Rothmans Aerobatic Team (& Others)
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The Rothmans solo aircraft that David Perrin flew was Pitts S-2S G-SOLO. G-SPIN was never a Rothmans aircraft.
My recollection of the rest of the team's aircraft over the years is:
BADW, stored at Cosford with Bob Mitchell
BADX, Crashed in Lanzarote, 26.5.78, Pilot killed (who??)
BADY, Crashed 29.6.84
BADZ, On rebuild in Devon.
BAEA, Crashed at Sywell on 19/4/76, passenger Cliff Barnett killed.
RKSF, Sold to Denmark 1983
BGSD, Sold to France 1982
BGSE, Still around in the UK as G-TIII
BGSF, Sold to Italy, 1982
SOLO, Still around, but Permit lapsed
Think they also used G-BDKS & BECM but I'm not 100% sure.
I also seem to remember that S-1 G-AXNZ was also painted in Rothmans Colours at one time, but cant be 100%
The Stampe Club Journal had details of the Stampes they used, but like my sheet of paper with details of their pilots, it's buried in the loft somewhere....
Stampes AWIW, AYCG and AXYW were definates, and AYIJ was also used for a time.
They were good days...Be nice to see 4 Pitts Specials again as a display item. Makes a change from Yaks.
My recollection of the rest of the team's aircraft over the years is:
BADW, stored at Cosford with Bob Mitchell
BADX, Crashed in Lanzarote, 26.5.78, Pilot killed (who??)
BADY, Crashed 29.6.84
BADZ, On rebuild in Devon.
BAEA, Crashed at Sywell on 19/4/76, passenger Cliff Barnett killed.
RKSF, Sold to Denmark 1983
BGSD, Sold to France 1982
BGSE, Still around in the UK as G-TIII
BGSF, Sold to Italy, 1982
SOLO, Still around, but Permit lapsed
Think they also used G-BDKS & BECM but I'm not 100% sure.
I also seem to remember that S-1 G-AXNZ was also painted in Rothmans Colours at one time, but cant be 100%
The Stampe Club Journal had details of the Stampes they used, but like my sheet of paper with details of their pilots, it's buried in the loft somewhere....
Stampes AWIW, AYCG and AXYW were definates, and AYIJ was also used for a time.
They were good days...Be nice to see 4 Pitts Specials again as a display item. Makes a change from Yaks.
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Ah yes, G-SOLO, forgot the one that parted me hair! RKSF made up the four ship with the 'BGS* team.
Think you are right, G-BDKS replaced G-BAEA, and G-BECM certainly was around in Rothmans scheme at one point...
Presumably G-BADY was one of the Fleetwood mid air collision aircraft.
As Aerohack says, Cliff Barnett survived the Pitts crash but was sadly lost along with Steve "Propliner" Piercey after their photo mount (an Aztec?) collided with a Beech 1900 at Hanover. Was privileged to meet Steve a couple of times, a super bloke. Last saw him a week or so before his death. I may still have Roger Bacon's tribute in Flight to the pair in the loft... Total Aviation People, the ultimate Bacon accolade...
Think you are right, G-BDKS replaced G-BAEA, and G-BECM certainly was around in Rothmans scheme at one point...
Presumably G-BADY was one of the Fleetwood mid air collision aircraft.
As Aerohack says, Cliff Barnett survived the Pitts crash but was sadly lost along with Steve "Propliner" Piercey after their photo mount (an Aztec?) collided with a Beech 1900 at Hanover. Was privileged to meet Steve a couple of times, a super bloke. Last saw him a week or so before his death. I may still have Roger Bacon's tribute in Flight to the pair in the loft... Total Aviation People, the ultimate Bacon accolade...
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The homebuilt Pitts S-1C G-AXNZ was indeed painted in full Rothmans livery. I have it in mind that it was used as a static promotional exhibit, or am I confusing it with a non-flying S-2A?
Treadders: Yes it was a Aztec in which Cliff and Steve died, along with a South American photographer friend of Steve's. A terrible day.
Treadders: Yes it was a Aztec in which Cliff and Steve died, along with a South American photographer friend of Steve's. A terrible day.
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Only just seen this thread:
1974 season:
Manx Kelly leader, Mike Findlay No2, Iain Weston No4, and yours truly hanging on like grim death and trying to keep up with the rest, No3. Brendan O'Brien was commentator, crew transport driver, spare aeroplane pilot, and excellent value. I would have liked to see his Fournier displays.
Manx had to leave early in the season to sort out the Carling Team in Canada, so Iain took the lead, and Neil Williams slotted in at No4, in amongst all his other display duties. Towards the end of the season, when Neil became unavailable, David Perrin joined. He was easily the youngest member of the team, the only one who had not been in the RAF, and had very limited formation and display flying experience. But he took to it like a duck to water, took the No2 position, and Mike flew No4 from then on.
As has been said before, Manx, Neil and David all tragically left us some time ago, particularly tragic in Davids case, a super young man. Iain, who was instructing on simulators at CSE for many a year, sadly died last year. I hadn't heard anything of Mike for ages, hope his wine growing is going well.
I was only with the team for that year, and was just about getting the hang of it, but I became a grandfather about then, and this didn't really fit with the youthful image Manx wanted! Actually, it was by mutual agreement, I thought it was time to get a proper job, and I think I only got the job in the first place because Manx and I had been on the same Canberra squadron in Cyprus and I wandered into the Rothmans hut at Booker to say hello, when he was looking for a pilot, and I was looking for a job!
Great fun, great experience, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything. G-BADX was my aeroplane, sad to hear of it's demise, and the uncertainty over the others.
1974 season:
Manx Kelly leader, Mike Findlay No2, Iain Weston No4, and yours truly hanging on like grim death and trying to keep up with the rest, No3. Brendan O'Brien was commentator, crew transport driver, spare aeroplane pilot, and excellent value. I would have liked to see his Fournier displays.
Manx had to leave early in the season to sort out the Carling Team in Canada, so Iain took the lead, and Neil Williams slotted in at No4, in amongst all his other display duties. Towards the end of the season, when Neil became unavailable, David Perrin joined. He was easily the youngest member of the team, the only one who had not been in the RAF, and had very limited formation and display flying experience. But he took to it like a duck to water, took the No2 position, and Mike flew No4 from then on.
As has been said before, Manx, Neil and David all tragically left us some time ago, particularly tragic in Davids case, a super young man. Iain, who was instructing on simulators at CSE for many a year, sadly died last year. I hadn't heard anything of Mike for ages, hope his wine growing is going well.
I was only with the team for that year, and was just about getting the hang of it, but I became a grandfather about then, and this didn't really fit with the youthful image Manx wanted! Actually, it was by mutual agreement, I thought it was time to get a proper job, and I think I only got the job in the first place because Manx and I had been on the same Canberra squadron in Cyprus and I wandered into the Rothmans hut at Booker to say hello, when he was looking for a pilot, and I was looking for a job!
Great fun, great experience, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything. G-BADX was my aeroplane, sad to hear of it's demise, and the uncertainty over the others.
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The non-flying S-2A mentioned in my last post was also 'G-RKSF'. It had a full factory-spec fuselage with truncated, detachable wings. It was in Keith Fordyce's Torbay Aircraft Museum at one time, then went to Toyota as 'G-CARS'. Can't recall what Rothmans used 'XNZ for then.
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What an amazing response to a simple query! 
Keep it up chaps, there's lots more to find out.
I'll venture into my loft this weekend and find that sheet with all the details..Probable find a load of other stuff too, and I won't be popular with Mrs Zlin.
Zlin
Keep it up chaps, there's lots more to find out.
I'll venture into my loft this weekend and find that sheet with all the details..Probable find a load of other stuff too, and I won't be popular with Mrs Zlin.
Zlin
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Z526: I did just ascend my loft, at Mrs Aerohack's behest (annual retrieval of Christmas decorations). Stumbled over a box of old videos, and among those that fell out was 'Man in the Sky' devoted to the young David Perrin. Had forgotten it was there, can't remember anything about it, but when I've refreshed my memory with a viewing or two I'd be happy to loan it to any posters on this thread who might be interested.
Awesome but Affordable
I flew with the RAT's for the 1971 season in Stampe SV4C's flying G-AYGR or G-AYCK in the No. 2 slot. A fabulous experience especially since I had no formation aerobatic time or training prior to joining the team. Not only that, but my first airshow with the team was the afternoon of the day I joined.........!!! One day I will write it all up for one of the aviation magazines but I can confirm that on the odd occasion adrenalin was brown. Great blokes and fantastic pilots. Had to pack it in at the end of the 1971 season as, O thee of little faith, I lacked confidence in Rothmans continuation as sponsors beyond the end of 1973 and I had a wife, two kids and a mortgage to keep happy along with my day job of being CFI at Sibson.
I did blot my copybook in 1972 when I totally demolished a borrowed G-AYGR in a mid-air collision at a Barnstormers display at Weston-super-Mare. My subsequent apologies were accepted with a somewhat crinkly smile by Manx and Judy his wife.
The best source of information might be Jeanne Frazer who was the RAT's admin ace for a number of years from 1972. She is still involved with the airshow scene at Duxford with the Fighter Collection.
I did blot my copybook in 1972 when I totally demolished a borrowed G-AYGR in a mid-air collision at a Barnstormers display at Weston-super-Mare. My subsequent apologies were accepted with a somewhat crinkly smile by Manx and Judy his wife.
The best source of information might be Jeanne Frazer who was the RAT's admin ace for a number of years from 1972. She is still involved with the airshow scene at Duxford with the Fighter Collection.
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Ah, now I know who you are, G-KEST! The Kings Cliffe address should have been a give-away. Have a glossy 10 x 8 of your moment of impact somewhere, and I think one of you displaying your split bonedome afterwards (plus, one I took of you wearing some rather more bizarre headgear with IAC's Mike Heuer at South Cerney in '86).
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Aerohack,
Man in the Sky - One of the best British flying films made IMHO.... A regular viewing lifts the spirits at once!
G-KEST, I know who you are too
Why don't you write it all down, and let us all know what it was like? That picture of your unfortunate 'coming together' at Weston is one of aviations classics.
Man in the Sky - One of the best British flying films made IMHO.... A regular viewing lifts the spirits at once!
G-KEST, I know who you are too
Why don't you write it all down, and let us all know what it was like? That picture of your unfortunate 'coming together' at Weston is one of aviations classics.
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Bob Thompson is Martin Baker's test pilot, flying the Meteor at Chalgrove. He's the only one current on it, because they've had to modify the seat ... he's a bit on the tall side.
I'm sorry to hear about Colin Woods. How dreadful for Viv.
I'm sorry to hear about Colin Woods. How dreadful for Viv.
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The Zlin was G-AVPZ if that stirs any memories and the date was 5 May '68... other than that, gleaned from British Civil Aircraft, I know nothing...
Got your number as well, G-KEST!
Got your number as well, G-KEST!
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Two other names from the Rothmans Team -
Alan Dix late 70s and John McLean early 80s.
I think John McLean was killed in a mid-air during a display at Blackpool (?) in the mid 80's.
I have a vague recollection that Stefan Karwowski flew with the team in the late 70's but I didn't know Stef until about 1982 so I'm not certain.
What a pilot! My introduction to warbirds was flying around in the back of a P-51 with Stef, and staying in for displays - in the good old days before the nannies introduced rules.
Loss of an outstanding natural pilot, and more important a very good friend, when Stef was killed - flying a Pitts for fun whilst on holiday with his family in New Zealand.
Tudor Owen
[Edit]
Someone asked about Philip Meeson. I still see him very occasionally. He's a very successful businessman. His most well-known company is Channel Express, but that's only part of the very successful Dart Group Plc which he owns.
Alan Dix late 70s and John McLean early 80s.
I think John McLean was killed in a mid-air during a display at Blackpool (?) in the mid 80's.
I have a vague recollection that Stefan Karwowski flew with the team in the late 70's but I didn't know Stef until about 1982 so I'm not certain.
What a pilot! My introduction to warbirds was flying around in the back of a P-51 with Stef, and staying in for displays - in the good old days before the nannies introduced rules.
Loss of an outstanding natural pilot, and more important a very good friend, when Stef was killed - flying a Pitts for fun whilst on holiday with his family in New Zealand.
Tudor Owen
[Edit]
Someone asked about Philip Meeson. I still see him very occasionally. He's a very successful businessman. His most well-known company is Channel Express, but that's only part of the very successful Dart Group Plc which he owns.
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 11th Dec 2003 at 12:04.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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I wouldn't mind a quick squint at it as well after Alexis if that's OK Aerohack...
Cheers
Treadders
Cheers
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Sounds like we need a distribution list! Yes, no problem, Treadders. Either PM me or Alexis your address, and when I hear from him I'll get it started on its journey (though not yet found tyime to watch myself!).
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Enjoying this thread -a great interest of mine, old airshows - loads of knowledge & nostalgia out there!
G-BECM was definitely with the Roths at some stage and was used by the "Jubilee duo" in 1977 along with G-BCXD, flown by Bob Thompson and Marcus Edwards.
1975 Roths were: Mike Findlay,Iain Weston,Dave Perrin, Colin Woods and comm/spare was Ben Kershaw.
Interesting to hear about Bob Mitchells collection - especially the KZ8 - thought that was long lost.
Anyone recall Peter Philips in the Andreasson BA4B - a stalwart of early '70s shows - my God that display was L - O - W!!!
And James Black and aforementioned Neil Williams of Aerobatics International - Zlins G-AWJX & AWSH & Pitts S1 G-AZPH - seemed to be everywhere.
I picked up a pretty good video called "Sky Spectacular", made up of 3 films including the mini documentary of Concordes first flight "She Flies". The other two are "The Display" featuring mainly the Roths and Manx Kelly solo plus loads of other goodies (Belgian Slivers F104 duo, Lightning F1, RAF Phantoms, VC10, Poachers, Blue Eagles, Nimrod, Victor SR2, Vulcan etc etc- gibber gibber!!) at Biggin Hill in 1973 & a documentary again on the Roths shot in Spain late in their life - '79/80? Grrreat stuff!!
Slightly off topic but another good video is "where the big birds fly" - all about a Vulcan crew low flying in Canada circa '74 - truly awesome.
G-BECM was definitely with the Roths at some stage and was used by the "Jubilee duo" in 1977 along with G-BCXD, flown by Bob Thompson and Marcus Edwards.
1975 Roths were: Mike Findlay,Iain Weston,Dave Perrin, Colin Woods and comm/spare was Ben Kershaw.
Interesting to hear about Bob Mitchells collection - especially the KZ8 - thought that was long lost.
Anyone recall Peter Philips in the Andreasson BA4B - a stalwart of early '70s shows - my God that display was L - O - W!!!
And James Black and aforementioned Neil Williams of Aerobatics International - Zlins G-AWJX & AWSH & Pitts S1 G-AZPH - seemed to be everywhere.
I picked up a pretty good video called "Sky Spectacular", made up of 3 films including the mini documentary of Concordes first flight "She Flies". The other two are "The Display" featuring mainly the Roths and Manx Kelly solo plus loads of other goodies (Belgian Slivers F104 duo, Lightning F1, RAF Phantoms, VC10, Poachers, Blue Eagles, Nimrod, Victor SR2, Vulcan etc etc- gibber gibber!!) at Biggin Hill in 1973 & a documentary again on the Roths shot in Spain late in their life - '79/80? Grrreat stuff!!
Slightly off topic but another good video is "where the big birds fly" - all about a Vulcan crew low flying in Canada circa '74 - truly awesome.
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Thanks Aerohack, I have PM'd you - at least I think I have!
I can recall Peter Phillips looping an Islander/Defender at Bigign Hill in 1976... Might have seen the BA-4, but ashamed to admit I don't remember it!
I can recall Peter Phillips looping an Islander/Defender at Bigign Hill in 1976... Might have seen the BA-4, but ashamed to admit I don't remember it!