Bygone Days (Past Pilots) - A little piece of History [thanks to JB for research]

Brians, Palmer and Cracknell helped out at the Upwood Village Fete a couple of years ago and met an old boy in the village who told them something of the story. The Brians were manning the NVGC stand to publicise the Clubs activities and showing a glider at the Fete when they were approached by an old gentleman who re-called how one day a glider had crashed on the airfield killing the pilot. The who, when and how were lost in the mists of time but the old boy thought he was about nine at the time and it was something to do with an air display and the pilot had been doing aerobatics. He did remember that his dad had told him to stay out of the way whilst the body of the pilot was laid out in the butchers shop that was at that time next to the Cross Keys Pub in the village of Upwood. A little research suggests that the pilot was probably Eric Collins who died performing in Sir Alan Cobhams flying display in 1935. Cobham toured the country promoting Air Mindedness amongst the British public. From an article by Ted Hull published in the London Gliding Club Newsletter March 2004 and based on Doc Slaters profile of Eric Collins that appeared in the October 1944 edition of the S & G we learn a little more. Collins was described as one of the brightest stars in the gliding movement in the UK. He had the uncanny ability to coax rudimentary gliders like the Dagling and the Prufling to stay in the air when other pilots failed to soar. He was an instrument maker by trade and is attributed with inventing the variometer and succeeded in being the first Briton to gain the international Silver C badge. Doc Slater says it was well know at the time that to get up into thermal currents you had to go around in tight circles, yet few British pilots had circled at all, tight or otherwise. Slope soarers dared not turn their tails to the wind for fear of being blown back into the lee of the hill. In January 1933 Collins was seen to put the Kassel 20 into a circle between Whipsnade Zoo and the base of a low rain cloud and "that's how it all began." We should add.in this country as the Germans had already demonstrated it. In 1933 Eric Collins gave up his instrument maker job and devoted all his time to gliding, achieving some notable flights at the same time as Phillip Wills was starting to break records. In 1935 he obtained a lucrative engagement with Sir Alan Cobham's Display, performing aerobatics on a Grunau Baby sailplane. It was at one of these displays when he met with the unfortunate accident that caused his death. At Ramsey, in Huntingdonshire, he attempted a bunt or forward loop, but the Grunau was not designed to withstand the resultant stresses and a wing broke off. Collins had reckoned to take to his parachute in such an event, but for some reason, never certainly determined, was unable to use it. John Young has a copy of Cobham's book that lists dates and places where he performed. This confirms a visit to Ramsey in 1933 and I have a copy of Ted Hull's story from the LGC Newsletter should anyone require further information.

Flysafe JB

Return to Members Area