Sunteți pe pagina 1din 100
MNLINUI) tl HOles etees S f B-17 FORTRESS ~ a Sweden's HS TRIDENT ra ah BS _ Base WW2 use World class or . of Boeing’s/= outclassed? PLUS i ota bomber 3-view and cutaway || &beyond #63 F ag para UE hy Dey RT CUS a TTL PSA SCD EE Coa eam Re Tee er ett eed De ee ee i erotica “Those hundred years have seen a breathtaking development rom fimsy craft Bee Reece St eon’ eet “Ths colecton tom Aix contains mace! is of ve of the most famous Royal Dee te ee) Perot erent tc Cee Www. airfix.com rar ya aanae) ont EDITOR'S COMMENT The prospect of a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft going toa new home in India is bound to ignite a debate among enthusiasts in the UK 99 HE NEWS THAT RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC LF363 is to be sent to India (see page 5) —to join the Indian Air Force Historic Flight — is bound to leave many UK enthusiasts with mixed feelings, at best. Although it is good to see India actively promoting its own distinguished military aviation history, for British observers the news emerges against a backdrop of recent media claims of atleast one political deal being done with afar less savoury state in order to sweeten business links. Also, given that LF363 has been with the RAF continuously since before the end of World War Two, and that a BBMF Spitfire was sold to finance its, rebuild after a crash-landing in 1991, this particular Hurricane has a special place in the affections of UK airshow-goers On the other hand, India has already been the source of some historic- aviation gems for the UK, notably the RAF Museum's D.H.9A and the Imperial War Museum's DLH.9 — so some two-way traffigs&éms only fair. One thingis certain: this will be a topic of discussion 99% while to come. Michael Oakey - EDITOR c 64 mn Poerate et} over the green landscape of Pir tee rec nett ‘see our newspagesthis month, EDITOR'S CHOICE Trident Database I flew in Tridents alot when |wasa youngster — it's fascinating now, 30 ‘or 40 years on, tolearn the aircraft's full story. Italso makes me eel old! Capturing the essence From RAF Yearbook covers tofine ‘vocations of great momentsin aviation history — we savour the aviation art of Wilf Hardy ‘out ofits hangar. It's one way to entertain the airshow-goers.... ee 2; ° Silerial contacts Editor Michael OakeyTel (020) 3148 4100 e-mail editoraero@ipcmedia.com HERES HOW TO GETINTOUCHWITH US... Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark t, London SE1 SUWebsite-wunvaeroplanemonthlycom | SERVICES Deputy Editor ArcEditor NekStoud Tanya Cafirey Tel (020)3148.4105 Tel (020) 3148 4107 e-mail featuresaero@ipemediacom e-mail designaero@ipcmediacom Acsistant Editor Tony Harmsworth Tel(020) 3148-4104 e-mail newsaero@ipemedia.com Editorialassistance Philiparret, Mike Hooks Jahn Donaldson e-mail ivoaero@ipemedia com ‘Webmaster David Siddall Production Editor : ‘Amanda Lock ‘e(020) 31484102 * cermallpreductonaero@ipemediacom e-mallaeroplanemonthy@davidsiddllcom mee 03 Reckises Jesicanarenat Tena Soseripten TE ecene77 Swedish models Page 14 26 DC-3 Delights 32. Where on arth? 29 Pictureofthe Month 42 Artistryin Action 30 Aircrew 75 yearson Page 18 Troubleatt'mill Page 34 Other Features 14 From Bombsto Ball-bearings For this month's Hidden History. Jan Forsgren reveals how neutral Sweden converted interned USAAF Boeing 8-175 nto useful wartime ariners 18 TheGreatRace ‘We celebrate the 75th anniversary of Charles Scott and Tom Campbell Black ‘winningthe MacRobertson Air Race forBritain witha selection of images of theraces —andracers —from the photographic archives of The Aeroplane 20 LaCometeen France Philippe Ricca introduces a two-part series on France's use of the O.H.88 Cometfollowing the type's victory in the MacRobertson Air Racein 1934 34 Blackpool vs Doncaster ooyearsagoboth Blackpooland «m_# Doncaster were keen to host itain’s first airshow. Johnny de Uphaugh ‘ty takesalookat theetforts ofboth COVERIMAGE David Lora ve Over Arnhem. A truly striking illustration by WILFRED HARDY GAVA.Our feature onthis greatartiststarts ‘on page 42. THISPAGEAN ‘evocative imag ‘ofthe typical hustle-and= bustle of Contents November 2009 Vol37 No11 IssueNo439(on sale October 1) Regulars 4 News Allthe latest preservation news, ‘compiled by Tony Harmsworth 40 Readers’ Archive ‘An fascinating selection of photo- [graphs taken at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi ~sentin by reader Herbert Watson 98 Skywriters Aselection of readers’ letters on ‘awwide range of fascinating topics, including Letter ofthe Month 91 Flying visit Melvyn Hiscock puts his usual {questions to former Armstrong Whitworth tes pilot Jo Lancaster 96 Hairy Moment (Our regular spot for your tistorie-aviation close call In Database | 55 The D.H/HS Trident MAX KINGSLEY-JONES tells the ullstoryofthe innovative Brith trijet aiinr that could have ruled the shor- and melrm-havl roast, but which was bightedby poor political decision-making 56 Type history —thegenesisand developmentof de Havilland innovative Trident 3° 57 Scaledrawings —the Trident 1C, 2Eand 38, by Juanita Franzi 62 5tretchingoout—the fourvariantsof Britains elegant r-jet 67 Autoland— the Tident’s biggest achievement fully automatic landings 69 Ahomewin— the Tiident in British service 72 The pilot's perspective what wasitliketofly? ‘TA Fromlraqto China the ‘comparatively few export Tridents 75 Trident survivors—atullistof thosestilin existence today In Navigator Our Navigator section athe back ofthe magazine tells you all you need to know about what to buy and where to go 79 thee Greens 79 BookReviews B2 Aeroplane Reader Offer 83 Auction Update 84 information Exchange 5 registration Update 86 Airshows & Everts 88 classified 94 Aeroplane services—backissves, subscriptions binders, newsagent order form, annvalindexand more 95 Contacts and:next month in Aeroplane P-SID Strega wins Reno Page 5 SaabsstaratJersey Page 11 ‘Aeroplane tracesits lineage backto the weekly The Aeroplane, founded by the legen daryC.G. Greyin 1911 ‘and published until 1968. Irwasrelaunchea asamonthly magazine Jin 973 by Richard Riding (Editor for 25, yearsuntil1998) Do you haveanews story? Write: Aeroplane, Contact Tony Harmsworth Blue Fin Building, (YTS Tel: 020 3148 4104 Southwark Street, E-mail: newsaero@ipcmedia com London SE1 OSU ‘OMBAT.VETERAN Supermarine SPITFIRE XIV RMB73 arrived at Dusford Airfield in early September for restoration to fight on behalf ofa collector in North America The former Thai AirForce machine, RThaIAF serial Kh.14/5-93, ist came to the attention of Western enthusiast in 1981 when itwas located in a childrens play areain the township of Sanantalok in Northern Thailand. Ithad been one ‘of several Mks XIVS and XIXs that the Thai Government had distributed around the country when the type left service in the 1950s, Initially donating its wings to’an Australian project, Spitfire IX RR232, the fuselage was moved back into Thai Air Force carewith 1 Wings Tango the Thai base at Taki, @MS73 vias moved to Sussox ‘ABOVE Spitfire Squadron museum at Chiang Mai traded to Provenance Fighters neat This Spitfire served witha numberof XIVRMB3,seen Airport Parts rom thefiewallforward Murita California, USA, who shipped operational lied squadronsin Wedd Machildren's ‘were then used in thestatic restoration _itto New Zealand in early 2008, After it WarTwo, including the RAF Nos 41 laygroundat ‘of two M&XINs, 5836 and PI630, at _had donated afew more pang@ the and 130, and, during May-June 1945, Sage a Don Muang, Bangiok, both also having restoration of Spitfire XY NPB in 401 Sqn ofthe Royal Canadian Air Duxford for been recovered from the provinces. New Zealand late last43NUMB73 vas ForcaatFassberg, whereitworethe _restorationtofly. ‘tera period of outdoor storage at acquired bya UKcolecrand was codes YO-W. Buzz Aldrin among the judges at glorious Goodwood FORTY VEARS AFTER he walked on the Mean, former astconaut Buzz Aldrin visited the Goodwood Revival - the worlds biggest historic motorsport meeting — in West Sussex on September 20, as judge inthe third annual Freddie March Spirit of Aviation concours f pre-1967 aircraft. Mark Rijkse won the ‘trophy for his Bucker Jungmeister (G-BVGR, recently restared by Personal Plane Services at Booker. Second place went to Cessna 195 N3064B, a 2007 | ABOVEThe Oshkosh award winner owned by meister, with owner Mark Essex-based Andrew Wood, and Rise ABOVELEFTBuzz Nigel Pickard Spartan 7W Executive Aldrin scrutinisingone of 417615 (see News, October) was thitd fp reveconcon teat Among other aerial activity at the LEFT Among the judges at 8 ial activity Goodwocdecretiremniert) Revival were dispaye from Vickers Vimy rockstarChrisRea,TVpre replica NX7IMY (probably its final SenterjamesMay. Solent appearance), Aur Lancaster PA74 and ‘Sky curator Alanjones, Avro Vulean XH558, the first [and only) Goodwoededhleteere time World War One, World War Two. beer ae lara and Cold War bombers have ever been Lois Aldrin,Buzz Aldrin, StorchrigBanieandRed —seenaicborne ata single event Bullracing/warbird pilot Vickers Vimy Day is at Brooklands PaulBontiomme.The on November 21 ~see page 87 and helmeted dummy wasnot. \yynwrooklandsmusedm.com 4 AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 “Mermoz, an enthusiastic defender of the landplane over the seaplane, had been trying for several weeks ——§ to persuade the French to buy a Comet” describes how French pioneer Jean Mermozaw the Comet’ pote 5 7 January 1, 1944, and Cee atone | Hifiton wins Reno ‘THE BATTLE OF Britain toenter service with the Memorial Fights (BBMF) RAF. Duringthe 1950s it Hawker Hurricane!IB-—appearedinthefilme | ON SEPTEMBER 20 Reno, Nevada F363 — afouncing “Angels One ive and Reach | USA, tre Unliited Gold final atthe member ofthe original fortheSky.Itcurrently | National ir aces was won by North RAF Historic Flight at wears the markings of | American P-510 Mustang Steg, flown Biggin Hillinjuly 1957 Off Harold Bira-Wison, | by 22syar-old Steven Hinton Je He is willsoon be headingfor who scored sixvictories __| now the youngest plat to wan therace Indiato become afounder flying with 17 Sqn during | nits 46-year istry aircaftofarejuvenated the Battle of Briain. Steven father, Steve Indian Air Force Historic Coincidentally, 17 Sqnis | Hinton, won his first ‘ABOVE Mustangracer Flght-The desl wilbringa now based clozetothe | Reno Gold fral in Suegaroarsround the Hurricane Ml projectto BBM atConingsby fying | 1978 atthe age of 23, ore Britain for rebuild forthe the Eurofighter Typhoon ~ | inthe legendary Let steven Hinton) BOMF,butitisunlikelyto _atypewhich BAESysteme | Rol: Royce Grifon Celebrates hswin. be'lyingforseveralyears. iscurrently trying tosellto | powered P-51D F363 first flew on the Indian Ai Force, fed Baron DH. chairman's King’s Cup racing Moth back in Britain einen ee THEDE Hedland DHSOM Codpiverrcesgned cu ecole AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 5 Tel: 020 3148 4104 E-mail: newsaero@ipcmedia com . ) For more news (JTS Write: Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, suussit / and extras go to: ‘Southwark Street, London SE1 OSU www.aeroplanemonthly.com . P-40 gets Checkertail scheme NEW COLOURS intherecentTom sei Vallis accidentin 1958 and ruceditbacktoABOVEJohm ballon over sh Columbia. The thatwedeccedtogve ta newpaint —hsfedging museum in Caforna Maloneyfying Japanese anced thousands of these scheme". John's father, Ed, saved the ‘This P-40 has an interesting history:on POF P-40N incendiary-carrying balloons into the Pad "2.105192 tom desucion MarchT0,1945 whtebeinglown by. HZNQSI92/e.ream the objeine beng to cause ‘hen had been abandoned at PROHJG Paton ct 123 qn Rear MUBSTOADRRT fora resin North Amer Denver, Colorado, after landing Shot dn aapanese Fu Gog@ August fertunately they were uncuccessul Ss Travel Air arrives in Hambshire Fury for Fighter Factory BELLAMY/LINDSAY REPLICA MOVES late July aftera period of storage in| HAWKER FURY REPLICA G-BKBB arrived at Jerry Vagers Fighter CLASSIC BIPLANE Canada. Built in 1929 at Wichita, Factory at Virginia Beach, VA, USA, in mid-August, following MAKING ITS UK debut at the Vintage Kansas, USA, the three-seaterwas __| its acquisition from the Landuyt Collection at Wevelger, Bel Aircraft Rally at Henstridge on August originally delivered by Walter Beech | gium. Built by Viv Bellamy at StJust, Cornwall, in 1981-35 for 29 was Ron Souch and Richard Seeley’s to a New Hampshire newspaper ‘The Hon Patrick Lindsay the Rolls-Royce Kestrel-powered rewly-imported Travel AirD-4000, owner. Inthe mid-1930« twas flown | fighter was seldom seen in public after it first fight in Decem C8115. Ithad arrived at Ronis Aero in competitions by American cham- | ber 1985, Yagen commented, ‘We do hope to fly it, but dont ‘Antiques workshop in Hampshire in pion aerobatic pilot Mike Murphy. imagine twill get ac much use as some of our ather aircraft Question of the month | Latest results DoyouthinkBattleofBritain Memorial | Ourlatestpollasked:"Do youvalue Flight Hawker Hurricane LF363 should go the Register Review iteminthe tolndia? Navigator section of Aeroplane?” VOTEONLINE: www.aeroplanemonthly.com | YES:65% NO:35% 6 AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 PN eee a Ti) NOVEMBER 6, 1916 NOVEMBER 28, 1945 r ‘Pensacola Bay. Florida LICdeHemy __Thefirs Short Sandingham Mk converted ftom Sun- aaa Mustinmakesthe festeataputiauneh rom _deland MI78R fr aunched at Rochester Stan's ony fi amovingship.tlyingaCurtssAB-2 Survivor son show at Soler sky Southampton NOVEMBER 12, 1941 Theaiccraft carrer FMS AckRoyalissunkof Gibraltarby theGerman submarineU-81 Norwegians return to ‘Weald veterans were flown infrom Osloina ABOVE Vampire event was Kenneth Aarhisls, who flew AIRFORCE ANNIVERSARY _ Norwegian ic Force falcon business TSSUN-DHZwith hi; de Haviland Vampice TS, LN-DHZ, THE GOTH ANNIVERSARY ofthe Royal jt, escorted by woF-16 Fighters of tHeVaMpIFE down rom its base at Rygge, neat Oslo, NNorweglan Air Force (RNOAF) was the curent 132 Wing at Bodo in Preservation, tg repzesent theft et ype flown by celebcated at North Weald curing the Wrenioesed’ — theNonwegians. Among the veterans Spin of North Weald Community Day VampireT-Tion gathered was 54-year-old Li-Gen fy-in on September 13, Honoured «September 13. Wilhsin Mohs who was the fst [guests were a group of six Norwegian pilots who flew Supermarine Spitfires from the illustrious Essex fighter base eeeouiecnne Sern ots wa ao ing AE IngeSandie which became the founder unit ofthe RNOAF when itwas officially formed at North Weald in November 1944, The Demon gets about displays at ime of press: SRSPOR ES DACET three at its current Old ‘THE MOST EXCITING addi-_ Warden base forthe Shuttle- tion tothe vintage aviation worth Cellection; one atthe scene in 2009, Demon Dis- Duxford Air Snow on Sep- plays Hawker Demon K8203/ tember 5, where it formated G-BTVE,has proved areliable with Historic Aircraft Coll and hugely popular perfor- tion Havnker Hurricane XIl erin itsfrstsicweeks of | _25140/G-HURI:and at the sisplay tying Marshall Aecospace cen ‘With Stuart Goldspink st tenary show at Cambridge the controls, the ighterhad Airport on September 20. made no fewerthan five Goldspink — who piloted the Demon on its ist post-restoration flight on June 23 ~ says," agree with the original plot's notes, Which described the handling as’pleasant and easy, rather overpowered Tiger Moth, Speeds and power settings are similar tothe Shuatlewortn Collection Hawker Hind, the only major ‘The Demon information with the Historic Aircraft Collection's Hawker Hurricane at Duxford on September 6 AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 Norwegian pilot fl a Vampice. LEFTNOT32Wing The event was organised by The Squadron, and was the first of series ‘of annual ly-ins leading up to the 2012 Tee Ovateadai, Olympics, each year featuring veterans RolfKollingand —_fromatleast one of thessxnations who Withein Mohr. flew from North Weald ABOVE One of the first air-to-air photographs ofthe restored Demon, taken over Old Warden on August 13. ‘Watch outfora featureinnext month’ difference being that the Demon has ataiskid and hydraulic brakes “The fact that it could be flown hands-off on the frst flight isa tribute to the meticulous work performed by Slysport Engineering who rebuilt this beautiful aeroplane over an 18-year period in Bedfordshire Ylews Hahnweide Oldtimers hit the heights rain prevented asic ju formation on the first day, and only two stayed forthe rest ofthe weekend. Making the longest-ever Hawker Hurricane transit to an airshow was North Weald- based Peter Teichman, who displayed his newly-restored 1B, G-HHI. "The Hurri vas designed to engage the enemy over the Channel and bbe home within an hour’ he Itisnt the most com- fortable machine to fy 1,100 miles deep into southern Ger: ‘many, but, apart from some poor weather onthe intial leg to Ligge all went to plan AIRSHOW REPORT ETH HaHNWHDE T etna stated 008 pocplanndsea arate inept asst Thewlaen Abpstaat ct sttgatonseptober Sis Highest the show debtor Thomas Ics eonty ported Manche sed aarp Ieb.chnw anda et teptarancaby sus) tasmetot Art Dilbendatandone each from atharca ad the sal Catecton in ane Heavy says Tel: 020 3148 4104 E-mail: newsaero@ipcmediacom Write: Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, Southwark Street, London SE1 OSU For more news 4 and extras go to: wwwaeroplanemonthly.com ABOVE The Hahnweide crowd thrilled toPeter Teichman's high-energy display in his Hurricane, seenhere making curving approach nfrontof Teck Castle. RIGHT Thomas Juleh’s Polikarpov!-16, which made ts debut. 3 A ‘Blériot’ in Oxford St CENTENARY RETURN VISIT FOLLOWING HIS RECREATION of the ‘Channel fight on July 26, Mikael Carlson's Thulin A (a Swedish-built Blériot XI) was displayed at Selfridge’s ‘department store in London on July 27-August 2, above. The exhibition ‘echoed the summer of 1909, when department store magnate Gordon Selfridge displayed Louis Blériot’s ‘original Channel-light aircraft in is rnew London premises. Meanwhile, at his workshop at Sebbarp in Sweden, Mikael is busy restoring the Stockholm Technical Museum's Thulin Ato flying ‘condition, The machine will be one of the stars of Stockholms 2010 Centennial Air Show next summer, celebrating the anniversary of the first airshow ever held in Sweden. Originally builtin 1918 for the Enoch Thulin Flying School at Ljungbyhed, the machine remained 8 TWENTY-TWO YEARS AFTER it arrived at Duxford to join The Fighter Collection, North American B-25D 43-3318/NB8972 Grumpy departed from the Cambridgeshire airfield on August in storage there for ten years before being rediscovered in 1928 by a Swedish Air Force conscript. After acquisition by the museum, it was put ‘on display in 1938, remaining on ‘exhibition until t went into storage again in the early 1980s. Mikael, who has previously restored two Thulin sto flying condition, will fitthe machine with an overhauled original 50 h.p. Gnome Omega rotary engine. 29, heading for a new home withthe Historic Flight Founda: tion (HFF) in Seattle, Washington, The Fight crew comprised HEF founder john Sessions, Lee Proudfoot and John Romain, { Spitfire HA P7350 over Duxford on September 16, Spitfire Il back on line SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE IIA P7350 flew again on September 16 at Duxford in the hands of Sqn Ldr Al Pinner, following a year-long rebuild with the Aircraft Restoration Company. The fighter now wears the codes Of bestselling author Sqn Lar Geoffrey Wellum’s 92 Sqn ircraft while based at Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain. The Spitfie is now due to be used in the making. ff a BBC television drama based on Wellum’s book First Lght;it willbe screened during the summer of 2010. AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 DOMINIC WINTER ane ee The Collectors Sale THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER Pree Reta) Cre eee ce cd ern eae me te eee eet oe SE ee ee epee Reg. G-SYFW with Permit to Fly and full documentation Estimate £20,000-25,000 Separate llustrated Catalogues eee tarry SAE OC Ce Cer eet ad ROMNEY eee eer ae Te Ne ete Tan & Allan Aviation’ fours 2009 PROVISIONAL AVIATION TOUR PROGRAMME Gwtzorand: Aap: Suis A AP Ashu oe ‘Ednardo AFB Aca ‘SHARJAH AIRPORT RAMP ACCESS - now confirmed! 2010 ADVANCE INFORMATION 20 Mar? Ape ound Tne Wor, Grand Toure New Zola (Wards Ove rmuroums) + Hono Kong & Los Amslts sage Sutra & stan ho 210 BONG Aon pt s6:22.ay_Kezakotn,ryrgyztan,Uztlaan, Taka, Tukmorin, 19.4 Gomary:ILA2010 Exton &Arshow piston muss ‘wwianallan.com Ala Tr Terma Henn Staton preach Shppriog Mer TWI7 BAS Teoyaom & Pan ster 87902 Pa pn Gann CCB Aviation Ltd ‘Stockist's of Robert Taylor, Nicolas Trudgian, Simon Atack, Gerald Coulson, Frank Wootton, John Shaw, ichael Turner, Anthony Saunders, Stephen Teasdale, John Young, Robert Watts & Richard Taylor Veteran Hurricane pilots will be attending a fund raising signing event For more information please contact us, or visit the website for full event and organiser contact details. r Dockers ues CCB Aviation Lid., 18 Lambourne Road, Hardwick, Cambridge, CB23 7XB Giesmeker ea Musee ee) [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 Tel: 0203148 4104 al E-mail: newsaero@pemedia com sauna) Forsmorenews (QELS Write: Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, and extras go to: Southwark Street, London SE1 OSU wwwaeroplanemonthlycom Classics flock to grassroots Brodhead FLY-IN REPORT Té MIDWEST ANTIQUE Airplane Clubs annual "grassroots fly-in attracted a diverse, 100+ selection ‘of vintage types to Brodhead, 120 miles north of Chicago, on September 11-13. The event alls afew days after the Antique Airplane Associations annual fly-in at Blakesburg lowa, and the National Stearman Fly-in at Galesburg, inci, so many owners take their aircraft al three events, Highlights included Pitcairn PC-18 ‘Autogiro NC12678, fresh from picking up the Reserve Grand Champion award ‘era he AKG Osos son Anoveyame, ‘hich aden ad scone nr tanmands arte evening ight Tree Beech To, low Springs, ‘sched and rank Marche oho bad 131 Rockford Mnok based Grumman G-44 sen Wtgeon igh) wer the args Brother aircraft present be CMe ter ae Mee oO USC wA tly With winter just around the corner, HAA Press Secretary Steve Slater talks about the seasonal opportunities that the HAA provides for those that don’t want to confine their enthusiasm only to the summer months IM SURE THAT thatall would agree privileged tobe extended an invitation. the HAA Annual Symposium, which that the 2009 UK hstoricairshow ‘Another HAA "socal included a will hs year be held at the RAF season has been a huge success. visitto the RAF Museum, Hendon, in Musaum Hendon, With displays around the country ‘the company ofleading aviation artist While the events location pays ranging from the ground-shaking Michael Turner PGAvA, to tlk through homage to RAF heritage, the HAA event Vulean to gossamer frail Edwardians his exhibition on the life offing will ls celebrate 100 years of naval calbcing onseurScicts send Alextersve Micra’ van wth pees end by CC re eg Ere Re rere ee er eM cbs eyo coal EN cg Toneated wth deaingtne bale Sas wae ee een orl er et eb coe ea ais Tecra ee atl at Sacleenied onlin aaasa? jovmssh ton ceannarté Py eactosrelasra Rishontie ltreriiceparia tec seworg 1 rareah romty “ht Mayo he tric reat ccming haverwesal cncgso elas stilton porate: eee Wevieaninesyrele faire aptetores paren place eet Leading into the closed Formore news nuit and extras go to: wwwaeroplanemonthly.com Round S& the 4 Patch Local restoration news in brief from the UK historic aircraft scene Travel Air on tour BACK IN THE AIR OLDEST COMMERCIALLY T seesessrcatinnt Barrel sco sed at forthe Fone on age athe tod often doy 2803 mle gh tom State spon Onbond the newly etre 2p. Cone powvredbipane were snow ce {olyar-od Gn th anlar Srnans’oftheanua ood, abr tr ser ear Madson ans te ows Boconber 2008 fers Tiihwhorutea cater persion faa wg Cosa aoe and Pins Po Ts wt oaate he 2 Yeorot plane NCE on plese With Pilatus PC-12upport aeroplanealongside, the eam takes fights from Page Feld, Fort Myers. Davidson, 1, isa pleasure-fight veteran, having started giving rides in a Stearman in 1995, based in Florida in the winter and at Meigs Field, Chicago, during the summer months Rich THE FIRST Hawker last complete Trident 1 airframe in Britain, The airliner has been used asa Siddeley Nimrod to goon permanent depay was Unveiled dose tothe main firetraining airframe gateat RAF Kinlosson since Re arrival atthe fenthuses “twas greatto check Glenn | September 9. Nimrod MR2__ airportin 1985, but has outinthe Travel Air andseeanew | XV240,above, hasbeen never been burned, biplane pilot take to theairsql@he | saved by 42Sqn (Reserve) Detail regarding ts move tepalsoofered.agreatap@eumty to | CO Son cr Rao Farvesand toa mureum in the north drop inon alot vin committee ofke-minded of England are curently frendealong the ay oN ofthe ngh- | individual, who managed being worked on lights forme was at Kalspel, Montana, | to getsponsorship trom snore gotto fly Hank Gapins Travel | BAESYstemeand ole. PTHE BRISTOL Britania ‘Air 6000 (se The Comeback Tur Royce; no publicfundshave _XM496 Preservation January 2008 Aeroplane), Ray andere | been sedon the projec. Society Britannia 1, Curtis GW-16E andthe Travel Air4000 | wissisdolobor ametipis. below, vas moved.on toa Allon the same dy 1» AT DURHAM Tees new purpose-uithard- > Forinformation on rides see ww. | Valley Aiport, group of standing at Kemble on Jly Iuckylindystyingservice.com enthusiasts istryingto—30,Thenow-refurened faveHawker Siddeley ex RAF machine arved t Trident IC 6-ARPO, the Kemble in October 1994 ‘a breakat Red Lodge, Montana. oe his Mo OLD Ylrws 25 Years LI go NOVEMBER 1984'S AEROPLANE featured news of attempts to put Short Solent ying-boat N9O161 Haleyon (ex-G-AKNP) back nthe ar, and bei stories on two further civil types ~ de Havilland DH.88 Comet, racer G-ACSS Grosvenor House which had gone on display at Famborough Air Show to mark the Sth anniversary ofthe 1934 MacRobertson Air Race, andthe Science Museum’ Lockheed Constellation, N77776, which had been repainted in TWA colours. Preservation coverage elsewhere in the issue included a report onthe recovery of Grumman Wildeat JV482 from Portmare Lough in Northern Ireland, and a Preservation Profile of D.H.60M Moth G-AANY. 2 AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 AEROCLOCKS By popular request our CD is now published as a book. Updated with new content. ilots & Navigators Signing Event at the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre Salisbury Hall, London Colney, Herts. M25, Jct 22 - Sat Nav postcode AL2 1BU Signings take place at 10.30-12.30 & 13.45-15.45 Fer more information on tis event vst: www dehavilandmuseum.co.uk contac: Peter Roberts Ea: robertsp40@02co.k or cl: 01753 886497 ‘Ast of those attending fs avlableon the de Haviland Herkage Centre waste This event being sponsored by The Masta Group AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 FROM THE TRAILING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY. ‘The First Home-Built Aeroplanes *Ord-Hume * £12.15 Reproduced Irom Newnes PRACTICAL MECHANICS for 1935136, 1937138 & 39 and 1958/59 B60, here are te compete buldng lnseucwons for the yng Fea the Luton Minar and the improved ‘Luton Minor 4 the sree moines "bis-your-own srr bn Brcsh avaon, che 44 in pare sl borg Balle by amateur today ded by Artur WS. Grdstsme, who dengred the 4a ths book 550 Eontansaddonalphotegraps. 2 bre history of Home Suit areaft, and lst iformaton tou {eid to bud your own sera neigh fou aban savings 08 pages il of rings, diagrams {he photographs. Large format paperback Methods Vol sce 192 +6970 Eee sete cente sree et aaa peeatgta coe eee ae Se hspioeaen Sree pacman eal Seat apccsees aesean of ox ong rons E eee a ae eas a aeaeoe car saery mance Se a eos Ese ences oe ok wn age ee ents ates meuiet ooo oes Nia fone! tig re ae yc wh | eR ane nee othe tal ter prey | 9 Tol eb gg wh eel seb te nett seme ore otc anaemic | ve | sem el eee crema eee | easy eer era ees ox aneeriaanel Building the Maltese Falcon Shelley ° £11.15 “The Mate FALCON i 3 260ee Fle Four Seahe engine, and mares Bn length and dee and 19° In wrth across ce ead, Designed to be bulk from sok eran parts, notably 3 magneto ke apd standard Honda pastors ‘en bo ured spp ae ited Whit not» pers project ths engine can be Bulk by any compete engineer. You get the ful deawing set of I shes reac nse CAS format and 36 M4 pages of sates hs and Ups on bling the eng, phir numerosrphotor af pre nd resp hen 3eonetnesn mana t the comentona sense, ut is good solid formadon amed at help the Sader es make "model LC engine eo make peopl [avs drop! Wirebound ‘th er cover 0 £2070 Prcesown INCLUDE UK Pat ong BU ve or mare tems nd SAVE ON POSTAGE - autsatcaly eld if you order ening or contacts fr ‘the exet sings. Overeos posnge eroresalycalccted omine. our wenstre: fn al the LATEST ies on cu West: www.camdenmin.co.uk agar Sitheris, and an easy-to-use, SECURE on ihe ordering iy, OF ak for «copy of our 94 page lhstrated Socks - sent FREE wore! 1] aes ‘Mail Order (no stamp required in the U.K.) to:- CAMDEN MINIATURE STEAM SERVICES FREEPOST (BA 1502) Rode Frome Somerset BAI1 6UB EERO Tel: 01373-830151 Fax: 01373-830516 HIDDEN HISTORY Boeing's mighty Flying Fortress is fi URING THE Second World War, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was ‘one of the most numerous and well-known Allied heavy bombers, The B-I7 was used on every front, bringing the war to German-occupied Europe, and, to a lesser extent, against Japanese forces in the Sere Perey re pares Bienes reo Paes known wartime Fortress operator however, was the Swedish airline Svensk Interkontinental Lufterafik AB (Swedish Intercontinental Air ‘Tralfic Lid— SILA), which obtained five Fortresses by somewhat unconventional means, Ofthe 69 Boeing B-I7s that came down in Sweden during 1943-45, seven were lransierred to the Swedish government, along with three ABOVE Originally B17 42-3543 with the USAAF, F-A7SE-BAH, named Sam, landedat Bulltoftain October 1943, beforebeing transferredand ‘operated by SILA. ‘Artworkby JUANITA FRANZI ‘©2009 gts for its vital role in World War Two; less additional aircraft for spares, for use as 14-Seat ad hoc airliners. In return, several hundred USAAF aircrew were returned to the American authorities, Converted by Saab, five Fortresses were operated by SILA from October 1944 until August 1947, pioneer ing air routes to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, New York and Rio de Janeiro, Two were transferred to Denmark in October 1945, These seven B-I7s were the only examples of the type anywhere tobe operated as airliners, In Swedish service, the Boeing B-I7 was redesignated the F-17 (F for Felix in honour of the US Air Attaché Felix Hardison whose assistance had consider- ably eased the acquisition of the Fortresses}. A stopgap solution, the F-17s operated with some success until they were replaced by more suitable aircraft ‘Asa neutral country, Sweden was cut off from its neighbours during World War Two. In April 1940 Germany occupied Den- B] mark and Norway, gaining control ofthe sea lanes and air routes to Great Britain, From 1941, Finland became an ally of Germany, thus cutting off traffic [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 ‘THESE FEATURES aim toring lesser-knownhistoric aviation stories toawider audience through the pages of Aeroplane. you have sucha Flory t tel getin touch with us! Awolf in sheep's clothing: converting the F-17 FORSWEDISH SERVICE, all military equipment wall-mounted couchessetalong the sides ofthe was removed frome 8-175 withthenose fuselage. Fach eatwas separated by an armrest, section being lengthened for useasatforward Inthe rearward passenger cabin, the eight seats argo compartment Thebomb bayareawas were arangedin fie singleseatson the portside also converted into cargocompariment Aftof ofthe fuselage and thre onthe starboard side. this, two passenger cabins,carryingsix(forward By each passenger seat. a window was fitted cabin) and eightpassengers(rearcabin).were __Theentry door was piace at therear ofthe included. Apassageway through thebulhead starboard sideof the aft cabin. In the rear ofthe connected the passenger cabins although there aicraftatolet was provided, which shared space was no door with the retraction gear forthe tallwheel, which The walls the passenger cabins were meant that a visto thetollet during ger- isolated with 20mm-thickpressedfelt Thesie _retractionwasnot advisable! The conversion of seatsin the forward cabin were arrangedintwoeachF-17 lasted about five months. iF well-known is its use as a wartime Suge airliner, as JAN FORSGREN reveals TOPLEFT a tobe investigated, An opportu- RIGHTThetwo | nity offered itself on July 24, 1943, passengercabins | when the first of an eventual total intheF-T7,that | of 69 B-17s landed in Sweden. gntheleftthe | This first Fortress, B-I7F 42-3217, forwardcabin, | Crongia Rebel ofthe 38st teokingat.the | omer Group (BC), was exam Bei | Reus sauenaeee forward. intention of restoring the battle- wasower — | scarred Fortress to airworthi: LeFrFormerly | ness, Over the next months, 17642-31163, | B-17s and Consolidated B-24 SE-BAM was Liberators in better condition pamedTemin | | came down in Sweden, and SitAseric and | Tegotiations with the American Sbonceay "| authorities began in earnest tothe Soviet Union. The Swedish temporary haltof theflights to__| semetimebefore | regarding the transfer of some national airline Aktiebolaget Scotland. Asa result, the need for | Decembera, | ofthese aircralt Aerotransport (ABA), along with new aircraft became critical Y945,wnenTom | ” By March 1944 ten B-175 BOAC, managed tokeepavital Earlier in the year, Sir Stafford perme {including three for spares) had lifeline to Britain open, trans- Cripps, the head of Ministry of a been transferred to the Swedish porting passengers, mail, and, _Arerait Production, had offered government, with negotiations ost importantly, ball-bearings the transfer of three Armstrong Continuing until December 5, forthe Allied wareffort. Even” Whitworth Albemarles to ABA, 1944, With the assistance of Felix though the warwas raging on all to expedite more deliveries of Hardison, Saab initiated a fronts, plans for civilian interna much-needed ball-bearings. In conversion programme of the tional airtrafic in the post-war the event, no Albemarles were seven Fortresses. The B-17 was era was already being initiated in delivered to Sweden, Sweden. For this purpose, SILA was established in early 1943, the faster and able to fly higher with, ‘more cargo than the DC-3, but also required more maintenance intention being to operate on. Negotiations for the delivery of and fuel international air routes, leaving _ airliners continued with Great ‘When completed, each of the the national air traffic to ABA. Britain and the USA, although no F-17s was assigned a civil During 1943, ABA had two ofits firm offers of delivery were five Douglas DC-3s shot down by received. As a result, other ideas German fighters, resultingina of acquiring suitable aircraft had Tegistration, as well as a typically American name (see panel overeat). The other two F-17s, AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 6 HIDDEN HISTORY RIGHT Avery Individual aircraft histories of Sweden's F-17s rarephotograph Type sin LandedinSweden Registration Remarks restored shoo” BA7F35-DL _A25ZI7 _Varmacta,24743.__ Sparesaicraft _ Gunnerytargetior Wing 7atStends sina et BATFTSDL 42-3543 Bultofta,31043_SE-BAH Named Sam: Destroyed in fre practice at nae Brommain December 1948 Sv-0FA onone BATF-IS-VE 42-5827 Shegre, 5144 Sparesaircraft Presumedscrapped oriteveryfew B:I7F-N5-B0 4230661 Galtota,24144 SE-BAK Named im, Scrapped at Bromma post-restoration B-17G-5-80 42-37163 Rinkaby,6344 SE-BAM Named Tom. Written-offon December4,1945 fights. interest B-17G-10-VE 42-4006 Mastermyr,6344 —Sparesaircrat Destroyed.aftersmallpars used. Mainspar stil IMBWY-tRerestora inuseasroofbeam ais 8-176-40-B0 42-9755 Bulltofta.11444 __SE-BAO Named Bob. Scrapped atBromma,Smallparts _Svignsity cided preservedatAranda CvilArcraftCollecton _bythealrcrafts, B-7G-35-DL 4237155 Bulkofta, T1444 SE-BAR ToDDL (Danish ines). regsteredas OV.DFE __newcommande Written-offat Kastrup on January 31, 1946 nye B-17G-35-80 4232076 Bullofta,29544 _SE-BAP ToDOLregsteredasCY-DFAToDanshNaval_Fortresshasbeen Airdrm, ater Air Force, as 69-672, Soldto gnisplay att Institut Géographique National in France as USAF, butis soon F-BGSH Preservedatthe National Museum _torelocateto ‘ofthe USAF, Dayton, Ohio, USA WashingtonDe. 8176-20-80 42-3140 Bulkofta.21644 _SE-BAN Named Ted, Scrapped Bromma in 1950 SE-BAPand SE-BAR, never BcLoWNamed | set southwards, east of the service. On November 22, Capt entered service with'SILA, being | Jim, SE-BAK: Shetland Islands towards the ‘Ake Duvander's F-17 entered a subsequently transferred to DDL_| Preparedfor | Scottish coast, which was tobe _spin over the North Sea, buthe (Danish Airlines) mothersortieat | crossed at St Abb's Head, ‘managed to regain control Sromma. twas, | Lindholm and hisctew reached On November 7, 1944, Lindholm Into service madeanun- Prestwick successfully, with the and copilot Lars Axel Nilsson Bythesummerat 944 theft | Seite | ret ight oxcurringon took off from Bromma in SE-BAK Mon inughenancivetestand | aimee. | UNG wintwosdsisonste-7s, Norwegian border No engine taining figs, betore being AKand SE-BAM, entering,” testo presse an caught Me declare tend torsorice late September 944, The ts ight wes scheduled fr October but thiswacdelayed fortes days Uh cabot when, a eter Ioealtme an ABA crew of si [cGy Marchal inal ok Orrin BAH from Bromma Airport north of Stockholm, fr Prestwick n Scotland tas wellas the crew 13 passen- gersanda cargotoad were ofthe converted Fortresses was | RAFSumburgh | Octobe Further fights were and set course westwards for ready: Registered as SE-BAH, it | ghingtoengine ae Scotland. After crossing the ‘board. The Iohr light routed via SoS Ostersund in central Sweden, — an SSS ae crossing Norway north of wee Trondheim. Once clear of Norway, course was set west wards to “Point X", 95 miles off the Norwegian coast. Having reached Point X, course was then ‘Also landing at Bulltofta, near Malmé on the southernmost tipof Sweden, was B-17G 42-97155, in April 1944.Named Bob, itis illustrated here initspost-war natural metal scheme with blue cheatline and stylised eagle insignia, ‘Artwork by JUANITA FRANZI/AERO ILLUSTRATIONS © 2009 16 [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 eite 42-32076, later SE-BAP, was restored to its former glory Beetles Bere RUT eh ve Rema Medea Eee BY al ‘The crew put out the fire, and RAF who greeted the acLowThefew | and Lindholm andhis crew too consideration was given to engersinhis native tongue | remaningparts_ | olf for Prestwick turning back but Lindholm ommen til Sumburgh ofthe F-T7sstl Fights continued until tne end fo ulty in clearing t imber ofthe | Swedenarethese | ‘ ‘cockpitaeatsand decided to inking | ockpitseateand continue to Scotland. Landing in Reie2Bengine | © with the German-occupied Norway was ) parts front the pair of onlyconsideredasthe last resort. Control Tower what he thougl | SE-BAD ket ransferred to Danish Having descended from the field, Lindhoim replied atarlanda, | Aialines, one was later sold to the verse Danish Air Force, and operated survey aircrat ‘Owingtothe applica- a iy over Greenland asymmetrical engine * Sa power, Lindholm and Nilsson had ‘ restored toit mstantly to Keep the glory as 8-176 fom stalling Shoo Shoo Baby, now on ‘entering a spin. Guests of the RAF 4 Dayton, Ohio, but bound for Lindholm and Nilsson decided the National Air & Space that an emergency landing in the ‘Museum in Washington Shetlands was the best solution. _ mel" The RAF personnel shook Radiocontact with RAF Sum- __theirheads, and said “wait until | Sting temed” burgh w: ed, 2 you can see itn daylight!" Tunway was lined by ditch Lindholm managedto ‘The following day,a Dakota theautumnof, set the Fortress down foranight carrying replacement engine | 1945,Imacurious landing on the 1,100yd- arrived, returning to Scotland runway. Upon landing, the with the passengers. After two entrance door wi edbya —_weeksas unintentional guests of | fmetaluniqueto | Foraren which willbe Norwegian offi the RAF, SE-BAK was repaired, | thismachine. | avalabejfomsprir colourschemeof colaurechenmns sh Fortes 75th ANNIVERSARY ‘ABOVE The was onhand at ‘Mildenhall, Suffolk, in thedaysrunning upto the beginning ofthe race on October 20, 1934, and covered the preparations comprehensively. Here The Irish Swoop, the Bellanca of Fitzmaurice and Bonar, awaits thefinal answerasto Arabian x73 [ABOVE One ofa set of souvenir photographs depicting the various participantsand theirmachines. This one showsde Havilland Dragon Rapide ZK-ACOandits pilots. teame ninth. RIGHT Anotherimage from The Aeroplane'sglass-plate negativestaken at Mildenhall, this timeof Roscoe Turner's Boeing 247 (placed third) andiKLM's Douglas DC-2 (second). The MacRobertson Air Races official finishing order {de Havilland .H.68 Comet6-ACSS Grosvenor House RiceNo 34 founby CWA Seotand Campbel sack of Greate Bapsetime 70 Sin 2. DouglasDC2PH-A)Uiver- Race Noss fownby KD. Parmenter}} Mol. rrsandC van Brugge othe Netheranes. apsed timeSOhr mn Handicap winner 3. Boeing 247D NR2STY Warmer Bros Comet ~ Race No5 fonby®.Tumer CE Pangbom and Nehosof The JA Eapedtine 92 55min ‘de Haviland D8 CometG-ACSR-— face No, flowy 0 Cathcartjoresand KF Waler of Great, tan Elapsed time Thr 13min 5. Miles Have Major ZX-AD) ~ Race No2 flown bySqn rl McGregorand HC Walker ofNew Zealand. Elapsedtine ahr Sin handicap adjusted 1 82hr ‘Sri fatetsingl- engined machine n Races. 6. Airspeed S.5 Courier G-ACIL—RaceNo own bySqn tab StourtandSgtPRK. Sodartof Great Ertan. apse 100hr24min (3h 32min adjusted) T.de Haviland D.H.80Puss Moth VH-UQO My Hidergarde~RaceNo flown byC).Meroseo! ‘stall Eapsedtie hr Tin adjusted) £8. Desoutter MK OY-000 —RaceN flown byLsM, Hansenand D Jenin ofDenmark. Arrwed on ciober31 9.de Havilland D.H.09 Dragon Rapid Z-ACO— Race 8 No 60, lwnby}0. Hewit. CE KayardF Stewart repreteningNewTaland ferveg cnNovenber3 Theremaining 1 entrams werenot classified. Their [atesareas follows Miles Falcon -ACTM -RceNo 3 flown Brook wth MSE Ly pusenger|ofGreat Brita. Arivedon November20 Fairey IF G-AABY —RaceNo'5, own by Fg OFC. Daves andUt-CarCN, lof Geet Bran Avedon November24 Falvey FoxIG-ACKO — Race No35,lownby Par snd G Hemswortho Australia Withdrewfror acelin Pars: arivedinMelboune on February 13,1935 Lambert Menocoupe 145NCSOIW Baby Ruth Race 'No33,flewmby}.Wghtand) PolandoWarrefthe USA Witherewatcaleuta = 7 @ http://earth.google.com/ Eat cag” The first can last Search Co-ordinates: 29-997010°S, 51-187389°W FTERWELLOVERa yearof selecting Airframes visible on | global mapping sofware, [am finally featuring a Douglas % DC-3 Dakota! This * distinctive sithouetteis | |* = not ust any DC-3, however, but the first of the breed —at least the front halfotitis, ‘The fist six deliveries to American Airlines (AA) were designated Douglas Sleeper Transports (DST) ‘The example on these pages, the first real DC-3, NC16009 (c/n 1545), was | fa delivered to AA in September 1936 3 and sold to Brazil in 1951 as PP-SQH $= with VASP [Viacdo Aérea $0 Paulo}. Iwas severely damaged at Con- ; _gonhas airport, $20 Paulo, on |: § September 28, 1969, in collision with Curtiss €-46 Commando PP-BTE. Subsequently rebuilt using the rear || fuselage of c/n 34293, PP-ANU, which ‘was fire-damaged on February 23, 196i, it returned to service with Varig, : ‘which operated it until 1969 itwas | ABOVE Google updated this image on january 7, 2008: how's that for New Year resolution? Ths Varig preserved at Porta Alegee by 19/5 ané | Dakotacarres the spurious PP-VRG on theside buta genuine identity of the rear portionon the wings. now fronts the Museo do Varig, Google which displays memorabilia celebrat- Earth. One sits outside the defence mentioned last month, track north: ingthe ainline'sformationinthat city | getowtwointe | Ministryin Jakarta (6-243798°S, ‘west from that DC-3 and you will find in 1927, Onecanmake,” | 106:860295°E) andanotherdown- _the sole flying example beside two Naturally, there are manyfurther | Three andyou | under (I6-887185°S, 145:751912°F). __Heavylif Boeing 727s; anyone durable DC-3s tobe found on Google | ean’tseethejoint | Forthosein despairofthe Belfast! gota current picture? */Q> googleearth Intrepidtravellerand enthusiast Peter Davison shareshis passion for worldwide wrecksand relics~ and shows Aeroplane readers how tofind them onthe nternetandintheflesh GOOGLEEARTHisone ofa number ofglobal mapping tes avalable Many hotelfindersand storalocatarsnow ink aiecty toatl images Microsoft. Yahoo mapsand Fashearth offer a variety ofoptions. Arecent computer with broadband wilhep. Begin by loggingontohtip.// earth google com todownloadthe Software. inte Fly Ter window atthetop letthandeomer of thescreen,typein the co-ordinates Inthismonthscase, 25997010"5,, 51:87389°W Then dlickon the magn {ying-lassiconto beginthesearch. Google Earth take youtoa dstant ew ofthe stein ‘which th aierafe are Justvsible LookFor the contoisstthstop righthand corner thescreen and pace the cursron them ‘They wiluminate. Usethesiderto Zoom nor out(you mmayneedto select ‘preferences’ and Uncheck automati- cally tit whilezoom- ing’hthe middle arrowstomove he image up-and-down and sideways, and thetoparrewsto rotate, Haven! hen you type your co-ordinates. belied icon obscures the target ‘The locaton ako sppearsinthemenu beneath the Ny to entry. To remove the icon, jst deselect this box With multiplesearches youcan hgnght your chotees inthis wayto iden elative postions andassist navigation, ‘ABBVERZSomed. out Google Earth view of Port Alegre'Sa0 joao airport, with the Museo do Varigsite and DC-3 atmiddleleft. [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 By Nigel Walpole. The Stary af the RAF Arild Construction Branch in the Cold War In some 110,000 words and 347 pictures, parsonal anaedates ofalman at work and play are woven into factual framework drawn from official archives, 0 pay tibute tothe ACB, All profits accruing tothe author willbe donated to the service charity ‘COMBAT STRESS' 786. 190mm, hardback 224pp. £25.00 PUTA The Biography of Tet Pia Jimmy Dell OBE by Frank Bamett- Jones. Jimmy was one ofthe courtyslast great test pilts who, working elasely with Bee Beamon, testfiew the Lightning, TSR2and Jaguar before his retirement. A remarkably modest man, the author tolls Jimmy story in grat deta wth contribution from the man himsol, plus several testimonials, £20.00 The Making ofa Test Pilot by Wg Car A ‘Robby’ Robinson RAF (Reta) Tester Zero y (ne was the offical callsign ofthe Chief cuctor ofthe Empire Test Plots School PS]. Robby was lucky enough to have been a student, tutor and Chief Instructor of the world famous school nd this book tells the journay, £18.00, Ifyou know what twas ike to bein the Royal AirForce inthe late Ss and early 60s, then you must wall inthe nostalgia generated by Tonys story. Ifyou would like to know what the Ar Force was like in those days then reed this book, because itis the real thing. Authors royaty tothe Shutaworth eollaction, £16.00 Comprehensive history ofthe famous Battle of Britain fighter station which sadly closed in November 2005. Fiteen chapters, seven of which cover WW2 operations with details of every squadron and the extensive action they saw wrilst serving at Coltshal, £25.00 Fa View more titles at 33 BRITAIN’S FIRST AIRSHOWS Blackpool v Bree ree i The battle for Britain's first public aaies 34 [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 100 years ago Blackpool and Doncaster fought it out for which would host Britain's first flying meeting. JOHNNY de UPHAUGH relates how neither was exactly a tour de force for British aviation N 1909 PUBLICinterest | ABovEThe | wary, and wished to waituntil _ representative to Reims to inaviation exploded. | posterforthe | the following year, partly be observe and negotiate with ‘The main catalyst was | Bencasterevent | cause it thought that the weather _ potential participants, So the Biério’s crossing ofthe | Cefanda.| | inthenotth of England atthat Club reluctantly approved a Channelon July 25 that | Boncardls time of year was not conducive to meeting to start on October 17 year. Then came the flying (this proved correct), and__Deciding to steal a march on frst, and very success- partly because there was little Blackpool, the Doncaster Corpo- ful, "Grand Week of | Intheeventno | hope of British aeroplanes and ration scheduled a meeting torun Aviation’ at Reimsin norihem | aeroplanesfiew | aviators making a good showing. from October 16 to 23, starting France, during August22-29, | anvwberenear” | inthis the Club was again two days hetore Blackpool and attended by some 500,000 oe correct, since the first recognised thus laying claim to being the frst spectators. twas closely powered.¢@ainedand contiol- British ying meeting. The press followed bya meeting at Port heralded the contlict asa "new Juvisy on the outskirts of Paris, War of the Roses. Doncaster’s that drew so many spectators a star attraction was Cody, who that roads were biocked with , had not been at Reims. He was traffic and there were riots on Ce contracted for £2,000 for eight the overcrowded trains 3 S| ays, and the organisers claimed Then the Circuito Aero-Brescia tohave spent £12,000 attracting took place in taly during Septem- : the entrants. But there were ber 8-22, again attended by huge problems for the committee. This crowds, followed by the Berlin Air PP | event was not recognised by the Week from September 26 to Octo- F 2 \ ‘Aero Club, which sent telegrams ber 3, judged something of an ‘onthe eve of the meeting, acrimonious failure as warning competitors that irthey These were great social occa - took part they would be banned sions as well as aerial spectacles, byits French counterpart, the run on entrepreneurial lines by Ted fight on British soi, by Federation Aéronautigue Interna committees backed by local aviatorsat American S.F.Condery, a tionae, for which the Aero Club authorities, industries and hotels. | Beneaster.rom | *Cojonel” Cody, had taken place acted in Great Britain, from any ‘The aviators were contracted and only the previous autumn, future meeting held under its aus- paid to attend, with significant Howevera committee in Black-__ pices that year. Cody was furious, cash prizes being offered, and pool was determined to be frst, but nobody else took any notice with the meetings’ backers and had, with foresight, senta of the threat. They tore up their aiming to profit irom ticket sales Receipts at Reims reportedly exceeded £30,000, a considerable sum, and the telegraph office receipts from journalists amounted to more than £10,000. MessrsMolon, leriotxltype To Blackpool! mmonoplanest Ormaybe Doncaster... | Doneaser, That summer, many in England | Sham before also felt that meetings should be mounted on their side of the Channel that autumn, But the Acto Club (not yet "Royal") was ( ¢ J) AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 35 telegrams and the ban was eventually commuted, Atthis time the French were way ahead of the British in aeroplane design and flying skills, At Reims there had only been one British-domiciled ‘competitor out of 30 entries, George B. Cockburn, and he flew a French Farman biplane. (Henry Farman was English but living in France, and Hubert Latham had English parentage.) The rest, apart from the American Glenn H. Curtiss, were almost all French. One contemporary journalist remarked tartly that the proposed “English Flying Meetings promising to be international are so only in one respect —namely that the ‘competitors will be French and the spectators English’, British (lack of) progress Flight was more enthusiastic; "At last we have the real thing, the ‘whole thing, and nothing but the thing’, it wrote. tt reported that ‘one onlooker said, “The frst circuit you see is beyond the power of words to describe” Itwas no surprise to find that the only aeroplane of “British” BRITAIN’S FIRST AIRSHOWS design to fly at Doncaster was Cody's ENV-engined IC biplane (a retrospective designation), and at that time Cody was still an American citizen. However, his naturalisation papers arrived on the last day of the meeting, He signed them using the Town Clerk's back for support, hauled down the Stars and Stripes lying above his hangar and hoisted the Union Flag amidst great jubilation while the band played God Save The King. Cody's huge aeroplane earned its nickname carl at Doncaster because a massive special edly painted pink). ABOVE Cody (right) anda companion have alittefunwith the patently primitive Mines biplane, which wasnickmamed the ‘offeestal bysomeofthe less charitable aviators. Like all ofthehomebuilt Britishentrants picture, thistime allegedly showing *Sommer[who flowa Farman]in flight’, although not the aeroplane, was initially named the Cathedral Likewise, Blackpool depended heavily on foreign pilots and machines, The notable exception was AV. Roe, who brought his first triplane and another that was incomplete. Two other English pilots were entered with French ‘aeroplanes, Claude Grahame- White and Cecil Grace, one of two brothers who later became well-known at Hendon. Flyers and fools The racecourse at Doncaster, with its grandstands, served as the "lying ground’. The dozen entries included Cody, who, along with five Bleriots, a Farman anda Wright, constituted the only serious Contenders. The remainder included Capt Walter Windham’ Bieriotstyle mono- plane, which was so flimsy that it brokelits back as it was being pushed out of the hangar and its ‘owner was "gently precipitated towards the ground, provoking a great deal of chat?’ and Edward Mines's curious tiny biplane “Dot”, which weighed only 350Ib, had never flown and was unlikely todoso, Monsieur Saunier's odd LEFTAnother re badly faked — attractiveGreat Northern Railway poster adver ‘the Doncaster ‘meet 36 [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 ‘Chauviere parasol monoplane with reefable wings and twin pusher propellers was equally Incapable of flight. There was something extra ordinary about the way some competitors turned up with. tunflown aeroplanes, to experi ment and make fools of them- selves in front ofa crowd, Perhaps it was the lure of the money, or perhaps it was naive optimism combined with su: [preme faith in their own ideas. Either way, such machines added a sense of variely and eccentric~ ity, There were countless equally optimistic would-be aviators in Britain at this time whose carefully (and not-so-carefully) constructed machines never flew. The autumnal weather was a problem throughout the Doncas- ter meeting, although heavy rain and high winds did litte to deter the reported 50,000 spectators, most of whom had never seen an aeroplane. The organisation was judged excellent, and the pro- gramme contained a code of 58 flag signals indicating, in those pre-public-address days, which competitor was doing what. Each entrant had his own identifying flag, and a numeral allowed spectators to find out what was going on by referring to their programmes, For example, "13) flying on the mast meant “Failure owing to want of petrol’, "17 indicated "Machine completely broken’, and "26" meant “Ma chine will be rapidly repaired” Cash prizes and cups were offered for speed, duration of flight, height, distance and cross-country flying, but no real ‘competitions took place. These ‘were exhibition flights, The only possibility of a proper competi- tion arose when Frenchman Roger Sommer challenged Cody toa race round the circuit. Cody refused, claiming reasonably that his wide-span biplane was unsuited to turning corners. It probably did not matter, The ‘crowd had simply come to see the thrills and spills of flying, As Flight commented, "Well may the public cheer as the flyer sails majestically aloft, foritisa great ‘ABOVELeon Delagrange's Blériot XI ready fortake-offat Doncaster. Note thecovered-in rearfuselage and, inthe right background, the srandstand set, side forthe Women’s Aerial League. ABOVE Field of dreams the hopelessly impractical Chauviere ‘monoplane, with itslimp *reef- of producing dreadtulflying. machines. sight". But the crowd got one ‘major spill. Cody opened pro- ceedings on Saturday by llying down the course. He then turned round and taxied back. Halfway along, his front wheel sank into a soft patch of ground, His machine partly up-ended and Cody was thrown out, gashing his forehead, Repairs to both machine (Cody Jassoed its skid to right it) and pilot were soon effected, but as expected a Frenchman, Sommer, ‘won most of the prizes, ‘The competing Blackpool ‘meeting took place on the town’s golf course, Grandstand tickets Cost five guineas for the week bul Aero Club members were admitted free, Special trains ‘were run from Euston, and a remarkable 500 cases of cham- pagne were consumed, along ‘with some 2,000 pork pies. The ‘weather, as at Doncaster, was horrid except on the first day, when winds were acceptable. ‘There were only 11 official entries, compared with 12 at Doncaster, but according to contemporary reports several others joined in, making a total of 20 aeroplanes. On the main list ‘were A.V. Roe'striplanes, four Biériot monoplanes, three Farman biplanes, a Voisin biplane, a Sommer biplane and Hubert Latham's famous Antoi- nette, the type that had so nearly beaten Blériot across the Channel that summer (see Man ofLa ‘Manche, August 2009 Aeroplane), ‘There were prizes for height, speed, distance flown and so on, but little direct competition. ‘Owing to the weather and. unserviceability almost all lying ‘was done by a handful of pilots. AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 Louis Paulhan and Henry Farman ¢ ) 37 shared Paulhan's Farman because Farman had lost his aeroplane on French railways, and Rougier lew a Voisin. The rain turned the site into a lake and the crowd greatly reduced as the week wore on Nevertheless, Farman managed an exceptional 24 laps of the course, covering nearly 50 miles, then a British record, in thr 32min, his machine emitting an ‘unpleasant odour" caused by the burnt huile de ricin (castor oil ‘which lubricated his Gnome rotary engine. The star of the meeting was debonair Hubert Latham, who described himself as “un homme du monde”, a man of the world. In his beautifull monoplane with its polished-wood fuselage he flew two laps in what the press described as “a half gale”, working hard at the control wheels on the cockpit sides, operating ailerons and elevator respectively. Some newspapers talked of "70 mph. gusts", but the reality was a wind gusting to some 48 mp.h. The Manchester Guardian said his aeroplane was “tossed about like a cork ina cataract”. It was an impressive performance at the time. AV. Roe only managed a hop of "40 or 50 ‘yards" on the last day, after the ‘meeting had officially closed. These first two British meetings exposed the somewhat tender state of aviation. The Daily Telegraph wrote, “The Doncaster Meeting has ended in a blaze of glory for those who have borne patiently for nearly a fortnight ofthe meeting, flyingin strong wind. thatgrounded alloftheather aviators. aviators, the vagaries ofan execrabie climate and the petulant and unreasonable complaints of the public, who have yet to grasp a real concep- tion of an aviation meeting” Reflecting on the events, Fight wrote that they should not have been promoted as competitions, but rather as exhibition flying events. Itpointed out that the spectal@s probably were aware of swt a very small proportion afiechines and ietshave fidKin at al during tine period of these meetings”, Butit was a start, and an important one. ‘There is one interesting final story about the organisation of these events, During the Doncas- ter meeting there was a di about who had the rights to the ticket money, and the case was taken tothe Chancery Court in London on the opening day of the meeting The New York Times. reported that Doncaster "was a Conspicuous failure... froma financial point of view ...in the arranging of which ‘Count’ Hamon, who achieved consider: able noioriety in both America and Europe under the pseudo. nym of ‘Cheiro, played apart ‘which has been the object of litigation in the London courts” CCheiro was an trish bon-vivant and clairvoyant who claimed to have made startlingly accurate predictions of world events, Perhaps he became involved at Doncaster because he correctly foresaw the future growth of. aviation, even ifhe did not predict the terrible weather! ~ the whims and caprices of > 38 25% OFF ALL CORGI LIST PRICES FOR CAM CLUB MEMBERS LT as ANNOUNCING THE NEW JULY-DECEMBER 2009 CORGI CORGI CLASSICS “ay ‘THE WORLD'S NO.1 SUPPLIER OF AVIATION MODELS AND THE BIGGEST SINGLE RETAILER OF CORGI AVIATION MODELS - BRINGS VOU THE SECOND HALF 2000 CORGI CLASSICS PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT - MANY WILL SELL OUT VERY QUICKLY ‘ALL ORDERS DESPATCHED AND CHARGED ON THE DAY OF RELEASE CAM CLUB MEMBERS ENJOY A 25% DISCOUNT OFF ALL CORGI AVIATION MODELS JOIN THE CAM CLUB NOW FOR IMMEDIATE DISCOUNTS - ONLY £22.00 (UK) £27.50 (OVERSEAS) FOR 2008 4 Avo Lancaster 81 RAF - 617 a. (Grand Slam Bomber? imo ssz9 | faa74(AADBIE) Sa BAC Ligting FS BAF 5 Sq. Wz e4699 36.24 (AAGea1t) BAC TSR BAF. xR wr a200 £62.24 (AAR@6ON) Bab Sea Hanser ASI Fojal Naw 801 NAS "Sharke" Ward) 772 «£4.99—ES.24 (RANEY) Bestl Sentai TF FRAP ~ 23 Sq. (ghtightr S190 fees | (AAge«02) Batol Blenheim Mk RAF “211 (Param, Greece) $5199 ©3880. (AASBAD4) De Haviland Mosquto FB VI 24699 £3524 (AARZBI6) Domior Do 172 Ltwate= 1 Stel, 1 Gropp $73.90 5640. (AAGEED) Domier Do 218, nat» Sab UNG 2 (grant £7389 £5849 (AASEBD2) Douglas C47 Dakota Mk «RAF “Amber (8, LS Lord Voy $9190 fo149 (AASE209) Douglas C-47 Datota RAF - Bate of rain Memorial Fight Sa.00 NAB (AAREDDG) Ectghir Typhoon F2 RAF 3.59 S690 26246 (AAREAOS) Haver Hurtr F6 RAF 74 8 S600 9624 (ARRITIO) . Haver Hunter 77 AF - 228 OCU, 234 Sa E4699 £3628 (AAIZTI2) Hawier Hurteane 18 Roja Nawy- 680 NAS (LF. J. Cok) S390 e624 (AARZ0"7) a Haver Typioon MMB RAP- 439'5q [FORA Joes) 3199 ©2624 (ARSED) > Mosserschmit 8.1106 Luftwatle - 2682 £46.99 £95.24 (AAIE5OR) ee Mossoreohmit 91 1108-4 Lats (0k Wt, Sehnauer) S600 £3624 (ARGEED2) Panta Torado GR RAF "31 8a fo99 £3628 (AABN) Sepecet Jaguar GR BAF 16 Sq. "The Saint ses £3824 (AARSET) Supermarine Spe MX RAF 91 Sq.(FLLL HD. Johnson) 3199 ©2624 (AASE7OI) ® Suparmaine Spi PRX RAF - Bae of Briain Morr Fight 3499 £2624 (AARETO2) \ ‘stand Cyne jal Naw (HDS Manchoston f4500 —casa4 (xas0002) | ‘Westana (ym AH? ‘amy Ae Cos S469 £3528 (AAIGOO1) . ‘Westend Sea King HASS Royal Navy-771 NAS Search end Rescue $re@-«“SAB 93 «SBSad(AAREAIO) Weastand Wessex HU Roja Naw - 815 NAS (HRS Bulwer) te fea E524 _(ARSTEDE) Haier Seeley NmrooMR2 RAF (Grey) ies ong cen24 (Anas68) Vickers Ve-10 Ck fines £7099 4124 _(AAITOO8) * Foker DAY Teplane (Gorman A Sowa Johannes Janzen) 14a sano £2024 (AAaea00) + Fokker DVI Garman Ar Serves (Herman Goerng) ies 3800 2024 (AASHOOT) + Sopit Cama FoyalNawy=TONAS.(LUN MacGroga) 1/48 «£98.99 £29.24 (AASBIOG) Sopa Cama EC. 43 Sq, (Capt: Hey Woot) aa fan99 enaa(aAabiod) SA SY’ ‘CAM CLUB MEMBERSHIP Join the famous Collectors Aircraft Models club today Only £22.00 (UK) or £27.50 (Overseas) for 2009 and receive: 4 Issues of the "Aircraft Modal Collector" magazine 25% Discount off all Corgi Aviation Archives models 10% Discount off all aircraft models ‘50% Discount in our regular CAM Club members-only sales Call: 0208 754 7281 to Join Now! tan ecu deta yun Spencer ve (008) 0 S30 ‘See ta gary sc or it cad A (reo 00) a tote) 24 yuma pay er, ems ae Dy pos: Sere yur ecw: Coleco Area Med Lid, thoes pases alec Ara esas CREDIT CARD ORDER HOTLINE - Telephone: (020) 8754 7281 Fax: (020) 8759 5393 | www.collectorsaircraft.com 25% OFF ALL CORGI LIST PRICES FOR CAM CLUB MEMBERS Readers’ Archive This selection, taken at Keesler AFBin oxi, Mississippi, in 1945, was sent in by HERBERT WATSON, who was given them by his American friend Cpl Dave Kay ABOVE You don’s see one of these every day — one of 40 Consolidated TB-82s, 42-108489 was the first tobe delivered tothe 2159th Army Atr ‘Force Base Unit at Fort Worth in January 1945, ‘but is seen here at Keesler later the same year. LBrT In 1945 Keesler had only been in existence forfour years, having been activated in June 1941 as one of the USA's biggest technical training centres. Many types saw gervioe at Keesler, including the North American B28, RIGH? Introduced into USAAF service in late 1945, the Palrehild (-82 Paoket was just too late for act service in World War Two. This example is seen with, its large front fuselage door open, and would have been almost “factory-fresh” when this was taken. ‘nLow Inthe spring of 1944 a USAAF air-sea resoue ‘school was opened at Keesler, the combat-experlonoed instructors teaching students with Consolidated (0A-10 amphibians. The school disbanded in April 1948, having tralned 60 crews from four squadrons. These pagesare reserved for photographs submitted by readers—andwe pay£100 foreach selection we publish.Send pictures to Readers! Archive, Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, MoSouthwarkst, London SE1 OSU RIGHT Looking positively sleek compared to the 'TB-82 on the opposite age, Boeing 3B20°30-BW Super- fortress 4224486, hamed Windy City 1, ‘wears the Keesler code K-824, Note the bomb and camel ‘markingsonthe nose, the latter for wartime missions overthe Himalayan “Hump" with the ‘ro4th Bs, azove lt wasn't all heavy metal” ab Keesler, as this Photograph of s North American 814-8 proves. The “t-BIn was the US Navy version of the ubiquitous T-6 Texan, the SN6 being intended — but not adopted — as adive-bomber. ABOVE Somewhere between the litle SNJ at left and the huge B-29 above was this Beech AT-L1 Kansan bombing and gunnery trainer, based on the civil Beech 18 and powered by a pair of Pratt de Whitney F-985 Wasp Junior radial engines of 450 np. each, LEF® With very tle except the number “88° onthe fuselageto reveal its individual ‘entity, this Boeing B7G was snapped at Keesler beside the air-sea resoue 0A-10s, ‘The Fortress may have been used for bombing and gunnery training atthe base. ABOVE Arane sight indeed — in late 1943 Consolidated undertook to it th ‘Trials proved that the single fin improved handling and an order for more, placed, The order was cancelled in April 1948, but not before Ford had bull etwin‘inned B24 Liberator with a single-fin tail unit than 5,000 B-24Iis, with anose-mounted ball turret, was lt seven YB-24Ns, of which this isthe second, 44-52068, Aeroplane technicalartist AN SOM ep the Care tof one of itain’s most hi AON Cruces Pe 4 aviationillustratorsandy educators; the ever-popul ardy GAVA’ WV iefelle ORNIN LONDON in 1938, Wilfred Hardy was immediately in the world of art — both his fatherand uncle were artists. The young Wilfred showed artistic talent, plus a fascination with aviation, froma very early age. One of his earliest memories is of drawing a comic Strip illustrating Pierre Closter- mann’s book Flames in the Sky. On leaving grammar school, and with no formal art training, Wilfred joined a small commer- cial art studio in London where he began learning the business 2 —while making the tea, of course. Although work during the week normally involved assembling press advertise- ments, there was the occasional illustration to be done and every weekend Wilfred would work on aviation paintings at home. MAIN PICTURE You Can Makett, Friend~ cally dynamic painting by Wit Hardy, originally created fora christmas ard, depictsa pair of Spitfire Is excortinga stricken backacrossthe English coast. Allartworks ‘WILFRED | HARDY 2009 ‘ABOVELEFT The artistbesidean action-packed Tornado pa n2002, ‘p> | National Service in 1987 saw Wilf gain a commission in the army and presented him with an opportunity to exchange draw- ings for flights in service aircraft. while stationed in Cyprus. On. one occasion a helpful RAF Bristol Sycamore helicopter pilot dropped Wilfred off in the middie ofthe company parade ground, interrupting CO's inspection day and coating everyone's carefully. laid out and polished kit with a thick layer of dust! The early days Back in England, the proximity of the family home to RAF Biggin Hillin Kent presented another [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 ‘opportunity fora memorable flight when he got to ily alongside a formation of four Hawker Hunters as a passengerin a de Havilland Vampire T.1L In 1966 Wilfred was juggling a day job in commercial art with producing his first aviation illustrations for Royal Air Force Flying Review magazine when he decided to go freelance, produc- ing illustrations for educational magazines aimed at young people, the main client being Look & Learn. He believes that this work was invaluable, in that ,goye witred'swork ormagazine Look & Leernin the ictaught him the discipline of id-1960sand 1970s brought himtoa young enthusiastic working toaweekly deadline Sudienee, which he repaid withsuperbly detailed ~and and enabling him to perfect his unflinchingly accurate ~ portraits of sicraft of alleras AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 technique with gouache, an ‘opaque watercolour much used by commercial artists, Next came work for the fondly-remembered ‘Speed & Power magazine which allowed Wilfred to indulge himself in aviation art, producing ‘what he considers some of his. best work to date. A major stepping stone Wilf’ cover illustrations for The RAF Yearbook which, until recently, he produced annually for the RAF Benevolent Fund gave him the opportunity to work With two of the world's greatest aviation specialists, William Green and Gordon Swanborough. a THE GREAT AVIATION ARTISTS ‘When the pair were starting a new magazine, Air Enthusiast, they were keen for Wilfred to illustrate the covers. Wilf pro- posed a rough, rugged style of illustration based on four ‘completed preliminary colour sketches, which went on to become Air Enthusiasts first four published covers, Wilfred ‘completing many more evocative and memorable covers for the ‘magazine. Around this time Wilf recaills despatching a worker from the English Electric drawing office to measure the length afa Lightning so that he could complete a series of scale drawings of RAF fighters. ABOVENOw that'sproper research! Wilf dangles from beneathan RAF search-and- rescue Westland Sea Kingto earn n-depth research. moreaboutsuch Wilfred's developing working _| serties relationship with the RAF Benevolent Fund led to an exciting commission to depict an RAF search- and-rescue (SAR) sortie for a poster. The research for the illustration found him ina bulky immersion ‘suit being winched to and from a high-speed launch, byan RAF Westland Sea King, day and night, making sure that the helicopter’s static electrical build-up was discharged through the dangling static line rather than his feet. His research discussions with the unassuming SAR crews left him with a great deal of alfection and respect for the yellow helicopters and their ABOVEWith erie prescience, depicted Harrier GR.3son crews ever since. ‘aground. eS In io7sthe RAE Benevolent | seraerthe rund ned gamallteam or ee volunteers running airshows and | years before asked Willted ithe would be interested in producing publicity posters for them — the begin- the Falklands conflict, where t really happened. 44 Wiens wattle 1979 Oe Ren (F< rings of his long association with what was to eventually become the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). Something new was required and Wilf devised ‘what he calls a "menu poster’, depicting all the main aircraft participating in the show. The ‘most important were featured prominently over the venue {tself with static aircraft and other features in the background, a challenging brief for any artist. These poster illustrations were a great sucess and con- irmed a winning formula @ch would be used for 'size reproductions are now available —see page 52.) Wilf's RIAT work led to some unusual and Challenging aircraft colour scheme commis- sions. His design for a McDonnell Dougias F-4 Phantom scheme to commemorate the aircraft's 25th anniversary had to be applied using sheeis of commercial vinyl because the aircraft was needed in its operational colours imme- diately after the show had finished. He also devised the 1979 60th anniversary markings for a Phantom which recreated Alcock the 50th anniversary of the DC-3 ‘were applied toa Royal Aircraft Establishment Dakota by Wilf and his team in hangars at Farnborough before the aircraft was flown to Fairford for the Tattoo. On one occasion a General Dynamics F-16 was flown from the continent to RAF Lyneham so that he could measure it, enabling him to design a Nato 50th anniversary scheme for the aircratt. Wilfred's work for RIAT led to commissions from Lockheed depicting the SR-71 and TR-I for presentation to the units which operated the aircraftin the UK. Research for the paintings [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 Involved an enjoyable weekend spent with the TR-| unit at RAF Alconbury. Wilflater received signed photographs of both paintings from Lockheed's legendary designer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, Wilf’s “black project The paintings for Lockheed led to another, more mysterious, commission. A representative from Lockheed's secret experi- mental development department — the "Skunk Works" — asked Wilfted ihe knew ofa bird called anighthawk and could he depict itin moonlight overdesert and mountains? A bit ofresearch determined that the bird was a nightjar, a relatively small and AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 21 harmless creature, so Wilfred suggested an alternative compo- sition showing something like a black eagle swooping from the sky, He was also sent a shoulder patch for reference with instruc- tions that it was to be kept strictly secret, as would the finished painting itself. Upon completion both the painting and patch were whisked away by Lockheed. It ‘was only upon public acknowl edgment of the existence of the F-117 that Wilfred realised what he had been illustrating Collector's plates have provided another interesting outlet for Wilfred’s work and he has produced artwork for some 36 plates in the UK, Switzerland, Sweden and Italy. One of the ‘TOP Our cover imagethismonth = Wilfsstunni David Lora ve Over Arnhem — butwithoutall thecoverlines obscuringit.. ABOVEA 1974 spread for Speed Power, guaran- teedtofireup aviation-mad schoolkids ‘everywhere! best-sellers was a series of plates depicting the most famous raid of No 617 Sqn —the Dambusters — the research for these illustra- tions being greatly aided by advice and recollections from the late Sqn Ldr David Shannon, Notjustaircraft Wilfred al challenge of marine painting and after the Falklands contlict in| 1982 he produced a painting of 45 [sr tnenronataty Rent Own Your Own Aircraft! IT'S A DREAM many of ushave, but for the majority its nota realistic one. However, for many years enthusiasts (me included) have happily recreated their dream aircraftin model form. The hobby has been passed down for generations and isas addictive in this modem technological ageas it ‘was originally — indeed, despite the amazing advances in desktop flight-simulation and air combat computer ‘games, there is something unique about creating and/or, ‘owninga physical model that remains a permanent source of pleasure, pride and interest The advertisers in these pages offer a great range of models, and all deliver by mail order. Ifyou have been trying tofind something rare or special, pick up the phone and contact them. Allofthem understand and share your enthusiasm. Ifthey can help, they will Your scope to own your own aircraft — ora fleet of them, of the most famous or obscure or extinct types, is limited only by your own imagination and enthusiasm. Michael Oakey - EDITOR Basil Stapleton signed Hawker Typhoon A hand carved and painted, kiln dried mahogony replica signed by its famous Battle of Britian pilot. Basil Stapleton, nicknamed Stampme, was a character and, with his handlebar moustache, was highly recognisable. In the Battle of Britain, he scored 20 victories in Spiefires. In 1944, he commanded 247 Squadron in Typhoons. Flying low and fast, their missions were vital but invariably dangerous. This isa replica of Staplecon's own aircraft Orderline: 0844 887 8888 Website: www.direraftlegends.com ee www.flying-tigers.co.uk ‘comps ® MISSION BRIEFING To locate the UK's finest website ‘172nd scale Spitfire XIV for die-cast aeroplane models Doodlebug Killer poe bi and much more! It must offer: “fon toon © Reauiar wobsto updatest Fly stocked SALE section. © Fantastic Pre-order ascounts. ae models section. Unique FREE week aviation ‘elated Newsletter avalible via ‘Great product images for greater Eoncedocomr ns © Soe roa ner owe Eterancen Riviere sscaroraii®”. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! CEL MST BE PRE-ORDERED www. flying-tigers.co.uk ere Yan info@flying-tigers.co.uk Flying Tigers FLYING TIGERS IS one of the UKS largest specialist aviation die-cast suppliers, and prides itself on offering the collector something a little bit different. The small Flying Tigers team Shares your passion or avon andhas bul is buses around its reassuringly ‘old-fashioned values of service and integrity. These values have seen Flying Tigers become firmly esabished inthe collectors market ve the past ee yas Fring Tgersofersafneentustsfosed websteand a free weekly website-based aviation-related Newsletter, alongwith actual product images of the models you will want, tocolec. \f die-cast model-collecting is yaur passion, then the Flying Tigers hangar is the place to visit. Visit the website at www. fying tigersco ukor cathe team on 70652112 Althe latest die-cast releases are available, there isa fully stocked SALE section and pre-order discounts may be arranged for the collctor who does notwarttoms out Ealing fre releases include Corgis BAC TSR.2 (with new tooling) in Yand-scale and Hobby Master's superb BAe Harrier GR7 (again, new tooling in Yand-scale). Both may be reserved by calling the FLYING TIGERS favatonsyour tng then vst town yng-gers co.uk could bea successful mission! Flying Tigers — where die-cast aviation collecting takes flight. Website: www.flying-tigers.co.uk us Seaver! Teac | “iy” Clevelands Wholesale Ltd CLEVELANDS WAS ESTABLISHED in 1968 andis one ofthe UK's largest wholesalers supplying die-cast models to the trade, Based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, Clevelands has 6,000ft cfshowroom displaying a vast range of die-cast models, plastic kits and related hobby products. Clevelandsis the exclusive European distributor for a number of aviation die-cast ranges including Sky Guardians from Witty Wings, Aviation 200 and 400, Inflight 200 and 500 and Jet-X Youth and Macth scales, The company has recently announced the Sky Guardians Europe range of and-scale military aircraft, These highly detailed collectors‘items include moving p separate undercarriages and armament to provide the collector with a display choice, and all are Limited Editions with a collector's card. The frst to be released, in October, is the Panavia Tornado F3 in No 25 Sqn livery tobe followed by the Royal Navy Fairey Gannet from Brawdy. Toobtain these madels, calectorsare advised to contact their local stockists ora specialist aviation retailer. A trade-only cash-and-carry facility is available for customers who prefer to ‘browse and collect. Opening times: Monday-Friday 0900hr- T70Ohr; Sat 1000hr—1500hr. Late Night Wednesday tll 2000hr CLEVELANDS WHOLESALE LIMITED Woodcock Hill Industrial Estate, Harefield Road, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 IPQ Tel:01923 711772. Fax: 01923 711774 E-mail: sales@clevelandsdiecast co.uk Website: wnww.clevelandsdiecast.co.uk Bravo Delta — Highly Limited - Now Available DHS94 Dragon Rapide, Brish European Airways or Raa’ ie Service “es150 31 inch wingspan rass Name Pate and display sund include. pine fl so ro Be Ml slam Aviton Aritve October 2009 Sante So Huntr 17,234 Syn RAF Chivero, ey 19605 £469 Hasse Typhoon MIB, 439 Sqn RAF, FLOM R.A Johas £34.99 Fekker Dr Triplae, sia 6 Levin Johannes Bazen 1918 £35 99 Bristol Blenheim MI, 2115gn RAF, Paramytia Greece, 140 £51.99 Coming SaanNEWTSR2" XR2I9. te cml pty to fly £2.99 Now in Stock: PaniviaTorado GR1, 20 Sh, RAF 539.9 Models are dispatched a sa stay ae instock Prices may he subject wehange wiht note Cee eee et eee ete (Gaver Tee Fax +44 (0)1923 T1174 ‘TRADE ENQUIRIES, ‘ONLY PLEASE. (Contact your local Boeing 737 Aer Lng olours ‘etal stockist for lu ter thee these ranges TU Acer scon tae release www.clevelandsdiecast.co.uk MSU NSA AML gs ai Se ee tee Donne) Precis) ry CT cern tiered Deere errr en a eee Lee oe Dee) Peat s eee Sar cea Pee) PO en reer entry Ponce) er ee fet eee) RoI Pah) ¢ Planes = F Te. (0191) 286 4175 www.trainsandplanes.co.uk Phone lines open Sam to 9pm, 7 days a week Trains & Planes Ltd ESTABLISHED IN 2004, Trains & Planes Ltd stocks a huge range of die-cast model aircraft and military vehicles ranging from eath- to Yath-scale, many rarely seen in the UK. The company’s Newcastle warehouse is open to the public on Friday evenings from 1800hrto 2100hr and on Saturday after- ‘noans from 1300hr to 1700hr. Managing Director Dominic Hipkin puts the company/s success over the last five years down ~ar HM to two crucial points: “ist, f you don't have itin stock then you cant sallit Secondly, we are a family firm offering the flexibility and service that people expect. Even with a specialist niche te ered regardless of size, weight or number of models bought For international shipping, please contact us. PSU se Ocoee ma Sueur Hobby later 172 RAP Ft Pato RAF Hanan Beauhgter Iota A Signa 08 Thunder! BEONgnt eter F100 SuporSaore RAP Hamer GR FAA USAF Thunders Scoala Spite PX Slosnom DomerDo7= 4 216 Weber het Hiner £68.77 ‘ea Harr Fakones Ee Latins Votan X58 (Gemini Aces 172 Spat nee PesiB Mistry bet0e Sky Guardians v72 Spare PISO Mustang Sea Fury FB. 8 120, Pesatghinng Tow! «178 sea Shaman 16 soe Tiger 1-116 sale sso 2295 eras e298 ena eras er98 s99 ssi98 fn3e 24696 e698 e098 f1998 51098 e899 en9s 90 fae £1898 398.9 Webby Master 148 Spire PR Fae Panter Grumman FOF Franklin Mint 148 Pair Tncoreat Ngr7Roveman Pov cana Sanlore sam Ranelier F108 Starr Eagles nt 148 ‘oxen P88 SN) corgi 48 Sopwith Care Seaton Spas Power VI Moruchin 148 Bae Suet Pocket “ony 8 Prank ihr Ccarousts v48 PE wiacte “oman? AF PAO RAP 8 USAAF SID Mustanos cos sus ery e099 | foo 14399, 12 ss090 099 eras Base eras ss099 S099 19998 £19998 market such as Math-scale, we have more than 1,000 aircraft models in stock at our warehouse. The new Corgiand Hobby Master Vand-scale ranges are also well catered for with large stocks available for immediate despatch through our next day Uk courier delivery and worldwide shipping service’ Curstandard UK shippingis £795 regardless of the size, weight cor nuriber of models bought. Customers outside the Uk should contact us for shipping costs Contact Information Tel: 0191 28644175 between 0% ifcalng outside UK hr & 2100hr, 7 days aweek; +444 191 286.4175 we anes r KY wrivvutrainsand planes. co.uk “pulebontiemeal Book Review ‘THE BOYS’ BOOK OF AIRFIX by Arthur Ward: ISBN 978-0.09- 192898-8; Ebury Publishing, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SWIV 254: 10in x in hardback; 182 pages, ustrated: £20 THIS YEAR, AIRFIX, the mast famous paste ‘model construction kit company inthe world, celebrates its 70th birthday. Founded in 1939 by Hungarian Nicholas Kove, Airfix holds a unique appeal for boys and girs — ofall ages and has been part ofthe fabric of childhood for generations. Packed with photos ofthe kit from the 1950sto the present, The Boys’ Book of Airix's a nostalgic look at one of the greatest brands ever In addition to the history behind the models from the first Airfix kit ~ a model tractor ~ right through to today's Doctor Who releases ittalls the story of the dramatic ‘wists and turns ofthe Airfix saga, In the autumn of 2006 it looked a ifthe great name might disappear forever when its owners languished in receivership, only fr the company Thisis just a small fraction ofthe huge range of madets that we slock ~ Call us to arrange a visit fo our Newcastle warehouse. Trains & Planes Ltd 15 Gowdray Court, Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NES 272 Telephone 0191 286 4175 ~ Outside the UK +48 191 286 4175 Telephone ies open Sam to Spm, 7 days a week We accept the following RE) wsa) Ey Ss USA) ms Please make cheques payable to: “Trans & Planes Ltd.” wwe trainsandplanes.co.uk My tobe heroically rescued by Homby, f you responsible for sending an Airfix Messerschmitt toa fiery doom from your bedroom window, this book is for you! sales@irainsandplanes.co.uk THE GREAT AVIATION ARTISTS HMS Coventry, which led to a challenging commission for the Marine Engine Division of Rolls-Royce, depicting all five of. the Royal Navy ships throughout history that had carried the name Coventry, For Wilfred, a commission always starts with comprehen sive research before any artwork is begun, He has a considerable reference library of filed cuttings, magazines and books gathered over many years —and itis still growing. Preliminary sketches or ‘Toughs" In felt-tipped pen or pencil are submitted for discus- sion and approval and then the finished artwork is completed in five to ten days depending on the subject. Will's chosen medium is gouache but he also works in oils and acrylics. Finished artwork is then scanned to be stored on CDs and DVDs which, in company with a large library of work on transparency, forms a consider- able part of Wilfred’ income through licensing for further use. wilfred's work has led to meet- ings with some remarkable people over the years, including Sir Douglas Bader and distin- guished test pilots Duncan Simpson and John Cunningham. He isalso the proud possessor of Im To discuss purchases or commissions of Wilfred Hardy saviation rt, calltheartiston01892 523634 graph a Royal Navy Historic Hight Fatrey Swordish, the Hardy family has leo spent manyventfl weekends with the Southdown Gliding Cub near Eastbourne, The best ofthe tying attheclub then was nan ancient Siingsby P21 ts open cockpt providing cose contact with the elements We Aba Wilf Hardy and Tin OBrien’ artworks for RAF Wad ‘9 Aeroplane coders jor €8 plus FREE ppp Send a cheque payable "Wading ‘ABOVE Capital Dragonswas paintedforaseriesof lates ‘©! deh {or collectablescompany Bradford ExchangeSweden, and A" Vocngton. Unco,LND NB shows pair of Saab Drakene roaring over Stackholm. Please quote code AEROPLANE OFFER’ signed photograph of helicop- - = ter pioneer Igor Sikorsky, giveh to ‘ Wilfred atterhe illustrated 2 Look & Learn series describing the {great man’s career Wilf’s work has also provided > opportunities for fights in some &. hy interesting aircraft. His frst ap Right wasin ade Favilag@ ia Dragon Rapide, Wilfyes | favourite aera igor and he first took the Ventrots in a | Percival Proctor out of Croydon in around 1950, Standing out in Wilf's memory isa sortie in a I Percival Sea Prince tophoto- With characteristic flairandaccuracy Wilf capturedthe atmosphere ofthe ‘After the Rains, study of Bristol Beaufighters inthe FarEast during World War Two, s ic! & c TUES ee); yards bomber, alpioneer concept, COncept, f0% untrie AA) aeloueo opine or € Tan Allan The new name for: as Ch MIDLAND COUNTIES ry [NnATON DSASTERS Fon aan Sera est BY DAY AD BY NG Se RAF Oa FAJCOREARUNTS OF THE KOREAN WAR. FAREY SHORDTSH Pure Eni 3 FESeeRr tee o0L0ue RAMSKNGS AST TeERST HOME SULT AEROPLANES. ADM FORGE TV LUCATARUISER Duh Pate No 2016 {host STANONS Gamay ee ee ‘att neat aes fou ‘28 /AMINORED FEET OVER FEL Van Info prenr aas ons «1700 ‘faa a8 se ‘soe 2500 KENT aan Acamy ligt {ich eve eee oe Nenaesno ME MEDALS wasnt So Rev aes Toten Pb ST rr ‘Remrnoers wa Ov 1 Bimbo. HEN SEUADRON nerarsraet ict sauaneN 8, RESTORNGWSELMARCRT See SERS Ne Gath eT STATEDG AAT ‘abo $5500 ‘iss Gis ‘0064 3485 fase {ORPEDO LEADER USWARNES AVES HERRERA A857 988 ORES VEEN Potash ata ASTON Eh Fr a aca aie Cait Tose _wrw midlandbooks.com ‘Hes AZ ree ony AAS ASTID EBS LIGHTNING UP: The ssa pts 2 coc & $n pos. 22 pape Hai asro? B8t) ews septa are ard ‘Mvone 3 pote Sp. ok. 237 E500 Downie Rall Boetrerer te RST eutl ise) manxs): Overs” Workahop Manuel Neeen wore Toei tne diag arn today 218 or ‘Bin poor, ‘ete Urnaes FLYING LEGENDS 2010 CALENDAR ‘emote itatng tm Dee Specoataror oat Sari r10u0 'SPITFIRES: Sixtoon Month 2010 Calendar Siren anh coe Perc a Rei CTU) aera Hawker Siddeley Trident [EG The magic number [2 Pilot's perspective (2) Tri-jet variants (22) Exporting the Trident (3 Happy (auto) landings GAH Trident survivors [) British service \ P LWOdKa) SAULIIdSUad SLO Td, FDIAUIS HSILIUT) GNVIOLNV) SINVIEVA) AUOISIH adAL BEA’s nape f breadwinner Oe ee! =y¥i Another British § Three-view | ee ities lost opportunity? drawing & cutaway i aru rely ead ope land mete arta Invedochay buroustarparedbypostpleaal Aad 6 SO OHNE SONS SS yA my ey) i S- examines the... Hawker Trident The innovative Trident was a highly original de Havilland design disastrously betrayed by poor decision-making. MAX KINGSLEY-JONES tells its full story HEN de Haviland started thinking howitwould respond to. 1956 hEuropean Y Airways (BEA) requirement fora ew short-haul jet, the UK airliner manufacturing industry was the envy of Europe, ifnot the world, Sadly this was no longer the case by the time the last DH.121 Trident was delivered, itie more than 20, years later. Despite its technological ‘excellence the Trident was an utter failure commercially, argely owing to the combination ofashort: sighted customer who exerted too much influence on an insecure manufacturer, and asuccession of {governments lacking a true long-term vision for the aerospace industry. although the Trident was amajor contributor to the industry's demise itdeservesits place inaitiner history asthe Pioneer of the txi-jet configuration And automatic-landing technology. InJuly 1956 BEA issued a require ment fora 100-seat 600 mph. jet airliner ableto carry a payload of Upto 19,000Ib over 7,000-mile sectors, Theaitlinewaskeen to avoid something likethe Sud ‘Aviation Caravelle then makingits the Trident had completed its first year in service, 14 had been delivered to BEA HAW KERISIDDELEVaTRIDEN Ty Best of British..? With the Trident losing out to Boeing's 727 in most overseas sales, it was up to British airlines to fly the flag with the Trident | RITISH EUROPEAN ABOVE typical mid-1960s scene at Heathrow, with four BEA revenuesearving Might Its Tridents Airwayswas byfarthe Trident ICsontheramp;G-ARPR,G-ARPC, G-ARP|(theonly one caried 80 passengersin mixed largest Trident withoutatail-mounted APU);the furthestisindistinguishable. dass. Up 1093 could be cariedin operator taking 64 asingle-dlass sie abreast layout straight rom the Scheduled services beganin factoryand operating April.on the morning service afurthersixthrough (£564) to Zarich. Other cites on secondhand acauistions or take the intial networkincluded vers. Only 48 ofthe 16 Tridents Frankfurt, Geneva, Helsinki, Nice Gelivered were taken by non-UK Stockhoimand Rome. By the end airlines, the other significant (0f 1964 itincluded Barcelona, customerbeing CAC (see Brussels, Copenhagen, Milan Exporting the Trident, page 74). Munich, Prague. Valencia Venice and Vienna Services from Manchester to Pais began in july 1965, and by the end ofthat year the t-jet was serving six Euro pean points from that airport. ADIAUIS HSLLINS From faith to reluctance Having sired the Trident with de Havilland, BEA eventually became asomewhatreluctant customer, This was notsoin the early days, LEFT AclasticBEA ‘Athough BEA had ordered 24 however. Duringthe naming Promotionalimage ident ICs only 23 ere A Ofhappy passengers ceremony at Heathrow on Sener RasEeneeT delivered. The penultimate February 28, 1964, outgoing BEA Sauer rence” altcalt,G-ARPY, crashedat chairman Lord Douglas said, imtetSebzByis6s —_Felthorpe, Norfolk, during ts ‘Wileothersvaxiyicl about BeAstridenGad —_"aidenfightonjune3 1966 ater supersonic airliners pin my fait adopteda, enteringa deep stall at 1,600}. onthe ident fingnontie” ——Alfourtest.creweretleg ‘After recevingits ist Trident. undersides, including HS divisional test pilot G-ARPF, on December 19,1963, replacingtie Feter Barlow and fight engineer ahead of certification fr crew polished Edgar Brackstone-Brown, training BEA used G-ARPGon ‘metal finish ofthe Duringa staling testat 1,600R March 1, 1964 forthe fst typeseartydays, ——yiththe Trident inlanding [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 Cy Passengers carried on BEA Tridents IHAWKER|SIDDELEYATRIDENTs 3 22, 3 5 in the type’s first year of service configuration with thestick-shaker and stick pusher inhibited, it hit the ground about Vémin after the sta started, inaflatattitude with a very high descentrate but very lowairspeed. Independent UK carrier Channel Airways signed for five Trident TEs in October 1967, butultimately tookjusttwo. Given a139-seat layoutwith seven abreast nthe forward cabin, the two "IE-140s G-AVYBand WE, weredelivered inMay and june 1968 and lewon Mediterranean charters, nv 1968 BEA began to supplement itsshort-haul Trident fleet with the Igngecange2z-cr'miden(Two” ABOVETKefistchanel Aways"Comnental Goldene dent ook. one ofthetwo e-chamel Cnncadsedthchattly | TMOGAMBwestelveredsbuarinehMerlebedver WGoslcacten Sth whcrad oe —0sstititi«ti«iR tate at etrewor ge larrThestndard : cusedsrmneretcersatne | Densieabrent ; ; tier ion BE Tecan ct sagatoranew ig Thwng aly served as bac inabCawaithas jt forbexsturosean neta upstoBeA 1 2 began el BI festeinaccatrthosrernes eaten onsceenpine! NE rierse onich ccicsncet te pins ncatngaaren ey Cre mhetaled ‘Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid, Moscow, Society (www. delivered on February 18, 1971. Stockholm and Mediterranean zulukilo.org.uk) ‘The 3Bs had mixed-class 133-seat echoes. hey el StMancheie fy sitourst eo set inputs, Shteertayouts 8 turstand imertsA Ahudngtotnetheespeys one eight fistelass (93) 73tourstand 8.162 boostengineand APU. TG fest (69), or 97 seats, al tours. q) Milward called the 38 the great Onjuly3, 1968, aBKS Airspeed five-engined Trident Ambassador erached while “Tae frst 38 revenue ight was landingat Heathrow and colided condMarch 1,1971, when WZB few with BEA Teident1CsG-ARPI and ‘tervicebetwveen Heatarow and ARPT, parkedempty onthe Paris-Ory. Regular services to newiy-completed Terminal One Patisand Lisbon began on Apri. ‘amp. Papa Tango” was written Other routes iniuded Dublin, offen its ear fuselageaft ofthe Palma, Glasgow, Milan, Amster wingwassliced off but RPL. which damand Madr, Beusselsand losttsfinand talpiane,was = Rome were added ltr, the 385 repaired and turned to service. replacing salle Tadents ‘tthe 1968 SBAC show. BEA ‘Tocompensatefor blocking sed Tident 2€ G-AVFI to show off ABOVETHident 1E BEKS Boeing 727 order, the itsnew colour scheme, designed GAVYCintheattractive goyernmentsubsidised Tident 3B by Hention Design Associates Yellowniteand rey Sperations witha £25m interest in April 1969 BKS (which became cole free ump sum to ensure that 8EA nsreatn ones ) heme ee teekdelveryof Eats oANC on. Undraling Teun dubbed tne and VD enmared fo: chanel Aarrhatamessl=the iy lege afr mnitr red Airways(the restwentto Air aera Mulley. who blocked the Boeing Ceylon These operated wth 26 Faget ame yg cesln 368 september OTE scscn hetondon-Nenease Peer ae) Gionnga megerwinGOKe ‘out andtobtbeeandon Aamieminjuyisess Sedbecametheturopean fay carers The ainelter Division of British Airways (BA) ‘Trident 2EG-AVFEfirstflew on April 19,1968, was delivered the {ollowingmonthand woreall the various colour schemes of BEA/ BA duringits career. ttisllustrated here inthe High-speed Jack” scheme itwore in 1971. Artwork by MAX KINGSLEY-JONES © 2009 nm [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 DATAPOINT Although most publicity air-to-air photographs show the Trident in a nose-up attitude, it did not fly like that = the camera aircraft was often a considerably slower Dove! DATA IHAWKERISIDDELEVATRIDEN Ts The last of 4 new Tridents, G-AWZZ, was delivered to BEAon April 19, 1973, but more joined ‘the fleet secondhand. When UK regional operator British Air Services (which included Northeast) became part of 8A on April, 1973, the tree former Northeast 1Es moved astep closer tothe national carrier ultimately ‘wearing BA livery. ‘As BA‘ Trident fleet peaked in ‘the mid-1970s, the airline began to retire itsearly examples. By 1975, following the hikein fuel prices after the crsisof the eariy 1970s, these were very uneconomical tooperate ‘The Triden’ last hurrah at BA was fn the Shutte, for which itwas the ‘mainstay throughout thelate 1970sané early 1980s. Glasgow was fist to benefit, services beginning on january 12,1975, with nine Trident 1Cé reconfigured a 100-seaters, Hourlyservices ‘were flown on weekdays and two-hourly services at weekends, with no booking required [edinburgh joined the network in April 1976, followed by Belfast exactly yearater and Manches- ter in April1979, The 38 became the main type on the service, 1Cs and 2Es servingas backups. The changes tothe fight profiles ofBAs Trident fleet mayhave contributed to the major vwing-crack problem suffered by 2Esand 386 in the late 1970s. Fist Getected in 38 G-AWZLWwhen a persistent fuel leak was inspected Inugust 1977 itled to BAS entire 2E and 38 fleets being progres sively withdrawn for repairs at Hatfield, Bournemouth and Chester. The cure wasto reduce the span slightly and strengthen the spars, and the repair entailed fitting armour-platingin the affected areas nd replacing the [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 ‘ABOVE Trident 3B G-AWZV was the astexample of thetype to {Airtransport,a member ofthe SEA-owned British AirService. The Trident tragedies THE TRIDENT HAD an excellent safety record, its BEA/BA, career marred only by a pair of tragic accidents, neither of which was a result of poor design or malfunction, ‘On June 18, 1972, G-ARPI, the Trident 1C damaged in the ‘Ambassador crash in 1968, crashed near Staines, Middlesex, shortly after take-off from Heathrow. it was flying to Brussels. with a fll load of 112 passengers and six crew, all of whom per- ished. The aircraft had apparently dropped out of the sky ita a field close to the A30, barely missing the road. The UK's Accident Investigation Board established that the aircraft had entered a deep stall at around 1,800ft after the leading-edge droop had been retracted at 162kt, some 60kt below the 225kt minimum droop-retraction speed, The droop retraction was probably lan error, but the exact circumstances were never established. ‘On September 10, 1976, BA’ Trident 38 fleet suffered its only major accident when G-AWZT collided with an Inex Adria Douglas DC-9 over Zagreb, Yugoslavia, while cruising at 33,000ft ‘en route from London to Istanbul. All 54 passengers and nine crew aboard the Trident were killed. It was later determined that, improper air traffic control was the probable cause. LEFT Thesad aftermath ofthe ‘crash of flight Bealine S48 on Mic) tothecrashsite, dedicated tothose who lost thei Kuchemann extended wingtips with shorter Trident Istyle units The faps were rerigged to be slighty deployed in rise to redistibute the aerodynamic load further inboard Thatsame year BA wasreunited with two Tidents that were with Cyprus Airways when the Turks invaded theisland in uly 1974 (a 2 and 16, the latter an ex Kuwait Airwaysaireraftit had purchased in 1972) Theyhad been stranded atNicosia unl they could be patched up and feried to the UK. The enforcement of International Civil Aviation Organisation Chapter 2 noise legisation in Europe from January 1, 1986, immediately outlawed the novsy Trident, as hushkitting was not considered practical. Thus the curtain camedown on BATrident ‘operations on New Years Eve 1985, The types ast international scheduled service for BA was flowin by G-AWZU on a morning return fight to Copenhagen, in ‘ecogrition ofthe frst BEA Trident {tip 21 yearsearler. Later that day "'WZU flewan enthusiaste’charter from Heathrow to Amsterdam and back. Upon its return it inked ‘up with 'WZO. inbound from Manchester and they made simultaneous approaches and landing: at Heathrow. The final light of Trident from Heathrow aceurred on May 17, 1986, when 3B ex-G-AWZV was delivered toairine ACS of Zaire, ‘which had purchased five from BA, However, almostanother20 years would pase before the last Trident left Heathrow. On September 1, 2008, Trident 38 G-AWZK was maved by road to Manchester Airports Aviation Viewing Park having spenttwo decades at Heathrow asa BA {ground tae. ADIAUIS HSLLINE n Record time in which G-ARPD flew IHAWKERISIDDELEYsTRIDENTs ecmin from Le Bourget to Heathrow in 1968 Flying the Groundgripper With a performance matching that of some RAF jet fighters, it comes as little surprise to find that the fast, comfortable Trident was popular with its pilots QSTRUCTS WHO (UAROVER spec al phatograph of ident ICG: ARPS touchdown usingauto-rudder* flewthe Trident _Showingits elean lines to good effect. The rear-mounted engines ‘After joining BENS Trident fleet ithBEAand@A —_SablodtheTrMenttoretainexcelentcercayramcqualtes asa copilot in April 1968, Capt remember it By; Chis Woodspent much of the fondly. ts inflight behaviourand technology were impressive. "Itwas notasparkling performer on the ground’, says former Trident assistant fight test next 17 years (and 5,800 fying thetype. He believes itsadvanced technology putsitona par even with todays latest y-by- Ritbusesin terms of i systems, "Wehadan excellent Autopilot and Category 38 {Autoland, good instrumentation and even a maving-map display. "You could see two black marks fon Heathrows 28L runway where all the Tridents had touched down ‘managerJohn johnston. Its reluctance toget airborne, particularly in hot conditions, feareditthe nickname ground ripper" among crews, seen eens AaaiefamermaenpnCgtowsMeadsreunteewante le conc Inpresve Rcouldsteerthe Sock of ident 38 ANZ! aFamborough A Since Meteor ‘AlongwiththeConair aircraft down the runway after Sosichs ew thetypefort? yarsacrugsomesab0hr Cv 880/990, the Tridentwas by For BEAS original band of plots, suchas Capt Don Bassett, who n [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 DATA > IHAWKERISIDDELEVATRIDENTs DATA! JReportedly, a BEA Trident 1 on ‘one occasion outran some Spanish Air Force F-86 Sabres on a flight back from Gibraltar... far the astestailiner fying” ‘Sometimes inthe ealy 1970s, before the fuel crisis, during the Aiihrrun across to Te Aviv, We ‘would leave the power set rather than trimming the throttles back asthe fuel burntoffand the aircraft gotlignter The speed ‘would edge upto Mach 0-89 even remamber seeing Mach 090 from time to time, The areraft felt no differentto the normal cruise; itwasstillsmoothas sik: The Tridenthada phenomenal escent capability, says Chris, "During busy arivalsat Heathrow, airtrafficmould ask ‘Bealine 123, ‘kay foralatedescent” When cleared to go down, we'd shutthe toils, select 1,000 cpm, reverse, deploy the airbrakeand dial up 260kt on the autopilot, \wihich would then contro) the pitch to maintain that speed. Weld escend way in excess of 10,000ft/ min, You had to be careful that cabin pressure came down at the same time, buta good P3 could adjustitby taking manual control ofthe dump valve" Which was nicest to fly? Initally, plots few ether the short Trident 1/28s or the large boosterequipped 36, Tetwo groups merged nthe early 1980s {Crenscaling themselves tr Gextrous’),butthere was no training course for the transition justa’éitferences’ briefing document. "So Trident One/Two pilots read the proceduresfor the ‘Tee's fourth engine, and offwe went’ says Chis Pilots say the was nicest toy, anditalso served the more exotic points thanks tots atively long Fange ts higher performance also made tthe choice for operations into diffiultaifiles “twas alwaysa2E on theGothenburg service when Torslanda wasthe citys mainairport’ says Bassett, “The runway wasshor. which meantwe always had torun the enginesup oul thruston the brakes before take-off" When Gothenburg’sLandvetter Airport opened in January 1977,Don operated Trident 2€.G-AVE] on BRS lastever service to Torsianda ‘Wood says the 38 was theleast loved. Itwas abitofamish-mash with ts three engines, boost engine, APUand shorter udder. onremembers operating Shuttlebackeup fight witha 2 cownto London when the fly Toaded 38 tying ahead suffered because itssmallerrudde “Therewasastrong crosswind at Heathrow which as outside the [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 ABOVE Thetidy layoutof the Trident 38, withthe distinctive, if ‘map ef@play dominating the centre of eyRetrument panel. Ae pen saat, whotew nent rand 2eswith Amos notably fs berrcestoGotbeniarys sort funway at Torslangsintwhich Dono the lat trish airways sevcein GAVE in 1977, ABOVE Mill, onesugar—aBEA stewardesshandsCapt Tony ‘Angusanicecup oftea during flightaboard G-ARPJ. With the ‘SEP. autopiloton, the pilot's roleduring theeruise wasto ‘monitor the various systemsa keep awatchful eye on engine ‘and control parameters. LEFT Asthe"Gripper'sfinal days beckoned, BA’ pilot ‘community organised a Trident FarewellattheLakeside ‘Country Club in Frimley, near Farnborough,on October25, 1985, with john Cunningham as the guest of honour. limits ofthe 38, soithad todivert toStansted. But our 2¢ had higher limits so we were able land at, Heathrow with the handfulof passengers who'd not madeit ‘onto themain service!” The Tris “firm arrival” The Tident’s reputation for ‘frm arrivals’ was nothelpedin the 38 by the changed wing incidence, which gave plots a different runway perspective on approach, But Chris sayssome pilots had a tick "nthe Tident Three, because ofwhere the main gear \wasin elation tothe centre of the aircraft, oddly, you could grease ‘on whatwasset ta be ahard landing by pushing the yoke forward. Itifted up the main wheelsjustas you touched down Despiteall tre effort putinta developing the 38's boost engine, itwas"abitof avraste oftime’ says Chris. "lew the 38 for almost five years and probably only used the booster aboutadezen times” ‘Also of questionable value was the moving-map display, which ‘used data from the Decea Doppler system, “Although nice to have, to sbewhere we were itwas of limited use as it wasn'ta naviga tion aid’, says Chris, "itdidn'tknow where twas until you positioned the pointer on the map, andit then tracked fram that point” The system projected beamsto the Earths surface tocaleulate ground speed and drift. Wood says twas agoodsystemon the whole, butdid notworktoowell woithewsarwcaee. BA B AALLIIdSU3d S,LOTId \ a ISIDDELEY@TRIDE! ! + 3 The number of new-build Tridents sold to ie the Civil Aviation Administration of China Despite its success for BEA and other British airlines, the Trident was not widely adopted by foreign operators, only a handful taking the type on Nocrosers, 1965; ragi Airways inaug: trated services with the original “export Trident” the IE. Its three aleraft served on major egional routes outof Baghdad and on services to European cities In March 1966 Kuwait Airways and PIA took their frst Es, the latter using its four Tidents on services from Karachi, Lahoreand Rawalpindi to Dacca and, later, to the Persian Gulf A fourth aierat, forthe Pakistan AirForce was redirected to PIA before delivery. Kuwait Airways operated three 1stolocal destinations inthe Gulf and later to Amman, Baghdad, Cairo, Karachi and Damascus, The second, 9K-ACG, crashed during rightapproach to Kuwait ityon June 30,1966. Ceylon and Cyprus On uly 19,1969, ir Ceylon took delveryofone ofthe ve TEs earmarked or Channel Airways. She ast Tetobe delivered. it flew services from Colombo to Bangkok Karachi, eomby, Madrasand Singapore. Cyprus Airways received thefirst of wo Trident 2Esin September 1969, and acquired the two excKuwal Airways son ease from BEA. They flew regional services om Nicosiaand a ferviceto Landon, ls ident Operations ended on july 22 1974 when the Turks invaded Cyprus. m ‘ABOVE The first Tident IE of Kuwais Airways, 9K-ACF formerly G-ASWU) after therepo /APUtothe fin. The second, ‘ABOVE AirCeylon'ssole Trident, E4R-ACN, was originally ‘earmarked for Channel Airways, butwas delivered to Ceylon with ‘two clas88 Seat layoutby ohn Cunningham mij 196. LEFT Dubbedasa “identsinjeontne SB°DAEwasteasedto BeAatitateCypras, ‘irwaysin 1963 but trasreducedtojusta tallcectionwhen Turkish orcesinvaded Cyprusinjuly 197. ‘ABOVE When the Chinese Government announced the purchase of six Trident 26s in August 1971, twas something of a coup for HS, it ‘was he firstorder by the atline for Western-builtshort-haul jets. By the late 1970s Iraqi Airways and Air Ceylon had ended Trident ‘operations. Five 385 sold by BAO AirCharterServiees of Zaire during 1985-86 did notlastlong. Abig Oriental order 11970 PA soldits four Testo CCAAC, which then bought 3 2s nd two Super 38 from Hatfield between 1972 and 1978, Havinga fourth ight-crew position nextto thesystemsstation the CAC Trident served on runkroutes Inking major Chinese ctiesand alkoflewin to Hong kong. An fex-PA Teerashedin Mangala in September 1971 whl being used byvice-premier Lin Biaoand {elon conspicatorstofleeto the Soviet Union after afaled coup. Seven CAACTridents were st inactidents, inching the type's latfatal crash Atal Tak Hong Kong in August 1988, 268-2218 Undershot sid over theedge of theembarkmentand eameto rest inthe water-Thesikfightrew and one passenger werekled (China's cil Trident operations continued untitheeary 1980s, thealrcraft being cistibuted among fragmented aiine groups including Ai China, China Norther and China Easter, Operations appear tohave ceased ytheendot 991 ‘Anumber of CAAC Tidents passed othe Chinese Air Force, Whose “airine ar China United continuedtofiypassenger Services seems unlikely that ‘any were airworthy after 1995, A [AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 DATAPOINT J Trident survivor G-AVFB flew DATA BA $ E into Duxford in June 1982, having flown 22,000hr and made 12,726 landings [HAWKER(SIDDELEVATRIDENTS Hawker Siddeley Trident survivors Registration Variant c/n __Location UK complete aircraft G-ARPO 1c 2116 Civil Aviation Authority Fire School, Teesside G-AVEB 2E 2141 Duxford Aviation Society, Duxford, Cambridgeshire (preserved in BEA “red square” colours) GAVE 26 2144 Belfast Airport Fire Service, Northern Ireland GAWZK 3B 2312. Manchester Airport Aviation Viewing Park (preserved in BEA "High-speed Jack" colours) GAWZM 3B 2314 Science Museum Collection, Wroughton, Wilts (preserved in BA “red tail” colours) GAWZS 3B 2319 Civil Aviation Authority Fire School, Teesside UK ~ nose/fuselage sections only G-ARPH 2108 Nose section at Museum of light, ast Fortune, Scotland G-ARPP 2117 Nose section at Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, Scotland GAVE 2136 Fuselage beliaved to be used by SAS for training at Hereford camp, Herefordshire G-AVEG 2146 Fuselage used for fire-training at Manchester Airport (painted as "G-SMOKE") G-AVFH 2147 Forward fuselage on display at de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre, Hertfordshire (in BEA “High-speed Jack" colours) GAVE 2149 Forward fuselage at Civil Aviation Authority Fire School, Teesside GAVEK 2150 Fuselage used for recovery training at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire GAVEM, 2152 Nose section stored, awaiting restoration GAWzI 2310 Nose section displayed at Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, Hampshire (wivw.g-avzi.co.uk) G-AWZ) 2311 Forward fuselage on display at Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, Scotland G-AWZP 2317 Forward fuselage on display at Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester GAWZU 2321 Forward fuselage stored, awaiting restoration A large collection of Trident memorabilia is on display atthe privately-run Heathrow Trident Collection at Feltham, Middlesex cyprus 5 5B-DAB 2E 2155 Damaged on July 22, 1974, lurkish invasion. Stored in derelict condition at Nicosia Airport China ~ complete aircraft 50051 1 2132 China Aviation Museum, Xaiotangshan, Chang Ping, Bejing 50055, 2 2188 China Aviation Museum, Xaiotangshan, Chang Ping, Beijing (possibly last Trident to fly) 50057 26 2187 Displayed outside shopping mall in Zhuhai (for sale) 50152 2133 CAC Museum, Beijing (Marked as “B-2207") 28-2204 2175 Civil Aviation University of China (CUAC), Tianjin 8.2206 2181 CAAC Flying College, Chengdu Guanghan Airport 82216 2177 Stored at old Guangzhou airport (Balyun) 82217 2179 Stored at old Guangzhou airport (Balyun) 82219 2160 Stored at old Guangzhou airport (Baiyun) China ~ fuselage sections only 22202 26 2158 China Aviation Museum, Xaiotangshan, Chang Ping, Bejing The two Chinese “Super 38s" were reported to be stored at Anshan Air Force Base, but there is no recent confirmation that they are stil intact. The fll status of Tridents in China is unclear; this list contains only aircraft which have recently been verified. Where no recent information is available, the aircraft have been omitted. Several others may still be stared complete or dismantled at various airfields, or on display in Chinese cities. Thanks to Richard Walker for his invaluable help with Chinese Trident information bore) Next Month ni aaah AVA ticg See scribes the genesis Database Hecenen use of Britain's ighter. Includes scale drawin Examines... ae pind eprere nee AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 aay SUYOAIAUNS 8 LYOdXa I would like to subscribe to Aeroplane Sandcopont (PC Media Ltd, FREEPOST SEA 420, Haywrds Heath, MEST SUSSEX, FISD ee IPC Media Ltd, PO B« Rayuards Hes WEST SUSSEX NB IFS,UK (anc y6monhs Smotly Diet Debt UK a 0 ny £254.99, save: nly £34.90, ave lease see the pre gid StaeCovnty Mobi No. doa veo You Pay pir Dato Sonate Date POST: complete the coupon opposite Ns m ks 2 _s Christmas a ee > ianpiup Ny | ayes? ERSARY El rete poe) Save 32% A subscription makes a thoughtful and lasting gift - there’s a CUE ee ad Sa re Ce OC OR Pras Cag Snes) nel Tg - Win a 10 night Mediterranean We ec uy eR RE For more details visit: PME mec ae as ae er) ot. Mexica ae Cape Eis eesti OF REAL FOR FIERY READER Suma" BOY ONE PAIR FOR : THAT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF : 614.99 A PAIR Bad Weather F : mens, Choose black or brown- buy one pair and get 2 second ‘pair ree in your choice of colour any size any tye! ‘rat Cate you hor BEST VALE wf: ring ‘ny om pa se tang bl ware bo Be ‘iawn Pmt gt ee ‘eran er Wats ee pe te micvacwe stone aoe - ‘SELECT ONE PAIR OF EACH COLOUR OR TWO PAIRS OF ONE COLOUR ANY SIZE ANY STYLE ~ THE CHOICE 1S YOURS! » Book reviews 79-83 » Aeroplane Reader Offer 82 » Auction Update 83 » Informationexchange 84-85 » Registration Update 85 Undercarriage down, ready for landing! The Aeroplane ‘crew recommends three things not to miss this month Restoring & Flying a Dragon Rapide ‘October 14, The Vietory Services Club, 62-79 Seymour treet, London W2 2HF, 1900hr TO MARK THE 78th anniversary ofthe first fight ofthe DH.89 Dragon Rapid, Mark Miller will talk about the highs and lows ‘encountered duting the 27-year restoration of Rapide G-AGJG at Duxford, Co-ovned and restored by Mark and his father, Davi, the 1944-bult biplane flew again at Duxford in June 2004, and has become 43 popularsight at fly-in and shows in its wartime scheme. wowair-britain.com Mosquito aircrew signing event Cctober de Havilland . AL2 TEX. FORTY FORMER de Havilland Mosquito pilots and navigators willbe at Salsbury Hall, probably the Hurricane veterans day at North Weald he October 25, North Weald ‘Aerodrome, Harlow, Esex. FOUR HAWKER HURRICANES and large number of wartime Hurricane pilots will be present atthe atmospheric Essoc airfield, A signing session will un from 1100ht= 11600hr, and several of ‘Weald’ other resident warbirds will be available for viewing on aight line walk. Money raised wil {goto the Sir Sydney Camm trust, which aims to erecta replica | (us Hurricane in Windsor, Cams home town, ‘make this unmissable” P wawawealdaviation.com/news/signing-event AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 Peas last time so many Mozzie men congregate in one location. Signing sessions wil be fom 1030-1230hr and 1345-154Shr. Proceeds will go towards the construction of anew hangar to get the aircraft currently displayed outdoors under cover » waw.dehavillandmuseum co.uk; tel: 01753 886497 » Events 86-87 » Classified 88-89 » Skywriters 90-94 » Services 94 » Contacts &next month 95 ST) BOOK reviews KAMIKAZE AIRCRAFT JAPANESE SPECIAL ATTACK ‘AIRCRAFT & FLYING BOMBS by Ryusuke Ishiguro and Tadeusz Jenuszewski ISBN 978-83-88450- 12-8; Mushroom Model Publications, 36 Ver Road, Redbourn, Herts AL3 TPE; 11Kin x Bin oftback; 264 pages, illustrated; £24.98 IF THERE IS one aspect of aviation Mousa which has no future, tmustbe this! The | Mauna concept ofthe kamikaze is described here, together withthe establishment of special suicide units and training, The first reported damage to ships inflicted by a Japanese suicide pllat came on May 27, 1944, when a Zero damaged a transport. Many more fllowed using various types of single- and twin- engined aircraft including trainers such as the Kyushu KTTW1 Shiragiku, Listings give the most important suicide units and formations, and ships damaged by them, then the various aircraft types used with photographs and neat theee-view drawings. Probably the best-known aircraft in this category was the Kugisho MXV7 (Ohi, designed from the beginning for this role, principally for defence of the Japanese homeland, It was to be carried ‘beneath a twin-engined aircraft and would be independently controled by the pilot on release. Three solid-fue! rockets had 8-10sec of operation, the (Ohia being released some 20 miles from the target at heights up to 27,000ft and dived on tothe target. A number of, (Ohleas were captured and are preserved in museums in the UK and USA. Another potential suicide type was the twin jet Nakajima Kikko, sikingly similarto the Me 262, while unmanned ‘oddities were the Fu-Go bomber balloon and the Ke-Go homing bomb. Allthese and others are illustrated with drawings and the last 24 pages consist of colour side views of the various types. Iti dificult forthe Westeen mind to accept the concept of Kamikaze, but np 2 E-mail: infoaero@ipcmediacom Write: Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, Southwark Street, London SE1 OSU Book of the Menth Miles Aircraft — The Early Years ‘By Peter Amos; ISBN 978-0-85130-410-6; Air-Britaln, Sales Department, 41 Penshurst Road, Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent TNT BHL; Sin x 12in hardback; 448 pages, illustrated; £24.95 to Air-Britain members, £52.50 to non-members THIS BOOK HAD a long history even before it smade its debut, but the protracted wait has ‘been well worth while. There has always ‘been alot of interest in the products of FG. and George Miles and their associates, and ‘who better to assemble this complex and ‘tumultuous story than Peter Amos, along time Miles aficionado and Ai-Britains speclalit on the subject? Peters determination to tll the story as ‘completely as possible resulted in the work being dropped by commercial publishers, and Air Britain ito be ‘commended for grasping the nettle and ‘producing this impressive and weighty tome, hopefully the first of two Volumes that wll record the history of the company and its aircraft. ‘The author’ task was not easy The Putnam book on Miles aeroplanes, by Don row, is now a high-priced collectors item, butt was written without access to much ofthe material that has subsequently come to light, inluding ‘various logbooks and records that have served to clarify isues and correcta great many acts”. The trouble is that, once things have appeated in print ina satis of Books regarded as authoritative itis hard to set the record straight, ‘andi essential thatthe new versions of hitherto accepted accounts are fully verified, Tis stretches the wordage even more, and so we are presented with this tue labour of dedication, which should leave very few people feeling in any way unsatisfied. In] chapters and 32 appendices the author takes us through the birth and development of Miles from 1925 to 1939 in unprecedented detail. Each aircraft type has a chapter devoted to it, there are complete production liss and individual aircraft histories, and an impressive and extensive gallery of illustrations, including aten-page colour section, i wel reproduced on glossy paper Rarities abound, and although the price might seem high the value of this work, Undisputed. It is devoutly hoped that sales willbe sufficient to.ensure that Air- Britain goes ahead with Volume 2,0 complete this important work PHILIP JARRETT QO000O NTR enna Teac) there can be no doubt ofthe courage of those pilots who gave their lvesin this \way. This excellent book fills 2 gap in aviation literature and perhaps gves a better understanding of our adversaries, Thoroughly recommended. @ooo. MH COMBAT COMPARISON. SEAFIRE vs A6M ZERO; PACIFIC THEATRE by Donald Nijboer ISBN 978-1-84603-433-6; Osprey Publishing, ‘Midland House, West Way, Botley, ‘Oxford 0X2 OPH; Tin x in softbacke 20 pages, illustrated: £12.99 ‘AN INTERESTING "COMBAT Comparison’ of wo of the Second World War's most famous naval fighters, the Supermarine Seafire and Mitsubishi ASM Zero, which fist came to blows in the Pacific late in 1944, towards the end of the conflict. ‘After outlining the two types’ design and development, their technical tpecifcations and the strategic situation Under which they met, the author describes the respective pilt training fystems inthe Fleet Air Armand Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force and then dives inte combat tactics and concludes with @ brief statistical analysis. A good selection fof photos and some wel-presented colour artwork support the text. Which alircraftcomes out best? Buy the book and find out! PHILIP JARRETT Q000 SQUADRON HISTORY THE RAFSS FIRST JET SQUADRON by Graham Pitchfork; ISBN 978-0-7524- 4914-2; The History Press, The Mil Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Glos G15 296; 9Xin x 64in softback; 160 pages: illustrated: £16.99 THE FIRST RAF squadron to operate jets was No 616 (South Yorkshire) which received its Meteors in 1944, one Flight being declared operational on July 27, while other Flights were still operating Spitfires. The squadron destroyed 13 Vis and in October that year sent four Meteors to the USAAF at Debden to take part in an exercise with B-24s, Pu7sand P-51s, since the American bombers had been meeting Me 262s and needed to determine defensive and offensive tactics for the bombers and their escorts, PQRUHND Reviews Rating System: OOOO Absolutely outstanding OOOO Excellent 80 AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 AEROPLANE BACK ISSUES IF you are missing any issues, then we have some available to buy. Contact Jessica Marenghi on 020 3148 4327 or e-mail jessica_ marenghi@ipemedia.com AHUNDRED FEET OVER HELL by Jim Hooper; ISBN 978-0- "7603-3633-5; Zenith ress, USA; hardback, 256 pages: £17 SUKHOISU-7& | TuEcouEcTONor | APOLOTT SU%0 Devise at handacoomsy | OWNERS MANUAL Karas RON 97E33- | ForrdArCorvols | by roper ie and 5180.94 Musioom | yngurmed Coane hip Dain BENS Noid Pubtons, | BrobopimibeVienam | 14125643 Haynes talc S6 pages £299| ornows noha of | bling handed cae) esopentontch | Tepe E1799 NO9INherolehWngs| periomed vidiisone [meena Seiescowingthee | Exsedomseesredtne | FWOFOURvener wa EE center nce” | |Reomeearel Seer) gretscnorte: = (eee es torte cag durttsotnavais | OOO eee 4 sircrat. Ths isa veat for ‘modellers and others interested in Polish aviation, Future titles will ‘cover the MiG-23 and 29. OOOO book covering all agpects ‘ofthe Moon mision. The appendices cover rmisions, Saturn V, the 20, Apollos and ther fates Q000 MIRAGE EN MISSION by Alain Crosnier& Philippe Roman; ISBN 978-2- 7268-8857-5;ET-A-I, France; hardback, 192 pages; €42 ‘THE MIRAGE SERIES represents France’ best- lenown combat aircraft of ‘the past 30 years or so, and this book in French admirably covers its service in Parmée de VA, but notin export service ‘The colour photography and printing are excellent, OOOO Whttage DOWDING & CHURCHILL by Jack Dixon; ISBN 978-72- 84415-584-6; Pon & ‘Sword Military; hardback, 256 pages, 25 | ‘SUBTITLED The Dark Side | ofthe Battle of Britain, this reveals the politics behind the scenes when officials inthe Air Ministry attempted to discredit Ar Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding — politicians dont change, do they? GOO No 616 (South Yorkshire) Ausilary Ait Force squadron was formed under Bomber Command on November 1 1938, at Doncaster Airport with Hinds, “Tutors and Avro SO4Ns, but within five days it was transfered to Fighter ‘Command and in January 1939 ‘Gauntlets replaced the Hinds, On ‘October 20, the fist Spitfire ls arrived, with 11 being transferred from 66 Sqn. On the first day ofthe Dunkirk evacuation, 616 moved to Rochford, Seuthend, and was soon patraling the Dunkirk beaches. Later it took partin ‘the Battle of Britain and the author has covered the squadrons story in interesting detail ‘Appendices cover the squadron's cescapers and evaders, a Roll of Honour, honours and awards, commanding ‘officers from 1938 to disbandment in 1957, squadron bases, aircraft and aircrew losses with plot aircraft and sera, acton and locaton, bibliography and an index sensibly separated into general, squadrons, airfields, aircraft {Allied and German) and personnel This s.afine account of a squadron history with illustrations concentrating more on personnel than aircraft — no bad thing ~ which will make it of great interest to those who served in 616 oO MIKE HOOKS < ‘THE FE.2B FLIES AGAIN! RECREATING A WW1 LEGEND Various authors SBN 978-1-906798- (01-7; Albatros Productions, 10 Lang View, Chiltern Park Estate, Berkhamsted, Herfordshire HPA 1BY; ‘in x 11%ineoftback; 60 pages, illustrated; £20; £22.50 ine p&p in the UK direct from the publisher, £24.50 inc p&p overseas. Special offer to ‘Aeroplane readers: £21 ine p&p worldwide. ‘CO-PRODUCED BY ALBATROS Productions and The Vintage Aviator Led (TVAL), Peter Jacksons amazing ‘organisation in New Zealand, this isa special publication spotlighting the airworthy Royal Aircraft Factory FE2bs built by TVAL. However, the fist half of the book provides an outline history of ‘the type and is First World War servic, and includes a section by Harry ‘Woodman on its weaponry with useful drawings and close-up photographs. “There is then a section principally featuring 6347, the aircraft represented by the fst TVAL FE2b completed, imeluding a full-colour genera- arrangement artwork spread. The next 22 pages are given over tothe building land flying ofthe reproductions, amply lilustrated with colour photos showing all the stages in great detal, This fsa nicely produced, i somewhat expensive, product that any Fee” fan will want add toh library and Aeroplane readers can acquire it at a special reduced price. G00 PHILIPJARRETT eapmaiam) BOMBER MONOGRAPH FOKKER T.V LUCHTKRUISER by Frits Gerdessen and Luuk Boerman; ISBN '978-94-90092-01-6; Dutch Profile Publications, 2471AP Zwammerdam, ‘The Netherlands; 1Tkin x Bin softback; ‘56 pages, illustrated; No price quoted. ‘THE NETHERLANDS POSSESSED only ‘one bomber unt atthe outbreak of World War Two, equipped with the portly Fokker TV, but in May 1940 all16 aircraft and 19 crew members were ost ‘This new dual-language book begins with a description ofthe early days of Dutch military aviation and reveal, somewhat surprisingly, that from the beginning KLM aicraf were counted ‘upon as bombers, three Faker F Vlas being acquired in 1928 for use ae bombers, trainers and transports, and served until 1940, Fight set of bomb racks were acquired, butt was soon decided that funds for conversion ofthe Fs ©OO Good OO worth considering, but flawed © Mediocre, or bad value @P Enough said AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 a ics. P-5I Mustang with 32in wingspan HIS TERRIFIC KIT comes from one of the USA finest modellers, Mike | Midkif, Featuring laser-cut sheetwood parts, masses of stripwood, coloured tissue, choice of variants (P-518 high-back’ or P-S1D bubble ‘canopy), wheels, hardware and transfers, this, ee a a Hee eiescuenese — aga ieee sae caer = Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fede ater a and e8 ome % watk St, London. PS Mustang. | Facke-WuFu 190 @83695each__@ £10825 exch Aerographi a et ate WW2 to the Cold War... Featuring: e Lancaster e Vulcan e Wellington © Stirling © Halifax e Victor e Heyford ¢ Blenheim oe e Hampden ¢ D.H.9 pee and many more! The best of Aeroplane coverage PLUS new material 82 AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 cmt rcecapreteen | AUCTION Update Write: Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, Southwark Street, London SET OSU th Dhil Cllis would better be used for real bombers. Fokker presented a number of (OST PEOPLE ARE aware that the presence of proposals including landplane version ‘original boxes adds value to collectables, but fof the TIV seaplane, but Projact 111 exactly how much is debatable. Some sayit presented at the 1934 Paris Air Salon, was doubles value, others that its more ikea factor of four the frontrunner and eventually emerged or more. Twa lots that appeared in sales at Vectis of, asthe TV, 16 being ordered with Bristol | Stockton-on-Tees on May 21 and june 25 amply Pegasus engines. The first flew in October || demonstrated this phenomenon. ean 11937 and in April 1938 it was looped ‘The first included a mived group of Second World War sesh ag during demonsatonsnHelnd where del atcraftand et om the Cog Aviation Arcive Ee La the Dornier Do 17 was also shown. series, All were boxed, there were ten in all, generally in Hate Tenewbornber had isshreot | minetonearmint condition andtheysoldfor€120,The Slept aad [problems but was a big step up from ‘second sale featured 21 mixed aircraft from the same a previous types, many being biplanes. New series, generally in excellent to mint condition, but al techniques created diticlies, and there | without boxes — they sold fr £60. Admittedly, many of Waeashoroge stile percomelto | thei models dee, but hope he oted/ Copenh hem Onthe otbeioFvar, _ inbosed pines Conta patoiwee ated by iate. | _ Other nolewary tee at Vcsincieds are ne TV few owning! ware reogntion med by sn ninown male of Conde deals nced here Geman jes 8 nacre teal had a in plu god thts, lst by eal (250 wingpanand ae in good condo, onsering tht {086S| gies intrmation on peations | ny patescanbepronetodetrraion sofor ———_ABOVEYours and aircraft fates and there re good colour | £120 on july 23, drawings showing vious calour schemes, ‘The TV would have won no beauty prize Tri-motor German transporter reccemodel of \with its very Blunt nose, ut tis good to | Another rarity appeared atthe fame auctioneers on July jue. have thisarcoun. MIKENOOKS | ZTjwhena Bape ur moter German vapor aaah 66600 she 1994-36 th Nadi tld wel Sve pe aaa eer ee ee Ewes pg he in of Cnr Rhadoome SQUADRON HISTORY minog. nut was in excellent condition overall and No 453 (RAAF) SQUADRON 1941- su ete examples are rate, hence its eventual price. 1945 by Phi Litera S0N578-2. |" OtN nasil tems to appear atauctonnecent SS50541.19;Philppe tena 22 des | mendhs nde aCyel Worley pened gas cure, jaye tpe eyrontns 4200 Cohan ver RENAE Gu Ratt ed arb Per ee {rnorafincombet com linkin | RAFuing Onthebuevesvriten"Tothe mpersnase, Ome, tof 90 pages karate: e20 trenoryatthe yout of Bin whovved thei caurty, Sanpete ee eee |ANOTHER IN THE publishers Famous reached the unseen and eternal Glory’. Itsold at Bonhams BELOW The Commorvedh Squadron: of Wises, | mtd on May 3 or E408 Therese cad, CRtHWorley ticcorpoc buigeryaced book inane etre et eet ns Ea highighesunitfavasoforunate | byaMbs MM Weld ll ches 194205011 peureand Inbeng dedicated tothe dteneeat” | Inde famous ames suchas DougasBade Leonard Mayor E40 Singapre during 1841-83 Formedin | Chaveand Gey Glson and sod or 748 Neeeouth Wats Aura 53590 wasditanded shertghingagiinet | Eseapeand evasion Impossible odds over Malad then | Anumberet RAT ems appeared at Bosesof Marlow on refomedintheUi then vred’”” | june’ ndudga Word Wate RAFsepe and through the war esablshingan ese EE cee ee Impresive combat record recta et reer ater ace Taal equipped withthe roundand | E140 An eareritem,a Royal fing Cory patter fying ifrr Brewster Buta theuntwas | helmet and goles sl for 130 Grersopemuinespiven'Vsupon MERON eter ata aes ieee oer {Sreterraionandisiyconvered'o WataeHae meatal eaear de eee aca) Spire MktisTisbookcontncan | beemwe they reso esto boy and sly post ope suppy ct phetgants of atiree | Ines amples nuded «pseu i Ts iipen phetuealourarworksise | avalon meeingin Egan edn lckpool in Getober EREIPD | sions ofseverdoamplsot typical | 1208.nlac the oganses had been beaten oy SCN AM | icrft As well asa brief operational Doncaster which held its own meeting just days earlier RAHI histor, therearepotted biographies and (see pages 34-38 o thisssuel The card, which sold for ORE photgrptettSScanpiins ols | £58k stowed arr fhingear he Slctpon Tower SM ctcfcvcntenscumeiocesand | sei pocibetoropoicachanimagebeesne, SNEXTMONTH RAEN vcr caccicr PuIPjaRRETT actual sing othe pblshes chews having plcures euro a OOO are aaeree eee r Wie eve ©OO Good OO Worth considering, but flawed © Mediocre, or bad value @* Enough said AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 83 2 E-mail: infoaero@ipcmediacom Write: Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, ‘Southwark Street, London SE1 OSU Information Exchange compiled by ftlike Hooks een iio een oa aa then joined the SBAC, where his ee ae eater ees Are you trying to find the answer to a thorny aviation question? Or trace an old aviation friend? Then Tangmere V1 QDavid Chainey, 17 Kestrel Close, East Wtering Sussex PO20 £PQ, is compiling a small book on V1 incidents in the Chichester area and has been told that one wa shot down on to the Tangmere runway, Does anyone have further deta on ts? Questions Capelis XC-12 QRobin Worth mentions the one-off Capes XC12, an enlarged Beech 18 Iookalte, used in the film Flying Tigersas a bomber and ater for ground shot in other fe after Was grounded by structural faire. Flying sequences wer shot using a model which survived ater World ‘War Two, although the XC-12 was scrapped in 1983, Mr Worth aks i there i any more information on the XC-127 Coincidentally, we had aleter from Me. Prior asking the identity of American Lancaster pilot Q Leslie C.Taylr, $926 Kirby Road, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA, e-mail leslietaylor@yahoo.com,i 3 tour guide atthe Udvar-Hazy Center ofthe National it & Space Museum, In 2003, atan open evening for veterans he met an American etizen who went to Canada and enlisted in the RAF or RCAF, flew Lancaster Is in Bar Command, was later instructor in the USA to fly -29sin the P only person to complete a Bomber this aircraft Command tour and fly 8-295 over Japan? Hisname may have been Blue Victor Humphrey or Humphries, and Mr {Q Tony Caldersmith writes that in 1960 he was a production line inspector at Handley Page's Radlett factory. On the airfield was what appeared to be a Victor painted blue and he was told that is was a ¥ed-seale prototype known as, the Bluebird. The HPBB, essentially an Attacker fuselage wth a semi-scale Victor wing was royal ue, but it was destroyed when it broke up inthe airin August 1951. The Victor prototype was sky blue when it flew in December 1952 {as pictured BELOW), but by the 1953 'SBAC Display had been repainted in black and grey with ated cheat line None ofthese dates line up with the 1960 date — can anyone comment? Taylor asks if anyone can identify him? Jewish children rescue flights @DrSimone Ladwig Winters, Forschungebuero Piticune Geschichte, ruederst 1, 12205 Berlin Germany, e-mail la-winters@snaf de isresearching the history ofa children's home in Frkenburg ner Bevin ding 193-45, run by Anna von Gerke and Isa Gruner who hid Jewish children unt the end ofthe war, before which between anvary and August 1939 they cnganised two fights from Berlin's Staaken Airport t Croydon, saving Several children who were supposed to find shelter with Quake amis. The researchers locking frist of pascengers a that time ~ can anyone help orsuggestan archive where the information might be found? Blackpool Rapide Alan Crow, 55 Morven Lea laydon, Tyne & Wear NE2I AY, ha his fist, ‘igh na Rapide named Glen Maye at Blackpool in August 1952 and ask if anyone can give details offts registration and other markings, 35 he would the tomakea model Ba Instant Answer John Dent asks for information and photographs of the TK.4 designed and built by students at the de Haviland Aeronautical Technical School at Hatfield in 1927. ‘The smallest single-seat racer which could be designed around the 140 h.p. DH, Gipsy Major engine, the TK ‘made its frst fight in uly 1937 under 8 Conditions as €-4, later becoming G-AETK. Ithad a retractable undercarriage, variable-piteh propeller, slots and flaps, a span of 19f in, length 15ft6in tare weight of 9311b and all-up weight of 1,3571b. Although is designed maximum speed was 215 ‘mph, DH. chief test pilot Rj, Waight achieved ninth place inthe September 1937 Kings Cup Race at 2305 mph, but itcrashed near Hafield on October 1, 1937, during practice for an attempt on the 100km class recard and Waight was killed. These facts are from AJ, Jacksons de Havilland Ainerft since 1909 Putnarn, 1987), while the ilustrations below are from Aeroplanes glass negative collection. ‘ABOVE The T.K.6 under B Conditions as E-4, BELOW In the colours itwore for the 1937 King’s Cup Race; and AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 internet users Please include a postal ‘address with your e-mail query as we ‘often have to Include hard copy (e6 Photocopies) with a reply In responding to queries please reply via Mike Hooks if there sno direct contact shown, our noticeboard may help Answers Spitfire crash {Spitfire TE344ilusrated in our ‘August sue was says EW leon, flown by Fk GC. Shelley The engine faled at around 10008 and inthe subsequent forced anding uphill the strats for Aya decelerating rapidly, throwing the pilot and sat ‘out thankfully he survived. Phantom hatches. ‘APote Nach, commenting on the Phantom hatches September) says that ‘they are spill-doors asthe Spey powering this Phantom variant required extra cooling at low speeds — at higher speeds the bypass air was sufficient ‘t0.cool the engines. As they were hydraulically-operated, the insides were painted red to warn grounderew that they may operate when hydraulics were applied, Sometimes when the aircraft ‘was on the ground the side doors were closed because the actuating cylinders and system lost pressure and the doors closed under their own weight. Thanks ‘also to Dennis Morley for his notes received as we went to press. He points out thatthe doors are not Unique to Phantoms but are employed ‘on many other aircraft. Doncaster crash, 1937 AThanks toall who replied to this September query. The aircraft was Airspeed Courier G-ACSZ of North Eastern Airways flown by Capt Idwal Jones on pleasure-fiying. At the end of ‘each fight he made a low pass over the airfield, and on the last pass the aircraft rolled inverted and crashed, killing him and two passengers, a tied dying the fallowing day. Two others were seriously injured Lysander crash, 1939 AMr A. Grimley says that this occurred fn Empire Air Day, May 20,1939, at Ringway when L4784 of 26 Sqn stalled atlow altitude. Plot Fg Off Hugh Gordon Malcolm and another occupant ‘were seriously injured In 1943, by then | Wg Cer, Malcolm was awarded a posthumous VC leading Blenheim Vs inan attack on the Afrika Korps. AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 Sree reviousissues Sree’ ier) matter) pe Petey Pg re ‘marenghi@ arene peep preret Registration Update compiled by Mee Hooks ONLY TWO OLDER airraft feature in the latest UK register additions, Wastmer WA.52 Europa D-EFVS ‘becomes G-EFVS ina pant-saving job, and $M.1019 G-SIMA ex MMS7247. Restorations include homebuilt Super Marine Spitfire 26 G-HABT, cancelled 1609 as destroyed and Pietenpol ‘AirCamper G-BMDE, cancelled in 409 and illustrated in August Rebuilt after about 20 year’ absence is Dornier Do 27 G-8MFG, one of two former Portuguese Ar Force Doriers registered in 9.85 — the fuselage of the other, G-BMFH, wasstolen from Booker in 12.87 — where did it go? Cancellations are Beagle B206 and ROTI whose Cof A expired N97. Provost G-AWVE cradtiguh 87.9 killing john Fairey, see Nis September, while Wilga, G-EPZL, damaged in 608, has been cancelled as beyond repair. CASA Jungmann G-JUNG crashed on 24.509 killing the pilot and injuring the passenger. Aero L-39C Albatros G-CFPO has gone to South Aftica French vintage adcitions are Fouga ‘Magister F-AZZ? Stearman F-AZSQ (1 N52967/42-16854 and new-build ing its Cof Aexpiry in 10.08. RIGHT Brochet MB.72 twas damaged beyond repairin6.07. Seething in 7.09 andis now based at Chatteris whereitis registered tothe Dornier 27 Group. Does anyone know where the fuselage of G-8MFH ‘went? Seetextabove. Flug Werk FW 190A-8 F-A27), see the Fiying Legends coverage in our September issue. No detalls are yet noun for Jungmann F-AZVL Brochet MB.72 F-PYQN (originally F-8GTG) was damaged beyond repair in 607 Belgian Stearman O0-USN has become D-EMFL, a Dutch reservation is PH-IWO for SE.SAN64OAB (this a replica), German Super Cub D-ELHP, was written offn 7.09, while added is Super Cub D-ENMMl ex LNACA/EL-92/ 1H EITAIMM522423/52-2243, In Scandinavia K2.IT CY. FAE sex Danish Air Force and Safir LN-AAB has reverted to SE-IGL Swiss cancellations ae Cessna ‘177RG H8-CWD and Mooney M.20) 18-065, writen off in 508 In Austria, CASA Jungmann, (OE-CUT is ex SP-¥PM/D-EOUT/E38- 523 In South Africa, DC-3-65TP-AR 25-MAP becomes N882TP while Canadian additions are Tiger Moth CCF-CKU ex A372/RCAF 4225 and Jet Provost TA C-FO)P ex G-BWGT) 991 xR67S. We are indebted to Air- Britain News {or much of the above information LEFT Provost G-AWVF/ XF877 wore several colour schemes nits life bbutonly thisone showed bboth markings. twas destroyed ina fatalcrash (01 8.7.09, claiming the life ofjohn Fairey. 85 Notice to show organisers: Is your event listed here? If not, please leave us a message on 0203148 4108 or send an e-mail to infoaero@ipcmedia.com Airshows & EVENS ccmmpiled by Jolin DonalSeen UNITED KINGDOM EVENTS OCTOBER UNTILJANUARY 3, 2010 Captured: ‘The Extraordinary Life of Prisoners of War The fist major exhibition ever held by the IWM dedicated tothe experiences ‘of PoWs in WW2. Imperial War Museums North, Special Exhibitions Galley, The (Quays, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 TTZ:tel 0161 836 4000, website vaww, Iwmorguk/north 3 Flight! Open Day Flight One Software Inc’ inaugural open day will include discounted simulator tral fights and presentations on its fight simulation technology and software. Shoreham Airport, West Sussex, BN42 SEF. website website wwwufightl.comvopenday 3-1 Ploughs to Propellers 1940s ‘Weekend Rougham Arild, Sufols el (01359.270524, wwnucoughamaitieldorg 4 Autumn Air Display Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, Nr Biggleswade, Beds; tel 01767 62792: \woaishuttleworthorg 4 Cockpits Open for The Publi ‘AcroVenture, Dakota Way, Airborne Road, Doncaster Lesure Park, Doncaster, S Yorks; tol 01302 761616, website wow aeroventure.orguk {6 Cierva Lecture ~ Piasecki: Pioneers in Progress for more than 60 years A Royal Aeronautical Society lecture by John Piasecki Royal Aeronautical Society, “4 Hamilton Place, London Wi] 78Q, ‘commences 1800hr; el 020 7670 4345, website http //wwraes.orguuk! 1 ce Dear Newsagent Please order and save me a regular copy of Aeroplane I on the first day of each month and is distributed by I Name Postcode 1 Please photocony ts coupon if yau prefer to keep your magazine inact So enaeaaen coaieedi an mannan aanmnenanen ene AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 A POPES CONTACTS ‘Aeroplane Monty ue Fn Bulag "NoSouthwartSe London SE OSU, erate vaswaeroparemontiicom Ector Nit Oey Deputy tor Nicksrous aunt ir Editor Fp xs Jn Don lan Frimston tells the story of Skysport Engineering's painstaking 18-year restoration of unique Hawker Demon K8203/GTVE, with air-to-air photographs specially takegyby Richard Paver The Sopwith 1% Strutter Philip Jarrett tells the fll story ‘ofthe type that began life inate 1915 asthe fist rue ‘wosseat fighter, butaso saw seas a bomber, single-seat J fighter and shipborne aircraft. Eki Inthe Sstcipon eras Deux Ponts: the Workshop mrisnavawewsen Original A380 Richard Paver catches With Air France launching Up with aircraft restorer its A380 service from Paris Maurice Hammond at to New York this November, his Suffolk workshop Mike Hirst takes a look at to discuss his Merlin Breguet’ original double- ‘overhaul business and. decker, the unlovely ~ but find out the major very useful = Deux Ponts challenges he faces forte Ui aragement wanstesno eta nmo Nichaion | Mario Calderara— | Italy's first aviator Johnny de Uphaugh traces the adventurous life and itle-known cateer of aly st qualified plot, a personal pupil of Wilbur Wright (<7 recycle PC|INSPIRE AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 95 Write to: Aeroplane, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 OSU Biggles Saved My Life with illustration by Sewell ( 11945 1 WAS 17, ‘Aircrew Selected” forthe “Panther Force” ‘and a Corporal in No 2 Flight of 1495 Squadron, Ai Training Corps, at Bristol. also had passed sy Advanced Proficiency | was given the opportunity to learn to be a glider pilt to A-Licence level ‘One weekend four cadets, the CO and fight lieutenant were driven at high speed to No 92 Elementary Giding, ‘School a Yate, the PanallAicrat ‘Company aerodrome. Ina single-seat Kicay Cadet glider, lovingly built by members of No 4 Fightin the Squadron, we were first towed a few feet above the {ground by aballoon winch to leam to beep the glider straight and level. There \was no instructor with us. Youwere on Yyou own from thestart. | passed "Low Hops’ where the winch towed me up pehape Stand I then landed safely. ‘One day I was practising for my “High Hop" to 150% and! did not gain sufcient hight. Either the winch speed was too slow er | did not pull the stick back ‘quickly and far enough. Yate Aerodrome \was quite small and at an attude of about 804 found myselsling over the boundary fence, straight toward a railway marshaling yard densely packed with truck, cariages and locomatives. With its fimsy plywood fuselage, the glider ‘would have been extensively damaged by impact with the rolling-stock and | ‘would have been badly injured or killed More importantly, to damage the glider \would be unthinkable, I had only been taught to ly straight and level~ had not been given any instruction for this situation, What should 11402 It was tulya"Hairy Moment | was a great Siggles fan, and had read all the books, s0 | asked myself “what “At an altitude of about 80ft | found myself sailing over the boundary fence, straight toward a railway marshalling yard” would iges do nmedately came ENWNNMINNR CO asked whatthe hl i think was enh oe ocect PLEMEMN Socricicrnmesecsse MMaHaWHSEWASyOurs? ied onthe nudderbarforaiet. RAMESH enc of ening downwind irra hand, banked tur Tis and hank: Ea Teyplained my stvaton and hat had fulysaw the serodromecominground [tual |) done this inentionly at appeared to infortofme Istaghtened up putthe A beth only may eu of my preieament nose down foragocd ndngsrd cum. ERAEIMEMA Fc eventual son my pont view Diedtoasopwvihe geetsihcreiet EATERS nd verted ‘That was not the end of my worries. GALES Theres, however, no doubt ny The Beaverte came dashing vp and the mind = Bigs saved my ie 96 AEROPLANE NOVEMBER 2009 Buy online at www.rafmuseumshop.com or request a catalogue tel: (0)1902 376 214 Christmas cards Calendars Books DVDs CDs oe q i Clothes __ Ya Gifts Prints Badges Flight a a odels so & more =e v OTST Tg UCU) eV ee LT ‘The Mosquito was the largest World War 1 light bomber and its combination of performance ‘and speed were only exceeded by the early German jet fighters. AS one of the most ‘manoeuvrable aca ofthe period, is versatility as shown through its success as a precision day and night bomber, as a pathfinder and as 2 Feconnaissance platform. Bult primarily of plywood, the Mosquito first Went into use with the RAF in 1941 and soon received the nicknames “Plywood Bomber” and “Wooden Wonder Due t its light weight and powertul Metin engines it was capable of speeds upto 612 km/h, The Mosquito & MkIV version was used for precision bombing by two RAF squadrons from 7 aie ton vant

S-ar putea să vă placă și