Mike Ramsden
 

Just seen on Flyer that J M "Mike" Ramsden died on Sunday. To me he was foremost the Editor of Flight International when I read it fairly assiduously in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but I know he was much more.

The late Gainesy once of these pages, otherwise Mike Gaines also of Flight, "let slip" that Mike Ramsden was also Roger Bacon - or one of several - and I suggest he was "ahhhh de Havilland!" personified, a Total Aviation Person.

RIP.

Sad but not unexpected I'm afraid. We old "ahh de Havilland" folk can't forget that Mike was ten or so years ahead of us at the Tech. School and what that implies - as was Alastair Pugh who died earlier this year.
Happily Mike did manage to finish and publish his biography of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, a work that draws heavily on Mike's interviews over the years with the senior members of GdH's original team.
As Editor of Flight International it was characteristic that he still found time to entertain us with "Straight and Level"
On a more serious level, when he and others were conned by Channel 4 TV's "Comet Cover-up" he led the fight to have Channel 4 shown for what it was. Lots here.

Yuk Speak
 

Was it Mike that used the term 'YUK SPEAK' for various official documents or statements that failed to cover the point in question !!!

As I recall that was his porcine alter ego!

"Captain Speaking" was another of his recurrent classics, which has entertained various non-aviation folk I have used the expression with.

We were delighted to find there is an aerodrome called Hoskins (HKN, AYSHK) in Papua New Guinea . . .
Let us also not forget "Roger's Thesaurus"

Another Straight and Level line I remember was "the old Constipation sat on the ramp dripping oil. Passers by fled in panic as its four Wrights burst into flames..."

...due to a failure of the knurled flange-bracket.

A line that hasoccasionally been swallowed and regurgitated by reporters ever since.

So, so satisfying!

And the American...`J.Burlington Widebody`...if you didn`t go to the `jobs` page first,it was usually to Uncle Rogers for his take on all things aviation.....

I seem to recall that for a time 'Straight and Level' was sub-captioned '...the page you turn to second...'

I was so reminded of this in an instant on a EuroManx BAe146, a short-lived shambolic operation about 12 years ago from London City to Isle of Man, operating half a day late. On the descent into IOM there was a sudden and substantial Ker-TWANG from the air conditioning ducts above the seats. There must be something up there in the 146 with a large spring. Everyone around pulled a shocked face, but I just thought "Roger Bacon". Given the overall operation, not even unexpected.

I see I wrote about it here at the time https://www.pprune.org/passengers-sl...ml#post4307062

Then there were the definitions. For starters:

"An air hostess is a lady who asks you what you want, and then straps you down so that you can't have it."

Perhaps his first name "Roger"was not for nothing, bondage perhaps? ;) Or maybe he just wanted bacon.

I always thought the name was a homage to the eponymous friar:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Bacon

You could probably fill a book with Uncle Roger's inventions.

Among my favourites were Rollo Freelunch (I've met a few of those in my time) and Reginald S Potter (ditto).

Yes memories of early aviation indoctrination.
The couple I remember was :
"He is so secure in his job he reads Flight from the front !"

and when RR was developing the RB
Government Man :" How is the new engine going?"
Rolls Royce Neddy : " Well the weight is what the thrust should be and the thrust is what the weight shoud be "

Another Straight and Level line I remember was "the old Constipation sat on the ramp dripping oil. Passers by fled in panic as its four Wrights burst into flames..."

Ha! I remember this one too, it was a send up of Stephen Piercy's enthusiasm for old prop liners.