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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 2205.PDF
WORLD NEWS BAe pilot killed DUNSFOLD A British Aerospace test pilot, Taylor Scott, was killed in what appears to be a freak accident while test flying a Harrier GR.5 on October 22. The aircraft departed BAe's Dunsfold airfield at 1700hr on its final pre-delivery test flight before handover to the Royal Air Force which was scheduled for the next day. The aircraft climbed out to the west passing through Boscombe Down's area where the zone controller made the last radio contact at 1710hr when everything appeared normal. The Harrier then operated at high level in its pre-briefed test area until, at 1740, London Military Radar noticed that the Harrier was straying outside its planned area. When London Military failed to make radio contact, the Distress and Diversion cell (D&D) was informed at 1750hr. D&D asked a United States Air Force C-5 Galaxy en-route from RAF Mild- enhall to Dover AFB, Maine, to intercept the Harrier which was heading west at 30,000ft. The USAF crew located the Harrier at about 1800hr and reported that the cockpit was unoccupied, and the canopy was missing. The Galaxy crew took a video recording of the Harrier, and this is now being examined. The Galaxy shad owed the Harrier until the latter ran out of fuel, and crashed into the Atlantic at 1903hr, some 250 n.m. south west of Ireland. A' search-and-rescue oper ation was launched when the Galaxy crew reported the Harrier's cockpit empty. Flight understands that no distress call, ejection auto- tone, or pilot's personal locator beacon was heard. A large air, ground, and sea search was made covering a swathe 10 n.m. either side of the Harrier's track from the point of last radio contact at 1710hr, to the point where the Harrier was intercepted offshore. At 1800hr the next day a gamekeeper found Taylor Scott's body in a field on Salisbury Plain near Winter- bourne Stoke, about 5 n.m west of Boscombe Down airfield. The parachute, dinghy pack, and cockpit- canopy frame were also found, some distance from the pilot. The Martin-Baker Mk.12 ejection seat had not been found as we go to press. Brit ish Aerospace could not confirm or deny reports that the seat remained in the aircraft. Taylor Scott Aged 40, Taylor Scott was married with two children. Taylor Scott joined the Royal Navy in 1964. After training he flew Sea Vixens before a tour with the US Navy, including the Fighter Weap ons School (Top Gun) at NAS Miramar. From 1974 to 1977 Taylor was an Air Weapons Instructor flying F-4 Phan toms from Ark Royal before being appointed the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier Project Liaison Officer at Dunsfold. In 1979 he left the Royal Navy to join British Aero space as a Sea Harrier test pilot. In 1982 Taylor Scott was instrumental in clearing the AIM-9L Sidewinder for use in the Falklands War and volunteered for active service. On temporary recall he helped form and train 809Sqn before returning to BAe. In 1983 he was appointed Sea Harrier Project Test Pilot and earlier this month was appointed Deputy Chief Test Pilot at Dunsfold. UK space plea fails LONDON " A last-ditch effort by leaders of the UK space community to gain an increase in Govern ment funding appears to have failed. Although the October 19 presentation to the Govern ment's Advisory Council on Science and Technology was favourably received, hopes were dashed when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher confirmed that no further funding would be forthcoming. Thatcher said Britain would continue to participate in European Space Agency (Esa) projects. To what degree will depend largely on the outcome of the Esa Council meeting in the Hague on November 9-10. Norwegian EMS flight lost DOMBAS ~ The three occupants of a Norwegian emergency-medi cal services helicopter died when the machine crashed on October 24. Operated by Norske Luft Ambulanse, the MBB BO.105 had taken off from Dombas, at about 1945hr. According to initial reports, it came down tail first in mountains soon afterwards. The pilot, a doctor, and a paramedic on board all died, as did the patient whom they were trying to reach. FLIGHT HfTBtNATimAL NEXT WEEK McDonnell Douglas is modifying an F-15 Eagle for operations from bombed runways. Mike Gaines reports on Stol Eagle from St. Louis. Britain's first emergency- medical helicopter has saved lives, and increased the efficiency of ground- based ambulances in south-west England. But after six months of trials the programme came close to being abandoned because of lack of cash. Ian Goold reports from Truro, Cornwall, with pictures by Janice Lowe. The ability to fly at high angle of attack could mean the difference between winning and losing a dogfight. Norman Lynn reports on US research into "high alpha" flight. London's new City Airport opened for business on a misty October 26. The "Cat 2" unofficial designation of the ILS limitations with its 72° glideslope received its first revenue flight from Plymouth at 0730. The Brymon Air ways, and Eurocity Express flights to Paris and Brussels soon followed. The two airlines do not expect to make a profit from their operations for at least three years. Foggy start to London City FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 31 October
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