A Sleeping Beauty Awakens from Her 61 Year Slumber

OK! OK!! I’ll pull my head in and stop ruffling the waters wiv me oor. Sorry about that, got a bit mixed up wiv me erplanes.

Stan, the aircraft is a Mk III with wartime history as a crew taxi for the ATA, based at Thame.

I would plumb for a civvie scheme as I would be very surprised if your Proctor, (a Mk V if memory serves) ever had a military connection. I know that there are a multitude of civil aircraft masquerading as military, often with spurious and imaginative “Military” schemes. How many Messengers are there in “Montgomerys’ scheme???? At worst the aeroplane should have a manufacturers scheme if the original colours for that particular machine are not to taste. eg Auster silver with red or blue stripe, Miles cream with crimson or green stripe etc. Applying a “Military scheme” because it looks good is a falsehood if that aeroplane never wore uniform in its’ past life. How would it go if I were to dress up in an Army Colonels uniform and get everyone to refer to me with a Sir?? There is an old proverb:- “Be true to yourself and bear not fasehoods to your fellow man.”

Easy; military a/c = military scheme. Proctors always look naked in a civvy scheme…:p

An interesting question. Much as I am a fan and specialist of military schemes and all their individual idiosyncrasies, I also like a good period civil scheme. When researching the Chipmunk G-AOTR for its owner, I suggested getting away from the “standard” military schemes and going for a sombre but smart civil scheme, that represented the 1950/60 period. Not based on anything but an idea in my head, I came up with a few drawings for a scheme and presented them to the owner. He loved the idea and really got on board with it. Between us,we refined the details and added embellishments such as the wheel covers with the DH logo, matching interior trim for seat cushions and stowage pouches and some personal details he wished for such as the Sea Eagle motif on the fin and rudder. The resultant aeroplane was the winner as the Best Chipmunk when it attended the Chipmunk Fly in at Panshanger a few weeks after completion and speaks for itself. Simply gorgeous. I just wish I could do another with a Brunswick green top decking to match/contrast G-AOTR. If it was a FRXIVc low back Spitfire there really would be no question in my mind. G-FIRE in RED with white and blue cheat-line and registration.

Hi All,
TC,
Why not ask the group to do a blind vote on the spur of the moment next time you all meet up or simply revert back to the first colours she was wearing when she was first wearing for her first ever flight all those years ago, by the way looks really good so far can’t wait for the first video of the return to where she belongs good luck to you all with that an excellent job. :applause:

Geoff.

Civil scheme sounds attractive,is RM221 based at Biggin still flying in Mil markings?

Seems hard to believe that is the same broken backed Proctor that we moved from Lavenham to Great Oakley and it doesn’t seem possible that it was so long ago. I remember the reaction from the local constabulary and their friends when they walked in while we were trying to fight the fuselage through the doorway at a very strange angle. They left very quickly having decided we had quite enough to keep us occupied without them needing to bother us. I am sure they thought they had found a small group of madmen playing with a very broken aeroplane and it is a wonder they didn’t send for the men in white coats.
John has done a great job and really looking forward to seeing her in the air.
As for colour scheme – The civil scheme would be nice but I am sure the military scheme would be more attractive in terms of securing airshow bookings.

Go for whichever you like, then in a few years time, when she needs a respray, change to the other. And so on for many years. I look forward to making her acquaintance in whichever you choose.

Mike – would be lovely if you could top off the brilliant restoration by applying the civil scheme.

Tim

Looking good – would opt for civil scheme.

Goldilocks

TC, Just paint it whatever colour you fancy, because for me just seeing and hearing a Proctor will be enough.

Richard

From a personal point of view I like the civil scheme, but if you are planning to punt it around for show bookings you will probably find that it is more attractive to organisers as a military-schemed ‘ATA taxi’ and so would probably generate more bookings.

Civil please

Another vote for the military scheme

Well while the civil scheme sounds enticing I would actually like to see her in RAF colours – don’t see Proctors all that much, and as a Proctor she was a military machine.

And a quick edit – that is lovely work so far.

Would love to see the Proctor in the civil scheme. But either way would just love to see it out and about, too many vintage aircraft are never seen at events like Popham, Sywell, North Weald etc

Thanks for all responses, civil scheme is certainly what I wish, but convincing the other group members is the hard part. Rest assured this Proctor will be seen (weather allowing) at many vintage events. Furthermore its a 3/4 seater and apart from early days whilst I get to grips with her and her flying characteristics at least two other seats need to be occupied!! Those who have helped us in our quest to return this lovely old aeroplane to the skies will all be flown, thereafter we will do our best to accommodate other requests.

Its by sharing the flying experience of a classic design that I believe will bring more young blood into the vintage aircraft fold and hopefully instill interest in similar rebuilds in the future.

Definitely the civil scheme for me, really looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. keep up the good work…………..

Well, I’ve seen longer restoration videos! Beautiful job, though!

Would love to see the Proctor in the civil scheme. But either way would just love to see it out and about, too many vintage aircraft are never seen at events like Popham, Sywell, North Weald etc