Bygone Salisbury 2020

38 years ago Optica aircraft flew into its new home at Old Sarum carrying the hopes of 100 local people.

In 1982 Edgley Aircraft had planned to produce 70 Opticas a year at the camp airfield in two large hangers bought from the Ministry of Defence – the arrival of the prototype Optica was seen as the start of a much needed industry that would offer up to 100 jobs.

John Edgley, inventor of the bubble-fronted Optica, was thrilled to see his bright yellow aircraft arrive to take up residence in one of the hangers as were managing director Bill Fraser and government sales manager Bill Purbrick.

The plane was flown from Middle Wallop, (where it was shown at the Army Air Corps show) by Squadron Leader Hugh Field, one of the two pilots who had flown it through its test programme.

Edgley Aircraft had secured orders for 25 Opticas from an Australian firm, and interest was also shown from many sources at home and abroad.

The cost of Optica was about £55,000 – around a quarter of the cost of a comparable helicopter, and it should have revolutionized the scout flying market but the early insect-like Optica was blighted by ill fortune.

The Optica had demonstrated superb low speed handling and flawless observation capability. Its main role was to be in the surveillance of a variety of tasks such as checking pipelines, power-lines, coastal observations and police work. Production began in 1983 and the first aircraft was delivered in 1984. However in 1985, a crash (attributable to human factors, rather than any design flaw) killed two people and placed the project under a shadow. Then, in 1987, around ten aircraft were destroyed in what was said to be an arson attack at the factory.

But the Optica aircraft continued and it still looks as futuristic today as it did way back in the 1980s. Who knows what the future holds for this fabulous eye in the sky?