iscover
Though Flying Test Beds have virtually now been replaced as a means of prototype engine development Pratt & Whitney Canada did resort to this method when initially developing their new PW100 series turboprop, seen here aboard a Vickers Viscount
Test Flying In The Golden Age
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Test Flying in the Golden Age
Cliff Rogers retired late 1984 after more than 36 years of flying duties with Rolls Royce, including a record 23 years as a company test pilot. He reflects here on some of his experiences and changes in the work of test pilots since the 1940s.
I was fortunate to survive the war years, when I flew Lancasters in Bomber Command, and my luck continued when in September 1948 I was offered the opportunity to join Rolls Royce as a test pilot at the company’s Hucknall fight establishment, near Nottingham.
At that time many of my colleagues were opting for an airline career, but I considered this course somewhat lacking in excitement after my years of wartime flying with the Royal Air Force. Little did I expect then that my entire civilian flying career would be spent with Rolls Royce doing the one thing that has given me so much pleasure – as well as bringing the odd spot of drama. One of my first tasks was test flying the company’s largest piston engine, the Eagle, and I concluded with its largest turbo-fan, the RB211. In between I was involved with most of Rolls Royce’s other engines-and in the 13 years after my test flying career ended I continued on flying duties, mainly associated with the Rolls Royce executive aircraft fleet. Today in retirement I continue to fly the company Spitfire on ceremonial occasions.
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