What would these have been used for? RNAW Almondbank.

The Nord is G-BSMD. Sadly it’s been stranded at Scone for a few years now. However, I’ve been tasked with fixing it up. The engine is off for overhaul (Broken crankshaft). While that’s being done I’ll get on with the airframe which has been sadly neglected over the years, even on C of A.

MM, any connection with G-AFOZ from Strathallan days and do you remember one of our Scone 150’s landing in the snow on Monzie Hill after the carb iced up.

Thought that might be the Nord. I remember seeing it at one of the Perth air shows a few years back (2006 or 07?). A beautiful plane – good to know it will be gracing the skies again one day.
I’ve no actual connection with G-AFOZ but it was one of my favourite aircraft there and it was a very sad day when she crashed at Edinburgh. Surprisingly I never got a decent photo of her at Strathallan – only a couple of grainy shots through the fence. I notice there is presently a slide for sale on Ebay –

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DH94-Moth-Minor-G-AFOZ-at-Strathallan-1974-original-colour-slide-/161049527179?pt=UK_Collectables_Aeronautica_MJ&hash=item257f4cc38b

I do remember an incident with a Cessna 150 force-landing but cannot remember the details. Any idea which month and year? I might be able to find something about it in the local paper of the time.

Just a thought?
If the aircraft shadow plates were used for planning where to fit in aircraft, would they not also take in the fact that most naval aircraft of the era could fold their wings? None of the plates show this.

Space is at a premium on a ship!

Scotty

The Nord is G-BSMD. Sadly it’s been stranded at Scone for a few years now. However, I’ve been tasked with fixing it up. The engine is off for overhaul (Broken crankshaft). While that’s being done I’ll get on with the airframe which has been sadly neglected over the years, even on C of A.

MM, any connection with G-AFOZ from Strathallan days and do you remember one of our Scone 150’s landing in the snow on Monzie Hill after the carb iced up.

Living at the south edge of Crieff in the 70s, the Cessna 150s and 310s from AST frequently flew over our house. In fact I’m pretty sure it was used as the turn around point for heading back to Scone.

You could be right MM
My qualifying cross country route was Scone – Dyce (land) – Scone (overhead) – Dunblane – Crieff – Scone … the extra dog leg was to make up the distance flown to be acceptable for PPL requirement !
rgds baz

I served my apprenticeship at Scone but I didn’t begin til May 74. Full circle as I’m now teaching with AST Engineering there 39 years later. In addition to teaching, I’ve started a restoration Job on a Nord 1101 (but that’s another thread).
Last aircraft to land at Findo Gask was Cessna 150G G-AVEP after it developed low oil pressure. Unfortunately the undercarriage got hooked on a fence and it flipped over.

and yes, Almondbank was a rejoin point for Scone. Others were Guildtown, Errol and Bridge of Earn

Living at the south edge of Crieff in the 70s, the Cessna 150s and 310s from AST frequently flew over our house. In fact I’m pretty sure it was used as the turn around point for heading back to Scone. Sadly my spotters log books of the time are long-lost. Good luck with the Nord. What’s its registration as a matter of interest?

I served my apprenticeship at Scone but I didn’t begin til May 74. Full circle as I’m now teaching with AST Engineering there 39 years later. In addition to teaching, I’ve started a restoration Job on a Nord 1101 (but that’s another thread).
Last aircraft to land at Findo Gask was Cessna 150G G-AVEP after it developed low oil pressure. Unfortunately the undercarriage got hooked on a fence and it flipped over.

and yes, Almondbank was a rejoin point for Scone. Others were Guildtown, Errol and Bridge of Earn

Small aviation world aint it 😀
I spent a very enjoyable 6 weeks at scone may/june 72
Funnily enough Echo Papa is not in my log book !
Do keep us posted about the Nord !
rgds baz

Came across some Avenger? parts such as a wing and windscreen frame near Pitcairngreen around 1971. Looked like unused components. This may have been the site referred to as Thomsons Sawmill in Methven around 1975. Only complete aircraft was Whirlwind (Helicopter) XM660 that arrived around 1976. It went to the North East Aviation Museu, then to Millom and finally? to Belgium.

Yes, there were Avenger parts listed as being at Thompson’s Sawmill in 1975 in the Scotland Scanned publication of the following year.

Came across some Avenger? parts such as a wing and windscreen frame near Pitcairngreen around 1971. Looked like unused components. This may have been the site referred to as Thomsons Sawmill in Methven around 1975. Only complete aircraft was Whirlwind (Helicopter) XM660 that arrived around 1976. It went to the North East Aviation Museu, then to Millom and finally? to Belgium.

There is indeed a sawmill in Methven but I think the site you are referring to may have been at Moneydie, just beyond Pitcairngreen village.

Pleasure chewby…I am an old Fifer living ‘dahn sarf’ 😀
I did my PPL at Scone in 1972 and I think (happy to be corrected) that Almondbank was one of the circuit ‘rejoin’ points !!
Did a few PFL’s at Findo Gask as well 😀

rgds baz

I served my apprenticeship at Scone but I didn’t begin til May 74. Full circle as I’m now teaching with AST Engineering there 39 years later. In addition to teaching, I’ve started a restoration Job on a Nord 1101 (but that’s another thread).
Last aircraft to land at Findo Gask was Cessna 150G G-AVEP after it developed low oil pressure. Unfortunately the undercarriage got hooked on a fence and it flipped over.

and yes, Almondbank was a rejoin point for Scone. Others were Guildtown, Errol and Bridge of Earn

Came across some Avenger? parts such as a wing and windscreen frame near Pitcairngreen around 1971. Looked like unused components. This may have been the site referred to as Thomsons Sawmill in Methven around 1975. Only complete aircraft was Whirlwind (Helicopter) XM660 that arrived around 1976. It went to the North East Aviation Museu, then to Millom and finally? to Belgium.

According to the Methven entry in Action Stations Volume 7 – which must be true ‘cos I wrote it 🙂 – “In May 1942, a naval officer from RNAS Donibristle visited to explore the possibility of using the SLG for the transportation of naval stores to and from the nearby depot at Almondbank. This was approved but the flights were confined to small communications types like the Proctor and Dominie”. It is also noted that a Stirling was landed and taken off from Methven on July 30 1942 and it was then pronounced serviceable for four-engined aircraft, although it was the end of the year before Stirlings were flown in on a regular basis.

Yes it was actually the Stirling that my Dad mentioned but I thought that my memory was playing up! Must have been quite a sight. Finding all this information hugely interesting so thanks to everyone who is replying.

Pleasure chewby…I am an old Fifer living ‘dahn sarf’ 😀
I did my PPL at Scone in 1972 and I think (happy to be corrected) that Almondbank was one of the circuit ‘rejoin’ points !!
Did a few PFL’s at Findo Gask as well 😀

rgds baz

Thanks for the pic Bazv, My one time office was on the corner of the stores building to the left. The building on the right was demolished and a new hydraulic servicing workshop was put in its place by 1984. Fixed wing components was down to Phantom and Buccaneer by that time.

@ Atcham. Thanks for that extra info, I hadn’t realised such large aircraft frequented the place.

According to the Methven entry in Action Stations Volume 7 – which must be true ‘cos I wrote it 🙂 – “In May 1942, a naval officer from RNAS Donibristle visited to explore the possibility of using the SLG for the transportation of naval stores to and from the nearby depot at Almondbank. This was approved but the flights were confined to small communications types like the Proctor and Dominie”. It is also noted that a Stirling was landed and taken off from Methven on July 30 1942 and it was then pronounced serviceable for four-engined aircraft, although it was the end of the year before Stirlings were flown in on a regular basis.

Because I like pics…here is a Lynx touching down at Almondbank in 1980

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&ved=0CGMQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fmikealaska%2F4650303257%2F&ei=wlrHUbrEGszEPNmvgfAJ&usg=AFQjCNGLDZatqTxKrtim8RwFjTBIrvxVig&sig2=kcHjg07dNK_9CwE9B7fU2A

edit…he has pics of other helis too 🙂

There was an airfield just beyond Almondbank towards Methven which is documented but there are no buildings I’m aware of and the only cover would have been in the trees. The site was accessed from Crieff Rd by what is now a quarry entrance. The nearest aerodrome would be Findo Gask but I have my doubts if anything would have been flown there for dismantling.

Edit: Anything flyable was likely to have been flown into Donibristle or Crail for storage.

That would have been Methven Castle. It was a Satellite Landing Ground for Scone but I remember my Dad telling me there were “bombers” and Lysanders visible among the trees during the war.

I have to ask what the “W” stands for. I was at RNAY (yard) Fleetlands at that time, late 50’s early 60’s. At that time there were 2 other aircraft yards, at Belfast and Donnibrisle. If I remember correctly Belfast maintained Sea Vixens & Venoms, DB did Gannets & Skyraiders and we did the rest. Did Almondbank service engines & components?
Regards
Bill

The W stood for Workshops.

I have to ask what the “W” stands for. I was at RNAY (yard) Fleetlands at that time, late 50’s early 60’s. At that time there were 2 other aircraft yards, at Belfast and Donnibrisle. If I remember correctly Belfast maintained Sea Vixens & Venoms, DB did Gannets & Skyraiders and we did the rest. Did Almondbank service engines & components?
Regards
Bill

Thanks for the extra info Chewbydoo 🙂

Rob

Rob, I think the NAI stamps were superseded about 1973 (before my time). The stamps were similar but known as NAQA , Naval Aircraft QA , and the personal number indicating the Inspector as before. The Inspector would have had a rubber stamp and a metal one for stamping nameplates and Modification plates. Latterly, your tag would have also been superseded by the standard F731 label used throughout the three services.