Originally Posted by
22/04
Yep RAE used Nugget- Dove shuttles between Bedford and Farnborough etc.
Not just the Bedford Ferry operated by Transport Flight (Devons - not Doves - and occasionally the Dakota and latterly Navajo Chieftains); all RAE Farnborough pilots in Experimental Flying Department (comprising Experimental Flying Squadron [A, B and C Flights], Transport Flight and IAM Flight) had a personal number preceded by 'Nugget' whilst Met Research Flight at Farnborough initially used Nugget but in the late 80s became 'Metman'(MRF).
When the Farnborough Experimental Flying Wing (as it became in the '90s) moved to Boscombe in '94 they became 'Gauntlet' followed by the pilot's personal number.
Dunsfold test pilots used 'Hawker' followed either by a letter (Hawker Delta - Duncan Simpson) or a number (Hawker 97 - John Farley).
One that always puzzled me was 'Bluebell One', usually a Varsity operating out of West Malling; what did it do?