Dick Stratton

Chief engineer for a Princess.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2708044.ece

A sad loss. Dick was a huge help to the Brize Norton Aviation Society when we were restoring the SR53 there in the late ’70s / early ’80s. Some of his stories about testing the beast at Boscombe Down would make your hair curl.

Here, here!

A sad loss. Dick was a huge help to the Brize Norton Aviation Society when we were restoring the SR53 there in the late ’70s / early ’80s. Some of his stories about testing the beast at Boscombe Down would make your hair curl.

Arrangements have now been made for Dick’s funeral.

13.00 Friday 12 October. Banbury Crem., Southam Road, Banbury.

There’ll be a gathering afterwards to toast his many achievements, in the Windrushers Gliding Club Bar, at Bicester airfield.

I remember Dick visiting our Gliding Club at Perranporth with the BGA Slingsby Capstan. Proper Gent. RIP.

SoG

Had the good fortune to meet Dick Stratton a number of times over the years and always found him to be a font of information and always willing too share this and his experience for all to benefit.

His insights into engineering problems helped me solve one that had been troubling me for months and his support at that time was greatly appreciated, He will be sadly missed by the community.

Didnt know Dick that well but knew of his work, met him a couple of times at Bicester and it was always a delight:) What a week it has been, what desperately sad times:( RIP Dick, blue skies

I’m shocked and saddened. Just a few weeks ago he and I were discussing over the compulsory mug of tea in the Bicester crew room how we could get some more of his memories into a more permanent medium.

Those who met Dick and heard him speak of his time at Saunders Roe will know how much we’ve lost.

While best known for his role as (his words) “Chief Stoker” on the Saro Princess (probably the only person who could keep ten Proteus engines running at one time), his career started in the RAF where he was a engineering officer on Sunderlands, helped develop the first powered control systems, was a design and test engineer on the SR53 rocket interceptor and the rocket-assisted Canberra. His final job at Saro was to convert a Skeeter into the first light gas-turbine helicopter in the world, it later became the Westland Wasp/Scout.

Dick’s later passion was light aircraft and gliding. He was BGA chief engineer, tug pilot, gliding instructor and motor glider instructor well into his seventies and until recently was still inspecting aircraft for PFA permits. He double checked some routine maintenance on my Tipsy Trainer only last month.

A wonderful character, a brilliant engineer and an aeroplane enthusiast to the very end of his 83 years.

For the past three years I’ve been flying from Bicester, I doubt there was a day when I pitched up at the airfield and not found Dick there.

He’ll be sadly missed by a huge range of people. There’s no-one for whom “Blue Skies” is a more appropriate farewell.

I did not know Dick personally but he certainly used to run the technical side of the BGA(and us Inspectors!!) in a very practical and commonsense way,he will be sadly missed by the aviation community!!

I’m sorry to hear about another loss to the historic aviation community.

‘Living History’. But Dick’s done his bit – time for a rest.

RIP