David Dixon (Former Chairman Helicopter Board Of Examiners) RIP
Hello all Helicopter Peeps.
Most of you know that (my uncle) David Dixon not too well at the mo.
A lot of retired/still active helicopter peeps have been in touch with him-which has made his day. Please, If anyone-else wants to come out of the woodwork on this forum- and pass on any message-I will be very happy to print them off and give them to him when I see him next.
Hi Jonathan, Very sorry to hear that David is currently under the weather. Please give him my best. He will remember me for being Ch Eng at Manns in another life, and I will remember him for being one of the (few) pilots, who could make extremely intelligent comments on a flying snag when asked. Current bio on website www.cmacltd.net which you could print off also? Best ~ CW
To you both-thank you so much! Will pass this on. He's not able to get near a computer at the mo-so he's unable to reply-but will def print this off and read them to him.
Our David is indeed in poor shape and it seems he has the dreaded big C of his liver.
A truly super guy and a great pilot and young Georgie tells me that the plan is to have him home as soon as the hospital will agree to release him.
Young Georgie tells me David would welcome seeing some of his flying mates, and as soon as he is back home, I am planning to make a visit. I'm based near Hemel Hempstead and if another guy or guys would like to join me, the idea would be to go as a small gang (2 or 3) to give David some cheer at a very difficult time.
Jonathon ... will be making contact with you on this aspect.
Jonathan Please wish Dave all the best from his instructor from 705.He was one of the few students who allowed you to close your eyes and relax on the way back to Culdrose from Predannack. Haven't seen him for many years and Hi from Mike Bowden too. GH
One of the previous posters P.M'd me wanting David's number (he has a private phone next to his bed)-so I rang DD to ask if it was OK to give out his number-his reply was that he would love to hear from ANY of his old mates in the industry.
So-please feel free to P.M. me and I will pass on the number.
Thanks again to EVERYONE for all the good feedback.
Best wishes from one who was around Culdrose in 1967-68 about the same time as David was training. I have a lasting memory of him downing a yard of ale (albeit temporarily!) in the Prince of Wales at Newtown St Martin. Even covered in second hand Devenish he managed to look cool!
Hopefully David will remember me calling him 'one take' because he very kindly presented a video on the Philips Decca based 'ap navigator' for me at our house, Barford Court in Surrey in the days before GPS.
Initially, I tried to present it myself but I couldn't get my foot out of my mouth - even less so when I was flying at the same time.
He was as polished at presenting as he was at flying - did the whole video in one morning as if he'd done TV work his entire life.
I'm very sorry to hear he's not well. Please pass him my very best wishes.
David and I were on basic training at the same time as he was on the course after mine. I well remember when we were on HMS Bulwark off Cyprus when he got the news that he was finishing his tour early to go and become a QHI. He'd always been a good aviator. He was due to fly out from RAK Akrotiri the next day, but his leaving party was so good that he didn't do any packing, left late and had to leave most of his kit behind. At one time we were drinking a delicious mixture of ouzo with Old Spice aftershave!!
I didn't see him for many years until I was on the Bristow Training School and he came down to demonstrate the R22. He told me that despite any misgivings I had, I'd grow to really like it and he was quite right.
Please pass on to him my very best wishes and I hope he manages to beat it.
Please pass on my regards - I knew David only briefly when I was at Cranfield with ITPS, but enjoyed my meetings with him. Kind regards from a wandering Canuck.
JCR, I have never met DD personally but I can honestly say, he did the slickest EOL I have ever seen in an R22. I will never forget how smooth and easy he made it look. Never seen a better one since.
