Help/Info Wanted

[PeteP]

Does anyone know the meaning of the initials ABFU in an aviation context? It may be something to do with flight testing - a flight test unit perhaps - but I can't be sure of this. Any suggestions gratefully received.
TIA
Pete

[Garry Russell]

Hi Pete

What type of aircraft is that referring to or is it a general term?

Garry

[PeteP]

Hi Garry,
It's definitely not an aircraft type. I found it at the bottom of the index sheet in one of the slide boxes. Th aircraft type on each slide was listed and at the bottom was "ABFU 1971". All the aircraft in the box are either prototypes or test aircraft of some sort which is why I wondered if ABFU was some sort of flight test unit/organisation. Incidentally, not all the photos are of British aircraft so it isn't necessarily a British abbreviation.
PP

[Garry Russell]

Hi Pete

This does not answer you question.....but may be of use or interest to some

http://www.associations.rafinfo.org.uk/acronyms.htm

Garry

[DaveB]

I don't know the answer Pete but it would seem to be a flying unit of some description.. reminiscent of the Civil Aviation Flying Unit Dove (G-ALFU) currently hanging off the ceiling in the Airspace hangar at Duxford. Any other suggestion would be pure guesswork I'm afraid :think:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[DispatchDragon]

Pete
This may be totally off track ,but the Smithosian has a listing for "ABFU photogrpaphs and transparencies" that they have
on file - ABFU = Air Britain Film Unit


Go to the Smithsonians website for more

Probably a total bogus lead , but its amazing what you turn up now and then - I guess the reference to stored photographs
and that they were aviation related :roll: whats more remarkable that the Smithosian reference is MS 71-1465 - where
the first two digits in Smithsonian filing system are always the year.


Leif

[Trev Clark]

Its not here, which covers most RAF abreviations.http://www.associations.rafinfo.org.uk/acronyms.htm
Flying Unit (FU :o )was much used, but not so much in 1971, I wonder if it a collection or library, of some sort.

[Garry Russell]

Trev.....

See my post four posts up

ATB

Garry

[PeteP]

"ABFU photogrpaphs and transparencies" that they have on file - ABFU = Air Britain Film Unit

Has anyone ever told you you're a genius, Leif? CHEERS I can't be certain but I think you may well have hit the nail on the head here.

Although the transparencies in this particular box have the same type of glass and plastic mounts, there's clearly something different about them and they may well be from a different source - in this case, Air Britain.

Thanks to all who answered but I think, Leif has the answer.
Best
Pete

[DispatchDragon]

I cant say Im a genius - Just the skills learned from tracking information for their Lordships here for various projects has put me in a mind set that
makes you look for information in odd places - once I saw the Smithsonian link - the rest was fairly simple - the only thing it didnt let me do was
actually see copies of the photos and slides they have, I may still be wrong but the reference seems to fit and you provided an excellent clue when you
said there were photographs of non British aircraft in the collection.


Leif

But glad I could be of some assistance