Dragon Rapide sale – court martial

Tim and all

between 1963 and 1966 it was at Castelnaudary
F-BHGR was painted in RAF colours for film work at LFA 1979
damaged 16-7-83 at LFA during June 1985 I noticed it with the name ” Blue Way ” at LFA, with burn marks on starboard engine cowl

ken

Ken
I gather the Blue Way scheme was put on both in connection with a cigarette advert. I’m surprised to hear F-BHGR was involved in an accident in 83 as I thought its CofA expired in Oct 71 and I had believed the reported accident happened to the operational F-AZCA which is now in camouflage scheme? Was the accident a non-flying one perhaps?

Tim,
Thanks for posting the picture. June 1971…… still airworthy at that time…..

Ken, thanks for this addition. Upon arrival here, a few weeks back, she still had the “Blue Way” logo. The same as F-AZCA displayed once (the well known Dragon Rapide workhorse of the Salis collection)

Would be interesting to know more about this film work…

The forum’s knowledge machine strikes again:) I don’t where you guys get all this info from but I’m glad you do.

F-BHGR

Tim and all

between 1963 and 1966 it was at Castelnaudary

F-BHGR was painted in RAF colours for film work at LFA 1979

damaged 16-7-83 at LFA

during June 1985 I noticed it with the name ” Blue Way ” at LFA, with burn marks on starboard engine cowl

ken

Vidir,

Here’s the promised picture – taken in June 1971 at Toussus. I’ve eMailed you with a high res copy.

Regards
Tim

Vidir,
Thanks for the PM I’ll send the photo in due course.

I’ll also consult some of my contacts to see if they can throw any further light to answer the specific query you’ve raised.

For general background – Federated Air Transport was a company associated with Federated Fruit Co formed by a Mr R J Gates who was a fruit and vegetable dealer based in Liverpool. He began ops in 1954 with two Ansons and a Rapide (G-AIBB). They were used to haul vegetables from Ireland to Liverpool for distribution to wholesalers in the North of England.

According to the source of this data (the excellent “British Independent Airlines 1946-1976” by Tony Merton Jones), early in 1955 5 ex-Fleet Air Arm Dominies were purchased (along with some ex RN Ansons) but only one of these Dominies was converted for civil use. Amongst the listed fleet were: Rapides G-AIBB, G-ANZP, G-AOAO, X7498 and X7437.

I recall Federated Fruit Anson freighters visiting Birmingham (Elmdon) in the late 1950s. They ceased operations in 1961 – though the owner retained Rapide G-ANZP for personal use and he later bought another.
Regards,
Tim

Tim, thanks for the details.
Would be interesting to know if or how this Federated Fruit Co sale and registration was the Court Martial subject.
Was she perhaps flown on FAA markings for the first months as a civilian plane?
Did she not receive FAA markings? Lihpsir, would you know?

Initial inspection reveals that the airframe is structurally sound, and perhaps in better shape than initially expected. Her life in France apparently hasn’t been so bad, although her cosmetics aren’t up to french standard;-)
Vidir

I am looking for any information on Dragon Rapide s/n 6844…………….Rebuild has just started in Akureyri, Iceland to airworthy status. Any information, pictures, etc relating to her history in UK or France will be greatly appreciated. Vidir

Hi Vidir,

I have a colour slide I took of this machine at Toussus-le-Noble – when I find it I’ll post it – or if you prefer I’ll send you a scan if you PM me with your eMail address. It may be a while before I can track my picture down.

In the meantime, details of the aircraft’s history (gleaned from Air-Britain’s Rapide book) is:
” c/n 6844. RAF serial NR756. Taken on Charge 18 Maintenence Unit 19.1.45; transferred to Fleet Air Arm 24.10.45; Evanton 24.10.45; 781 Squadron, Lee-on-Solent 3.48 to 9.48; Aircraft Holding Unit Stretton 1.49; Struck of Charge 21.2.55; sold to Federated Fruit Company, Speke 2.55; sale became subject of a court martial; registered G-AOAO 22.3.55 to R J Gates trading as Federeated Fruit Company, Speke and delivered 3.55; registered t2.8.55 to Hants & Sussex Aviation Ltd, Portsmouth; registration cancelled 4.1.56 as sold in France but Certificate of Airworthiness issued 5.1.56; registered F-BHGR 28.1.56 to SFASA, Toussus-le-Noble, transferred to Biscarosse 1957, La Ferte-Gaucher 3.59, Biscarosse 1959; registered to CN de Parachutisme de Biscarrosse 1963; to Chalon 10.69; registered 1970 to Interclubs de Para de Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Dijon; registered7.71 to Jacques Noari, Toussus; CofA expired 26.10.71; registration cancelled 5.74; to Jacques Noari, Toussus; CofA expired 26.10.71; registration cancelled 5.74; to Jean Salis, stored Etampes and then La Ferte-Alais; No further trace.”
Until now – great news of its restoration prospects!
Regards
Tim

Rapide

Interesting, This stirs up some old memories which may be pertinent.

During the final year of my FAA apprenticeship at Worthy Down 50 years ago an instructor related the story of an Rapide which was scheduled for scrapping but which was moved to a discreet hangar and restored to flying condition and sold on privately.

The scam was blown apparently when the Admiralty started to recieve requests for landing fees when it was used subsequently.