Courtney Pope?

Nice items Texantomcat. Was the propeller built by the “Courtney Pope Company” and if so do you know where? I worked for this now defunct organization in the early 80’s at their High Wycombe shop fitting/signage division. The company had quite a few plants around the south including Aylesbury and Amhurst Park north London. Founded in the late 1800’s like many companies they were required to apply their workforce and various skills to the war effort both first and second. Wycombe expanded rapidly during my time there with the quest as ever for more space and to make better use of the space that we had. Their building was a typical 30’s construction three blocks side by side all with sloping roofs above heavy steel girders. Building one had a rudimentary floor at one end where years of production files and other accumulated rubbish (we may need this someday) was piled high. All of this was cleared out over a long and filthy weekend (think 45+ years) of dirt, dust spiders webs etc. Amongst boxes of files we came across a large quantity of black and white D.H.Mosquito production pictures. Parker Knowle furniture were based nearby in Wycombe it seems that the cabinet making side of Courtney Pope had been sub contracted by them for tail plane construction. Not wishing to dirty my brand new Sierra company car with these filthy old albums, they were chucked out with the other rubbish! Interestingly for years in the company board room hung a wooden propeller which I had hoped would come my way. The site in Wycombe was demolished in the late 90’s and redeveloped, can any other forum member shed further light on this companies wartime activities?

Batten 75th Anniversary

In light of the recent debate about DPR and her sale I thought it relevant to post pictures of the Proctor 1/Vega Gull look alike flying down under. This beautiful machine was rebuilt a few years ago and modified from standard Proctor to appear more like the earlier Vega’s. Note the Vega style windshield, larger rear cabin windows and cleaned up wing leading edge, no oil cooler!. Sunday October 16th, 2011 was the 75th anniversary of Jean Batten’s arrival at Mangere at 5 pm after her record breaking flight between England and New Zealand in 1936. A flypast by vintage aircraft in her honour was made that afternoon along the Auckland waterfront from Musick point to Te Atatu, passing North of the Viaduct Basin.

The idea was to have a Percival monoplane (this one) and similar to Jean’s Gull lead four vintage aircraft of that era, Tiger Moth, Fox Moth, Moth Minor and Miles Messenger along the route. On the advice of CAA, they restricted the number of aircraft to four, so that it did not become an aeronautical event that had to be Notamed. Other classic aircraft were welcome to fly behind the small air fleet.
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Survivors!

Orion there are a few that still fly these are listed below along with the other Proctor survivors. New Zealand currently remains the country to be in if wooden Percival’s are your type. Two Mk V and One x Mk 1 Proctor’s are airworthy with around a further eight stored or in museums. Here in the Uk One Mk 4 and 3 can be seen aloft with a Mk V due to join them literally any day now! We have four Proctor’s together (under two) roofs at Great Oakley airfield, Essex, on rebuild to flight status.

Not forgetting the earlier wooden types we have the gorgeous sight of Vega Gull EZJ regularly flying in the UK. In Australia there are a further two variants of the Gull series airworthy with the remains of a second Vega Gull in store, a good candidate for restoration to flight. Another Gull is with the collection in Brussels.

Rumours abound of another airframe stored in Sweden yet to be substantiated can anyone add to the numbers of Gulls or Proctor survivors?

In total of the 1247 Proctor series built only 41 are known to survive.

Proctor production consisted of 247 Mk.I, 175 Mk.2, 437 Mk.3, 258 MK.4, and 150 Mk.5. A single Proctor 6 floatplane was produced in 1946 for the Hudson Bay Company. The 41 survivors known are listed as follows.

TF-HGS Ae.57 (G-AHGS) Proctor 5 R Iceland (substantial remains)
TF-VIB K.242 Proctor 1 (G-AHVH) R Reykjavik, Iceland (Part fuselage, centre section and one wing)
VH-UXS ) K.246 Proctor 1(G-AHFU) M Rolfe Australia, for sale at 02-05-10
VH-AUC K.253 Proctor 1 (G-AHDI) P Moorabbin, Australia
VH-AVG H.224 Proctor 2 (G-AHVG) R Alice Springs, Australia
VH-FEP K.279 Proctor 1 (G-AHTN) P Canberra, Australia
VH-BCX K.305 Proctor 1 R Mandeville, New Zealand Guy Clapshaw (possible restoration to flying condition)
VH-AHR H.466 Proctor 3 R Brisbane, Australia
VH-AHY H.9 Proctor 1(G-AIEB) R Brisbane. (under restoration to flying condition)
VH-BCM (G-AGTB) Ae.8 Proctor 5 P Narellan, Australia
VH-BQR K.392 Proctor 2 (G-ALIS) P Bullcreek, Australia
VH-SCC H.44 Proctor 2 R Brisbane, Australia
G-AHMP H.170 Proctor 2 S Little Staughton, Bedfordshire (Part fuselage and centre section)
G-AHTE Ae.58 Proctor 5 Under restoration Great Oakley, Essex, (under restoration to flying condition)
G-AHWO Ae.72 Proctor 5 R Celbridge. (substantially complete but poor condition)
G-AKEX (LZ791) Proctor 3 Great Oakley, Essex, (under restoration to flying condition)
G-AKIU Ae.129 Proctor 5 Air Atlantique, Coventry, England. (under restoration to flying condition)
G-AKZN K.386 Proctor 2 R Stafford RAF museum reserve collection
G-ALCK H.536 Proctor 3 Imperial War Museum Duxford
G-ALJF K.427 Proctor 2 A Biggin Hill (Airworthy)
G-AMAL H.47 Proctor 3 D Hundleshope Heights, (complete accident damaged airframe stored since 1968)
G-ANPP Proctor 3, Percival Aircraft Restorations, Great Oakley Airfield (awaiting restoration to flight)
G-ANVY (SE-CEA)(RM169) H.772 Proctor 4, Eslovs, Sweden (to Great Oakley May 2010) (restoration to flying condition)
G-ANXR (RM221) H.803 Proctor 4 Biggin Hill, (Airworthy)
G-AOAR H.588 Proctor 4 S Biggin Hill (Cobby Moore Stored)
G-AOBI Proctor 4 (remains stored in the north)
G-AOGE H.210 Proctor 3 R Biggin Hill (under long term restoration to flying condition)
OO-ARM (G-AHZY) Ae.84 Proctor 5 S Brussels,Museum (static)
OY-ACP H.274 Proctor 3 P 20 miles from Helsingore, Denmark.
P-4 H.578 (NP171) Proctor 4 P Brussels Museum (static)
NP294 H.678 Proctor 4 R E.Kirby, original military specification never civilianised
EI-ACV K.426? Proctor 2 S Celbridge (a few remaining parts)
EC-AHB Proctor 3 Madrid, Spain. (Airframe complete and stored).
ZK-AQK (c/n Ae79) Originally registered Dec 11 1947 this aircraft had various owners including Southern Scenic. It was withdrawn from use at Roxburgh in 1965. It returned to the register on Nov 10, 1977. The aircraft was restored (including the engine) but is not airworthy. The registration was again cancelled on January 24, 1991. Has been displayed at the Ashburton Aviation Museum, but is now with the owner at at Dunsandel.
ZK-AQJ (c/n Ae50) Last flown in 1972, the registration was cancelled on April 1, 1992. Currently in storage at Auckland.
ZK-AQZ (c/n Ae143) ex G-AHGN was built at Luton and first flew on October 27, 1948. The aircraft was imported by Ernie Clark, the New Zealand Percival agent, and used as a demonstrator. He retained the aircraft until his death in December 1964. The aircraft then passed through various owners including Airwork (NZ) Ltd, B.R.Cragg, A.J.Robinson, Scotts Engineering Ltd, and P.Dyer. In 1972 the aircraft went to the Golden Age Flying Society (GAFS) at Omaka, near Blenheim. When this ceased its activities in the late 1970’s, its assets passed to the Sport and Vintage Aviation Society (SVAS) at Masterton. The aircraft was only displayed in a static condition for some years. However, in 1990 restoration work began supported largely by Lottery Board funding. Many hours and approximately NZ$60,000 later, AQZ made its first official post restoration flight on October 10, 1993 in the hands of John Lanham. Today the aircraft remains (airworthy) at Masterton with the SVAS. Now for sale at around £64,000 sterling, wouldn’t it be great to see her repatriated to the UK!.
ZK-APH (c/n Ae126) Formerly operated by the Waikato Aero Club as ‘Spirit of Waikato’. The aircraft was withdrawn from use at Ardmore in 1967. The registration was cancelled on January 24, 1991. Last reported in storage in Christchurch. Status unknown.
ZK-ARP (c/n Ae97) ex G-AIEO was manufactured in October 1946. The aircraft was shipped to New Zealand in June 1948 for the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club having flown a total of 50 minutes. The aircraft went into service in September 1948. In December 1950 the aircraft went to the Wellington Aero Club, where it stayed until April 1957. The aircraft was then stored in Nelson for two years. The aircraft was purchased by Frank Brittain and taken to Palmerston North, where it was rebuilt over a five year period. The aircraft was occasionally flown by the owner for a number of years. Stored after his death, the aircraft has been restored by Stan and Gilly Smith at North Shore and is now (airworthy) and operated by a syndicate.
ZK-AVW (c/n Ae78) ex G-AGWW Named ‘Kiwi Wanderer’, this aeroplane was flown to New Zealand by Arthur Bradshaw. The aircraft was last flown at Wanganui in October 1972. The registration was cancelled on January 25, 1991. Currently in storage at Auckland.
ZK-DPP Proctor 1 (G-AHTV) (modified to represent Vega Gull) (airworthy) New Zealand.
Unknown Proctor 5? D India.
ZS-DCO (c/n) Ae 105 SAAF Museum South Africa, ex G-AIEU

CF-EHF Ae.140 Proctor 6, Hamilton, Ontario (remains of the Mk 6 built with floats for the Hudson Bay Company)

Great Day

Thanks to all the organising staff. It was a first visit for me and most enjoyable. We were wheels up from Oakley at 11-00 am arriving Shoreham 55 minutes later, still in time to look around and we found some Proctor related items. Pleasing to have a set of new old stock WW2 recognition lamps. These will be used in the Mk 3 LZ791 (G-AKEX) which we have decided has to start her new flying career in her wartime ATA colours. We also located an original bakelite flight panel fuse holder and purchased a gross (144) one inch brass screws for £3-00!! The national DIY chains supply 25 for the same price! A pleasant flight home, skirting Headcorn, Rochester and Southend for a straight in to Oakley on 09. Looking forward to the next jumble.

Proctor survivors

Thanks Planemike for your quick response. This list how ever getting dated I really need to update it. There are a couple listed here that are gone to the
“Big Hangar” just as there is at least one not listed. Sweden has proved to be a happy hunting ground for Proctors, there is a possibility of another barn Proctor. Whilst recovering the Mk 4 in May 10 we were told by an elderly gent from Eslov flying club that he knew of what he thought was a British light aircraft stored on a farm. On questioning him he described it as having a fully faired U/C and that it was of wood and fabric. This narrows it down to possibly a Miles or Percival type. Its on my to do list so another Swedish trip. I was on holiday there this July with the family (aircraft hunting being a no no) and traversing the country north to south I can easily imagine other gems tucked away. The country is vast with farms and out buildings dotted all around in the undulating rolling countryside.

On My Way

Weather permiting I will fly in from Great Oakley. Please bring your Proctor parts large or small we are attending to buy!