF, then took the ETPS course,gaining a distinguished pass. With "B" Sqn at the A and AEE until August 1956. J. Blair (Twin Pioneer): Joined Scottish Aviationin 1947, after having served in the RAF (1940-46), flying Liberators in Coastal Command.Qualified instructor and airline captain. Has taken a part in experimental and production test-flying of Pioneers and Twin Pioneers, as well as sales demonstration tours and operations overseas. R. S. Bradley (Wessex): Assistant chief test pilotof Westland Aircraft, having joined the company in 1950 as an experimental test pilot. Served inthe FAA (1941-46), flying with No 1833 Sqn and later as CO of the Command Flight at Doni-bristle. After the war became chief test pilot of Helliwells Ltd. T. W. Brooke-Smith (SCI): Short Bros & Har-land's chief test pilot. Has carried out much research and experimental flying on land andmarine aircraft during 20 years' test flying and has recently been responsible for the entire SC.ltest-flying programme. This year demonstrates the principle of jet VTOL which he has helpedto pioneer. He retires to go into business at the close of this year's SBAC flying display. G. R. Bryce (Vanguard): Chief test pilot of BritishAircraft Corporation since July 1960, having pre- viously held a similar appointment with Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft). Started flying in 1939, when he entered the RAF. Subsequently servedin Fighter, Coastal and Transport Commands and with the King's Flight. Is an OBE. J. G. Burns (NA.39): Joined Blackburn Aircraftin January 1959 after being with Hunting Air- craft since February 1958. Previously served inthe RAF, which he entered in 1946 as a Cran- well cadet. With No 56 Sqn; went to CFS in 1951; took No 13 ETPS course in 1954; at theA and AEE from 1956 to 1957. Has been awarded two Queen's Commendations for Valu-able Services in the Air. W. R. Burton (Dart Herald): Joined Handley Pagein 1948. Served with the RAF (1938-39), becom- ing EFTS instructor until the outbreak of war,when he rejoined the RAF and served in Train- ing Command in Canada, Atlantic Ferry Train-ing Command, Coastal Command VLR Sqn and HQ Coastal Command. In 1945 joined BEA andflew Vikings. C. A. Capper (Sea Vixen): Joined de Havilland in1953 as an experimental test pilot, having started flying in the RAF in 1942. Flying instructor inCanada, 1943-44; test pilot at No 308 MU, Allahabad, 1946; with No 4 Sqn in BAFO,1946-48, before going to the EPTS. Test pilot at the Aero Flight, Farnborough, 1949-52. Chieftest pilot, D.H. Christchurch, since Jan 1959. Wg Cdr N. J. Capper (Twin Pioneer): Chief testpilot and flight manager of Scottish Aviation, which he joined in 1936. Learned to fly at No 2FTS, Digby, in 1929; served in the RAF until 1934 and then again from 1939 to 1944. Hasflown 8,000hr as an airline pilot, flying instructor and test pilot. Holds the AFC. Wg Cdr J. L. Dell (Lightning): Appointed deputychief test pilot of English Electric in December 1959. From 1957 was Fighter Command LiaisonOfficer, taking an active part in the development programme of the Lightning. Joined the RAFin 1942; has been a flying instructor and com- pleted a tour of operations with the USAF(1952-54). Fit Lt J. W. Allam C. Allen Sqn Ldr P. P. Baker Crfr <• P. Beamont A. W. Bedford A. L. Blackman G' R- Bl>ce J. G. Burns W. R. Burton J. Blair C. A. Capper R. S. Bradley T. W. Brooke-Smith Wg Cdr N. J. Capper Wg Cdr J. L Dell
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