I my memory serves me correctly, the ‘Roo’s tank was larger than the Tiger’s one.
Other oddities with the ‘Roo, was the slat locking lever, positioned on the cabane strut outside the starboard window. These levers were reputedly off defunct WW2 fire extinguishers.
In my time, ‘OIR had, frankly, a clapped out engine. Most engine runs were protracted event, necessary to burn the oil off one or more spark plugs. It was not deemed good practice to replace duff plugs, so they were removed, driven into Old Warden village to the home of one Geoff Wilderspin, who cleaned them with petrol and rags. This rudimentary “service” usually lasted 2 or 3 flights before rough running developed again.
On one flight from Old Warden I was stooging around when I spotted Chris Morris in his Cub and, as was the practice of the day, I shut the throttle and dived down to intercept. On the way down I periodically opened the throttle to keep the engine warm. At about 1500 feet when I opened up, it was apparent that only 3 of the 4 cylinders were actually functioning 😮 A return to base was called for. All was going well, until I spotted a Cessna 172 doing a straight in approach to the short uphill runway, rather than a circuit. I slotted in behind him, but thought, “hold on, he’s got jolly nice disc brakes, I’ve got none, just the skid to slow the ‘Roo down on dry grass”. Not wanting to upset the other group members, running up the chuff of the 172, I elected to land in the long grass beside the runway. This I did, without further drama, though I did have to explain the reason for my actions to David Ogilvy…
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