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low'n'slow

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November 29, 2008 at 5:12 pm in reply to: Luton Minor Piccies #1208128

low’n’slow
Participant

Would like any information on the Four Counties Flying Syndicate(P.Lea and Ernie Lingard)that used to operate 2 Luton Minors G-ASAA and G-ASXJ from Sudbrook House airstrip Ancaster ,Lincs in the sixties. The strip was close to RAF Cranwell and full of sheep ! Tipsy Trainer G-AFVN also used the field and flying commenced around 1954 by the owner Robin Simpson using a Tiger Moth reg unknown ?

A few pics from that period are below.

G-ASAA was among the first post-war Luton Minors, built by Arthur Ord-Hume, who previously had rebuilt the pre-war G-AFIR. G-ASXJ is still flying in the Gloucester area and after being stored for many years at Fenland, Ernie Lingard’s Tipsy Trainer is curently been restored in Lincolnshire by David Almey.

November 29, 2008 at 4:55 pm in reply to: Luton Minor Piccies #1208171

low’n’slow
Participant

A bit more on the Luton Martin Monoplane, courtesy of the various books by Richard Riding and Arthur Ord-Hume.

It was a real bitza. It had started life as the Clarke Cheetah of 1929, which flew both as a biplane and as a parasol-wing monoplane, using the wings from a DH53 Hummingbird.

Luton Aircraft Company was then in 1936, commissioned to rebuild it by Flying Officer Richard Hopkinson, who named it the Martin Monoplane because his Uncle Martin paid for it!

Harold Best Devereux, later to become a founder of what grew into today’s Light Aircraft Association was responsible for redesigning it as a low-wing monoplane, still using the wings and tail unit of the DH53.

In the 1970s, the late Mike Russell of Russavia, bought the remains of the aeroplane and had plans to build a ‘new’ DH53 Hummingbird around the original wings and to recreate the Martin Monoplane around a new set of wings.

I believe (Bruce will correct me if I’m wrong) that the DH53 is the one now at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at Salisbury Hall. And I now need to buy ‘G-ASEA’ some beers to find out where the rest of it is!!

November 29, 2008 at 4:35 pm in reply to: WW1 aircraft plans #1208181

low’n’slow
Participant

VX927, A couple to wt your appertite:)

I just love the ‘urgent standby’ ground crew……….:D

November 28, 2008 at 4:30 pm in reply to: Miles Messenger memories #1209163

low’n’slow
Participant

The Tipsy looks lovely too!

Laurence

I’d just polished it up to impress for its annual Permit inspection!

November 28, 2008 at 4:28 pm in reply to: Airshow-related Accidents #1209167

low’n’slow
Participant

A few months later we went back for our thank you flight in a Jodel D140. The pilot of which mentioned that it took part in a commemorative flight across the Channel recently, upside down, forget what it was, 75 after Bleriot perhaps, which would have made it ’84.

Cheers,

John

Hmm. I suspect that the Cessna pilot might have had his wings clipped for a bit after that :dev2:

The Jodel D140 (G-ATKX or TLB?) was almost certainly the Tiger Club’s, which would have accompanied their ‘Super Tiger’ on an inverted crossing. The Jodel certainly didn’t get inverted though!

Just to drift off thread for a mo.

In 1934, Geoffrey Tyson made an inverted crossing of the CHannel in Tiger Moth G-ABUL (naturally, with an inverted fuel system!) to celebrate 25 years since Bleriot’s achievement.

In 1959, the late Ellwyn McAuley made an inverted crossing in ‘Super Tiger’ G-ANZZ.

In 1984,the feat was clearly repeated (do we know by whom?).

Anybody planning to attempt the feat next July? 😉

November 28, 2008 at 4:00 pm in reply to: Miles Messenger memories #1209184

low’n’slow
Participant

Thanks for that low’n’slow. Funny, I saw G-AKIN at Sywell on 12 April 1958 the same day I saw G-AIEK there. Is your photo a recent one, maybe at Sywell?

Taken last year. Almost exactly 49 years to the day that you made your observation. G-AKIN has in fact been resident at Sywell since April 1952, which must be some kind of record!

November 28, 2008 at 2:54 pm in reply to: Miles Messenger memories #1209305

low’n’slow
Participant

May I add this pic to the thread?

November 27, 2008 at 1:50 pm in reply to: Gypsy Major engine for sale #1210358

low’n’slow
Participant

I’m surprised the Janie police hasn’t picked you up on the thread title……!She gets very upset when she spots incorrect spellings and don’t even get her started on de Havilland………;)

The thread title has already ellicited a distinct ‘harrumph’ from ‘Rusty Tack’ at the de Havilland Moth Club!!

November 26, 2008 at 4:54 pm in reply to: Shuttleworth Bristol Fighter #1211218

low’n’slow
Participant

To quote “Propswing” – which you stingy lot would have received if you’d joined the SVAS :diablo:

“…..this one has necessitated stripping the aeroplane down to inspect thoroughly for any damage. That means at least, engine out, wings off and the covering removed in several places, just in case. So far, after many hours spent dismantling, significant but reapirable damage has been found in the forward area and undercarriage…….

“…..assuming no further damage is found, the Brisfit should return to full health for next year’s display season……

November 26, 2008 at 4:46 pm in reply to: WW1 aircraft plans #1211222

low’n’slow
Participant

I for one would be interested in going this route at some time in the future, need to get a BE2 flying first!!
http://www.greatwarflyingmuseum.com/

Darn right we do!!!! :diablo:

November 26, 2008 at 6:06 am in reply to: Luton Minor Piccies #1211866

low’n’slow
Participant

Hi everyone…

I realize a few people here are very clued up with the Luton Minors so do you have any idea about the below aircraft (other than the usual CAA info)…

G-ADYX, Luton Buzzard II
G-AFIR, Luton LA4A Minor
G-AFMU, Luton LA5 Major
G-AEYY, Luton Martin Monoplane
G-AFBP, Luton LA4 Minor
G-AEPD, Luton LA3 Minor
G-AFGG, Marendaz MkIII
G-AFZX, Marendaz Trainer

Jenna.

Hi Jenna,

A bit more info on the Luton types, although I’ve got nothing to add on Marendaz.

The Luton Buzzard crashed in the 1930s when it suffered one of its regular failures of the Anzani engine. The aeroplane wasn’t rebuilt, but there were some ideas about building a replica at one time.

G-AFIR is currently under rebuild by Arthur Mason near Aylesbury. May fly again soon!

G-AEPD was sold in 1939 to a Mr Cooke of Anstruther in Fife. It was still registered to him in the mid-1950s when it was officially de-registered. I guess broken up.

G-AEYY was a job carried out under contract by Luton for a Mr. Martin. I have more info on this which I’ll post as soon as I c get back to the UK and find it!

At the start of the war, Minor and Major G-AFBD, G-AFMU were both stored at the Phoenix Works in Geerards Cross and were sadly destroyed, along with the remains of the Buzzard, in a fire at the factory in 1943.

A few pics of the aeroplanes in question. The b/w images were provided to the Luton Minor website by Scott Perkins.

November 25, 2008 at 3:09 pm in reply to: Barton(Beds) Aerodrome #1212316

low’n’slow
Participant

nutha question guys…. 🙂

Surely there must be some sort of ‘register’ of who currently owns what… the CCA files are great to get dates of build/reg but woefully lacking of what and where an aircraft did after that?

also ..’Cancellation date’ what’s the criterion for cancellation? It’s defiantly not being destroyed!

The CAA files at G-INFO (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1) are actually pretty accurate at giving dates of registration (pre-flight), names and addresses of owners of individual aeroplanes, and sadly most of their “records cancelled” do coincide with the demise of the aeroplanes.

Most of the lightweight wooden Marendaz and Luton aeroplanes sadly didn’t survive WW2 and many that did were subsequently destroyed in the 1950s and early 1960s when many issues of rot, fungal attack and glue failure spelled the end for many wooden aeroplanes.

I’m out of the country for a few days but have some further information for you when I get back to the good old (chilly) UK!

Steve

PS In the meantime, a typical pre-WW2 ‘into wind’ type airfield with no marked runways looks like this! (from a typical pre-WW2 ‘into wind’ type aeroplane!)

November 25, 2008 at 2:36 am in reply to: Luton Minor Piccies #1212788

low’n’slow
Participant

G-AFIR is under rebuild near Aylesbury, and is well advanced, I believe.
A more detailed update can be obtained, if required.

Great to see this thread doing the rounds again. Hopefully we can persuade ‘Gaffers’ owner to get her out of hibernation in the coming year!

Anon. I will make a plea on your behalf on the Luton Minor website if you wish. PM me with your details. Alternatively drawings are readily available if you want to have a go at making them!

November 23, 2008 at 6:51 pm in reply to: WW1 aircraft plans #1214215

low’n’slow
Participant

Paul is currently assisting us with the Biggles Biplane BE-2c replica project. If you are passing Sywell any time drop myself or The Blue Max a PM. You’re welcome to come and take a look – so long as you buy the teas!

November 21, 2008 at 4:26 pm in reply to: Ident of Blind Flying Panel #1215411

low’n’slow
Participant

Sorry to throw a ‘red herring’ on the Chipmunk. I thought it might the the centre of a three-piece panel.

I can confirm its definitely not a Tiger Moth panel, an early one looks like this…..

If yours is a standard RAF-type blind flying panel of the 1940s/50s, it would have a turn and slip indicator at bottom right. It would be part of an overall panel. Engine instruments and nav instruments would be on separate panels on either side.

As early helicopters had no instrument flying capability it rules them out….

The performance of the aeroplane may be the clue with a maximum indicated airspeed of 200.

Just guesses. Percival Prentice? Early DH Dove? SAL Pioneer, Twin Pioneer?

As Bruce said. You got a bargain for the instruments alone!
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