No . 138
The Trusty Servant
I asked the Director , Sir Arnold Hall , if he would accept a party of boys to see some of the work done there . This he did twice , personally showing them the supersonic wind-tunnel ; and the huge experimental rig testing the design of the Comet ’ s fuselage in the wake of that aircraft ’ s disaster ( see WQM for reference to Comet ’ s wing ).
The car in the TS 137 photograph is this 1929 Tickford-bodied Humber 16 , photographed earlier this year , which was my family car for nearly thirty years . In June this year I completed three laps of the Goodwood racing-car circuit in it
contacts and to pass on my enthusiasm for the whole subject of flying . Very quickly , opportunity arose by WFO asking me to start an RAF Section in the CCF - whereupon I was commissioned as a Pilot Officer overnight !
Wondering what to make of this new RAF Section , I soon decided to introduce its Members to the wider world . First , however , came my request for what was officially known as the Primary Glider – also known as the Grasshopper ( see website News & Stories for pictures ). It was something of a plaything , and in the hands of its novice pilots , it could well exhibit such phenomena as the stall ! And we could have done without the obstacle of Meads Wall .
The first of my plans for off-site activities was to take gliding more seriously . I approached the famous pilot Derek Piggott , whom I knew , at Lasham Aerodrome and found him only too glad to take groups of boys for weekly flying lessons . The RAF authorities even funded the taxis . More than one boy successfully went solo .
Then , through my contacts at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough ,
Next came Wing-Commander ( later Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher ) Foxley-Norris ( Coll , 30-35 ), who had a short spell commanding the Oxford University Air Training Corps based at Kidlington . He was instrumental in arranging a week-long course for a party of boys to learn to fly Chipmunk trainers ( free of charge ).
Back at home , one summer ’ s day , many men in the school gathered around New Field to watch with amazement a threeact drama . First on stage was a former colleague from Imperial College , who had a custom-built glider capable of aerobatics . Coming in from the north at about 7,500 feet , he put on a dazzling display that included a loop before landed impeccably on New Field . I had warned him that , if he were to touch the sacred grass of Lords ’ square , he would be in for the chop .
An inspection of the RAF Section , 1955
Next up was an RAF team installing a winch at the end of New Field for our Primary Glider . To everyone ’ s amazement , one of them was winched to about 150 feet , turned to starboard and disappeared behind the trees of Kingsgate Road . Miraculously , he reappeared over Hunter Tent and landed to so much applause that he had to do three encores .
Then the Grand Finale , when three Chipmunks appeared in line over Chapel . Throttled right back with full flaps and a steep descent at the very point of stall , they landed beautifully on New Field . Taking off again , they could only just clear the hedges and fences at the end of the field . They then set about giving members of the RAF Section a short flight around Winchester , but long enough to impart an understanding of the basics of flying .
Mark Pyper ( D , 60-65 ) offered the following verse on receipt of the coloured Trusty Servant of May 2024 . [ Not the first colour images to appear !]
( With apologies to John Keats )
Much have I travelled in the realms of schools And many ghastly publications seen , With countless pages rich in burnished sheen , Bronzed youths smile out from gleaming swimming pools . While eager staff compete with words , words , words , Smooth , polished Heads praise everyone in sight : “ Onwards ; upwards , we seek the highest flight ”; And knotty discourse ? That is for the birds . But Os Porcinum with his cloven hoof And random musings on the yellow page , Free from hyperbole , his poise aloof , Lurks in the shade ; his mood for us to gauge . How blessed he was , our quirky , nerdy spoof , Now , firked from Winton , may you rest , dear sage .
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