Yesterday from Eggesford Airfield in Devon, the sole surviving Chrislea SkyJeep took to the skies again after its well known propeller mishap that occured on its ferry flight last year. Rebuilt by its owner Richard Webber, the SkyJeep is booked to appear at G-VFWE at Keevil at the end of May. Today, she flew again on a test flight with yours truly in the right hand seat and I can say that it goes like a rocket!!
Martin
By: T6flyer - 6th March 2006 at 21:06
Excellent news – any chance of the owner bringing her to the Abingdon Fayre on Sunday 30th April? As a charity event, every vintage and historic type should be encouraged to come.
Not sure, as she is just starting her test flying, but will see what I can do.
Martin
By: ALBERT ROSS - 6th March 2006 at 21:01
Excellent news – any chance of the owner bringing her to the Abingdon Fayre on Sunday 30th April? As a charity event, every vintage and historic type should be encouraged to come.
By: T6flyer - 6th March 2006 at 20:10
Here are a few recent photos taken when on rebuild.
Martin
By: neal h - 6th March 2006 at 17:45
Lovely Aeroplane
By: ozplane - 6th March 2006 at 17:38
Thanks for that, yet another British “near-miss” in the light aircraft arena. I suppose the original Chrislea designers had looked at the Ercoupe, which had linked controls, and thought that was the way to go for “everyman’s aircraft”.
By: T6flyer - 6th March 2006 at 17:02
Glad to hear that the Skyjeep is airworthy again. Does it have the coupled controls of the Ace which I believe did away with the rudder pedals?
No, the SkyJeep has conventional controls with a stick and pedals rather than the odd ball and socket yoke of the earlier Super Ace. I believe that the original Super Aces didnt have rudder pedals but a foot throttle instead. What with windup windows, I think the designers wanted to try and make flying the Ace like driving a car.
When I flew in the Ace with the rebuilder Paul Longthorpe, she had been rebuilt with pedals, but retaining of course the yoke system. Cant see how that could have caught on – must have been terrible in a cross wind situation.
Martin
By: ozplane - 6th March 2006 at 16:23
Glad to hear that the Skyjeep is airworthy again. Does it have the coupled controls of the Ace which I believe did away with the rudder pedals?
By: T6flyer - 6th March 2006 at 13:02
Excellent news – looking forward to seeing this aircraft, only ever seen the Super Ace (another beauty).
When I first started flying at the tender age of 15, the Super Ace (G-AKVF) was the first vintage aeroplane I flew in and did a cross country to Lands End from Bodmin and return in 1984. I cant remember much about it, but was nothing like I’ve been in since what with its weird flying controls.
Yesterday, having flown the SkyJeep, besides making notes with a clipboard and pen, I remained rather subdued about the whole matter, having flown the other model all those years ago. It was something that I thought I would never do. There cant be many people today that have sampled both types. I am indeed a very lucky person.
Finished the day off with 1hr 20mins in the recent rebuilt Auster AOP.6 VX113. This was the Army entrant in the 1959 Kings Cup Air Race at Coventry and later was used as the subject for the Airfix 1/72 scale model (previous to the Antartic re-issue). This will be at G-VFWE too.
Martin
By: Stieglitz - 6th March 2006 at 12:57
Good news! 🙂 I do look forward to see some pics of this rare bird.
Stieglitz
By: davski - 6th March 2006 at 07:38
Excellent news – looking forward to seeing this aircraft, only ever seen the Super Ace (another beauty).
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March 5, 2006 at 8:19 pm