Where Are They Now?Please feel free to post contact information here if you are looking for long lost friends or trying to find out what has happened to colleagues. Obituaries and condolences can be posted here too.
Sorry the homework is in ages late, but I believe the red/white chequer was/is 56 Sqn. They had F5/F6/F7 on strength between '55 and '61, which would seem to fit with the likely age of the film.
Bob Bradley was never CFI at the Warwickshire Aero Club although he may have given that impression, he was deputy CFI. . Jon Price was the CFI from the time it was bought by Ray Bannister to the point it was sold to Kevin Lynch, by which time Bradley had moved to Halfpenny Green to start Sen Air. WAC CFIs were Nevile Birch Arthur Penzer Peter Roberts Jon Price
The last CFI of the Midland Aero Club was Jack Muldoon who went on to work for Derby Airways and Mercury Airlines and then start Central Air Sevices at Birmingham.
I have a note quoting Jack Muldoon as CFI with the MAC from around 1962-3 so I presume he held that position until the club ceased trading but I don't know when that was.
I can remember the incident, I even heard the crash, although at the time I had no idea who it was. The two pilots were Arthur Penzer, ex CFI Of Warwickshre Aero Club, and Eric Allchinl, who was the owner. They were returning from a trip to Europe, and were offered the chance to divert to East Mids, but elected to try and land at BHX. They tried an ILS and sadly hit the ground near Marsto Green. All four occupants died in the crash. I remember both pilots with great affection, and had flown with Eric many times in his Prentice , " the Green Bomber".
I remember Keith's father Walter, who, I believe, was on the board of the Midland Aero Club in the late 1950's. He purchased G-AKKY a Miles Magister, which he leased to the MAC. I was a student PPL at the time, and flew the aircaft with Don Swan and my old mate Syd Cartwright. I can remember Walter Lived in Olton, not far from the Trabant works.
It was Doug who was Keith,s dad. sorry but time dims the Grey Cells. Also , why the posting said Trabant works, when I clearly typed Trabant, beats me. Gremlins in the ipad perhaps.
I remember it well as I learn't to fly there, firstly on the Miles Hawk, then the Auster TC. The CFI was Tom Willmott, one of my students at Oxford was his Grandson and found my name in his logbook. Tom was exRAF an ex Victor Instructor, he died a few years ago.
I think I remember you with Syd Cartwright, what happened to Syd? I went into aviation and remember Roger Wise, who ended up as a training Captain with BM. His mom and dad had a veg shop near the traffic lights in Sheldon. We lived in Dovehouse Lane. I learn't under Tom Willmott and ended up as a QFI with the Saudi Air Force in Riyadh, earning mega-bucks, then back to UK the CPL and lots of jobs.CFI Wolverhampton, East Midlands and Paull. l retired three years ago from Oxford after five years as a Groundschool Instructor there, the Oxford subject expert in Met and Law, was with EPTA and PPSC at Bournemouth and SECOAT at Manston, teaching ATPL.
I remember you as Doug. We flew together many times before I got my licence
Hi John, I remember you as Doug, because, i believe, your dad was also Doug.. When we first met I was the aircraft cleaner for the MAC, and had been scrounging flights for several years. I remember Tom Willmot, CFI and ex Srdn Ldr on Victors at Gaydon. I remember flying into RAF Cosford with you in a Piper Colt, and flying a Forney Aircoupe GARHG, when you used to make it dance to the tune of Passadena by the temperance seven. Sid Cartwright and I kept in touch after I got my PPL and I flew him in my Cessna 172, which I kept at Baginton. Now, many years on, I have hung up the helmet, and am happily esconced in Burgundy, running a small B&B with my wife Jill. I can' t imagine you being old and knackered. You were always so "up for it". Take a look at my website sometime Index. This will give you my phone number and email address. Please keep in touch, I was so glad to hear from you again. Best Regards
Thanks all you flying people - the postings are a great read for people who know a bit about the area and Elmdon. I only ended up here to find out what happened to the MAC disco/bar.........But mention of Hunter etc gives me a topic for you: how did that Hunter get to be parked alongside the carpark at Solihull School circa late 50s to mid 60s, and what happened to it? (By the way the school had a quite large selfassembly glider the CCF RAF lot used to occasionally put together and fly across the playing fields via huge elasticated ropes and blokes pulling them taut. May amuse some of you pros?) Used to drink in the White Lion quite often back then but had no idea of the flying connections. Will Jones sparetire100@yahoo.co.uk
I'm interested in the history of the MAC, especially in the 1930's. From what I can make out, the MAC was the first UK aero-club - ever, in 1910.
A few queries if anyone can answer;-
- Am I correct in presuming that the MAC moved to Elmdon when Castle Bromwich closed?
- Did the clubs badge etc remain the same from founding until it ended? (What year..?)
- What happened to all the clubs records etc when it was disolved...?
- I'd be very interested to see photos from Castle Bromwich taken 1934 - 1939, has anyone seen any on the web or elsewhere?
I've noticed some posts asking about histirical information about the above. I am in possession of some old documents relating to loans to the club from the Kemsley Flying Trust in the period from 1948 to 1965. These are mainly correspondence but there are a few interesting items such as a meeting of creditors in 1957, a copy of the Memoprandum & Articles of Association dated 28 April 1910 and amended 1937. I am proposing to offer to the Royal Aero Club for their archive but, before then, I can try to answer any questions raised from what I have.
The first meeting of the M.A.C. was on 3rd September 1909 but they were not the first aero club, presumably the Royal Aero Club would have already have been established.
The M.A.C. moved to Elmdon in July 1939 whereas Castle Bromwich stayed open till April 1958.
If you are referring to the “badge” on the letterheading then the answer is “yes” it was the same from 1909 till at least 1953 but that differs from the lapel badge and the one on the side of the tankards marking the first solo flights.
The year the club officially ceased operating is debatable but is commonly thought to be sometime in the 1960/70s.
Baron Crash Elmdon
Keith Holland and his Father Walter
Midland Aero Club.
