SBAC 1961 Pathe Film

Sit back and enjoy. Richard

Would do if would play……….!!!

Planemike

What a fantastic feeling of an upbeat future ahead in that film, with designers turning out world-beating products!
Now it’s all doom and gloom, and it seems our best designers have deserted us…

The A350 Chief Engineer i.e. the guy in charge of the whole project, is a Brit…………. albeit working in Toulouse.

Its the fact that the Brits didn’t and still won’t invest (Filton runway closure QED) which is the real problem. In 1961 it was doable as the French proved and that’s why they are now the Hub of European Aerospace.

Farnboro 1961

I can’t remember if it was Lt Cdr ‘Danny’ Norman or his deputy, John Ford, who led the 800 Squadron team at Farnborough that year? Lt Cdr Norman had earlier ejected from a Scimitar during a rehearsal and had been admitted to hospital after injuring his back. The team also included Lt G A I ‘Johnny’ Johnson, a former member of ‘several RAF and FAA aerobatic teams’. Does anyone recall him?

I went on the Sunday and was thrilled at the sight of the mass flypast of Scimitars, Sea Vixens and Gannets from HMS Hermes, not forgetting the superb display by the 16 Hunters of 92 Squadron (Sqn Ldr Brian Mercer AFC) and the nine Lightnings of No.74 Squadron (Sqn Ldr John Howe)- I can still feel the ground trembling with their take-offs? Oh, and there was some team called the ‘CFS Aerobatic Team’ from Little Rissington with four Jet Provosts, led by Flt Lt Frank Brambley! Halcyon Days!

This is a bit of colour film of the Farnborough show, I dont remember Supermarine Scimitars with smoke systems and an all white Gnat trainer.
http://pathedev.bigeyedeers.co.uk/video/farnborough-air-display-2/query/Handley
Sit back and enjoy.

Richard

I was there and remember it well, despite only being 11 years old at the time.
The Scimitars were an aerobatic team called ‘ The Red Blades’ flown by 800 Squadron and that Gnat was the only one painted white. Ah nostalgia isn’t what it used to be!! 😉

What a fantastic feeling of an upbeat future ahead in that film, with designers turning out world-beating products!
Now it’s all doom and gloom, and it seems our best designers have deserted us…

Interesting clip indeed…..

JP’s with smoke systems – not seen that before either.

The white gnat was XM693, one of the development aircraft and now pole mounted outside the original Hamble factory site.

I hadn’t seen that one, thanks! There’s some fantastic stuff on there.