Royal Air Force Flight Engineer & Air Engineer Association

For all those awarded the RAF "E" flying badge.

Vickers Varsity

Air Engineer Airborne Instruction

1967 – 1973 AE&AES RAF Topcliffe

1973 – 1977 No 6 FTS RAF Finningley

Airborne instruction of Air Engineers was carried out on the Varsity with each student flying around 50 hours. Normal crew composition was Pilot, Screen Engineer and 2 u/t Engineers. One u/t Engineer would be in the RHS with the other “down the back” gaining experience.

  • Al Humphries Log Book Varsity June 1970
  • Al Humphries Log Book Varsity July 1970
Nick Nicholls Varsity T1
I’ve got this very airframe in my log book. April 4th 1974 Finningley-St Mawgan – Porto- Gibraltar. Flying time 8hrs 40 min.
This was the final handling check at the end of course. I can still remember some of the ‘mouth music’
Throttles………..Movement checked, friction set. Closed. Turning, priming No 1 give me nine blades.
April 5th 1974 Porto – Gibraltar 2 hrs 40 min Airframe: Varsity Mk II WF 369 Pilot: Fg Off Bailey U/T Engineer (RHS) Sgt D.A. (Nick) Nicholls
Varsity in Porto on the way to Gib. Had a brief stop over for a starter motor change. Nick Nicholls at the bottom of the steps with Mick Deacon as the No.2 Eng.
Varsity Starter Motor Change – Nick Nicholls
Ian Harvey, Nick Nicholls, Dave Bright