W H ‘Slim’ Sear OBE has died at Yeovil. Chief Test Pilot from 1952 to 1967 he was a leading figure in the Sikorsky/Westland alliance and was in charge of flight testing during the joining together of Westland Fairey, Bristol and Sunders-Roe.
He led the programme for the Westminster and also the anti submarine coupled flight mode for Whirlwind, Wessex and Sea King
Few will forget Slims extrovert manner.
Having retired from flying he was Superintendent of the flight shed throughout the Lynx programme.
Slim played a prominent role in the prosperous years of Westland, always ready to call a spade a spade in no uncertain terms He had left his mark on history RIP Slim.
By: Wyvernfan - 1st October 2015 at 06:56
Sad news indeed. Another legendary figure from the pioneering world of aviation test flying leaves us.
Blue skies ‘Slim’.
Rob
By: charliehunt - 1st October 2015 at 05:50
He did indeed. Another of those iconic test pilots from the 50s whose names are engraved on the memory.
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September 30, 2015 at 10:50 pm