Farnborough's Proud Heritage Remembered

Although research flying at Farnborough ended in 1994, the name of the historic airfield will be forever linked with the pioneers of British aviation. That tradition is maintained by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency ground site at Pyestock on the northwest corner of the airfield.

DERA's future is clouded by plans to privatize all but the most sensitive elements of the agency, but plans are proceeding for Pyestock to absorb another component from the Show site when the Centre of Human Sciences moves from behind the SBAC marquee area. Another famous element has departed entirely since the last Farnborough Show, now that the School of Aviation Medicine has moved to RAF Henlow and been renamed the Centre for Aviation Medicine.

The only aircraft now at DERA are nine grounded airframes used for various tests, but the conspicuous "raspberry ripple" trials aircraft color scheme can still be seen taking to the air regularly outside of show week-albeit on the DERA Flying Club's DH Chipmunk.
Show visitors who have worked at DERA or its predecessors, or have any interest in conserving the history of this birthplace of British aviation, are being welcomed on the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Association stand or on its Internet website: www.fasta.co.uk.

By Paul Jackson