Lear Jets.
I was lucky enough to be given a ride in one of these pocket-rockets when it was air-tested. Our departure from Luton resembled that of a Lightning and we were at 40,000 ft in the twinkling of an eye. Five or ten minutes later we were turning for Luton over The North Sea. A rapid descent saw us roaring for home fast and low over the flat-lands of Cambridgeshire (a bit bumpy if I remember rightly!).
These two aircraft were operated by Autair on behalf of KLA for The Royal Flight of King Idris. As tea-boy ops runner I was sent to Heathrow in a van to pick up spares for these jets - I think they were elevators or elevator components as the early Lear Jets had problems in that department!
One of the Captains was Peter Parrot, who it transpires fought in the Battle of Britain. In those days most chaps didn't talk too much about their war service.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 26th Feb 2011 at 16:19.