Rothmans Aerobatic Team (& Others)
Awesome but Affordable
Brian had been in deteriorating health for some time. He was a great friend for over 40 years, a superb writer and a wonderful airshow pilot. We will miss him .
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Dwarf RAT
Dwarf RAT
Pull up a bar stool (to get to the same height as the other!), light the pipe, pour a whiskey, and join in with what will be a hell of a catch up with Dad, John Maclean, Mike Cairns, Dave Perrin, Andy Wallbridge, and others. No doubt the conversation will start with: Do you remember the time we......
Mike Edwards
Pull up a bar stool (to get to the same height as the other!), light the pipe, pour a whiskey, and join in with what will be a hell of a catch up with Dad, John Maclean, Mike Cairns, Dave Perrin, Andy Wallbridge, and others. No doubt the conversation will start with: Do you remember the time we......
Mike Edwards
Awesome but Affordable
Brian's funeral
Copied from the Flyer website
Post by Chiltern Aviator » Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:51
Joyce Lecomber has asked me to advise that we will all be saying farewell to Brian at the parish church of St Peter & St Paul, Great Missenden, HP16 0BA at 11am Friday October 9th.
There will be a short private cremation service immediately after that, for close family, however there will indeed be a meet up at Brian’s usual nearby watering hole in the village following the committal.
Please PM me with queries or any further info.Chiltern Aviator
Copied from the Flyer website
Post by Chiltern Aviator » Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:51
Joyce Lecomber has asked me to advise that we will all be saying farewell to Brian at the parish church of St Peter & St Paul, Great Missenden, HP16 0BA at 11am Friday October 9th.
There will be a short private cremation service immediately after that, for close family, however there will indeed be a meet up at Brian’s usual nearby watering hole in the village following the committal.
Please PM me with queries or any further info.Chiltern Aviator
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Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Well, here is a great piece of video...
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Yes, Brian Smith.
Join Date: Jun 2000
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https://picasaweb.google.com/pmarsde...eat=directlink
Some photos 1976.
Greetings everyone,
I came across this thread a couple of years ago after someone had given it a re-boot after its hibernation. After the sad news of Brian’s passing I read back thought the whole epistle and noted all the nostalgic comments especially in 2006 – 2009. I rummaged around in the attic and came up with these.
All the chat about David P was very sad. He introduced me to the Pitts for my 2nd time. The first was at interview for commentator. After Manx had grilled me, it was time for Ian Weston to show off. The whole circuit at Booker from crosswind to finals was inverted. What an introduction. Graham Watson, who was my chauffeur to Farnboro’ for the 1976 tattoo, did the same thing across most of N.London. I was holding on to the front cockpit cover as well, for grim death.
Reliving all the stories about Dave were amplified after watching “Man in the Sky.” Thank you for the link. Good memories as I’ve now hung up my ATPL and regained my PPL and my local instructor is the proud owner of an S-2A. First some hours on Cap-10 and then a rebirth in a yellow/black canopied pocket rocket.
Somewhere in early 90’s I bumped into Graham W at LHR sim centre. He was wearing his CAA hat and I was training some of my dutchies in B757 sim. In 2000 I bumped into Ben Kershaw (RAT 5 1975) at CTC Aviation, Southampton HQ. They were the training organisation of an embryonic easyjet and I was on the inside of the orange training department. In 2015, at my local flying club in Lelystad, Netherlands, I saw a poster for - O’Brien’s Flying Circus -. He’d stayed strong to his roots perhaps after enough of the bright lights and green carpet as presenter of ‘Flightline’ on Discovery channel. The flowing locks once more in the slip-stream where they belong. No shiny aluminium tube for Brendan. Sadly I couldn’t visit his show that day. One for the future.
For my 65th I exchanged much cash with Boultebee at Goodwood and enjoyed a wonderful flight with John Beattie around the needles. Aeros in a Spitfire were graceful and majestic. I mention this because he displays the Sea Fury, seen parked near the Team. The conversation then drifted to Pete Shepherd who he knows well. Another 40 year old link. The day before, I’d allowed myself 2 sorties in an Extra 300 with Ultimate HI, also Goodwood. Crazy machine.
That brought me back to Dave P. When I first saw Pete McLeod, on ‘Airshow’ Discovery Channel, he reminded me of Dave, even had the hair. He was breaking into the airshow scene under the watchful eye of Sean Tucker. He succeeded & now flys Redbull air races. Meanwhile Sean Tucker flies the Challenger; a Pitts look alike, but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Astonishing stuff, the more so with internal video.
The circle is full round. I started my first commercial flying job with Rothmans, in a Pitts; progressed via biz-jets, air taxis, crop sprayers in UK & Africa to various aluminium tubes of various hew & sizes & in various countries, and paragliders, to end up back at my local flying club and a Pits S-2A.
I hope the photos are of interest. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any of the amazing & unique slow roll in box formation, but the more impressive with Nos. 2 & 3 inverted. Graham & Bob could tells us all about how confusing that might have been.
So the earthly bonds shall remain broken for a long time. All the very best to everyone, where ever you may be, but hopefully on green and relaxing pastures.
Peter.
Some photos 1976.
Greetings everyone,
I came across this thread a couple of years ago after someone had given it a re-boot after its hibernation. After the sad news of Brian’s passing I read back thought the whole epistle and noted all the nostalgic comments especially in 2006 – 2009. I rummaged around in the attic and came up with these.
All the chat about David P was very sad. He introduced me to the Pitts for my 2nd time. The first was at interview for commentator. After Manx had grilled me, it was time for Ian Weston to show off. The whole circuit at Booker from crosswind to finals was inverted. What an introduction. Graham Watson, who was my chauffeur to Farnboro’ for the 1976 tattoo, did the same thing across most of N.London. I was holding on to the front cockpit cover as well, for grim death.
Reliving all the stories about Dave were amplified after watching “Man in the Sky.” Thank you for the link. Good memories as I’ve now hung up my ATPL and regained my PPL and my local instructor is the proud owner of an S-2A. First some hours on Cap-10 and then a rebirth in a yellow/black canopied pocket rocket.
Somewhere in early 90’s I bumped into Graham W at LHR sim centre. He was wearing his CAA hat and I was training some of my dutchies in B757 sim. In 2000 I bumped into Ben Kershaw (RAT 5 1975) at CTC Aviation, Southampton HQ. They were the training organisation of an embryonic easyjet and I was on the inside of the orange training department. In 2015, at my local flying club in Lelystad, Netherlands, I saw a poster for - O’Brien’s Flying Circus -. He’d stayed strong to his roots perhaps after enough of the bright lights and green carpet as presenter of ‘Flightline’ on Discovery channel. The flowing locks once more in the slip-stream where they belong. No shiny aluminium tube for Brendan. Sadly I couldn’t visit his show that day. One for the future.
For my 65th I exchanged much cash with Boultebee at Goodwood and enjoyed a wonderful flight with John Beattie around the needles. Aeros in a Spitfire were graceful and majestic. I mention this because he displays the Sea Fury, seen parked near the Team. The conversation then drifted to Pete Shepherd who he knows well. Another 40 year old link. The day before, I’d allowed myself 2 sorties in an Extra 300 with Ultimate HI, also Goodwood. Crazy machine.
That brought me back to Dave P. When I first saw Pete McLeod, on ‘Airshow’ Discovery Channel, he reminded me of Dave, even had the hair. He was breaking into the airshow scene under the watchful eye of Sean Tucker. He succeeded & now flys Redbull air races. Meanwhile Sean Tucker flies the Challenger; a Pitts look alike, but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Astonishing stuff, the more so with internal video.
The circle is full round. I started my first commercial flying job with Rothmans, in a Pitts; progressed via biz-jets, air taxis, crop sprayers in UK & Africa to various aluminium tubes of various hew & sizes & in various countries, and paragliders, to end up back at my local flying club and a Pits S-2A.
I hope the photos are of interest. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any of the amazing & unique slow roll in box formation, but the more impressive with Nos. 2 & 3 inverted. Graham & Bob could tells us all about how confusing that might have been.
So the earthly bonds shall remain broken for a long time. All the very best to everyone, where ever you may be, but hopefully on green and relaxing pastures.
Peter.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Many thanks Peter 
Is that you peering over the back end of G-BCXD?
Is that you peering over the back end of G-BCXD?
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
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Please do post some more Loonrat!
Neil Williams's article for Shell Aviation News on the Rothmans Team can be accessed from this link. The file is in PRC format - it can be read on Kindles and Kindle apps.
Brendan O'Brien bought my Cub in 2009 and now subjects it to various indignities in his air displays.
I saw a poster for - O’Brien’s Flying Circus -. He’d stayed strong to his roots perhaps after enough of the bright lights and green carpet as presenter of ‘Flightline’ on Discovery channel. The flowing locks once more in the slip-stream where they belong.
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Does he do anything as lunatic as the Delta airline pilot in his heavily modified Piper Cub? If you need a link to it let me know. Astonishing on video and confirmed by a friend who witnessed the abuse for real.
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JUBILEE DUO AND ROTHMANS PHOTOS
In response to a request for more photos I am posting 4 more showing the Jubilee Duo with myself and Marcus Edwards and the RAT aircraft during major overhauls at Blackbushe prior to the 1978 display season. No more photos or info forthcoming until after my book on the team is published hopefully in 2017.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Thanks Loonrat, that sound excellent, I look forward to publication!