Hi Rob,

According to the book “The Blackburn – Dumbarton’s Aircraft Factory” by Alan M Sherry, Blackburn were asked to set up modification and repair units because of their experience with carrier borne aircraft. They set up six sites. Three around Brough and the others at Prestwick, Abbotsinch and Renfrew (all run by the Dumbarton factory with staff transferred from there) handling Martlet, Hellcat, Avenger and Corsair. The book doesn’t give a breakdown of the numbers unfortunately but it does state that a total of 4,000 mods and repairs were carried out by the three Dumbarton-run sites.

It also sports a number 3 on the rudder.

I’m a million miles from being a specialist, Roobarb, but G-ABLS was race number 3 in the 1933 King’s Cup. It was entered by Gandar-Dower and flown by A.C.S Irwin. I wonder then if it was still carrying the same scheme into the ’50s and if so whether the illustration on the cover of this book is accurate? –

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLYING-AGAINST-THE-ELEMENTS-Reminiscenses-0f-Aberdeen-Airways-of-Dyce-Airport-/151876624602?hash=item235c8d60da:g:h7oAAOxyF0pThnzn

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1933/1933%20-%200011.html

Seems there’s a pic inside the book but again only b/w.

Wasn’t aware of this at all. A very interesting read – thank you for posting.
Anyone know the relevance of the playing cards and dice on the fuselage band of F/O Patterson’s aircraft?

Surely, though, it should be sold in a string bag?

Adrian

😀 Bet it flies off the shelf too!

you can clip your iPad to the controls to watch the drone camera view.

Thanks Seafuryfan. Now that is really smart! It’d be a great way of getting top views and unusual angles on aircraft in museums though I suspect one would get chucked out if they tried it 🙂

You are correct. It must be the longest gestation period ever, over 70 years (probably more like 75) from drawing board to first flight.

Moggy

Thanks, Moggy. That is amazing!

Have you got an Age Restriction? It’s set by default by Facebook when you create a page and, if it hasn’t been changed, it requires visitors to log in so that an age check can be performed. If so, set it to Anyone 13+ and see if that helps. It works for Pages, I hope Groups have the same setting!