Happy days and memories indeed.

I can remember a fly in at Rochester in the early 1960s (possibly the one when the Jenny Wren put in a rare public appearance?), when a fleet of ADS aircraft, comprising 4 Pawnees and the EP-9 G-ARLE, flew overhead going southbound, no doubt en route to another season’s spraying contract in somewhere like the Sudan or Ethiopia.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

I saw the marvellous Sparrowjet cruising around Shoreham in 1953 0r 1954, plus an exciting aerial ‘Duel’ with the equally super Mewgull in the Kings Cup (?) air race at Shoreham, I think in 1954.

The twin Turbomeca Palas engines made a lovely swishing sound.

The Sparrowjet beat the Mewgull on the straights, but the Mewgull nipped around him on the turns! Sheer bliss watching that. Mind you, because of some serious handicapping, a Tiger Moth won the race!

Bri 😀

Bri

I really envy you for having been around to witness the sights, sounds and spectacle of British air racing in its heyday!

It must have been something else to see and hear the Sparrowjet and Mew Gull racing each other, no doubt with several other Miles, Percival and de Havilland types as well.

I expect that any re-make of G-ADNL is proceeding on a very hush-hush need-to-know basis, but I wonder how significant is the fact that these days G-ANWO is in the ownership of a member of the Dunkerley family.

Perhaps it means that the remains (IIRC not very recognisable when previously stored in Sussex) are being used as the basis of a ‘new’ Magister (well if it’s possible with Spitfires…), or whether the parts are being absorbed in some way into the Sparrowhawk.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

G-ADNL

It seems a little strange that a thread featuring the Miles Sparrowhawk bears no mention of the daddy of them all – the prototype and 1957 King’s Cup winning aircraft, as the Sparrowjet, G-ADNL.

Probably very familiar from the registration and photographs to many of us, I would guess that probably less than 2% of the Forum membership has ever seen this iconic British racing aircraft in the flesh. Tell me if I’m wrong.

The records show it was destroyed in a hangar fire at Odiham in July 1964 but does anyone know any more about the circumstances of this incident? What was it doing there, were there any other aircraft involved, how much of the airframe survived and what happened to the engines, which were apparently removed at the time.

I did understand that at one stage a reconstruction was under way, possibly in the Bristol area – is there any truth in this as it would be terrific news to hear that this fine machine might one day be resurrected to fly again?

Wicked Willip :diablo:

I’m aware of – it’s not an EP 9, but … :confused:

So wieesso – what was it?

So many questions but still many things not fully understood, so no apologies for returning again to this fascinating thread.

Although memories abound there is a lot forgotten over the years and I have only the vaguest recollection of EP9s at Lympne, which was mentioned a while back on another thread. When exactly and why did the Lancashire Aircraft Company up sticks from Samlesbury and move its wares from its native county to Kent? Why indeed did they build only another 7 airframes after taking over production from Edgar Percival Aircraft Ltd.? Anyone got a photo of the production line either at Stapleford or Samlesbury?

Searching through old records I have found that I made a visit to Lympne on 19/8/63, when 6 examples of the type were seen and it is interesting to compare their status then and the chequered histories of each since:-

G-AOZO (minus engine) – put back together again, only to be written off in a fatal parachuting accident there on 2/7/80.
G-APWX (apparently complete and airworthy) – registration lapsed as sold on 29/11/68 in the USA and allegedly became N8395, although last reported as derelict still in its British marks.
G-APWZ (fuselage) – according to GINFO cancelled on 21/6/77 as destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use although soon restored 17/8/77 for Strutbest Ltd t/a Sussex Ag Aviation and then cancelled again and temporarily withdrawn from use 1/10/84. Has been written off at least once if not twice, most recently when it was blown backwards into the boundary fence at Goodwood on the night of 7-8/2/94 with the result shown in the ‘Lurking in the Brambles’ thread (post 70#). Almost certainly the example shown above in post 40# of this thread. Rebuilt and now flying in New Zealand as ZK-PWZ.
G-APXW (apparently complete and airworthy) – damaged beyond repair (crop spraying?) in an accident in Aberdeenshire 30/9/73 and likewise cancelled on 21/6/77 and reinstated in the ownership of Strutbest Ltd t/a Sussex Ag Aviation on 17/8/77 before being wfu in May 1982. Remains reported in W&R 9 published in April 1984 as being at the Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop for use in the rebuild of G-ARDG, which was under restoration there.
G-ARDG (complete but dusty) – said to be under rebuild as above but forward fuselage subsequently at Washington strip, Sussex before being sold to become part of the Wings Museum at Redhill. By February 2000 the only EP-9 at Middle Wallop listed in W&R17 was a composite painted as the reincarnation of ‘XM819’, which is generally accepted as being ‘PXW so it looks as if ‘RDG came off second best. Certainly it seems to have been cannibalised as it has donated its rear end and probably wings too in one of the various rebuilds.
c/n 45 (fuselage) – gone missing, but in the absence of anything to the contrary I guess it is also likely to have been absorbed into one of the rebuilds of either ‘PWZ or ‘PXW. It would be rather ironic if the ‘unfinished’ example became the main constituent of the only one of the batch still flying.

Any additions, corrections or further information to be added to the story would be of interest and in particular what became of the mysterious French machine F-BIEG?

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Can anyone out there shed light on a possible overall dark blue scheme for the Mk 3 Proctor in RAF / Navy service. Its quite clear that KEX was an overall dark navy blue after wearing camoflage and before receiving her civiliain scheme in the early late 40’s early 50’s. On the port side we have revealed the RAF serial LZ 791 in silver on the blue. The character size is identical to the starboard letters which are also visible but black on a green back ground. All over the airframe the blue is evident who can help us with this puzzle or better supply picture proof? I believe the Navy had a number of Mk 4’s did they also operate 3’s. Any help much appreciated.

Hi Tango Charlie

No photo of KEX in either military or civilian colours I’m afraid, but here’s one of another Proctor – Tango Charlie itself! 😀

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Good to have you back, merkle. I too thought you had gone from the Forum for good and having been in flying groups for 30 odd years, owning first a Tipsy Belfair and then a couple of Piper Cubs, welcome to the world of light aircraft.

Hope you succeed in your attempt in finding a suitable restoration project and please keep us posted on your efforts.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Maybe this link
http://www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/id22.htm
and scroll down to G-ALPK

Ah, thanks wieesso, that’s more like it – though it looks reminiscent of the Rothman’s scheme, as once worn by G-AKIF and others, so has added even more to my puzzlement!

Wicked Willip :diablo:

No trouble opening this link!:confused:

http://www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/dc120db0.jpg

This is a black and white photo, but could be yellow and green!:confused:

Thanks guys. Even more confused now in view of T-21’s info and I am still not being allowed to access the above link. 🙁

Wicked Willip :diablo: