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Shapley Kittiwake

Obscure aircraft – number 74 in a series of 500 (or so it must seem to some people!)

There were two Shapley Kittiwakes. The initial, open cockpit Kittiwake was G-AEZN (c/n ESS.1). Apparently it was dismantled in the period 1937-39. Does anyone know if there is any truth in the suggestion that parts of it were used in the construction of the second, enclosed cockpit Kittiwake G-AFRP (c/n ESS.2)? If they were not so used, what became of those dismantled parts? Were they stored with G-AFRP at Plymouth Roborough for the duration of WW2? If so, perhaps they were disposed of when Shapley emigrated to Australia after the crash of G-AFRP in 1946. If anyone has any knowledge on the subject – particularly concerning what may have been stored at Roborough over the war years – your input will be much appreciated.

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By: DazDaMan - 31st March 2025 at 13:34

Haven’t a clue, but I had a Google for the beast:

http://www.aviastar.org/pictures/england/shapley_kittiwake.jpg

Looks….interesting! 😉

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By: avion ancien - 31st March 2025 at 13:34

Maybe this time the choice of subject and the nature of the questions was just too obscure!

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By: T-21 - 31st March 2025 at 13:32

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AEZN.pdf there is also one for the other machine.

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By: avion ancien - 31st March 2025 at 13:32

Many thanks, Daz and T-21, for taking the trouble to bother about obscure aeroplanes!

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