Mitchell Proctor Kittiwake

It was interesting to see the information here – which I came across whilst researching BEA apprentices. I worked upon one of the original ,maybe one of the first Kittiwakes.

It was built in a compound set aside for the purpose in the East hangers of the BEA Engineering Base, Hatton Cross LHR.

My memory is a bit vague on the details of the airframe work but many of the panels, wing sections etc. were all built onsite.

Bert Page, the apprentice instructor who was in charge of this project also ran the various gliding camps for BEA apprentices which took place at Booker Aerodrome near High Wycombe.

I was an avionics apprentice with BEA from 1964 to 1969 and my contribution to the Kittiwake was the build and installation of its electrical, instrument, and comms systems. It was all pretty basic as our Kittiwake was designed as a glider tug and was powered by an RR Continental engine – can’t remember the HP.

A friend of mine, also a BEA apprentice from the 1964 intake, built the fin and rudder and reminded me that the nose leg was very flimsy and collapsed damaging the prop.

Large numbers of pop rivets were also employed on this build – not sure if that would have continued.

The great day was the test flight, at which all apprentices involved attended along with most of the engineering base. As I remember the Kittiwake took off, not from the main runways but from one of the taxiways near the hanger.

Strangely enough the Kittiwake was one of the design submissions for the Norman Jones sponsored competition for a Formula One aircraft back in 1964, the competition being won by the Luton Group (Rollason) Beta. The Kittiwake was third in the competition after the Taylor Titch and Beta. The Kittiwake has never looked anything like a racer though!!!!

Actually, I am pretty sure (it is a very long time ago) that the third prize design was called the Scamp, designed by Mitchell-Prizeman(?) I think, from which the Kittiwake was then developed.

G-ASSV

Glad to hear that she is on the mend and best of luck with the rebuild !!

Yes, I certainly took the picture at an air race meeting at Shoreham but couldn’t have told you the year.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Indeed I do own G-ASSV! I’ve been working on the wings this very afternoon.

Great picture and unusual to see one of it in colour – Shoreham June 1965 if I am not mistaken.

Strangely enough the Kittiwake was one of the design submissions for the Norman Jones sponsored competition for a Formula One aircraft back in 1964, the competition being won by the Luton Group (Rollason) Beta. The Kittiwake was third in the competition after the Taylor Titch and Beta. The Kittiwake has never looked anything like a racer though!!!!

I think the two-seater is in storage somewhere as I was only reading something about it last week.

Welcome to the Forum, Kensinger.

Do you by chance have any connection to:-

Wicked Willip :diablo:

I was a BEA apprentice in the late 1960’s and we were given the task of finishing the Kittiwake, it was delivered to the BEA hangar as a fuselage minus wings and we built it from there to flying condition under the instruction of Bert Page. I thought it came 3rd in a Flight International competition for a glider tug, during the initial ground taxi runs it had uncontrollable nose wheel shimmy.

Strangely enough the Kittiwake was one of the design submissions for the Norman Jones sponsored competition for a Formula One aircraft back in 1964, the competition being won by the Luton Group (Rollason) Beta. The Kittiwake was third in the competition after the Taylor Titch and Beta. The Kittiwake has never looked anything like a racer though!!!!

I think the two-seater is in storage somewhere as I was only reading something about it last week.

Only just got back from painting a Vampire in Arizona (well, someone has to!), so only just seen this thread. Forgive any bloopers – been on the go for 24 hrs! Full history in Air-Britain’s “Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft since 1946” (there I go plugging again!).

Indeed the construction of the aircraft was begun by the Air Engineering School at RNAS Arbroath before transferring with the unit to Lee-on-Solent. Here she was completed and test flown. She then spent a short while as a glider tug (not sure how successfully!).

She is still at Yeovilton and should fly again in the not too distant future. Claim to fame: The only aircraft ever BUILT by the Royal Navy!

The Kittiwake was present at the Fly Navy Heritage Trust Charity Flying Day at Yeovilton in September…

Bluebell, good idea! Out of permit? Has it really been another year? Dunno where the time goes.
Let me know when you are back in the air and I’ll meet up with you.

KP.

Kittiwake

KP, good to hear from you again! We will have to get together to get some formation pictures taken as soon as XW784 has her full permit again! I know a man who is willing to take the photos from another friend’s aircraft.

Steve, I would be fascinated to see that old picture you have – great if you could post it here!

Bluebell.

I was down at Shoreham yesterday and delighted to see G-ATXN. I actually took quite a number of photos as it taxied towards me and parked up right in front of me. Being new to this forum thing, I’m not sure how to post pictures yet.

I knew what it was and that I had a picture at home of another one in Royal Navy markings.
Got home, did a bit of research and found said picture in an old BARC military serials book.

What a coincidence.

I remember having an aerotow out of Marchington gliding club behind a Kittiwake in the 80s. Not exactly a scintillating performance with an Astir on the back. I recall thinking it was a good thing the world is round because we didn’t climb at all – the earth just gradually fell away from us!

How strange that I too should stumble across this thread just a couple of days after bluebell!
Hi to bluebell and to BlueRobin.
Yes it’s true that both “Kitty” and I are well. We went to Shoreham for lunch yesterday.
I think that bluebell probably knows as much as me about the Kittiwake story but if anyone want any more info I would be glad to help.

KP.

Hi bluebell, good news indeed to have a second type flying – keep us posted. I saw Richard and ‘XN earlier this year for the FLYER bash at Enstone so can confirm pilot and aircraft are okay!

Actually, I was stunned to find XW784 at Yeovilton’s Air Day in July this year, looking as good as the day I photographed it 35 years ago!!

Mitchell-Procter Kittiwake

An interesting thread to stumble across, especially as I own XW784 and am just about to fly it again following a refurbishment.

The aircraft was built between 1969 and 1971 by Royal Navy aircraft engineering apprentices at Arbroath, and completed at HMS Daedalus. It was built as a project to test the apprentices and ended up being used by the Royal Navy GSA as a glider tug; it flew out of RNAS Yeovilton and Lee-on-Solent before being disposed of following an accident. She was bought by a fledgling company based at Exeter and used for about 10 years on and off as a propellor test bed. She was then repaired and was based out of Wales and subsequently Henstridge.

As part of the restoration project we visited the other surviving Kittiwake, G-ATXN at Biggin Hill; from where she still flies, I believe. I have been told that a total of 12 build projects were registered with the CAA but that only 3 were ever completed; the third was apparently written off, but we do not know whether it was a result of an accident or some other reason.

I’ve met the owner and pilot of ‘XN a few times. You always used to see Richard at fly-ins in a red flight suit with a red badana keeping his long blonde hair back. His Kitty was kept in the same hangar as Proctor G-APPL at Biggin Hill a couple or three years ago. Haven’t really seen Richard since. I note the CofA expired almost a year. Wonder what has happened there?

Edit: I think the other one is now in a right state.

Albert, I think your photo is similar to the one I saw in Wingspan – or at least in that colour scheme, anyway.

I had this one published in Aircraft Illustrated. Think Wingspan’s was Peter March’s.

It has a Continental 0-200. Here is my photo of it at Lee-on-Solent on 24 July 1971. You can see the glider-towing hook under the rear fuselage. It later became G-BBRN (I wonder why? :rolleyes: )

Albert, I think your photo is similar to the one I saw in Wingspan – or at least in that colour scheme, anyway.