Chairman's Message - February 2010 - please click the link above!
ETPSA Member Tony Dyer would like information in connection with 2 historic investigations which he is currently involved in. If you can help, please email Tony at rocketeer1940@aol.com Tony writes:
Hi Dave
I just thought I would post an update to two investigations/excavations I am involved in.
Mustang KH648 - Gp Cpt JFX McKenna......it took me about 18 years to find the site of the aircraft. My plan was to recover enough items to make small displays for ETPS, The Association and the BDAC. I am into the 4th year of the recovery. My lttle team has identified the direction the aircraft was travelling and angles etc. I am trying to find a foundry so that old engine casing can be made into models. My mission is to ensure that this brave man is remembered for more than just the dinner/trophy. Any ideas/leads on contacting people who knew him or information would be appreciated.
The second site is Spiteful Prototype NN660 - Frank Furlong. Frank was an amazing character too, he rode Grand National winner Reynoldstown to victory - this horse was famous winning back to back GNs...a record only equalled when Red Rum came along! He flew in the RN and was involved in the Bismark raid. Later as a TP for VS he flew Spits and the proto Spiteful which he was sadly lost in after a control restriction. The investigation has yielded many details including details of the aircraft colour scheme.
Happy New Year to you and yours
Tony
Tony Dyer
Do you have any information on Alan Stewart McCracken, a wartime Farnborough TP? If so, please email chairman@etpsa.org.uk and I'll connect you with Carol, Alan's daughter, who is writing a biography on her father. She would love to hear from any members who knew Alan or who have information about him.
Dave Best
YOUR ASSOCIATION NEEDS YOU. We MUST change the committee around. Most of us have been on the committee far too long and that's not good for our Association. I need volunteers to stand for election to the committee in order to move the ETPSA forward. This is especially important in view of the fact that several current committee members are in the process of being posted to new jobs and may be overseas for much of the time, so this is getting urgent. Posts available:
Chairman… Treasurer….Secretary….Membership
This is not an onerous task, but is very rewarding. It is helpful if committee members have access to the internet and live close enough to Boscombe Down to be able to attend committee meetings. Please search your conscience and come forward, by email to me chairman@etpsa.org.uk
Dave Best
The Association congratulates Wg Cdr Martin Mayer who has been elected a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. You can read Martin's citation by logging on to the Members Only pages.
Dave Best
Pictures from the 5 Sep BBQ are availble in the gallery now! I hope everyone enjoyed the evening.
Dave
The Chairmans Message October 2009
Please see THE TEST FLYING MEMORIAL PROJECT (This link takes you to the Aeroplane Monthly magazine page with more details of the project)
NOTE - the documents on this site are available in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF formats. If you don't have Microsoft Word then a perfect and free alternative is Open Office from www.openoffice.org It can import all Microsoft formatted files with ease, and can be set to export in Microsoft native file formats too.
Free Adobe Reader to read pdf files is available here