Colt Executive Aviation
I remember this outfit very well, so apologies in advance for a long post.
Colt Executive Aviation (CEA) was a division of The Colt Car Company, the UK Mitsubishi distributor.
Colt began operations with Aerostar G-COLT and recruited Peter Turner from Bristol Air Taxis as chief pilot. When the Aerostar proved unsuitable they decided to replace it with a Cessna 441 but when the type experienced technical problems replaced it with a Commander 690 G-JRMM followed by King Air G-STYR, then King Air 200 G-MCEO. An Aztec G-SATO was added, and rapidly replaced by another King Air G-PTER. All the turboprops were named “Bright Eyes” and had regn based on directors names Jack R Morris-Marsham, Richard STYeR, Michael Charles Edward Orr, Mr Sato, and PeTER Turner.
At the same time as they were replacing the Aerostar they leased Jetranger G-BCVZ from Mann to evaluate helicopter operations, but when they selected the Squirrel G-BFNC was op for a while. Incidentally ‘VZ was the first a/c in the black & white Colt livery. They recruited Robert Kellie as Chief Helicopter Pilot – presumably this was the ex Mann pilot mentioned earlier.
The company’s first owned helicopter was G-MORR, soon followed by a whole family of ORR’s named after various members of that family. The exception possibly being G-MAHO; this crashed into the Humber after hitting a ships mast during a film assignment. A Dauphin was reported on order but never materialized.
Michael Orr used the helicopters extensively to commute from his house in Minchinhampton to Colt HQ nearby Cirencester. This continued when he moved to Devon with G-PTER deputizing in bad weather. G-MORR was his prime a/c and was repainted in a black with red stripes version of the livery with Lonsdale Cars logos when Colt tried unsuccessfully to sell Australian made Mitsubishi’s in the UK.
CEA was a pioneer in the Police market operating for Devon & Cornwall and Thames Valley. Their helis always managed to hit the headlines rescuing topless streaker Erica Rowe from blizzards in Wales, and drying out Cheltenham racecourse. They also established their own maintenance op & became distributor for the Mitsubishi Diamond jet (later Beechjet) importing G-JMSO named Jimbo after Orr’s son. However a/c utilization was low and costs were high. They also paid a top of the market price for Harvard G-AZBN at the Strathallan auction having originally gone after the Hurricane. The Harvard flew around with a large Mitsubishi diamond logo on its underside.
Eventually Mitsubishi tired of Michael Orr’s extravagances (ocean yachts, offshore powerboat racing, hot air balloons, aerobatic sponsorship, lavish HQ building, sponsorship of Mark Phillips’ Gatcombe Country Fair and CEA) and pushed him out. Peter Beaumont his successor canned CEA and sold the business off to Asbon Associates, including the aircraft were sold.
Later Colt realized they really did need business aircraft and had a couple of Citations (G-CCCL Colt Car Co Ltd followed by G-JETC) and a pair Squirrels G-TMMC (The Mitsubishi Motor Co) and G-BMIF. These were operated by Corporate Jet Services headed by Peter Turner and predecessor to his EAS.
Robert Kellie went on to form Helicopter’s UK and Mark Trumble (pilot of the ill fated G-MAHO) to form Police Aviation Services.
Pheww - I pause for breath.