John Derry and Anthony Richards – 55 years ago today

Having just got back from the Portrush displays in Northern Ireland this thread was a salutary reminder of our UK airshow regulations as set down in CAP403 and, for civil airshows, the need to have a Permission under Article 80 of our Air Navigation Order subject to compliance with CAP403.

I am proud to have been responsible for drafting the UK regulatory scenario in the late 1980’s which is still used today; with some amendments over the years. Our system of approving display pilots is the envy of regulatory authorities right round the world.

A wise old airshow pilot once said “Airshow flying is the art of diving at the ground and just missing it…..!!!”. How very true. There is risk and those who engage in the activity evaluate the level and compensate for it. Not always successfully as the record shows. I have been to far too many funerals of my fellow airshow pilots over the last 52 years during which I have been flying at such events. Good friends and fine pilots whose risk evaluation was, for once, faulty. My own failed on a couple of occasions in 1972 and 1979. I fully accept that I am a very lucky b***ard….!!! as well as being a fairly impoverished one.

We have however kept safe those who come in their thousands, indeed millions, to watch us enjoying ourselves. 55 unblemished years in terms of a spectator fatality is quite an achievement. Regulations have played a part and so has the professionalism of display pilots, flying display safety committees and show organisers. The CAA airshow inspectors do a grand job along with the DA evaluators who are mainly practising airshow pilots themselves.

I must however stress that we have been lucky since no aviation activity can ever be devoid of risk. Ultimate safety is no aviation and certainly no airshows.

I am not prepared to contemplate that situation despite the worst efforts of the “nanny” state. At the age of 69 it is just too much fun, whether as a participant or a spectator.

Cheers,

Reaper 69
:dev2:

One of my ex work colleagues was there with his cine camera and recorded [sorry filmed] the event.
He handed the cine film in and told me he never saw the film again.To be honest i don’t think he wanted it back.

Interesting timing. Weve just been sent some letters my grandad wrote to my grandma and one of them mentions this incident. He was an aircraft engineer at the time and i believe worked for de Haviland at the time.

When I started as an apprentice draughtsman back in 1980, the Assitant Chief Draughtsman in our office had been an apprentice at Handley-Page at Radlett and the annual works outing to the SBAC was on that fateful day.
He vividly described the sight of one of the engines coming straight for him and whistling over his head before impacting behind him.

He never went to an airshow again.

It’s 55 years since John Derry, Anthony Richards, and 29 spectators died at Farnborough as a result of the break-up of the DH110 prototype.

A great tragedy, yet one that has prevented crowd fatalities at British airshows for over half a century.

Either way, we should remember it. We should remember them.
Adrian

I’ll echo that sentiment.

I recall the news too, when dad came home, he had been there with a works ticket from ROTOL/British Messier.

My future father-in-law and wife were there also, although we were many miles and years away from knowing this.

Little did I realise at the time that the legacy of the likes of Derry, Richards and ‘Wimpy’ Wade would come my way as flying hardware with which I would be involved in the future.

I kept the dark thoughts to myself on Saturday, being at my son’s wedding which will now reinforce the memory.

John flying VV217 actually set a record from Paris to Cannes to win the Montana Prize

There is also an interview with him that is available as to listen too which was recorded on 1st September 1952. The file can be plyed on real player. If anybody would like to hear it if they pm with their e-mail I will send it to them

I have the original Flight Test Diaries for the DH110 – a prize from Ebay earlier this year. I will dig them out later.

I also have the obituary published by de Havilland’s in the house magazine.

One of Derry’s aircraft survives – Vampire VV217 at Sunderland was extensively used by the flight test department at Hatfield, and was flown by Derry on a number of occasions. I believe he used it to set a record from London to Paris.

Bruce

Also anybody care to estimate the number of ‘airshows’ in the UK this year? At a guess I would say 25-35 of five of more aircraft and paying spectators?

I just wanted to get my facts right before responding to some ill-informed comments following the recent tragic collision in Poland.

In the late eighties early 90s the oft quoted figure was 250 events per year across the UK from RIAT / Farnborough to a balloon flyby. Probably a bit less now.

More than that I’d say.

http://www.militaryairshows.co.uk/listing.htm

Moggy

A great tragedy, yet one that has prevented crowd fatalities at British airshows for over half a century.

Am I right in thinking that this was the last occasion that a spectator was killed (or seriously injured) at a UK airshow?

Also anybody care to estimate the number of ‘airshows’ in the UK this year? At a guess I would say 25-35 of five of more aircraft and paying spectators?

I just wanted to get my facts right before responding to some ill-informed comments following the recent tragic collision in Poland.

John Derry, a post war test pilot with Supermarine.

Here with the proto Attacker at Chilbolton in June 1947.

Mark

Funny, as I read the words ‘Derry Turn’ I hear Raymond Baxter’s voice saying it.

Moggy

A great tragedy, yet one that has prevented crowd fatalities at British airshows for over half a century.

Hear hear. And in other countries interested in learning and preventing.

It’s a shame we hardly ever hear the term ‘Derry Turn’ any more.

Obviously it depends, but I heard it last week at one of the RAAF Museum’s interactive flying displays, and it was mentioned a week earlier, can’t remember the context.

I have the book, it’s by Brian Rivas & Annie Bullen. Fantastic read especially the notes by John on his supersonic dive in the 108.

Great men, in a great flying machine at great event, tragedy indeed.

I heard the Patroille Suise commentator saying that the team were performing a ‘Derry turn’ at Yeovilton this year.

One of my best pals was at the event and witnessed it, the confusion was such that he didn’t really know the severity of the accident, and was worried that his motorbike (that he needed to get back to Cornwall) might have been damaged by wreckage.
Years ago my Granparents used to live in Buckinghanshire, next door to a family that were orphaned by the crash.

those DH-110s were amazingly modern and sinister looking aircraft, especially in the all black scheme.

Has anyone here read the book on Derry (by his wife I believe)?
Also there was a brilliant programme on BBC2 a few years back, had great footage of Derry and test pilots of the era.

Hear hear, Adrian for bringing it to our notice

Well remembered.

It’s a shame we hardly ever hear the term ‘Derry Turn’ any more.

Moggy