Wing Commander Clive Rustin
Decorated pilot who tested experimental aircraft and jet fighters and later became an airship captain
WING COMMANDER CLIVE RUSTIN, who has died aged 86, was one of the RAF’S most experienced test pilots; he spent more than 17 years testing experimental aircraft and the RAF’S front-line jet fighters, and was twice awarded the AFC.
Clive Charles Rustin was born on May 14 1932 in London and was educated at Preston Manor County Grammar School before going to Birmingham University, from where he graduated with a science degree.
He started his long flying career in November 1951 when he joined Birmingham University Air Squadron. During his National Service he flew the Venom fighter before joining 145 Squadron based at Celle in Germany.
After deciding to remain in the RAF he converted to the Hunter and served with 56 Squadron based at Wattisham. For a brief period he was attached to 111 Squadron (the Black Arrows) and flew in the formation of 22 Hunters that amazed the aviation world in 1958 by completing two looping manoeuvres at the Farnborough Air Show.
Converting to the Lightning supersonic fighter, in 1961 he was selected to attend the Empire Test Pilot’s School, where he was awarded the Mckenna trophy for the top student test pilot.
For the next five years he served as an experimental test pilot, and then as OC Flying with the Aerodynamics and Research Flight at RAE Bedford.
One of the highlights of this period was flying the supersonic Fairey FD2
aircraft with its slender wing and droop nose. Capable of flying faster than 1,000mph, it was used to test certain flying characteristics for the Concorde programme.
He also tested the Kestrel, a vertical take-off aircraft that led to the development of the Harrier, and this included the early testing on HMS Bulwark and the first Harrier landings on HMS Ark Royal. He was awarded the first of his AFCS.
After attending the Staff College at Bracknell and serving at the Ministry of Defence, he returned to test flying in February 1971 when he was posted to RAE Farnborough as OC Avionics Research Flight.
This involved flying various types of aircraft, testing the early-generation “fly by wire” techniques and capabilities, as well as assessing the latest avionic aids such as terrainfollowing radar, blind landing aids and new inertial navigation systems.
In September 1974 Rustin was promoted to wing commander to command the Fast Jet Test Squadron at Boscombe Down.
There he was responsible for the service clearance programmes and release-to-service for all the fast jet and training aircraft of the RAF, Royal Navy and the Army. This included the Buccaneer, Phantom, Hawk and Tornado.
On one occasion he was flying a Jaguar which caught fire, and he and his second pilot were forced to eject at low altitude, his parachute opening four seconds before he landed. He was awarded his second AFC in 1978. For his final five years he served with the RAF Handling Squadron at Boscombe Down, responsible for the safe and efficient conduct of a wide variety of experimental, development and acceptance flight test programmes of military and some civil aircraft. This included fast jet, transport and helicopter aircraft.
After leaving the RAF in 1987 he was an aviation consultant with Ferranti, becoming an airship captain. His work included the flight-testing of advanced design and flight control concepts for new airships including the S5000.
Rustin continued to fly in retirement, and was a regular on the airshow circuit flying vintage aircraft including the Spitfire, Vampire and Venom. He also worked part-time at the Empire Test Pilots’ School; a great legacy is his work to establish the Empire Test Pilots Association, which has so far attracted as members 700 current and retired test pilots from around the world.
During his 55-year flying career, Rustin amassed more than 5,500 flying hours on 160 different types of aircraft. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and was a much sought-after speaker, travelling widely until recent years giving talks about his experiences.
Clive Rustin married Julie Smith in 1962; she and their two daughters survive him.
Clive Rustin, born May 14 1932, died April 24 2019