XM134 First flown by R.P. Beamont 3-11-59 at Samlesbury. First production Lightning F.Mk.1.To A&AEE Boscombe Down, 31-3-60; to the ADFS, Coltishall, 7-7-60; returned to Warton for development flying, 10-11-60; to 74 Squadron, Coltishall, 2-9-63 as aircraft ‘A’; to 226 OCU, early in 1964. Crashed into the sea, 30 miles east of Happisburgh, Norfolk, 11-9-64: undercarriage jammed "up" and would not lower whilst on final approach to RAF Coltishall. Aircraft flown out to sea; 30 miles out over the North Sea, Flt Lt. T. Bond ejected at 10,000ft, 250kts. I.A.S. with aircraft flying straight and level. Remains at Farnborough, by 31-10-64 for accident investigation, and thence to BAC Warton, in May 1966. Total airframe hours 229 hour 15 min.
jimmy dell was one of the flight crews who flew TSR 2 aswell ..shame XR 219 has been removed from existance even any of what was left of it has been removed
4:43 so all the expensive flight equipment and gear...and he's still wearing his brown low quarter shoes he wore into work in his civilian suit. Not sure they would be much use in a cockpit fire or even having to eject; would wind up landing barefoot.
A pilot is a pilot...test or otherwise. The difference is that the test pilot is imbued with a big dollop of his 'specialness'...and will then say and do exactly what his employers tell him to say and do.
As much as I admire test pilots....did anyone else notice he got into the wrong side of his car to drive to work?...actually....I hope he never did that AT work...messy!
Fascinating films from the days when we had a "real" aircraft industry! Thanks for posting.
Test pilot...He can't park a car though bless him. Brave guys
And he got in the wrong side of his car to drive to work!
Wing Commander Jimmy Dell - he was also a test pilot for Jaguar and Tornado and was BAC's chief test pilot when Beamont retired.
he flew the TSR 2 aswell
ideally be nice for some one to make more of these films .
My Uncle, what a guy, miss him ❤
XM134
First flown by R.P. Beamont 3-11-59 at Samlesbury. First production Lightning F.Mk.1.To A&AEE Boscombe Down, 31-3-60; to the ADFS, Coltishall, 7-7-60; returned to Warton for development flying, 10-11-60; to 74 Squadron, Coltishall, 2-9-63 as aircraft ‘A’; to 226 OCU, early in 1964.
Crashed into the sea, 30 miles east of Happisburgh, Norfolk, 11-9-64: undercarriage jammed "up" and would not lower whilst on final approach to RAF Coltishall. Aircraft flown out to sea; 30 miles out over the North Sea, Flt Lt. T. Bond ejected at 10,000ft, 250kts. I.A.S. with aircraft flying straight and level. Remains at Farnborough, by 31-10-64 for accident investigation, and thence to BAC Warton, in May 1966. Total airframe hours 229 hour 15 min.
1:59 Test pilot for the RAF but can not park a car. lol
Nice try you idiots, I bet your parents are proud of you both!
his car was parked fine.
Half a million quids worth of Supersonic Interceptor......I'll have 2 please
jimmy dell was one of the flight crews who flew TSR 2 aswell ..shame XR 219 has been removed from existance even any of what was left of it has been removed
TSR 2 fuselage was dumped near Feltham marshalling yards before being removed or destroyed
And a fine old pair of regulation Brogues completes the picture... haha brilliant.
That music wouldn't be out of place in a Carry On film.
4:43 so all the expensive flight equipment and gear...and he's still wearing his brown low quarter shoes he wore into work in his civilian suit. Not sure they would be much use in a cockpit fire or even having to eject; would wind up landing barefoot.
Those boys, would just strap some prosthetics on and go up again
A pilot is a pilot...test or otherwise. The difference is that the test pilot is imbued with a big dollop of his 'specialness'...and will then say and do exactly what his employers tell him to say and do.
Not necessarily. Check out Bill Waterton!
Continuity is terrible - Takes off in a Mk1a and lands in a T4 and fires missiles from a non-existent pack
ideally it would have been nice if they had the new reel of him flying TSR 2
As much as I admire test pilots....did anyone else notice he got into the wrong side of his car to drive to work?...actually....I hope he never did that AT work...messy!