Showing 1 to 9 of 9 search results

English Electric P1A

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1954-1982, In Storage, 1987/0014/A

The first flight of P1 WG760 was on 4 August 1954, just 10 years after the RAF’s first jet aircraft, the Meteor, entered squadron service. It was experimental and was the basis for the RAF’s front line fighter, the English Electric Lightning.

English Electric P1A on display at Cosford, RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Westland Whirlwind HAR.10

Aircraft & Exhibits, MAR 1961-DEC 1981, In Storage, 1987/0012/A

This airframe is the first Bristol Siddeley Gnome engined Whirlwind HAR.10 aircraft to have been manufactured. It made its first flight on 28 March 1961. The Whirlwind HAR.10 was so successful that it remained in RAF service for 21 years, the last squadron converting to the Westland Wessex in 1982

Westland Whirlwind HAR 10 on display at Hendon, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Hunting H126

Aircraft & Exhibits, NOV 1962-MAY 1970, In Storage, 85/A/63

The Hunting H126 was an experimental type designed to add research data rather than enter production.

Yellow high wing biplane, with a circular jet intake in the nose, on display at the RAF Museum, RAF Museum

Sepecat Jaguar ACT Demonstrator

Aircraft & Exhibits, JUN 1975-JUN 1996, In Storage, 1996/0168/A

The Active Control Technology (ACT) Jaguar was an analogue airframe modified to be less stable and fitted with fly-by-wire computer technology for trials work. Lessons learned from these trials was used in later aircraft like the EAP and Eurofighter Typhoon. No modern fighter jet today could fly without the use of computers.

SEPECAT Jaguar ACT Demonstrator on display at Cosford, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Recorded interview with Wing Commander Martin Mayer, 17 August 2015

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-3309

Martin Mayer describes his experience as a pilot in Whirlwind, Puma, Wessex and Chinook helicopters, as an instructor and as a test pilot in various aircraft types at Boscombe Down.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Captain Eric Melrose Brown, 3 December 2014

Film & Sound, In Storage, X005-6791

Recorded interview with Eric Brown, who served as a pilot with the Fleet Air Arm and as a test pilot, working on deck landing and the testing of captured aircraft.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Air Commodore Nigel Wood, 5 May 2021

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-5668

Interview with Nigel Wood, who served as a Lightning pilot, as a test pilot and trained for a flight in the Space Shuttle before its cancellation following the Challenger disaster.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Air Commodore David Best, 27 January 2022

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-5693

Dave Best was an RAF pilot in Phantom aircraft and a test pilot working on various projects, including Tornado and F35. He also worked in various planning and command roles.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Squadron Leader John Brown, 31 January 2023

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-7373

Interview with John Brown, who was a pilot in Victor air-to-air refuelling tanker aircraft and worked as a test pilot during air-to-air refuelling trials for the Tornado and Hercules aircraft.

Image pending