Home needed for dH Drover

I hadn’t seen this thread before and believed the Drover was still with Barry Parkhouse. It would be good to know if there has been any progress in restoring her as she has had a pretty rough life since arriving in the UK.

When I was a teenager I remember that I removed the main switch box from the cockpit for restoration and many years later made a special journey to return the bare box with a biscuit tin full of switches etc to SWWAPS at Lasham.

I also re-covered the rudder and elevators at Southend. The props and I believe the wheels were from a Channel Airways Heron which was scrapped on the airfield. The flaps were never restored. All we had was the leading edge and some rotten remnants of what seemed to be wood.

It would be great if she finally gets restored properly after all these years.      

Just a reminder that Geoff Goodall, whose site is mentioned in this thread, also recently wrote a book on the Drover published by Air-Britain: https://www.air-britain.co.uk/actbooks/acatalog/Drover.html

Any photos and updates on the current location and status of this Drover airframe?

I’ve recently been reading a little about the type and it would be interesting to hear what happened with this one.

Sorry to drag up this old thread, did the Drover find a new home?……….Martin

This has been posted on Facebook:-

Michael Eastman I HAVE CONTACTED BARRY HE SEEMS UNAWARE OF THIS SITUATION AS HE SAYS THE AIRCRAFT IS ON LOAN TO THE APPRENTICES FOR THEM TO DO SOME RESORATION WORK AND THEN RETURN IT TO HIM.HE IS OUT OF THE COUNRTY UNTIL APRIL THEREFORE I SUGGEST SOMEONE IS BEING A BIT NAUGHTY WITH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT THEIRS TO DISPOSE OF !!!!!!!!

I have no personal knowledge about this but thought it of interest to this forum.

Just to be clear, the Drover will be coming to Staverton, but won’t be part of Jet Age Museum’s collection. One of our trustees, Darren Lewington, who is also the Airport’s Operations Director is acquiring the airframe. Darren grew up in Southend and has fond memories of regularly visiting the Historic Aircraft Museum, where the Drover was an inmate.

I don’t really mind where it’s going, it’s being preserved which I am pleased about.

I recall that the Drover at Squires Gate was hemmed in by a Westland Dragonfly heli and a huge set of sheerlegs, around that time Russell was acquiring an odd collection of types, he had the only Aermacchi AL60 in the Uk on pleasure flights which was a sign that single engine types were to take over from twins, leading to Piper Tri Pacers and Cherokees. Meanwhile there were visits from John Lewery in his Fox Moth from Southport sands pleasure flying.

hi,
used to visit here whilst on our weeks annular holiday for a number of years, saw GAPXX in Aug. 1963 in ANT’s hangar, at the back with its wing’s stacked, also WG661 nearby, also I noted a fuselage with wings nearby noted as a Jackaroo?…

fond memories, regards,
jack…

I agree, Ericmunk, an excellent site detailing the history of each Drover. With so many details, clearly the authoritative history of C/no.3014, complete with first flights, hours flown etc. I do hope that the new owner’s attention is drawn to the excellent summary of events regarding the aircraft. My many thanks to Erikmunk for drawing our attention to the link in his post above.

Ericmunk, do you mean ‘two others’ or ‘the only the two’. I ask that, as I am only aware of G-ALLK and G-APXX – and on checking, these two are the only Drovers to come up on a search of the CAA GINFO register site.

No, try G-APPP. An excellent site detailing the histor of the Drovers is here: http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/drover/drover.htm

Just to be clear, the Drover will be coming to Staverton, but won’t be part of Jet Age Museum’s collection. One of our trustees, Darren Lewington, who is also the Airport’s Operations Director is acquiring the airframe. Darren grew up in Southend and has fond memories of regularly visiting the Historic Aircraft Museum, where the Drover was an inmate.

Thanks for the clarification.

Rob

Scotavia, you have a PM.

I recall that the Drover at Squires Gate was hemmed in by a Westland Dragonfly heli and a huge set of sheerlegs, around that time Russell was acquiring an odd collection of types, he had the only Aermacchi AL60 in the Uk on pleasure flights which was a sign that single engine types were to take over from twins, leading to Piper Tri Pacers and Cherokees. Meanwhile there were visits from John Lewery in his Fox Moth from Southport sands pleasure flying.

Oh, I am getting old. I remember the Drover arriving at Squires Gate (Blackpool International Spaceport or whatever) and asking Russell Whyham what he was going to do with it. I believe the intention was to use it for his “Round the Tower” trips but as far as I remember it was never assembled and remained propped up against his hangar. I guess 3 engines were more expensive to run than the 2 on his Dragons and Rapides.

viscount……

Both VH-EAS and VH-EAZ are correct for this a/c. Built as a Mk 1 regd VH-EAZ (2) 23.07.52. Converted to a Mk 2 in 1954. Re-regd VH-EAS (4) 18.08.54.

Planemike

Air Britain’s Aviation World Autumn 2006 contains a comprehensive article on the DHA-3 Drover. 5003 is reported as “Restored as VH-EBQ in 03/49 to Qantas New Guinea Internal Services Divn. Crashed16.07.51 into sea eight miles off Lae, Papua-New Guinea. Canx 05.05.52.”

The marks G-APPP are have also been associated with a DHA-3 Drover. A G-INFO search reveals nothing: the marks were never allocated. However the Air Britain Monograph The British Civil Aircraft Register G-APAA to G-APZZ states “Initailly reserved for de Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover 2 (5002) built at Bankstown 1949 and regd VH-CAT initially but not talen up and then VH-BMU. Aircaft not imported and Air Navigation & Trading Co.Ltd., Squires Gate eventually imported another as G-APXX instead.” (“Officially the marks G-APPP should not have been allocated in any case having been designated in ICAO regulations not to be issued.”) The Av World article also confirms that there was a projected sale to ANT and the marks G-APPP were reserved.

Hope that ties up some loose ends……

By the way, great to see this unique (to the Northern Hemisphere) aircraft find a new home, hopefully indoors. Would be good to see some restoration work undertaken.

Just to be clear, the Drover will be coming to Staverton, but won’t be part of Jet Age Museum’s collection. One of our trustees, Darren Lewington, who is also the Airport’s Operations Director is acquiring the airframe. Darren grew up in Southend and has fond memories of regularly visiting the Historic Aircraft Museum, where the Drover was an inmate.

Ericmunk, do you mean ‘two others’ or ‘the only the two’. I ask that, as I am only aware of G-ALLK and G-APXX – and on checking, these two are the only Drovers to come up on a search of the CAA GINFO register site.

For those curious, G-ALLK c/no. 5003 (or 0003), was registered to de Havilland at Hatfield, with ‘paper’ dates of registration 31.3.49 and cancellation 16.10.50 – entered in the ‘destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use’ column! I have it simply as ‘remained in Australia as VH-EBQ’, which was indeed the case. A photo and full history of this aircraft: http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/QantasFleet/VH-EBQ.html

With the benefit of the internet (it is a long time since I first researched the background for VH-EAS/G-APXX in the early 80s) I find that VH-EAZ is correct for this aircraft from an authoritative Australian site. See http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/QantasFleet/VH-EAZ(2).html for a photo and airframe history with explanation of the re-registration from a Qantas historian. I’ve gone back to page 1 and altered my ‘potted’ history of this aircraft to incorporate the new information. Interestingly the CAA registration document for G-APXX of 1960 states 5014 as being formerly VH-EAS. All a little confusing.

No. I believe the subject of our thread is the only example ever to have ‘escaped’ from down under. I also believe the type has never flown outside the country of its construction, unless you know better?!

Fiji. New Zealand. New Hebrides. There’s also the two other UK Drovers, although they never left Oz.

No. I believe the subject of our thread is the only example ever to have ‘escaped’ from down under. I also believe the type has never flown outside the country of its construction, unless you know better?!