What a great thread this is.
I worked for Alan Mann Avionics from 1973 to 1976.
I then changed
career.
I admit this was a money driven decision.... But look back on my Fairoaks years as the most interesting part of my career.
In those days Fairoaks control twr (130.45Mhz) was a large "greenhouse" located up a bit from the Helicopter hangar/Offices.
A few of my memories.-
There was a Blue Brantley that was brought out of the hangar for occasional engine runs. I don't think it was ever flown.
G-Axay I remember when the accident happened... Inkpen Ridge.
I saw the radio remains being investigated... Looking to see if it was powered up ie were the panel lights filaments stretched... and what frequency was it set on comms and nav. This was in the days of old fashioned dials with a number appearing in a small window.... No Leds.
G-Axay yellow tail was dumped behind the car park for a long time.
I remember in the Helicopter offices there was a large air to air picture of an English Electric Lightning climbing vertically and was told the pilot was Bob Baff.
There was an arrival of a Black B206 that had a small bullet hole in it's chin window. I was told the helicopter had been imported from the USA and may have flown Frank Sinatra.
For a few days an AMH helicopter was flying around the airfield with a radio controlled model helicopter flying alongside.
This was in preparation for an advertising stunt on behalf of the model maker. The model was to cross the channel controlled from the full size helicopter flying alongside/nearby.
When the control tower moved to it's present location I installed the radio, and also installed a Narco (I think) in the new yellow Crash Truck.
Finally I was working on a bell 47G (Intermittent headphone sockets Nato type I think)... and Peter Faulkes opened the door on the other side, and asked me how it was going and would it be ready for the afternoon.
He was such a nice friendly person, always used/knew first name.
Later that day I was given the bad news of the crash of G-BBKP.
Attached is a scan from the Daily Express Friday March 21st 1975.
If anyone has the contact details for John Birchell a colleague I used to work with at Mann Avionics would they let me know in a PM. Thanks.
PC
