Smiths actually managed Staverton Airport, 1956-62. Comms hacks were Miles Gemini G-AKHY and DH Dove G-AOSE. In this period Autoland was a prime RAE Bedford/Blind Landing Experimental Unit programme, seen as helpful to the Medium Bomber and Strategic Transport (Belfast) fleets. Early work to 1964 was on Dakota G-AMZE; MoS provided Smiths Flying Unit with Varsity G-APAZ in 1958 and G-ARFP in 1962 as trials vehicles. Civil Cat. IIIa Certification was supported from 1963 by Smiths own 748, G-ASJT and achieved in 1967. That gave 12 ft. decision height: John Cunningham did final trials on Trident 2E G-AVFA and chose to demonstrate manual override on an auto approach with me as the rubber neck in the jump seat. A new meaning to surge.
Last edited by tornadoken; 3rd Apr 2013 at 09:29.