My late father Colin Overton took these shots on his Box Brownie in the early 1950s.I wonder if any of these planes survive today????
This Tiger Moth & ?? are both seen at White Waltham
This Swedish Airforce type (SAAB?) is seen at Panshanger on 14-6-52
G-AKTZ is seen at Croydon and G-ALBB is seen at Heathrow (7th June 1952) – perhaps these 2 are still extant flying sightseeing somewhere in the UK?
By: SMS88 - 17th March 2013 at 17:04
Hi – first post. I’ve seen a photo of G-ALBB elsewhere and have mentioned that it was my grandfather, Brian McGinn, who was the pilot on the day it crashed at Heathrow and was written off (the plane, not Brian fortunately) (01-08-52).
The photo here says it was taken in June ’52 – my question is, if it’s not too impertinent, how do you know the date? Only reason I ask is that there is someone sitting in the pilot’s seat – potentially my grandfather….
Thanks.
That is the date my father wrote on the back of the original print most likely when the print was made
By: pobjoy pete - 14th March 2013 at 00:44
Swift Rudder
Not in my front room!
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th March 2013 at 23:04
Well i thought someone would have noticed the Comper Swift G-ABUS lurking in the background.
This is still exists (stored in the UK again) it is believed.
I am looking at a genuine rudder off a Swift as i type.(lost for years).
pp………. Thought you might be looking at more than just the rudder of a Swift!!
Planemike
By: pobjoy pete - 12th March 2013 at 17:08
Box Brownie gems
Well i thought someone would have noticed the Comper Swift G-ABUS lurking in the background.
This is still exists (stored in the UK again) it is believed.
I am looking at a genuine rudder off a Swift as i type.(lost for years).
By: TonyT - 12th March 2013 at 16:09
Welcome CoJones
You can check any aircraft on the British register here
When you then open the one up relating to the register you can view the original registrations details of it and see when it was written off
See
Then on the registry link you get
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th March 2013 at 15:28
I’ve done a little research but was wondering if anyone could shed any light on the number 25 on the tail – it doesn’t appear in other pictures of the plane. Something to do with Island Air Services presumably. Thanks.
First off, welcome to the forum.
Numbers of that type are normally “racing numbers”, indicating that the a/c may have taken part in an air race of some kind. If you look carefully at the disc with the “25” showing, there is some writing, possibly the name of the event.
Have just checked John Hamlin’s book on the Rapide. G-ALBB was entered in the 1952 Kings Cup Air Race, flown by Monique Agazarian. It did not finish as it suffered engine problems.
Sometimes “racing numbers” stay with an aircraft for some time, others appear much more short lived.
Planemike
By: C o Jones - 12th March 2013 at 15:16
Hi – first post. I’ve seen a photo of G-ALBB elsewhere and have mentioned that it was my grandfather, Brian McGinn, who was the pilot on the day it crashed at Heathrow and was written off (the plane, not Brian fortunately) (01-08-52).
The photo here says it was taken in June ’52 – my question is, if it’s not too impertinent, how do you know the date? Only reason I ask is that there is someone sitting in the pilot’s seat – potentially my grandfather….
I’ve done a little research but was wondering if anyone could shed any light on the number 25 on the tail – it doesn’t appear in other pictures of the plane. Something to do with Island Air Services presumably.
Thanks.
By: SierraEchoFred - 26th December 2007 at 18:04
The Swedish one is a Saab 91A Safir, with a 120 hp Gipsy engine, as used by the Swedish Air Force for liaison and given the type number Tp 91 (Transport 91). The number 8 shows that it was based at Barkarby, near Stockholm, as part of F 8 (8th Wing).
This aircraft is very similar to the 3rd production model we have at the Aeroseum, Gothenburg, which was privately owned and used as a tourer for many years by Uno Ranch, the Triumph motorcycle distributor for Sweden, and is still flying.
Later Saab 91s had Lycoming engines.
This is Tp 91 Fv-s/n 91123. TOC 15.8.47 and SOC 9.5.60. It was probably based in the UK at the time and used by the Swedish Air Attaché. 91123 was later exchanged for 91118 which was w/o in the UK 13.7.59.
By: SMS88 - 26th December 2007 at 15:17
G-ALBB, DH.89A Dragon Rapide c/n 6829, NR741, written off August 1, 1952.
Many thanks for the pictures, any more?
Thankyou for the gen 🙂 – particularly interesting to know that G-ALBB was written off only weeks after this pic was taken. There are 5 more which are not particularly well taken,which I will scan tonight.
By: Papa Lima - 26th December 2007 at 14:20
G-ALBB, DH.89A Dragon Rapide c/n 6829, NR741, written off August 1, 1952.
Many thanks for the pictures, any more?
By: Papa Lima - 26th December 2007 at 14:18
G-AKTZ DH. 89A Dragon Rapide c/n 6639, R5954, damaged beyond repair on May 27, 1957.
By: Papa Lima - 26th December 2007 at 14:15
G-AHGJ was a Percival Proctor V, withdrawn from use in September 1963.
By: Papa Lima - 26th December 2007 at 14:12
G-ACHP was an Avro Club Cadet, re-engined with a Gipsy Major I, and impressed from Arwork Ltd in July 1942 as HM570 for Saro. It went to the Vintage Aeroplane Club in 1952 and crashed at Denham on the 1st of January 1956.
By: Propstrike - 26th December 2007 at 14:11
That funny looking ‘Tiger’ is an Avro 638 Club Cadet which was seen at WW in July 52 at a vintage rally.
By: Papa Lima - 26th December 2007 at 14:06
The Swedish one is a Saab 91A Safir, with a 120 hp Gipsy engine, as used by the Swedish Air Force for liaison and given the type number Tp 91 (Transport 91). The number 8 shows that it was based at Barkarby, near Stockholm, as part of F 8 (8th Wing).
This aircraft is very similar to the 3rd production model we have at the Aeroseum, Gothenburg, which was privately owned and used as a tourer for many years by Uno Ranch, the Triumph motorcycle distributor for Sweden, and is still flying.
Later Saab 91s had Lycoming engines.
Sign In
December 26, 2007 at 1:06 pm