Engine I.D. Griffon?

I haven’t come across that craft before. The picture seems to raise more questions than it answers, but anyway, a craft that size would be massively overpowered by a Griffon quite apart from incurring a massive weight penalty. Most likely there is no connection with the Griffon, but considering the unusual features (does it have a skirt, how high is the CG, what cargo space is there, what road wheels did it have, what road propulsion was proposed, how fast was it intended to go, etc), who knows? The mention of a cushion/road hybrid suggests a 1960s experiment of which there were one or two.

Hi AA, A good point, might indeed be going instead of coming!

I recently acquired a bunch of photos showing the hovercraft work carried out by said Rodi Morgan, seems he operated an engineering company at Tangmere in the 1960s / 70s. Various shots of the craft that turned into a hover-tuck with wheels, maybe what the Griffon was used for. So indeed might be the engine as mentioned by Wyvern.

Rodi Morgan also involved with vintage gliders in particular rebuilding a 1930s Rhonsperber at Tangmere circa 1980. Seems he met his end some years later following the crash of a Fournier at Shoreham.

….. and there was me thinking that either he was practising for his circus act or it was a vain attempt to stop someone stealing the engine with a crane!

Interesting that you mention Tangmere and an aero engine as some years ago when I initially started all things Wyvern, I made contact with ‘someone’ who tantalisingly said they had been given what he thought was – wait for it… a Rolls Royce Eagle 22. After picking my jaw up off the flooor and making a lot of enquiries, nothing sadly ever materialised.

I wonder if the tale was related to said Griffon?!

Rob

Many thanks chaps.

The photo taken circa 1971 possibly at Tangmere, relates to one Rodi Morgan (well known in vintage glider circles). At the time he was also involved in hovercraft experiments, seems the R.R. lump might have been intended for this!?

Again any info would be of interest.

Yep, Mk.57A/58.

Anon.

Griffon from a Shackleton.