Edgley EA7 Optica
I scrounged a 15 min trip with Angus McVitie in the prototype at Farnborough. The only bit I didn't do was takeoff, Angus handed it over to me at about 200ft on climbout! Landing was easy with all that 'glass'.
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: UK
Age: 68
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When I was young these got a lot of press and TV and were thought to be "the future". Quirky but stylish design. Shame they disappeared, but pleasantly surprised to know that one is still flying. Cheers mauld, another good 'un!
Neville Duke, with a young Flight Test Engineer supporting him by the name of Francis Donaldson.
I got to do an evaluation of the aeroplane in that video a couple of years ago whilst in discussion with John Edgley about seeing if it could be resurrected for the modern market. Sadly, the answer is that it probably can't, for a bunch of reasons that I'll write about in my memoirs one day. But that doesn't make it any less fascinating as an aeroplane.
I have a real affection for the Optica as it was seeing that at Farnborough in my teens that kick-started my fascination for the whole technical side of aviation. So, you could make a strong case that the EA7 is directly responsible for the creation of Genghis the Engineer.
G
I got to do an evaluation of the aeroplane in that video a couple of years ago whilst in discussion with John Edgley about seeing if it could be resurrected for the modern market. Sadly, the answer is that it probably can't, for a bunch of reasons that I'll write about in my memoirs one day. But that doesn't make it any less fascinating as an aeroplane.
I have a real affection for the Optica as it was seeing that at Farnborough in my teens that kick-started my fascination for the whole technical side of aviation. So, you could make a strong case that the EA7 is directly responsible for the creation of Genghis the Engineer.
G
Reminds me of my time in Hervey Bay Airport, Queensland where the "Seeker" aircraft was manufactured. The Seeker would appear to be very similar in useage. Worth Googling for those that may be interested.
)
I seem to recollect that fire destroyed David Lockspieser's LDA-01 too. On his arrival at Farnborough once, he was parked next to the 'tower' (the 1945-2002 one) and amused us all by getting a small motorbike out of the cargo bay and riding off.
Last edited by chevvron; 8th Jun 2014 at 02:23.
