History of the BMPA

1981 Spring Meeting, March 6, RAF Upper Heyford

Latecomers were unable to gain entry through the barbed wire to the security area and missed seeing the F-111, shown to members in its blast-proof shelter, to the accompaniment of alarm bells. In USAF tradition we paid for our own food and drink. After lunch a young flight commander and his "wizzo" (weapons/systems officer) explained how terrain following rader (TFR) enabled near-supersonic flying to be done at 200 feet above ground level in mountainous territory with the pilot and crew not looking out. BMPA members were the first visitors at the official opening of the new base hospital, which was to have 22 doctors for a resident population of 11,000. The first President's Cup winner was FD Trevarthen, of Welwyn, for a picture of a girl on a Tiger Moth.

1981 Autumn Meeting, September 5-6, Kidlington, Oxford

The symposium on pilot training included a visit to a flight simulator and engineering shops. At the AGM only three members expressed dissatisfaction with the times of meetings.

1981 Lectures

• Pilot Training - Symposium (Logan)