Tango CharlieI am sure there are many more parts from classic British light aircraft hidden away just waiting to be discovered. Nice to know that the Rudder from Mikes Vega survives, any chance of a picture? Since we started on the Proctor rebuilds various parts have come to light. A rudder from a Mk 4 was found in a cellar in Hemel Hempstead complete with various airfield decals it acquired in its travels around Europe in the 50’s and 60’s. How it got to Hemel is a mystery.
Tango CharlieWhilst I cannot provide you Avion Ancien with a positive answer, I would imagine it was down to cost. Its fair to say that both the airframes were probably still held together with their original casein glue. At around this time all UK registered wooden airframes were being closely scrutinized for glue problems following a number of inflight airframe failures. At the slightest hint of trouble aircraft were withdrawn from service until repaired using modern aerodux glue. It was also at around this time the UK market was seeing an invasion of all new economical metal American types at less then the cost of the Gull rebuild. Consequently both Percival and Miles types were scrapped in huge numbers. Airframes that were perfectly good for rebuild or repair were consigned (dozens of them) to many of the Nov 5th funeral pyres all over the country.
Tango CharlieFate of EYC
If my memory is correct Gull EYC caught fire on the Gatwick apron in late 1960-61 whilst being re fuelled and was deemed beyond economical repair. Coincidentally I was speaking with Eddie Edwards who keeps his Harvard at Great Oakley, he showed me a log book entry from 1957 when he flew EYC from Thruxton. You will note from the pictures that this is a late Gull with the blown windscreen panels rather then the more rakish flat panels of the earlier models.
Tango CharlieIntra DC 3 Gatwick – Gatwick
As an addition to this thread, having never been in the ATC, my non-scheduled “pleasure” flights are a slightly different mix of aircraft:-
1969 or 1970 G-ASNC Beagle D5/180 Manchester – Manchester
197? G-A??? Dc.3 (Intra Airways) London, Gatwick – London, Gatwick
August 5, 1975 G-AIYR DH.89A Lands End – Lands End
1978? LN-??? Cv.440 (Norfly) Manchester – Manchester
July 26, 1979 G-AOJH DH.83 Hurn – Hurn
October 20, 1979 BGA1014 Slingsby T.21 Feshie Bridge – Feshie Bridge
July 13, 1980 G-ASNK Ce.205 Old Warden – Cambridge
July 13, 1980 G-ASNK Ce.205 Cambridge – Manchester
198? G-BNEA BN.2 Manchester – Hawarden
198? G-BNEA BN.2 Hawarden – Manchester
July 26, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 Barton – Southend
July 27, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 Southend – Le Touquet
July 27, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 Le Touquet – Brienne le Chateau
July 30, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 Brienne le Chateau – Troyes
July 30, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 Troyes – Le Bourget
July 30, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 Le Bourget – St. Cyr
July 30, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 St. Cyr – Beauvais
July 30, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 Beauvais – Lydd
July 30, 1984 G-BHCX Ce.152 Lydd – Barton
October 15 1985 G-BCSL DHC.1 Barton – Barton
November 15, 1985 G-AYWD Ce.182 Barton – Barton
1986 G-BCSL DHC.1 Barton – Barton
April 24, 1988 G-AWWO Jodel DR.1050 Barton – Badminton
April 24, 1988 G-AWWO Jodel DR.1050 Badminton – Barton
June 30, 1989 G-DISO Jodel D.150 Cranfield – Cranfield
October 21, 1989 N3965T Pa.28 Tucson, Az. – Tucson, Az.
October 26, 1989 N38903 Bell 206L Grand Canyon Heliport, Az. – Grand Canyon Heliport, Az.
October 28, 1989 N414H (Scenic Airways) Ford TriMotor Las Vegas, Nv – Las Vegas, Nv
August 24, 1990 HB-HOT (Ju Air) Ju.52 Dubendorf – Dubendorf
July 19, 1991 N9856C B.25 Chino, Ca. – Chino, Ca
July 28, 1991 N11170 Stinson Bushmaster Oshkosh, Wi. – Oshkosh, Wi.
August 5, 1992 N8LU DHC.2 Seattle, Lake Union, Wa. – Seattle, Lake Union, Wa.
August 9, 1992 C-FODW DHC.3 Whitehorse, BC, Schwatka Lake – Whitehorse, BC, Schwatka Lake,
August 9, 1992 CF-OVW Dc.3 Whitehorse, BC – Whitehorse, BC
August 15, 1992 N2899J DHC.3 Anchorage, Lake Hood, Ak. – Anchorage, Lake Hood, Ak.
December 23, 1995 N19HZ Ce.172 Tucson, Az. – Tucson, Az.
April 28, 1997 N73544 C.121 Camarillo, Ca. – Camarillo, Ca.
April 28, 1997 N636X M.404 Camarillo, ,Ca. – Camarillo, Ca.
September 17, 2000 N9531P Ce.172 Tucson, Az. – Tucson, Az.
September 16, 2006 N3012S Ce.150 Califonia City, Ca. – Califonia City, Ca.
September 19, 2006 N4768E Ce.172 Tucson, Az. – Tucson, Az.
September 19, 2006 N80817 Ce.172 Tucson, Az. – Tucson, Az.And I enjoyed every minute and penny(cent) I spent on them.
RMR
I would hazard a guess that the Intra DC 3 was MHJ. I also flew on this in 1975, it was an Ian Allan organised trip from Gatwick to Tower Bridge and back. Great memories of the starboard engine producing a great sheet of flame on start up and everything vibrating like crazy, but a great trip and embedded in my memory for ever!!
Tango CharlieIWA
Sad that no one saved her. I was aware of the accident when it happened, my dream of owning a Proctor was still 25 years away. She was most definitely saveable but a year or two sitting out in all weathers open to the elements did for her! Our group has the fronts from the U/C spats of IWA, these were saved and are in reasonable condition. They will fly again attached to a Proctor which one remains to be seen. If I could again use this forum to request Proctor parts large or small we would be delighted to hear from you. Are there a pair of early Mk 1-3 doors awaiting a new life out there? With over a thousand pairs built there must be some stashed away what have you hidden away?
Tango CharlieBreathtaking!
This is one aircraft that I cannot wait to see flying! I recall seeing I think the replica built by Viv Bellamy with an original Kestrel engine beating up Booker
as I was doing circuits in the early 80’s. It passed me in my Tomahawk, seemed like I was flying backwards. Later on I watched it land what a sound! My late father as a teenager in the mid 30’s regaled me with tales of Fury’s up from Tangmere formation looping above him in the summer of 37. Spectacular does not begin to sum up this beauty, congratulations to all involved.
Tango CharlieNPP History
I to have seen the report from 1969 stating NPP was written off, Glad to say this was certainly not the case. Around that time she was purchased by Bob Batt and relocated to Southend to join his Prentices and Mk 4 Proctor NXR now Biggin based. She languished in the back of Bob’s hangar for 4-5 years before being sold The new owner had her delivered to Duxford where it was planned to re build her. The Duxford delivery flight was well lets say “off the record” lacking a current C of A. She needed a temporary flight panel to be fitted the original having gone awol! In addition the rudder was missing so a spare one painted silver unlike the red fuselage was fitted for the short hop. Like many things in life, plans that had been in place for NPP’s resurrection changed and she was removed from Duxford into storage and not seen for the next 33 years. She is in remarkable condition and will be well looked after.
Tango CharlieGreat news as far as i am concerned. One assumes that Avespecs having nearly completed one Mosquito will find number two that much easier and quicker to build having worked out any problems on the USA bound example. I recall that the UK Blenheim rebuild second time around was much quicker for the same reason. All I would ask please is that you leave enough Spruce and plywood in the northern hemisphere for our three Proctor rebuilds!!
Tango CharlieThe Martin Mariner flying boats had a petrol fed internal heater. The loss of Jim Broadbent (formerly of Aquila Airlines) and all the souls on board in a Mariner around 1958 between Lisbon and Madeira was never solved. Like aircraft in the Bermuda triangle she just disappeared, many suspect that the heater was the culprit with a sudden and catastrophic in flight explosion.
Tango Charliesadness
I had experience flying in this exact area around a decade ago. I was returning in a Cherokee Arrow from Spokane vfr and flew into unexpected deteriorating weather, snow squalls with a lowering cloud base and mountainous terrain all around. Flying up a valley was possible until it ascended into cloud, very scary followed by a rapid 90 degree tight 180 degree banking turn with the pine forest seemingly reaching out to grab us!! Scared witless we flew back the way we had come with cloud closing in all around putting us down to 350 ft over the undulating forests below. We called up Spokane who vectored us straight in, never have i been so pleased to see eight thousand feet of concrete with twinkling lights each side.
Tango CharlieBlown Perspex
We are at that stage right now with our Proctors! Not sure who John is using other then that’s it a local firm in Colchester. Looks like i will be at the workshop tomorrow,not having been for some weeks thanks to a filthy cold and chest infection. John carrying out the rebuilds says that to quote i will be blown away (excuse pun) with progress!
It may be that the new transparencies are back at the shop including a brand new D/F loop cover all in clear uncracked beautiful new clear perspex. Its about that time that i posted a further up date on the Proctor re builds watch this space. If you need more info on our firm send me a pm and i will oblige.
Tango CharlieMariner
was this the one that took the life of Jim Broadbent former Aquilla airlines pilot?
The Mariner had internal petrol heaters and from what i have read these were the likely cause of the crash. Like many other aviation incidents over water nothing was ever found despite an extensive search strange how an aircraft can completely disappear.
Tango CharlieBush Tyres
has anyone else noticed what seem to be huge bush type tyres on the messenger pics posted by Pink Harrier. They say there’s a first time for everything, any forum member here care to enlighten?
Tango CharlieDPR
I keep in touch with Mike Dible who sold proctor V GTC to my father in 63. He told me that at the time he bought her in 58, she was sitting at Luton and he had the choice of GTC or DPR. Having sold Proctor 3 IEH he was looking at something a little larger for touring and GTC ticked all the right boxes.! DPR was then available with a new C of A for the princely sum of £300-00!!! GTC was a heavy beast compared to the smaller Proctors and Mike painted a white “Dumbo” the elephant on the port engine cowl as in his words she flew like an elephant compared with the smaller Proctors. I read somewhere that DPR was flown a while ago to commemorate a Batten anniversary and over a built up area possibly Auckland the engine started to run rough, requiring a hasty return to terra firma. After that it was presumably decided that she was to valuable to risk and she was then installed permanently in the terminal. A shame really, she should be replaced with a replica and flown carefully for future generations to enjoy.
Tango CharlieVega Restoration Project
I have been sent details of a rebuild project available down under!
This is an exciting ultra rare project with the only other one of around 90 Vega Gulls all constructed pre WW2 G-AEZJ airworthy and flying in the UK. It must be kept in mind that it is a full rebuild. The Vega Gull was way ahead of its time. Its speed, range, short take off / landing capabilities and payload is remarkable even by todays standards.
K98 is particularly very “Australian:” connected. She was ordered new by Lord Casey directly from Percival ( both famous Australians) and flew Casey’s family regularly between Melbourne and Canberra. Her original colours were an overall pale primrose yellow with dark blue registration letters, she would have looked stunning all enhanced with polished windscreen frame and cabin door framework!! Her name was “Corio Gull” named after Casey’s federal seat of Corio. She served the entire WWII along with another Vega Gull in the RAAF.
And later as an air taxi in NSW to her end around 1959 at Mudgee.
There were four Vega Gulls to come to Australia. Of the 90 built most suffered the effects of WWII and not many survived.
Like all wooden Aeroplanes built from the thirty’s through to the fifties hardly any survived the sixties. Most were burnt or scrapped.
Fortunately Vega Gull K98 was saved and the vendor has collected virtually every part required to make this a viable restoration project to airworthy status.
Wood work is easy and fun just a methodical step by step process using modern epoxy glue. These aeroplanes were originally built by cabinet makers and carpenter’s.
Included for interested parties is a comprehensive inventory of the project, two photo’s when she was new at Canberra, a Vega Gull factory brochure, and to show you what can be done, a photo of a small PROCTOR fuselage under construction in England (one of our three aircraft G-AKEX). The vendor has much more information and photos’ of K98 available
This is one of the most exciting projects there is and it would be great to see it restored to flying condition better still back in the land of her birth!
The price is $30,000 OBO and she is located on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. As an aside we were able to purchase 90% of the original Percival drawings for Proctors at the commencement of our projects drawings also include the Vega Gull. So whats stopping you !!! I hope she is saved and returned home and much as we would love to take her on years are against us and with our three adding a fourth classic wooden Percival at Great Oakley would be the straw that broke the Camels back!!!!
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