Here is a random set of old photos showing aircraft that are (more or less) still with us. All were taken between 1953 and 1967 by the late Gerald Lawrance, digitised and made available by Tony Clarke. Any help with the missing dates or locations always welcome.
Bristol Bulldog IIa G-ABBB was built at Filton in 1930 as a company demonstrator and trials aircraft. Grounded in 1936, it was displayed by the Science Museum from 1938 until wartime storage. It was unearthed in 1955 in time to feature in that classic film ‘Reach For The Sky’, and then went back to Filton for restoration to flying condition. This was completed in 1961, and it was presented to the Shuttleworth Collection. This picture is very probably taken at the first public appearance at Coltishall 16-9-61. Only three years later, it was destroyed at the 1964 Farnborough Airshow. The remains were dispersed until the RAF Museum sponsored a reconstruction from Skysport. On static display at Hendon since 1999.
Hawker Hart II G-ABMR is seen at Hatfield 14-6-53 when operated by Hawkers. Built at Kingston in 1931, it was active until 1972 when donated to the RAF Museum. I was surprised to learn that her final flying years (as J9933 and J9941) were under actual military marks, having been cancelled from the UK register 2-2-59.
The Hart again, as J9941 at Farnborough, date unknown:
Also with Hawkers at Hatfield 14-6-53 is the well known Hawker Tomtit G-AFTA, still active at Old Warden 58 years later:
The third aircraft in Hawker house colours is Hurricane G-AMAU, also at Hatfield 14-6-53. Reverted to PZ865 in 1972 for the BBMF:
G-AEKV is a Kronfeld Drone, again at Hatfield 14-6-53, and now displayed at the Brooklands Museum:
G-ABVE, Arrow Active 2 is still flying from Breighton. She will be 80 next year.
Redhill date unknown:
G-ABTC, Comper CLA.7 Swift has been inactive since at least 1999, but is in storage somewhere, Any updates?
Oxford V3388/G-AHTW owes her survival (like so many other aircraft) to operation by the Skyfame Museum. Active from 1964 to 1978, she is now displayed at Duxford. probably at Sywell:
G-APHV, Anson C.19 Srs 2 is seen at White Waltham in 1958. After time at Strathallan (as VM360), it is now at East Fortune:
LA607 is the Tempest II seen at Cranfield, date unknown. Now with Kermit Weeks in the USA as N607LA:
Also at Cranfield is Lincoln B.2 RF342. Although still existing, with parts in Australia and the USA, it seems unlikely it will be fully restored again:
Lancaster B.VII G-ASXX is seen at Biggin Hill 1965/66. As NX611 at East Kirkby, her future looks much rosier:
Monospar VH-UTH was in Australia from 1935 until a return flight in 1961. She is seen at Panshanger, where she languished for many years. The rebuild of this aircraft at Newark is progressing:
An early view of Fokker E.III replica G-AVJO at Booker, where she is still hangared:
At Booker 1965/66 is G-ATIF, one of the Pfalz D.III replicas built by PPS for ‘The Blue Max’. Later EI-ARC and N906AC, she now flies in New Zealand as ZK-FLZ. Second shot is from Tony Clarke’s visit to Omaka April 2007:
By: vampiredave - 5th February 2012 at 10:43
I disagree! In 1962 the Hart wore the serial ‘J9933’. It was not repainted as ‘J9941 until 1964. To enforce that, the Lightnings behind are 92 Squadron’s F.2s and behind those are the all-dayglo red “Red Pelicans” Jet Provosts, so the date is September 1964.
So it’s not 1963 then? 74 Squadron was at Farnborough (together with the ‘Red Pelicans’) with its Lightnings in 1962 (92 Squadron was still flying Hunters as the ‘Blue Diamonds’). In 1963 it was 56 Squadron’s Lightnings (and the ‘Red Pelicans’) and in 1964 it was just the ‘Red Pelicans’
By: Lodrun - 4th February 2012 at 19:18
Skyfame Oxford
I used to help at the Skyfame museum in the 1960s and early 70s. From memory, the Oxford did not fly beyond 1969. A shortage of funds and (possibly) glue problems grounded it. The collection’s Anson 1 (also now with the IWM) flew on until about 1973 until a landing mishap ended its flying days.
The Oxford now hangs ignominiously from the Airspace hangar roof where visitors cannot even view it properly. As probably the best Oxford in existence, in my view it should be flying. (As far as I know there is no Airspeed design flying anywhere in the world.) I have tried to interest the Shuttleworth collection in trying to acquire it, but to no avail.
By: flyernzl - 14th December 2011 at 07:01
Nice photos.
Yes, the Hampshire Aeroplane Pfalz DIII Replica is still active with The Vintage Aviator Ltd., Wellington.
Landing at Omaka 2Apr2007
Parked at Hood airfield, Masterton, 15Nov2009
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th December 2011 at 22:48
I disagree! In 1962 the Hart wore the serial ‘J9933’. It was not repainted as ‘J9941 until 1964. To enforce that, the Lightnings behind are 92 Squadron’s F.2s and behind those are the all-dayglo red “Red Pelicans” Jet Provosts, so the date is September 1964.
I stand corrected – sorry!
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th December 2011 at 21:28
G-ABTC, Comper CLA.7 Swift has been inactive since at least 1999, but is in storage somewhere, Any updates?
According to G-INFO Comper Swift G-ABTC is currently registered to Peter Channon with an address near Cambourne in Cornwall. Although it is endorsed : Addressee status: “Gone Away”.
Some information is contained in this thread:- http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32479&highlight=Channon
Planemike
By: DCW - 11th December 2011 at 21:24
Thanks to all for additions and corrections.
I would be interested to pin down the last flight date for G-AHTW, after all she was the last Oxford to fly. Ken Ellis records (W&R Lost Aircraft Collections) that ‘TW flew into Staverton 25-3-64, three days before the Museum officially opened. The Skyfame Aircraft Museum was also titled ‘The Desmond Commonwealth Flying Memorial’ to honour the brother of founder Peter Thomas. He had trained on Oxfords and was killed in action flying from Malta in 1941.
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th December 2011 at 20:45
Did the Oxbox really fly as recently as 1978 ?
I was a ‘keen spotter’ by then, as as far as I knew, there were no longer any flying examples.
Here she is flying in 1967, pic courtesy of our own Adrian Balch.
Propstrike………
Like you, I was a “keen spotter” through the 60s and 70s. I feel fairly sure that V3388’s flying career was over by at the very latest 1970 and I have a feeling well before that. Adrian’s photo could be of one of its last flights.
Wrecks and Relics 4 (1974) lists V3388 at Skyfame Staverton with the comment “To be rebuilt to flying condition”. I am certain that rebuild never took place. Oh, by the way, the admission charge for Skyfame in 1974 was….. 30 Pence !!!!
Wrecks and Relics 6 (1978) reports that Skyfame had closed (shame !!) and many of the exhibits including V3388 had migrated to Duxford and no, V3388 did not fly into Duxford !!!
Planemike
By: Arm Waver - 11th December 2011 at 19:15
Wonderful pictures as ever. Many thanks for all that made it possible for us to see and enjoy these pictures.
Am I alone in wanting to see at least the Hurricane in these colours – even if for just a brief period?
By: Propstrike - 11th December 2011 at 18:46
Did the Oxbox really fly as recently as 1978 ?
I was a ‘keen spotter’ by then, as as far as I knew, there were no longer any flying examples.
Here she is flying in 1967, pic courtesy of our own Adrian Balch.
By: AMB - 11th December 2011 at 18:08
The Hart at Farnborough was 1962
Jim
I disagree! In 1962 the Hart wore the serial ‘J9933’. It was not repainted as ‘J9941 until 1964. To enforce that, the Lightnings behind are 92 Squadron’s F.2s and behind those are the all-dayglo red “Red Pelicans” Jet Provosts, so the date is September 1964.
By: Atcham Tower - 11th December 2011 at 11:45
The Comper Swift was at Cranfield. I have a photo of it parked in exactly the same spot but from a different angle.
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th December 2011 at 11:03
The Hart at Farnborough was 1962 and that may be Neville Duke in it,
Jim
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December 10, 2011 at 3:13 pm