Israeli Oxford (?) (AS.10)

Oxfords

Hi All.
I am the author of the Oxford/Cunsul article which was quoted by Rob.
It is published in “Merchav Aviri” (Airspace) Israeli historic aviation internet magazine.All rights are reserved.All the articles and researches which are being published there are only in hebrew at the moment.
I thank Ido for the translation for the benefit of the English speakers but I can not agree that the article contains “general (and partial) information on Oxfords and Consuls in Israel Air Force service”

The article contains facts which were known to me at the time of writing.(1995),And also contains 🙂 a long chapter about the history,Construction and the development of these aircraft.
During the last ten years more material was collected,And the article will be amended as soon as time permits.
You can find the article at:http://www.iafe.net/ma/cons.htm
Avi

No problem.
BTW, SAM’s Camouflage & Markings No. 3 has a photo of a brown/blue camouflaged Israeli Consul and a drawing of an overall silver dope example.

Many Thanks, Ido!

I appreciate your translation.

Rob/Kansan

The following is a translation of the section you quoted:

[INDENT]Manufacturer’s number 4321 – Built by Airspeed at its Portsmouth factory as a model AS.10 Oxford. Delivered to the RAF in February 1945 and allocated serial number PK257. The aircraft did not serve in the RAF and was sold on 16 September 1946. Registered to the Airspeed Company as G-AIO on 16 October 1946. The aircraft was converted to a model AS.65 Consul, and received its certificate of air worthiness on 5 December 1946. Sold to D. L. Steiner, owner of Steiner’s Air Services at Speke, and named “Liverpool Hawk”. The aircraft was sold to Thomas Berkley, owner of International Airways at Croydon in November 1947. Sold to the Israeli Air Force on 7 November 1949. The British civilian registration was deleted that month. Received Israel Air Force number 28-08, and in addition carried the civilian call sign 4x-ACR. [/INDENT]

Note that in the early IAF numbering system the number 28- indicates aircraft type.

The site had the following general (and partial) information on Oxfords and Consuls in Israel Air Force service:

[INDENT]The Consuls were operated by the Israel Air Force at the flight school in Kfar Sirkin, near Petah Tikva. They were used to train pilots on twin engined aircraft as a lead-in for transport aircraft, and also for the training of navigators for transport aircraft and for the Mosquito, all these activities taking place within No. 141 Squadron.

Usability was not high and there were many problems with their Cheetah engines. A common sight at the Flight School in that period was a Consul coming in to land on a single engine. Many accidents were caused by technical faults, and several planes were wrecked and entirely destroyed due to their wooden construction.

Aircraft 03 took off sometime during June 1954 heading south from Sirkin. Immediately after takeoff the port engine detached and fell off. The plane continued to fly for several seconds before entering a spin and crashing. The crew survived.

Aircraft 09 took off piloted by the late Veronovsky, and due to an engine malfunction crashed into the airbase’s perimeter fence.

Aircraft 06 made a crash landing and was rebuilt and flew on until 1956.

Aircraft 13 departed on a training flight on 29 December 1953 and crashed on takeoff (pilot Shimon Ash and trainee Amos Dvir).

Uri Yarom says that navigators arrived at the course after completing the pilot training course and aircrew selection, with the best graduates going to combat squadrons and the less capable individuals designated as navigators for the Mosquitoes then entering IAF service. Given this background, and due to the lethal accidents by the Mosquitoes in the IAF, trainee navigators arrived at the course with very low morale and motivation, and instructors had to take care of their trainees and raise their morale in addition to their instructional duties.

The IAF used the Consuls for VIP transport and utility flights in addition to their training duties. On 1 June 1949 Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and his entourage were flown in one of the squadron’s Consuls from Ekron air field to Sdom, from whence they were driven South overland. On 12 June 1949 a Consul set out again and landed at Wadi Hayani, returning the entourage to Ekron field.

The IAF gradually withdrew the Consuls from service, the last aircraft leaving the IAF on April 1956.[/INDENT]

A photo of a Consul in Israeli service can be found at the IAF website:

http://iaf.co.il/sip_storage/files/8/17188.jpg
Unfortunately, the serial number was blotted out by a censor many years ago, so we have no way of knowing if it is “your” plane…

Ta Very Much!!

Thank you, Chaps! It made the old nerve-endings tingle a little to see something I knew about personally surfacing from the historical data.

Rob / Kansan

G-INFO (The CAA registration database) adds nothing but confirms a little of the above.

Registration: G-AIOL
Previous ID:
Status: De-registered
Reason:
Manufacturer: AIRSPEED (1934) LTD
Type: AS65 CONSUL
Serial No.: 4321
Popular Name: CONSUL
Generic Name: AS65
Aircraft Class: FIXED-WING LANDPLANE
Engines: 2

Here is what is in the Oxford File for PK257, AS.10 Oxford c/n 4321 PK257 – No R.A.F. Service, sold to Airspeed 16.9.46; Became Consul G-AIOL; To Steiner Air Services, Speke, “Liverpool Hawk”, 11.11.46, CofA 5.12.46; Thomas Barclay t/a International Airways, Croydon, 25.11.47; regn. Cancelled 7.11.49; Elsham Ltd.; to Isreal as 4X-ACR 11.49 Ferry regn.; to IDFAF as 2808.

a good source for some individual a/c details for the Israeli Air Force:

http://home.sprynet.com/~anneled/IAFinventory.html

Martin

Rob

small photos here (and profiles)

http://www.wings48.com/Consul.shtml

Martin

Martin – you are FAST!

So 28-08 (or 08-28 in the Hebreew) is PK257/G-AIOL?

Interesting!!

Thanks,

Rob / Kansan

Rob

small photos here (and profiles)

http://www.wings48.com/Consul.shtml

Martin