Stan 386 Posted August 4, 2009 Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 Another famous Nottingham pilot. Rex Shilton Rex Shilton, who has died aged 83, amassed close to 25,000 hours' flying in a career that began as an RAF apprentice and progressed to the rarefied atmosphere of airline boardrooms. During three years with Rolls-Royce he flew 22 different aircraft types, including the Lancastrian, Spitfire, Canberra, Hunter and the engine test rig called the Thrust Measuring Rig (TMR) – better known as "The Flying Bedstead" – which was used to develop the vertical thrust technology to power the Harrier. Rex Shilton was born on June 10 1926 at Nottingham and educated locally before joining the RAF in 1942, when he was 16, to train as a radio mechanic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted August 4, 2009 Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 Was the pub: 'Flying Bedstaed' in Huckna' named after this?????????? used to be RR in Huckna'............. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted August 4, 2009 Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 Yes it was...and officially named by some R-R bigwig too. Does it still exist, and under that name, I wonder? Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 386 Posted August 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 Interesting account of one of his acts of courage: On May 15 1956 he was conducting engine development trials on the Avon engine when he experienced a major malfunction that left him well within his rights to eject from the aircraft. He elected to remain at the controls, however, and performed an emergency landing back at Hucknall. <H4 class=header> </H4>By saving his aircraft he enabled the engineers to identify the fault and design an engine modification. It was an act of courage which, he commented philosophically in later years, had probably enhanced his pension by only a few pence. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted August 4, 2009 Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 IIRC, at least one RR test pilot was killed at Hucknall when a tethered 'Flying Bedstead' malfunctioned during hover trials. Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fotheringay 0 Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 was this the same person who had a serious road accident at Willoughby on the Wolds, South Nottinghamshire in about the 50`s or 60`s? I know the person concerned in the accident was testing the " flying bedstead" at the time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fotheringay 0 Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 was this the same person who had a serious road accident at Willoughby on the Wolds, South Nottinghamshire in about the 50`s or 60`s? I know the person concerned in the accident was testing the " flying bedstead" at the time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fotheringay 0 Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 Actually, the person I am thinking about is a Mr Horrocks who designed " The Flying Bedstead" and was believed to be involved in a serious accident at Willoughby. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
highfield 0 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Mr Horrocks was my father. I think I was 7 years old when he had the accident. I would love to know more about those days. My father died in Feb 1984. I see these posts are from back in 2009 so not sure if anyone is still following the topic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 They are now, thanks for the bump And welcome Highfield 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chulla 4,946 Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Hello Highfield, I am the historian of Rolls-Royce Hucknall. Any chance you could contact me, please. My email address is lindavia5@talktalk.net. David Birch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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