To keep on thread;

I flew with the pilot in question on numerous occasions on AOC work both in the same aircraft on line check or positioning and in formation on film work and multi aircraft taskings.
He always had an opinion, sometimes a loud one, usually made me giggle and often brightened the passengers day. An entire day sat at Barton aerodrome awaiting pax springs to mind and it flew by. A good wind up merchant, ever heard the story of the Ops Inspector who while ramp checking him in a 206 actually believed him when he was told he absolutely never held a licence....:} Quality. You'd definitely hear him before you saw him.;)

A loving husband and father. Sincerest condolences to family and friends.

And yes he did know NI very well and may have been avoiding Irish airspace as he flew off a UK issued license but that doesn't matter now.

A character who will be missed.:(

H

I first flew with this pilot about 25 years ago, after he changed the colour of his uniform. I later flew on operations in NI with him after he became qualified on type. I have also shared a day or two with him since, at Battersea and elsewhere, "lamp-swinging".

On the face of it, for now it's baffling to some why the accident happened. I'm shocked and very saddened by it. But I stick with my earlier comment, about what the AAIB will be looking at, and which was not aimed as a personal criticism.

Did he change from Marroon to Blue................ D.K or B.S ?

But we can still be reminded about the things we used to know, but have now forgotten!

Hedski;

I believe I may have been with you that day at Barton. Faced with hours of sitting around he brightened my day and seemed to take great delight in shocking many of the Barton Flying Club members.

A highly experienced operator he was funny, loud and utterly outspoken, he was always mighty kind to me and was a fund of excellent knowledge as well as astonishingly blue stories and de-fenestrating character sketches of people in authority.

The world will be a much poorer place without this man (and a hell of a lot quieter!)

God rest him and bless his familly. Maybe its time for an old style goodbye from his colleagues.

FF

Jakal,
Your uncle was a personal friend of mine for over 15 years, I rate him as a person and as a pilot, I was due to see him on Sunday so the news has hit home very hard, he was a complete one off and would always cheer the ops room up, I will miss him very much.

"Whippet one" has departed for the longest flight of all.

Thanks for the lessons taught, the stories told, the jokes repeated over and over again, Tarzan Ringtone going off in the middle of briefings,advice given and the times spent in various conversations about the way the world should work.

You will be missed by many.



Rest in Peace.

im not to sure at this time why he hasnt been named, as i think all the family have been informed so im as confused about it as you are. thanks for your condolences you guys

Made a note in my diary on the way here. Simply says: "Bugger".

Old St Peter's got a job on his hands !
RIP

RIP
 

As a ppl with only 5 years experience I have refrained from posting here.

But after 4 days of being asked about the incident I need to ask if someone will pm me.

I live in Chester, work in Surrey and sick of being asked my opinion on something I feel I can't answer. I have many colleagues who know the pax but no contact with the pilot!

My condolences are with the family of any Heli accident.

I have flown with many 109 drivers in the last 5 years and would like to know who is being talked about rather than listening to rumours!

Re: St. Peter
 

Sid,

I'm pretty sure I could imagine how the conversation will start:

****** arrives at the gates of heaven, St Peter says give me one good reason I should let you in.
****** replies: "Cos I've got more hours on NVG than you have f*cking angels in heaven, now p*ss off out o' me way ya daft c*nt!!!"

Sounds about right for him really.

H

Heli driver
 

Hi Earl,
Now there's a name . NICK ROSS. Haven't seen or heard of Nick since IRAN 1978/79. Is he still alive???? Do you have a contact...tp or email????
Nick learnt about high alt landings in Iran when he hard landed at ???12000 feet ??? with an ALIII. Pushed the front wheel through the floor and screwed up the hydraulics. Quite an op getting him off the mountain.
Did a good job for a navy pilot.We all learnt from that which is a good thing cause it helps to keep us alive. Thanks Nick.

Heli driver
 

Well stated Tam.
Rod

Rod
 

It took a sad moment like this for you to raise your head.

I hope you're doing well.

Tam

Just found out the name of the pilot. Its been a few years now since I last saw him, but I am gutted. I flew many hours with a legend, from NI tasking to an epic week long jolly to Malta. The Malta trip alone could make a best-selling book. If any family are still reading, PLEASE PLEASE release the name to the public, I think a legend like this would fill many many posts with stories and quotes. Let the aviationworld celebrate his life.

A sad day indeed, he was last in my logbook in March 89, but I remember the day well, truly a character. RIP mate.
Condolences to the family

psni down
 

seems psni a/c was hit by strong gust on take-off and went in on its side.

A PM from someone with the name would be appreciated chaps.

Many thanks for all the PMs. Various comments were leading me to that conclusion. I think I may have met him once, but obviously heard a lot about him. A sad day.

669 Sqn's SQHI when I was an Airtpr there, AJ gave me an introduction to the fine art of poling. No doubt there'll be some tales to be told. Last time our paths crossed would have been at R850, when he was on Pumas. Hearing his approach down the corridor, we'd switch the TV to the Jeremy Kyle show, and hide the remote, leaving a dud remote out for AJ to find. Much colourful language would follow, until he'd head off to the Officer's Mess and leave us in peace.

RIP, AJ

RIP AJ
 

RIP AJ,
:sad:
h

RIP AJ - Strangely, most of the stories I could tell involve a TV remote being hidden or modified as well!

AJ saved my neck on a pure military matter on one occasion, my lads fouled up but AJ took the rap.
Some years later his quick reaction when a trainee flew us into a bank of low lying cloud saved all our lives.
A controversial man but one who did right by me.

john

I will not get onto His TV and it was His, by God given Right.

What is the views on here about posting a Picture of AJ?

Found this article from the Sunday Times last year.

'If I take my hands and feet off the controls, we'll all be dead in a minute and a half' - Times Online

AJ - a legend that I was privileged to fly with during AAC days before he went to show the RAF how to do it. RIP my friend.

Known fondly as f*****g AJ.....
 

One of the very best pair of hands I ever had the privilege of flying alongside. I clearly remember witnessing a masterclass of Puma instructional around a decade ago from the centre seat. Location was Ballykelly with AJ driving from the left teaching a young pilot (right hand seat) some of the more dynamic tactical aspects of flying the ac. Limited combat ready young pilot, just post conversion, was having a bad day in the office. AJ with a big sigh said 'I have f*****g control' and flew the next serial on rails passing on the knowledge and ability to do so. AJ was one of the few capable of safely demonstrating some of those techniques and learning occurred. Legend.

I'm also fondly remembering many crewroom escapades in Enniskillen and Bessrook, mostly regarding TV remote controls and colourful use of the English language. PC he was not which was his most endearing personal trait.

You'd be hard pushed to find a more experienced, qualified or competent pilot in the UK and he knew the Mourne mountains like the back of his hand.

Sincere condolences to all family and friends and a huge loss to the ex-miltary community.

RiP AJ.

Can somebody please post a photograph of this great british helicopter legend for the benefit of international Rotorheads!

YBB

AJ
 

I had the pleasure of flying with AJ when I joined my first AAC Sqn in Detmold. These were the days before NVG and he was tasked with showing Capt apple some EOLs that night (The Sqn Comd meant PFLs but that's not what he said). AJ being a new QHI did as he was told and after the sixth Engine Off landing in a gazelle on a dark grass strip we both agreed that they were a bit sporting and we'd had enough! I wasn't at the debrief with the OC the following morning.

Bumping into him along a varied career, I had the pleasure of sharing a cockpit with him in more or less the same roles some 20 plus years later but this time in a Puma in S Armagh - oddly enough in the Mourne Mountains area. His flying skills were legend, although standardisation was not a strong point when he knew you had a little more about you than basic experience.

My endearing memory of AJ was his candour, his complete disregard for bullsh*t and the pinko-lefty-PC brigade and his warmth. He was honest and open - his strength and his weakness and he simply could not leave the f******ng TV remote alone. Remember the remote jammer at Eniskillen anyone?

I am saddened by his loss - I just assumed he would be telling dits to young 'uns well into his dotage.

My thoughts are with his family and friends. The world is poorer without AJ.

GG
 

very shocked and saddened to hear about AJ,I flew with him a few times and he was indeed an excellent pilot and once met never forgotten. we were signing in somewhere and a poor girl asked his name,he replied Smiff with 3 f`s she couldnt work it out.still makes me smile.
A legend!

I am very sad. Seems to be dust in my eyes at the moment. AJ was one of the great aviation characters. He was my first instructor on Puma. A loyal friend, devoted family man and had very few vices! Didn't smoke, didn't drink but loved a go on the fruit machine! I spent many many times in his company, normally laughing my head off. Watching him on the sim trips in Norway when he would unpack his suitcase full of pot noodles so he could save the rates and have lots of money when he went home. There was never a dull moment with him. My first trip in the sim with him he turned to me and said in his legendary accent "Right then you just sit there, watch me and don't touch a f****g thing" still has me in stitches now. He was a genuine Tigger type.

Ang and the kids, please know that AJ was a much loved character in our world, and his passing leaves a void in the flying world as it surely does your own. He was a fantastic mentor, knew his stuff and would always fight the corner for his men. The bosses would run for cover when they knew AJ was inbound to take them on head to head. I want to cry, but cant help laughing at all the times we had in NI and yes all the stories of remote controls are true. he had a heart of gold. Sincere condolences to you all.

Absolute character, lots of stories and as straight as they come. Sincere condolences Angie, a great loss to all.

I am AJ's brother in law and it has been great to read the fantastic stories about him. I will make sure Angie, Amie and Bret get to see them all. Thanks for all your messages it is much appreciated. Andrew

On detachment in Portugal with him. Totally refused to come out and eat with us in a local restaurant " I don't eat f@***** fancy foreign food". Real character. Condolencies to Angie and the family (we brought Angie back from Gut for kids half term. Cor, can she talk!).

Oh Dear, very sad indeed, great guy.
lsh

Hearing all the tales about AJ, if you knew him well they are all so true, we all have saying or a story about him that will let his family see the side of his life that they don't know, I am gathering together tales and sayings from him to put into a book for Angie and the kids, please pm me so I can ensure we pass on the many laughs we all had with him.

Knew "AaaaaJaaaayyyy" from 230 days at Gut - what a character and a sad loss.

Amazing, have not seem him in over 20 yrs but still remember him like yesterday and the crew room banter involving him and a TV remote.

RIP AJ

Aviation has lost a true character.

Knew him well from Soltau 1974 - 1977 and later when he was a fledgling instructor at Wallop.

Sincere condolences to Ang and the children. Alan and Sheila W

RIP AJ

AJ, after a run-in with the engineers, venting off in the crewroom to all, (who had to listen if they wanted to or not!) describing his displeasure after a similar 'engineering' confrontation in Germany some years earlier....

"So I said to this engineer, 'I could walk out to the runway, drop my flying suit, do a **** on the centreline, and IT would have more sense than you!' ...******n' engineers, I **** on 'em!"

We knew it was (mostly) tongue-in-cheek, but no one could make a point like 'Ehh-Jehh'.

Demonstrating a zero speed auto in a Puma...

"Loook, she's perfectly happy, perfectly controllable, yoo can poot 'er where yoo want 'er...this '70 knot' business... what a load of b*******s!"

...and demonstrating Puma stability during NVG sloping ground...

"Just stay light on the controls, it'll fly itself, STOP FIGHTIN' IT!...loook, see?....just touch the cyclic, that's all..."

Whatever his style of delivery, I think most pilots will always remember AJ's flying skills. Few could fly the Puma as he did.