Engineering and Operations Division of VTST
Dr Robert Pleming MBCS CITP ARAeS
CEO
Robert gained his Doctorate at the Department of Nuclear Physics at Oxford University . After a successful career in IT with IBM, in 1994 he moved to become the UK Technical Director for Cisco Systems, at a time when the company had only 18 employees in this country.
As an air cadet in 1968, Robert gained an RAF Flying Scholarship, and soloed in a Cessna 152 at Luton Airport . In the mid-'90s, a conversation with David Walton, owner of the recently grounded Avro Vulcan XH558, sparked the idea of putting together a formal proposal for the return of the awesome Vulcan to flight. Robert built a team of expert advisors to investigate what needed to be done, and to guide the project's direction. This approach established sufficient credibility with British Aerospace and the Civil Aviation Authority for the decision to be taken to proceed with the activities necessary to achieve the return to flight.
In April 2000, with technical feasibility proved and the decision from British Aerospace to support the project behind him, Robert moved on voluntarily from his Cisco career to the full-time unpaid role of Project Director for what was then the Avro Vulcan XH558 Plan-to-Flight Project.
Since that time Robert has worked to bring the engineering project to the position in which it stands today, and his experience and lifelong enthusiasm for aviation contribute to ensuring a successful return-to-flight for this historic aircraft.
Esther "Rusty" Drewett
Commercial Manager
Born and educated in Dumbarton, Scotland; Rusty grew up with a passion for rugby aeroplanes and people. Directed by the infamous RAF aptitude selection process she has spent her working life in Administration and Finance. Far from being the boring choice it seemed: with a career spanning RAF Service, The International Badminton Federation and a period of self employment: this path has allowed her the freedom to work, raise a family and meet and make friends with very wide spectrum of people both in the UK and Overseas.
Rusty has been a keen supporter of the restoration to flight of XH558 from the beginning, having served as treasurer of the supporters club for the last four years. She has now been appointed Administration Manager for the restoration project based at Bruntingthorpe.
Rusty is a keen rugby follower and is always on the winning side in the Calcutta Cup, thanks to an English father. Currently living in Market Harborough, a self confessed Hispanofile with a home in southern Spain, she is married with two grown up sons and two grand daughters.
Peter Silver
Membership Administrator
Administration Staff
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| Andrew Edmondson Engineering Manager |
Colin Marshall Logistics Manager |
Denis Parker |
Joanne Kinvig |
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Dave Wilson |
Engineering Staff
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| Alan Rolfe Propulsion Bay |
Colin Stirrat Airframe |
Kevin "Mouse" Penfold Electrical |
Nick Clarke Airframe/Propulsion |
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| Pat Bowyer Avionics Bay |
Phil Raymond Airframe |
Kevin Stone Electrical / Avionics |
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| Trevor Bailey Airframe / Propulsion |
Logistics Staff
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| Craig Stirrat |
Colin McNeil |
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| Simon Ryan |
Hangar Staff
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| Mark Brown Hangar Maintenance |
Mark Malin Hangar Maintenance |
Derek Bates Hangar Maintenance |
Bob Moore Hangar Assistant |
MA Technicians
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| JJ Boyle MA On-site Manager |
Derek Marshall Propulsion / Airframe |
Stu Bond Electrical |
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| John Hufton Avionics (Aeropeople) |
Mick Flemmington Electrical (Aeropeople) |
Contractors/Consultants
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| IanMurray |
Malcolm Lawrence
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Don Kilbey |
Lynne Braithwaite |
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| Ron Evans Propulsion/Airframe |
RAF Technicians
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| Chris Ackland | Scott Alvey | Adam "Skippy" Skippen | "Howie" Richens |
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| Geoff Allbright | Karl Allen | Martin Hardy | Lee O'Connell |
Volunteers
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| Adrian Littlemoor | Derek Briginshaw | Henley Hunnisett | Peter Kennett |
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| Simon Chipman | Barbara Chipman | Gordon Harrison | Bob Miller |
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| John Butcher | John Nuttall | George Barton | Arthur Webb |
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Frank Edmondson |