King-Air Flying Club. Biggin Hill (Late '70's)
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sunbury on Thames
Age: 76
Posts: 1
King-Air Flying Club
Hi Brian I came across your thread of July 2010 mentioning Lilian King. I live on an island in the Thames which I am doing historical research on and she lived here - your note says she died in 1987 but I have her down as still here in 1995 at least. Just wondering if you could recheck, also do you have a photo - she was obviously quite a character!
David Garrett
David Garrett
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Inside the Industry
Posts: 874
Looking for some photos for a talk I have to give, I stumbled on this thread again. Annabelle Winter or A E Winter as it says in my logbook took me on my first PPL flying lesson in Cessna 150 G AZJX in summer 1979.
I did my GFT with Cyril a few months later. I did some flights with Quentin? but most of the time my instructor was Alan Carter. I also remember Gordon and Lillian well.
Simple and happy times
I did my GFT with Cyril a few months later. I did some flights with Quentin? but most of the time my instructor was Alan Carter. I also remember Gordon and Lillian well.
Simple and happy times
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Argyll
Posts: 1
Terry King
I had a few flights in a 150 with an uncle, Terry King, when I was just a boy. I assumed that he had something to do with the club because of the name, but by all accounts, he was something of a rogue, being exposed in the Sunday papers shortly after what was to be my last flight, for allegedly bribing civil servants to win building contracts. Does anyone on the forum remember Terry?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Looking for the signals square at LHR
Posts: 236
Originally Posted by timbking
I had a few flights in a 150 with an uncle, Terry King, when I was just a boy. I assumed that he had something to do with the club because of the name, but by all accounts, he was something of a rogue, being exposed in the Sunday papers shortly after what was to be my last flight, for allegedly bribing civil servants to win building contracts. Does anyone on the forum remember Terry?
I do remember a chap called Terry but don't recall his surname. However, I should be very surprised if he was related in any way to Gordon King. Nor do I remember a 150 but that doesn't mean much - I once borrowed a Robin (Jodel) DR400 for a trip to Brussels but I really had no interest in the club fleet beyond doing my multi in the Apache (with Cyril) and the delightful Chipmunk which I flew regularly. I was last airborne at Biggin in 1972 after which I went commercial. Actually, thinking about it, the Robin might have been on the Biggin Hill Flying Club's strength - it's all a long time ago. They also had a later "Regent" there for a while when John Bryan was still there.
Happy days!
Last edited by Gipsy Queen; 26th Jun 2019 at 00:43.
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: French Riviera
Posts: 21
Does anyone on the forum remember Terry?
From memory Terry King had a PPL and was a member of KAFC . His wife was called Pat who was blonde and drove a red Mazda . Terry ran a plumbing business . He was exposed in one of the tabloids when according to Peter Hopley ( another club member and top chap) an employee of his by the name of Eddie Clark ( also a member of the club ) was wired up and spilled the beens over bungs for lucrative contracts at Buck House .
Terry King purchased the club in its entirety from Gordon King around 1982/3 obviously retaining its name . They smartened the place up a bit and introduced uniforms and name badges for the instructors .
From memory Terry King had a PPL and was a member of KAFC . His wife was called Pat who was blonde and drove a red Mazda . Terry ran a plumbing business . He was exposed in one of the tabloids when according to Peter Hopley ( another club member and top chap) an employee of his by the name of Eddie Clark ( also a member of the club ) was wired up and spilled the beens over bungs for lucrative contracts at Buck House .
Terry King purchased the club in its entirety from Gordon King around 1982/3 obviously retaining its name . They smartened the place up a bit and introduced uniforms and name badges for the instructors .
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warwickshire
Age: 61
Posts: 1
Dear Roger,
I learnt to fly with King Air from July 1980 and remember Gordon and Lilian King. I had two instructors alternating Steven Herivel and Jamie Austin who naturally went on to the airlines I recall. My GFT was conducted by Cyril Knight the following year and in January 1983 he carried out my IMC course and Night Rating followed immediately by a Group 'B' Rating on the Apache - this time my examiner was Jamie Austin who had trained me for my PPL in 1980! Over the next few years I used to hire aeroplanes and fly out to France on many an occasion. Cyril came along with me on a couple of flights and I nearly got to fly with his brother Harry on a flight to Germany and back when Harry was killed on a similar return flight a few days earlier. Harry, according to Cyril had a relationship with two ladies on both sides of the Channel since meeting a German lady during the war - this may of course been Cyril chatting to me in the Club bar after a few whiskeys.
It is sad to learn that King Air will now only remain a memory and that the old RAF 'H' block spider has been demolished completely with all the old surrounding buildings. I do in particular remember the Adams single porta-cabin where I bought my first headset to use in the aeroplanes which were just being fitted with jack-plugs. Another memory is of me ordering a 'Cheese & Ham Toastie' from the bar as a snack when I was in the Club.
Well that PPL triggered my career off and on departing the Army I purchased South Warwickshire Flying School which was started in 1982 shortly after the former wartime aerodrome of Wellesbourne Mountford was opened. I would extend a warm welcome to any former King Air member flying in or visiting by road to call in for a coffee and a chat at our Club. Our aerodrome cafeteria is the 'Touchdown Inn' and like us is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thank you for triggering my memory of the good days of general aviation at Biggin Hill.
I learnt to fly with King Air from July 1980 and remember Gordon and Lilian King. I had two instructors alternating Steven Herivel and Jamie Austin who naturally went on to the airlines I recall. My GFT was conducted by Cyril Knight the following year and in January 1983 he carried out my IMC course and Night Rating followed immediately by a Group 'B' Rating on the Apache - this time my examiner was Jamie Austin who had trained me for my PPL in 1980! Over the next few years I used to hire aeroplanes and fly out to France on many an occasion. Cyril came along with me on a couple of flights and I nearly got to fly with his brother Harry on a flight to Germany and back when Harry was killed on a similar return flight a few days earlier. Harry, according to Cyril had a relationship with two ladies on both sides of the Channel since meeting a German lady during the war - this may of course been Cyril chatting to me in the Club bar after a few whiskeys.
It is sad to learn that King Air will now only remain a memory and that the old RAF 'H' block spider has been demolished completely with all the old surrounding buildings. I do in particular remember the Adams single porta-cabin where I bought my first headset to use in the aeroplanes which were just being fitted with jack-plugs. Another memory is of me ordering a 'Cheese & Ham Toastie' from the bar as a snack when I was in the Club.
Well that PPL triggered my career off and on departing the Army I purchased South Warwickshire Flying School which was started in 1982 shortly after the former wartime aerodrome of Wellesbourne Mountford was opened. I would extend a warm welcome to any former King Air member flying in or visiting by road to call in for a coffee and a chat at our Club. Our aerodrome cafeteria is the 'Touchdown Inn' and like us is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thank you for triggering my memory of the good days of general aviation at Biggin Hill.
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Basingstoke
Posts: 1
Now, that's a name from the past. He took me on a local flight over Hampshire and, as we were approaching Lasham, he said "I have control" and promptly did a (very) low pass over the airfield. I'm not sure if he got a b*llocking over that but I am still recovering from the shock!
