Little Nellie

Sir Ken and Trevor Roche chatting after the 2009 OW lecture. An amazing man with an even more amazing story. The Little Nellie in the foreground was the Official Little Nellie and was driven 2 hours each way behind Sir Ken’s car by himself unaided.It is the one now at OW.

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I just found the footage from an American TV show (probably the one I saw it on first)

Not actually ‘Belfast’ as the narrator claims but the Newtownards air show, 1986. That air cadet went pelting across the runway and was first on the scene, but was relieved when Mr Wallis stepped out of the wreckage and said something like “Just a few scratches, my lad”.

A few years ago i got Ken to sign a picture of him at Weston Park airshow pulling Nel, he said “I remember that show, it was the first show after the crash, built another one with bits and bobs” this is the one you can see at OW today

I just found the footage from an American TV show (probably the one I saw it on first), although I’m sure someone posted the original footage as well.

Cheers

Paul

Without checking my copy of Wallis’ book…
I believe the one used in the film received extensive damage in a crash, and even the current “real” one is largely a replacement.

Yes, I believe it was.

(I was going to bring this up as well).

There is footage of the crash on YouTube and I’m sure I first saw it on ‘Destroyed in Seconds’ on one of the satellite channels.

I think it was at an airshow in Northern Ireland in the mid 80s.

I got a good chance to look at ‘Little Nellie’ in detail at OW, and took a few pics.

(It was kitted out with all the stuff for the James Bond film).

Cheers

Paul

Thanks everyone for the info!

Without checking my copy of Wallis’ book…
I believe the one used in the film received extensive damage in a crash, and even the current “real” one is largely a replacement.

Little Nellie at Old Warden September 2016

The one at Old Warden is G-ARZB which is the same serial on the aircraft in the film, the plaque nearby also says it is the actual screen used little Nellie.

Curlyboy

Is this Little Nellie? I’m asking – but I know the answer to the question.

No, actually. It’s The Aeroplane Collection (TAC)’s G-APUD on temporary loan to a private collector’s display in Barcelona, back in 2010, masquerading as it’s famous successor.

‘PUD was Wallis’s first, experimental, foray into Gyrocopters, being built from the original plans but with KW’s own mods.

Is this the “second” Little Nellie, perhaps – or was there actually another “proper” LN?

Anon.

I think their where two of them. Another one was painted up to look like Little Nellie. One is at Old Warden.

Dave

I last saw it at Old Warden when attending the Oct 2015 ‘Uncovered’ show.

Cheers

Paul

Last time I saw it, it was hanging up in the entrance to the London Film Museum in Covent Garden.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g186338-d3941604-i237554428-The_London_Film_Museum_Covent_Garden-London_England.html

Brian

Wasn’t it on display at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum at Flixton?

Rob

**The End**

Ken Wallis MBE – lots more about him on here as well! 😉

I’m bringing both by the bucket load.

When I was a child, our outside toilet consisted of a bucket, though it was never used by a bull.

If you (or anyone else) is really interested in Little Nellie, I suggest you read The Lives of Ken Walis by Ian Hancock.
It’s availabe from the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum.

Well worth your time.

Spoil-sport!! 😀