John Hutchinson Concorde Captain, RAF Jet Pilot Interview - Part One | Plane Talking UK Podcast

Captain Nick talks to Captain John Hutchinson for Plane Talking UK Podcast.
John has had a wonderful and fascinating aviation flying career including as an RAF Pilot, Instructor, Commercial Airline Pilot and of course British Airways Concorde Captain. They discuss his life, his aviation career and his book, The Wind Beneath My Wings: John Hutchinson Concorde Pilot.
This is part one of nine in the John Hutchinson interview series.
In this instalment, John Hutchinson tells us all about his early life where he recalls what it was like growing up in India as a child.
His start in aviation brought him to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada where he learnt to fly.
Find out what it was like to train to be an RAF pilot in the 1950's. We always think of great pilots being able to fly from the get go but was training easy and plain sailing for John?
All of us at the Plane Talking UK Podcast hope you've enjoyed this series. Our thanks to John Hutchinson, Captain Nick (who you can catch regularly on Airline Pilot Guy Podcast) and of course Nev who put this whole interview together!
If you've enjoyed this, why not check out our regular shows.
Here's our playlist of shows this year: • 2020 Podcasts
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[@stevehillier7018]

A legend. A great man with an intellect to match. We salute you Captain Hutchinson 😊

[@Samuel-gc6js]

Really fantastic interview. John seems like such a great guy and is a great story teller. I hope he is in good health.

[@Lisa_TheIET]

John has given many talks for us at the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) over the years and never fails to engage the audience with the stories of his time with Concorde. Something John said during his talks when asked if he enjoyed being a pilot has stuck with me and is something I often repeat to others. He said "I've never worked a day in my life. I've simply been paid to indulge my hobby" 🥰

[@RebelWithACause-ts7de]

I knew Johnnie Walker, Concorde Test Pilot and Alan Heywood, Flight Test Engineer in the early 70's and often toured around 'Old Smokey' prototype at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire airfield with Alan, including sitting in the cockpit, seeing the then gigantic onboard computers inside the fuselage, the wing inspection panels open and dripping Avgas into 45 gallon drums previously filled Swarfega hand cleaner. It is said Alan once took his yellow labrador Ben onboard at Mach 2 setting an unofficial World record for the fastest dog! A one off incident occurred after a Concorde prototype tail was extended to prevent a serious shudder at Mach 1+. The new tail section, fabricated at Filton, near Bristol, was fitted inside the usual RAF Fairford, hangar. A subsequent test flight saw the tug connected to the nose gear and the driver, who had performed this action many times, just drove ahead without thinking about the extended tail section and promptly sheared it off on the upper vertical hangar wall section. "Millions of £'s" worth of damage occurred. Needless to say the hangar section was rapidly cut away by way of a slot to accommodate the higher tail section. The tug driver was never heard of again or even seen in 'The Bull' public house nearby where he was a regular. The incident was never reported in the Press as one can imagine the then Minister for Aerospace Michael Heseltine would have had a very red face in Parliament with awkward questions from the Labour bench opposite! Alan commented in those early days that the fuel tanks were vunerable from being punctured by debris but it went passed the boffins as nobody wanted to add anymore weight...... something in years to come, would result in the Paris crash and sadly contribute to bringing an end to a fabulous chapter of supersonic passenger aircraft designed and built in the UK and France, against all technical and financial barriers. Johnnie Walker, as his name implied a certain brand of amber liquid in a square bottle, was routinely teased as being a paid promoter of the brand just because he had the same signature embroidered on his dressing gown. Johnnie always took it in his relaxed and gentlemanly stride. Both men were regulars at 'The Mill' public house at Withington, Gloucestershire and resided in the village. Unfortunately these pioneers along with chief test pilot, Brian Trubshaw and many others who worked on the oroject are no more. All were legends and courageous in their own right, as is still, ex-BA Concorde Captain John Hutchinson, for his wonderful KZbin videos and classic narrations, such as "3-2-1 NOW" as full engine throttles were applied on Concorde take off rolls. A long and happy retirement to Captain Hutchinson.

[@B1970T]

Congratulations Capt Hutchinson on a spectacular and unrivaled career. Awesome interview!

[@Planetalkinguk]

Thanks B1970T! We're glad you liked it. Stay tuned as there is another fantastic series in the pipeline ;)

[@killult5602]

what a gentleman ...... and awesome to listen to ..

[@youmich]

I 'know' john for his great interviews throughout the years. Great captain, amazing career!

[@Planetalkinguk]

He's a wonderful chap and we thoroughly enjoyed chatting with him. Stay tuned for more interviews with some incredible people in aviation!

[@amfwelsh]

Wonderful interview. Just bought his book after all this time

[@coma13794]

The man could read out the phonebook and I'd be all ears. "Abercrombie.....Ackerman....Adams....." *shoveling popcorn*

[@PR-xm1gi]

Is he still alive? Concorde is by FAR, my favorite aircraft!

[@Planetalkinguk]

Indeed he is and what a man he is. Fantastic story teller, wonderfully insightful and all around top bloke.

[@werock9]

Is he still alive? i really wish I could have met him

[@Planetalkinguk]

Indeed he is Mary Jane 😁 Really fantastic chap!

[@markbradley2367]

There is unfortunately great misconceptions about the idea of servants, like Capt. Hutchinson they were part of our family. Our Pakistani cook taught us boys cricket and football. When we left Kuwait he was in tears as he was wishing we could take him back to the UK with us.

[@simonhanlon7518]

Indeed, my friends said their Indian servant cried for weeks after they returned to England. They taught him to read and write, opened a bank account for him and left him with enough money to take care of himself and his family for years to come.

[@wadeadams2775]

Great guy but a true ham! He loves the camera as much as the plane 😆.

[@ambrusnemes4847]

If this podcast was filmed in his home, then he loves great music, too :)

[@nevilbounds5762]

@@ambrusnemes4847 It was!

[@johannesbols57]

Do you fall in love every time you pass a mirror?

[@wadeadams2775]

@@johannesbols57 no