Aeronca C3 G-AEFT

Report on recent excellent forced landing in Cornwall ( prop fell off ) scroll down a bit

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/499085/AAIB_Bulletin_2-2016.pdf

Thats G-ADYS not G-AETF!

In the mean time G-AEXD is getting closer to having air under her wheels sometime this year.

Yep i know but what i meant was besides G-ADYS it features G-AETF also lol.

Now thats an Idea!!

FOUR Aeroncas flying at the Sywell Airshow????? What a fantastic idea Blue Max!:D

hey Chitts have you ever seen this edition of Aeroplane Monthly from February 1998?. theres a realy good little story in there and just by chance i read it the other night before this post came up. well worth getting hold of a copy as it covers the recovery of G-AEFT also. i pinched the photo`s from within

Thats G-ADYS not G-AETF!

In the mean time G-AEXD is getting closer to having air under her wheels sometime this year.

No, I’ve not seen that article and photographs before. Is the recovery story about G-ADYS, which was unearthered by Ben Cooper around that time? G-AEFT appeared in Aeroplane Monthly in 1986, as a Preservation Profile, as posted below.

hey Chitts have you ever seen this edition of Aeroplane Monthly from February 1998?. theres a realy good little story in there and just by chance i read it the other night before this post came up. well worth getting hold of a copy as it covers the recovery of G-AEFT also. i pinched the photo`s from within

Scanned from print rescued from old shoebox – hence the blemishes – G-AEFT on the flightline at Old Warden, sometime late 90’s/early 00’s ?

I still wonder why the present owner hasn’t flown it to his current location-Llewellyan (spelling) did?

I might yet!

I still wonder why the present owner hasn’t flown it to his current location-Llewellyan (spelling) did?

Taken on 1st October 2011, after hopping rides for my children. It’s a brilliant machine.

I thought I would resurrect this thread as some very kind soul has uploaded the BBC TV programme ‘Flying for Fun’ featuring G-AEFT from 1986 onto Youtube. I remember watching it way back then and thinking how wonderful flying like that was. And now, all these years later I do it myself, in something a bit newer I admit, but the feelings are the same. Nearly brought a tear to my eye.
Its in ten parts and this is the link to pt 1, you will enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owQje_iE01I&feature=related

Richard

This photo was also taken on May 1st, by John Colgate in G-IVOR, on the way back to Roche.

I am amused by some of the comments, I’ll admit the Aeronca C3 is an unusual looking aeroplane but suggest that any machine which will cruise at 60 knots, carry two people (or one and tons of baggage), has reasonable short field/soft field performance and still only costs £10 per hour to fly in 2010 must have an awful lot going for it.

The short undercart is simply to reduce drag. With a relatively slow cruise speed the bracing wires also offer little drag, with the glorious advantage of whistling delightfully when being side slipped; after all, one couldn’t have this sort of machine and not enjoy side slipping!

I can almost guarantee that any gain in reduced drag from the short undercarriage is mere than negated by the depth of the forward fuselage.

the younger members will ask ‘what is side-slipping’

This photo was also taken on May 1st, by John Colgate in G-IVOR, on the way back to Roche.

I am amused by some of the comments, I’ll admit the Aeronca C3 is an unusual looking aeroplane but suggest that any machine which will cruise at 60 knots, carry two people (or one and tons of baggage), has reasonable short field/soft field performance and still only costs £10 per hour to fly in 2010 must have an awful lot going for it.

The short undercart is simply to reduce drag. With a relatively slow cruise speed the bracing wires also offer little drag, with the glorious advantage of whistling delightfully when being side slipped; after all, one couldn’t have this sort of machine and not enjoy side slipping!

I feel the same as I too have always been fascinated by its unusual shape. It looks as though it has been designed by committee!

That is a type that always fascinated me though I cannot think why. I guess the fact that it looks as though the undercarriage has collapsed even when it’s flying could be part of it. I suppose the fact that the undercarriage is so flat explains why the forward fuselage is so deep, that really can’t be doing it any favours aerodynamically.

G AEFT was also used to represent Jack Parham’s Aeronca in the TV film based on his Autobiography ‘Flying for Fun’ – a very ‘british’ little film but nicely made 🙂

Here’s how she was when based at Woolsington 21 April 1956. Colour then was dark blue and silver,
Jim

I remember when this was based at Southend during the late fifties. I believe in those days it was owned by Bernard Collins, the then Airport Commandant.

It is nice to see it still flying. Thank you for posting,