In a mere matter of hours it will be sixty years since Dove 1 G-AGPJ was lifted off Hatfield’s runway and into history. Conceived by the wartime Brabazon Commitee and the first of the proposals to reach for the sky – it’s still an icon in terms of design and beauty blended into one.
By: mike currill - 25th September 2005 at 20:29
Had one pass over Kidlington tonight, lovely sight and soound. Don’t know whose it was or where headed but was heading in a South-ish direction about 1730
By: DGH - 25th September 2005 at 15:30
Lovely aircraft, one of my favourites. I will be celebrating there 60th by taking flight in Devon VP981 in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed 🙂
By: David Burke - 25th September 2005 at 10:27
The search is very much still on for the prototype G-AGPJ. She suffered a wheels up at Praia in the Cape Verde Islands in 1958. With TAC having a fleet of Doves in the early days I believe she was used as a spares source and certainly I have a picture of her taken in the mid 1970’s lying on the ground. About a year ago now a friend travelled out there and inspected an aircraft which was widely reported to be her. That turned out to be CR-CAR which was the former G-AKSW. I think ‘SW’ might have been with British Aircraft Corporation in the late 1960’s but I need to confirm that.
The latest reports suggest that PJ might have been in use in a children’s playground until recently so the search is very much still on.
In terms of other early survivors – number 4 off the production run went to Iraq for the military but I guess there are few volunteers to go looking for that one ! The other interesting one is G-AHRB which was Cn.5 and that also went to the Cape Verde Islands- she crashed in the early 1960’s so I guess little probably remains of her.
The might well be some remains of G-AGPJ and if at all possible I will find them and return them to the U.K . I hasten to add that I have support out there to find and save this aircraft.
By: Atlantic1 - 25th September 2005 at 09:37
Wonder if / where any might still be earning their keep…
G-ARHW, G-HBBC, GOPLC and our own G-DHDV/VP981 are frequently seen passing through Coventry.
Tom.
By: mike currill - 25th September 2005 at 02:40
I’ve always thought the Dove and Heron were handsome machines. Long may they continue to grace our skies. I seem to have a soft spot de Havilland products including one of their noisiest products, the Beaver.
By: JDK - 25th September 2005 at 02:16
Wonder if / where any might still be earning their keep…
One of the Brabazon committee’s few successes; I’d agree that it’s a lovely looking practical aircraft.
Let’s see some pics!
By: Ant.H - 25th September 2005 at 00:37
Seconded,good shout Dave. Here’s to many more years of airworthy Doves/Devons…:)
While we’re on the subject,am I right in thinking there’s still a search going on for the prototype?Does anyone know if they’ve come up with anything?
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September 24, 2005 at 10:04 pm