The RAF in Suffolk

John

that's an interesting picture

was it taken at our tower

I escorted Fred Peller around on his visit. I notice to 2 people have written under description

Tony Blackman Chief Test pilot for Avro on the Vulcan and piot of the Avro 748 that did those remarkable landing trials across a ploughed field here, I arranged his talk in early January 2006 which only a few weeks after the entry.
see  http://www.blackmanbooks.co.uk/

From our magazine Runway22 2006
Our first meeting of 2006 was extremely well attended and an audience of more
than 100 were entertained by a speaker who had travelled with his wife from the
south coast. The talk was entitled “Test Flying and Other Stories” and was
given by Mr Tony Blackman.
Tony is now retired but was a former chief test pilot for AV Roe and Co, the
aircraft manufacturers. He recounted experiences developing the Avro Vulcan,
which was one of our three “V” bombers of the post war era. Tony Blackman
rolled the huge delta wing Vulcan on more than one occasion. In fact his wife
was aboard once when this manoeuvre was executed.
One of the last aircraft to be involved with trials at Martlesham was the Avro
748. This was developed as a successor to the famous Dakota and was intended
to be used from rough runways. A strip of land next to the runway at
Martlesham was ploughed up so that the Avro 748 could do experimental touch
and go trials. Some success was achieved by this aircraft but it will be
remembered more as the RAF Andover and its employment on the Queen’s
Flight.
A fascinating evening illustrated by both slides and video. In fact he showed
video of the American recluse billionaire, Howard Hughes, when he visited this
country in the seventies. Tony Blackman piloted the aircraft that Hughes flew
in.


Bob Dunnett our Vice Chairman here and leading player in the setting up of and running of the CT Museum