Another legend passes into history. My condolences to Henry and the family.
It had been my intention to visit Alan to interview him for the Ferranti/Alan Mann site we are building but .. my delay in returning to Blighty has now meant this cannot (obviously) happen.
Alan spawned the development of what became for two good decades one of Britain's leading onshore helicopter outfits. His negotiation of the Agusta distributorship propelled Alan Mann Helicopters to the fore of the UK's private and early commercial market where Mann's were, as stated, a force to be reckoned with.
Unlike Ferranti, Hanson and others, Mann's were never hankered after recognition as an 'elite' organisation they instead, for the most part, just got on with the job and which endeared them to many.
In their day they were a truly wonderful company - one which contributed significantly to the advancement rotary-wing aviation in the UK.
RIP Alan