John Farley (pilot)

Farley chose to join the Royal Air Force rather than to attend civilian flying college at Cranfield with an aim to becoming a test pilot.

[2][3][4][5] Aa an aeronautical engineer and exceptional pilot, it came as a disappointment to Farley that following the 1957 Defence White Paper produced by Duncan Sandys, he had to settle for a ground tour.

In 1963 he was rewarded in 1963 with the slot he most desired, that of a place at the Empire Test Pilots' School at RAE Farnborough, completing the course with a distinguished pass.

[2][3][4][5] He was posted to the Aerodynamics Research Flight at RAE Bedford which saw Farley renew his association with Ralph Maltby, who had been his apprentice master at the beginning of his career.

In this capacity he began work on the development of the Sea Harrier, being the first pilot to test fly the aircraft (FRS.1 - XZ450) on August 20, 1978,[6] following which, ten days later, Farley also became the first person to undertake a take off with the aid of the 'ski-jump'.

[2][3][4][5] One particularly challenging aspect of the test flying programme on the Harrier revolved around the phenomenon which came to be known as Intake Momentum Drag Yaw.

[2][3][4][5] He was involved in the conversion course onto the Harrier of the first two United States Marine Corps pilots in 1967, which at that time consisted of neither a two-seater version of the aircraft nor a simulator being available, and called heavily on all Farley's experience.

[2][3][4][5] Highly acclaimed for his aeronautical knowledge, Farley became a visiting lecturer at several universities in addition to which he ran courses to encourage young people to join the aerospace business.

[8] Farley's autobiography A View From The Hover is widely regarded as an aviation classic, and essential reading for anyone aspiring to develop a knowledge of test flying.