2 AirPilot APRIL 2019 ISSUE 32 Diary

APRIL 2019 4th GP&F Cutlers’ Hall AI R PILOT 6th Pilot Careers Live Heathrow THE HONOURABLE 11th ACEC Air Pilots House (APH) COMPANY OF 24th Lunch Club RAF Club AIR PILOTS 24th Cobham Lecture RAF Club incorporating Air Navigators MAY 2019 2 Court Lunch with the Poulters Cutlers’ Hall PATRON : 16 Inter-Livery Clay Pigeon Competition Holland & Holland His Royal Highness GP&F APH The Prince Philip Court Cutlers’ Hall Duke of Edinburgh KG KT 21 Technical Committee APH 23 Livery Dinner Drapers’ Hall GRAND MASTER : His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew JUNE 2019 Duke of York KG GCVO 3 Pilot Aptitude Testing RAF College, Cranwell 13 GP&F APH MASTER : 19 AST/APT APH Malcolm G F White OBE 27 T&A Committee APH CLERK : Paul J Tacon BA FCIS

Incorporated by . A Livery Company of the City of .

PUBLISHED BY : The Honourable Company of Air Pilots, VISITS PROGRAMME Air Pilots House, 52A Borough High Street, Please see the flyers accompanying this issue of Air Pilot or contact Liveryman David London SE1 1XN Curgenven at [email protected]. EDITOR : These flyers can also be downloaded from the Company's website. Paul Smiddy BA (Econ), FCA Please check on the Company website for visits that are to be confirmed. EMAIL: [email protected]

FUNCTION PHOTOGRAPHY : Gerald Sharp Photography View images and order prints on-line. GOLF CLUB EVENTS TELEPHONE: 020 8599 5070 Please check on Company website for latest information EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.sharpphoto.co.uk

PRINTED BY: Printed Solutions Ltd 01494 478870 Except where specifically stated, none of the material in this issue is to be taken as expressing the opinion of the Court of the Company. EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : The copy deadline for the June 2019 edition of Air Pilot is 1 May 2019. The address is: 52A Borough High Street, London SE1 1XN . Our telephone number remains unchanged TELEPHONE : 020 7404 4032 EMAIL : [email protected] WEBSITE : www.airpilots.org Cover photo: Our new abode - Air Pilots House, near London Bridge A message from your Editor...

As our hard-working office staff have recently been reminded, the keeping of physical records has a penalty – they require a lot of sweat, tears, and possibly blood, when it is time to move them! Members will, I hope, join me in thanking them for their efforts in setting up our new home. But in the absence of physical records I fear for the task of historians in twenty years’ time: where will they find the source material that defines human interaction? Expressions of love and hate, war and peace, used to be chronicled in letters, and written memos. Piecing together the emotions of two people, or the opinions of nations, will be much more difficult if they were expressed at the time in texts, emails, or Snapchat or Whatsapp messages. And what chances would you give of your descendants being able to download your documents from the cloud? We have already seen how intransigent is Apple when it comes to even police forces accessing the memory of devices of the dead or those under investigation. Why, you might wonder, am I ranting about this downside of web and mobile communications? In this issue Tom Eeles has reviewed the excellent autobiography of Sir Richard Johns, a former Chief of the Air Staff. Many former CAS continue to keep their own counsel, so, as Tom’s review brings out, Bolts from the Blue is a valuable insight into the problems of high command , and our military thinking, in that recent era. In this issue I have reviewed an autobiography by one of our members, Bill Innes. His career was largely in the airlines, but again it gives good insight into one aspect of Britain’s post-war civil airline development (the Highlands & Islands service). Tom also submitted a very amusing yarn from his Buccaneer days, which I am sure you will enjoy. In my view it is vital that we set down our experiences in physical form (even if only for family consumption). By the same token I welcome other stories in the mould of Tom’s. Once it appears in print in Air Pilot, it can never be forgotten! Paul Smiddy - Editor

Contents

News Round Up & Gazette ...... 4

Profile of our new Master ...... 7

Profile of our new Warden ...... 8

Master’s Message ...... 9

The Company’s AGM ...... 10

From the Desk of the DAA ...... 13

Gazette ...... 15

Inter-Livery Ski Championships ...... 16

Activating a Nato Forward Operating Base ...... 17

Retirement of the Tornado ...... 20

Hangar Doors ...... 21

Book Reviews ...... 22

Luncheon Club ...... 24

3 News Round Up

NEW HOME, NEW CHAPTER .... with a ship's decanter, filled with port, on reached by the M3, leaving at Junction The move into the new property in behalf of the Company. She will continue 4A (approaching from M25), or Junction Southwark is now complete and the to carry out some work for us, mainly 5 if coming from the south west. The cost office is fully functional in the new from home, and in areas such as the for a team of 4 players is £320 which location. A new chapter for the website. We wish her well - and many includes a bacon roll and coffee/ tea on Company begins. enjoyable hours with husband Barry on arrival, a buffet lunch and prizes. There is the water in their Moody 42, or in the always a raffle to help with fund raising. It will still be some time before all boxes air, ballooning. Any help with offers of raffle prizes such and general equipment have been as visits, vouchers would also be much unpacked and sorted and we are settled at appreciated – we have had everything the new premises in all respects. But, CAA BRExIT ADvICE from simulator visits, signed photographs meanwhile, it is functional as a meeting At the time of writing there is no of the RAFAT, to beautifully turned location and members/visitors are certainty as to whether or how Great wooden bowls from a member of the welcome to call. Directions to find Britain will leave the European Union at Turners Company. us are on the website at the end of March. It is perhaps Over the past few years it has been very https://www.airpilots.org/contact/ remembering that the UK CAA has disappointing that the Air Pilots has If planning on visiting, it does help if you issued advice, to the degree to which it is continually struggled to field teams from call ahead as the office can be quite a able, which can be found here: within our Company for our own busy place, and so it is easier to https://info.caa.co.uk/eu-exit/ Charity Golf Day. There must be many accommodate visitors if we know about golfers within such a large company as them in advance. RAy JEFFS CUP: GOLFERS ours who would enjoy playing in the - THE COMPANy NEEDS yOU! event in support of this very worthwhile RUTH CUNDy You may or may not be aware that the cause. Honourable Company of Air Pilots runs If you are a golfer would you please give a charity golf day every year; the Ray serious consideration to entering the Jeffs Cup. The event was started 18 years event preferably as a team of 4 players ago by the late Liveryman John Mason to (feel free to include guests in your team) raise funds for the Duke of Edinburgh’s or as an individual. Liveryman Rick Award. It has established itself as a very Thomas will be happy to co-ordinate enjoyable and sociable competition for individual entries from the Air Pilots into Livery Companies as well as a successful teams of four. Please contact him by e- charity event and in its first 18 years over mail at [email protected] if you £61,000 has been raised for this charity, would like to know more or enter the helping 43 schools in the Greater event. Mistress Denise, Ruth, Mistress Elect Vanessa London Area to set up or fund their The Honourable Company also has a One afternoon in January the President’s schemes. Last year’s event raised £3,300 golfing society which in recent years has Room at the RAF Club was full – not for the cause. seen a decline in membership. If there just of Company folk, but of bonhomie, The Ray Jeffs Cup is a 4-person team any Company golfers who would enjoy tinged with a touch of sadness. The competition played over one round. The meeting with your colleagues for some reason for the party was to say farewell basis of the team score is the sum of the enjoyable golf through the year please (well, sort of) to Ruth. A lady who has best two Stableford scores on each hole, contact Rick who will pass your details brought (not so quiet) efficiency to the played off full handicap up to a to the Society Secretary, Danny Hendry. office, and many laughs too. Most UK maximum of 23 for men and 28 for members will have had dealings with our ladies. There will be prizes for the best PLASTICS ON AIRLINERS formidable majorette domo at some three teams, the best three individual The UK supermarket chain Iceland has stage, and cannot fail to have been scores and nearest the pin on the four taken the lead in its industry in driving impressed by her good humour, and par-threes. (Current holders the down the use of single-use plastics and encyclopaedic knowledge of the Actuaries). Company’s affairs. The large attendance non-recyclable materials in its packaging. It is a very relaxed and enjoyable day’s A recent long-haul flight (on British was testament to the affection in which golf, and will once again take place at she is held. Airways) brought home to the Editor Hartley Wintney Golf Club on Thursday, that the airline industry is shameful in The Master, Colin Cox, presented her 25th July 2019. The Club is very easily this regard. By my own very rough

4 estimation, each passenger could be Maiden’) Dickson (ATPL). CESSNA / HERC ACCIDENT subjected to a blizzard of up to 100 But the list in the US is really The Company’s fantastic season of visits, grammes of plastic on such a flight. The surprisingly extensive; it includes: ably organised by David Curgenven, is passenger cabin after such a flight is a sea Angelina Jolie, Kris Kristofferson (ex US about to get underway. Several will be at of detritus, and I wonder how much is Army helis), Hilary Swank (post her RAF stations. Where possible the Editor, properly recycled. appearance as Amelia Earhart), Dennis like many members, prefers to fly to visits As aircrew and passengers fly over the Quaid (post The Right Stuff), Tom taking place at an airfield, whether civil world’s oceans perhaps they should spare Cruise, Morgan Freeman, John Travolta, a moment to think about the aviation Clint Eastwood, and Harrison Ford or military. industry’s contribution to their (infamously). Members should therefore take note of a pollution? recent accident report. In July 2018 a A RENMINBI FOR yOUR Cessna Turbo Skylane suffered tip and THESPS AND MUSOS THOUGHTS, SIR multiple prop strikes at RAF Brize The Editor recently noticed an article in Spare a thought for Chinese airline Norton. At the time it was about to do its Flying , the US magazine, by David pilots. A passenger in that country was power checks on a taxiway, when a C130 Mamet, the noted US playwright and recently arrested and imprisoned for Hercules in front began a propeller film director. He has become a new throwing coins into an engine intake overspeed check. The Cessna pilot columnist for that magazine, and clearly prior to boarding an airliner. Presumably believed he was 50-100 metres behind is an aviator of some experience (IR- he thought it would bring him good luck the transport aircraft, when in fact he was – instead it brought him seven days in rated, and owns a F33). This stimulated a nearer to 25 metres. The slightly amazing gaol, and a fine of GBP16,000 (for lost review of other creative types who share aspect of this accident is that both our passion. revenue)! The aircraft was owned, ironically, by Lucky Air. captains were ATPLs (with more than In the UK the list would start with 3,000 hours apiece), and indeed the David Jensen (‘Only Fools & Horses’), Cessna pilot had spent most of his career and one might I suppose include Lord KING OF ARMS flying large transport aircraft, including (‘Sur Alan’) Sugar, as much of The Congratulations to Assistant Air Chief the Hercules (on which he was Apprentice is ham acting. Not that I Marshal Sir on his new qualified). have ever heard either of their distinctive appointment as King of Arms (of the voices over the English radio waves. And Most Honourable ), in So if visiting an RAF station this summer chief muso pilot has to be Bruce (‘Iron succession to Admiral Lord Boyce. – keep well clear of heavies!

TOSSING AND RUNNING, OR IS THAT RUNNING & TOSSING? It’s that time of year again. The Poulters organised their annual Pancake Race in the Guildhall Yard. Eloise from our office again put in a very strong showing. Whilst the Master and Master Elect seemed to be showing only suspiciously under-used trainers, and lots of white leg!

5 RyANAIR BOSS ATTACKED OvER HEATHROW IN 2018 LAST FLIGHTS €99M BONUS PLAN Recorded revenues of £2.9bn (+3%), We note the death of two different Ryanair’s unions have criticised chief and pre-tax profits of £267m (+23%. aviators in recent weeks. executive Michael O’Leary after the Passenger numbers grew 2.7% to 80.1m. David Hockings died in a light aircraft company announced he could receive a Revenue growth from retail grew almost accident returning from Spain on 8 January. bonus of up to €99m, depending on the 9%. ’s share price performance. David gained his PPL aged 23 and began So, if the editorial abacus is working Royal London Asset Management, a a long period of restoring wrecked correctly, profit per passenger rose 20% to aircraft and acquiring insurance write Ryanair shareholder, was reported as £3.33. offs for projects. He later went to work at calling the potential award “wholly the CAA in the newly formed Safety inappropriate….Asking shareholders to Promotion Unit with John Thorpe. SOLO WORLD TRIP FOR RAFBF pay directors more than €100m for There he excelled at presenting the well- achieving a marginal improvement over From June to July this year Freeman known safety evenings all around the its share price high in August 2017 is Alexander Quessy is planning a solo UK, became the editor of the GASIL ludicrous”. circumnavigation of the world in a DA62 publication and wrote a number of safety light twin in support of the 100th sense leaflets. He pioneered the GetMet anniversary of the publication with the backing of some of AIRBUS A380 DECISION his former insurance colleagues. In 1994, Benevolent Fund (RAFBF). The project On February 15th, as the DAA notes, having upgraded his BCPL to a CPL, is called FLIGHT100 and promises to be Airbus Industries announced the David joined the then Guild of Air Pilots cessation of production after an ambitious undertaking, which should and Air Navigators, and later married cancellation of Emirates’ order. Only represent a key fundraising activity in the Past Master Dorothy Saul-Pooley. another 17 jets will roll off the RAFBF's centennial calendar. Alexander After leaving the CAA, he became an production line: 14 for Emirates and intends to make use of cutting edge aircraft engineer, and will have been three for Japan’s ANA. navigation, communications, avionics known to many aircraft owning members – first at Deanland, and latterly If this is driven by a shift in airline and safety technology to ensure the flight at Spilsted Farm. demand for smaller aircraft more suited is completed with the lowest risk. Captain Douglas Evans DFC was a key to regional airports, it does rather call The trip can be followed, and funds founder member of our flying club. into question Britain’s Department of donated, via the following media: In WW2 Doug completed a tour of 32 Transport’s strategy to develop Heathrow www.flight100.org.uk missions in a Halifax with 10 Sqn. When (an archetypal hub & spoke airport), at www.facebook.com/Flight100/ in London on leave he joined the Guild, the expense of the nation’s regional and Instagram: and was later awarded his Master Pilots airports. This, in the words of the Certificate. He served in Transport https://www.instagram.com/rafbf_flight100/ (London) Times “will embed an expensive Command in the Middle East after the airport monopoly…And, thanks to the We look forward to hearing Alexander’s war, and his airline career really started restrictions on night flights, it won’t even be a account of his trip when it is successfully with BSAA. The latter part of his career 24 hour hub anyway” . concluded. was with BEA and Gulf Air.

RAF MUSEUM – NEW ExHIBITION Flt Lt Mickey Martin’s log book showing flight trials for Op Chastise The Hendon branch has recently opened a new exhibition in tribute to the Dambusters Raid. The centrepiece is a new Virtual Reality (VR) experience where two visitors can don The cockpit of the RAF Museum’s Lancaster VR goggles, and assume the role of navigator or wireless operator in a Lancaster on Operation Chastise. The £300,000 project was created by All A visitor Seeing Eye, with help from the Arts enjoying the Council and Innovate UK. The ten role of wireless minute experience costs £10 per operator on person. Alongside is a mock-up of the VR experience Barnes Wallis’ drawing office. Highly recommended.

6 2010, Chairman of the Bomber Profile of our new Master: Command Memorial Team responsible for the securing the funding for, and Malcolm G F White OBE construction of, this important memorial which was opened in Green By the Editor Park in June 2012. Later, he was selected Malcolm has been a member of the Malcolm in his Harrier days to chair the Museum’s RAF Centenary Company and former Guild since 2006, Development Committee, overseeing a and a Freeman of the City of London As a staff officer he “flew” a desk in the £26m transformation programme which since 2009. In 2017 he chaired our Ministry of Defence as the Personal Staff was opened to the public on 30 June Working Group tasked to deliver the Air Officer (PSO) to two Chiefs of Air Staff; 2018. He has since stood down as Trustee Pilots’ Strategic Plan. the RAF's Command Headquarters at to become an to the Born in Somerset, Malcolm spent his High Wycombe and finally, Rheindahlen Museum. early years in Nigeria. On return to the in , where he was the desk Malcolm and Vanessa live in London. UK he was educated at Milton Abbey in officer responsible for the introduction of Vanessa has worked at the RAF Museum Dorset, before joining the RAF in 1971. the night attack Harrier GR7. for more years than she will admit, but Thirty years later he moved to the He commanded 1453 Flight at RAF they share a passion for the RAF and commercial aerospace sector and after 8 Stanley in the Falkland Islands (twice); rugby (union), Malcolm having been told years with Northrop Grumman, became Number IV (AC) Squadron at RAF in his mid-20’s: you have a choice, you a consultant to Leonardo Marconi Gutersloh, and then became station can play rugby, or you can fly – but you Westland - an appointment which he commander at RAFG Laarbruch, (also can’t do both! He chose the latter. And continues to hold today. serving as the RAF Harrier Force then there is cooking! They have 3 Following initial flying training in the Commander). In addition to his Cold children, 3 grandchildren and a cocker RAF, Malcolm’s operational flying was War and NATO commitments, he spaniel. first on the Hunter and subsequently a deployed on operations in Belize, the Both look forward to the privilege, career dominated by flying the Harrier, Falkland Islands, and the Balkans. He challenge and joy of their year together as but one which also included the also travelled widely in support of Master and Mistress of our Honourable additional delight of flying the Chinook, various diplomatic, training and staff Company. Puma and Gazelle helicopters. He commitments, and served with the Royal enjoyed exchange postings with the Navy and the BAOR. United States Marine Corps and the In his final two service appointments he , and, just before retiring from was Commandant (Air) at the newly the RAF, remembered to secure his PPL, formed UK Joint Services Command and half completed a balloon pilot’s and Staff College; he then moved to licence. PJHQ Northwood, where he was tasked The 2019 InterLivery pancake race with the creation of the UK's Joint Rapid Reaction Force training structure. In 2004 Malcolm was appointed as a Trustee to the RAF Museum and in Bomber Command Memorial

Showing grandaughter his aircraft ACM Sir Richard Johns - Malcolm's first squadron boss

Is there a gainly way to mount a camel?

7 Up close to the Harrier

Navigator and Wireless Operator - detail of the Bomber Command Memorial

The beloved Harrier

Profile of our new Warden: Captain Jonathan P. Legat

By the Editor

Jonathan was stimulated towards an for his autograph! aviation career by a visit to Heathrow as A year and a half later he moved to the a very small boy. At school he excelled at fledgling Air Europe on the B737, running and music, but joined the Army charged with the task of teaching new professional flying at the beginning of section of the CCF, as he wanted to be in joiners the company’s flight deck 2018 having flown almost 25,000 hours. the Corps of Drums. This made him management and checklist philosophy; ineligible for a RAF Flying Scholarship, one day sitting in the aeroplane on the He joined the Guild 20 years ago, but the Royal Navy obliged by offering ground in Palma, Majorca, eating lunch becoming liveryman in 2014; the scholarships to both Naval and Army before boarding the return passengers, a following year he was elected to the cadets. He completed his 30 hours flying drunk seaman came up the steps claiming Court as an Assistant. Jonathan currently at Carlisle, and seven months later, after he had a gun and demanding to be flown serves on the committee of the Air Pilots’ A-levels, finished his PPL at Roborough. to Marseille. As Jonathan called ATC, the Flying Club, is chairman of the Aviation He carried on with some private flying at captain managed to talk him off the Careers and Education Committee, and Biggin Hill, working in the flying club aircraft; the event was subsequently represents the Company in the Livery part-time and labouring on the recorded by the CAA as an attempted Schools Link. M23/M25 interchange to supplement hijack. After six and a half years as a FO Jonathan and his wife Dominique live in funds, until starting his cadetship at the flying around Europe, he moved to Hong a small village outside Winchester, where College of Air Training, Hamble. Kong to join Cathay Pacific as a FO on he serves on the local Parish Council, After graduation no flying jobs with BA the 747 Classic. After seven years he with responsibilities for the website, were available, so he was coerced into transferred to the B744, and was soon whilst also being chairman of the becoming cabin crew for a while. promoted to Training Captain. Winchester Conservative Association. Following six very instructive months at After nearly 25 years in Hong Kong he His hobbies include skiing, (for some the rear, he found a job on an Aztec at returned to the UK, still with Cathay, years being a leader for the Ski Club of Hull, and then a at Heathrow as based once more at Heathrow, and GB and later gaining a BASI First Officer. His only real (rather having completed more than 27 years on qualification), cycling, motorbike riding, tenuous) claim to fame on the Citation the jumbo transferred to the B777 as as well as beekeeping, music and chess. was when the George Harrison asked training captain. He retired from

8 few. These are our customers, partners Master’s Message and stakeholders. By Malcolm GF White OBE The unmanned world is also part and parcel of the future - and as a Livery It is an absolute privilege to have been can often be taken for granted, but they Company we have embraced that, albeit elected Master of our Honourable provide the backbone to the portfolio of live with the hooligans who closed Company. Vanessa and I look forward to activity which we seek to cover, deliver Gatwick and disrupted the lives of many. the challenge with some trepidation, but and support. Their contribution cannot And then there is space. excited by the opportunity to promote be overstated and each deserves our There is so much which our Company the values, vision and tradition of a City wholehearted thanks for everything they does and which is rich and relevant to Livery which could not be more relevant do. the future. We are a modern livery and than it is today. Our Editor Paul Smiddy has kindly we should look forward, while keeping included my profile which also makes Colin and Denise Cox have led a an eye to our heritage. But to remain splendid year as Master and Mistress. reference to the Strategic Plan 2017 - so successful in the years ahead, we need And on your behalf I would like to thank I won’t dwell on either. But may I add more people ‘Who Do’ as to stand still - them for everything they have done and some specific thoughts: we risk becoming less relevant. achieved. A year when the Honourable As a Livery we are part of an industry Company secured its own home at Air which is fundamental to business, Finally, I have been asked if given the Pilots’ House, and a time when I have defence, leisure and fun. chance I would follow my career path again: absolutely was my reply. Flying for learned that if you want informed advice, It is akin to a smart phone – most would me has been a vocation and not a job - it you had to meet Master Cox in the Boot be lost without it. But it is complex: one & Flogger, which is conveniently close to at the forefront of technology yet has been fun. It has provided a 52A Borough High Street. No challenged by shareholder interests, set perspective of the world which we are coincidence there! against safety where the Boeing 737 Max privileged to enjoy. I have met and made Our Past Masters provide a wealth of is a recent example, and then there is the many friends and we are a family of experience and understanding which is threat of terrorism set against user friends and professionals. We get it - fundamental to securing our heritage and satisfaction. This is the challenge and the because we share the same ethos, to informing our future. I hope to be opportunity. language and values. able to rely on their counsel in the year We are an independent “Place to Go To” Vanessa and I come as a duo and share a ahead. Equally, without the Learned on aviation matters. We have experience, respect for the history, traditions and Clerk – our Chief Executive Officer - expertise and through our regions – vision of our Honourable Company. and the (Angie, Anna, Eloise global reach. And in my view, it is our It’s Past, the Present and our Future. This and James) in our office, we could not duty to bring both together to inspire business is in our DNA and we promise function effectively. This team makes the and inform the current and next that we will do our upmost to represent difference; and in the last year they have generation. It is a privilege to be the Honorable Company in every way moved office twice, yet kept the show on involved in our profession. But I reflect we can. And if we are getting it wrong the road, and in the air. on those who make it possible: only 10% then please pick up the phone and tell us. The GP&F is a sound board, but the of those involved in commercial, general We don’t do Facebook. support of our wider membership is vital and military aviation are pilots. The to our success and as a colleague put it to remaining 90% comprise industry, Finally, I forgot to mention Brexit - so me: there are those “Who Do”, and aerospace engineers, air and ground staff, probably a good point to finish. I will say those “That Don’t”. Those “Who Do” and regulatory bodies - to name but a no more.

9 The Company's Annual General Meeting, 25th March 2019 By the Editor

Malcolm White was installed as Master the challenge of withdrawing from our presence as part of the outcome of the Strategic for the Company's 90th year, in temporary head office building, and Review and Business Plan. In the absence of succession to Captain Colin Cox, with concluded – just – with moving to our this expenditure, the deficit would have been a IPM Chris Spurrier joining the back permanent new home (which will be slightly larger surplus than arose in 2017. benches. Malcolm’s full profile can be opened by our Grand Master on Total income in 2018 was only fractionally found on page 7. Warden John Towell September 17). less than 2017 of which some 50% arises therefore becomes Master Elect, and The Hon. Treasurer, Liveryman Nick from Quarterage and Livery Fines, with the Captain Jonathan Legat was elected to Goulding presented his report: balance received from the Gladys Cobham become the new Warden; his profile is on The Honourable Company's financial result Trust, investment income and from functions page 8. for the year ended 30 September 2018 was a and ceremonies although there are direct costs After the annual service at St Michael's small operating deficit whereas in the previous arising against this latter category which are Cornhill, conducted by our Honorary year, there had been a modest operating included in total expenditure. The individual Chaplains, the congregation repaired to surplus. This reduction and movement from levels from each category of income were very Merchant Taylors' Hall for the AGM and surplus into deficit arose from additional “one similar to the amounts recorded in 2017. Installation ceremony. Master Colin Cox off” costs connected with the move out of the On the expenditure side, total operating costs presented his annual report (to be found former premises and into serviced were approximately 3% higher than in 2017 on the Company website) – his year had accommodation together with consultancy costs but included one off costs which, if excluded, been another Master’s Year dominated by relating to development of a social media would have led to a modest reduction in

The new Master and his Wardens

10 Master Malcolm White Master Elect John Towell

recurring operating expenditure. 2018. However, the investments are held for times. Little variance occurred in ongoing cost levels the long term and it is the income generated by The results of the Court Elections were them that is of more immediate importance. in each category of expenditure between 2017 announced: Liverymen Simon Brailsford, The net assets shown in the and 2018 with the major ites of 2018 David Singleton, and Dacre Watson were expenditure comprising staff costs (43%) and Honourable Company’s balance sheet re-elected; and the Court welcomes accommodation and administration expenses increased in value by almost 5% in the year Liverymen Richie Piper and Pat Voight (28%). The other major items were AirPilot (although the subsequent decline in general (11%), advertising and promotion (6%) and investment values has reduced some of that newly elected members. In the case of the net cost of Functions and Ceremonies increase). Following the purchase of Air Pilots Richie that should perhaps be “half- (4%). Expenditure in the remaining cost House in September 2018, the Investment new”. The new Court was sworn in, the categories were all much smaller individually portfolio having previously accounted for over appointments of the Company's and aggregated to less than 8% of total costs. 90% of the assets now comprises some 75% Honorary Officers were confirmed, and with the Honourable Company’s investment The other items included in the Income and the new Master, Malcolm White, was in Air Pilots House representing a further Expenditure account which do not form part installed. Afterwards Malcolm and his 20% and the balance represented by working of the operating results relate to the capital balances. wife Vanessa greeted members and guests Honourable Company's investments managed at a champagne reception before dinner by JM Finn. The accounts record realised gains in the Great Hall. or deficits on disposal of investments together Outlook for 2019 with unrealised surplus or deficit on Although the ongoing negotiations around Malcolm praised PM Chris Spurrier for revaluation of the investment portfolio at each Brexit have created uncertainty especially in his efforts in securing our new office. He 30 September. A small deficit on disposals financial and investment markets, the costs encouraged participation in the arose in the year but calculated by reference to associated with the regular activities of the Company from a broader cross-section of valuation in September 2017. There were Honourable Company are dependent more on our membership. He concluded his substantial increases in unrealised gains in specific factors including general inflationary speech with the Company's traditional both the 2018 and 2017 years due in part to cost increases. Therefore, despite these toast - "The Honourable Company of Air the general increases in investment markets. uncertainties, a small operating surplus has Pilots, may it flourish root and branch The general fall in investment values late last been budgeted and is anticipated for 2019 year has led to the portfolio having a slightly although no prediction can be made forever." lower valuation today than in September investment portfolio values in these uncertain

11 Master Malcolm White and Vanessa

Denise Cox hands over the mistress’ Medal to Vanessa

12 saw the question as whether disclosure of From the Desk of the the Go-Pro footage to the media would produce benefits which outweigh the Director Aviation Affairs adverse domestic and international impact Liveryman John Turner it might have on any future safety investigation, recognising that the footage The Royal Air Force has now retired its DISCLOSURE OF EVIDENCE was being used in a public court as Tornados after almost 40 years in service. GATHERED FOR AIR evidence in support of 11 manslaughter allegations and had been played to the jury Meanwhile, the Boeing 747 (B747) is ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION in open court. Therefore it was the approaching its 50th year of passenger In 2016, the UK High Court 1 opposed an additional adverse impact of disclosure to carrying. These periods are in stark attempt to force the Air Accident the media that must be weighed against the contrast to Airbus 380 (A380) production Investigation Branch (AAIB) to give witness statements and expert reports that benefits of disclosure. that will cease barely ten years after had been gathered as part of an AAIB He was not convinced by concerns that passengers were first able to explore its investigation into a Hunter accident at disclosure of the footage would stop pilots cavernous interior. Shoreham to the police. However, the from using GoPros but he acknowledged Some commentators suggest this Court did allow disclosure of footage from that, “I should not forget that the issue concerns, accentuates just how quickly air travel can a GoPro camera in the cockpit because it to an extent, the attitude and behaviour of pilots. change and that it heralds the end of major was installed by the pilot for personal rather I accept that there is substance in the first hub airports. The A380 was designed to than accident investigation purposes, with concern. It is important to the maintenance of increase hub airport capacity as passenger the caveat that the footage be treated on a effective air safety investigation that pilots strictly controlled and confidential basis. understand that material they supply to the numbers were increasing rapidly by Then, at the start of the Hunter pilot’s trial AAIB will remain with the AAIB, and that moving passengers in larger numbers in Crown Court on charges of there is likely to be a strong reaction among pilots without increasing flight numbers, which manslaughter by gross negligence, the BBC to this material being played on television and seemed a logical next step for hub and and the Press Association asked the judge to newspaper websites and thereafter available spoke air operations. Unfortunately, its approve broadcast as part of their trial news forever on the internet. This is an adverse impact entry to service was delayed just as coverage the same GoPro footage that had which needs to be weighed against the benefit of passengers increasingly started to demand been shown to the jury in open court. open justice.” He found the evidence direct flights to regional airports. So, while Secretary of State for Transport, as the concerning the national and international A380 looked to extend what the B747 minister responsible for AAIB, and the "just culture" and the need to sustain the started, much smaller wide-body designs British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) international standing of the AAIB much asked the judge to deny that application. with twin-engine fuel efficiency were more persuasive. He recognised that air This culminated in a day-long hearing accidents commonly involve events which coming on-line, and global investment in with the Trial Judge on 23rd January and a may have taken place across several national new airports left only Heathrow at twelve-page Approved Judgement 2 , the borders, that effective international co- maximum capacity. text of which illustrates how something we operation is vital, that it was important to As we have observed before, airlines might feel is self-evident is dissected and maintain the reputation of the AAIB responding to passenger demand drives the balanced when it is a matter of law. internationally and that lessons should be air transport network, not airport owners The judge considered inter alia Civil learned from accidents wherever they took nor governments. Perhaps, ‘hub and spoke’ Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and place. will emerge again as space travel develops Incidents) Regulations 2018, SI 2018 No. To summarise, he considered that the and atmospheric transport take passengers 321 (“the 2018 regulations”), Annex 13 evidence did show that widely published (Aircraft Accident and Incident from spaceports out to regional disclosure of the GoPro cockpit footage Investigation) to the Chicago Convention aerodromes ? would probably have an adverse impact and (“Annex 13”) and EU Regulation was not satisfied that the benefit of 996/2010 as well as the previous 2016 The A380 (courtesy Airbus Industries) disclosure to the media outweighed the judgement1 and a Court Martial Appeal adverse impact on future safety 3 Court and Divisional Court ruling that investigations it will have. The judgement makes clear that, “It is an undoubted principle closes as follows: “It is a matter of real of the common law that material presented in importance that the international air open court should generally be released to investigation world accepts that the UK members of the public, including journalists.” complies with its obligations under Annex According to the written judgement: 13, and treats those obligations seriously. Mr Justice Edis (sitting as a Judge of the For these reasons, I refuse the Press High Court, rather than as the Trial Judge) Association and BBC Part 8 claim for

13 disclosure under Regulation 25(5) of the "deterrent". Under the Laser Misuse PAN in place by August 2020. The UK 2018 Regulations.” (Vehicles) Act, introduced in May, people system will be entirely confidential with Thus, the status quo for UK treatment of caught targeting pilots with laser pens in a degree of independence from the accident investigation material remains in UK can be jailed for up to five years and operator and regulator, and an accordance with the principles laid out by can be handed unlimited fines . The independent governance structure. At its the International Civil Aviation BBC covered the story on-line and is now heart is a team of ‘peer group’ of trained Organisation, and now further supported asking if it can have (and broadcast) a copy councillors - Captains, Senior First by case law. of the police video footage that identified Officers and Junior First Officers – supported by aviation psychology As many will already be aware, the jury Dimitrov, at the same time as the pilot was specialists. The origin of the EASA Task found the pilot not guilty of negligence. recovering to a safe flightpath. Hopefully Force will be obvious to many but P The inquests will be later this year and will in this instance the media will help to PAN is not designed for the suicidal or provide a broader examination of events. spread the message about the criminal those with criminal intent; they will still The coroner’s preliminary decision on the nature of and penalties for irresponsible and need professional intervention. Instead, it scope of the inquest stated: dangerous use of laser pens. will support people under stress at home “To investigate the circumstances that led or work, from family and wider events. DRONES to the death of 11 individuals following the Some UK airlines are well ahead of the crashing of a T7 Marking further progress, UK government legislation and already have schemes 6 Registration G-BXFI onto the A27 has announced that following recent running for their employees. British Shoreham bypass whilst performing an air consultation (and the grounding of 1,000 Airways and Easyjet P PAN access display at the Shoreham Airshow on 22nd flights from Gatwick) it will extend the portals at www.speedbirdpan.com and August 2015. drone no-fly zones around airfields, www.ezypsp.com also explain more about “This should include but is not limited to: including extensions at each end pf the their programmes and how they work. 1. The licensing and control of Air Shows runways. Of equal importance for the As the committee reviewed the ongoing and the safety of civil display flying at longer term, the announcement also work on Fatigue, MAG2TRU, (lack of) such events. outlined plans to do more to educate drone GNSS resilience, Skill Refresher Aid and users on the new requirements 7. In parallel, 2. The organisation, planning and Unmanned Air Vehicles and the new the Home Office will extend police ‘stop running of the Shoreham Airshow in areas where we would like to do more in and search’ powers to help counter the 2015. future, it was apparent that there are malicious use of drones. Recent figures 3. The safety measures and risk significant links between some topics. As show that large numbers of drone/manned assessment that were put in place to an example, it will be difficult to really aircraft conflicts occur above 400 ft above protect those attending the Shoreham address airspace issues while there are the ground, which is the maximum legal Airshow, those observing the Airshow concerns over GNSS resilience or to height for routine drone flying in the UK. outside the perimeter and those in address a potential pilot shortage without There is still much to do to address what is close proximity to the Airshow on the a view on how technology and the no longer an ‘emerging issue’! A27 bypass. advent of passenger-carrying drones and the public’s acceptance of flying ‘without 4. The management and control of the a pilot’ might send airliner design in a flying display. UK TECHNICAL COMMITTEE UPDATE totally new direction. Equally, the 5. The training and previous experience aspiration of generating a ‘known’ air The UK Technical Com mittee held its of the Pilot to carry out the flying traffic environment by equipping every last meeting in our temporary London display. drone with ADS-B will need to be home on 26 February; future meetings 6. The actions of the Pilot in the day. balanced with whether the resulting mass will be at Air Pilot House, 52A Borough of data can be handled by current and High Street, London. Warden Nick planned surveillance systems. The LASERS Goodwyn gave a presentation on a pilot committee is also challenged by the On the first day of tri al at Northampton Pilot Peer Assistance Network (P PAN) amount and diversity of material it has to project targeted at pilots (and in due Crown Court Court on 29th January, cover; possible remedies will be discussed course all others in aviation with a safety- Voyslav Dimitrov, aged 29, admitted in preparation for the next meeting. endangering a police helicopter by critical role). The UK CAA-sponsored targeting the cockpit three times with a programme followed a European Union laser pen. Imprisoning him for six months, Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AVIATION 2050 – THE FUTURE Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey said that Task Force recommendation to OF UK AVIATION Dimitrov had risked a "fatal and implementation a pilot support and The January Technical Committee did catastrophic" outcome by targeting the reporting system and resultant new not have time to discuss the UK helicopter with the laser, adding that he EASA rule requiring all Commercial Air Government’s proposed longer-term hoped it (the sentence) would serve as a Transport (CAT) operators to have a P strategy for aviation. Consultation on the

14 Department for Transport (DfT) plan for sustainable growth to ensure the automation are mentioned, but there is document closes on 11th April 2019. (aviation and aerospace) industry’s no attempt to describe what changes Even if you have no intention in continued success.” It recognises the they might drive, and how those might responding personally, the consultation is importance of and need to support be best accommodated or exploited General Aviation, though with no well worth reading, if only for the safely. plethora of statistics, including the suggestion of removing VAT from flying Chapters two to eight are each followed importance and value of aviation and training (which would place the DfT in aerospace to the UK economy. It conflict with the more influential by eight or nine specific questions, encompasses many aspects, including slot Treasury). It recognises the need for UK Annex A contains a further nine and allocation, airspace change and recent to be well positioned to take advantage of there is one at the end of Annex D on legislation development, including that the expected changes to the global Public Service Obligation criteria. I on laser and drones. It makes much of economy with increased connectivity to planned to respond on behalf of the Air the decision on a 3rd runway at economies such as Brazil, , Pilots, at the end of March but the Indonesia, Mexico and China and for Heathrow and how that will increase consultation has now been extended to capacity in the southeast of UK (albeit internal connectivity but does not 20th June 2019. I would be happy to annual passenger numbers are actually recognise that, with limited capacity, any receive Air Pilots’ comments by email to growing faster in other areas of UK). increase in international slots means a However, it does not explain how the reduction in regional slots (and vice- [email protected] , preferably as answers difficulty that the proposal will face with versa); if the rapidly expanding Chinese to specific questions but also as general the UK planning approval process, airlines want landing slots in UK, where comments that I can consolidate into our beyond noting, “we need a long-term will they find them? Drones and submission.

1 Chief Constable of Police v. Secretary of State for Transport and British Airline Pilots Association [2016] EWHC 2280 (QB) - http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2016/2280.html

2 The British Broadcasting Corporation and the Press Association v. The Secretary of State for Transport and The British Airline Pilots Association [2019] EWHC 135 (QB) http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2019/135.html

3 in R v. Marine A and others, etc. [2013] EWCA Crim 2367 http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2013/2367.html

4 https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/11219/coroner_ruling_on_scope_of_shoreham_inquest.pdf

5 Laser man jailed for risking 'catastrophic' helicopter crash https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-45865348

6 New drone safety partnership with business launched as government sets out plans to limit drone misuse https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-drone- safety-partnership-with-business-launched-as-government-sets-out-plans-to-limit-drone-misuse?utm_source=97c241bf-0e88-4dd6-8cec- ce2f53651015&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

7 https://dronesafe.uk/restrictions/

8 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/aviation-2050-the-future-of-uk-aviation

GAZETTE APPROvED By THE COURT 7 MARCH 2019

ADMISSIONS As Associate RESIGNATIONS Joshua John BISHOP As Upper Freeman Christopher BUNCHER William Antony Finucane HILTON Craig Digby Graham BLACKWELL (HK) Tony JOHNSON (AUS) Gordon DOBBIE Roy Douglas COBB (HK) Sir Peter HARDING Michael Stuart EVANS (HK) Tony LAM (HK) Christopher Lee FREEZE (NA) ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COURT 7 MARCH 2019 Maurice KNOWLES Gavin John HASLEMORE (HK) REGRADE James REED Andrew James RAWLINSON As Upper Freeman Michael RIGG Ronald James THACKER (NZ) Robert Jones (HK) Peter SANDERSON (HK)

Richard STANLEY (HK) To Freeman As Freeman Udhana ABEYSEKERA (AUS) Alexander James GURR FORFEIT ALL BENEFITS DECEASED Wendy Anne PURSEY Bruno SCHRODER Luca SPANGHERO (OS)

15 The Air Pilots Team at the Inter-Livery Ski Championships, Morzine January 2019 By Upper Freeman Sam Rutherford

This year was my fourth at this great produced by Caroline Gough-Cooper, all the results! event, but more importantly this was the Taniya Morris and Beatrice De Smet – Caroline, Taniya, Alex Reynier and Will very first year we were able to enter a who made up our very first ladies’ team Fanshawe also deserve additional Ladies team for the Air Pilots (an aim that and what a great start. There is already mention for their slew of individual had eluded me until now). We fielded the inevitable discussion about how to medals. nine racers and set-to against 34 other make gold next time. We’ll be heading back for the next livery companies (it is now the biggest This was also the year we provided our edition, the 11th, 22-24 January 2020. I inter-livery event of any kind). own trophy to the championships, the am still on the for pilots on With three team silvers we built on last Air Pilots’ Trophy – “best rate of climb”. planks – so do please get in touch if year’s success to achieve our greatest ever This is presented to the person making results. Second places for Best team and the greatest improvement from the interested. Mark McCullins joined us Best (age and gender adjusted) team were previous year. Won, very deservedly, by this year from Alabama – so there really is both improvements from last year’s our own Jon Hill – cries of ‘fix’ being no excuse! bronzes. Our third team silver was quashed by the Actuaries who calculate

The successful Ladies Team

The Team

Jon Hill with ‘our’ trophy

Editor's Note: The trophy, which I sourced with the help of Assistant Dacre Watson, is of a Hurricane atop a piston from a Merlin engine. Though I say it myself, it would grace any trophy cabinet, especially that of a pilot.

16 Activating a Nato Forward Operating Base The 12 Squadron Detachment To Stornoway, 13-28 September 1972 By the Chairman of the Buccaneer Aircrew Association, aka Liveryman Tom Eeles

Sometime in the summer of 1972, I’m indoor public convenience, and a Before deployment we were carefully not sure when, a 12 squadron Buccaneer collection of rudimentary huts which briefed on the local sensitivities and the caught fire after an uncontained engine served as sleeping accommodation for political situation at Stornoway. No fast failure during take-off from junior officers but were unfurnished. The jet squadron had ever been there to Lossiemouth. The take-off was interiors of these huts had dividing disturb the peace of the Western Islands. successfully abandoned, the crew ran breeze block partitions, enclosing a space We were told that the locals were very away and the Buccaneer, which was for three or four camp beds in each, but god-fearing and unused to the high- loaded with Lepus flares, burnt a large they did not extend up to the roof of the octane life style enjoyed by the air and Buccaneer-shaped hole in the main hut. Thus the loud snoring in one bed ground crews of the Buccaneer runway, putting it out of action for some space was audible to all the hut’s community in the Seventies. Sundays time. Thus with only the secondary residents. There was a single useable were absolutely sacrosanct and nothing runway being useable, space at 6000 ft runway 18/36, with the happened apart from long church Lossiemouth for visitors was very prevailing wind generally westerly 20kts services. Additionally, there was an active limited. When the big autumn maritime generating a challenging cross wind and peace movement called Keep (or was it exercise, Strong Express, was due in a radar that could provide a non- Kick ?) NATO Out (KNO) who were September, it was decided to deploy 12 precision approach. Given the likely to mount vigorous protests at our Sqn to the NATO FOB at Stornoway on Buccaneer’s propensity to suffer presence. There would be no flying on the Isle of Lewis rather than hydraulic failures, it was decided to install Sundays and all personnel would be Lossiemouth, something that had never a portable Rotary Hydraulic Arrestor confined to camp where there was been previously attempted. Gear, flown in by a C130. With Lossie nothing by way of entertainment Stornoway’s facilities were rather unavailable, the nearest diversions were facilities. Given these local sensitivities primitive. There was a small resident Kinloss or Leuchars - both a fair distance and 12 Squadron’s recent unfortunate RAF unit, commanded by a flight away. Messing facilities were provided by reputation for doing things their own lieutenant engineer that looked after the a field kitchen, and marquees were way (and its accident record), Radar Bomb Site used by the V force and erected as messes for officers, SNCOs Honington’s Station Commander, Group the few other buildings belonging to the and other ranks. Camp beds and sleeping Captain Peter Bairsto, known to all as RAF. These consisted of a large Gaydon bags were issued and were essential. All in ‘The Bear’ because of his fierce and hangar, home to a huge number of all it looked like being something of a aggressive style of leadership, was seagulls who used it copiously as an hard-core camping holiday. appointed as Detachment Commander.

The burnt out Buccaneer The Bear (on left) in unusually relaxed mode

17 He managed to get his staff car, an Austin accompanied by the AOC, knocked on a slippers on his feet. The other variation 1800 (a model generally known as the few doors in an attempt to establish has the aforesaid officer, standing by the Landcrab) and his , flown in by ownership, without success. The cat was Hunter, clad in pyjamas, a Paisley pattern C130 for his personal use - I bet you then flung over a wall - and the convoy dressing gown and smart red leather couldn’t get away with that today. continued on its way into town. slippers, explaining to the AOC that The squadron flew in on 13th As I had a reputation of being a ‘yachtie’ there were no lobsters because he had September, myself in Buccaneer S2B XT I had been fingered by the Bear to take overslept. We may never know the truth 276, an aircraft I had flown in the FAA. him and the AOC out for a sea fishing of what happened, the AOC is dead and Despite the islander’s supposed trip after their visit to the Procurator, the Adjutant is unlikely to tell us. reputation for inhospitality towards using the local RAF unit’s motor boat. What of the flying? There was a lot of it irreligious noisy Sassenach incomers, we My passengers arrived in fine spirits, going, mainly long-range sorties with soon found ourselves down town in the there must have been quite a few drams AAR, many very far down into the Cabarfeidh Hotel at a civic reception in offered by the Procurator, so off we went South West Approaches, which raised the our honour, hosted by the great and the full of enthusiasm. Just as we reached the question of why we had not been good of Stornoway, which included the end of the sea loch and the start of the deployed to St Mawgan, a much more town’s dentist who turned out to be open waters of the Minch, the engine comfortable FOB closer to the action. something of a hard core bon viveur. The spluttered and stopped. I tinkered with it But it would not have been so much fun. event went riotously well, I particularly for a while but was unable to revive it. This was before the days of the great 8 recall the dentist’s enthusiasm for whisky So, without a radio or life jackets, there aircraft co-ordinated attack profiles, so - and made a mental note never to have was no other option than for the Bear the sorties were generally pairs or four toothache on the Isle of Lewis. There was and I to man the oars and row the heavy aircraft formations. I note from my no sign of anyone from the KNO motor boat back, with the rapidly logbook that I flew 13 sorties out of campaign, just the occasional poster stuck sobering up AOC sitting unhappily in Stornoway, the longest being 3 hrs 40 on a wall. I note I did not fly the next the stern. He never offered to help and min, a total of 28 hrs. Add to that another day, which happened to be my birthday. no fish were caught that day. 2 hrs Hunter flying at Honington, and It was not long before the Air Officer At some point during the same day one my monthly total was 30 hrs (despite 12 Commanding (AOC) 1 Group, Air Vice of our officers, who fulfilled the role of days leave at the start of the month). Not Marshal Peter Horsley, a distinguished Squadron Adjutant, was detailed to make bad for 3 weeks, and unlikely to be Mosquito pilot in WW2, was flown in by sure that the squadron’s silver and special matched by today’s front-line squadrons. Hunter to visit the detachment and stay table mats were available at a Dining In Not all the flying, however, was in overnight. On arrival he was entertained Night for the AOC. The subsequent turn support of Exercise Strong Express. One at lunch in the mess tent by those of us of events is a bit hazy after 47 years, but of the squadron navigators provided this not flying. He related a sad story of how, there are different versions of what memory, which I quote in full. the previous night, his pet cat had happened next. The Adjutant still claims “The Bear and I took a photo montage of the wandered out into the main road that he purchased some fresh lobsters for Stornoway Golf Course with the photo crate. through Bawtry and was squashed by a his personal use, only to have the Bear I spent about three hours cutting and pasting passing truck. We all expressed suitable offer them to the AOC. Others claim that and then framing the final product after we sympathy. After lunch the AOC and the the Adjutant himself offered to get some landed. We then presented the framed photo Bear left to go into town to meet and fresh lobsters for the AOC. That evening (about four feet by six feet) of the whole course take a dram with the Procurator Fiscal. the Dining In Night was held in the to the Club Captain that evening who in turn Travelling in the Landcrab, they were led Mess Tent for the AOC at which, presented the Bear with a bottle of malt. I got into town by the unsurprisingly, alcohol flowed. The AOC nothing. What was rather humorous, as we engineer in his Landrover. Between the was due to leave by Hunter next taxied back to dispersal after the sortie (and we airfield and the town, passing a row of morning. Again, there are two versions of had broken a few rules to get pictures of every crofts, a cat ran out and was squashed by what happened that morning. The fairway and green in the right direction), there the Landrover. ‘What should I do ?’asked Adjutant claims he handed over the was a posse of about ten police with a couple the Bear’s driver. ‘Drive on’ said the Bear. lobsters to the AOC (already strapped of police dogs waiting at the chocks. The Bear ‘Stop’ cried the AOC, still suffering from into the Hunter), standing on the thought his end had come. He said to me (in the previous night’s trauma, ‘We must dispersal pan in the keening Hebridean that rather high-pitched voice he could muster find out who is the owner.’ The Bear’s wind, clad in a flying suit worn over his on the tannoy during Taceval) ‘Bob, I need to driver, holding the corpse by its tail, and natty pyjamas, with smart red leather brief you. At no time during this sortie did we

18 deviate from the Flight Plan, (what Flight be a welcome watering hole and the Bear Looking at Stornoway airport on Google Plan ? I thought to myself) neither did we, at generously allowed his driver to run us Earth today, it does not appear to have any stage, fly over land below 250 feet nor around the island in the Landcrab on changed much. The Gaydon hangar is over any populated area below 1000 feet. Got sightseeing expeds. I also have a still there, used by the Coastguard SAR that?’ ‘Yessir’. I was first down the ladder (the recollection of a swimming competition helicopters. The huts have disappeared Bear still trying to silence the last engine and held on the beach adjoining the airfield and there is a smart new terminal no doubt jazzing his worry beads). The flight on one of the no-flying Sundays. All I building and car park. I believe there was lieutenant station commander said ‘Bob, we can remember is that the waters of the a plan to provide a Hardened Aircraft are delighted that the Lewis police force are Minch were very cold in September. Shelter site there, but the end of the Cold visiting the station today and would love to be We all flew back to Honington on 28th War must have killed that project. The shown over the jet.’ At that point the Bear September and, as far as I am aware, 12 road where the cat was squashed has a lot came down the ladder looking like death Sqn never deployed to Stornoway again. more modern houses beside it. The warmed up, but quickly ascended into Air One benefit to the islanders was that now Cabarfeidh Hotel is still in business - but Marshal mode when he realised the local Stornoway had been established as a I doubt the drunken dentist is still in this bobbies were on a day out. ‘We’ve had a most viable fast jet FOB any buildings within world. Bob tells me he is still wonderful sortie today over your delightful 3km of the airfield qualified for free remembered in Stornoway today with country. Bob and I just love Harris.’ I double glazing. The canny islanders built great affection. Happy days, but I doubt interjected ‘Lewis, boss, Lewis’. “ a lot more houses and opened businesses anything like this happens in these more Off duty, the Cabarfaidh Hotel proved to within this footprint. serious times.

Stornoway in the 1960’s....

...and today

19 Retirement of the Tornado By the Editor

So the sword will now be turned into dropping live BL755 on ploughshares. The Tornado has finally exercise or strafing retired from RAF service. As I write the targets……..or part of former crews are amassing at Marham for operational missions in a the quaintly-named FINale party. The package of in excess of 90 Tornado entered service in GR1 form in other aircraft to prosecute 1979, and earned its combat spurs in Gulf air power. The Tornado War 1 (1990-91). The type was very GR1/4 was a versatile, intensively used in both Gulf Wars, and hugely capable and (courtesy of Nick Goodwyn) in the Afghanistan campaign. The RAF enduring warfighter, respected and endeared by says that it amassed a total of 185,603 those who flew and operated the jet. It was a flying hours up until it ceased flying on privilege to have experienced life as a Op Shader in January this year, with the strike/attack and recce pilot and electronic detachment of eight GR4 aircraft warfare instructor on the mighty ‘Fin’. The Fin fans can of course continue to marvel returning to the UK the following Tornado has earned its place in history as a at the Tornado in Italy, Germany, and month. (The Typhoon only just managed great aircraft. , for the time being. to become -capable in time). In fact the Tornado saw an amazing evolution of its munitions over its lifetime – from WE177 nuclear bombs, through JP233 cluster bombs, to finally Brimstone, Storm Shadow and Paveway IV. The Marham squadrons mounted a 3 ship formation for a farewell tour of UK bases and locations associated with the type. When viewed by the Editor and his predecessor, we judged that formation- keeping could do with improvement! Some very senior officers were on board, apparently. However the last major event was a nine-ship from Marham to overfly a graduation parade at RAF College, Cranwell. From the media footage this looked immaculate. Many members with military service will have had the pleasure of flying the swing- wing marvel, formerly known as the MRCA. I cajoled Warden Nick Goodwyn into giving his recollections: Flying at 500 feet, at night, in a valley, at a mountain and with the auto pilot and TFR taking you up into cloud and over the terrain was truly exhilarating. Supersonic over the north sea at low level, just over 100 feet and 600 knots on detachment at Goose Bay,

20 Photos of the final flypasts courtesy of the MOD/Crown Copyright

In passing it is worth noting that, in the Editor’s opinion, the Station Comander at RAF Marham, together with his squadron commanders and media team, did an excellent job in communicating the farewell events to the public, and helping those who wished to observe the final sorties.

Hangar Doors by Denise Cox (Immediate Past Mistress)

Tuesday March 12th was an atrocious day group never made it (due to train issues) weather-wise as Storm Gareth pounded and those that did were glad to get inside the British Isles. Sixteen of us ladies the building and finally get some respite braved the elements to take advantage of from the wind and the rain. a visit to Hampton Court Palace and the Although not over-subscribed on this Royal School of Needlework's occasion, from what I've heard, and exhibition 'The Embroidered Home'. weather aside, everyone enjoyed the visit; The exhibition reflected on how homes and those that made lunch in the warmth have historically been decorated with of the Tiltyard Cafe had a jolly good chat. embroidered pieces and featured pieces If nothing else these visits do allow back step from my duties as a Mistress, from the RSN’s unique collection. members' spouses and partners to get and look forward to supporting the Meeting up at the main entrance gate together and meet up at different venues incoming Mistress, Vanessa White, as she outside the Palace ahead of the tour's from the norm. They also have a start time of 1100 was the plan, but with charitable purpose and a contribution picks up the baton. I trust you will the weather the way it was, arrangements was able to be made to the Master's support her in her endeavours as you went slightly awry. Certainly, one of our Charity Fund. As for myself, I can take a have mine. Thank you.

21 Book Reviews FLIGHT FROM THE CROFT (Liveryman) Bill Innes Whittles Publishing, 2019 Reviewed by the Editor

Bill why did you leave it so long to write BEA and their DC3 fleet. Soon he emerges. As often is the case with small your autobiography? The author is a ripe hopped over to the Dragon Rapide so publishers, there are signs of very light old 85. This book therefore covers an era that he could service his old hinterland of touch editing. Bill begins to repeat that stretches way back further than most the Highlands. Unsurprisingly this himself: he “pressed the eject button” hitting the presses today. comprised a lot of ‘real’ (VFR) flying – several times (to switch fleets or His upbringing was unusual by pilot there are anecdotes aplenty. One of the employers). He clearly realises that he is standards – fostered with a family in more amusing ones concerns how a BEA doing it since many tales or statement are South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. But, captain acquired his nickname: prefaced with “As mentioned earlier”. like so many of us, he caught the aviation ‘Rooftops’ Johnson skippered a DC3 that The writer should really give more credit bug early on, and was fortunate to be landed on the roof of a house in South to the reader’s short-term memory! accepted by Glasgow UAS (where his Ruislip – as you do, or rather, used to do. One minor quibble (or perhaps major, if Chippie was one digit removed from the There are copious good quality one works at Aviation House): one might one I used to fly on my UAS)! In passing illustrations – some of BEA Herons took expect an ATPL who has practiced his one should note that Bill slightly over- my eye in particular. He progressed to skill from a British base for almost all his eggs the current state of UAS flying Vanguards, Tridents and 757s before career to know that our art, sport, and ‘training’. leaving BA for Air 2000 and some work is not governed by the “Civil But this experience meant that when associated businesses. Evidently he Aviation Agency”! National Service beckoned he could do remained a stick & rudder man at heart, Notwithstanding these niggles, the book it as aircrew training with the RAF. He as he was one of the early members of is well written, with lashings of humour, was fortunate to be shipped to the big (and display pilot with) the Tiger Club, at and will no doubt prove very nostalgic skies of Canada for tuition on the a time when bravado was a competitive for those many members who started Harvard and then the T33. A charmed sport between these alpha males. their commercial career in the piston era. time. After National Service he joined In the last quarter of the book a flaw

BOLTS FROM THE BLUE, From Cold War Warrior to Chief of the Air Staff Liveryman Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns GCB KCVO CBE FRAES Grub Street Reviewed by Liveryman Gp Capt Tom Eeles (RAF Ret’d)

Do not be put off by the rather fast jet pilot in his early years through to portrait of Sir Richard Johns as Chief of his appointments as a senior commander the Air Staff (CAS) which forms the front in both RAF and NATO, as well as his cover of this book, reflecting probably his time spent navigating the labyrinthine concerns at the difficult time corridors of power in the MoD and experienced by the RAF when he was Whitehall. the professional head of the Service. This After covering his family background book is a cracking good read, covering (which had no connection with Sir Richard’s extensive experience as a aviation), Sir Richard describes his

22 training as a flight cadet at RAF College Cold War, he was appointed CAS in April well while flying with foreign air forces. Cranwell in the late 1950s, before he 1997 – somewhat to his as he During a formal visit to the Romanian moved on with a commission as the first had reached the age of 58, the normal Air Force he had to endure a low level ‘ab initio’ pilot to fly the mighty, albeit retirement age for officers of his rank. aerobatic display in the back seat of a Mig quirky, Gloster Javelin all weather fighter. This was a particularly difficult time for 21 of doubtful serviceability - which Subsequent tours saw him as ADC to the the armed services, especially the RAF, culminated in a high speed pass, inverted, Commandant at Cranwell, a Hunter with politicians and civil servants eagerly at 100 ft, leaving him in ’an untidy heap fighter recce pilot in Aden, a Gnat flying seeking a Peace Dividend, whilst still someway distant from the seat pack with instructor, HRH The Prince of Wales’s demanding a high tempo of operational my head banging around the canopy’ as a flying instructor at Cranwell, the activity overseas with much reduced result of poor strapping in to an inevitable year at Staff College followed forces and budgets. Sir Richard does not unfamiliar seat, lack of a negative G strap by appointment as Principal Staff Officer mince his words concerning his political and loose shoulder harness. He survived (PSO) to the AOC in C of RAF Near masters and their civil servants, nor for intact to be presented with Romanian East Air Force in . that matter in his dealings with the Royal Air Force wings. He then moved on to command 3 (F) Navy, the Army and NATO allies. In the To conclude, Bolts from the Blue is an Squadron, flying the Harrier in Germany. round it is powerful stuff which makes outstanding story of a distinguished Sir Richard progressed to the MoD, first the potentially dry subject matter of airman’s career during the days of Cold in the Directorate of Forward Policy these later chapters considerably more War confrontation and the following (RAF) and then on promotion as the lively and controversial. years of defence reorientation and cut Director of Air Staff Briefing (DASB) – The concluding chapters that cover Sir backs but continuing regional conflicts. in effect CAS’s briefing officer. He Richard’s time in high command are Well illustrated with many colour and eventually escaped back to the front line quite liberally peppered with the many black and white photographs, it is in Germany as Station Commander, acronyms beloved by the armed services written clearly, precisely, with humour RAF Gutersloh and Harrier Force which might puzzle the reader unfamiliar and a wonderful recall of people and Commander. Sir Richard’s skill and with military jargon, but there is a events. Whilst the epilogue provides a enthusiasm for fast jet flying, particularly comprehensive list of abbreviations thoughtful overview of the gradual in the Harrier, are vividly described in provided towards the end of the book. Sir decline in our national combat power, the book’s early chapters. Richard’s time as CAS was not an easy the sting in the tail is an appendix There then followed a number of ride, with the RAF facing many internal written by Sir Richard’s colleague Air demanding high profile operational staff and external challenges. As he says in Marshal Sir William Wratten, titled appointments in both Germany and the Chapter 28, ‘my return to the RAF was ‘Eyeballing Ratko.’ It’s an amazing UK with the RAF and NATO. not an experience always illuminated by description of a serious confrontation Comments on 1 and sweetness and light.’ His battles with between senior British, French and subsequent activities in the Balkans ministers and Treasury officials are well American commanders in NATO and (including Kosovo) and the Middle East described, and will leave the reader in no the Serb General Ratko Mladic, the present valuable and informed doubt that he led the RAF through some Chief of Staff of the Bosnian Serb Army. knowledge of the RAF’s contribution to very challenging times as financial They counted themselves lucky, and operations ranging from high intensity management continued to take surprised, to return from his lair conflict to humanitarian relief. Following precedence over the identification of unharmed. This book brings back many command of Allied Forces North West strategic priorities. There were, however, memories for me and I cannot Europe, newly formed in the wake of the lighter moments, and some scary ones as recommend it highly enough.

23 someone say ‘like father like son’?!), and Luncheon Club, 12th February 2019 delivered the first production Westland Whirlwind from Martlesham to Drem. Flying in Father’s Slipstream Tom showed a terrific photo of his By the Editor father’s wedding in 1940, almost matched by another great photo, this time of Liveryman Tom Eeles addressed the 56th (from the second term) to weekly air himself in front of a Hunter with the meeting of the luncheon club in the experience flights in the Chipmunk. RAF Aerobatic Team at RAF Greenham newly re-named Sovereign’s Room of Given he had already blagged air Common. Harry later became Station the RAF Club. The title of his talk experience flights as a CCF cadet in Commander at the beautiful RAF echoed his recently published Meteors and a Canberra (BZ for that), Thorney Island, where he managed to autobiographical volume, which seeks to this must have seemed a little tame. accumulate time in his beloved Vampire draw parallels between his father’s and his Thereafter Tom enjoyed a ‘straight Mk 1. Tom’s plum posting for picking own careers. Proceedings got underway through’ JP course of 180 hours over 2 good rides was as OC Examining Wing after Liveryman John Robinson suddenly years. After Bulldogs Harry went onto a at CFS where of course he had to remembered he had been deputed to say first tour on Siskins, whilst Tom’s was to ‘standardise’ the Reds. Grace! RAF Germany on the Canberra B8. Tom joined the Flying Control As we have only recently finished Harry then enjoyed a stint as ADC to Committee of Duxford in 2003, where AVM Cyril Newall, during which he celebrating the RAF’s centenary it gives he noted it was “difficult sometimes flew his boss around the Near East in a one pause to consider that Air dealing with heroes of the civil display Fairey IIIF (including a 5:50 sortie). Commodore Harry Eeles, and Group community”! Harry became Tom’s second tour was an eventful one Captain Tom Eeles’ joint careers covered Commandant of Cranwell in 1953, and with the FAA flying the Mighty Bucc eighty percent of the service’s life to date! Tom pondered why on earth the RAF with 801 NAS on HMS Victorious. A Tom joined up in 1960, and this failed to had procured the Balliol as an advanced highlight was participating in a flypast of overlap his father’s career by 2 years; trainer around this time. By the same 55 aircraft from 2 carriers. Harry became Harry joined in 1929 and retired in token, when Tom became Station a QWI at 5 FTS at Sealand in 1935, Commander at Linton (initially using 1958. enjoying five different types. Tom singled the JP5), he did not become a signed-up Tom gave us an overview of his (recent) out his father’s air/ground sortie in a member of the Tucano fan club. family history, and how his father was Hart. He contrasted this with his own Tom regaled us how he managed to inspired to join the world of aviation: the next tour at 4 FTS at Valley on the Gnat. extend his RAF flying career by alleged inspiration for 007 – one Jim We were treated to a diversion on the becoming a FTRS CFI of Cambridge Bond – played a part in this. There were benefits of the integrated flight UAS, and later fell in rank further to plenty of insights into how small is the instrumentation of Folland’s pocket on Tutors with the co- world of British service aviation: Harry’s rocket. Tom had some excellent photos of located 5 AEF, until he was forcibly instructor at Cranwell was the father of the Thirties RAF, and outlined the early removed from the Liveryman Sir Ian experiments in fighter control. cockpit having hit Macfadyen. Harry returned to serve Newall as his age 65. Once into his own training, Tom pointed PSO in 1939-40, when the latter was Altogether a well- out that he had no flying instruction CAS. This must have provided an illustrated, and very during his first year at Cranwell (there extremely interesting window for Harry entertaining talk. was little sympathy in the audience into the nation‘s defence strategy. given how much fun he appeared to have Nonetheless during this period he later in his career). Flying was limited managed to maximise his own flying (did

24