ACCIDENTAL TAKE-OFF
Officer’s Error
(N. Z. P.4.-Reuter—Copi/rtjht? LYNEHAM (England), Aug. 28.
The Royal Air Force has given a reprimand—plus congratulations—to a maintenance officer who took off accidentally in a 140 m.p.h. jet fighter—and landed it safely. Wing Commander Walter Holden, aged 39, made his split-second decision to take off when a careless move sent the plane speeding down the runway during a routine engine test last month. The reluctant pilot, who had flown no more than a 100 m.p.h. Chipmunk trainer for 10 years, had no cockpit canopy, flying helmet or workable radio—and no feel of the controls. He circled for 12 minutes and then landed at the fifth attempt while horrified officials, ambulance men and firemen stood by. The official inquiry closed this week-end saying it did not think much of a plane "getting away” during an engine test. The head of maintenance command, Air-Marshal Melvin Porter, praised the wing commander for cool action and a good landing on his fastest-ever flight.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19660830.2.77
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31151, 30 August 1966, Page 9
Word Count
163ACCIDENTAL TAKE-OFF Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31151, 30 August 1966, Page 9
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.