Just read this and thought this must be the Tut of the previous generation. A "True Hero"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-e ... e-38104385
What a man
Re: What a man
I wish Graham, unbelievable the number of aircraft that he flew, but he did crash more of them than I did.
tut
tut
Re: What a man
There are a couple of documentaries about him out there - well worth watching if you get a chance
Now with half an engine
Re: What a man
I had the pleasure of meeting Eric in the 60's at the ETPS (Empire Test Pilots School) where I was on a course. He was twenty years older than me and they wanted two Sikorsky R4B helicopters picked up and flown back to Boscombe Down. This was one of the first helicopters in production and had not been flown for years so he was the obvious choice but he wanted a co-pilot with him so naturally I volunteered. This is the extract from his memoirs. Any body ever watched "Those magnificent Men in Their Flying machines"
Lt David Duncan RM and I were off to Speke in Liverpool to collect two new Sikorsky R-4B helicopters. In charge was a huge American Technical master-sergeant. I said to him, 'Right. When are you going to teach us to fly these things?'
He said, 'Whaddya mean, bud? Here's your instructor,' and handed us a large orange-coloured booklet.
Alarmed, we went back to the Officers Mess and read the book.
We managed to get the first machine started and I got in to try and make the horribly unfamiliar thing fly. I fiddled with the controls and within a few seconds, I was charging all over the airfield.
I tried to make it hover but it was all I could do to set the thing down without damaging me or the other aircraft on the field.
Speechless, we both had a stiff drink in the Officers Mess, then tried again. Eventually, we thought we'd try to make Farnborough.
I don't know how we made it. We were now supposed to test the machines but this was obviously out of the question...until we had learnt how to fly them."
Needless to say we never made Boscombe.
tut
Lt David Duncan RM and I were off to Speke in Liverpool to collect two new Sikorsky R-4B helicopters. In charge was a huge American Technical master-sergeant. I said to him, 'Right. When are you going to teach us to fly these things?'
He said, 'Whaddya mean, bud? Here's your instructor,' and handed us a large orange-coloured booklet.
Alarmed, we went back to the Officers Mess and read the book.
We managed to get the first machine started and I got in to try and make the horribly unfamiliar thing fly. I fiddled with the controls and within a few seconds, I was charging all over the airfield.
I tried to make it hover but it was all I could do to set the thing down without damaging me or the other aircraft on the field.
Speechless, we both had a stiff drink in the Officers Mess, then tried again. Eventually, we thought we'd try to make Farnborough.
I don't know how we made it. We were now supposed to test the machines but this was obviously out of the question...until we had learnt how to fly them."
Needless to say we never made Boscombe.
tut
Re: What a man
His book is an epic read[THUMBS UP SIGN]
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