Brick Walls
As many here will know, I flew with John Crewdson on many a happy occasion but it all started with the filming of Rollerball. (the original release) Believe it please ... but we used an Enstrom and probably a non turbo-charged 28A. I certainly recall having the hull dressed with the "Energy Corporation" logo. In fact while refuelling at Blackbushe, the kindly re-fueller offered to send the invoice to the Corporation! WE did actually pay on the spot though ... honest.
John Crewdson certainly taught me a thing or two about film work, when, having been unfairly labelled a young 'Hothead' I was asked to fly a Bell 206 through a brick wall for the Barratt's advertisement. I spent too much time considering the effect on the M/R blades when compressing a few sheets of polystyrene, not to mention how the T/R blades might fare. Eventually we elected to decline the task.
Later, I mentioned the job with JC who surely knew the game better than me. The final shot produced was nothing like the original requirement since, as can be seen, the pilot simply ran the skids through the top foot or so ... which apparently satisfied all and sundry. Blast .... there went the odd grand or so.
Just wonderful though to read so many of the old names associated with that wonderful gentleman Alan Mann. I recall dear Bob Baff who always made a point of 'walking tall' as he exited his high skid 206. And how I remember the occasion, I flew Bob in to the Flight Magazine's 'Cranfield Show' exhibition in a bog standard PA28. 'Twas about 1973 ish. Bob asked if he could make the landing and knowing he was a dedicate rotary man, I expected something of 'an arrival.' Of course he produced the smoothest touch down imaginable.
Please all ex-Manners - keep the stories going. BW to all. Dennis Kenyon.