Captain was instrumental in book launch

Captain John Fairey, who died in a plane crash last week, was instrumental in helping with the launch of a book at Weston's Helicopter Museum some weeks ago.

Among those paying tribute to the aviator in recent days has been David Gibbings, author of "Fairey Rotodyne" and a former employee of the Fairey Aviation Company founded by Captain Fairey's father, Sir Richard Fairey.

Writing a memory on Captain Fairey's Lasting Tribute page, Mr Gibbings said: "John helped me to set up a book launch event at The Helicopter Museum for my book 'Fairey Rotodyne'. He added authority and dignity to the event, which was also a Rotodyne reunion.

"As heir to the Fairey name, he was very concious of the sense of belonging that most of us who worked at Fairey had and still hold."

Mr Gibbing's book is the first-ever published about the Rotodyne - a revolutionary type of helicopter built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1950s. The project was cancelled in 1962 because of rising costs and technical issues.

In 1981, The Helicopter Museum was able to acquire a few remaining Rotodyne components which are now on display.

Captain Fairey died when the vintage plane he had been exhibiting at Waddington Air Show crashed in a field in Lincolnshire last Wednesday. No-one else was on board.

Pictured in the gallery that goes with this story are:

1. A prototype Fairey Rotodyne

2. Captain Fairey accepting a picture of Flycatchers at the Weston book launch in April

3. Author David Gibbings signing a copy of his book for Captain Fairey at The Helicopter Museum in April