Jordans scrapyard Portsmouth '64

You’re up to late! You are right of course. Funny how the plane seems to disappear sometimes. Never noticed it at first until I enlarged the Pic. 😮

Is it?

It looks pretty much outside a scrapyard to me.

Moggy

But it’s IN a scrapyard! ;):D

Fascinating, so much the eyes of knowing people can get out of a photo….to many, this would simply have been a photo of a scrayard….

Since G-ARFY crashed on 8.8.64, then the photo must have been taken at a date later than that, that is, in the winter of 1964-65 (the bare trees indicate that the shot was taken in the winter). Presuming, of course, that it is G-ARFY lurking in the picture!

You must mean BEFORE 8.8.64 – the Piper doesn´t look crashed to me?

Regards

Jon

Love the buses.

Jordans scrapyard Portsmouth ’64

re Piper G-ARFY, this might be worth a look…

“Comanche Accident at Cork

The report has now been published of investigations into the accident at Cork Airport last August 8 [1964] involving Piper Comanche G-ARFY, in which the private pilot, Mr James Coupe, and three passengers were killed.

The aircraft had taken off normally at the start of a local flight when, at about 100ft, a stream of black smoke was seen issuing from below it.

The pilot called the control tower and said he wished to “cut back to the field.” As the Comanche was being positioned for an approach the smoke appeared to get thicker; during a steep turn it ceased and the engine stopped or lost power completely. The aircraft slipped out of the turn and crashed.

The inspectors considered loss of control during the turn to have been the probable cause of the accident, though engine malfunction as a result of an over-rich mixture was adduced as the contributory cause. All the sparking plugs were found to be heavily sooted and some badly oiled. On dismantling of the carburettor the mixture control was found stuck in the rich position and very difficult to operate; and the accelerator pump delivery restriction valve was stuck open by foreign matter. The air intake was badly crushed by the impact and it was not possible to determine if the vanes had been removed in accordance with Piper recommendations”

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%202907.html

Plus a quick look as G-INFO (at http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=reg&fullregmark=ARFY) lists the last registered owner at Bennett George Halpin of Southampton, and that the registration was cancelled “8.8.’64 (notified 12.1.’65)” (sic)

Since G-ARFY crashed on 8.8.64, then the photo must have been taken at a date later than that, that is, in the winter of 1964-65 (the bare trees indicate that the shot was taken in the winter). Presuming, of course, that it is G-ARFY lurking in the picture!

No, it’s the prototype Porta-loo.

Not so sure, reckon its a painted one of these ;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNpWBMNyC0w

I would agree with that Rob, certainly seems right pattern and size.

Another view of the yard in 1963 here but not much aeroscrap in this one:

http://www.trolleybus.net/subhtml/picturetr313.htm

Interesting. The wheel / tyre leaning against the side of the Trolleybus looks very similar in design and size to a Sturgeon mainwheel.!

My thoughts were VR-NDA/G-APXJ but you may be right

Isn’t it just wonderful how a photo taken nearly 50 years of some scrap a/c components on Portsmouth Airfield leads on to a discussion about Piper Comanches. Hey, but that is the charm and delight of this forum!!

Right a bit more on the Comanches. 5Y-AFX is out of the frame, not registered until Aug 65. 5N-AEB was registered in Nigeria in April 61 becoming G-ASCJ in November 62. The a/c was registered to Sir Mark Norman, therefore has strong connections to Britten-Norman at Bembridge IOW, not too far away from Portsmouth. Just found a colour photo of 5N-AEB http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=5N-AEB&u=reg Blue and white. Cheat lines are straight, those on RFY come to a point just behind the rear window.

However based on the c/s as shown in the photo, still reckon it is G-ARFY.

Planemike

is that a prototype Tardis at the back slightly to the left?

No, it’s the prototype Porta-loo.

More Pompey scrap from earlier years ..Beaufighter being hacked up on site by the then Hants and Sussex Aviation company, now H+S Aviation.

The photo cribbed from their website…their gallery of historic images well worth a look.

Another view of the yard in 1963 here but not much aeroscrap in this one:

http://www.trolleybus.net/subhtml/picturetr313.htm

aaah Robin

And what’s the story on the Cherokee which must be pretty near brand new?

Moggy

I’m guessing that large field to the left is the airport, which makes that tin shed a hangar 😉

Engines

And also… on the extreme right hand side an L-shaped powerplant maintenance stand with a pair of what look like Avro Lincoln engine bearers attached.

This would fit with what appear to be Merlin engines/parts nearby.

Just spotted – about twenty feet to the right of the orange front cowls there looks to be Hastings engine oil cooler intake scoops – in fact they appear to be complete power plant assemblies.

Looks like someone climbed a tree to take the photo.

Anon.

Yep, I think you are correct, probably Merlin cylinder-heads; well spotted!

To the left of those looks to be a Merlin less its rocker covers, and crankshafts, leaning against the fence on the right.

Just above the dayglow cowled engines, a pile of 6 cyl cylinder banks ?, if so x2 = V12 = Merlin ?

The two Comanches you mention were youngsters/there was a Nigerian one lived at portsmoutha while before they reached these shores