Airborne from Bedford in a Varsity

摘要

I was at RAE Bedford as an electronics apprentice in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time I spent a lot of time convincing aircrew that they needed me to accompany them on flights! Research hacks included the ubiquitous Comet and one of the last surviving Vickers Varsitys. My preferred position during trips was in the place where the flight engineer would have sat. Here I could clutch a map and help with the task of spotting the next large town. The position had its drawbacks as cold draughts from the nosewheel well could eventually creep up trouser legs. The great thrill came from waiting on the brakes at the threshold with both big radials roaring at full throttle until clearance was given and the plane began its thunderous take-off.