COMBAT AND COMPETITION.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

CHAPTER EIGHT IN A QUANDARY
master himself.
As the course moved towards its climax things began to go wrong
again.
On each descent there was difficulty clearing my ears, and
frequent pain. I was forced to carry out many of the exercises at lower
altitudes. Then my sinuses flared up once more. The top RAF ENT
specialist tried his best but there was no permanent cure.
Frank McKenna was kindness itself. I was not to worry. He would
organise a replacement whilst I must concentrate on finishing the
course as it would always stand me in good stead. Back at Cranfield
again I told the sad story to Willie Wilson. Hearing on the grapevine
that Auster Aircraft were looking for a test pilot he arranged for me
to visit them.
In the event my visit to Rearsby was a disaster. I had flown an
Auster on a number of occasions and had my reservations. Derived
from the US designed Taylorcraft plus, it was a potentially good
aircraft, marred by a few unfortunate features such as the throttle and
flap controls, and the strange geometry of the control column.
Compared with a Tiger Moth or a Chipmunk the handling was
disappointing. But a few modifications, and some development flying,
could do a lot for its sales potential.
The MD and the General Manager seemed to think otherwise. No
modifications for them. They were satisfied with the design as it was.
Sell as many of them as possible into a post war market which was
crying out for aircraft.
I could almost hear the words:
"There's one born every minute," as we sat together in the cramped
and ramshackle company offices which had once belonged to the
Leicester Flying Club.
The idea that the reputation of their company and its future
markets were important - or that they might depend amongst other
things on the pilot appeal of their first postwar civil aircraft, meant
nothing at all.
They didn't need a test pilot. It stood out a mile. What they wanted
was a hard sell demonstration pilot to get orders for the existing
design, warts and all.
I travelled thoughtfully back to Cranfield, thanked Willie Wilson
for his kindness in putting the opportunity my way, and explained
why it was not on. It seemed unlikely that Austers would have any
interest in an ETPS graduate or he in them.
133