I have now identified that 1950s book on test pilots – it is titled ‘British Test Pilots’, author was Geoffrey Dorman, AFRAeS, and it was published by Forbes Robertson Ltd of London. I do not know the year of publication and guess it was pre-ISBN numbering but although I suspect it to be quite a rare book, there should be a few copies around. Does anyone else have a copy?

As stated earlier, it gives the best account I know of J ‘Mutt’ Summers’ career – and also covers many others such as Moore-Brabazon, ‘Bee’ Beamont, Brooke-Smith, Cunningham, Derry, Gunn, Hazleden, Lithgow, Lowdell, Orrell, Penrose, Porteous, Twiss and Wade. Reccommended reading indeed.

…and I believe the owner of a certain T28 lives in the Guildford area.

I agree that Summers is a much neglected test pilot – my own rough notes about him end with conflicting figures for the number of different types he tested (& different again from Papa Lima’s):-

“27/7/51 – Retired as CTP with one last routine test flight of a Varsity and began new ‘Liaison Officer’(?) job with Vickers. Note: he had been CTP at Vickers for 22 years during which time he tested 30 different types.

1954? – Died – having test flown 54 types in a 25 year career as a test pilot”

Not sure where I got my facts from but one of the best accounts of his carrer that I’ve seen is a chapter in a 1950s book on British test pilots – the title and author of which unfortunately escapes me at present. Clearly more research on this distinguished person is needed.

Good stuff! I had no idea there was a Hurricane replica at Capel Le Ferne – anone know who made it and how long it has been there?

I had also assumed West Malling’s lovely ‘Villa Type’ control tower had long been demolished – great potential for some form of re-use by the local community surely? I wonder if it is now owned by the council or a developer?

Thanks Alex – looking at the Fury in the background of one of their pics, it certainly looks like the ex-Cosford one. Wrecks & Relics ought to confirm this. I may have a photo or two of it at Cosford – will try & check for you soon.

Thanks for mentioning this – looks like being a useful website with basic data on most airfields already up there. I too wish them well with their aims and objectives.

Correction – Brooklands now has the Shuttleworth Thompson three-wheeler and its even pictured in this week’s British Airways News. There has also been mention of these vehicles not so long ago on this forum……

Interesting news AgCat – many thanks! I wonder who bought the tractor unit and where it now resides?