I am happy to report on successful negotiations to acquire a fourth Proctor Mk 3 G-ANPP. She has been purchased along with a sizeable spares holding and will be moved to Great Oakley within days. There she will join stablemates NVY Mk 4, HTE Mk V and Mk 3 KEX. NPP was flown into Duxford in 1977 by the late Bob Batt and left Duxford on a flat bed trailer a year or so later for a proposed rebuild which elapsed into thirty three years storage! Condition of the airframe is excellent in fact the best of our four examples. Spares include a Queen 2 engine with prop, fin, rudder, sets of under carriage spats, tailplane and sundry cabin fittings. We are building additional covered workshop space to house the new acquisition. The plan is to add her to the restoration queue and work on her as time permits. Mk 3 KEX is well advanced with 90% of the woodwork rebuilt and now ready for covering. Pictures of NPP will be posted as she is removed from her barn home.
By: Arm Waver - 12th June 2011 at 16:19
Fantastic news gentlemen.
Keep up the fantastic work.
As much as I love Vintage & Classic aircraft I have to say I like the angular scheme – somewhat different to say the least!
By: WJ244 - 12th June 2011 at 15:37
Mike that is great news. It is good to see Proctors being saved after so many years of being the next candidate for Guy Fawkes bonfires.
Will we be seeing a Proctor formation team in a few years time?
Seriously though if Keith is moving this one and you need a hand (or a photographer) for the day then get Keith to let me know and I will be happy to come along again if at all possible.
By: Goldilocks - 12th June 2011 at 08:58
Great news Mike – I really must visit Great Oakley again to see the latest progress.
Regards
David
By: avion ancien - 11th June 2011 at 22:39
If you get any more onto your ‘production line’, soon you’ll have change the name of Great Oakley to Luton!
By: springers - 11th June 2011 at 21:04
Here’s G-ANPP at Duxford in June 1977 (Photo by Tony Clarke):
I saw the first three at Great Oakley last year,a remarkable project!
Colin.
By: DCW - 11th June 2011 at 20:05
Here’s G-ANPP at Duxford in June 1977 (Photo by Tony Clarke):
By: Bruce - 11th June 2011 at 19:39
Really good to see the Proctor enjoying a renaissance after many years in the wilderness.
Bruce
By: Tango Charlie - 11th June 2011 at 19:36
NPP History
I to have seen the report from 1969 stating NPP was written off, Glad to say this was certainly not the case. Around that time she was purchased by Bob Batt and relocated to Southend to join his Prentices and Mk 4 Proctor NXR now Biggin based. She languished in the back of Bob’s hangar for 4-5 years before being sold The new owner had her delivered to Duxford where it was planned to re build her. The Duxford delivery flight was well lets say “off the record” lacking a current C of A. She needed a temporary flight panel to be fitted the original having gone awol! In addition the rudder was missing so a spare one painted silver unlike the red fuselage was fitted for the short hop. Like many things in life, plans that had been in place for NPP’s resurrection changed and she was removed from Duxford into storage and not seen for the next 33 years. She is in remarkable condition and will be well looked after.
By: DCW - 11th June 2011 at 19:14
I’ve been looking for an excuse to post some Proctors:
Here’s G-AHTE at White Waltham in 1958:
G-ANPP:
Looking forward to seeing them all flying again.
DCW
By: Dr. John Smith - 11th June 2011 at 18:59
Proctor “News Flash”
Tango Charlie
You may find this tidbit about G-ANPP of interest…
“This one is for Harry Fanshawe who owned this splendid Proctor 3 G-ANPP and flew it from Baginton in the sixties. Harry made an extraordinary flight to South Africa in her and we often talked about this aeroplane which he took me for flights on occasions.
This picture was taken in its later days at Baginton, with one of Ace Freighters L749 Constellations in the background (25.4.68 to be exact).
The aircraft was badly damaged when the it caught fire whilst being started up following some maintenance work (probably due to overprime) and the centre section was damaged in the fire.
Shortly after this it was sold to Charles Boddington, who was killed flying a replica world war one aeroplane in Ireland whilst making ‘Darling Lille’, a box office flop.
Then the aircraft went to Duxford but has not been seen since? if anyone knows its present whereabouts then we would love to be re-acquainted as she was a very special aeroplane to Harry and myself.
Source “Wings Over Warwickshire” at http://cloudancer1.tripod.com/ which, as stated, also includes a pic of G-ANPP at Baginton on 25 April 1968 in a red/white colour scheme
One puzzle: The Aviation Safety Network website has a (somewhat vague) report of G-ANPP being written off/damaged beyond repair on 24 April 1969; presumably connected to the above incident. Yet you state it was FLOWN into Duxford in 1977!
Also, closely related, is this: http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1002361/ which is of G-ANPP at Baginton on 6 Feb 1967. The pic is captioned: “Last noted leaving Stansted airport on a lorry,not seen or reported since ?”
In short, there are conflicting – and contradictory – accounts of G-ANPP’s history, especially since 1968-69. So what is the truth?
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June 11, 2011 at 5:49 pm