Race pilots reunited in Sussex

摘要

At the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum on 20 April, AVM Graham Williams officially opened the 'Harriers and the 69 Air Race' exhibition. Williams was the RAF Harrier test pilot who flew the museum's Harrier GR3 XV744 - at the time configured as a GR1 - from New York to London in the Daily Mail-sponsored 1969 air race across the Atlantic. He wasn't originally chosen to be involved, as another test pilot, Sqn Ldr Mike Adams, who had been testing the Harrier with Hawker Siddeley, was to fly the London to New York attempt. In February 1969, three months before the start of the race, Adams had an accident at Dunsfold aerodrome while taxiing a Harrier when the nosewheel sheared off and he badly damaged his back. He was out of the race and Williams was selected, even though he had only 10 hours' experience on type, to join Sqn Ldr Tom Lecky-Thompson as the RAF Harrier team pilots. Lecky-Thompson took over as lead pilot to fly the London to New York flight and Williams was to fly the opposite way. Both attempts were successful, Lecky-Thompson achieving the shortest time from the top of the Post Office Tower in London to the top of the Empire State Building in New York. The three pilots had not met since the race 50 years ago. They therefore had much to say to each other when they were official guests at the Tangmere opening event. The exhibition, which was originally planned to close on 12 May, will now remain open until the end of July.