John’s first flight was in a De Havilland Dragon Rapide as a pleasure flight around Heathrow with his father paying 10 shillings each for his brother and him. You could say this was his first training on weight and balance calculations as they were both weighed and positioned in the aircraft to suit.
He joined the City of Oxford Sqn No 150 of the Air Training Corps, rising to the rank of Corporal. He cadged flights in Beverley’s from RAF Abingdon and a trip in a Piston Provost and DH Chipmunks plus ATC Camps around the country. An opportunity to gain an ‘A’ and ‘B’ Gliding Licence with the ATC at RAF Hawkinge was fun and followed up with more gliding from Weston-on-the-Green with the Oxford Gliding Club.
Work involved an apprenticeship with Pressed Steel Co at Cowley followed by 38 years in all the incarnations of the motor industry on that site and at the Swindon plant specialising on Press Tooling. A part time job, starting in the year 2000, as a technician in Jacobs Engineering working on bridges and structures has been concluded as with all the aviation work, he didn’t have time to go to work! A concentrated course starting on the auspicious date of April 1st 1969 gained him his PPL (A) flying Cessna 152’s at Wycombe Air Centre. Many trips around the UK and Europe with the touring group set up between the Pilots at the Air Centre proved educational and fun. Other types flown include Piper Cubs, Chipmunk, Luscombe Silvaires and passenger in the Harvard plus some hours as Pilots Assistant in a Beech Kingair operating from Heathrow.
When the Flying Club rental price exceeded £2 per minute, John and a colleague bought an Aeronca Champion 7AC, which taught them both a huge amount about flying real aircraft.
Joining the Vintage Aircraft Club and eventually taking on its Chairmanship has allowed contacts with many superb airmen and craftsmen, although he has now resigned chairmanship of the Club. As a member of the old PFA and the Oxford Strut, John joined the organising committee. He also represents the VAC on various safety organisations and committees; CHIRP, GASCo, AIWG, etc.
John’s other interest is mainly motorcycling, especially vintage types and is a member of the VMCC, Ariel Owners Club, BMW Owners Club, Motorcycle Action Group and the British Motorcyclists Federation.