Folland (Hawker Siddeley) Gnat June 3, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in 'warbird', Aviation, Great Britain, Great Vintage Flying Weekend, RAF, Royal Air Force, aircraft, military.Tags: 'Teddy' Petter, 'warbird', aircraft, airframe, Airshow circuit, Aviation, BAe Hawk, Charlie Sheen, Cirencester, Delta Jets, E E Lightning, English Electric, feature film, film, Fo. 144, Folland, Fuse 13, Gnat, Gnat T.1, Gnat Trainer, Hawker Siddeley, Hot Shots, instructional airframe, jet, jet warbird, Kemble, Kemble Airfield, KM, Lloyd Bridges, Midge, No 4 FTS, Postmaster, RAF, RAF Flying Training School, RAF Kemble, RAF Scampton, RAF St Athan, Red Arrows, Royal Air Force, runway, signal square, South Wales, twinkle roll, US Navy, W E W Petter, Yelowjacks
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- Folland Gnat T.1
Kemble Airfield has many interesting residents. The local aviation company, Delta Jets, is better known for it’s fleet of Hawker Hunters, but it also owns this Hawker Siddeley Gnat T.1, XP502. Currently, the Gnat is located on the old airfield ’signal square’ , a relic of the early days of flying, when a pilot would join the circuit overhead, and look down at the square, to see which runway was in use (shown by means of black ‘dumbell’ markers) and even confirm WHERE he was (the two-letter code for Kemble, KM, is still there). XP502 is in spurious ‘Red Arrows’ markings, to commemorate the fact that Kemble was the home of the ‘Reds’ for nearly 15 years, from 1969 to 1983; the last four years of which had seen the Gnats supplanted by the BAe Hawk. Indeed, the Postmaster at nearby Cirencester still sometimes gets mail addressed to ‘The Red Arrows, RAF Kemble’ – it is carefully forwarded to their present home at RAF Scampton.
Great Vintage Flying Weekend, Kemble, May 9 – 10th May 14, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in Aviation, Great Britain, Great Vintage Flying Weekend, RAF, aircraft.Tags: 111 Squadron, aircraft, control tower, Delta Jets, EGBP, England, Great Vintage Flying Weekend, Hawker, Hawker Hunter, ICAO, Kemble, Kemble Air Day, Kemble Aviation, RAF, Royal Air Force
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Control Tower, Kemble Airfield
Well, the 2009 GVFWE has come and gone…..and it was a roaring success. Elements from previous events seemed to blend easily with the new, thanks to some excellent work by Glen and all at Kemble Aviation, (here is a shot of the control tower at Kemble, ICAO designation EGBP) . I know that those of us who were ‘carry-overs’ from previous years found ourselves thoroughly at home. Kemble, of course, is used to holding some first-rate aviation events, including an Air Day (this year a two day show) featuring some of the local Delta Jet fleet. GVWFE was re-worked to include a one-hour flying programme, in the middle of each day, which also featured sparkling displays by a Delta Jets two-seat Hawker Hunter, in the colours of No. 111 Squadron, RAF, and many other aircraft.
All in all, a great start to a ‘new’ edition of this classic event.
Backbone of the ATA – the Fairchild Argus March 12, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in Aviation, Great Vintage Flying Weekend, RAF, Second World War, aircraft.Tags: GVFWE, Spitfire, Avro, White Waltham, Berkshire, Fairey, Airspeed, Fairchild, Fairchild Engine & Airplane Company, Argus, Argus II, Argus III, Ranger L-440-C2, Ranger L-440 engine, inverted air-cooled engine, utility type, communications, ATA, Air Transport Auxiliary, Aetheris avidi, 'Eager For The Air', Lancaster, Swordfish, Liberator, Maidenhead, air taxis, Fairchild Model 24, UC-61, Warner Scarab engine, radial engine, Avro Anson, oleo-damped undercarriage, rate of sink, main spar, laminated spruce, airframe, post-war, Model 24, G-BCBH, Fairchild 24R-46, South African, ZS-AXH, airfields, factories, Repair Stations, Maintenance Units, ferry pilot, Amy Johnson, aviatrix, Thames Estuary, Airspeed Oxford, ATA HQ, Vickers-Supermarine, Consolidated, Oxford, twin-engined, brass, twin-bladed, twin-bladed propeller, wooden propeller, units
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Fairchild Argus
Elegant and efficient, this product of the Fairchild Engine & Airplane Corporation formed the backbone of the Air Transport Auxiliary fleet during World War Two. The ATA had been set up in 1940 to transport urgent items (including mail) between airfields. It rapidly evolved into an organisation which ferried the planes themselves, from factories, Maintenance Units and Repair Stations to the frontline units. A wholly civilian staffed organisation, the ATA (motto, Aetheris avidi, ‘Eager For The Air’) was headquartered at White Waltham, near Maidenhead, Berkshire, and took female as well as male applicants. They eventually flew everything from Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires to Avro Lancasters, from Fairey Swordfish to Consolidated Liberators. One of the needs of this organisation was for a fleet of air taxis, four-seat machines, which could pick ferry pilots up and return them either to base, or on to another ferry job. The Fairchild Model 24 had been in production in the USA since 1932, as a comfortable 4-seater, but was quickly subject to a wartime order for the US Forces as the UC-61, and was an excellent communications and utility machine. Powered either by a Warner Scarab radial engine (this machine was called the Argus II in RAF parlance) or the Ranger L-440 inverted 4-cylinder inline engine of 200hp (the Argus III), it was the latter which was the main version used by the ATA. The Argus was supplemented by numbers of twin-engined Avro Ansons and Airspeed Oxfords, for the larger jobs. The war-time flying took its toll; 173 members of the ATA lost their lives, including the world-famous aviatrix, Amy Johnson, who died in 1941 after crashing an Airspeed Oxford into the Thames Estuary.
The Argus has a specially designed, oleo-damped undercarriage, which allows a high rate of sink during landing. This, along with immensely strong main spars in the wing, made from laminated spruce, all contributed to a rugged airframe, and, therefore, a fair number of post-war survivors. Production of the Argus continued into peace-time, and the last civilian Model 24 left the factory in 1948 – a most creditable run.
This aircraft, G-BCBH, is a Fairchild 24R-46A (Modified); it was the 975th aircraft of the type to be built, and is powered by the Ranger L-440-C2 engine. Note also the brass sheathed leading edges of the wooden twin-bladed propeller, which helped prevent damage. Bravo Hotel is in a rather splendid yellow and white finish, which reflects the afternoon sunshine at GVFWE. It returned to the British register in 1983, having spent some time on the South African register as ZS-AXH. A most pleasing sight to see, and a very handsome restoration.
This Messenger always brings good news…… March 4, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in Aviation, British Isles, England, Great Vintage Flying Weekend, RAF, Second World War, aircraft.Tags: 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete, aircraft, Anthony Bingham Mildmay, Auster J5K, Aviation, Berkshire, Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engine, Chrislea, Chrislea CH3 Super Ace Skyjeep Series 4, flaps, G-AJOE, General Montgomery, horse racing, M.28 Mercury, M.38 Messenger, Messenger 2A, Miles, Miles factory, Newtownards, Northern Ireland, Peter Bishop, Queen Elizabeth, Reading, Royal Air Force, Second World War, short field performance, steeplechase, the Queen Mother, trailing edge, upholstery, Woodley
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- Miles Messenger, G-AJOE
Developed from a Second World War design for the Royal Air Force , and used primarily as a liaison aircraft - one was notably used by the then General Montgomery, as a personal transport – this Miles design showed excellent short-field performance; you can see here the generous trailing-edge flaps which contributed to this. The M.38 Messenger was a development of the twin-tailed M.28 Mercury, and the post-war civilian Mk. 2A was built at a facility in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. The aircraft were then flown over to the Miles factory at Woodley, near Reading, where they were painted and upholstery fitted. Powered by a Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engine, of 155hp (the same as the Auster J5K, and the Chrislea CH3 Super Ace Skyjeep Mk 4), the Messenger was a popular four-seater touring aircraft, but unfortunately production ceased with the 71st example in 1948.
G-AJOE had an interesting start; it was bought in in April 1947 by Anthony Bingham Mildmay, 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete. Unfortunately, the aristocratic steeplechase rider (who was credited with introducing Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, to the sport of horse racing) disposed of G-AJOE fairly swiftly, and it was back in the hands of Miles at Reading by October 1947.
After a series of owners, the aircraft is now in the hands of Peter Bishop, and has been restored in a traditional Miles cream and red livery. One of only a handful of Miles aircraft still flying, it appears regularly at GVFWE and other events.
A faster dragon………… February 20, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in 'warbird', Aviation, RAF, Royal Air Force, Second World War, aircraft.Tags: 'Valkyrie', 'warbird', 621 VGS, air ambulance, Air Atlantique, Air Atlantique Historic Flight, Air Show, aircraft, airliner, Aviation, Brush Coachworks, communications aircraft, crew trainers, Culham, De Havilland, De Havilland Major Six engine, DH 80A, DH 84 Dragon, DH 89A Dragon Rapide, DH Gipsy Queen 3 engine, Dominie T.1, Dragon Rapide, Dragon Six, Duxford, Edward Hillman, Fairey Reed propeller, G-ATGM, glider, GVFWE, hangar, HMS Hornbill, Hullavington, Imperial War Museum, Iraq, Iraq Transport Company, Jordan, JY-ACL, Leicestershire, light bomber, Lithuania, Loughborough, Mike Russell, NF875, Oxfordshire, Parachute Regiment, Puss Moth, RAF, RNAS Culham, Royal Air Force, Royal Naval Air Station, Royal Navy, Russavia, scheduled airline, Second World War, Spanish Civil War, Viking T Mk 1, Volunteer Gliding Squadron, Wiltshire, WW2
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- A faster dragon…..
Edward Hillman had built a economical charter and scheduled airline business using the safe, affordable De Havilland DeH 84 Dragon – the Dragon had arisen because Hillman’s DeH 80A Puss Moth wasn’t big enough, and he negotiated with the company for a ‘twin-engined Puss Moth’. What he needed now, in the late 1930s was a ‘faster Dragon’. Enter the Dragon Six (sometimes called the Dragon Rapide, and later just Rapide) with its Gipsy Major 6 engines of 200hp, and capable of carrying eight passengers, it was an instant success in the civil market. There was military interest too, with light bomber varients being used during the Spanish Civil War, and sold to smaller nations such as Lithuania. The Royal Air Force needed radio and crew trainers, as well as communications and air ambulance machines. The Dragon Rapide put on ‘warpaint’ and became the Dominie T.1, the vast majority of them being built by Brush Coachworks, at Loughborough in Leicestershire. G-AGTM was one of these, built in 1944 and originally bearing the RAF serial NF875.
‘And now, for something completely different….’ February 4, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in Aviation, Derbyshire, RAF, Royal Air Force, aircraft.Tags: ABHCO, Aerospatiale, Army Air Corps, AugustaWestland, Aviation, Bell Jetranger, Carlise, composite main blades, Egypt, fenestron, Gazelle, helicopter, RAF, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, S341G, SOKO, Specialist Flight Training, Turbomeca Astazou, turboshaft engine, Yugoslavia
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- Aerospatiale SA341G Gazelle
Well, it might not be Monty Python, but it IS a helicopter – and what a helicopter! The Gazelle was a French design, first flown in 1967, which was successfully modified and built for all the British armed forces by Westland (later AugustaWestland). The Army Air Corps used it for armed battlefield reconnaissance, and the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Royal Marines used it for pilot and crew training. This version, the SA341G , is, however, a civil variant, powered by a Turbomeca Astazou IIIA turboshaft of 590 eshp. Seating five, the Gazelle was appreciable faster (145mph) than its main competitor, the Bell Jetranger, but also more expensive to operate. I have flown in a Gazelle, and they are markedly smoother than many helicopters of this generation, with absolutely none of the vibration-induced shaking of instruments which can happen with other rotorcraft. This is due, in the major part, to advanced composite main blades, and the enclosed, multi-blade tail rotor, called a ‘fenestron’, which also makes the helicopter much quieter.
100 and counting – so here is a WW2 classic to celebrate with! January 29, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in 'warbird', Aviation, Great Vintage Flying Weekend, RAF, Royal Air Force, Second World War, aircraft.Tags: 'Maggie', 'squadron hack', 'warbird', 1940, 74 Sqn, Air Schools Ltd, Al Deere, Ankara, Anopheles mosquito, Anopheles sacharovi, atomisers, Battle of Britain, British Midland Airways, Burnaston, Calais, Calais Mark, DDT, DDT tank, Derby, DSO, Elementary Flying School, Flt Lt James Leathart, Gipsy Major engine, Hawk Trainer III, Hullavington, Hurricane, Magister, Me109, Miles, Miles Hawk Trainer, Miles M-14A, mosquito, pump, RAF, Royal Air Force, Second World War, Spitfire, Spitfire Mk1, T.H.K Ucak Fabrikasi, Turkey, Turkish Air Force, Turkish Air League, Turkish Air League Schools, Turkish Ministry of Hygiene, WW2
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Miles Magister
Amazingly, I seem to have been around the circuit 100 times now – this is my 100th post – and so I could hardly be described as being on short finals anymore. Perhaps I should rename this thing ‘circuits and bumps’? Anyway, to mark this semi-auspicious landmark, I have chosen something used for ‘circuits and bumps’, the beautiful Miles M-14A Magister (ex Miles Hawk Trainer III). Developed from the Miles Trainer, and Miles Hawk Major (both used by the Royal Air Force), this handsome aircraft was used in numbers by the RAF from 1937, and was an ideal ‘lead-in’ to the world of the Hurricane and Spitfire, aircraft which many of their pilots would soon use in the Battle of Britain. Over 1,200 Magisters had been built by the time British production finally ceased in 1941.
As well as use their use by 16 Elementary Flying Schools, some Magisters were issued directly to fighter units as ’squadron hacks’. Indeed, one of these ‘Maggies’ was used to perform a most daring feat on 23 May 1940, when then-Flt Lt James Leathart of 74 Sqn, landed at Calais Mark airfield to pick up an officer who had been shot down, whilst his escort of Spitfire Mk1s fought off 12 attacking Me109s (the soon-to-be legendary Al Deere making his first kills in this combat). Flt Lt Leathart got clean away, after picking up the downed officer. For this amazing piece of flying he was awarded the DSO.
This ‘Maggie’ is one of the many converted after the Second World War for the civilian market, where they were known as the Hawk Trainer III (along with those built for civilian and non-RAF users). Indeed, there is a chance that I might have seen this actual aircraft when it was with Air Schools Ltd (the forerunner of British Midland Airways) at Burnaston, Derby from 1953 to 1958. Eventually extensively rebuilt as a Magister, this superb example of the breed, originally built in 1941, is seen here taxying at Hullavington during the GVFWE, its 130 hp De Havilland Gipsy Major 1 engine barely ticking over. This particular aircraft contains major components from at least two machines, and you have to admire the immense effort that went into the restoration to flying condition.
A little-known piece of Miles history is the production of Magisters in Turkey. The Turkish Air League founded a factory near Ankara, the T.H.K. Ucak Fabrikasi, which by 1949 was employing 1,200 people. Amongst other things, it was still producing Magisters under licence, as well as undertaking the overhaul and repair of their Gipsy Major engines. A total of one hundred Magisters were built for the Air League Schools and the Turkish Air Force. In 1946 T.H.K. were asked to produce a special version of the Maggie capable of spraying DDT. The front cockpit was faired over, and the area formerly occupied by the seat was fitted with a tank, pulverizer, pump and atomisers. These aircraft were operated under the direction of the Turkish Ministry of Hygiene, who waged a campaign against a particular mosquito species Anopheles sacharovi (the Anophelid which is the principal vector for malaria in that region). I dare say that this is the ONLY time a Magister fought a Mosquito – and won!
Percival Prentice vs De H Chipmunk…and the winner is… January 24, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in Aviation, British Isles, RAF, Royal Air Force, aircraft.Tags: 'warbird', ab initio trainer, aircraft, Aviation, Aviation Traders Ltd, Chipmunk, Coventry, De Havilland, Freddy Laker, Gipsy Queen engine, L hangar, Percival, Percival Prentice, RAF, Royal Air Force
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Percival Prentice T.1
The Percival Prentice T.I was a direct contemporary of the De H Chipmunk in RAF service. Both of them were used as ab initio trainers, but there really was no contest, in many respects. The Prentice first flew in 1946, entering service in 1947, but all three hundred plus aircraft were withdrawn by 1953. Many of these aircraft were bought by Aviation Traders Ltd (the brainchild of Freddie Laker) and an attempt was made to convert them to four-seat touring aircraft – they were not a success. Powered by a 251 hp De H Gipsy Queen Six engine, this relatively large aircraft had marginal performance under some conditions (especially ‘hot and high’). There was also a history of difficult handling, including poor spin recovery, hence the sharp dihedral of the wingtips.
VR259 is shown hangared in one of the L-type hangars at Hullavington, although it usually is to be found at Coventry, the home of Air Atlantique.
In contrast the ‘Chippie’ looks elegant and a picture of efficient design. There are only five Prentices on the British register – dozens and dozens of Chipmunks!
A beautiful Chipmunk
D-Day, RAF Keevil January 23, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in Aviation, England, Great Vintage Flying Weekend, RAF, Royal Air Force, Second World War, aircraft.Tags: 196 Sqn RAF, 299 Sqn RAF, 38 Group, 6th Airborne Division, Airborne Forces, Airspeed Horsa, Arnhem, British Army, D-Day, DCM, Gliders, Holland, Normandy, Operation Market, Operation Market Garden, Overlord, RAAF, RAF, RAF Keevil, Ranville, RCAF, RNZAF, S/Sgt R E White, Second World War, Short Stirling, The Glider Pilot Regiment, Wiltshire, WW2
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It was 23.19hrs on the night of 5th June, 1944. A Short Stirling IV aircraft of 196 Sqn, RAF slowly accelerated down this runway at RAF Keevil, and took off for Normandy. It was followed by 45 others, from both 196 and 299 Sqns (38 Group), each carrying 20 airborne troops of the 6th Airborne Division of the British Army. 38 Group comprised crews from the RAF, RCAF, RAAF and RZNAF, with the Canadian and Australian contingents being particularly strong.
Units such as 12th Battalion (Yorks.) Parachute Regiment, and 225th Para Field Ambulance, 5th Parachute Brigade were headed for the Ranville area, and some heavy fighting. The Stirlings would return (minus casualties), and form up in a second wave – this time towing Airspeed Horsa gliders – with a take-off time around 1800hrs.
S/Sgt R. E. White, The Glider Pilot Regt., was awarded the DCM for conspicuous gallantry on D-Day; he single-handedly manned a 6 pounder anti-tank gun, destroyed a German self-propelled gun, and fought off tank attacks, just one of many acts of heroism amongst the Airborne Forces. RAF Keevil was also used to launch the abortive attack on Arnhem, Holland – Operation Market (part of Market-Garden). Keevil is still as lush and green as it was on that June day in 1944, and it was a moving visit for me.
S/Sgt R .E. White, DCM, died at Arnhem.
A Second World War classic January 22, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in Aviation, Great Vintage Flying Weekend, RAF, Royal Air Force, Second World War, aircraft.Tags: Biggin Hill International, communications aircraft, dark earth/dark green, De Havilland Gipsy Queen 2, GVFWE, Hullavington, Percival Proctor, Percival Vega Gull, Proctor IV, radio trainer, RAF, RAF Biggin Hill, Royal Air Force, Second World War, Wiltshire, WW2
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Percival Proctor IV
Behind the great bomber fleets and fighter wings of World War Two, there were simply hordes of aircraft performing vital roles as trainers, communications aircraft, radio trainers, target tugs, and all the multitude of tasks needed to make the war run smoothly. Here is a lovely example of the Percival Proctor IV, a three-seat radio trainer (sometimes used as a four-seat communications aircraft). The first Proctor flew in October 1939, and wartime orders flowed swiftly. It was sure to be a success, as it was developed from the record-breaking Percival Vega Gull. Over 1,100 Proctors, of various marks, were built and they proved to be a solid aircraft with no vices. Powered by a De H Gipsy Queen 2 of 210 hp, it is still a viable touring aircraft today, with a range of over 500 nm. This example is hangared at Biggin Hill International, which is appropriate, considering Biggin’s pivotal role in the Battle of Britain; it is highly likely that the famous Royal Air Force station on the same site would have been visited by many Proctors during the war. Note the ‘dark earth/dark green’ early war camouflage scheme, with an all yellow underside – correct for second-line aircraft such as trainers and prototypes. Here she is basking in the sunshine at GVFWE, Hullavington.
