A FLIGHT engineer involved in a famous world aviation record has returned to the site of his remarkable flight 30 years on - but this time he stayed firmly grounded.

Somerset County Council has been helping commemorate that outstanding achievement set in the county on August 1, 1986.

A specially made hamstone and plaque have been unveiled on the Somerset Levels at Westhay commemorating three decades since the world speed helicopter record was set by a G-Lynx helicopter.

The chopper, specially prepared in ten weeks by Yeovil’s Westland Helicopter company, reached a speed of 400.87kph over a 15-kilometre course.

The plaque was unveiled by the former flight engineer and co-pilot Derek Clews, John Ponsonby, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters of Yeovil, and Joan Egginton, the widow of the pilot Trevor Egginton.

Cllr Christopher Le Hardy, chairman of Somerset’s Armed Forces Covenant, represented the county council at the ceremony.

He said: “This is a remarkable anniversary of a remarkable world speed helicopter record.

“It is a tribute to Westland helicopters. At the time Westlands was at the leading edge of helicopter technology, in particular with its revolutionary composite blade and gearbox technologies.

“A standard that has continued, been sustained and improved over the intervening three decades as Westlands became AgustaWestland.

"It is now part of the Leonardo – Finnmecanica Group, producing the next generation of Wildcat helicopters for the British and other armed forces."

You can visit the memorial by the river bridge west of West Hay and it is hoped the Somerset Tourist Board will add it to the map of places to visit.

*The current fastest military helicopter is the Eurocopter X3, which is capable of speeds of 487kph during a dive, although its top speed recorded on a level flight is 472kph over the south of France in 2013.