Dunsfold Chief Test Pilot & Airfield Manager John Farley OBE AFC

John has flown over 80 types, and has dedicated his life to research and test flying; he was the first Western pilot invited to fly the aerodynamically game-changing Mig-29.

His approach may be best summed up by a line from his book, ‘ A View From The Hover ‘

Re his time at RAE Bedford John remarks

“ What a joy it was to be able to do research flying in the days when the aim was to acquire knowledge rather than to make money ”

He first flew the P1127 in the early 1960’s, and like fellow Test Pilots also flew the very different Short SC1 VTOL aircraft, which had four lift engines and one for forward propulsion; he described managing all five engines as one transitioned between forward flight and the hover as being ‘ like a frantic organ player ‘.

John became Dunsfold’s Chief Test Pilot in 1978, demonstrating the then new Sea Harrier at that year’s SBAC Farnborough Show and going on to become world renowned for his display and test flying.

His development flying in the early Harrier was crucial to its success; there is a potentially lethal regime in the hover known as ‘ Intake Momentum Drag Yaw ‘ where if the pilot is not very careful the mass of air into the intakes will take over in a crosswind, creating uncontrollable roll; this had already killed a few pilots, there is a Dunsfold Flight Test cine film of this happening to an unfortunate American pilot – sadly he ejected too late, into the ground; the whole situation is viciously dangerous.

John Farley deliberately flew right into the edge of this condition repeatedly, so that a system to counter it may be developed; since then, at the onset of this occurring the correct rudder pedal for the pilot to apply shakes as a big hint…

John also developed his own unique take off for displays, which became known as ‘ The Farley Takeoff ‘ demonstrated so ably in Switzerland to an audience of military top brass.

He would hover the aircraft at around 100′, then using the Reaction Controls, raise the nose to around 60 degrees, adjusting the main engine nozzles to suit, so the aircraft was still hovering, but with a high nose up attitude; he would then apply maximum power and ‘ rocket climb ‘ away. There are no gauges or instruments to aid this, it was all by ‘ seat of the pants ‘ judgement. Service pilots were forbidden from even thinking about trying it !

John Farley, with John Fozard – the Chief Designer of the Harrier – at Farnborough 1978 when the Sea Harrier FRS1 fighter variant for the RN was brand new

John had to retire from BAe Test Flying in 1983 when he reached 50, a company rule; he then became Dunsfold Airfield Manager, and astonishingly was equally as good at that as he’d been at flying; his motto is ‘ UK Ltd ‘ and he would help out any smaller British Aviation outfit if at all possible.

When Deputy Chief Test Pilot Taylor Scott was killed by a combination of failings of an ejection seat system in an early Harrier GR5 flying from Dunsfold, John stood up to the CEO and said the company should pay the insurance to Taylor’s widow Maggie. Having principles cost John his job – as he knew it might, but he is not the sort of person to let such things go unsaid.

Many people at Dunsfold concluded ‘ if any aviation company thinks they can do without a talent like John Farley, the lunatics really have taken over the asylum ! ‘ Eventually John was proved right, Taylor’s widow beat the BAe lawyers and used the money to put their children through school.

John returned to Test Flying on a freelance basis, flying among other things the very advanced Israeli Lavi fighter project demonstrator, and has advised on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

His book ‘ A View From The Hover ‘ is regarded a classic, for reference as much as entertainment, among serious pilots.

https://www.flyer.co.uk/john-farleys-a-view-from-the-hover-ebook-for-apple-kindle/

John’s lecture on the history of the Harrier (below) is well worth the time. The Daily Telegraph’s obituary is here.

Text by Andy Lawson

Excerpt from doco on the Harrier, featuring the Flying Bedstead.

Times Obituary July 31 2018 , republished courtesy The Times :

John Farley

Hawker Siddeley’s chief test pilot who was the first to land a Harrier jump-jet on a ship and had a ‘climb’ named after him.

As the first test pilot to land a Harrier jump-jet on a ship, John Farley earned himself an honourable mention in the history books about the Falklands conflict. “Without the Sea Harrier,” declared Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach, then first sea lord, “there could have been no Task Force.” The Royal Navy paid tribute to Farley’s work: “as courageous as it was revolutionary”, for which the Fleet Air Arm would be for ever thankful.

The little 25ft by 46ft Harrier’s versatility was essential because Britain in 1982 no longer had a full-sized aircraft carrier. The flagship, HMS Hermes, was a “light carrier”, and HMS Invincible a “through-deck cruiser”.

Farley’s outstanding flying skill from his joining Hawker Siddeley in 1967 convinced the company’s “team of believers” of the Harrier’s potential.