Recently I’ve attended a couple of events that made my visits to Hendon rather special. In October I sat in a Spitfire. That experience will enhance my appreciation of the type every time I see one in future. Also it was much better to sit in an actual complete airframe than just a cockpit. I’ll never forget this and hope more museums can offer similar experiences.
As an encore to the above, I got very close to the museum’s Hurricane last weekend. Not quite the same as the Spitfire visit, as one could just view the cockpit from steps at the rear of the wing, but also a very insightful perspective.
On both occasions the volunteer guides were knowledgeable and informative and a credit to their team.
I believe the museum have demonstrated that they can provide new and enriching experiences and am now paying more attention to their website.
I do agree that many areas are very poorly lit and really hope they do something about that. Personally I’d also like them to get rid of the bomb damage area and squeeze another aircraft in.
However all things considered I’m looking forward to what they do there to celebrate the centenary.
I hope your project takes off. I’ve been waiting for years for an ADhoc publications in their From the Cockpit series, but I fear they are not around anymore.
You could try the chap who runs this informative site on ejections for contacts : http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/Gloster_Javelin.htm . The Javelin was such an interesting aircraft in so many ways and so distinctive from every angle.
Thanks Adrian, I hadn’t noticed that B.A.T. were based in Willesden. The Motorsport article is very illuminating. I’m also amazed all those Flight magazines are so accessible.
Archer’s link to the picture of the Bantam shows it is well looked after now. Pity the FK.26 was dumped in the polder.
I’ve been trawling the internet for information on C.P.B. Ogilvie and found he was associated with the following aircraft (P) denotes I found a photo on the web.
G-EACN BAT FK23 Bantam which was donated to Shuttleworth Collection after Ogilvie’s death, then sold to Koolhoven Aeroplanes Foundation who restored in it Holland. It should still be there. (P)
G-EACZ Sopwith Scooter which was flown by his friend JPC Philips before ending up with Dan Watt. I found a nice photo of it outside what I think are the hangars at Hendon , one of which has ‘Ogilvies Flying Service’ written on it. (P)
G-EAJY Nieuport Nieuhawk. I’ve no idea what happened to this, but a nice photo exists. (P)
G-EAAI BAT FK26 , Koolhoven had this one shipped to Holland , but it was pushed overboard during an RAF raid. There was a photo of it being loaded on a ship in the Watford Observer with Ogilvie Aircraft painted on the fuselage. (P)
G-EANI BAT FK26 – fate unknown.
G-EAPF Austin Whippet. One of a couple of aircraft built by the car manufacturer. Fate unknown
G-EASB Avro 504K. Probably used by Ogilvie and Phillips to tour the country promoting Tellus Super Vacuum cleaners. They later crashed in it at Ripley in Yorkshire.
G-EATR Austin Kestrel – fate unknown. (P)
G-EBKY Sopwith Dove. Now converted to a Pup and part of the Shuttleworth collection.
G-AEPH Bristol F.2B Fighter. Ogilvie converted this to dual control and hung on to it a long time. Eventually restored by Bristols themselves and flies at Shuttleworth. (P)
G-ADJR Bristol F.2B Fighter. This one went off to London Film productions and was used as a camera ship.( Picture in Aeroplane Monthly Sep 83 ).
G-EBKM Parnall Pixie. Ogilvie took this as part exchange for his Dove.
I found lots of adverts in Flight magazines. It looks like he acquired a Bellanca J-300, probably NR1317 that had flown from New York to Ireland. Also one of the Airspeed Ferrys , I’d like to know which one. Another ad refers to ‘ NEW machine specially built to fly the Atlantic, fitted with three Wright Whirlwind engines ‘ ; what could that be I wonder ?
I’m also puzzled by ‘LIGHT Plane. 2-seater, side by side, dual control, fitted Genet engine, folding wings’ , I’m guessing it was a Blackburn Bluebird ?
Another mystery ‘£100 Two-cabin commercial machines, six seaters. Fitted Rolls engine’ .
Better yet I found he had a Pteradactyl, with a Gipsy 3 engine advertised for sale at Primrose Garage, this time the company name was Healy aircraft.
Ogilvie adverts include lots of engines such as : Jupiter, Lynx, Gipsy, Cirrus, Mongoose and all manner spares.
He stored aircraft initially in the Graham White hangars at Hendon , then in a canvas hangar at De Havilland’s airfield at Stag Lane , then at the former Airco works at the Hyde, Edgeware Road, London , then possibly back to Hendon again. His business address was 437 and 437a, High Rd.’, Willesden, London, N.W.10 from at least Jan 1935 before moving to Primrose Garage , Radlett Road , Watford from at least Sept 1938.
I got much of the above information from PT Capons article in Motorsport Magazine March 1981. I have web links if anyone wants them.
I’d be really interested to learn more about the man and his machines.