The very first time I went to Cranfield was to some kind of rally/fly-in event (PFA?) on 10/9/60, when the participants included various light aircraft of the day such as several Tiger Moths, four Hornet Moths, two Jackaroos including Sheila Scott’s, Hawk Trainer 3, a pair of Messengers, Proctor, Turbulents, Turbi, the Linnet and Taylor Monoplane prototypes plus nine French visitors, Jean Barritault’s JB.01 (Minicab) F-PJKA and the rest Jodels.
However, of more interest, was a hangar normally closed to the public, containing what appeared to be a museum collection of old airframes comprising the following:-
191659 – Me163-1A Komet coded 15
? – Sikorsky R-4 light blue
LA607 – Tempest 2
VT935 – Boulton Paul P.111 yellow
23140 – F-86 Sabre RCAF coded AX140 rear fuselage
??137 – Wyvern 7th production aircraft
G-12-1 – Short SRA-1 flying boat
? – Beaufighter front fuselage
? – JU 388 parts
23219 – F-86 Sabre RCAF
? – Vickers Supermarine type 545
? – Hawker P1121
? – Flettner F.L. 282 Kolibrie c/n 296 gyroplane
? – Focke-Achgelis FA 330 gyroplane
EE223 – Meteor outer wing
Also recorded were various odd bits and pieces – Bristol 171 rotor, Spitfire and Tempest ailerons, Typhoon and Thunderbolt rudders and Comet airbrakes and flap.
A hangar adjacent to the main College of Aeronautics hangar contained others of interest, which may have included some overspill, notably:-
PW932 – Lancaster (PA474 was also there in the main hangar)
G-AHWH – Globe Swift white
G-AOBG – Somers-Kendall S.K.1
G-AMES – Tiger Moth cream/blue
G-36-1 – Short Sherpa dark blue
? – Corsair Royal Navy coded E2-M
G-AHIC – Avro 19 Srs 1 silver/blue
G-AIPC – Anson 1 silver/blue
VX835 – Varsity fuselage ouside, wings in hangar
There was also a fuselage of KL831 (type not noted) near the control tower.
What was the story behind this collection, when was it dispersed and what happened to the various airframes contained therein?
Wicked Willip :diablo:
By: Sabrejet - 2nd July 2015 at 11:40
I recall going to a PFA Rally there in September 1981 and wing sections of Canadair Sabre 23140 (tail now with MAM at Coventry) were still in evidence. Also a Buccaneer nose – XN979:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]238841[/ATTACH]
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd July 2015 at 09:42
A few more here:——- http://www.abpic.co.uk/results.php?q=G-BCIT&fields=reg&sort=latest&limit=10
By: avion ancien - 1st July 2015 at 18:48
I have. Taken at Farnborough on 10 September 1978.
By: Archer - 1st July 2015 at 17:51
Anyone got any photo’s of the A.1 please?
The A1 is still there today, it is being used to train people in carrying out safety assessments. It has been opened up but nothing destructive has been done. I’ll see if I can post a photo but not everything in the shed that it’s in should be on the internet.
By: old eagle - 29th January 2011 at 22:13
Just found this :
http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=11987
By: DaveR - 27th January 2011 at 15:15
I know where one Typhoon rudder ended up (although not 100% sure where it currently is as a large number of items changed hands a few times recently)…was there more than one there? The one I saw was a brand new unused and uncovered item. There was also a fuel tank for a tempest with the same rudder. Did the Tempest ailerons get scrapped?
Dave
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th January 2011 at 13:36
Hope this helps………..
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1065859/
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1160103/
Planemike
By: Radpoe Meteor - 27th January 2011 at 12:15
The Cranfield A1 is still there but looking rather down at heel.Apparently it is used by the College for accident investigation but in a non-destructive way.
That’s a shame, I remember it coming to Gamstonin the 1980’s to film an advert.
Anyone got any photo’s of the A.1 please?
By: G-ORDY - 24th January 2011 at 15:31
I guess we were just “members in waiting” then 🙂
By: RPSmith - 22nd January 2011 at 15:21
Just for the record Gordon, MAPS was formed 24th May, 1967 – a few months after this tour.
Roger Smith. 🙂
By: ozplane - 22nd January 2011 at 12:31
The Cranfield A1 is still there but looking rather down at heel.Apparently it is used by the College for accident investigation but in a non-destructive way.
By: G-ORDY - 21st January 2011 at 20:40
Somers-Kendall SK-1
And the Somers-Kendall SK-1 moved on to Denham where it was stored in a small open blister hangar when a bunch of MAPS members did a “Grand Tour” of Southern England on a beautifully sunny day (22 February 1967).
The wings were lost before John Evetts got hold of the fuselage, I believe it moved on to Breighton and is now under restoration somewhere (France rings a bell)
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st January 2011 at 18:47
No, its at Loughborough.
Soon moving to Cosford.
Curlyboy
By: The Blue Max - 21st January 2011 at 18:45
Not sure whether it’s classed as historic but isn’t the Cranfield ?? still there – (in need of a good home?)
Roger Smith.
Cranfield A1, developed with Neil Williams and sadly lost its way following his death. Hadnt realised it was still there!
By: Philip Morten - 21st January 2011 at 15:49
IIRc the EAP is now at Cranfield
No, its at Loughborough.
By: Doewepel - 21st January 2011 at 13:07
The MS760 is s/n: 8 G-APRU.
Still present at Colorado Springs USA as N60GT
By: RPSmith - 13th June 2008 at 09:26
Not sure whether it’s classed as historic but isn’t the Cranfield ?? still there – (in need of a good home?)
Roger Smith.
By: DaveF68 - 12th June 2008 at 22:25
am i right in saying, nothing is left in the area from the college ?
IIRc the EAP is now at Cranfield
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th June 2008 at 09:59
Nothing as far I know………….all long gone.
Planemike
By: merkle - 12th June 2008 at 09:50
am i right in saying, nothing is left in the area from the college ?
Sign In
June 9, 2008 at 12:13 pm