Corporate flight departments, UK
Don't know about a '125 but I remember N179AR parked at Heathrow complete with a cooler at the bottom of the steps so that people passing by could take a bottle.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Coca Cola 125 was G-BFXT, sold on to Polygram before heading to the USA.
Thanks One11 for mentioning my old friend Dave Ward at UB. Many will remember his larger than life character and generous spirit. On more than occasion I was invited on board after his passengers had left to the sample The Macallan or similar !!
Always felt I had buy the biscuits as a small thank you..
Always felt I had buy the biscuits as a small thank you..
One that ( I think !!) has so far escaped the net thus far is Smiths Instruments who were based at Staverton. I can't remember exactly what they operated but a de H Dove and a Varsity spring to mind....... I am sure there will be some one along to fill in the details...!!
Including DH Dove G-AOSE, Varsity G-APAZ, Anson G-AHKX and Miles Gemini G-AKHY
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SMITHS INSTRUMENTS
Smths Instruments operated G-AMZE Dakota in the 50s on loan from the Ministry of Supply and after the fatal loss of G-APAZ 27 March 1963 they operated G-ARFP Varsity until it returned to military marks. They used .HS 748 G-ASJT from 1963 until moved to RAE in 1970 as XW750 the aircraft were used in research of MLS and Doppler systems
Smths Instruments operated G-AMZE Dakota in the 50s on loan from the Ministry of Supply and after the fatal loss of G-APAZ 27 March 1963 they operated G-ARFP Varsity until it returned to military marks. They used .HS 748 G-ASJT from 1963 until moved to RAE in 1970 as XW750 the aircraft were used in research of MLS and Doppler systems
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I used to put the Distillers' Jetstream to bed some evenings around 1975. (Hurn)
One evening when the aircraft arrived, one of the directors was on board and asked me to come into the office after I had finished in the hangar.
He offered me a glass of Dimple Haig. As he was passing me the glass he asked if I would like anything with it, I said, "just a little water please". This he approved of but said if I had wanted anything else the glass would have been taken away. He disapproved of anything like ginger ale or lemonade polluting the finest whiskeys.
One evening when the aircraft arrived, one of the directors was on board and asked me to come into the office after I had finished in the hangar.
He offered me a glass of Dimple Haig. As he was passing me the glass he asked if I would like anything with it, I said, "just a little water please". This he approved of but said if I had wanted anything else the glass would have been taken away. He disapproved of anything like ginger ale or lemonade polluting the finest whiskeys.
SMITHS INSTRUMENTS
Smths Instruments operated G-AMZE Dakota in the 50s on loan from the Ministry of Supply and after the fatal loss of G-APAZ 27 March 1963 they operated G-ARFP Varsity until it returned to military marks. They used .HS 748 G-ASJT from 1963 until moved to RAE in 1970 as XW750 the aircraft were used in research of MLS and Doppler systems
Smths Instruments operated G-AMZE Dakota in the 50s on loan from the Ministry of Supply and after the fatal loss of G-APAZ 27 March 1963 they operated G-ARFP Varsity until it returned to military marks. They used .HS 748 G-ASJT from 1963 until moved to RAE in 1970 as XW750 the aircraft were used in research of MLS and Doppler systems
If you mean G-BWWW I used to work on it some 12 years later 'somewhere in Surrey' and when on night shift I used to go inside when all work complete and help myself to a wee nightcap before bedding down for a few hours of well deserved sleep in one of the comfy seats
.I wasn't greedy though - although in later years some others were and eventually the bar was locked (or removed ?) - all good things come to an end !
Funny you should say that
If you mean G-BWWW I used to work on it some 12 years later 'somewhere in Surrey' and when on night shift I used to go inside when all work complete and help myself to a wee nightcap before bedding down for a few hours of well deserved sleep in one of the comfy seats.
I wasn't greedy though - although in later years some others were and eventually the bar was locked (or removed ?) - all good things come to an end !
If you mean G-BWWW I used to work on it some 12 years later 'somewhere in Surrey' and when on night shift I used to go inside when all work complete and help myself to a wee nightcap before bedding down for a few hours of well deserved sleep in one of the comfy seats
.I wasn't greedy though - although in later years some others were and eventually the bar was locked (or removed ?) - all good things come to an end !
Thread Starter
SMITHS INSTRUMENTS
Smths Instruments operated G-AMZE Dakota in the 50s on loan from the Ministry of Supply and after the fatal loss of G-APAZ 27 March 1963 they operated G-ARFP Varsity until it returned to military marks. They used .HS 748 G-ASJT from 1963 until moved to RAE in 1970 as XW750 the aircraft were used in research of MLS and Doppler systems
Smths Instruments operated G-AMZE Dakota in the 50s on loan from the Ministry of Supply and after the fatal loss of G-APAZ 27 March 1963 they operated G-ARFP Varsity until it returned to military marks. They used .HS 748 G-ASJT from 1963 until moved to RAE in 1970 as XW750 the aircraft were used in research of MLS and Doppler systems
Yes Treadi the Citation IIs (G-BMCL followed by G-OMCL) both lived in the Sportair hangar. To accommodate them a single sheet of corrugated iron was hinged at the centre above the doors which the fin had to pass through. Quite tricky and how I learnt to tow aircraft all those years ago. Hangar was not big enough to house the final Citation VI and was “sold” to Cambridge Gliding to support its move the Gransden Lodge club for one pound, where it remains.
Did we mention Bernard Matthews ? His company had at least two aircraft, though not at the same time. There was B200 G-BMNF and then a Citation, whose registration I've forgotten. Based at Norwich with pilots Robin Palmer and Richard Joy. I think Geoffrey Burville too.
Siebe PLC used to drop into Leeds Bradford every now and then back in the nineties. Their aircraft was Citation N2000M with pilot David Fost. You would get a phone call from Eddie Horan to let you know when they
were coming to and then you'd hear nothing more until the aircraft arrived.
Siebe PLC used to drop into Leeds Bradford every now and then back in the nineties. Their aircraft was Citation N2000M with pilot David Fost. You would get a phone call from Eddie Horan to let you know when they
were coming to and then you'd hear nothing more until the aircraft arrived.
Did we mention Bernard Matthews ? His company had at least two aircraft, though not at the same time. There was B200 G-BMNF and then a Citation, whose registration I've forgotten. Based at Norwich with pilots Robin Palmer and Richard Joy. I think Geoffrey Burville too.
Siebe PLC used to drop into Leeds Bradford every now and then back in the nineties. Their aircraft was Citation N2000M with pilot David Fost. You would get a phone call from Eddie Horan to let you know when they
were coming to and then you'd hear nothing more until the aircraft arrived.
Siebe PLC used to drop into Leeds Bradford every now and then back in the nineties. Their aircraft was Citation N2000M with pilot David Fost. You would get a phone call from Eddie Horan to let you know when they
were coming to and then you'd hear nothing more until the aircraft arrived.
I doubt it was as pretentious as a "Corporate Flight Department" but Bird's Eye Foods had a company aircraft, a Queen Air based at Fairoaks in the '70s.
I cadged a lift in it to Humberside for an interveiw at Hull Unversity in I suppose 1977.
I cadged a lift in it to Humberside for an interveiw at Hull Unversity in I suppose 1977.
Williamson's Diamond Mine TANGANYIKA
Planemike: You forgot the 748! 5H-WDL served with them for 20 years 1976-1996. To be fair, for obvious reasons, it was an unannounced sale.
Planemike: You forgot the 748! 5H-WDL served with them for 20 years 1976-1996. To be fair, for obvious reasons, it was an unannounced sale.
Until the 1970s it seems that "personalised" UK registrations were not possible