viscountWB981,
Just to confuse further, according to the 1980 reference book I have open infront of me RAFGSA.258 was formerly BGA.427, G-ALTY, BGA.427 C/no.510, crashed 28.4.57 and rebuilt as RAFGSA.258. While G-ALTU formerly/subsequently BGA.657, Co A expired 1.54.
As far as I can put together, Jon H’s glider’s history:
BGA.473 Slingsby T.8 Tutor, C/no MHL/RT.12 (MHL denoting built by sub-contractor Martin Hearn Ltd). First C of A/Permit issued 10.47. Class ‘A’ regn G-ALPU 5.49 regd to The College of Aeronautics, Cranfield. Class ‘A’ regn marks cancelled 2.63, reverted to BGA.473. C of A expired 12.67, subsequently stored at Twinwood Farm (north of Bedford). (from P.H.Butler ‘British Gliders’, 3rd ed, 1980, MAS, along with G-INFO site). Anyone add to this outline history?
viscountAs an outsider in this discussion, having not been to a Newark ‘cockpitfest’, it does seem odd all this debate on ‘themed’ zones. Given the title and nature of the event, surely all the exhibits should be together in the same arena. It would appear that the traders are all gathered together, why not the exhibitors too (who after all give the title to the event)? To split up the cockpits, when surely much of the interest (of both public and enthusiast) is in comparing and contrasting, not only the variety of types but also the restoration progress, so they need to be all in the same location within the site.
As stated I am an interested outsider to this discussion, without full knowledge – but it does seem strange that an event to bring ‘cockpiteers’ together, then apparently scatters their exhibits around the site, some in isolation … or maybe I have misinterpreted earler comment!
viscountNever mind who bought, or didn’t buy what!!
For those unable to attend, lets have a couple of photos of interesting cockpits, first timers, work-in-progress, examples of excellence exhibited etc and news of the competition winners.
Please ………….
viscountWhile I don’t have a complete history, a few notes as a starter:
Served as E/72 Sqdn eg 9/68
On two-letter recode, became AE/72 Sqdn eg summer ’70, 9/70
15MU overhaul
Returned to 72 Sqdn, but now AM/72 Sqdn eg summer ’75 & summer ’78.
viscountAll the British Eagle Britannia came from other airlines, the majority from BOAC. They were used extensively on contract to the MoD, therefore fitted with rear-ward facing seats, which remained in the aircraft if then used on civilian services.
viscountAll the British Eagle Britannia came from other airlines, the majority from BOAC. They were used extensively on contract to the MoD, therefore fitted with rear-ward facing seats, which remained in the aircraft if then used on civilian services.
viscountThe Jet Provost 52 No.603 of the Iraq Air Force, along with tails of Victor XL233, Dart Herald G-ASVO Shackleton XF708 is SBAC Farnborough September 1964.
I’ll offer a Comet as the weighed-down upside-down cockpit section. As for the Meteor T.7 and Sea Vixen there are not a great deal of clues without serial or code clues. The Friendship might be a Fairchild built one as the underwing tank is unusual – perhaps others will comment.
viscountI’ve ‘toothcombed’ through the information in the 1975 Air Britain (Historians) book ‘Viking, Valetta and Varsity’ compiled by Bernard Martin et al. An early ‘in detail’ single aircraft monograph, the unit and code information was partial and before the days when AM file card details were fully released. However there are some possible answers.
I can only find 6, fairly late production Valettas that served with 6 ANS, of which 5 in service 6-9.53. However no codes are quoted for:
WG256 2.53-11.53
WG263 3.52-5.52 & 6.52-11.53
WG264 1.53-11.53
WG265 3.52 until crashed 28.1.53 & SOC
WG266 1.53-11.53
WG267 2.52-6.53 & 8.53-12.53
As my information is only partial, possibly way, way too neat to suggest 6 aircraft, coded A to F, with the missing /E as the aircraft that had earlier crashed.
Moving on to the 201AFS Varsity in the period 3-5.54. They had in excess of 40 aircraft at one time or another in the mid 50s. They include:
WF394/Y del 5.3.52 and to 201AFS, then Y/11FTS. SOC 5.6.70 to Coltishall Fire School.
WF412/H del 6.5.52 and to 201AFS, then 11FTS and /H CNCS. To 8013M 4.68 and SOC 23MU 29.5.69 at Aldergrove.
WJ626/L del 29.4.53, and to 201 AFS, then Z/2ANS, still in service as P/6FTS in 1976.
WF335/T del 7.12.51 and to 201AFS, then 11FTS and B/CNCS. SOC 12.2.71 and finished its days on Leuchars fire dump.
A number of codes were re-used several times, and without the dates that the aircraft left 201 AFS, I cannot state with any absolute certainty that these serials match the aircraft your dad flew in. There are a number of aircraft shown as serving with 201 AFS without quoted codes – and I have thought of another source for Varsity histories to comb through later.
The A-B book states that the main user of the Varsity T.1 came into service with the R.A.F. was No.201 Advanced Flying School at Swinderby, which later became No.11 Flying Training School, before being disbanded 7th June 1955.
Incidently, my source book gives the aircraft that crashed 13.3.54 as WF327/F rather than /T of 201AFS. Shows the problems in research!
viscountQuality looks good.
Are they scans from negative, transparency or print? Presume you are using some form of dust and scratch removal programme to achieve the clear image.
viscountFor the record, my logs of the time show:
15.8.70 Valley: G-AWIW, G-AXYW, G-AYCG, G-AYCK
19.6.71 Upper Heyford: G-AWIW/1, G-AXYW/4, G-AYCG/3
29.4.72 Liverpool: G-AWIW, G-AXYW, G-AYCG, G-AYCK
13.5.72 Blackpool: G-AWIW, G-AXYW, G-AYCK, G-AYGR
12.8.72 Upper Heyford: G-AWIW/1, G-AXYW/4, G-AYCG/3, G-AYCK/2
09.9.72 Farnborough: G-AWIW, G-AXYW, G-AYCG, G-AYCK with G-AYIJ as spare
24.4.73 Old Warden: G-BADW, G-BADX, G-BADY, G-BADZ, G-BAEA, one as spare
12.5.73 Liverpool: G-BADW, G-BADX, G-BADY, G-BADZ Pitts S-2A
19.5.73 Biggin Hill: G-BADW, G-BADX, G-BADY, G-BADZ with G-BAEA as spare
Clearly the last season with Stampes was 1972, the first with Pitts 1973. But when was the first season on Stampes and the last as a four-ship on Pitts?
viscountHi Follygate,
Interesting project and an interesting web site section linked to.
I see you have included the three other “City of Exeter” named aircraft I am aware of: BA Boeing 747 G-BNLV, BAC Express Short 3-60 and FlyBe’s Dash 8-Q400 G-JEDU on your web entry. The Sikorsky flying boat “Exeter” is quite an obscure find, but is it Exeter, UK? (not that it matters!).
Another one that that you might wish to research and include is Viscount 701, G-ALWF “City of Exeter” while with British Eagle 1964-1965. Can provide website urls, references and service dates if required, but probably not a photo – PM me. This aircraft still exists in preservation at Duxford in early BEA colours.
A number of airlines apart from Silver City and Railway Air Service, over the years have had ‘City of …………….” names. Air UK/KLM on their Fokker 50 and VLM on their Fokker 50s (names changed at times), but I don’t think either used ‘Exeter’, equally British European/Fly Be used “Pride of ……..” names on their BAe.146 fleet, again don’t know of the use of ‘Exeter’. Or does anyone know otherwise? I’m sure that there are other uses out there to be discovered. Are you aware that BA had a Boeing 737-236 “River Exe”, does that count? If so, then G-BKYG 12.84-12.98. I am certain that Railway Air Services is a dead-end having consulted John Stroud’s detailed book on the subject. I’m looking through my sources, so far fairly certain 1920’s Instone Air Line and Imperial Airways are also dead-ends ….. unless others know differently!
Have you considered presentation RFC and RAF aircraft? There was an excellent, but rather expensive, Air Britain book on the subject, I don’t have a copy (wish I did), but I’m sure someone has, and will let it be known if there were ‘Exeter’ named aircraft. The big Key Press ‘Spitfire’ (another I don’t have and wished I did) book of some 15? years ago, listed Spitfire presentation aircraft.
Although nothing as ‘classy’ as your website entries, I have over a period of some 10 years been gathering a list of “City of Liverpool” and related names on aircraft – although hit quite a problem when it came to illustrating older aircraft.
http://www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history&action=display&thread=4896 with specific reference to posts #6 on page 1 and entry #18 on page 2, other posts discuss or illustrate.
Incidently, if you had called this thread “‘City of Exeter’ named aircraft”, I’d have found it sooner and added Silver City’s Bristol 170, but others got there first! Still, clearly a good idea to ask the question on this forum, as even if the original question was a dead-end, you have two good new leads to research and use.
viscountO.K. then, while G-MOUR is the airframe of XS102, it is externally marked as “XR992”, with CAA clearance to do so between 5.2011 and 4.2014 – as confirmed by http://www.caa.co.uk/GINFO
viscountO.K. then, while G-MOUR is the airframe of XS102, it is externally marked as “XR992”, with CAA clearance to do so between 5.2011 and 4.2014 – as confirmed by http://www.caa.co.uk/GINFO
viscountPerhaps if you requested information about their aircraft XR992/G-MOUR they would be more likely to answer your request??
Knowing the speed of response on this forum a little surprised that no one has pointed out the slip in the title line.
viscountPerhaps if you requested information about their aircraft XR992/G-MOUR they would be more likely to answer your request??
Knowing the speed of response on this forum a little surprised that no one has pointed out the slip in the title line.
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