In reading the Putnam book on Boulton Paul, test pilot Capt. Frank Courtney was mentioned many times. The book says he left the firm to move to America.
I had given up trying to lean about his work in America when I stumbled upon his name in reference to the Curtiss-built Courtney CA-1 amphibian of 1933-35, of which two prototypes were built.
Checking Joseph Juptner’s U.S. Civil Aircraft Vols I- IX, only finds his name attached to this one project. Does anyone know of his later work and whether he returned to the UK?
By: J Boyle - 24th April 2014 at 18:29
Thanks, Ill try to find the book next time I’m in the UK.
By: bazv - 24th April 2014 at 06:00
His Autobio ‘Flight Path’ is a wonderful read : ) –
It takes the reader from his time as a mechanic with the Claude Grahame White Co,through his joining the RFC as an AM2 (air mechanic 2nd class) at Farnborough and – although he wore glasses but because he already had his ‘pilots ticket’ – he was ‘given’ RFC pilots wings and eventually got to france on ops and promoted captain.
The book also covers his time as a freelance test pilot inc with Cierva which is very interesting,the tail end of the book is set in America where he ended up with Convair (from memory – away from home) after (amongst other things)being a ferry pilot in the USA during WW2.
One of my favourite books which I read every 3 or 4 years.
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April 23, 2014 at 11:04 pm