Rothmans Aerobatic Team (& Others)

[21GG]

Hello, I came across this thread the other day and have found it very interesting and great reading. A bit of personal history: I live close to Blackpool, my father invested some money very early on in 'Comed Aviation', the company set up by Andy Wallbridge. I was 13 when he and John died.
Before I was old enough or tall enough to fly myself I did plenty of hours with my father. I also had a few hours with (as far as I can remember' mainly) Andy in G-Bady, that left one hell of an impression. My parents ended up running Comed for many years.
Ultimately it was sold and and I took any paperwork/photos/parts that would have been ultimateley dumped. I have many things from a pitts ferry fuel tank to many documents relating to Andy and the VIXEN TWO.
This may be of interest to 'big jugs', I have numerous photographs, stickers, book of press cutting, a wales magazine with Marcus on the front!

I will try and attach some photo's and stuff that I dug out of my box tonight.

Gav

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/y...o/IMAG0323.jpg
some vixen two photos

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/y...o/IMAG0322.jpg
marcus, niki, john & ?

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/y...o/IMAG0321.jpg
more vixen photos

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/y...o/IMAG0319.jpg
book of 1982 press cuttings and t-shirt transfers

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/y...o/IMAG0318.jpg
marcus on the front page!

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/y...o/IMAG0316.jpg
poster and stickers

[colin hoggarth]

Ray Hoggarth (hogarth)

Wondering when my brother joined Rothmans and finished? anyone out there can enlighten me? Many thanks. Colin H

[G-KEST]

Ray was a founder member of the RAT's in the 1970 season. Manx Kelly, Neil Williams, Iain Weston and Ray. Nick Daniels was the team commentator.
Ray only stayed for the one season and a couple of new guys joined for 1971 who proved unsuitable. Neil Williams returned and I joined. Halcyon days indeed.

Reaper 69

[Snoop]

Mike Findlay was my instructor at Prestwick, does anybody have any contact details for him?

Bral,

I have sent you a pm

Cheers

[Snoop]

Will try again!

[Danny_Fenton]

Fascinating read, as another son of a team member, I have heard many of these stories before. My father, (David) is indeed still in aviation. He ran Hornet aviation out of Sherburn-in-Elmet then Breighton. In more recent years he has done more specialised bespoke restoration work. Ironically a recent restoration was on a Stampe.

I had to chuckle at hearing the story of Mike Cairns eating the wine glass, it bought back memories of my dad telling us about that.

My only real contact with the team was the ocasional time they came to Sherburn and I would help fuel the aircraft. Happy days, even if I was only on the periphery.

If you search on Hornet Aviation dads details can be found

Thanks again for a fascinating couple of hours reading

Cheers
Danny

[milan55]

Hi,
Here was mentioned a great pilot Mr. David Perrin who fly in Rothmans Aerobatic group.i had a opportunity to meet him and Mr. Antony Biancchi, "Tony" as well as some mechanics from Personal Plane services during shooting of film :"High Road to China" on location in that time Yugoslavia mostly on airfild Grobnik near Rijeka.I work with them for a half year as a contact person between film flying crew and airclub "Krila Kvarnera" where I was doing my ICAO 2 years apprenticeship for aircraft mechanic licence.
One Sunday as I remember helicopter G-FILM took off with three persons on board for a short flight, to bring the second pilot for ferry flight of a third Stamp biplane, from 20 min flight time distanced Boljunsko Polje to Grobnik airfield.On a flight there happened a tragical and fatal accident where all thee persons died.Couse of accident was low level flight and helikopter cought a tipical cable used for a local residents to pull, transport goods on a hilly terrain:
Crew of a helicopter was:
1982 David Perrin (Stunt-Pilot), Jaron Anderson (Mechaniker), Nigel Thornton (Hubschrauberpilot):. Film "High Road to China"

This helicopter (registered G-FILM) was used for training and film work until it crashed in Yugoslavia in 1982 killing the pilot! ...
Some links to my photografs taken in that time:

High Road to China_0001 pictures from college photos on webshots

[milan55]

I made this pictures 1982. and if any person which collect pictures and would like to have them for keep memories or use them in articles i am willing to send him without any charge.
Pls. contact me on my private mail.Frst come first serve.

[email protected]

]

[Garth Busby]

I have a copy on VHS of "Man in the Sky", featuring David Perrin. Each time i watch it I am intrigued by the caption at the end advising David killed in accident , no fault of his . Despite my attempts to find out what happened it is only today that after all these years that i read your article replying to a similar queery by another member . It was a sad loss for the British aerobatic team ,particularly after the earlier tragedy of Neil Williams.

[DownWest]

Fascinating thread. I was a very junior mec at Shipdam when it started and the RAT performed at our official opening. + very funny chat by Graham Hill (several of the people behind the co. were racing drivers. Jack Sears used to leave his Ferrari 250GTO in the hangar) Later on, I rebuilt a couple of Stampes from bits. One for David +++ for displays ( he was a friend of Cadbury's). Chequered underside in red and white, sunburst topsides. Looked good in flic rolls. As we had to use a tensioner for the wires, and the nearest one was at Redhill, David and I flew her down just after X-mass '74. Never been so cold in my life. He let me fly and got down in the aft cockpit to keep warm. After the check, we flew back to Norfolk and beat up Shipdam as a celebration, until I noticed the oil pressure had gone to zero. David shut off the engine and landed from inverted. Turned out to be a dial prob.
Also Swanton Morley was just up the road and Neil Williams and Taffy Rich had flown the Mosquitos for the 633 Sqd film, another source of good stories. Like the bet about slow rolling a Mosquito on one engine.. And Taffy's instructions about losing an engine on take off, which NW had happen later on.
I moved abroad in '75 and lost touch with many of those. Nice to hear about it all again.
Also knew David Cyster, who flew his DH82a to Australia in the late 70s. The aircraft was owned by the Macauly(sp) FG, of which I was a member, but I had to fail it on C of A for unautherised spar repairs. (not popular!) David C bought it later and had it rebuilt for the trip. Last time we spoke, he still has it.
Andrew

In the show, Manx Kelly tried an inverted ribbon cut four times. He missed it but great to see the attempts..

[hotstart54]

David Perrin lost his life during filming in Yugoslavia. His aircraft went u/s (wouldn't start) so he accepted an invite to pop down to the filming site in a helicopter. On the way they hit some cables and crashed, nobody survived.
John Brobyn (a superb engineer and a highly valued team-mate) diligently stayed on to fault find Davids aircraft and in the process of refusing the invitation, lived on.

A sad loss, like John, David was an impressive individual. His flying was always immaculate and he had a good word for everyone. Crap karma.

[Wander00]

Down West - so did you know Peter Charles at Shipdam? And where in France - I am S Vendee

[DownWest]

Hi,
Yes, I used to see a lot of him, really nice guy. He used to give us licence cover for some types.
Further south than you, between Rochefort and Saintes.
Rgs
Andrew

Just saw your post, been a bit quiet on the thread...

[Midwich cuckoo]

Iain Weston

Hello Tim,

For so many years I have wondered what might have become of the Rothmans Pitts pilot who was so kind to my friend and I at Booker one weekend when I was about eight years old (which puts it at 1971). I remember so clearly Iain Westons smile and how he took out a brochure from the front patch pocket of the leg of his flying overall and handed it to me. I was thrilled (and still am though I don't, alas, have the brochure anymore).
A small gesture to a school boy which will continue to stay with me.

I suppose I have been aware of the fact that he may have passed, but I'm still moved to have learned of the reality.

Peter

[NutherA2]

I first flew with Iain over 50 years ago on joining my first squadron in Germany and remember him as one of nature's real gentlemen, even though he tried to sell me his MG at Chivenor in 1960!

Some details of his career are shown on the Jever Steam Laundry website including, sadly, the news of his death in 2002. RIP.

[LOONRAT]

IAN WESTON RIP

Found this painting on the web - brings back a few memories.

Ian Weston RIP undertook my selection ride in a Pitts S2 for the team in 1975. Not having flown a piston tail wheel aircraft for over 6 years and being a Jet Jock I was a bit nervous of the forthcoming flight. Mike Findlay briefed the sortie. Formation take off as a pair, formation wingovers, loops, barrel rolls followed by a 5 minute tail chase, split off for individual aeros and back to base for PFL and circuits. WOW what an intro. Ian always the gent took me aside and reassured me - 'No worries just relax, no need to look inside as there are no instruments in the front cockpit' The sortie was a blast - all I could hear over the intercom was Ian guffawing as I tried valiantly to hold in formation - he later confided to me that it was the first time he had seen formation aerobatics performed with the slip ball wedged fully to one side. ' Remember you have got feet so use them. The rudder bar in a Pitts is not a footrest' The aerobatics PFL and circuits were also exciting. 'What do I do about airspeed' I asked 'Fly it by feel - if it gets dangerous I'll take control'. The aerobatics and circuits were some of the best I ever flew in a Pitts. The debrief after the sortie was very short and sweet. Interview with Manx and hey presto I was offered the job for the 76 season. Only one problem I did not have a civil licence, 'No problem’ Manx retorted 'Get your arse in gear and fix it'.

Not many of us left now but I am wanting to plan a reunion for next year at my place near Silverstone. Contact details of all RAT pack members pilots, engineers and female support to me as I have lost contact.

I will post a few more pictures now I have worked out how to do it.

Regards

LOONRAT

[hotstart54]

Hi Bob,

That is one I wouldn't want to miss. There must be a good few who are still around from the periphery and it would be great to toast the dear departed.

ATB,

Norman Rhodes
[email protected]

[RAT 5]

What a superb picture, and what a superb read since 2003. I've just fallen across this thread. From what Loonrat says I ask if he spent some time later at CAA? or are you a tall lanky "Pelican'? Ian Weston also gave me a memorable intro to a Pitts in 1976. We took off with great gusto, 200' rolled and then flew the circuit inverted until 500'ish on finals. Fortunately, when he invited me to 'have a go' he meant in conventional fashion. Somewhere I have old photos, long before the digital age. Perhaps I can overcome my philistine knowledge and choose and post a suitable tribute to nostalgia and those magnificent men in their flying machines.

Done a little more trawling back through older messages and now Loonrat I've tumbled to you; that, plus a few more direct remarks for others. I just watched the U-Tube on page 13 of the Spanish display. Happy days and I hope life has been fun, Bob. Wish you all the best.

[Rhys Perraton]

What an interesting and nostalgic thread.
I had a hand in teaching David Perrin to fly, and together with Steve Haye, introducing him to aerobatics at the 600 Sqdn Flying Group.
If I recall rightly David was flying a good standard of aeros before he was old enough to get his licence.
When he moved on the Stampe from the Tiger and Chipmunk he went ahead by leaps and bounds.
It was no surprise to me when he was later selected by RAT as their first non ex-services pilot. A great achievement and I'm sure he would have become a world class aerobatic and display pilot if he had lived on.
Marcus was my first JP instructor at Linton and I had the pleasure of meeting him again at a number of airshows in later years.

[JW411]

Does anyone out there know where I could get my hands on a model of a Pitts in Rothman's colours?