Hearing CFS at Coventry have bounced back

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17 years 5 months

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Sad to say, that is what is on the grapevine, they sent everyone home Friday and the answer machine is telling everyone the office is now closed.

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Lets take care with an announcement such as this - we should wait for an official position before reading too much into it.

Bruce

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Following a couple of phonecalls (SPT has one of WR963's props across there) it appears CFS is closed.

Don't know the ins, the outs or why.

Rich

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Hope things are resolved soon for all involved and their jobs are ok, shame, because a good bunch of lads that work there.

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excuse the lack of knowledge is this company owned by the chap who bought the airport at Coventry....:o

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excuse the lack of knowledge is this company owned by the chap who bought the airport at Coventry....:o

No, it is I believe a private company based there.

Profile picture for user Phantom Phil

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CFS

I used to work at CFS and can confirm the company was set up by three men. They were, Mike Collet, 'someone who escapes me' Foden and Martin Slater, hence CFS. I hope things are not as bad as they seem!

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James Foden and Mike Collett were basically Atlantique.

As they got older they sold off or privatised much of the empire.

Highland Airways to a management buy-out etc. (Since failed)

I am guessing CFS was similarly disposed of.

Moggy

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I used to work at CFS and can confirm the company was set up by three men. They were, Mike Collet, 'someone who escapes me' Foden and Martin Slater, hence CFS. I hope things are not as bad as they seem!

Same here Phil it was yours truly who did most of the Prentice rebuild and had the pleasure of doing the Twin pin strip before being made redundant.They seem to make a habit of it there sadly. I might therefore have worked with you ?? ( 1990 to 1994)

But I digress. Martin Slater, Jame Foden, Mike Collet also previously known also as Air Atlantique and a few other hats.CFS was originally operated in Malta at Luqa airport and undertook the Engine and prop side of things then it was closed down and everything shipped back to Coventry including the Port wing I think it was for the BBMF DC3 we had in the shop for overhaul prior to going to them.The engines and props where then done in house at Coventry. I do not know what became of Jimbob as he used to be affectionately known but he was getting on ,all the DC3 spares and Twin pioneer stuff etc was stored in barns at his farm (think he planned to turn it into a golf course or driving range ??). Martin was director in charge of engineering and Mike Collet was over all supremo.

Then they appear to have expanded again and the CFS name got a rebirth but to be honest things seem to change at Coventry as often as Mike Collet changes his underwear so anything could be fact or not.But would not surprise a lot of us who know the place and organisation.

Mike E

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... before being made redundant.They seem to make a habit of it there sadly. I might therefore have worked with you ?? ( 1990 to 1994)

I lasted three whole months in 1996-7 before being made redundant on one of Mr Collett's whims.

I can't fault the generosity of the pay-off though and still admire the guy for what he has done.

Moggy

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A friend was considering an engine rebuild at CFS. I'm glad they went for the more expensive and operational option.

Profile picture for user Phantom Phil

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My time at CFS was 2001 to 2002

Same here Phil it was yours truly who did most of the Prentice rebuild and had the pleasure of doing the Twin pin strip before being made redundant.They seem to make a habit of it there sadly. I might therefore have worked with you ?? ( 1990 to 1994)

But I digress. Martin Slater, Jame Foden, Mike Collet also previously known also as Air Atlantique and a few other hats.CFS was originally operated in Malta at Luqa airport and undertook the Engine and prop side of things then it was closed down and everything shipped back to Coventry including the Port wing I think it was for the BBMF DC3 we had in the shop for overhaul prior to going to them.The engines and props where then done in house at Coventry. I do not know what became of Jimbob as he used to be affectionately known but he was getting on ,all the DC3 spares and Twin pioneer stuff etc was stored in barns at his farm (think he planned to turn it into a golf course or driving range ??). Martin was director in charge of engineering and Mike Collet was over all supremo.

Then they appear to have expanded again and the CFS name got a rebirth but to be honest things seem to change at Coventry as often as Mike Collet changes his underwear so anything could be fact or not.But would not surprise a lot of us who know the place and organisation.

Mike E

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CFS

I had the pleasure, several times, of meeting and dealing with Martin Slater. We found him to be a decent chap and was a dyed-in-the-wool traditional engineer.

He showed us pics and told us the story of his rebuilding of a Gypsy engine to running condition at home, when he was in his teens. I think he got it running in the path out the front of the house!

He helped us out with all sorts of parts and answered all of our searching questions about what, how and why. Surrounded by vintage engines and propellers he was in his element (and we were in heaven).

CFS occupied the old Alvis works on the opposite side of the airport from the hangars. I remember the Twin Pin, Mike. It was (is?) stored dismantled down the outside of one of the buildings. I also remember a lot of Cheetah engines dotted about the place.

Seems that, with the demise of CFS another little nugget of old aviation has bit the dust:(

Anon.

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Just because it has gone into receivership if it indeed has does not mean it has gone... fingers crossed.

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tried to business with them a few years ago - almost impossible to get a figure for a prop overhaul

eventually quoted me 15 grand on a beech 18 prop overhaul so i bought 2 from the states for about 7 grand

that was my experience with CFS

saying that - a chap recently was very helpful on the phone but we still couldn't do business.

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PT - heard the same, couldn't give a price!

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Sad news if it is true, Never had any probs getting a fair price out of CFS for Hamilton Standard prop overhauls and always a good job done. Where now will you get many older props O/H'd ???

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maybe just priced themselves out of the market place - it happens

propshop at duxford should pick up the fall out i guess or we send our money to obama

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Anon
I had the pleasure, several times, of meeting and dealing with Martin Slater. He was a decent chap and was a dyed-in-the-wool traditional engineer.

Err I believe he still is.... :D

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Anon, to complete the story of Martin rebuilding the Gypsy engine, once in working condition, he fitted it to a one of the upright Ford Anglia cars complete with a prop! With the help of some friends they pushed it to a piece of waste ground and fired it up. Can you imagine the sound with stub exhausts. Luckily it was caught on film - we occasionally have a beer and look at the film, now transferred to CD. That reminds me - he is moving into the close on Thursday so I will have to lock away the beer. If I can get him to rake out a photo of it running I will post it.