A retired Royal Air Force squadron leader is hoping that Courier readers can help him track down footage of him flying at the RAF Leuchars Airshow in 1971.
Squadron Leader (Retired) Brian Burdett, who is now 78 and lives in France, was a VC10 captain at the time.
In September 1971, he flew at every Battle of Britain Air Display in the UK RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, RAF St Athan in South Wales, RAF Abingdon in Oxfordshire, RAF Biggin Hill in Kent, RAF Coltishall in Norfolk, RAF Finningleyin Yorkshire and RAF Leuchars.
Speaking from France, Sqn Ldr Burdett told The Courier: “I would like to find anybody who filmed the Battle of Britain display, especially the VC10, and who would be prepared to have the film converted to DVD and send me a copy.
“Naturally, I will cover all expenses including a copy for the person.”
Born in September 1936, Mr Burdett joined the RAF in May 1954 having gained his private pilot’s licence via a flying scholarship with the Air Training Corps.
He learned to fly on Piston Provosts and Vampires and went to 257 (Burma) Squadron on Hunters.
In 1959, he joined the Central Flying School then RAF College Cranwell as a flying instructor on Piston then Jet Provosts. He later went to Leeming in Yorkshire to continue instructing.
In 1963, he moved back to Lyneham on Comets becoming a captain in 1965. In 1967, he transferred to RAF Brize Norton as a VC10 captain.
He retired with the rank of Squadron Leader in September 1973 and joined Trader Airways, an executive hire company flying out of Gatwick, with whom he had been freelancing on Navajos.
In 1974, he was taken on by Gulf Air to captain the VC10 before converting to the Tri-Star.
He moved to Saudia as a Tri-Star captain and later the B747. He flew Tri-Stars again with Air Lanka before returning to B747 with Virgin Atlantic and later the Airbus 340.
“In my time I spent 27-plus years as a passenger multi-jet captain,” he said. “I retired on December 31 2000 after 47 -and-a-quarter years flying.”
Explaining why he is so keen to track down any footage he said: “When you get to my age, you start reflecting I would be delighted to hear from anyone who can help me find footage of my Battle of Britain displays in 1971.”
If anyone thinks they can help, please get in touch with the Fife office of The Courier by emailing kirkcaldy@dcthomson.co.uk or calling 01592 260385.