Extract from Britannia Aircraft Preservation Trust Web site:-
“On the morning of 4th February 1954, G-ALRX took of from Filton on a test flight, with Captain A.J. ‘Bill’ Pegg at the controls. Flight Engineers for the trip were Ken Fitzgerald and Gareth Jones. On board were Dr. Archibald E. Russell, Chief Designer of Bristol Aircraft Division; Dr. Stanley G Hooker, Chief Engineer of the Bristol Engine Division; and Mr Farnes, the Bristol Sales Manager. This was not just a test flight; also present were two representatives of the Dutch airline KLM, a potential Britannia customer. G. Malouin of KLM was co-pilot for the flight. Thirteen people were on board all together.
Ken Fitzgerald? as in TFC’s B25 pilot & former Stirling bloke????? or am I mistooken?
By: ZRX61 - 6th July 2006 at 17:30
Damn, I wasn’t sure of the last part of the name, I always knew him as Ken or Fitz. I went to Alconbury in ’91 with him, I think Shetland was in the right seat & Avro’s Finest sat behind em. I was in cattle class with the missus & Ernie.
Still got the scar on the noggin from the “pull thru” the next morning. Someone though we were at 11 blades when in fact we were at 12 & as I turned around he decided one more blade & I got smacked in the forehead. That was the day I learned that no matter how badly you are bleeding, do NOT use a rag socked in aeroshell & avgas to plug the hole….
SG’s comment: “I hope you didn’t get blood all over my aircraft!” LOL!!
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July 6, 2006 at 3:32 am