Sadly I must report that John Morton, Fairey test pilot has died in New Zealand.
Yet another of the test pilots of the ‘Heroic age’ of British test flying passes on.
John will be best remembered for his spirited flying in the Fairey Ultra-Light, operating off the back of a lorry.
He was co-pilot of the Rotodyne supporting Ron Gellatly, and one of the few if not only other pilots to fly it as P1.
He also flew the first Naval prototype Lynx (XX469) on its first flight.
By: Judwin - 10th May 2014 at 07:35
John Fay and Slim Sear Still with us and of course several of the Rotodyne and Westminster design and development team, who believe it or not might have done a little towards these projects.
By: heli1 - 5th May 2014 at 17:31
Sad news indeed. Only recently he did a recorded interview for The Helicopter Museum about his Rotodyne and Ultralight experiences. Just in time and soon after a similar interview was done with his contemporary Sox Hosegood.
I suspect John Fay may now be the only British helicopter test pilot of that era left now……..not counting Winkle Brown whose helicopter test flying was very limited and short term.
By: Moggy C - 5th May 2014 at 11:58
Moved
Moggy
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By: charliehunt - 5th May 2014 at 05:48
Yes indeed I do – that “heroic age” was very much my age. Who could forget the Rotodyne? Ex navy I believe and must have been in his 90s. I wonder if any from that age are still alive……..
This should really be in Historic shouldn’t it?
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May 5, 2014 at 12:35 am