Edgely Optica

Well pretty close with SAH.1, its the Sprint 160 (SAH.1 with a little bit more power) G-OAGI, the bits with both in were from an air-to-air photo flight.

Very nice.
Always liked the Optica. Remember seeing it at Farnborough.
In the video is the aircraft taxiing out in front a SAH.1? Another British aircraft that never really got that far.

Thank you for sharing this video of a remarkable aircraft.

G-Info says EASA restricted CofA. I think that’s been the same for about a year now.

What that video doesn’t show on the visibility front as I didn’t have good enough shots of it is that you can see right behind you straight up and nearly straight down too (thanks to the bulgy doors).

Shows the truly remarkable visibility from the cockpit.
What is her current certification status, please ?
Be lucky
David

This might be of interest to people. It’s a video of G-BOPO on a flight earlier this year. In reality it’s actually a couple of flights compiled into one video to get more angles (inside and out).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g3dXAboMSw

.
Here is a picture of that production cockpit used as an equipment demonstrator in Australia when local assembly or production was being contemplated.

I am told it has a production line serial number but was never completed as an aircraft having been diverted into this display/marketing role.

I therefore wonder if it is in fact s/n 002 as that seems unaccounted for in the production list?

I hope to obtain further photos and was told its manufacturers plate and serial number are intact?

Regards

Mark Pilkington

This Optica Cockpit section has now joined the collection of the Australian National Aviation Museum as a childrens interactive, it was imported by Aero Space Technologies Australia (ASTA/GAF) as an equipment fitout demonstrator, along with a flying example to explore sales, and possible local agency, assembly or even production of the type.

Two flying examples remain on the register in Australia including the former ASTA flying demonstrator.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

Marvellous thread – I was very fond of the Optica and the great Neville Duke conducted the test flight programme, if I am not much mistaken.

Hi guys

Bit of a long shot this but I have been tasked with producing some artwork for the Hampshire Police Air Support Unit and need a copy of the Brooklands Aerospace logo carried on the tail of several of the opticas, would any of you have one or be able to point me in the right direction

Grateful for any help

Thanks
Paul C

www.paulcouper.co.uk

the cockpit pod looks suspiciously like a modified hughes helicopter. anyone clarify this?

I remember that John Edgley approached ICI Plastics Division for some gratis Perspex of various thicknesses, so I imagine he built the pod from scratch. I met him at Cranfield where the aircraft was being tested and was offered a flight, which I turned down – a decision I regret to this day!

I hope that I have now got the entirewebsite able to work on Firefox. Could a user confirm this for me?

Thanks! Now it works fine with Firefox 😉

If any aircraft was registered in Malaysia it was 020 (VH-OPI) which spent some time stranded there….

I think you are correct there, so VH-OPI would have been 9M-OPT the one exhibited at Farnborough. I thought I had seen a photo of 9M-MPL somewhere, of course being registered and being IN the country of registration are not necessarily the same thing!:D

‘Wasn’t there some kind of Malaysian connection once as I think G-BMPL was re-registered 9M-MPL at some time?’
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=45476 #12

If any aircraft was registered in Malaysia it was 020 (VH-OPI) which spent some time stranded there….

I hope that I have now got the entirewebsite able to work on Firefox. Could a user confirm this for me?

pictures all work now (which they weren’t when i looked earlier) good website 😀

‘Wasn’t there some kind of Malaysian connection once as I think G-BMPL was re-registered 9M-MPL at some time?’
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=45476 #12

I hope that I have now got the entirewebsite able to work on Firefox. Could a user confirm this for me?

Thanks for those Newforest

Are you sure 016 was 9M-MPL, I thought it had never been out of England. Could it have been 017, the Optica in Dubai? Thanks for the info on 022.

9M-MPL? Thats an air malaysia 747 isn’t it?

A couple of additions to the website:

016 Was also registered 9M-MPL.

020 Was flying last year.

022 Was EC-438, EC-GCH. 🙂

Don’t know if anyone has tried these websites?

Some Optica images at the following.

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraftsearch=Edgley%20EA-7%20Optica&distinct_entry=true

http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?aircraft=Brooklands%20Aerospace%20OA7%20Optica%20Series%20300

TJ

Thanks WIEESSO,

Some good memories that picture gave me.. A fine aircraft..

The picture says its C/N 020 but looking at Dragonflys list the reg is not included?..

Dragonfly.. Oddly enough I can see one picture on the list of airframes page and that is the first picture of No.20 !! I am another Firefox use by the way!

Cheer’s
GASYD