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         Andy Sephton            Lifetime Site Supporter 
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Joined: March/03/2013
   United Kingdom Posts: 25 IP Logged
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					| Posted: September/19/2018 at 9:29am | 
					
					
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I joined RCSB some 5 years ago and it would appear that I neglected to introduce myself, so here goes. I'm a lifelong aeromodeller (60 years without a break so far) with a love for scale models. Recent builds have been mainly in the free flight Scale arena, but I'm about to start on a 60" RC build of a Hawker Fury as part of Danny Wynne Fenton's masterclass. So, to help expand my knowledge base, what better way than to purchase a Lifetime Site Supporter membership!
 
 Adminwise, I'm a member of the British Model Flying Association's (BMFA) Scale Technical Committee and I write the Scale column for the BMFA News.
 
 Outside of aeromodelling, I've been a professional pilot for most of my working life including 20 years in the Military. I've been working as a military and civil test pilot for the past 37 years.
 
 Other interests include playing traditional (mainly English) folk music on a mandolin, watercolour painting, writing, and until recently, display and testing of historic aircraft.
  __________________ Too much thrust is never enough!
          
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         Admin            Admin Group 
RCSB Owner/Founder
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Joined: July/22/2003
   United States Posts: 5827 IP Logged
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					| Posted: September/19/2018 at 9:39am | 
					
					
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Thanks for the introduction Andy and welcome. I bet you have some great stories to tell from your test pilot career. Also, thank you for your support of RCSB!
 
 Cheers, Mike 
  __________________ Mike Chilson, 
 RCSB Owner/Founder
 --------------------
 My R/C Scale Aircraft Over The Years
          
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         Andy Sephton            Lifetime Site Supporter 
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Joined: March/03/2013
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					| Posted: September/19/2018 at 10:15am | 
					
					
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Thanks Mike, and you're welcome.
 
 I try to keep my modelling separate from my full-size aviation life, but they do overlap from time to time. I know it's outside your remit, but here's a one-off story from 1995 - feel free to delete it if it's against the Forum Rules.......
 
 I was working as Chief test Pilot for Rolls-Royce plc in 1995 when my Company got into bed with several US Companies bidding for the F-35 contract. I ended up working on behalf of Northrop-Grumman which led to some research flying in NASA's Flight Simulator at Ames, followed by a short flying programme in their VSRA Harrier. It turned out to be my last flights in a Harrier as Captain, but to fly a fly-by-wire VSTOL research aircraft was a great privilege.
 
 Around the same time I joined a programme to advise the USMC on Harrier Engine operations, which led to a programme of about 100 lectures to the USMC Harrier pilots between 1990 and 2000. Which means that I probably met all of the USMC Harrier pilots over that period - there may even be some members of this Forum who have suffered my ramblings.
 
 Here's a couple of pictures of the VRSA Research Harrier, taken in 1995:
 
 
 
   
 
  
  __________________ Too much thrust is never enough!
          
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         Admin            Admin Group 
RCSB Owner/Founder
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Joined: July/22/2003
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					| Posted: September/19/2018 at 10:41am | 
					
					
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Wow, that is awesome Andy. Love that NASA Harrier scheme! 
  __________________ Mike Chilson, 
 RCSB Owner/Founder
 --------------------
 My R/C Scale Aircraft Over The Years
          
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         J_Whitney            Moderator Group 
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Joined: November/10/2003
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					| Posted: September/19/2018 at 11:36pm | 
					
					
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Hi and great you spoke up Andy.
 
 I volunteer at Oakland Aviation Museum, not too many miles from Ames (AKA NAS Moffett Field), and we actually have a Harrier used by NASA as a display aircraft. 
 
 Any stories or info you want to share on the Harrier, please feel free to share here or PM me! 
 
 Thanks! Jeff 
  __________________ Jeff
 Castro Valley, CA
 The essential paradox of our democracy is that our warriors fight and die for our right to dispute the cause for which they are fighting and dying.
 Let me know if I can help 
          
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         Cary            Lifetime Site Supporter 
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Joined: February/28/2013
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					| Posted: September/20/2018 at 2:28am | 
					
					
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Welcome Andy, another Brit (no longer lurking) becoming visible on this fine establishment!! Release those facts you have and we will trade our scale tips!! Haha Cary 
  __________________ www.carbercomposites.com
 Scale Accessories for the Model Builder
          
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         martynk            Site Supporter 
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Joined: January/03/2012
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					| Posted: September/20/2018 at 4:22am | 
					
					
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Cracking Story Andy
  __________________ --
 
 Martyn
 http://mad-aeromodeller.blogspot.co.uk/
          
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         septic            Lifetime Site Supporter 
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Joined: March/01/2007
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					| Posted: September/20/2018 at 7:06am | 
					
					
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I am lucky enough to call Andy a friend, and I am in awe of his talents in either scale. The full size knowledge he brings to the hobby is fascinating. 
 
 Re the following picture, I asked Andy if he was smiling or grimacing, he said "concentrating!"
  
 
 
 
 
 
 I hope Rob Leigh doesn't mind me sharing this piccy :) 
 
 Cheers Danny
  
  __________________ Danny Wynne-Fenton
 He who looseth his airspeed beware, for the ground shall rise up and smite him
 
 Lichfield
 Staffordshire - England
          
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