Last flight of ETPS Andover XS606
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Dalek.
I remember Al Brindle when he was on 84 Sqn at Sharjah. Once, when flying a CSE show from Salalah to Masirah in an Andover, he pulled, what I am told, was an old Transport Command jape.
Now CSE show casts were quite impressionable. So Al waited until top of climb when they were all dozing off, then appeared walking backwards from the flight deck unreeling two lengths of lashing tape. He held them like horse reins and, when he got to the back, commenced to 'fly' the aircraft using the 'reins' He did port and starboard turns and climbing turns all to the apparent amazment of the artistes. I don't know whether any of them believed the tapes were connected to the control column, but they remained goggle eyed throughout.
He got a big round of applause on landing.
They were happier times.
I remember Al Brindle when he was on 84 Sqn at Sharjah. Once, when flying a CSE show from Salalah to Masirah in an Andover, he pulled, what I am told, was an old Transport Command jape.
Now CSE show casts were quite impressionable. So Al waited until top of climb when they were all dozing off, then appeared walking backwards from the flight deck unreeling two lengths of lashing tape. He held them like horse reins and, when he got to the back, commenced to 'fly' the aircraft using the 'reins' He did port and starboard turns and climbing turns all to the apparent amazment of the artistes. I don't know whether any of them believed the tapes were connected to the control column, but they remained goggle eyed throughout.
He got a big round of applause on landing.
They were happier times.
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Why can't they fly it to Bruntingthorpe and donate it to the guys there, so it can hurtle up and down the runway and be looked after.
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Re 606 and Al Brindle
I had the good fortune to go through the OCU with Al Brindle. It would be an understatement to just say that he was one of the RAF 'Characters' and I could fill a thread just with anecdotes about Al (perhaps not all repeatable!). He came to the transport world late in life after a splendid career on Meteors and Hunters, including being one of the '22' in the Black Arrows loop at Farnborough (http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...nter-loop.html).
I believe he retired to the Blackpool area and would now be in his late 80's or even early 90's.
It would be nice to keep 606 in good nick - I first flew her in March '70. but she (like a lot of my later aircraft) probably not deemed 'sexy' enough. Noisy though!
I believe he retired to the Blackpool area and would now be in his late 80's or even early 90's.
It would be nice to keep 606 in good nick - I first flew her in March '70. but she (like a lot of my later aircraft) probably not deemed 'sexy' enough. Noisy though!
Some time in the summer of 2010, I was driving up to Heathrow on the A303 after visiting my mother in Dorset. When I was passing Boscombe Down, I saw a blue, red and white Andover doing a steepish turn onto final from a close-in left base. A pleasure to watch such spirited flying.
Would that have been 606?
Would that have been 606?
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Al's anecdotes
Al looked even older than he was.
One of his favourite tricks was to take out his false teeth, board the aircraft with the passengers and sit down.
After a few minutes of inactivity he would say:
"B****r it, if no one else is flying this thing i'll do it myself."
He would hobble to the front of the aircraft and draw the curtains.
Shortly afterwards engines would start and soon they would be airborne.
He would then trim the aircraft slightly nose up and as the flight progressed role the odd empty beer bottle down the cental aisle.
Some passengers saw the funny side, some didn't.
One of his favourite tricks was to take out his false teeth, board the aircraft with the passengers and sit down.
After a few minutes of inactivity he would say:
"B****r it, if no one else is flying this thing i'll do it myself."
He would hobble to the front of the aircraft and draw the curtains.
Shortly afterwards engines would start and soon they would be airborne.
He would then trim the aircraft slightly nose up and as the flight progressed role the odd empty beer bottle down the cental aisle.
Some passengers saw the funny side, some didn't.
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Andover sold????
Not sure if this is the same C1 Andover - but I heard a company in Kenya had bought one in the UK and was planning to ferry it sometime this month??? Maybe XS646 instead???
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Err, actually it's the slightly less tropical climate of Bournemouth. 
Think it's going in for a respray which is a shame, but glad to hear it'll still eventually be flying somewhere in the world.
Think it's going in for a respray which is a shame, but glad to hear it'll still eventually be flying somewhere in the world.
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Andovers in Sudan
Heard her arrive at Bournemouth this morning, not so familiar sound these days, I understand that a French Company is looking for an experienced engineer to look after two Andovers on the Sudanese Register operating in central Africa, if anyone is interested give me a pm and I will pass on the contact details,
br om15
br om15
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Alan Brindle
Hi,
That was mi dad . Very sadly he died on 4 /11/2009 after suffering from being bed bound for nine years. Undercarriage gone but the brain box functioned well until 3months before his departure. Loved his flying and constantly kept in touch via news and mags with what was going on.loved to chat with anyone that would listen about the past .
Would be great to hear any more past thoughts good or ?
I have found some footage when he went to Anguila in 69 standing at back of Andover and then some take offs and landing. Not sure which one he was in as his log book was not always completed with numbers etc.
Better stop as I can go on a bit.
Love to hear more
Regards his eldest
John Brindle
That was mi dad . Very sadly he died on 4 /11/2009 after suffering from being bed bound for nine years. Undercarriage gone but the brain box functioned well until 3months before his departure. Loved his flying and constantly kept in touch via news and mags with what was going on.loved to chat with anyone that would listen about the past .
Would be great to hear any more past thoughts good or ?
I have found some footage when he went to Anguila in 69 standing at back of Andover and then some take offs and landing. Not sure which one he was in as his log book was not always completed with numbers etc.
Better stop as I can go on a bit.
Love to hear more
Regards his eldest
John Brindle
Xs 646 and 606
To all those who have posted..606 has gone to Nairobi to be operated by Wilken but
646 is still at Boscombe Down apparently awaiting the aircrafts paperwork--
646 is still at Boscombe Down apparently awaiting the aircrafts paperwork--
Andover post
Hi---can anybody help--646 is currently still in the Uk -there is a slim chance the Wilken deal may go a bit muddy-if it does I have the backing to keep 646 in the Uk--but I will need some (lots!!) help---would anybody have a copy of the performance and limitations of the andover - I will cover all costs--and would there be a release to service document for the andover ----Please PM or a straight e mail to [email protected]...