Angus' funeral service yesterday was transformed by four eulogies which celebrated his life, from his son, his brother-in-law, his niece, and a close friend, with the result that those of us who knew him less well came away with a vivid picture of a warm, generous man who lived a full life. We discovered that, as well as being a physicist, a biologist specialising in biometrics (defined by Angus himself as "fish counting"), a scuba diver, a pilot, and a keen photographer, he also spent part of his career in aircraft design.
Angus worked in the design department at Short Brothers, the Belfast 'plane maker. One of the projects in which he was involved was the development of a vertical take off fighter, the SC1. In the end, only two were built, but the difficult area in which Angus worked, stability control in a VTOL aircraft, lived on in the Harrier, which inherited much of the SC1 design work.
Both SC1s still exist, one in Northern Ireland, the other in the Science Museum (pictured left). There's a video clip, here, about the development of the SC1, which also shows some of its test flights, and more information about it here.
Both pictures from Wikipedia.
I am so sorry to learn of Angus passing on. Fondly remembered by me on my many years association with Kilmory. The building of the pond was a momentous feat and a great scource of interest to all. Angus was a warm, friendly,unassuming and fascinating character, I count it a priveledge to have known him. R.I.P,
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