Booker images

The Fokker was built by scaling up from photos, but due to an error, in its first manifestation the fuselage was rather too long.

It flew as such for a while, but subsequently got chopped and the length was reduced. I wonder if the photo above is of the ‘stretched’ Fokker.

Some additions here…the Manning-Flanders was photographed when it visited Old Warden, and the Fokker and Morane were at Booker, all in 1976 as far as my archives tell me..

The following item doesn’t seem to fit with the idea of the MF1 being designed by Roy Chadwick, though?

“MANNING-FLANDERS MF.l monoplane (W.O. Manning and Howard Flanders)

This aircraft is one that was not completed in 1910-1911, when it was originally conceived. The basis of it was apparently the Flanders F.l, which was abandoned in June 1910-1911 (q.v.) and which Flanders passed on to Manning, at the time when Manning was employed by the Coventry Ordnance Works. Pressure of work prevented Manning completing the design and construction, the aircraft being broken up at Battersea in 1912. A Crossley aero engine, intended to be fitted, was also not produced.
The was a conventional style tractor monoplane of the period, using a triangular section fuselage, uncovered behind the pilot. A central skid undercarriage and a cabane above the fuselage provided anchorages to brace the wings, which probably employed warping control in the original design.
However a replica aircraft based on some of the original drawings was built in 1974 by Personal Plane Services of White Waltham. The replica MF.l has flown successfully at intervals, including a Channel crossing in 1984, powered by a 65hp Continental flat four air-cooled engine.”

There was talk of the Bianchi replicas being moved to Stow Maries. I believe the arrival date for the first one was expected to be around 25 October so hopefully they will be there soon. If this all comes to fruition they will certainly add even more atomosphere to the place and make it even more of an attraction for enthusiasts.

the Manning Flanders MF1

You may be interested to know that the MF1 was NOT a replica but infact the original aircraft built from the plans designed by Roy Chadwick (of lancaster fame). He designed the aircraft during ww1 but it was never built and the plans were stored in a draw at Avros. During the 1970s they somehow fell into the hands of Doug Bianchi who decided to build the aircraft ! the result is what we see today. its a one off machine.( Iworked at the Blue max museum for Tony Bianchi which is how I found out about this.) It was last used in the live action movie of “The Wind in the Willows” during the end sequence after the character Toad gets bored with cars and buys an aeroplane. Now the problem with filming this was the fact that the MF1 is a very light aircraft and with pilot Jonathan Whaley at the controls it was well over its MAX TOW ! It took several attempts to get it airborne in the still air required to fly it.( we filmed it in Lincolnshire). the next thing the producers wanted to do was get some close ups of Toad flying the plane, and asked Jonathan if he could fly the aircraft wearing a prosthetic Toads head etc, Jonathan refused on the grounds of safety so in the event toads face was morphed in afterwards! all good fun but this unique aircraft did its job.

Gah! Quite right Ewan,

My note is eassy to misread (I wasn’t clear enough.)

The Moraine is the one with the fuselage which is ‘tube shaped.’

Clarity… Must try harder.

Also the Moraine has the roundels. The MF has an open rear fuselage without covering, which could be described as ‘tubular’.

Cheers,
The chastised…

James

The Manning Flanders is the elephant’s ear rudder and cloth coloured one, the Moraine is the tubular fuselage one. C’mon’ guys, it’s not just Spitfire recognition here is it?

I hope I have miss-interpreted this quote but the Manning Flanders has the triangular open section structure.:confused:

Just to add my 2p, the Eindeckker is something I’ve always wanted to see fly – but according to the Bianchis, it was VERY difficult to get a pilot to take a second flight, and a number of pilots used their not inextensive vocab to describe the a/c after flying it. Not popular.

The BFI (British Film Institute) has a number of great pics from Aces High, but they’re copyright, so I can’t post them – it’s a splendid archivve, badly underused by the aviation researchers…

The Manning Flanders is the elephant’s ear rudder and cloth coloured one, the Moraine is the tubular fuselage one. C’mon’ guys, it’s not just Spitfire recognition here is it?

Cheers

The Manning-Flanders I am talking about is the very first photo on this topic.

Yes, there are Morane N shots further down, but the Morane MS.230 is a very different beast, parasol wing and all that.

finally

Last ones

Remaining pics that MOTF has asked me to post.
Its definitely a MS Type ‘N’ bullet (bulit), the red one that is.

From the book “Classic Aircraft of World War One” by Melvyn Hiscock:

Originally built for the film, The Blue Max, Personal Plane Service’s Morane N replica has since been used in a number of World War 1 movies. The airframe has been adapted from original plans to make it more reliable and safer for film work. The fuselage is made from welded steel tube, and the wings have been adapted to take ailerons rather than be warped. Tail surfaces were also altered since the originals had no seperate elevators – they simply pivoted about their spar, which made the Morane more than a little unstable in pitch. The aeroplane is powered by a Continental C90 in place of the 80hp Le Rhone of the original, and the end result is an aeroplane that looks sufficiently original for film work, yet is suitable for flying longer than a few minutes.

Here’s a link to a page describing the real Morane Type N:
http://www.constable.ca/bullet.htm

The aircraft in company with the Eindecker IS the Morane ‘N’ type, although I believe it was painted silver at one time.

Steve, are you thinking of the the Morane-Saulnier M.S.230 that was there – your description would be right for it.

Fair enough, old boy! Will have to look at the book again, but I could have sworn it was called a Morane! :confused:

Take a look at www.thevirtualaviationmuseum.org/htmi/ig/old.htm

The Morane replica at Booker was an N type, a very different beast with a radial engine and a WWI all-silver colour scheme.

I spent a lot of time at Booker during the filming of Those Magnificant Men, for which the Manning-Flanders was built, and I can assure you that is what it is.

Hmm… the book I got my info from states it as a Morane – can’t remember the exact subtype, but a Morane none the less! :confused:

Actually, it is actually a Manning-Flanders replica, not a Morane.

Re the Morane replica.
I do remember seeing it in the Robert Powell version of the 39 STEPS. Perhaps it was built for that particular film.

Bloody hell thats brought back some memories.

IIRC the Carter family used to organise what would be a Car Boot sale with bells on nowadays on the airfield. It had a funfair a car display and a small air display which utilised the Bianchi replicas and one of the based spitfires (either MH434 or AR213) SallyB even turned up as a surprise item once.

I would guess about 78 or 79?

When they couldnt use Booker any more, it was moved to a field near Henley, but obviously the aircraft didnt land then.

Persevere and put them on PPRuNe (I will host them for a bit if you like) you’ll get a lot of interest.

Had I not read up on my Eindekkers, I wouldn’t have known the difference (well, except for the engine!) 😀

The Morane is also a replica (in the picture with the Eindekker) – welded steel tube fuselage, modified wings (ailerons instead of warping) and conventional elevators. Continental C90 power. Apparently it was built for the film The Blue Max :confused: