Large Biplane over Oswestry.

Patty,

Yes I’m fairly certain that’s what I saw,

Thank you

Rob.

I think this is what you saw….

My aforementioned Silver AN-2 LY-BIG lives outside at Tatenhill

Definatly not a Draggonfly – my monies are still on an AN-2 from……. somewhere!

Doesnt the dragonfly have pointed wings?

The Vimy isn’t in the UK anymore, is it? The largest I can think of would be a Rapide – how many other mulity-engined biplanes are there still flying?
RIGHT! Who said ghost?

Flood

Perhaps Dragonfly G-AEDU up from Rendcomb? Definately has shorter lower wings. Any idea of colour? ‘DU is red with silver wings.

After opbtaining a 3d computer model of an AN-2 I now agree that I saw an AN-2. From certain angles the engine cowling gives the impression of a rounded nose, which caused me believe the engines were wing mounted.

So many thanks to all who replied and helped me id this aircraft including the person who pm’ed me.

Robin

It was certainly white or silver and the engine note was a deep, deep rumble

Thanks everyone, some interesting thoughts here. Definitley not a Shorts 330, that’s a type I could ID. I feel I ought to add that the a/c was quite close to my position, almost over head and fortunately made a turn, banking towards me which is what confirmed it as a biplane. Unfortunately its height was such that I couldn’t determine the number of engines, except to say that the nose appeared smoothly rounded and unlikely to be carrying the large radial engine of the AN-2, although the colour silver/alumimium matches the AN-2 described earlier. The sound was, in my opinion, a deep “old sounding” rumble. I was so enthralled at the sighting that I completely overlooked the configuration of the tail assembly.

Once again thanks to all for reading and taking the trouble to reply.

Robin.

JohnC. – Yes, it did :confused: :confused: Sounded ‘orrible :diablo:

Just seen a Shorts 330 out of Coventry and could possibly be mistaken for a biplane from a distance with that undercarriage and very deep wing strut. Did your sighting have twin fins?

And did it sound really horrible, like a constipated wasp on speed 🙂

JC

BR – An2 has not been at Baxterley for some time.

mcfier – Just seen a Shorts 330 out of Coventry and could possibly be mistaken for a biplane from a distance with that undercarriage and very deep wing strut. Did your sighting have twin fins?

I believe AN-2 LY-BIG is based at Baxterley nr Nuneaton. A possible. This is silver all over.

mcfier, I saw this aircraft too. I viewed it from Rednal after landing there for a visit. Two of us heard the heavy rumble of an aircraft to the North and spotted a large bi-plane travelling very slowly. Our belief was that it was single engined and that it was an AN-2. However we couldnt think where an AN-2 may of come from as Im not aware of any based locally (apart from the wrecks at Hawarden.

Anyone else get a look?

Could it have been the the Ireland based DH Dragon, thats bigger than the Rapide and has squared off wings.

It was more than likely ‘sheep spotting’ being in that area.

Might it have been a Wellyngton?

:p

The Vimy isn’t in the UK anymore, is it? The largest I can think of would be a Rapide – how many other mulity-engined biplanes are there still flying?
RIGHT! Who said ghost?

Flood

There’s always the possibility of a large scale model

That’s what I was thinking and the reason I threw in the thought about the HP42.

Definitely not AN-2, as I mentioned before there were two (or more) engines mounted between the wings and I could also see the large main undercarriage. This is pointing more towards a model/replica as Robbo suggested.

Thanks for all the replies.

Robin

So what large twin engined biplanes are airworthy in the UK?

JC

John C,

I knew it wasn’t a Rapide, there were no engine naclles on the lower wings and the wing tips were much more square.

Robin