Geoff: You conducted the delivery flight? That is interesting. Which Agusta factory did you collect the aircraft from?
I suppose the a/c must only have had a handful of hours and so a chip detection light might not have been entirely unusual. I imagine a new aircraft must have the same susceptability to chips as one which has just had engine work performed. Presumably it was just dirt that caused the warning?
When I flew her (just after she left the Duke's service) she still had the comfortable high back leather seating as well as a generous avionics fit including an autopilot which I guess was fitted by Manns.
When you mention training existing staff, I think it was Dennis de Ferranti who had his chauffeur trained to fly his helicopter in Ireland - back in the day. If the story is right, he was terrified of the thing! I think it was a Hughes 500.
Last edited by Savoia; 7th Jun 2013 at 12:05.