Providing it would be an aircraft enthusiasts’ fair style with the right kind of sellers, I would definately come and also see the Boscombe Museum.

Adrian, you are an absolute legend mate!!

Love that photo of my HKG4! In fact it answers a question or 2 I had concerning her. Fantastic!

This is the colour scheme she will return to once the rebuild is completed. I managed to pick up an original signal pistol to mount back on the floor (I can see the original holes in the floor where the mount used to sit), so she will eventually be in original stock military config again.

Thanks again, I really appreciate you finding this for me.

Anyone else??? Or is that pushing it a bit??

Cheers
Anthony…..still smiling

So Tony, 18 months later, how is the rebuild going? Any pics to share?

When I was in Hong Kong with the RAF in 1980, this anonymous orange Auster was parked in the Hong Kong Flying Club compound at Kai Tak with no markings. I assumed it was an ex RHKAAF T.7, and wonder if it was HKG-4/WE552 or can anyone identify it?

A long overdue update picture taken today. Has only taken just shy of 5 years so far!

Full credit to the small but dedicated team who have been beavering away week in week out to get to this stage.

Jon

My goodness she is looking good. Almost good enough to fire up?
Well done!

Having participated in this thread some months ago, while looking through an old box containing sundry b&ws collected during the late 70s and early 80s, was shocked to find that I have not only photos of XM691, but in two different colour schemes! Both are clearly at SBAC Farnborough in the early 60s. Photographer unknown, the prints look home processed.

With Vulcan XH534 (clearly on the original) in the background, prototype Gnat T.1 XM691 would appear to be painted silver, with a yellow T-band around the rear fuselage (and presumably wings). The drop tanks are interesting, as there are photos of XM691 with production style slipper wing tanks fitted and none at all. My magazine collection does not go back far enough to trace the year that particular Vulcan was in the static park.

Two very similar shots with a P.1127 behind, could be from September 1964, as a Tripartate Squadron P.1127 (XS688) was there that year along with XM691. Very difficult to tell the colours, but certainly no yellow T-band, while the tail tip (and fairly certainly the wing-tip too) is a very different colour to the rest of the aircraft. Could this be the day-glo orange patch scheme being searched for by ‘Bluebird Mike’ in post #5?, although if so the orange patches are not applied to the standard Training Command pattern. If (big IF), I have the photo date correct (9/64) and the retirement date from airworthy (1964) also correct (post #9), then these photos are presumably of its last paint scheme.

If any one has logs for Farnborough 1960-1965, could they seach and discover which years XM691 attended; which year Vulcan XH534 was also in the static; and which year(s) Tripartate Squadron P.1127’s were also in the static, so pinning down a year for the photos. XM691 was certainly there in 1959, but with a different stores configuration.

The first photo with Vulcan XH534 behind was taken at Farnborough in September 1960. The second two photos are at Farnborough two years later in September 1962. That P.1127 behind is XP972, which also wore Tripartite markings before XS688.
Here is XM691 in colour at the 1962 Farnborough show with P.1127 XP972 behind again.

Looks superb! Thanks for the video link.

I could never understand why the IWM/Ex Skyfame Anson at Duxford was not kept airworthy, as this was flying from Staverton up until 1973?

Too high though, which was surprising considering the weather conditions!

Here are four photos in my collection of L-112 at different stages in its life.

1) The first one shows her in operational condition, taxying out at Nicosia, Cyprus in 1959.
2) In 1966, she was derelict on the dump at Rayak Air Base, Lebanon.
3) 1970 at Turin shortly after being restored and presented to the Italian AF.
4) Finally, my shot of her taken in May 2010 at Vigna di Valle fully restored in Italian AF colours, although this machine never actually served with the It.AF

This from the Adrian Balch archive on flickr (click for flickr page)

Yep, that’s my photo and I am also proud to say I flew in this aircraft from Staverton when she was airworthy.;)