Twenty-five minutes later, he pulled the 1958 Austin A40 Somerset into the drive of his house, and in the corner of his eye, saw a dark Ford Zephyr drive slowly past with two occupants inside. A young female sat in the passenger seat, while a young male was behind the wheel.
Chapter 8
Next morning, a white Leyland Tiger bus moved under the raised barrier of Brinton Aviation’s main gate, towards the mess block, and after parking in front of the doors, disgorged its sea of suited officials from the Ministry of Supply.
Swan and Gable signed their names into the visitor’s book on the reception desk and then mingled with the other members of the inspection party in the lobby of the mess. Drinks were then served by a waitress handling a tray of sherry glasses.
Gable took a glass and smiled to her in appreciation. ‘I’m beginning to like the hospitality already, sir,’ he commented, taking a sip from the glass.
Swan also held a sherry glass. ‘Arthur, we are supposed to be incognito here, so if you could drop the sir and call me Alex. I’ve always told you that it is okay to do so, but you do insist on a more formal address.’
Gable sighed. ‘Sorry Alex, seems to be a bit of a hang-up from my days with the force.’
Swan noticed that the atmosphere in the lobby was business like, with lots of formal conversation amongst the officials. Then suddenly, there was a loud clanging of the mess bell, calling everybody into the hall for lunch.
Following the extravagant buffet lunch which included locally caught salmon, a short presentation on the Rapier was to be given by Barnett. He handed each member of the audience an information pack and commanded the lights in the room to be switched off. ‘Gentlemen. You are about to be presented with a short slideshow on the development of the BR-101 Rapier Strike Aircraft. Any questions you may have, please leave until the end. Thank you. Now, could we have the lights out and slide one please, Joe.’
Swan and Gable listened carefully to the presentation and as they viewed the slides and took in the commentary from the Chief Designer. Swan made mental notes of questions that he could ask to maintain his masquerade within the team.
Twenty minutes later, the slide show concluded and the lights went back on. Barnett re-addressed the audience. ‘Thank you, gentlemen. Now if there are any questions, please feel free to ask.’
Swan made sure he was first. ‘Alex Swan, Systems Analyst from the Air Ministry. You mentioned the accident to the second prototype at Pembridge? When do you think that the aircraft will be ready for flying?’
Taking on a serious aura, Barnett stared at Swan.
‘Good afternoon, Mr Swan. It is hoped to have her flying by the end of June at the earliest. The accident caused her to have structural damage to the wing root and a new engine needs to be fitted. We should receive that engine for ground testing next month.’
Gable then raised his hand. ‘Arthur Gable also from the Air Ministry. I read in the last report that the engines were still showing signs of vibration when run up to full power. What is the latest on this situation?’
Barnett glanced over the sea of heads. ‘To answer your question Mr Gable, that is why the first prototype has been returned to Brinton’s. She is due to undergo a full examination, which I will personally be overseeing. I’m hoping that it’s a matter of just some tweaking with the compression valves. If not, then we are looking at a full rebuild.’
Swan waited for another member of the team to ask a question, then nudged Gable in the arm and whispered to him. ‘Good question, Arthur. Well done.’ The session ended with Barnett inviting everyone back into the mess for afternoon tea.
In the mess, Swan noticed Barnett returning to the table for a second cup of tea and an Eccles cake and decided to seize this opportunity to talk to the Yorkshireman. ‘It’s a bad show with the accident,’ he said apologetically. ‘I’m sure you wanted her to fly this week as much as we all did.’
Barnett continued pouring out the tea into his cup then picked up the Eccles cake. ‘Aye, Mr Swan. We really were looking forward to her taking off and keeping this project alive. I’m not so sure to be honest, if we are going to see this one through. I take it that’s why you people have really been sent up from Whitehall, isn’t it?’
Swan decided to ignore the comment. ‘So, you think that there’s a possibility that the BR-101 will be cancelled?’
Barnett shrugged. ‘Well, with this business of the engines not performing and the over running costs to the avionics, things look likely. Be a big shame though, as to me, she’s probably my best design. Certainly one I’m proud of.’
Swan noticed that Barnett was in a talkative mood, so decided to gamble with his next query. ‘What about this young lad who was killed here earlier this year?’
Barnett responded solemnly to this sudden change of subject. ‘That’s was tragic. Poor James had so much promise, and just a quick routine check ends all that in a flash. His poor fiancé, what must she be thinking right now. She wasn’t pleased with the result of the enquiry, I know that much. Her father said she would be doing something about it, poor lass. Anyway, what did you say was your particular field of study, Mr Swan?’
‘Oh, I am here to check the quality of the avionics, to make sure that they meet the required standards. I understand that the American Python Hawk reconnaissance drone is being test fitted here, and you have some US personnel here as well?’
‘Aye, we have them here alright.’
Swan detected some resentment in Barnett’s reply. ‘So what are these Yanks like then — off the record?’
‘Oh, they’re a peculiar lot, the whole project is being overseen by a chap named Maitland. They have armed guards on the doors to the basement of the assembly hangar. This is where the Python Hawk is being prepared, so I wouldn’t go too near them while you’re here, they are liable to get a bit nasty.’
‘You sound to me like you have had a run in with them already.’
‘Aye, we’ve had a few words. Maitland is a cagey one, he has a shifty look about him, but he’s there to see the Python Hawk does its job, I suppose.’
‘I will need to check on the proceedings for the Python Hawk tests, as part of my evaluation report, and will probably need to speak to this chap Maitland in due course.’
‘Good luck Mr Swan, and as I said, mind how you go in there. We don’t nickname it The Pentagram for nothing.’
Swan decided to push his luck and take advantage of his host’s social vices. ‘So enough about work for a minute, I take it that you are a drinking man. So can you recommend a good pub around here? I’m a stickler for Northern brews, and wonder if I could take advantage of your native knowledge and have you point me in the right direction.’
Barnett put down his empty cup and saucer. ‘Now you’re really talking…Alex, isn’t it? In fact, there’s a grand place just down the road I frequent on the way home. Why not meet up with me one evening this week and I will personally introduce you to the best local ales?’
Swan nodded. ‘That would be splendid. Might I bring along that chap over there? We are here together to produce a joint report, and as you can see, he looks a bit lost amongst the others in our party?’
They glanced across at Gable who was standing alone, reading a notice board. ‘Aye, he does look a bit lost, poor chap, bring him along by all means. Nice to speak to you Alex. I look forward to our drink soon.’
‘Likewise, and thank you for the presentation.’
‘No problem.’
The two men shook hands and Swan watched as Barnett exited the room, shaking hands with other members of the party as he made his way back to his office.
Swan then re-joined Gable, relieving him of his boredom of reading the staff notices. ‘How did it go?’ he asked.
‘Very well indeed, Arthur. HB is a nice and friendly chap and has invited us out for drinks at a local pub. I think he may have something on his mind, and I seemed to have appealed to his good nature. So, let’s see how much he is prepared to let me into his confidence; I’m certain he wants to say more about the accident, but I won’t push him, and will just let nature take its course.’