Recently I read that in the 1990s the component parts of the pre-war Chilton Trainer, which was never completed, were discovered in a barn where they had lain since the war. However I can find nothing more on the subject. Does anyone know anything more about this and, in particular, how extensive these parts were, what was their condition and what became of them subsequently?
By: avion ancien - 16th April 2015 at 09:44
So where is it now? Is it still in the custody of Ron Souch? Has he stored it for getting on for thirty years?
By: anneorac - 16th April 2015 at 08:01
A bit like the Chilton DW2, I’ve just rediscovered this thread.
I was flicking through my recently acquired copy of Ultralights by Richard Riding when I stumbled across the following.
“The DW2 was to remain in the Chilton Lodge coach house for 45 years before being rediscovered by the author in 1984, together with a collection of Chilton DW1 components. Everything was removed to Hamble in the hope that the DW2 will be completed at least to a static condition.“
That was the state of things when the book was published in 1987.
Anne
By: avion ancien - 11th November 2009 at 22:45
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
By: Newforest - 11th November 2009 at 22:23
Oh well, there’s one person who must know so I had better ask him!
Got his number as I think he is secretive?:D
By: avion ancien - 11th November 2009 at 20:37
Oh well, there’s one person who must know so I had better ask him!
By: avion ancien - 10th November 2009 at 19:01
Many thanks, Roger. Thus may I ask a supplemental question. Does anyone have actual knowledge that the D.W.2 remains are presently in the custody of Ron Souch – or could the latest W&R entry be a case of information carried forward in the absence of current information?
By: RPSmith - 10th November 2009 at 18:43
Yep, current W&R has it with Aero Antiques and Aero Tech Ltd at Southampton. It says “G-AFSW Chilton DW.2 ex Chilton Manor, Unflown, stored 1.00” (this is last noted).
Roger Smith.
By: avion ancien - 10th November 2009 at 18:29
May I ask a favour? Will someone with access to the more recent editions of Wrecks & Relics (i.e. subsequent to the 18th edition), or some similar source of information, let me know whether the D.W.2 remains are still listed as being in the custody of Ron Souch and, if not, when they were last recorded as such? You have my thanks in anticipation.
By: avion ancien - 8th November 2009 at 20:31
Hmm, that’s interesting. Apparently five D.W.1s were constructed but only four of them flew. The construction of the fifth was abandoned and it was subsequently used for spares. I see that there are multiple references to this being a D.W.2 but I haven’t seen this description applied to the Chilton Trainer. But the G-INFO citation means that this must be a possibility. Maybe the 1990s discovery of the Trainer parts was not really a “discovery” but a rediscovery! But whilst waiting to be convinced that this is truly the answer to this conundrum and if, as appears, the G-AFGH rebuild did not consume the entirety of what existed of G-AFSW, where now is what remains? A quick scan through the back copies of W&R that I have indicates that it was (is?) a long term resident chez Ron Souch. Is it still tucked under his wing?
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th November 2009 at 20:11
Right one or two snippets of information:-
1). G-INFO lists G-AFSW as a “Two-seater low-wing Monoplane”.
2). Ken Ellis’s British Homebuilt Aircraft since 1920 shows G-AFSW as a DW.2 c/no DW2/1. “Not completed, stored through War. Used in the rebuild of G-AFGH at Redhill in 1951.
3). G-AFSW has been listed in Wrecks & Relics right back to the 10th Edition (1986). It is listed as a DW.2 “arr 7/1/85, ex Chilton Manor”.
I am sure that a chat with “Mr Chilton” Roy Nerou would elicit the full story.
Planemike………
PS Michael, I too am pleased to see you have invested in a copy of Mr Ord Hulme’s excellent treatise on the British light aeroplane….!!!
By: avion ancien - 8th November 2009 at 20:03
Oh dear, I’m not going to be very popular with you, Martin, because it’s not the Challenger either! Curiously Roy Nerou’s website dedicated to Chilton Aircraft Ltd makes no mention of the Trainer. There’s a three view of it in Arthur Ord-Hume’s book (kindly note, Chumpy, I’ve now bought a copy!). I try to scan and post a copy of that tomorrow.
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th November 2009 at 19:23
Well, similar to the NAVION is a high flung dream! The fuselage found 15-20 years ago was little bigger than a DW1A, albeit side by side. I also found a drawing/ picture of the twin which i put into A-B archive.
By: wieesso - 8th November 2009 at 19:07
Ok, sorry! So you look for this one?
‘Other development work at Chilton during 1944 was devoted to a low wing side by side two seater, the Chilton Challenger, with Cirrus Minor engine or optional Gipsy Major. No firm decision had been taken as to whether it should have a tail-wheel or tricycle undercarriage, it got a far as a mock-up of the cabin and centre section. If it had been completed it would have resembled the North American Navion that came out a few years later.’
http://www.chilton-aircraft.co.uk/nuacinfo.html
By: avion ancien - 8th November 2009 at 17:48
Rochford is right, Martin, it’s the two seat cabin monoplane to which my enquiry relates (rather than the Chilton D.W.1). I’ve contacted Roy Nerou to see if he can shed any more light on the matter. Does anyone know if the discovery was reported in the historic aviation media in the 1990s and, if so, can they give me a reference to that?
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th November 2009 at 16:17
Think you may well be refering to the two seat side by sideCh fuselage found 15 years or so ago – it seems to have missed the internet 😉
By: wieesso - 8th November 2009 at 15:47
Michael, do you mean this one?
Here is the history of all four pre-war built planes
http://www.chilton-aircraft.co.uk/gaesz.htm
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November 8, 2009 at 2:40 pm