George Bedford Retires
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George Bedford Retires
For those who know George Bedford, and I'm sure there are many, he retired from active professional flying today. Here are some pictures of the event. (I have more if any one wants them).
George without uniform ! !
Saying "farewell"
The flyby
The Cyclic
The plaque
Please feel free to post any fond memories you may have.
Farewell George --- enjoy
George without uniform ! !
Saying "farewell"
The flyby
The Cyclic
The plaque
Please feel free to post any fond memories you may have.
Farewell George --- enjoy
I went through Bristow's Redhill Training School on Bell 47's in the mid-80's when George was CFI, and remember the progress tests with him - always very fair, helpful, and approachable
Best wishes for a long enjoyable retirement
Best wishes for a long enjoyable retirement
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Best of Luck
An auspicious occasion - and as one of the pilots who flew one of the Hu269s/S300CBis in the formation seen above I am glad to see all the landing lights operating correctly!
George has been fundamental in setting me up here in Florida for my second career for which I (and my American wife!) will be eternally grateful.
Best of luck to George and Yuko for a happy retirement - although I suspect he has not yet hung up his flying gloves!
The Ferret!
George has been fundamental in setting me up here in Florida for my second career for which I (and my American wife!) will be eternally grateful.
Best of luck to George and Yuko for a happy retirement - although I suspect he has not yet hung up his flying gloves!
The Ferret!
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Sad To See Him Go!!
I had the privilege of flying with Cpt Bedford in 2002 @ Helicopter Adventures in titusville FL, where I was on a jaa commercial course.
I still remember doing engine off landings with him where he would take control of the aircraft just before the flare!!
Very good pilot indeed, & i'm sure he will be deeply missed by all who had the opprtunity or the luck to fly with him.
I wish you and Yuko all the best and many happy years in France
I still remember doing engine off landings with him where he would take control of the aircraft just before the flare!!
Very good pilot indeed, & i'm sure he will be deeply missed by all who had the opprtunity or the luck to fly with him.
I wish you and Yuko all the best and many happy years in France
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A great aviator and a great instructor, and that was when he taught me to fly over 25 years ago!
George, I can still remember that a B47G2 climbs at 45kts with 3100 erpm & 24.5 inches of boost - AND I have still got the bruises on my knee from when I used to forget one or more of those numbers all those years ago! Ask me any relevant numbers from more recent types and the recall is far less clear.
I, and a great many others, owe our careers to you - thanks, and good luck for a very well deserved retirement. I hope the fishing is as good in France as it used to be in Sussex/Kent.
George, I can still remember that a B47G2 climbs at 45kts with 3100 erpm & 24.5 inches of boost - AND I have still got the bruises on my knee from when I used to forget one or more of those numbers all those years ago! Ask me any relevant numbers from more recent types and the recall is far less clear.
I, and a great many others, owe our careers to you - thanks, and good luck for a very well deserved retirement. I hope the fishing is as good in France as it used to be in Sussex/Kent.
Spinwing,
Thanks: we joined on the same course (34) at BRNC Dartmouth, a few weeks ago in October 1967. Along with such other notables as Reg Jewel (RIP), Tony Ellerbeck, Derek Hazeldine, etc etc.
How time flies (excuse the pun), but I never cease to be amazed at how many of my contemporaries are still around in our industry. George has obviously left an indelible image on those he has trained, I wish him well in his retirement
Thanks: we joined on the same course (34) at BRNC Dartmouth, a few weeks ago in October 1967. Along with such other notables as Reg Jewel (RIP), Tony Ellerbeck, Derek Hazeldine, etc etc.
How time flies (excuse the pun), but I never cease to be amazed at how many of my contemporaries are still around in our industry. George has obviously left an indelible image on those he has trained, I wish him well in his retirement
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Ex RN!
Spin Wing and J Eacott
All the best are Senior Service - I joined 1977 and left 2005 so missed George (and apparently the 2 of you!) in the Service but was lucky enough to join the team as the JAA CFI at HAI with George this year before he retired as HoT - we have a hard act to follow - but with Mike Bowden (who is not ex service but comes highly recommended and now carries the HoT baton!) we will hold the proverbial flag high!
The Ferret
All the best are Senior Service - I joined 1977 and left 2005 so missed George (and apparently the 2 of you!) in the Service but was lucky enough to join the team as the JAA CFI at HAI with George this year before he retired as HoT - we have a hard act to follow - but with Mike Bowden (who is not ex service but comes highly recommended and now carries the HoT baton!) we will hold the proverbial flag high!
The Ferret
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George,
It was a great pleasure to undertake the combined JAA/FAA training at HAI on a program managed so meticulously by yourself. It's a little bit special to have your signature against the logbook entry for the CPL(H) LST entry.
I bid Yuko & yourself a long and restful retirement and trust one day we'll meet again over a nice bottle of something french.
Best wishes
R1tamer
It was a great pleasure to undertake the combined JAA/FAA training at HAI on a program managed so meticulously by yourself. It's a little bit special to have your signature against the logbook entry for the CPL(H) LST entry.
I bid Yuko & yourself a long and restful retirement and trust one day we'll meet again over a nice bottle of something french.
Best wishes
R1tamer
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Yes John,
You might like to know that Regie Graves has recently retired, back to Isle of Wight/Thailand ...
And Tom Brown is still working in the Middle East but lives in Eire.
Cheers
You might like to know that Regie Graves has recently retired, back to Isle of Wight/Thailand ...
And Tom Brown is still working in the Middle East but lives in Eire.
Cheers
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DAMNIT I knew I should have got back to HAI sooner, oh well too late now.
Thanks for all your help getting me where I am, and the end of course curry too.
One of the best and most caring instructors I have EVER come across, HAI will miss you, but those of us whom you helped will never forget you.
Best of luck.
Si
Thanks for all your help getting me where I am, and the end of course curry too
.One of the best and most caring instructors I have EVER come across, HAI will miss you, but those of us whom you helped will never forget you.
Best of luck.
Si
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Fair winds, Mr. Bedford!
While I was only one of the bazillion FAA louts to pass through HAI in the last 20 years, I know George is well liked and highly respected at (and beyond) HAI. Enjoy the vacation, George!
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I had the privilege of doing my CPL(H) course under George a few years ago at HAI and I'm honoured to have his name in my log book. I'm extremely fortunate to have done my training before George hung up his gloves for good.
Best wishes to him and Yuko for their joint retirement.
Best wishes to him and Yuko for their joint retirement.
HeliFirst
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George's first student in RN
..
Charlie Cantan and myself became George's first students when he arrived at 705 as a brand new beefer in '76.
I just wonder if he has really flown his last?
best wishes George
Charlie Cantan and myself became George's first students when he arrived at 705 as a brand new beefer in '76.
I just wonder if he has really flown his last?
best wishes George
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George may look young but there's more than one generation of pilot in the North Sea that have fond memories of their student days under George's supervision.
The cheeky grin and no bull advice got a few of us doing what we thought was impossible a few minutes earlier.
I tried to upload a photo of George at a party where everyone was wearing infeasably large underpants! Unfortunately the photo crashed on me. George and Yuko always were (and no doubt the tradition will continue) on for a good party. Any photos anyone??
Speaking of parties - when are you coming on the long promised trip to Aberdeen?? There's a few of us that want to buy you both a pint...
Happy retirement George and Yuko. No doubt the chateau in France will serve a good curry!!
The cheeky grin and no bull advice got a few of us doing what we thought was impossible a few minutes earlier.
I tried to upload a photo of George at a party where everyone was wearing infeasably large underpants! Unfortunately the photo crashed on me. George and Yuko always were (and no doubt the tradition will continue) on for a good party. Any photos anyone??
Speaking of parties - when are you coming on the long promised trip to Aberdeen?? There's a few of us that want to buy you both a pint...
Happy retirement George and Yuko. No doubt the chateau in France will serve a good curry!!
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George is far too young to retire yet - he went through training after I did!!
I'm sure it won't be too long before he yearns to leave Normandie occasionally and do some flying back in Africa where we still need good men of any age 
George was 'bitten by the mosquito' many years ago so he can never escape.
If the joys of Nigeria aren't able to temp you George, enjoy a well-deserved retirement in that corner of France where, it seems, so many aged aviators end up.
I'm sure it won't be too long before he yearns to leave Normandie occasionally and do some flying back in Africa where we still need good men of any age George was 'bitten by the mosquito' many years ago so he can never escape.If the joys of Nigeria aren't able to temp you George, enjoy a well-deserved retirement in that corner of France where, it seems, so many aged aviators end up.