Aircraft of the Automobile Association.

Now you mention it, I do remember G-APZE too. I’m still unsure why they needed the larger aircraft though, or were they perhaps a management perk?

My I had quite forgotten the Lear Jet until I saw the pictures…

I was most interested in the demise of ‘PAA, as I came extremely close to wrecking my Auster at Badminton on 24th April 1988! I’d only had it in the air for 3 weeks, after a 3.1/2 year re-build. During the rebuild I had acquired a Gipsy Major 10-2 that had not flown for some years. It had a top end overhaul before fitting, but for reasons unknown, the tab washer on no.1 cylinder had not been tabbed up. The result was that during a go around, the rocker assembly came adrift, leaving me at 200 feet with only 3 cylinders operational! I found it would just maintain 200 feet, but would not climb at all. I managed to scratch around the circuit, cutting in on the FlyPast Pup (sorry about that if the pilot is reading this!). As is customary in Austers, it bounced on touch down, but having no power to catch it, the result was a much publicised photo on me with the Auster just before it fell to earth! Luckily, apart from the engine problem, the only damage was a bent tailwheel spring.

Ah I remember it well as I captured that ‘sporty’ arrival on film – you must be Lee? We know eachother.

Too young to remember the Auster and Rapide but I do remember the Cessna. Quite distinctive when parked on a ramp

Cessna
G-BBUJ
G-BHLP
G-BMOA
http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=Automobile%20Association&u=operator

I recall they also had an Apache-around the late 60s-if my memory is correct? Cant remember the reg though offhand

G-APZE
http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=G-APZE&u=reg

and a Piper Navajo
G-AYAZ

A picture of G-APAA from 1956
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%201036.html

The Auster Alpine was of course registered G-APAA

Not sure how the AA managed to “blag” what was, in effect, a “personalised” registration!

However, a pic of G-APAA can be found here: http://www.auster.ukf.net/G-APAA.jpg

According the CAA database, G-APAA was registered to the Autombile Association between 23 June 1956 and 29 April 1958

There’s even a colour pic of it, being used in a flight sim at http://forum.mutleyshangar.com/index.php/topic/3859-february-tail-draggers-finished/page__st__30 (see posting #35). As you can see, G-APAA was black and yellow, with the AA Badge very prominent.

Many years ago, Air Britain published a book on all Civil registered aircraft in the G-APAA to G-APZZ range (back in the 1980s, long before G-INFO appeared…) and of course this particular Auster was featured on the front cover.

Lastly, G-APAA was written off in a crash at Badminton on 9th August 1975 (see http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18459) but the details are somewhat vague. Does anyone have any additional data?

I was most interested in the demise of ‘PAA, as I came extremely close to wrecking my Auster at Badminton on 24th April 1988! I’d only had it in the air for 3 weeks, after a 3.1/2 year re-build. During the rebuild I had acquired a Gipsy Major 10-2 that had not flown for some years. It had a top end overhaul before fitting, but for reasons unknown, the tab washer on no.1 cylinder had not been tabbed up. The result was that during a go around, the rocker assembly came adrift, leaving me at 200 feet with only 3 cylinders operational! I found it would just maintain 200 feet, but would not climb at all. I managed to scratch around the circuit, cutting in on the FlyPast Pup (sorry about that if the pilot is reading this!). As is customary in Austers, it bounced on touch down, but having no power to catch it, the result was a much publicised photo on me with the Auster just before it fell to earth! Luckily, apart from the engine problem, the only damage was a bent tailwheel spring.

Apache was G-APZE, and using G-INFO, was with the AA from 1963 until 1972.

Gorgeous picture of their Dragon Rapide earlier.

Too young to remember the Auster and Rapide but I do remember the Cessna. Quite distinctive when parked on a ramp

Even more distinctive after sitting out on the apron for several months with an engine removed for overhaul and in the middle of a steaming hot summer when it finally gets dragged into the shed to have a full annual and you open the cabin door to go into to gut the interior, and as you open the door, it hits you….. the toilet wasn’t emptied and it has sat their full simmering away and absorbing into every soft furnishing in the cabin……. now that WAS distinctive.

I recall they also had an Apache-around the late 60s-if my memory is correct? Cant remember the reg though offhand

Too young to remember the Auster and Rapide but I do remember the Cessna. Quite distinctive when parked on a ramp

Aircraft of the Automobile Association

The Auster Alpine was of course registered G-APAA

Not sure how the AA managed to “blag” what was, in effect, a “personalised” registration!

However, a pic of G-APAA can be found here: http://www.auster.ukf.net/G-APAA.jpg

According the CAA database, G-APAA was registered to the Autombile Association between 23 June 1956 and 29 April 1958

There’s even a colour pic of it, being used in a flight sim at http://forum.mutleyshangar.com/index.php/topic/3859-february-tail-draggers-finished/page__st__30 (see posting #35). As you can see, G-APAA was black and yellow, with the AA Badge very prominent.

Many years ago, Air Britain published a book on all Civil registered aircraft in the G-APAA to G-APZZ range (back in the 1980s, long before G-INFO appeared…) and of course this particular Auster was featured on the front cover.

Lastly, G-APAA was written off in a crash at Badminton on 9th August 1975 (see http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18459) but the details are somewhat vague. Does anyone have any additional data?

Banupa – you have brought the memories flooding back!!:)

I used to maintain their Conquest 2’s……

Me too! I think it was 15 miles from Hayes, where I grew up, well, according to the bike’s trusty mileometer attached to the front wheel. Fairoaks was particularly intolerant of spotty youths clutching note books. I was regularly ejected from the hangar. Apart from the AA’s fleet, Universal Flying Services always had a line of Tiger Moths and Austers parked out on the grass. Saturday lunch was usually consumed in the visitors area in front of the tower. As often as not it was soft boiled egg sandwiches, that had flattened in the duffel bag to the consistancy of a soggy handkerchief and coffee from a Thermos flask. I never discovered why, but the coffee was accompanied by large brown lumpy bits. Nothing much seemed to move in those days, so the sight of a Helio Courier taking off from the tower, in about 50 yards and climbing like a rocket is a lasting memory of the time.

Who remembers the AA’s Dragon Rapide and Auster Alpine that were based at Fairoaks in the 1960’s? I can understand the Auster for traffic jam spotting, but the Rapide? I don’t think the RAC were similarly equipped, unless you know otherwise?

Indeed! I often used to cycle there to see what was flying – always hoped I might blag a flight but it never happened!:(

That’s funny. I’m sure it was yellow and black at Fairoaks…:rolleyes:

Any excuse for a Rapide photo:
G-AHKV at White Waltham in June 1958: