Mike Lithgow and 'Jock' Bryce general nostalgia

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TheGreenGoblin
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Mike Lithgow and 'Jock' Bryce general nostalgia

#1 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:19 am

I was recently reading ex Fleet Air Arm and later test pilot Mike Lithgow's biography 'Mach 1' by Charles Gardner and thereafter read a rather wonderful tribute to him written by Vickers' chief test pilot G R 'Jock' Bryce which might be of interest to some here...

A TRIBUTE TO MIKE LITHGOW

Bryce was also a fantastic chap who only died recently (2014) at the age of 94, having worked as a volunteer at the Brooklands Museum in his latter years.

Gabe 'Jock Bryce' Obituary

Bryce.JPG
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

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TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Mike Lithgow and 'Jock' Bryce general nostalgia

#2 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:55 am

'Jock' Bryce was a test pilot with the prototype Vickers Valiant and skillfully allowed his rear crew to escape (remember they didn't have ejector seats) when a prototype caught fire and crashed. Sadly the co-pilot (with an ejector seat) was killed when he struck the tail fin as he egressed the aircraft!


Valiant Prototype WB210

WB215.JPG

A bit more Valiant nostalgia


He was also chief test pilot on the VC10 programme.

Jock Bryce on the VC10
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

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