Some time around the mid-seventies when I was a young sprog just learning to fly, the Turnhouse Flying Club hangar was situated on the south of the airfield (now Edinburgh Airport), next to the Ferranti Hangar. (Not the same security problems in those days, sigh…).
I was hanging about as usual, hoping for a free flight or even for just the chance to taxi a plane to get fuel, when a group of expensive limousines
drove up the the Ferranti hangar. Out popped a load of “suits” accompanied by several well-tanned gents in military uniforms copiously adorned with medals.
The Ferranti hangar doors opened and lo and behold a Harrier was tugged out.
The miltary gents backed off into the jangar and at a suitable distance (but only what seemed to be about 100 yards), the Harrier “lit up” and performed a superb demo.
It hovered, reversed, flew a couple of low circuits then landed vertically.
Needless to say, all of us in the clubhouse were agog!!!!
After it landed and the Pegasus spun down, the pilot de-planed and shook hands with the assorted multitude. After a short while, they all shot off in the limos and the Harrier was dragged back into the Ferranti hangar.
I assume that this must have been a sales demo, possibly either for the Spanish or the Indians.
Pity that these days, with security as it is now, we would probably have been turfed out of our hangar for the whole day!
As is was, it was an unforgettable experience, and probably subconciously was one of the reasons why I now have half a Harrier sitting in my garden!
Cheers,
Ian.
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