Flight Test Engineer with Bristol Aero Engines
Filton, Bristol 1954 to 1958*
 
- Geoffrey was responsible for flight tests of new Bristol jet engines in Flying Test Beds (eg Olympus in Canberra), and in new aircraft (eg Olympus in Vulcan, Orpheus in Fiat G91 and Folland Gnat)
 

An English Electric Canberra was used for flight testing the Bristol Olympus engine. As well as being used in the Vulcan the Olympus was later developed for the Concorde. World high altitude records were achieved with this aircraft.

The most successful of the 3 British V-bombers of the 50's and 60's was the Avro Vulcan powered by Bristol Olympus. Both the aircraft (at least the wing design) and the engines were forerunners of the Concorde.

The Fiat G91 won a NATO contest for a European Lightweight Fighter, the other main contenders being Dassault and Breguet, all with a single Bristol Orpheus engine. The Orpheus was later developed for the "jump-jet" Harrier.
The ultimate lightweight Folland Gnat had problems with the single Orpheus engine being extinguished when the guns were fired. Plotting the results of gun firing tests at different speeds and altitudes (using non-dimensional analysis) helped to alleviate this problem.
Dassault Etendard VI
Engine: 1 x Bristol Orpheus Turbojet 21.6 kN thrust
Wingspan: 8.30 m, Length: 10.85 m, Height: 3.76 m
Mass (operating empty): 3720 kg
Max speed: 912 kph
Breguet 1001 Taon
Engine: 1 x Bristol Orpheus Turbojet 21.6 kN thrust
Wingspan: 6.80 m, Length: 11.68 m, Height: 3.7 m
Mass (operating empty): 3425 kg
Max speed: 1194 kph
   

 

* with grateful acknowledgement to Geoffrey's immediate bosses Norman Gillard and Charlie Harding.