Rothmans Aerobatic Team

Rothmans Aerobatic Team is ....

The Kelly Years

Late in the 1960s, it was becoming increasingly difficult for tobacco companies to advertise their products due to pressure over long term health issues. As advertising by the usual means ( TV, billboards, newspapers, etc) became impossible, two submissions were made to Rothmans of Pall Mall for the creation of an aerobatic team. As the aircraft would be owned by Rothmans themselves, they were naturally entitled to put their name on each aircraft.

The winning submission came from Michael 'Manx' Kelly - it was rumoured that the two bids were very close, but Rothmans liked the insertion of a contingency buffer in the Kelly costings. Thus Kelly Aeroplane Ltd was formed and a base was secured at Booker (Wycombe Air Park) airfield

Five Stampe SV4 aircraft were obtained. G-AWIW and G-AXYW were powered by Gypsy engines with the Rollason fuel conversion for inverted flight, G-AYCK, G-AYGR and G-AXYZ were powered by the Renault engine.

The first team of pilots were 'Manx' Kelly (leader), Ray Hogarth, Iain Weston and Neil Williams. The first display season was in 1971. During that summer, Neil Williams dropped out due to other commitments and Barry Tempest (of the Barnstormers group) joined.

The second 1972 season saw team member changes and now comprised Manx, still as leader, with Mike Findlay, Andy White and Iain Weston.

The complexity of the display season with sections of inverted formation flying proved more and more hard on the ageing engines, especially the Renaults which were limited to 30 second of inverted flight due to lack of positive oil pressure when inverted. A replacement was sought and found in the Pitts S2-A

Five aircarft were purchased from the Pitts factory and individually shipped to Booker for assembly by Personal Plane Services under the directorship of Doug Bianchi. The registrations were G-BADW, G-BADX, G-BADY, G-BADZ and G-BAEA.

The 1973 seson was flown with the new Pitts aircraft and with the same pilots as the previous year.

1974 and Manx Kelly handed over the leadership of the team to Iain Weston as Kelly was setting up the Carling Aerobatic team in the North America with Bill Loverseed as leader. The Loverseed leadership was short lived and Kelly took over the leadership team himself. Andy White had also left to join BA so Tim Mills and David Perrin joined Mike Findlay as replacements

1975 saw further changes to the team with Mike Findlay taking over the leadership and Colin Woods joining David Perrin and Iain Weston. The first major overseas tour was also undertaken to Sweden and Finland.

In 1976, Mike Findlay and Iain Weston both departed and Colin Woods took the leaders slot, joined by Bob Thompson and George Smith. David Perrin remained. 'Manx' Kelly tragically died in an airshow crash on 1st May at Corona, California flying an Acroduster 1.

The contract with Rothmans was renegoti­ated over the 76/77 winter. There was pressure to reduce overall costs as Rothmans also wanted to support their Formula 1 racing team. The Kelly bid was unsuccessful and it was decided that after a tour of the Middle east, a final show would be flown at the White Waltham Jubilee Airshow on May 14 1977. Colin Woods had decided not to continue with the Team, so for the Middle East tour and the final display at White Waltham, Mike Findlay rejoined the team as leader, with Graham Rutson, David Perrin and Neil Williams.

Kelly Aeroplane Ltd now ceased to operate the Team, but Anvil Aviation Ltd founded by Bob Thompson who had flown as a team member for the 1975 season, took over the Team.

The Anvil Years

The Team reformed, based at Teeside Airport (formerly RAF Middleton St. George) and comprised Bob Thompson (leader) Marcus Edwards, George Smith and David Perrin.

In 1978, The Team toured West Africa , The Canary Islands and Spain. An accident at Lanzarote resulted in the death of George Smith and the loss of G-BADX. Mike Findlay rejoined the Team for the Spanish tour. A further non-flying accident resulted in David Perrin being unable to continue the tour so the Team was reduced to a 3 aircraft display.

1979: Marcus Edwards (leader), Rod Rea, Alan Dix, Mike Cairns, Brian Lecomber

1980: Two teams existed. One in the UK and the other on overseas tour. The UK team were Marcus Edwards (leader), Rod Rea, John McLean, Brian Lecomber. Rothmans also sponsored David Perrin flying a Pitts S2-B G-SOLO as a solo display and to compete in aerobatic competitions. The tour team comprised Mike Cairns (leader), Andy Legge, Peter Jones and Bob Ruskell.

Both team were disbanded in1981 as Rothmans finished sponsorship. Rumour has it that a subsequent proposal was made to Rothmans for a two aircraft display with Mike Findlay in a Pitts S2-A leading David Perrin's Pitts S2-B G-SOLO - but this plan came to nought and the Rothmans Aerobatic Team finally past into history.

References

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