Audio: The D. P. Davies Interview on his service in the Fleet Air Arm and the Handling Squadron during the 1940s
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AUDIO: The D. P. Davies Interview on his service in the Fleet Air Arm and the Handling Squadron during the 1940s. “The test pilots’ test pilot”, former CAA Chief Test Pilot D. P. Davies talks about his early career first training and then serving in the wartime Fleet Air Arm, including reminiscences of the naval test pilots course, the Empire Central Flying School at Hullavington and the Handling Squadron. He recounts flying the Fairey Swordfish, Fairey Barracuda, Blackburn Firebrand, Grumman Avenger, Hawker Sea Fury and Supermarine Seafire. Unless specifically attributed, no material contained in these interviews shall be taken to represent the opinion of the RAeS and its Council. The interview was conducted by Rodney Giesler in 1992 and edited by Mike Stanberry FRAeS.

A four-part series of the interview with one of the greatest test pilots, D. P. Davies, conducted in 1992 for the Royal Aeronautical Society. Almost five hours of avgeek gold. (The other three parts should be listed at the bottom.)

D. P. Davies is also the author of the seminal work about flying large airliners, “Handling the Big Jets”.

Although less well known, he is undoubtedly on the same level as Chuck Yeager and Bob Hoover.

The level of expertise and adventure, combined with the British humour and understatement, makes this immensely enjoyable to listen to, despite the less-than-perfect audio quality.