Geminis and/or Messengers at Lympne in the 1960s

G-AJFT Eros Airline(UK)Ltd was sold to Gatwick Fire School 1963/4 still present with them in 1968.

Ah, if only my surviving records were more informative! They just record the registration, type and operator. As to the latter, my records indicate that the operators were Continental Air Services (G-AIKN) and Epicair (G-AJBX). There is no operator indicated against G-AHPE. As to their locations, I don’t think that I first visited Blackbushe before 1974 – so I suspect that any Vikings would have disappeared from there long before that date. Southend would seem to be a better bet – I remember my mother taking me there, to visit the BHAM, in the late 1960s or early 1970s. However I find myself wondering whether one of those Vikings was the one which served (or, more accurately, was torched by) the Fire Service at Gatwick in the late 1960s? Any ideas, anyone?

G-AHPE is Continental.

Which airline Eros,Pegasus,Continental Ai Services,Orion,Tradair,Independent Air Travel,Overseas Aviation ???

this is the end of this thread (except the same record in that file contains reference to three Vikings, G-AHPE, G-AIKN and G-AJBX – does anyone have any idea of where I might have seen those?).

Blackbushe? or if they are in bad condition, Southend.

I think that, finally, I may have answered my own question. Having spent some hours raising dust in my attic, I have come across a file containing a compilation of information from, I think, my earliest note books (which, I suspect, have long since gone the way of all flesh!). This records only three Geminis seen by me which, at the time, were not on a current register. Two of those were G-AHKL and G-AKEM – which suggests to me that they were the Lympne pair which I recollect seeing in dismembered form! The third was G-AJOJ which, I suspect, I must have seen at either Shoreham or Ford. So unless someone can come up with a photo of the Lympne Geminis, this is the end of this thread (except the same record in that file contains reference to three Vikings, G-AHPE, G-AIKN and G-AJBX – does anyone have any idea of where I might have seen those?).

…………………..and still no-one has a photo of the Geminis that they want to post!

Almost certainly Ford as I believe Miles Engineering had a maintenance base there in latter years.

I think there is very little of the other Gemini there in that picture, but as has been said G-AJOJ, which was owned by Roger Pursey, who always did perfect wheeler landings in it on Shoreham’s grass, spent its final days there.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

At a guess both owned by F.G Miles Ltd at Shoreham. G-AKFX was converted by them to a Mk 8 with 155h.p Cirrus Major 3 engines and enlarged fins.

But where was the photograph taken? Certainly not Shoreham. I know that airfield far too well. Maybe Ford, having regard to the glasshouses, boiler chimneys and Sussex barn in the background? Or perhaps the LEC strip at Littlehampton? Or maybe none of these. And why are the two set of major components together, if one Gemini crashed in 1960 and the other was in store in 1971. Very strange! Over to you now.

I am not boasting but i have good references and know my stuff !! having been brought up on airfields till i was 17 (now 54).

Getting quicker T-21, seven minutes on this question compared to thirteen minutes on the Magister question!:)

G-AJOJ Stored At Ford in 1971. G-AKFX crashed on take off Shoreham 26.10.60.

Well no photo posted of the Geminis at Lympne. However, having searched my photographic collection I have come across one of major components of G-AJOJ and G-AKFX. It’s not taken by me and I don’t know where or when it was taken. Any ideas, anyone?

Oui, c’est vrai! But if these posts continue in French, I suspect that the interest level will wain below that of the present!

So it looks as if what I saw in the 1960s were the mortal remains of G-AHKL and G-AKEM. I wonder what became of those? Burnt, I suspect, having regard to their wooden construction! C’est la vie des avions anciens!

Non – c’est la mort!;)

So it looks as if what I saw in the 1960s were the mortal remains of G-AHKL and G-AKEM. I wonder what became of those? Burnt, I suspect, having regard to their wooden construction! C’est la vie des avions anciens!

The Cinque Ports Flying Club was reformed by Australian air enthusiast and pilot Barry Damon in March 1964 and was in business in 1968. The Geminis had probably outlived their purpose due to the influx of American light aircraft.

I only quoted extracts – the full situation is that the Air-Britain work also mentions that the withdrawal of ‘HKL was not formally notified to the authorities until 3.4.69 even though it was actually was withdrawn on the date I previously quoted which probably explains the difference.

Regards
Tim

Many thanks Tim.

However Don L. Brown, in ‘Miles Aircraft Since 1925’ (1970), records G-AHKL as “still on register 1968”. So is the information in appendix XII of this work incorrect?

Does anyone else remember seeing the major components of these aircraft behind one of the hangars at Lympne in the 1960s? If so, can you confirm or otherwise identify the registration marks carried by these components?