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.
Hello Olympus, I was a trainee ppl at SLAC in 1974 and 1975, do you remember Bob Elwell and Mike Pavelin? Both were instructors at the time - another name was Dick Fox who sent me on my first solo. I remember the two cherokees I used to use, GATVK and GAVLT - also the Beagle pup which I did the spinning in. They also had a Cherokee Six, do you remember the registration? Great days!
I did my PPL at SEN from Skylane Flight Centre in '92. I was standing next to the door in the airfield fence, outside the Skylane Clubhouse watching 2xHawks and 1 Jaguar depart from Runway 06. (from my logbook I think Tue 26/5/92 about 10am)
The pair of Hawks, turned right after departure and flew in a wide arc behind Rochford, eventually rolling out on a westerly heading. They the did a very nice flight line beat up below the level of the Tower Roof.!
Not to be out done the Jaguar then took off on the same route. He seemed a little more enthusiastic lower to the Railway's overhead cables and hit the foliage at the top of a larger tree as he lined up for the beat up. Leaves everywhere Then lower and faster past the tower and off to the north.
I wonder what the ground crew at Coltishall thought when he arrived
Can anyone else verify my tale or has retelling led to its embellishment over the years !
I was an ATC Assistant at EGMC 1978 to 1982 so lots of familiar names and stories on here which bring back fond memories, it was a great place to work back then when aviation wasn't taken too seriously! Happy Days! CM
A bit of a long shot but does anyone remember Robin Kay from Seawing Flying Club? He was my PPL instructor in '92 and just wanted to let him know I finally made it into the right seat of the 737.
Started my training at Av-air in the late 60s. Instructors were Geoff Pike, Mike Abbott and Gordon Sharp. Standard was rubbish as nearly broke the nosegear off on my first solo - hadn't been taught what to do if I bounced - eventually became an instructor because of the poor instruction. Sharp was the worst and he went on to the CAA and Mike told me he was responsible for the Jumbo go around prosecution! another friend on Concorde told me he also had a run in with him -something to do with not being a RAF spitfire pilot. Av-air cashed my cheque for the second year subs and promptly folded and disappeared which cost me 3 weeks wages - went to the police but waste of time. Ted Clack was the opposite and offered us free membership - real gent - but didn't take it up although borrowed several aircraft from him over the years. Would pop in just for a chat and ooggle his daughter! My mum was secretary for Stevens of BKS. My dad did the first charter flight catering with Eddie Tropper until dad took a short cut under the wing with his van and got wedged - had ham sandwiches for a fortnight. Mike was a mate of Tony Jones - whose father (Sq Ldr Jack Jones) sponsored mike through his CPL. Met up with Mike after Ann Boulter told me about his augering in at Barton in an Issacs Fury - EFATO and tried a turn - spun - saved by soft ploughed earth. Ted reminded me of Ladi - Polish WW2- crop sprayer - dumped water on southend pier ballroom fire. Witnessed him in late 60s airshow doing an inverted pass along the runway in a glider at 3 ft - followed by a half roll and landing in front of the tower! Mad as a hatter as most Polish airman were - would land his glider on the NS runway over Warners Bridge - exit the runway and park in his hanger! Used to stand on the threepenny bit on the bridge and try and touch the wheels of Tigermoths on short finals! - late 50s. I was waiting for harry? -(model techniques) at flying club restaurant when he went to his factory and put a bullet in his head! sad nice bloke. Nearly went to work for Princess air but my mother wasn't complementary about one of the owners so stayed where I was and if folded a year later. Knew Nigel Freeman or more accurately his father who was a big nob in the Southend model club on 2 tree - caused huge amount of problems with the council for both clubs and don't think he had a friend in his life. Wet myself when Nigel took his father's brand new twin off downwind and flicked it in. They left with the bits in a bin bag. Harry (technics) had known Nigel when he worked for Ripmax when he was paying for his flying - a rewarding employment by all accounts. Did my day and night flight qualifying cross countries to Sarfend in a Baron - ATC gave me permission to do a low 360 over the pier where my granny worked - brilliant. After the airfield airspace was downgraded flew a glider over the top of emgc and then played around Hadleigh castle - happy times!
A couple of flying club bosses, Ted Wilkinson and Bob Pascoe. Pascoe, who mainly worked at Ipswich, was the guy who took off on r/w 33 in his Aztec pulling up hard over the hospital chimney to pretty close to the stall, some on the ground I hear with fingers crossed hoping that an engine would cut out at this critical point. What a ‘nice’ chap. Ted had a small club near the tower with a Cherokee 180 and a very nice Beagle Pup. No idea what happened to them.
I have only recently found this EGMC 1979-80 forum afraid I go back a lot further at EGMC, I joined Air Charter when I left school in 1959 but had worked there part time for a couple of years before so as you will see fm my user name I go back to the last years of ACL's Tudors, I started out in the traffic office and by the time YB had been taken into ATEL for conversion I was a movement controller in those days we were operating in peak summer time up to 120 flights a day I knew most people on the airfield and be very intrested to hear any news of anyone that was there in those very busy days, I left the airport in 1974 to become a Aircharter broker and later worked as Heavylift,s US manager in Kansas City before returning to EGSS in 2002, later opened a office at EGSS for a Canadian Aviation managment company involved in a Helicopter operation in AFG, I have just retired after 52 years in Aviation My intials are PCC so any one who remembers me should know who the are talking to its so good to see the great strides in developement going at present, it something in the 60s we use to talk about in the Flare path club where anyone who was anyone always use to meet up.
Re overtemping Darts; I flew the RAF Argosy which had flight fine pitch stop levers and the BEA Viscount 800 series which used weight-on switches.
An unfortunate RAF Argosy crew started their T/O roll, the levers moved to their flight position and the co-pilot said "Are you sure we're cleared for take off?" Ol' skip retarded the throttles, FE & Nav confirmed clear to go and skip advanced throttles of engines which were now in flight fine. Oh dear! I believe two of the engines overtemped.
IIRC we had a switch on the VC8 which would motor the props to FF. One or two hooligans used to commence taxi by doing just that. RPM dropped, EGT rose (but not to excess) and off we went. The more powerful Argosy Darts wouldn't have tolerated such an insult
Location: A Whilom nimble brain. With 31 million posts.
Age: 73
Posts: 3,374
These have been in the Bucket for some years. Always bring back the memories.
Me in the chippy, with to be, Captain P J Callahan, who took me for my first flight in an Auster. Both of us retired now of course. We both flew from SEN as young FOs, and both had our first commands in DC3s.
Oh, dear. I'd forgotten about the cunning disguises - but this one shows a bit of the hanger/buildings on the eastern boundary. There was a Corporation run commercial course at SEN in those days. Doug Brown taught instrument flying in a D4 Link trainer, in a shed near the tower. 30/= an hour, I think it was. There was even an ANT 18 in there.
Hi LR We must have been learning to fly at a similar time, I remember a few names from 1962, John Ward, Derek Wood,Willy Weber,John Newby,Dudly Errington, Roger Parker plus afew others whose names escape me now. The very patient instructors included CFI Charles Cockburn,Dick Gliddon(who was also Chief Engineer),Bernie Warman, Digby Docherty,John Keates(all from my logbook) Of the aircraft used, Austers GAIZY,GAJUE,GAGTX,GAMFP only 'JUE remains flying (I tracked the owner down last year and did another solo flight in her to celebrate my first solo in 1962!!) Of the above students most went on to have long careers with the airlines,all must have retired by now, I still see Willy Weber as he lives in Jersey,and bumped into Roger Parker last year in Norfolk...
Yes it is I, trust you are well I thought I may see you at the BACA bun fight in october but don't belive you attended, you will rember VS fm HLA we both attended one of the EGMC tours last Tuesday and are very impressed with the speedy progress made to the redvelopment on the eastern boundry Rail Stn, terminal, TWR. also the extention to 06 etc it certainly looks the part it really needed someone like Stobarts to come along grab it by the throat and shake in into the new century well done to them the detail has been well thought out especially the covered walkways to each A/C stand they are to be congratulated on their forward thinking BAA eat your heart out''''
Location: A Whilom nimble brain. With 31 million posts.
Age: 73
Posts: 3,374
welkyboy
I don't know how I missed your post, since I'm on the computer 6 hours a day. Can't resist logging in to PpuNe of course - probably the reason I haven't finished me book.
Good to hear UE is still flying. I recall doing night circuits in that. The airwaves were so quiet that my calls were the only company the tower had. Slowly, the calls became more abbreviated, and Uniform Echo became. YooEee. Not quite formal RT.
Roger Parker and I passed our instrument ratings at Stansted on the same day. Must have been feet from him dozens of times at Stansted, but never bumped into him.
Derek Wood I gather got flying after a break. That was good news as he was one of those people with a natural ability. If he was my passenger, he'd note my +or- speed errors when I transgressed by .000000001 of a knot. Usually with some sarcastic but very funny comment.
Berni was my skipper sometimes when I started with Channel and fleet manager with BIA for a fun two years when I came back to SEN many years later on the HP7 - after my previous company went TU.
Dudly Errington I met at Paddy Callahan's cottage at Stansted (Tye Green) just at the time we were both doing our first command checks. Yes, I got the news. Such a nice bloke.
I remember ALL the names, but since Paddy has finished his book -(plug) First Kill and it's out on Kindle, I'd better get back to mine.
Bernie Warman, what a nice bloke and a good very practical trainer. I spent many nights, mostly bloody cold ones on newspaper runs in the HP7 with him. Does anyone know how he is?
Location: A Whilom nimble brain. With 31 million posts.
Age: 73
Posts: 3,374
For thems that don't venture into Jet Blast.
This page arrived by post from the UK quite unexpectedly.
One day I was sitting over the Thames estuary miding my own business, when someone said, Hello. I looked over my shoulder, and less than 100' away and a bit above was a Viking. Ex Queen's flight, I think and very, very shiny. Looked stunning. They waved and skedaddled back to the height from whence they came. Probably all of 2,000'.
I've just found this forum & knew Edward during his time with Seawing as an examiner - I did my GFT with him on Sept 3, 1989 - It was quite an eventfull flight because there was a Spitfire flying around requesting a run & break which was duly authorised just after we touched down on 24 - lo & behold we were given the amazing sight of a Spitfire flying over us at very low level which was fantastic but a little unerving & I was told off for heavy breaking trying to take the first exit !! All good fun though & Edward deemed me safe to pass OK.
Godspeed Edward, a gentleman aviator of the old school.
(I remember also during the flight the vis' was exceptional & Edward was commenting that he could see right across to London - I did take a quick look but wondered if this was part of the test to check my concentration or distraction level ! )
Then lower and faster past the tower and off to the north.
Such a nice bloke.
