Its called a Bristol Tourer -there is another example G-APOY in storage in Norway.

Picture of G-APOY in its heyday – any idea of the circumstances behind it ending up in Norway or indeed of the identity of the mysterious third machine apparently lost in France?

Wicked Willip :diablo:

I think it was G-ATTS was fitted with a Rover gas turbine way back in the 60’s and more recently there was a Bonner Chipmunk (G-ARWB) which appeared at Farnborough with an engine based on the block of the Rover V8.
There was also Super Chipmunk G-IDDY built by Nigel Brendish of Harvest Air which I think had a Lycoming. Apparently visitors and staff at the Southend Museum got regular close ups of G-IDDY as Nigel beat up the museum building at every opportunity until Southend tower decided enough was enough and had words with him.
I am pretty sure Art Scholl’s famous Super Chipmunk was also Lycoming powered and still survives (in the Smithsonian?).
I am unsure of the fate of G-ATTS but I think G-ARWB is still around and I am pretty sure G-IDDY went to the USA probably after Nigel’s sad and needless death in a Cessna.

Here’s another couple of shots of G-ARWB, this time with the Bill Bonner engine conversion, and later after conversion back to a ‘normal’ Chipmunk in RAF markings.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Seafuryfan

‘Your’ Auster was almost certainly G-APAF, which was Mike Macey’s replacement for G-ANHR, coming to the end of his period of ownership at the time.

He did all the pleasure flying in his Austers, so yes he would have been the pilot, although as aa says he is now carrying out circuits at a much higher level.

The first aircraft is still current in military camouflage and when I last heard NHR was in the roof of a hangar up north, at Hibaldstow I believe.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

The subject of Rollason Turbulents was covered previously on the Forum, see http:/forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=22713.

Even so the various posts on this newer thread has brought forth a whole host of vivid memories:-

Of the Rollason hangar at Croydon with its line up of Tiger Moth fuselages against the wall awaiting conversion for the civil market; the Farnborough formation of 9 Turbulents; being at Baginton when the Duke of Edinburgh’s entry PNZ won the King’s Cup Air Race by the proverbial street; the Tiger Club hangar at Redhill crammed full of Turbs and other wonderful aeroplanes; a flight from there on Christmas Eve 1972 with said CJ in PMX and nearly three decades later a short aerobatic sortie with him in his lovely Stampe; efforts to learn to fly in Condors and of a flight to Bournemouth with the Club CFI Derek (‘Wilbur’) Wright in his favourite one SEU, which he referred to as ‘Queen of the Skies’; trying to start Rollason-built Turbulents but never having any success due to not being able to master the correct ‘flick’ technique which the Ardem engine required – the only ones I managed to start for their owners were the homebuilds WMR and TKR, which both had different engines, and the latter was only once as it started first swing.

Memories too of being at the Airshow where it sadly bit the dust, and then meeting the so-lucky-to be alive pilot many years later at a mutual friend’s wedding in Somerset.

Thoughts too of PFA Southern Strut founder members RWG and Ken Browne, neither still with us but both of whom were survived by their respective machines – looks like Richard Almond piloting Roy’s WDO; and of a glorious day’s flying in a clear blue sky down through France from Calais in a Cub keeping 2 little blue and green specks in view in the distance as we followed Ken in SMM and Don Lord in his Currie Wot CWOT via St.Quentin and St. Florentin on the long flight to the 1988 RSA Rally at Moulins.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Popham is a gem of an airfield, the antidote to the ‘ Hi-vis, permission-to-taxi’ ethos that unnecessarily pollutes numerous airfields.

That is a pretty good legacy- nearly four decades of fun-flying, and a real community resourse. You need quite a vision to stand in a wood, and envisage an airfield, but that is what Jim Espin did.

For the first few years you had to dodge the remnants of tree stumps !

As well as the flock of sheep that invariably Jim had to herd into a corner of the field!

But along with the dog-leg approach between the trees it was all part of the fun and without Jim’s vision, enthusiasm and determination combined with his sheer dogged-mindedness there would have been no Popham airfield to enjoy.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Forgot to add my location! I’m in Berkshire, but studying in Norwich. Ideally somewhere in the south. On the coast, somewhere near here, up towards oxford, over to swindon. But I will travel for the right thing!

In the south and on the coast? If not too far you could always try Shoreham. Dragon Rapide flying weekend still scheduled for 6th/7th August.

We have 2 organisations offering experience flights on interesting types – the Real Flying Co. Ltd. with Stampe and Chipmunk and Harvard available too, and PerryAir Ltd. with Tiger Moth, Stampe and according to their website Pitts and Chipmunk as well.

Harvard is obviously very noisy but much more like a warbird, but if you don’t fancy an open cockpit flight in a lovely old biplane, then at half the cost I would go for the Chipmunk over the Harvard every time. IMHO far nicer aeroplane.

Wicked Willip :diablo: