Here are a few oddities from the UK register, recently scanned by Tony Clarke from his collection. Mostly taken by the late Gerald Lawrance, dates and locations are not known except where captioned. Any comments or further information always welcome.
Unmarked G-AAIS is the sole Hinkler Ibis. Seen here at Hatfield 14-6-53 without engines, it was in fact originally powered by a top-mounted pair of Salmson radials. Co-designed by the famous Bert Hinkler, it was an amphibian built at Hamble and first flown in 1930. It seems to have been stored in his back garden until 1953 when it was restored and exhibited at this RAeS Hatfield event. It didn’t survive for long, being scrapped at Lee-On-Solent in 1959:
Also at Hatfield 14-6-53 is the only UK registered Fairey Fulmar G-AIBE. As N1854, it was the prototype Fulmar 2 (first flight 4-1-40) and was retained by Fairey after the war as a communications aircraft, later being flown for its historic interest alongside the Swordfish G-AJVH. It is now part of the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton:
Another photo of G-AIBE, maybe White Waltham:
A different survivor from WW2 is this well-known Bucker Bu181 Bestmann G-AKAX. This was a War Prize, being brought to the UK as AirMin122 in 1945. Although being registered in 1947, it was not flown and languished at Denham until being broken up in 1950:
Another import is the only UK registered Hirtenberg H.S.9A G-AGAK. Austrian built, but with a Gipsy Major engine, it was imported in July 1939. It somehow survived the war and was active until being w/o 15-2-58. Seen here at Wisley in 1956 or 1957:
G-AFJB is the fifth of eleven Foster-Wikner GM.1 Wickos. First flown Eastleigh 26-10-38, it saw ATA service and was active post-war into the sixties. A rebuild was completed in 2005 and she remains airworthy. (All you need to know about G-AFJB is at http://www.wicko.com/ ). Seen here at White Waltham 22-6-58:
One of only 10 GAL.42 Cygnets built, G-AFVR is seen at the Hatfield RAes Garden Party 14-6-53. It was W/O in France 26-8-69:
A later picture of G-AFVR:
The last surviving Cygnet is G-AGBN. It was active until around 1980 and now lives at East Fortune with The National Museum Of Flight Scotland:
Two pictures of the Reid And Sigrist RS.4 Desford Trainer G-AGOS at Cambridge. Built as the RS.3 Desford, it first flew 9-7-45. Modified for prone-pilot trials as the RS.4 Bobsleigh, it became VZ728 in 1951. It was restored as the RS.4 Desford Trainer in 1956, and was used by Kemps 1963-1972. After retirement, it lived at Strathallan and Perth and is now in storage in Leics.
Here is an interesting photo of the Thurston Tawney Owl G-APWU under construction at Stapleford around 1960. This one-off belongs to an exclusive club of unique aircraft written off on their first and only flight (22-4-60). It does, however, represent a fascinating era of innovation in light aircraft design, being an all metal two seat twin boom pusher. The remains of the airframe were stored, and are presently being incorporated into a static rebuild in Warwickshire. The owner/restorer Barry Clay has posted information and photos of the project at:
http://www.partworkmodels.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=403
He kindly provided me with a picture of the current stage in the rebuild.
It is a pity that no Prestwick Pioneers are still flying, the STOL and slow flying characteristics would rival a Storch. G-ANRG was a company demonstrator built in 1954 and Wfu 1959:
Another demonstrator is DHC-3 Otter G-AOYX, one of only two on the UK register, from 1957 until sale as TR-LLZ in 1961. Anyone know what colour it was and what happened to it?
Seen at Coventry in 1961 is the Miles M.100 Student G-APLK. First flight was 14-5-57, and it is preserved at Woodley as G-MIOO:
The only MS.760 Paris on the UK register was the well known G-APRU. Based with the Cranfield College of Aeronautics from 1958 to 1986 (later to USA as N60GT):
One of three Fairey Ultralight Helicopters built, G-APJJ is seen at White Waltham in 1958. Grounded within a year, it is preserved at Coventry:
Finally, G-ASSV is the Kensinger KF. An imported Texan homebuilt, it was raced from 1965 until destroyed 2-7-69 at Halfpenny Green:
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November 12, 2011 at 12:58 pm