April 28, 2011 at 9:10 pm
I have read in places about the large number of ex RAF Prentices bought for conversion by Aviation Traders and seen the odd picture. Does anyone have pictures they can share here plus a list of airframes/spares that made it out of the mass scrapping?………..Martin
By: Jagx204 - 7th May 2011 at 14:39
G-AOPL (VS609) was bought from Shackletons at Sywell in September 1966 and flown to Sharjah, leaving the same month. It had a number of adventures on the way, including engine failure over the Alps, and repairs in Bagdhad after an engine fire on takeoff. It arrived in Sharjah via Abu Dhabi in January 1967, and was sold to South Africa in mid 1967, becoming ZS-EUS. I have seen that it is now in the SAAF museum at Swartkop.
Laurence
When I visited the SAAF Museum in 2007 I was told it had left and returned to its owner ‘locally’. A real shame as it was one I had hoped to see during my travels over there. I’ve been unable to find out any other info regarding its current whereabouts or status since then.
By: Mark12 - 7th May 2011 at 11:18
Nice to see you overcome with the euphoria of flight, having danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Then again, it was a Prentice :p
It was my surly teenage phase. π
By: Propstrike - 7th May 2011 at 11:02
My first flight. Ramsgate September 1959.
Mark
Nice to see you overcome with the euphoria of flight, having danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Then again, it was a Prentice :p
By: l.garey - 7th May 2011 at 10:37
G-AOPL (VS609) was bought from Shackletons at Sywell in September 1966 and flown to Sharjah, leaving the same month. It had a number of adventures on the way, including engine failure over the Alps, and repairs in Bagdhad after an engine fire on takeoff. It arrived in Sharjah via Abu Dhabi in January 1967, and was sold to South Africa in mid 1967, becoming ZS-EUS. I have seen that it is now in the SAAF museum at Swartkop.
see Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/5453551337/
There are several other Prentice bulk photos in the same photstream.
Laurence
By: Mark12 - 7th May 2011 at 08:34
Donβt forget VR249 (G-APIY) at Newark went through Southend 09.12.57 β before being sold on in October 1959 and transferring to Rhoose. It eventually found its way out to Laarbruch and returned form there via Thruxton and was flown in to Winthorpe on 08.07.67.
I have seen some N Franklin slides of the delivery β Iβll see if I can find them!! π
My first flight. Ramsgate September 1959.
Mark

By: TwinOtter23 - 6th May 2011 at 23:07
VR249 (G-APIY) – Newark Air Museum
Donβt forget VR249 (G-APIY) at Newark went through Southend 09.12.57 β before being sold on in October 1959 and transferring to Rhoose. It eventually found its way out to Laarbruch and returned form there via Thruxton and was flown in to Winthorpe on 08.07.67.
I have seen some N Franklin slides of the delivery β Iβll see if I can find them!! π
By: kartman - 6th May 2011 at 23:00
Excellent pictures and thanks for the list of the airframes, just what i was looking for. There must have been a few shots taken, it`s a shame not more survived the mass scrapping………..Martin
By: longshot - 6th May 2011 at 22:54
Some here
http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=Aviation%20Traders&u=operator
By: Atcham Tower - 6th May 2011 at 22:38
Have found two more. These were taken at Stansted Aug 1960. Sorry about the intrusive Tudors π
By: WJ244 - 6th May 2011 at 21:49
May have been mentioned before but G-AOPY found its way from Southend to a childrens playground beside the railway line between Basildon and Laindon stations. At a guess it was removed in the 70’s when someone decided that all the old fire engines, steam rollers etc in playgrounds were dangerous and had the lot taken away.
By: old eagle - 6th May 2011 at 17:45
Apart from DCW on his excellent threads, does anyone else have any pics of the unconverted Prentices at SOU and STN ?
By: Radpoe Meteor - 6th May 2011 at 14:17
The row on the right from the far end G-AOKA/OKK/OKV/OKR/OKN/OLE etc-is that sad? When the back row were dismantled(14May60) the area where the second (left) row is still had Harvard fuselages piled up.
Did you by any chance photograph the Britannia test fuselage
If G-AOKO was amongst them, she is currently awiting restoration with Aeroventure.
By: l.garey - 6th May 2011 at 06:04
No shame involved! Like Banupa and avion ancien, I also have my old Civil Aircraft Markings. The earliest is dated 1952. Price 2/6. Front cover shows a Viscount and a Dragonfly (S-51): back cover is Silver City “Fly with your bike, 20 mins to France”. Pre-Prentice though. I still consult them from time to time.
Laurence
By: keithnewsome - 5th May 2011 at 22:55
I wish I could make this photo larger ??? It was taken at Stansted, showing a Tudor hovering above a collection of Prentices, during the days when Stansted was overflowing with aircraft of all sizes and shapes ??
Happy Daze !
Keith.

By: avion ancien - 5th May 2011 at 22:17
Join the club – says he, hiding his head in shame!
By: Banupa - 5th May 2011 at 20:46
Schoolboys’ tales
I hate to say it Rochford, but I think you must have my hoarding instinct too! I’ve still got most of my Civil Aircraft Markings going back to 1961 if not before. (Thinks, must list them on E-Bay).
By: l.garey - 5th May 2011 at 14:54
Thanks Rochford. I need new glasses!
However, while we are on the subject, any idea if the Prentice rudder in the Sharjah air museum (Al Mahatta) is from the Aviation Traders batch? It carries 2 plates with SER NO PAC/R234, DRG NO AJT/576, 1/3/49, and a stamp PAC81.
Laurence
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th May 2011 at 14:53
What you can see is G-AOMC(which was in that line of 26. G-AOMO was at Stansted
By: paulmcmillan - 5th May 2011 at 14:40
Interesting
G-INFO gives G-AOMO as C/N PAC-138 and serial = VR292 !!
By: Old Fart - 5th May 2011 at 14:22
Got a bit on my website about the project, also losts the few that were actually converted and as an up to date as possible nots on where they are now or what happened to them.