Today I have been researching G-ARIO, the Bellamy Hilborne B.H.1 Halcyon. I noted that construction number (c/n) of the Halcyon was HAC.5. Thus I wondered whether there were other aircraft, constructed by the Hampshire Aeroplane Club (the HAC), bearing the c/ns HAC.1 to HAC.4. I’m aware that the Club constructed two Currie Wots, G-APNT and G-APWT. Checking the CAA website (G-INFO), the c/n of the former is given as P6359 and the latter is given as HAC.4. So that’s one! The HAC also took on the completion of two Knight Twisters, G-APXZ and G-ARGJ, but their c/ns are given as PFA.1307 and PFA.1308 respectively. The first two flying replica aircraft constructed by the HAC are G-ARSG, the Roe Triplane built for ‘Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines’ and now with the Shuttleworth Collection, and G-ATIJ, the Pfalz D.III built for ‘The Blue Max’ and now in New Zealand. Their c/ns are given as TRI.1 and PT16 respectively. I do not know of any other aircraft constructed by the HAC, particularly not prior to 1960, so does anyone know if there were aircraft bearing the c/ns HAC.1, HAC.2 or HAC.3 and, if so, their identity?
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th October 2014 at 20:12
Interested to hear one still survives after 50 years. If either or both were completed it could probably claim one of the longest gestation periods for a homebuild project.
Planemike
By: Consul - 12th October 2014 at 22:50
Both didn’t vanish – one went to Loughborough College and is now owned privately. When visiting the present owner I saw it hanging in his workshop only a few months ago.
Tim
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th October 2014 at 21:37
The HAC also took on the completion of two Knight Twisters, G-APXZ and G-ARGJ, but their c/ns are given as PFA.1307 and PFA.1308 respectively.
Pedant mode coming on……!! Sadly HAC did not complete either of these. I remember the frames standing in the entrance of the club house for several months and then disappearing (I think to Biggin Hill and then they vanished)…..
Planemike
By: Chitts - 12th October 2014 at 17:56
Thank you, Tim. That just leaves HAC.2. And also thank you to you, Chitts, for I neglected to say so yesterday.
My pleasure!
By: NEEMA - 12th October 2014 at 17:23
IIRC Ray Hilborne designed the S5 replica.
I did have some chats with him on a possible H.P. 42 in the early 80’s.
By: avion ancien - 12th October 2014 at 09:05
Thank you, Tim. That just leaves HAC.2. And also thank you to you, Chitts, for I neglected to say so yesterday.
By: Consul - 11th October 2014 at 22:33
HAC.1 was an Avro 504K replica built by Viv Bellamy and eventually registered as G-ATXL. Just to complicate matters, however, there was also an HAC-01 which was the c/n given on the original paper records form for Avro Triplane replica G-ARSG even though it was later given a TRI-1 c/n !
Tim
By: avion ancien - 11th October 2014 at 21:25
As to your concluding remark, Newforest, I empathise!
By: Newforest - 11th October 2014 at 20:31
That’s news to me, Newforest. I’ve always understood that G-AFCG and G-AFDS were the first two and were built by Cinque Ports Aviation Ltd. at Lympne in 1937!
In view of your comment and my subsequent searching, I would concede that your opinion is certainly correct. I must be confusing it with another pre-war aeroplane and blame the old grey matter and that empty bottle sitting on the table!
By: avion ancien - 11th October 2014 at 20:05
Look the the PDF documents on G-INFO; G-APNT is HAC.3 by my reckoning.
I’ve just looked at Jackson’s ‘British Civil Aircraft’ and it lists G-APNT as HAC.3.
By: avion ancien - 11th October 2014 at 20:02
That’s news to me, Newforest. I’ve always understood that G-AFCG and G-AFDS were the first two and were built by Cinque Ports Aviation Ltd. at Lympne in 1937!
By: Newforest - 11th October 2014 at 19:05
You will be aware of course from your domicile, that Currie Wots were first built in France but that probably has no bearing on HAC.1 and 2. Being a HAC brat/anorak from about 1957, I cannot provde any more enlightment……………….
By: avion ancien - 11th October 2014 at 18:28
I did! And whilst attributing HAC.3 to G-APNT is a reasonable step, bearing in mind that the c/n is stated to be 3 on form CA113 (on the same form, for G-APWT, H.A.C.4 appears), the CAA records P6399 as its serial in exactly the place where, in respect of G-APWT, HAC.4 appears. But even if G-APNT is HAC.3 – which I think to be most likely – that still leaves HAC.1 and HAC.2!
By: Chitts - 11th October 2014 at 18:09
Look the the PDF documents on G-INFO; G-APNT is HAC.3 by my reckoning.
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October 11, 2014 at 5:47 pm