Essex Aero Sprite

Just wondering if there was any news of publication date for Vol Two.

I can only suggest that you send an e-mail to the man himself!

Oh…

AA – aaahh…you are spot-on. My frazzled brain. Peripheral interest an’ all that….;).

Thanks AA…………….

That info is on the back of Vol One. Just wondering if there was any news of publication date for Vol Two. When do I need to raid my piggy bank again!!!

Planemike

Planemike, see http://www.ord-hume.net/blurb/BRITISH%20PRIVATE%20AIRCRAFT.%20Vol.2%20.htm.

Mmitch, sorry, when I asked my question I’d assumed that the booklet was contemporary – hence my question about the date.

Snoopy7422, I wonder whether what you have in mind is, in fact, the CLW Curlew? It was built at Gravesend in 1936; was sold to Essex Aero that same year; and was stored by Jack Cross at Gravesend until it was scrapped (?) there in 1948. It was a tandem two seater, not dissimilar the Comper Kite. Judging by the illustration in Flight magazine, the Sprite was a significantly different beast.

Sprite.

AA;- I’ve seen photos of it. I heard some years ago that it was completed and flew well, it’s just that with so many other a/c around, there was no demand. I haven’t got the phtos to hand, but from memory, it was somewhat similar to that little two-holer of Nick Compers…:)

The booklet is called ‘Essex Aero Ltd, Gravesend’ by Frank Turner. priced £4.
In the Gravesend at War series.
This is (was?) available from the local library and Council Information centre.
There is a book of photos of the airfield too.
mmitch.

AA………. Have to say this was a new one to me. I too consulted Arthur Ord-Hume’s excellent book. Should just add: “The fate of the ‘almost completed airframe” is unknown.” Can only assume that it was scrapped.

Current price quoted on the “South American river site ” is £ 51:00, including delivery to UK a address. Think I paid about £ 45:00, pre-publication price. Any idea when we might be seeing Vol Two?

Planemike

Thank you, mmitch and ozplane. Mmitch, what is the date of the booklet? Ozplane, you’re probably right – and I’m saving my pocket money for the Ord-Hume book. Trouble is that volume one is priced at £60 and I doubt that volume two will be any cheaper!

AA, je crois que vous avez trop de temps parce que vous cherchez beaucoup des avions curieuses. Anyway the refernces in Arthur Ord-Hume’s new book seem to indicate that the Sprite project died along with the non-completion of the Nuffield Motors projected engine. There is also reference to the use of magnesium and that it was never completed. Triste!!

I have a small booklet about Essex Aero which says that during and after the war they were world leaders in the production of mag alloy products. They even built a alloy bodied Allard car. After the war they seem to have worked on adapting Avro Yorks and C47s. It does not mention any new aircraft designs.
It does mention two ‘associated companies in Wandsworth and the Midlands’ without naming them. They did have a large design office in Gravesend and by the end of the war Essex Aero employed 800 people.
mmitch.

This one is, it would seem, just too obscure!