I worked for Marconi Elliot (MEASL) as part of the AEW Trials Team based in Woodford in the six portacabins on the airfield side of Flight Sheds.
The initial aeroplane we had was Comet 4 XW626, and in my time we
had DB1, 2, and 3 which were ex squadron aeroplanes being modified in New Assembly on the other side of Woodford aerodrome.
At the time I flew as part of the Trials team (5)with an Aerospace flight deck(3)
a couple of BAe technicians and a couple of radiation monitoring staff (4 max -because of seats) At that time we mainly used RAE Bedford for co-operating airborne targets and the RN Fast Training Boats out of Portland though the former (Bedford) used to close at 17:00 and we occasionally had to night stop their crew at Woodford if our trials were delayed and went into the late afternoon.
It wasn't all doom and gloom though there were plenty of people continually knocking the AEW from day 1.
The unions at Woodford didn't help things in the beginning of the project as Woodford operated a closed shop at the time and Marconi was none union.
All so long ago now.
Last edited by 5aday; 6th Mar 2013 at 07:09.