There was a civy version of a MkXVIII Tsetse. This was the Tsetse that was sent to the US for trials in 1944. It survived post war and was used in a World record attempt, but suffered a landing accident before the event.
It was silver overall with the legend, ‘The Silver Streak’ in red and red engine cowlings. I’ll try and dig out some photos later today.
Not Halifax’s but Egyptian Stirlings. I wrote an article a few years ago on their Stirlings. It was meant to be part of a series of articles on Egypts four engined heavies but I never got around to finishing off the other two.
This is not money but I hope you can count it as your psychic income! Thank you for your books on the silver biplanes- they were the excellent introduction to the type for me and a good mix of data, history and photography that led me into deeper and more obscure research. I still lunge at your books from time to time as a picture tells a thousand words. If I ever get one in the air I will write “All Alex’s Fault” on the inside of an expensive English wheeled cowling, so you can look up and feel some paternity! Keep it up. Ed
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I do what I can in my limited spare time.
I don’t get paid for my books and what money I do make from selling them gets ploughed back into paying for research for the next one. For me it’s a hobby pure and simple. I’ve been able to get a lot of first hand accounts of what the Belvedere was like to fly and maintain and its certainly an eye opener. While it is outside my comfort zone I think I can do the aircraft justice.
Great minds think alike Steve. Now that my 263 Squadron book is finished I’m hoping that the first draft will be ready by December. Also working on a book on the Bristol Belvedere twin rotor helicopter for Air Britain.
Very interesting thread. I’m in the process of finishing off my Javelin book that I started several years ago. Hopefully it will be out later this year/early next. Id like to get as many first hand accounts of what it was like to fly and maintain. If anyone could help I would be very grateful.
Some very nice footage indeed. The shot of the Gauntlets may be of the ones at Abu Sueir on which the SAAF pilots trained before going onto Gladiators. I can see codes on the fuselage but can’t make them out.
There is more of John Hewiston’s footage here http://johnguguhewitson.yolasite.com/ Scroll to the bottom of the page. It has loads of info on SAAF pilots.
Another great book is Springbok Fighter Victory, SAAF Fighter Operations 1940-45, Vol 1 East Africa 1940-41 by Michael Schoeman.
The idea at the time was to replace the Belvedere with Chinooks, so further development and orders didn’t really happen. The cancellation of the Chinook contract put paid to the Belvedere as well with the last ones being withdrawn in 1969.
The underslung load was carried on a central point. As they weren’t sure about the stress this would put on the airframe the helicopter was limited to 1,700 hrs. So some of them were scrapped when they reached this limit. I’m still looking into this at the moment so don’t have exact details.
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