Percival EP 9 Photo Req

G-ANPK, in your counting of UK examples did you include the one which is (or at least was) in The Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop?

G’day Lockwood 16. Great to see someone figured out the registration, i had a go a few years ago but not flash on computers. I am the person who put this aircraft back together back in about 2009 the accident site was only about 500 metres from its current site, they never buried it but they did deconstruct it and spread the parts all over the pilbara. The location of the fuselage as been known for years because they built the now Karijini drive near in the 1990s. I had a very keen interest to find the rest of the parts and solve this 1968 puzzle , i knew most of the history i heard stories from old timers of the area, one who now lives in Karratha an old aboriginal fella who was there the day they crashed.What is now the ranger station was then an out station. I found the other parts, wings and tail section by using google earth and marking any anomalies i could see ,one wing 120 metres away, one 200 metres the other way, tail section 400 metres and using a GPS had to walk within 4or5 metres of a wing to actually even see it in the long grasses and spinifex (quite a moment for me) One day i would like to move the wreck to the nearby Karijini visitor centre (national park) and put it back together in its anatomical correctness and with a information board telling about its history. At the time the Park didn’t have any funds available for this project and may be ill get to it one of these days. have some photos but can’t upload

I have seen a prospector in the hangar of Rouseeau Aviation at DINARD in 1971 or 1972. no idea of the registration. Strange discovery. at that time there was still a good number of gipsy engines in stock (stock clear now) used on Fokker D VII replicas build by RA . no trace of the spitfire owned by C rousseau, back to UK.
The day of my visit was the day of the crash of a RA N262 FBNMO. bad day, bad ambiance.

yves

How’s the restoration of DG coming along, Nick?

Will it be at… Cockpit Fest? It might help to pull in a few missing parts.

Anon.

Thanks for sharing that Lockwood16 – very interesting – there are plenty of parts there I would love for mine (G-ARDG, C/N 47). But I suspect shipping would be prohibitive!!!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]225100[/ATTACH]Hi all. Found this wreck while visiting the Pilbara of Western Australia late last year. It turns out to be this aircraft.

C/n 40 VH-TCA, VH-DAX

4.57 Photograph of EP.9 production line at Stapleford shows fuselage frame under construction, with identifying sign “Aircraft No.40”
4.58 Purchased ex manufacturer by Tasmanian Aero Club.
4.6.58 Construction completed at Stapleford Aerodrome, Essex by Edgar Percival Aircraft Ltd.

Shipped to Australia
10.10.58 Registered VH-TCA: Tasmanian Aero Club, Launceston, Tas
Purchased by the club for use on their contract with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia for medical flights. Freight hold was fitted for a stretcher and seating for doctor and nurse. The stretcher patient was loaded through the rear fairing door
30.4.59 Dropped 2000 rainbow trout into a lake near Ross TAS. Rear fairing door was removed for the drop, flown by Ron Monroe, CFI of Tasmanian Aero Club
.61 Purchased by Air Mist, Launceston
23.4.61 noted Moorabbin, just after arrival from Launceston for agricultural conversion by Super Spread: Tasmanian Aero Club fin flash, RFDS insignia, the two windows were see-through
8.61 Purchased by Air Mist Pty Ltd. Delivered that month to Moorabbin for conversion by Super Spread to agricultural configuration
23.9.61 noted at Moorabbin. Tasmanian Aero Club paint scheme with club stripes on rudder, and RFDS emblem. Cabin windows in place for ambulance work. Probably on delivery to Air Mist.
2.10.61 Change of ownership: Air Mist Pty Ltd, Launceston, later Adelaide, Melbourne, Adelaide
5.62 noted Parafield, cream & dark green, “Air Mist Pty Ltd” & “Elders Agricultural Aviation Services” titles
24.6.62 noted Moorabbin, cream & dark green, “Air Mist Pty Ltd” & “Elders Agricultural Aviation Services” titles
14.7.62 noted Moorabbin, spraybars, “Air Mist Pty Ltd” & “Elders Agricultural Aviation Services” titles
28.7.62 noted Parafield, Air Mist titles
16.8.62 noted Parafield, no titles, just repainted yellow & olive
30.9.62 visited airshow Mildura Vic, yellow and olive with no titles
8.10.62 noted Parafield on overhaul in Aero Kair hangar. Plate: c/n 40.
17.1.63 noted Parafield, yellow & olive “AIR MIST” titles on tail boom
9.3.63 noted Parafield
30.3.63 noted Parafield
10.8.63 noted Parafield
28.9.63 noted Parafield in Air Mist hangar
12.10.63 noted Parafield
9.11.63 noted Parafield
16.11.63 noted Moorabbin, “Air Mist” titles, yellow & olive scheme
22.8.64 noted Launceston, dismantled, poor condition in Aero Club hangar
1.4.65 Change of ownership: Doggett Aviation & Engineering Co Ltd, Perth-Jandakot WA
1.4.65 Reregistered VH-DAX
18.4.65 VH-DAX noted Jandakot, white with Doggett Aviation titles, “Lancashire Prospector EP9” on nose, stripe down fuselage sides, Speedbird style flash on tail. Parked outside with DAV & DAI
20.7.65 Forced landing Namban WA due engine failure, pilot Embury
13.12.65 Damaged on landing on rough surface near Toodyay WA: tail wheel torn away by rock, pilot Roney
31.3.66 Struck-off register at owner’s request
24.5.66 Restored to Register: Doggett Aviation & Engineering Co Ltd, Perth-Jandakot WA
13.7.66 Accident at Watheroo WA, extensive damage, pilot Harris
15.10.66 noted Jandakot
22.1.67 noted Jandakot, white & red, under overhaul
1.6.67 noted Jandakot, under overhaul in Doggett Aviation hangar
20.9.67 noted Jandakot, Doggett’s last EP-9
7.10.67 noted Jandakot, tied down on grass, covers over cockpit, fitted spray booms and belly propeller gear, appears to be retired. Large Doggett titles removed from tail boom, but smaller sticker “Doggett Aviation Agricultural Aviation Services – Elders GM”
29.10.67 noted Jandakot, still tied down outside on grass
30.12.67 noted Jandakot
26.1.68 Change of ownership: Sasin Aircraft Pty Ltd, Geraldton WA
3.68 Mike Sasin was repairing Cessna 172A VH-AWG for owner Keith “Kid” Wilkin, manager of Hammersley Station near Wittenoom WA. The Cessna had struck a car while low flying near Roebourne in 10.67. Wilkin needed a replacement aircraft while the Cessna was being repaired, and Sasin loaned him the EP-9.
7.4.68 Crashed “Juna Downs” Station, Mount Bruce, near Wittenoom WA.
DCA accident report states: “The pilot was unfamiliar with the aircraft. He did not maintain flying speed on final approach and the aircraft stalled then touched down heavily, collapsing the landing gear before overturning.” Pilot had only 1 hour experience on type, 2000 hours total time.
Pilot William Keith Wilkin and a female passenger (reportedly riding in the hopper) received minor injuries.
68 Wreck buried in situ
21.8.68 Wilkin prosecuted by DCA in court over breaches of Air Navigation Relations involved in the EP-9 accident

Percival EP9 Photo Req.

Taken at Bankstown, Sydney whilst on leave from Christmas Island after nuclear tests in 1958.
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac345/aerofoil/documents072.jpg

According to my bits and pieces here:

c/n 38 was registered on 20.10.61 as G-ARTU having previously been XM797. Crashed at Old Warden 2.9.69 as XM797 (remains to Canada?)

c/n 39 ex XM819 also regd 20.10.61 as G-ARTV, sold 15.2.62 to Egon Evertz KG, Solingen as D-ELSA, restored 30.1.68, wfu 22.9.70, restored 12.2.73, Sold to the USA 2.77

I visited Stapleford on 3 June 1958 where I logged G-APLP (c/n 35), VH-TCA, plus three airframes c/n 41, 42 and 43 (later ‘PWX, PWZ and PXW resp). Also present were G-AOFU (c/n 20) and ‘OZO (c/n 29).

brgds
Alan

According to my bits and pieces here:

c/n 38 was registered on 20.10.61 as G-ARTU having previously been XM797. Crashed at Old Warden 2.9.69 as XM797 (remains to Canada?)

c/n 39 ex XM819 also regd 20.10.61 as G-ARTV, sold 15.2.62 to Egon Evertz KG, Solingen as D-ELSA, restored 30.1.68, wfu 22.9.70, restored 12.2.73, Sold to the USA 2.77

I visited Stapleford on 3 June 1958 where I logged G-APLP (c/n 35), VH-TCA, plus three airframes c/n 41, 42 and 43 (later ‘PWX, PWZ and PXW resp). Also present were G-AOFU (c/n 20) and ‘OZO (c/n 29).

brgds
Alan
p.s. Just found this on F-BIEG:
“F-BIEG”,”PERCIVAL AIRCRAFT LTD”,”PERCIVAL EP 9″,”37″,”ALGER / HOUARI BOUMEDIENE”,”SA GYRAFRIQUE”,”25/07/1958″,”15/09/1960″,”IMMATRICULE A L’ETRANGER”

Airfarm had a couple with Cheetahs in them on super, had to grease the tapppets every refueling I’m told. Old bloke who used to fly them told me, don’t know if that’s true or not.

I know its 4 years since your post Wiesso, but thanks for the credit?

Does anyone know which of the Australian EP9’s this is ?
I can’t read the registration or match the colour scheme with any of them.

Hi this a/c was owned by Doggett Aviation in Western Australia the photo was taken in Jandakot the registrations that I have could be the a/c it was first owned by Super Spread Aviation and was registered VH-TCA when Doggett Aviation bought it the rego was changed to either VH-DAX or VH-DAV more than likely
VH-DAX hope this helps

Algeria became indepenent in 1962, so did it wait till then to become 7T, seems unlikely.:confused:

and in particular what became of the mysterious French machine F-BIEG?

The DGA website doesn’t help on this one. The last French registered owner of F-BIEG was Gyrafrique SA, to whom it was registered on 6.5.60, at Houari Boudemiene, Algiers. It was deleted from the French register on 15.9.60 on the ground of being re-registered abroad. I guess that this is the point at which it became mysterious!

Willip,

G-ARDG has just moved to the Millom collection. More details here….

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=84118

.

I’m aware of – it’s not an EP 9, but … :confused:

So wieesso – what was it?

So many questions but still many things not fully understood, so no apologies for returning again to this fascinating thread.

Although memories abound there is a lot forgotten over the years and I have only the vaguest recollection of EP9s at Lympne, which was mentioned a while back on another thread. When exactly and why did the Lancashire Aircraft Company up sticks from Samlesbury and move its wares from its native county to Kent? Why indeed did they build only another 7 airframes after taking over production from Edgar Percival Aircraft Ltd.? Anyone got a photo of the production line either at Stapleford or Samlesbury?

Searching through old records I have found that I made a visit to Lympne on 19/8/63, when 6 examples of the type were seen and it is interesting to compare their status then and the chequered histories of each since:-

G-AOZO (minus engine) – put back together again, only to be written off in a fatal parachuting accident there on 2/7/80.
G-APWX (apparently complete and airworthy) – registration lapsed as sold on 29/11/68 in the USA and allegedly became N8395, although last reported as derelict still in its British marks.
G-APWZ (fuselage) – according to GINFO cancelled on 21/6/77 as destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use although soon restored 17/8/77 for Strutbest Ltd t/a Sussex Ag Aviation and then cancelled again and temporarily withdrawn from use 1/10/84. Has been written off at least once if not twice, most recently when it was blown backwards into the boundary fence at Goodwood on the night of 7-8/2/94 with the result shown in the ‘Lurking in the Brambles’ thread (post 70#). Almost certainly the example shown above in post 40# of this thread. Rebuilt and now flying in New Zealand as ZK-PWZ.
G-APXW (apparently complete and airworthy) – damaged beyond repair (crop spraying?) in an accident in Aberdeenshire 30/9/73 and likewise cancelled on 21/6/77 and reinstated in the ownership of Strutbest Ltd t/a Sussex Ag Aviation on 17/8/77 before being wfu in May 1982. Remains reported in W&R 9 published in April 1984 as being at the Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop for use in the rebuild of G-ARDG, which was under restoration there.
G-ARDG (complete but dusty) – said to be under rebuild as above but forward fuselage subsequently at Washington strip, Sussex before being sold to become part of the Wings Museum at Redhill. By February 2000 the only EP-9 at Middle Wallop listed in W&R17 was a composite painted as the reincarnation of ‘XM819’, which is generally accepted as being ‘PXW so it looks as if ‘RDG came off second best. Certainly it seems to have been cannibalised as it has donated its rear end and probably wings too in one of the various rebuilds.
c/n 45 (fuselage) – gone missing, but in the absence of anything to the contrary I guess it is also likely to have been absorbed into one of the rebuilds of either ‘PWZ or ‘PXW. It would be rather ironic if the ‘unfinished’ example became the main constituent of the only one of the batch still flying.

Any additions, corrections or further information to be added to the story would be of interest and in particular what became of the mysterious French machine F-BIEG?

Wicked Willip :diablo:

I’m aware of – it’s not an EP 9, but … :confused:

production update

c/n.27 G-43-5/VH-SSW(2)/VH-SSX

c/n.28 G-43-7/G-APBR/VH-SSC(2) n.t.u./VH-SSV/VH-DA1(2)/VH-EPN

c/n.34 G-43-1/G-APIB/VH-FBZ(1)/VH-DCM(1)

c/n. 36 ZS-CHZ

hope this is of help

DH83

Can anyone help identify this frame Seen at Shoreham in July 1979 ?

For a larger image click here http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1035802/

c/n 28 VH-DAI

Indeed, a ‘Google’ search ( LINK ) say’s it was also VH-SSC as well. Is this correct ?

And do you know it’s current location / status please ?

.