Basil H. Arkell 1918-2009

Basil Henry Arkell served with the R.A.F. Coastal Command during World War 2 and later with 529 Rota Squadron. After the war he attained the World Speed Record for Rotary Winged Aircraft while working with Fairey Aviation as a test pilot. On 28 June 1948, flown by test pilot Basil Arkell, the Gyrodyne made two flights in each direction over a 3km course at White Waltham, achieving 200km/h, enough to secure the record.