Anyone known the whereabouts of the Somer Kendall SK1 wing?

I had a fascinating conversation with Nat Somers some years ago, and the SK.1 came up during our talk.
Nat was a well known racer during the early 50’s with his Gemini. Also a member of the ‘Throttle Benders’ club, along with Ron Payne and maybe Fred Dunkerley (Miles Sparrowjet amongst many others). The SK.1 was the result of a collaboration between Nat and Hugh Kendall in around 53/4

I received a piccie of the SK.1 fuse from Nigel at Breighton via Peter Amos and sent it down to Nat, who was suprised that it had survived. He was led to believe it had been destroyed by fire during an engine failure on the ground. Maybe the wings were lost at this time.

Nat was a canny business man and had a reputation for being difficult. I always found him a fascinating and an enthusiastic gent. I had the pleasure of being flown down to his home on Jersey on a number of occasions to gather anecdotes etc with a view to putting together a biography. Sadly Nat died in 1990 with very little (printable) work done.

The Somer Kendall SK1 was one off aircraft designed by a former Miles engineer specifically for air racing in the mid 1950’s. It looks a little like bit like a miniature He 162 but with a butterfly tail and two seats.

I’m trying to track down its wing, which was last reported to be at Cranfield in the mid 1960’s. Any photographs of the SK1 when it was at Cranfield would be of great interest. The aim is to get this attractive little sports jet back together so any information would be very much appreciated.

Also if anyone knows the whereabouts of a Blackburn Turbomecca Pallas that would also be useful.

Is the rest of the S.K.1 still at Orbigny, France?

Not the Somers – Kendall but similar design philosophy

the Fouga Sylphe 111…video of starting/flying

http://www.minijets.org/typo3/index.php?id=187

Hey, try
somers kendal sk-1
or
somers kendall sk-1Martin

Thanks. So it was and is G-AOBG, not much like the Student. Looking at the size of those wings, it is not surprising that they have disappeared.:(

Amazing, when did you last Google something and nothing comes up!:D

Hey, try
somers kendal sk-1
or
somers kendall sk-1

Martin

… here you can find a big pic
http://www.beney.org.uk/personal/miles/images/sk1.jpg

minijets

if you go to

www.minijets.org and click on the Turbomeca Palas link it will give a list of minijets powered by the Palas hoover!including a nice shot of the SK1 in flight.
Some of the minijets are really nice and i always wanted to fly one.

I used to have a half share in a YS53(Slingsby T53) and am sure a couple of RB211 donks would have helped it climb better!!!
My syndicate partner reckoned we should have removed half the wing ribs to reduce the weight…I agreed but figured the BGA might not approve!!!
The wings looked like they were built on clydeside and we did not derig very often(oooh me back!!!)

When I visited the COA at Cranfield in the 60s it still had its wings and canopy but the tail planes were not fitted and this is verified in two photos in my collection.

Amazing, when did you last Google something and nothing comes up!:D Could anyone provide a photo, preferably complete? It doesn’t look as though it ever aspired to the issue of a registration mark.

The Somer Kendall SK1 was one off aircraft designed by a former Miles engineer specifically for air racing in the mid 1950’s. It looks a little like bit like a miniature He 162 but with a butterfly tail and two seats.

I’m trying to track down its wing, which was last reported to be at Cranfield in the mid 1960’s. Any photographs of the SK1 when it was at Cranfield would be of great interest. The aim is to get this attractive little sports jet back together so any information would be very much appreciated.

Also if anyone knows the whereabouts of a Blackburn Turbomecca Pallas that would also be useful.

When I visited the COA at Cranfield in the 60s it still had its wings and canopy but the tail planes were not fitted and this is verified in two photos in my collection. When I next saw it stored at Denham I don’t recall the wings being fitted. When I last photographed its fuselage at Breighton it was stored in a rather inaccessible position and I couldn’t verify if any flying surfaces survived.

Sorry, can’t help. But good luck with that project. Sounds a bit like the Miles Student?

I saw the Miles Sparrowjet at Shoreham and in the Goodyear race back in the early 1950s. It had a couple of tiny Palas jet engines – perhaps the same ones that were used for your project. They made a lovely swishing sound as they passed overhead.

Bri 🙂