The Nord is G-BSMD. Sadly it’s been stranded at Scone for a few years now. However, I’ve been tasked with fixing it up. The engine is off for overhaul (Broken crankshaft). While that’s being done I’ll get on with the airframe which has been sadly neglected over the years, even on C of A.

MM, any connection with G-AFOZ from Strathallan days and do you remember one of our Scone 150’s landing in the snow on Monzie Hill after the carb iced up.

Thought that might be the Nord. I remember seeing it at one of the Perth air shows a few years back (2006 or 07?). A beautiful plane – good to know it will be gracing the skies again one day.
I’ve no actual connection with G-AFOZ but it was one of my favourite aircraft there and it was a very sad day when she crashed at Edinburgh. Surprisingly I never got a decent photo of her at Strathallan – only a couple of grainy shots through the fence. I notice there is presently a slide for sale on Ebay –

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DH94-Moth-Minor-G-AFOZ-at-Strathallan-1974-original-colour-slide-/161049527179?pt=UK_Collectables_Aeronautica_MJ&hash=item257f4cc38b

I do remember an incident with a Cessna 150 force-landing but cannot remember the details. Any idea which month and year? I might be able to find something about it in the local paper of the time.

Came across some Avenger? parts such as a wing and windscreen frame near Pitcairngreen around 1971. Looked like unused components. This may have been the site referred to as Thomsons Sawmill in Methven around 1975. Only complete aircraft was Whirlwind (Helicopter) XM660 that arrived around 1976. It went to the North East Aviation Museu, then to Millom and finally? to Belgium.

Yes, there were Avenger parts listed as being at Thompson’s Sawmill in 1975 in the Scotland Scanned publication of the following year.

There was an airfield just beyond Almondbank towards Methven which is documented but there are no buildings I’m aware of and the only cover would have been in the trees. The site was accessed from Crieff Rd by what is now a quarry entrance. The nearest aerodrome would be Findo Gask but I have my doubts if anything would have been flown there for dismantling.

Edit: Anything flyable was likely to have been flown into Donibristle or Crail for storage.

That would have been Methven Castle. It was a Satellite Landing Ground for Scone but I remember my Dad telling me there were “bombers” and Lysanders visible among the trees during the war.

Guessing that you’re local, so, No1 site is now Lochty Industial estate, No2 is the Vector Aerospace repair facility. No3 was across the road from it and now a housing estate (Admiralty Wood). No4 is across the river Almond. No5 is just at the top of the hill before Pitcairngreen Village. 6&7 are a little further on at Dalcrue. Many of the original 1941 Hangars still exist but a few have been dismantled and other sheds/workshops have taken their place.

Thanks for the info. Just checked all that out on Google Earth. That really is/was a major establishment. Do you know if they flew the planes up to Perth or even Methven (in wartime) first before roading them in? It would surely have been easier than bringing them all the way from Rosyth by road. I suppose there was greater safety in a place like that being away from major airfields and ports during the war.

I don’t know what they would have been used for either but I can tell you that RNAW Almondbank comprised of 7 sites in the area, established around 1941. Carriers and ships docking at Rosyth for refit would have had everything deplaned and stored at Almondbank for the duration and I remember as a kid at school seeing Queen Marys transporting aircraft in that direction. I left RNAW (NARO,DARA) in 2001 after 18years, so would I have known your uncle?

Wow, hadn’t realised quite how big an establishment it was. Must have been quite impressive. My uncle would have been well retired I think before you joined. He had lost a leg at some point in his life (another question I failed to ask). His name was Albert (Bert) Taylor.