Description
Object description
British civilian test pilot and apprentice/flight test observer with Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in GB, 1947-1960
Content description
REEL 1 Montgomery: Recollections of period as apprentice and civilian flight test observer with Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd in GB, 1948-1960: background to joining company, 1948; character of airfields at Wisley and Brooklands; pattern of training as apprentice; character of Vickers Warwick and Vickers Viking. Bryce: Recollections of period as civilian test pilot with Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd in GB, 1947-1960: background to joining company, 1947; first experience of flying in civilian clothing; Joseph 'Mutt' Summers attitude to test pilots; different generations of test pilots. Montgomery: Joseph 'Mutt' Summers attitude to test pilot work. Bryce: story illustrating Joseph 'Mutt' Summers experience as pilot. Montgomery: story illustrating first generation test pilots attitude to flying in cloud. Bryce: story of visits by Samuel Cody's mechanic Harry Flinders to Wisley. Montgomery: work in design office and request for flight test work; early flight test work; proving performance of Vickers Viscount. Bryce: need to meet international aircraft certification; role of Rolls Royce engine engineers. Montgomery: impressions of first Vickers Viscount. Bryce: reasons for introduction of Vickers Viscount.
REEL 2 Continues: method of determining the airframe drag on Vickers Viscount; reaction to flying with Joseph 'Mutt' Summers. Montgomery and Bryce: question of Joseph 'Mutt' Summers degree of understanding of power controls on Vickers Valiant; sight of Joseph 'Mutt' Summers flying Supermarine Spitfire. Bryce: Joseph 'Mutt' Summers attitude to first flights; introduction of Vickers Viscount into American market by Canadians; opinion of Trans-Canadian Air Lines flight crews. Montgomery: skill of Trans-Canadian Air Lines flight crew. Bryce: opinion of various airline crews. Montgomery: operating in Canada. Bryce: testing Vickers Viscount at Churchill in northern Canada; demonstrating Vickers Viscount for Howard Hughes.
REEL 3 Continues: memories of Howard Hughes; initial meeting with Howard Hughes' staff; strange telephone conversations with Howard Hughes; initial meeting with Howard Hughes in hotel in Montreal, Canada; Howard Hughes knowledge of Vickers Viscount; Howard Hughes' flying of Vickers Viscount; story of Howard Hughes treatment of financial director; abortive attempt to contact Sir George Edwards in Weybridge; state of demonstration Vickers Viscount after eleven months in United States of America. Montgomery: development of Vickers Viscount.
REEL 4 Continues: story of Sir George Edward's attempt to get Vickers Valiant flying after crash of first prototype, 1952; atmosphere in company; development of Herne site; firing of explosive bolts on prototype Vickers Valiant at Wisley; loss of prototype Vickers Valiant and death of Royal Air Force observer Squadron Leader Brian Foster in subsequent bailing out of aircraft, 12/1/1952. Bryce: bailing out of Vickers Valiant. Montgomery: sight of Vickers Valiant breaking up after being abandoned.