In Memoriam

Sadly the following members have died since publication of the last newsletter. We extend our sincere condolences to their families and friends.

Mr Peter Andrew (Snr)
A R Folliard
K Hardstaff
David Thomas

David Thomas

David was born in Hammersmith, West London, and went to school there too. He did not impress as a scholar but joined the Air Training Corps at 15 and experienced both gliding and powered flight. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a pilot. When he shared this ambition with his headmaster, the response was less than encouraging. Determined to prove him wrong, David passed the stringent aircrew selection process and was accepted for pilot training.

In 1962 and not yet 18, David joined the RAF and was posted to No.6 Flying Training School at RAF Acklington, in Northumberland, for a one-year Basic Flying course on the Jet Provost. The most able students on this course were selected for fast-jet training en route to becoming fighter pilots. David joined this group and went to RAF Valley in Anglesey for an advanced flying course on the Gnat. This led to further advanced training on the Hunter and a posting to a fighter squadron at Khormaksar, the RAF Station at Aden. However, fate, or the RAF Aircrew management team intervened. They were looking for above average pilots with captaincy potential, to join the V-bomber force. David's future was determined.

During the next twelve years David flew the Vulcan, as copilot then captain, then trained as a flying instructor and did a tour back on the Jet Provost at RAF Linton on Ouse. He became an above average instructor and returned to flying the Vulcan as an instructor at the Vulcan Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Scampton. In 1980, having been promoted to Squadron Leader, David joined No.44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, based at RAF Waddington, as a Flight Commander. The Vulcan was in great demand both at home and overseas as a display aircraft and during this tour David became a highly accomplished display pilot. This experience was to play a huge part in his future.

Briefly, in 1982, he left the RAF and decided to seek his fortune in the United States. He started a business in Omaha, Nebraska, a place he knew well from many visits by Vulcan to the USAF base at Offutt where RAF crews deployed for low level flying training. In the event, his future was not carved out in the USA and he returned to the UK and the RAF five years later. At this time the RAF was short of flying instructors and, after a brief refresher course, David was posted to instruct on the Jet Provost at the RAF College Cranwell.

By this time the Vulcan squadrons had all disbanded, but such was the demand for the aircraft to display to the public that a Vulcan Display Flight had been formed to keep two aircraft and a small cadre of dedicated aircrew and groundcrew to display the Vulcan during the summer seasons. David applied to join the VDF and was accepted. Thus began an extraordinary period of David's life which he dedicated to display flying. He was recognised as being an exceptional pilot.

Finally, in the early 90s, the |Vulcans were retired and he delivered XH 558 to Bruntingthorpe to take its place in the Walton's Cold War collection. David looked for more. Based at Cranwell, he was well placed for a voluntary post with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby. When the appointment of Bomber leader became available, he applied and was accepted. This meant that he would be able to fly and display both the Lancaster and the Dakota. He became an accomplished display pilot on both aircraft and used his skills as an instructor to teach others to fly them. He retained the post of Bomber leader for 5 years.

In the early 2000s David continued to instruct at Cranwell but transferred his skills to the Jetstream, a twin turbo prop aircraft used for multi-engined pilot training. He was alerted to the fact that a Dr Robert Pleming had started a project, Vulcan to the Sky, to return 558 to flying condition and to fly on the display circuit for a period of up to 8 years. David immediately offered his services and was appointed chief pilot on the project. He left the RAF for a second time to follow his display career, but kept his flying skills in order by joining No 7 Air Experience Flight at RAF Cranwell, as a Reserve pilot. There he was able to give young air cadets exactly the same flying opportunity that had launched his career 40 years earlier.

In the absence of any remaining training facilities for the Vulcan, David set about designing and producing all the necessary material to refresh and reacquaint the selected former Vulcan aircrew with the knowledge of the aircraft systems and operating procedures necessary to fly the aircraft again. The first flight was achieved on 18th October 2007. In recognition of his experience, expertise and dedication to the project David was designated  test pilot for the Vulcan to conduct the Civil Aviation Authority's approved flight test schedule for 558’s return to flight as a civilian registered aeroplane. During this time, a dedicated group of engineers and enthusiasts known as the 655 Maintenance and Preservation Society, had restored another Vulcan, XM 655, to working order at Wellesbourne near Stratford on Avon. David and some of his newly-trained Vulcan colleagues provided the crew to demonstrate this aircraft for admiring crowds at Wellesbourne.

David continued with this activity until ill health restricted his availability. Nevertheless, he remained the charming and sociable gentleman that he had always been while earning the respect of his peers and the rare distinction of being an exceptional pilot. 

J. Laycock
28 February 2022