Armstrong Siddeley Python list

Having seen a photo of the incomplete Armstrong Siddeley Python at the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin, does anyone have a photo of the example at the Royal Australian Airforce Museum.. or indeed of the two examples allegedly held by the Royal Air Force Museum?

Thanks in advance.

Rob

If anyone has any pics of surviving Pythons do please post them or let me know. I am keen to discover what condition/how complete they are.. and also does anyone know of any surviving contra props for the Python/Wyvern combination (not Double Mamba/Gannet).!

I may be mistaken as it’s been a long time, but I think the Python in the Marine Salvage yard was an ASX. Either way, hope it was saved.

G

I’m pretty sure that the ASX came out of a scrapyard in Coventry – actually adjacent to the Parkside factory (Siddeley-Deasey/Armstrong Siddeley/Bristol Siddeley/Rolls-Royce) and went, initially, to the RAFM.

Roger Smith

Lincoln B.2 RF403 also had two Pythons similarly installed and was used for high-altitude bombing trials at Woomera South Australia, the Pythons being used to increase the ceiling of the Lincoln to reach heights from which tests could be carried out.

The two surviving Pythons in Australia are assumed to be associated with the operation of the Python Lincolns at Woomera.

Ahh good point.. that is probably a very logical explanation.. And it would be interesting to know what mark of Python they are.!

chippie.. The guy who owned the yard informed me at the time that he had removed and kept the “Python” brass name plate from the engine, so i have always assumed that it was indeed a Python.!
Was the yard Marine Salvage?

Portsmouth Python

I may be mistaken as it’s been a long time, but I think the Python in the Marine Salvage yard was an ASX. Either way, hope it was saved.

G

Thanks guys.. thats two examples i never knew about, wonder how they ended up in Australia?

Also when i first became interested in the Wyvern in the late 80’s, i was told that in the USA there was an example still being used in some form of industry, possibly not aviation related. Whether it still had the contra-props still attached was’nt known.!
Does that sound familiar with anyone else, or maybe it was a case of mistaken identity?!

Early flight-testing of the Python was carried out using Lancaster TW911 and later Lincoln RE339/G, each aircraft having the two outboard Merlins replaced by Pythons.

Lincoln B.2 RF403 also had two Pythons similarly installed and was used for high-altitude bombing trials at Woomera South Australia, the Pythons being used to increase the ceiling of the Lincoln to reach heights from which tests could be carried out.

The two surviving Pythons in Australia are assumed to be associated with the operation of the Python Lincolns at Woomera.

Thanks guys.. thats two examples i never knew about, wonder how they ended up in Australia?

Also when i first became interested in the Wyvern in the late 80’s, i was told that in the USA there was an example still being used in some form of industry, possibly not aviation related. Whether it still had the contra-props still attached was’nt known.!
Does that sound familiar with anyone else, or maybe it was a case of mistaken identity?!

According to the BAPC List:
FAA Museum 1
RAF Museum 2
RRHT Coventry 2

This list only covers the UK and Ireland.

There may not be any in the USA, because the Smithsonian list only has the two with the RAFM and one with the Australian War Memorial.

Pete

The one listed for the AWM may be the same one now in the RAAFM?

Those two institutions have been transferring items due to collection relevence, I know the Japanese Hickory fuselage and V2 both went from the RAAFM to AWM (I think the Enzian went too?). so hopefully “something” came back the other way?

regards

Mark Pilkington

According to the BAPC List:
FAA Museum 1
RAF Museum 2
RRHT Coventry 2

This list only covers the UK and Ireland.

There may not be any in the USA, because the Smithsonian list only has the two with the RAFM and one with the Australian War Memorial.

Pete

.
There are two Python survivors in Australia.

The RAAF Museum has a complete example in storage, (I dont think its ever been displayed) and the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin has an incomplete example on display, shown below.

Regards

Mark Pilkington