A few weeks back there was a thread about Shuttleworth and the MAM which mentioned the Wheeler Slymph G-ABOI. Well back in 1988 I photographed its remains when still in deep store at Baginton. The “aircraft” (it never actually flew) still appears in W&R, but that’s probably rather overstating its status, as my shot gives some indication of its state 18 years ago. I’ve not seen it since but the term “vestigial remains” comes to mind! There was a tea chest of small bits, at least one recognisable wheel, the remains of the undercarriage strutting, parts of the fuselage and that was it. I think when it left Old warden it already was devoid of engine and wings.
By: RPSmith - 6th December 2005 at 17:15
Yes – June 1968 to be precise, collected by Bob Ogden and myself, a memorable journey with Bob’s Cortina MkII 1600E towing a trailer.
Bob’s poor, brand new, Cortina. I was in the front passenger seat when, towing the same trailer en route to Thetford to collect his BAC Drone, the car hit black ice and we all ended upside down in a ditch. Were you one of the three in the back Gordon?
That Cortina laid the foundation for many a modern day aircraft restoration – despite being wrecked it was rebuilt back to road-worthy (so the garage claimed) status. Bob didn’t keep it long after that.
Roger Smith.
By: G-ORDY - 6th December 2005 at 13:22
To Martyn’s right is the blue fuselage of Slingsby Cadet, BGA804 originally donated by the Cornish Gliding Club and collected from Perranporth in 1968 (I think). I understand another Cadet now claims this identity.
Roger Smith.
Yes – June 1968 to be precise, collected by Bob Ogden and myself, a memorable journey with Bob’s Cortina MkII 1600E towing a trailer.
By: RPSmith - 6th December 2005 at 02:04
The guy holding the wheel is Martyn Hall (at one time a Trustee of the Museum). The fuselage is inverted and immediately in front of the wheel is one of the black tubular undercarraige ‘V’ struts – the other can be seen to the right. The engine bulkhead is in the bottom foreground.
Even when we collected the Slymph from Old Warden 1967/68 it was in poor condition. The wings were reputed to have been burned during the war and it’s last engine is, I think, in the DH 53 (it may have been borrowed for the Slymph).
To Martyn’s right is the blue fuselage of Slingsby Cadet, BGA804 originally donated by the Cornish Gliding Club and collected from Perranporth in 1968 (I think). I understand another Cadet now claims this identity.
Roger Smith.
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December 5, 2005 at 8:41 pm