I too flew in Dove G-ARBE, from the HSA test airfield Holme-on-Spalding-Moor to Boscombe Down to pick up Derek Whithead and his navigator after they had delivered a Buccaneer for testing. Ex test pilot Dickie Chandler was in the left seat and we even had a navigator for the trip down the airways.
All was not well on our arrival at BD... as I recall a pin needed to be inserted somewhere in the nose undercarriage mechanism, just in case, and this had not been done.. the once mighty Buccaneer was resting forlornly on its nose. Whitehead was not impressed and I well remember the big man in the confines of the Dove's cabin with steam coming out of his ears for the entire flight back to HOSM.
Went up with Dickie Chandler on another flight in RBE, this time out of her base at Brough, to capture sky-and-cloud footage for a ballet production. Being an apprentice could be fun!
Robert