BOB DEARLING - DAN AIR REMEMBERED

TELL US ABOUT YOUR TIME WITH DAN AIR: Left Oxford Air Training School with Mike Sheen and Ron Zonnevylle and joined Dan Air as Second Officers on the HS748 based in Aberdeen. Transferred to Gatwick after a couple of years. Became BALPA Technical Liason Representative for the HS748. Promoted to Captain. On phasing out of the 748 transferred to RHS on 737-200 maintaining Captains rank whilst waiting for LHS vacancy to become available, as per other 748 Captains. Unfortunately we went bust before that happened! KLM Cityhopper were recruiting direct entry Captains and as Ron had already left to join KLM on the 737 he offered to put my application on the "right desk". I joined them on the Saab 340 and subsequently flew the Fokker50 and the Fokker 70/100. Retired from KLC at the mandatory age of 56, and came back to UK to fly for Suckling/Scott Airways as Captain on Dornier 328 based at Southampton. When they pulled out I flew for Flybe as Captain on the Dash 8 Q400 based at Southampton until I injured my right knee and shoulder moving a car transporter trailer ( Yes still mad about cars!) and retired on medical grounds at 61. However I was then able to help bring up my son John who was born a few months later.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW: Still got a few cars etc, and have track Dayed and sprinted them and also competed in the Brighton Seed Trials, although they are sadly not run any more. Live in a thatched and timbered house which always needs something doing to it, although there is now light at the end of the tunnel! Still got a PPL but need to renew the medical. However as my last flight was flying a Spitfire from the back seat on my 70th Birthday, not sure whether to bother as can't think anything will top that!

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