How can I get in touch with Tony Ives...the email links on this page arr not working.

I also was an apprentice at WHL from 1950 to 1955 and knew Toon quite well and he based his pulse jet on a model aircraft version, called a Dynajet, which he more or less scaled up to about 5 feet long. It only ever produced about 50 lbs thrust. Initially it was tested on the WHL airfield close to where the rotor spin rigs are now based. Chris Russel may have been involved later on in the trials when he worked in the SMTE department but initially Bert Almond assisted in the tests. I never recall Toon being known as Tiger and theToon Bird was the main nickname and many cartoons were produced with this theme. Tiger Boon was an apprentice at this time named after his boxer father Tiger Boon.

I realize now with emails from Fred Ballam,my brother Michael (who worked in DO research) who obtained photos of the rig and explained they were not ram jets but turbo-jets.

Just to elaborate on the Toon jet, it was a pulse jet and not a turbo jet. It was a very simple device incorporating a simple combustion chamber and a length of pipe which had a tuned resonant frequency which was the same as a set of flap valves which vibrated allowing fuel to enter the combustion chamber which was ignited by a spark plug. If I remember correctly the pulse jet only produced aboiut 50 Ilbs thrust.

Tony Ives

I too worked at WAL during the 50's as an apprentice.
Some of the names mentioned in your communications sound familiar?

I was an Engineering apprentice at Westland AC and I lived close to Ham Hill, in Stoke under Ham. As a lad in 1950 I used to visit ham hill where Westland’s had an experimental base in a quarry (the base is still visible in a quarry known as 'Jackers Quarry' due to the abundance o jackdaws) which was securely fenced off and the ram or pulse jets were tested. Te tests were sometimes continuous day and night the sound could be heard for at least 3 miles, occasionally the engines would belch out huge flames. I remember them starting the engine by connecting large hose to one end. A person heavily involved in this project was known to us as 'Tiger Toon' who worked in the design / experimental office on the later S51,S58.Westminster, all of which I worked on, at this time late 50's I worked in Experimental and the Wyvern was just finishing and the first of the gas turbines were being tested. A person 6-8 years my senior was Chris Russell worked with Toon and another person in that department still lives in Montacute was married to very good friends of ours. I would very much appreciate more info on this aircraft, only today did I realise the aircraft for this engine. Regards Trevor Stuckey.