Pylon magazine
The de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School published a periodic magazine, Pylon, from 1931 to 1970, with gaps at times especially during WW2. A partial set is held by the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at Salisbury Hall, Hertfordshire.
In 1998 the 70th anniversary of the founding of DHAeTS was commemorated by the publication of an anthology of items from Pylons past, entitled Pylon 70. The digital compilation was done by Carol, daughter of the late Ken Fulton. Five years later came the first all-new Pylon for over thirty years, Pylon 75. So much material was submitted by members eager to record their experiences that an interim issue was decided upon, known internally as Pylon 77.5 and entitled Pylon Christmas 2005. We continued with five-yearly anniversary issues and intermediate issues, hence the somewhat inconsistent titling of subsequent publications.
To date the Association has published twelve issues in recent years, in 1998, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Those in 2003, 2005 and 2008 were compiled by Ken Watkins with the help of an editorial sub-committee. The 2008 issue, Pylon 80, commemorated the 80th anniversary of the founding of the School in 1928. The 2013 issue, Pylon 85, commemorated the 85th anniversary of the founding of the School. The issues in 2011, 2013 and 2015 were compiled by Roger Coasby, assisted by John Hinton and Neil Harrison. The same dedicated team compiled Pylon 90, the largest issue ever, which appeared in June 2018 coincident with the 90th anniversary of the founding of DHAeTS. Pylon 2020 was published in September 2020 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the de Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd on 25th September 1920. It was compiled by Roger de Mercado with the help of the Coasby team and editor John Mounce, and was our first issue with colour throughout although inevitably many photos were grey scale or even sepia! The online version here includes an additional article, 'My Working Life in the Aircraft Industry at Hatfield', by Alan Page.
Pylon 2021 was published in October 2021, the first of a planned annual series with a reduced number of pages concentrationg on members' stories, followed by Pylon 2022 in October 2022 and Pylon 2023 in November 2023. Too long to print in P2023, but too good to miss out, was Tony Robinson's article about his apprenticeship at Chester 'Vampire Trainer to Twist Mill'. It's published here.
Pylon is printed in limited numbers and is available only to members. Why 'Pylon'? Lost in the mists of time! It probably reflected the air racing climate of the era.
The twelve recent issues can be viewed via the links below. All require the same password provided to members in every newsletter. An index by issue and by author is provided (no password needed).
1998, Pylon 70
2003, Pylon 75
2005, Pylon Christmas 2005
2008, Pylon 80
2011, Pylon 2011
2013, Pylon 85
2015, Pylon 2015
2018, Pylon 90
2020, Pylon 2020
2021, Pylon 2021
2022, Pylon 2022
2023, Pylon 2023
Indexes (except Pylon 70) by issue and by author.
Comments
- 06 Jul 08 12:05 Mike Greenaway from East Grinstead
- Many thanks for the latest Pylon and congratulations to all who contributed and compiled it. It evokes so many memories. Have not read all yet but particularly liked the Duncan Simpson and Dave Sparrow articles. Remember being posted to AFDS West Raynham just after the first Hunters arrived and working on the large defence excercises with rapid four minute turn-rounds on the Hunters (re-fuel, re-arm etc). Still have some old photos of a group of pilots in front of their tent and with their cars in the background. Also one of we erks sitting on a bomb trolly. Well remember Wingco Bird-Wilson and him ferrying a Venom without canopy back to West Raynham. Recently heard that he was Guinea Pig Nr2 at the famous McIndoe burns unit at Queen Victoria Hospital which is just along our road. One pilot on the photo was USAF Captain Beck who later had a miraculous escape when his Hunter2 collided with another one. He lost his stbd tailplane and tailcone and the other aircraft lost a wingtip and pitot head. Another aircraft guided it to landing due to lack of ASI. Dave Sparrow's experiences mirror my own in many respects-SDCR Leavesden-Heron spar mods in Jersey with apprentice Ray Pigott-Dove canopy change with John Liddington (first job there-is he still about?) Memories too of Morton's and Leavesden Air Services and the various work he describes. People who work this way are sometimes termed gypsy fitters but we also doubled as GIPSY fitters! Have belatedly joined the net and reget not having done it much earlier.
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