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Estepo: Ciao!
On
page 10 Charlie Hughesdon (owner of Tradewinds Airlines) was discussed. At that time I enquired about his pilot who I had met several times at Brooklands. On page 12
TRC confirmed that Hughesdon's pilot was Geoff Cox. I recall him being slightly tall, slim, greying and extremely polite. I was only a young lad in those days but he always took time to indulge my inquisitiveness. A true gent!
I don't know the full extent of Hughesdon's rotary fleet but a couple of pages back on page 22
Helipixman posted an image of G-BAKU (one of Peter Cadbury's 206's) and, barely visible in the hangar behind it, was G-AXGO. Hughesdon bought AXGO in October of 1975 but the craft crashed and was written-off three years later in April of '78. Brief details of the accident appear in post #433 of page 22.
Hughesdon then bought G-BTWA a Bell 206B which had been owned by Baron Heinrich von Furstenberg in Germany. Hughesdon took delivery of TWA in October '78 and, intriguingly, kept her in Furstenburg's old colours even retaining his Baronial crest which appeared on the craft's tail.
As you say, the craft was sold to Greece in June 1985. Please tell me that you took some photos of the delivery flight!
In the accident report for G-BAKS the following is mentioned in relation to the pilot:
"The pilot's flying experience had been gained exclusively in helicopters and his various licences related solely to this type of aircraft. He had gained his Private Pilot's Licence in 1984 and had then progressed to a Commercial Pilot's Licence in 1989 and an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence in December of 1990. His initial flying as a professional pilot had been from Shoreham, near Worthing, and he subsequently moved to Goodwood in 1995."
Is there anyone with any clues as to whom this may have been?
Charles Hughesdon's second Bell 206, G-BTWA arriving at Battersea and doubtless being flown by the venerable Geoff Cox and perhaps being chartered by Estepo!
S.