Accidental witness to secret test flight

Two articles in Aeroplane, one about how racing racing driver Richard Shuttleworth found the ancient aeroplanes now in the Old Warden Collection at Biggleswade, the other a history of test pilots, have reminded me of two personal episodes. The first was about asking the two Dicks, Shuttleworth and Nash, how they had discovered their various ancient aeroplanes – a ‘first’ for Motor Sport.

The other recollection is of watching the first test flight of the original Gloster-built 2000hp, 400mph Hawker Typhoon.

I had been sent on some forgotten wartime task down to Gloster’s aerodrome at Hucclecote, now an industrial estate. Not being an employee I could go where I liked.

I was just about to leave when it was hinted that something interesting was to happen in the afternoon. So I waited in the flight hangar, in which a Lancia Aprilia was hiding behind a screen. I was told that it was being overhauled for one of the pilots and it was better for the AID Inspectors not to see it.

It was in another Lancia Aprilia that the test pilot, a handsome young man in overalls and a scarf which reminded me of Birkin, rushed in. He had with him an Alsatian, who dashed with him up the staircase to his office and whose lead was handed to the attractive blond secretary. She passed the pilot his helmet and notepad, saying “Good luck”. He asked her to look after his dog if…, and then he went out and climbed into the aeroplane. Smart-suited gentlemen had assembled on the edge of the Tarmac, the factory staff behind them, having been allowed to leave work for the occasion.

The Typhoon took off, disappeared, came back, did a few ‘display’ manoeuvres, landed, and taxied up to the group waiting for a verdict, which appeared to be favourable. I drove back to Famborough in my Lambda and I suppose the pilot went home in his Aprilia.