Back in the summer of I think 1961 I visited Eastleigh as a young aircraft spotter.
At the back of the main aircraft hanger was a strange aircraft being built. It was only in primer paint, but had the registration chalked on G-ARIO.
I later found out it was the Hampshire Aeroplane Club attempt at building a twin engine light aircraft, the Halcyon. No doubt with strong input from Viv Bellamy.
I was unique amongst my spotter chums as the only person to have seen this aircraft, even though not fully built.
I never saw it again.
Was it ever fully finished, did it ever fly, and is there anybody out there that saw it and perhaps photographed it. Is there any photos of it.
What happened to it.
On the same visit I also remember just walking round the corner and viewing the Saro helicopter production line, Skeeters and Scouts.
No security, no one seemed to mind , halcyon days in fact.
By: wieesso - 26th February 2017 at 07:14
https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%203244.html
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th February 2017 at 19:07
Also this as well……http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?78797-Ray-Hilborne&highlight=Ray+Hilborne
By: avion ancien - 25th February 2017 at 17:49
You might find it interesting to take a look at http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=7671.0.
By: Elmdon Boy - 25th February 2017 at 13:03
Thanks for the input, and photo links ollieholmes and daveg4otu. That’s just like I remember it in the hanger, but with the engines in place.
The fuselage looks like it was quite a complicated to build wooden structure, what a shame to its sad demise, and never flying.
Quite a quirky looking thing, I like quirky.
Thanks all for inputs in refreshing this oldish enthusiasts happy early aviation memories.
By: chumpy - 25th February 2017 at 11:08
A good account of things related to the building of the Halcyon can be found in John Isaacs book ‘Aeroplane Affair’, as previously mentioned the machine damaged during taxying trials. Put into storage and subsequently burnt!
By: Consul - 25th February 2017 at 10:58
Contemporaneous reports explained that it was damaged during taxiing trials and as a result it was not completed and scrapped.
By: daveg4otu - 25th February 2017 at 09:09
A picture on my website at the link – scroll down to Hampshire Aero Club….
http://www.hampshireairfields.co.uk/ah1900/prod3.html
By: Newforest - 25th February 2017 at 07:15
Probably saw you wandering around EB at that time! I remember the Halcyon with engines fitted (Walter Mikrons?) but never saw it moving. My attention was moving towards four wheels and the possibilities that presented. Saro was a joy to behold, probably saw every Skeeter and P.531 (Wasp) produced!
By: ollieholmes - 25th February 2017 at 00:49
According to this it was DBR during taxying trials:
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1439148/
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February 24, 2017 at 10:53 pm