Wolverhampton Pendeford and THE MAN IN THE SKY
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: cheshire
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Many many years ago,1958-59sh, at school I remember watching a film about airline booking, tickets and travel. I am certain it was made by ESSO but I remember propliners and little else, I would love to see it again, I tried to track it down with zilch results. I was born in 1944.
I realise this thread has been dormant for years, but I came across this interesting video showing old scenes from Pendeford, including the film "Man in the Sky"
I only visited Pendeford once - on 29th August 1966. I know the date is correct as I was on my way to a display at Halfpenny Green during which Cosmic Wind G-ARUL crashed on take off and ended up in a hedge.
Pendeford was all closed up when I visited and I the only two aircraft I saw were G-ANCX Tiger Moth and G-ATKZ Nipper through gaps in the hangar door.
I only visited Pendeford once - on 29th August 1966. I know the date is correct as I was on my way to a display at Halfpenny Green during which Cosmic Wind G-ARUL crashed on take off and ended up in a hedge.
Pendeford was all closed up when I visited and I the only two aircraft I saw were G-ANCX Tiger Moth and G-ATKZ Nipper through gaps in the hangar door.
One of my ex work colleagues learnt to fly at Pendeford in 1967. In 1962, on my way to Cosford to see my older brother 'pass out', we must have passed the airfield on the train but I don't recall it.
In the film, the air traffic controller was played by actor Raymond Francis, who later (1957 - 1965) starred in several detective series such as 'Murder Bag', 'Crime Sheet' and 'No Hiding Place'.
Coincidentally, I recently saw a documentary about him with inputs from his daughter.
In the film, the air traffic controller was played by actor Raymond Francis, who later (1957 - 1965) starred in several detective series such as 'Murder Bag', 'Crime Sheet' and 'No Hiding Place'.
Coincidentally, I recently saw a documentary about him with inputs from his daughter.
Wolverhampton 19/06/1964 the 6FTS JP aeros team were practicing for a display the next day. We were asked to desist as the local school children were all at the windows watching instead of doing their exams. I was doing the solo spot.
Next day for the show the cloud base was about 700 so we could only do a very abbreviated bad weather sequence.
We were operating from Shawbury.
Next day for the show the cloud base was about 700 so we could only do a very abbreviated bad weather sequence.
We were operating from Shawbury.
Re-activated this thread as the Man in the Sky was on TV the other day. A lot of the film takes place on Pendeford Airfield in and around the control tower.
If you view the above you tube at 5:13 onwards you'll seen some exterior shots of the control tower. Fixed to it near the top is a large sign R.
I thought as a control tower that should a C?
Any ideas why R?
If you view the above you tube at 5:13 onwards you'll seen some exterior shots of the control tower. Fixed to it near the top is a large sign R.
I thought as a control tower that should a C?
Any ideas why R?
Last edited by Brewster Buffalo; 25th Sep 2023 at 12:06.
I'm just guessing but it may have stood for 'Pilots Report Here' which has now been supplanted (where it is still displayed) by the black 'C' on a yellow background meaning the same thing.
Alternatively it might have normally been suffixed by the runway QDM but I never saw this displayed, just the runway on its own.
Alternatively it might have normally been suffixed by the runway QDM but I never saw this displayed, just the runway on its own.
Re-activated this thread as the Man on the Sky was on TV the other day. A lot of the film takes place on Pendeford Airfield in and around the control tower.
If you view the above you tube at 5:13 onwards you'll seen some exterior shots of the control tower. Fixed to it near the top is a large sign R.
I thought as a control tower that should a C?
Any ideas why R?
If you view the above you tube at 5:13 onwards you'll seen some exterior shots of the control tower. Fixed to it near the top is a large sign R.
I thought as a control tower that should a C?
Any ideas why R?
I'm just guessing but it may have stood for 'Pilots Report Here' which has now been supplanted
That could be it but normally the indicator for a RHC was horizontal in the signals square, especially in the 50s/60s
The convention was 'When in the ATZ, all turns are to made to the left' for which there was no signal but there should have been a signal in the signals square showing a right angled board covered in white and red stripes which would indicate 'RH circuit in force'.
Could the photos above be Pendeford by any chance?
The convention was 'When in the ATZ, all turns are to made to the left' for which there was no signal but there should have been a signal in the signals square showing a right angled board covered in white and red stripes which would indicate 'RH circuit in force'.
Could the photos above be Pendeford by any chance?
I thought the L & R reference might be to the circuit pattern but dismissed it as I presumed that would be shown in the T square. Did many airfields in those days vary their circuit patterns?
That could be it but normally the indicator for a RHC was horizontal in the signals square, especially in the 50s/60s
The convention was 'When in the ATZ, all turns are to made to the left' for which there was no signal but there should have been a signal in the signals square showing a right angled board covered in white and red stripes which would indicate 'RH circuit in force'.
Could the photos above be Pendeford by any chance?
The convention was 'When in the ATZ, all turns are to made to the left' for which there was no signal but there should have been a signal in the signals square showing a right angled board covered in white and red stripes which would indicate 'RH circuit in force'.
Could the photos above be Pendeford by any chance?
Just found out that if I had watched the video to the end I would have seen the caption, at 11.35, -
"Note the R sign positioned on the control tower. This told pilots that a non-standard right hand circuit was in place."
Possibly this R was for the information of departing pilots
"Note the R sign positioned on the control tower. This told pilots that a non-standard right hand circuit was in place."
Possibly this R was for the information of departing pilots
The standard indicator for right hand circuits (other than the arrow in the signals square which was not visible to aircraft taxiing) was a green flag flown from a mast in the signals square. L and R might have been a non-standard Pendeford anomaly.
