NEWS FLASH-Coventry Helicopter Centre has today 8.1.2001 gone into liquidation allegedly with debts of a quarter of a million pounds.The company owned by Adrian Hobbs operated a Robinson flying training school together with two Jet Rangers G-OMJB and G-OCHC used for charter work.Recently these pages reported the purchase by the company of the Italian designed Argentinian produced Easy Copter ground trainer which literally pivots on a hydraulic ram which was aimed at getting people flying helicopters quickly and safely.Many people have been very annoyed by the practise of the company allegedly taking deposits knowing of the impending closure,the owner was not available for comment at his Hunningham Mansion today having gone to his holiday home in Spain.The company also suffered a tragic loss of one of its Robinson R-44 helicopters G-TLME whilst on its way back from Blackpool recently.At least one of the
Jet Rangers have been taken to Blackpool airport and the Robinson helicopters have been not been seen at Coventry recently.

Seen here in its original Air Atlantique livery is DC-6 G-SIXC landing here at Baginton on 25.5.87,both this aircraft and its sister aircraft G-APSA work hard doing freight work throughout the world and still earn their keep,the major work of removing the outer wings on sister aircraft G-SIXC was recently undertaken by the company to replace the wing attachment bolts.
Archive picture by Barry Clay.

All material contained in this site is from my own personal resources and files and no official source has been used.I acknowledge the help given by my many friends in particular with regard to photographs which have been acknowledged as necessary and for which I am very grateful,any comments or snippets of information especially of a topical nature are always appreciated and should be forwarded to barry.clay@ntlworld.com all mail will receive an answer,thank you.

RECENT AIRCRAFT MISHAPS-(Information extracted from the AIr Accident Investigation Branch bulletins)
9.8.2000 Baginton,G-BYBZ Jabiru SK right wing lifted whilst taxi for take off in crosswind conditions,aircraft tipped forward and propeller struck the ground.
13.11.2000 G-BWVG Robin HR200/120B was damaged beyond repair when it forced landed 2 miles south of Caernarfon airport due to fuel starvation when the fuel cock was accidently knocked to the off position,the aircraft was part of the Air Atlantique training aircraft fleet at Baginton and recently suffered a forced landing at Draycott Water due to a loosening of the cylinder head.
7.2.2000 Agusta A109C of Irvine Aviation had to make a forced landing near Baginton airport due to vibration problems caused by a loosening of a rotor tip cap which failed in flight.
28.8.2000 N88PL Piper PA46-310 Malibu lost power on take off from Grove Fields farm strip,Wasperton the aircraft landed ahead going through a fence into the next field,a previous accident similar to this one occured during August 1999.

Pictured in happier circumstances at Wellesbourne by Dave Peace this photograph was taken on 11.4.99 and shows the sleek lines of this expensive executive aircraft.

Twin Otters VP-FBB and VP-FBC were frequent visitors to Midlands airfields and airstrips during the summer of 2000,Dave Peace caught them on camera at Old Warden on 6.8.2000,earlier in the month one visited the Combrooke airstrip in Warwickshire after making several approaches.
The aircraft are part of the British Antartic Survey and spend their summers in the uk,this year it was to be Kidlington,they have also been crew training at Baginton during their uk stay.photograph is top right above the Jackaroo.

Huddled together to protect them from the gales in March 1989,Dakotas forming the backbone of the Air Atlantique fleet are due to be retired from the Pollution control role having given sterling service for the company,it is expected that at least one grand old lady will be retained for pleasure flying but the future of the rest of the fleet is uncertain,in the background is the short lived (in Atlantique colours) Avro 748 G-BEKG which prior to its appointment had been used by the Baginton based Venture airways formed by Peter Jones who also formed Air Commuter.

Resident behind the Helitechnique offices at Baginton for a while was this well worn Alouette SA315B C-FKIA,Dave Peace who took this photograph asks what became of this helicopter? as it suddenly vanished overnight.The photograph was taken on 8.7.97.Thanks to Jeremy Parkin at www.rotorhub.com who tells me that the helicopter was shipped back to Spokane near Seattle and became N1109 (the four digit registration is unusual)

To view archive pages of Wings Over Warwickshire click onto this link.

Build cardboard aeroplanes that really fly- click here to enter my aircraft model building pages

Flashback to 25.3.88 when this beautiful Hunter WT651/7532M was pride of place at the headquarters of 8 Group Royal Observer Corps at Church Lawford,Warwicks,the ROC was sadly disbanded and the headquarters are now derelict despite many attempts to use the wonderful building for other purposes including an underground night club! Your authors attempts to have it retained as a museum failed but it was worth a try.The Hunter faired better and is now lovingly cared for by the Newark Air Museum at Winthorpe airfield.

AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS-
8.11.2000 G-BULH C172 Blackpool-Blackpool,diversion from Staverton eventually landed Leicester.
G-OTHE Enstrom 280c Shark,Goodwood-Southam site,normally Corley based.
G-OMAC C172E Rocket,Liverpool-Lydd.
G-BLFW Grumman AA5 Baginton.
G-GOTO PA32R Baginton.

Coventry (Baginton) taken from the Fuji airship on 14.8.86,Coventry has undergone many changes since this photograph was taken and if anyone out there has a more recent photograph then I will be delighted to hear from them.

Every year hundreds of hot air balloons take to the skies over Warwickshire,to represent this leisurely mode of flight we portray here balloons ascending from the Royal Showground at Stoneleigh,Warwickshire,I took this photograph as a passenger in G-BLJG on 4.7.84 during a balloon race called the Hare and the Hounds which takes place every year at the Royal Show.

By popular request here is another rare photograph of the former Air Atlantique Avro 748 G-BEKG photographed at Baginton on 13.3.89

Fast decaying at Long Marston is this ex 2 School of Technical Training RAF Cosford Shackleton MR.3/phase 3 aircraft WR985/8103M sadly the ravages of time have taken their toll on this airframe.Picture taken on 21.3.90 by Barry Clay.

AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS-
7.11.2000 G-BZEI Agusta A109 Private site Swindon-private site at Wigan.
G-BWHF PA31 Awyr Cymru cyf,Gamston-BHX.
10.11.2000 N4422P PA23-160 Garion (Apache conversion) Little Staughton-BHX in connection with Yak 18T RA81584.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN-Derbys Burnaston Airfield was sadly closed in 1988 in favour of a Japanese car factory.This is where British Midland Airways started its operations as Derby Aviation flying services to Jersey from this wonderful grass airfield,such names as David Ogilvy and Buster Paine made their mark here.Derby Aviation started flying Miles Marathons and Dakotas ansd secured the school childrens air experience flights with local education authorities.The whole Burnaston closure was handled in a disgraceful manner and it was a sad day for Aviation.
Archive photograph.

Stunning shot of Buster Paines racing Miles Hawk Speed Six G-ADGP rounding the imaginary pylons at Old Warden circa 1997.This aircraft lived at Burnaston for many years amongst the Dakotas,Marathons and Canadair Argonauts.
The picture is an example of the photographic skills of Dave Peace.

Now fit and healthy again after its ordeal when it decided to carry on through the perimeter fence at Coventry on 1.7.2000,although devoid of any markings here this is G-JEAP Friendship taken on the occasion of the Aircraft Radio Museum auction day 5.8.2000 it appears that the brakes failed causing extensive damage to the nose area and the perimeter fence! Aircraft are used for cargo operations into Baginton by Channel Express.

The Air Atlantique Historic flight has moved into another hangar at Coventry and houses a wonderful collection of flying vintage aircraft,chance to show here on major overhaul the former Foxs Glacier Mints Rapide G-AIDL which together with G-AGTM are used for pleasure flying during the summer months when special enthusiasts weekends are organised.
This picture was taken during a check 4 at Baginton on 25.4.95 the aircraft was former RAF ambulance TX310.

FLASHBACK-G-BISU Bristol Freighter was operated on behalf of Instone for race horse charters by Air Atlantique,the aircraft returned to Canada operated by Safair and was then purchased by a consortium in the UK.Sadly the aircraft was written off taking off from Enstone when a ground loop developed and the aircraft was heading towards some hangars,the nose section lay at Enstone for some time.
Archive photograph by Barry Clay.

Most exotic of all the Cessna Citations to visit Coventry goes to this one registered in the United Arab Emirates as A6-SMH,ex G-BFAR,ZS-LPH and N36912.Caught by the camera when it was hangared in Doller Helicopters hangar on 1.6.87
Archive photograph by Barry Clay.

EX WELLESBOURNE HELICOPTER PILOT ESCAPES CRASH-
Former Wellesbourne agricultural helicopter pilot Bill Scarratt,who once flew Bell 47G crop sprayers from a farm site only down the road from the airfield was lucky to escape when his Bell Jet Ranger G-OBAY ditched,following a ditching into Lake Windermere on Friday 5th January 2001,the pilot who was on his way to pick up a businessman from the Botany Bay Shopping centre in Chorley,Lancs.After ditching Bill Scarratt managed to swim half a mile to safety.
The pilot was employed by Brian Seedles Heli 2000 company and was an ex member of Red Devils team,he puts his survival down to his military training.
The helicopter was salvaged on 10th January for investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Branch at Farnborough.

MAJOR EXPANSION PLANS CONTINUE AT BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL-
Birmingham International airport will continue with its expansion plans well into the millenium it is reported today 15.1.2001,the airport handled an impressive eight million passengers in the year 2000.This brings the airport to be the fifth largest in the United Kingdom,the success of the airport has been put down to the increase of flights to exotic places such as the new Emirates daily service from the airport.

2001 INTERESTING AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS-
2.1.2001 G-BFVG PA28 Fairoaks-Blackpool.
G-RICE R22 Lifted from owners site at Draycott-Baginton.
G-BYFR Saratoga,Baginton.
G-ONPA Navajo To Hurn in company with G-OBNA Seneca,through BHX zone.
G-BWYO Frati F8L Falco (kit built)Baginton.
G-OSCE Cessna 421 Sandtoft-BHX.
G-MURY R44 Wellesbourne-Nottingham site.
N184CD Cirrus SR20 Ballistic recovery aircraft,Baginton (see separate report on this aircraft).
G-SOHI Agusta A109,Elstree-Baginton,Tri Ventures group.
G-FORS T67C Firefly,Baginton.
3.1.2001
G-COPT Squirrel EMA-Bath-Fairoaks.
G-OFIL R44,Denham-Wellesbourne.
G-IYET R22,Leeds-Baginton.(does anyone have a photograph of this helicopter?)
G-NSHR R22,Wellesbourne-Sheffield.
LY-APP Yak 18T,Leicester-Wellesbourne.
G-BXYK R22,Baginton-Wellesbourne.

Ewen Taylor of Fleet80uk (owner and rebuilder of Fleet Canuck G-FLCA)took this photograph at Baginton on 21.10.2000 of the Bassler BT67 Turbo Dakota conversion N40386.The aircraft was on a European sales tour and had its ferry tanks removed and refitted by Air Atlantique,on 15.11.2000 it returned briefly again and flew out again early next morning back to its base at Oshkosh in the USA.
Basslers have visited past Farnborough SBAC shows.

Bassler converted Dakota as it appeared at the Farnborough air show on 12.9.92,note the plug inserted into the front nose section to bring the aircrafts centre of gravity forward,this aircraft is N96BF.
Barry Clay Aviation Archives photograph.

Strong contender for the Dakota prop jet conversion market is this Proffesional Aviation Douglas Turbo DC-3 registered in South Africa as ZS-LYW,the aircraft appeared at the Farnborough Air Show on 12.9.92,compare the two aircraft design differences to the engine nacelles.
Barry Clay Aviation Archives photograph.

The slow flying characteristics of the Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer have to be seen to be believed,this was demonstrated at the fifties style airshow held in August year 2000 at Coventry.Here is 'Primrose' as she is affectionetly called with flaps extended and leading edge slats out flying very slowly indeed.The aircraft has been used in a variety of interesting roles over the years one of which was heat seking loss tests done over the UK,the outcome was the saving of a lot of money in wasted energy from such diverse places as private homes to factories.
Flight One at Staverton and Shobdon once operated this wonderful aircraft as G-BCWF but it has reverted back to its original marks of G-APRS,the colourscheme is authentic as it used the raspberry ripple scheme when in service with the Empire Test Pilots school as XT610.
Picture credit-Dave Peace.

FLASHBACKS-Around 1983-85 I used to help keep a Cessna 170 G-BCLS flying from an airstrip called Shotteswell ran by a great guy called Fred Spence,I spent many happy hours there messing about with aeroplanes.At that time regular vintage aircraft ralliese held at this strip near Banbury in Warwickshire this is were this T-6G Harvard G-BGHU was photographed being taxied here by Tony Hooper on 1.7.84.
The aircraft has quite a chequered history being ex Portuguese Air Force FAP.1707 and prior to that French Air Force 115042,the aircraft seen here painted as 'Curly' was sold soon after these photographs were taken,it was normally based at Wellesbourne airfield.
Barry Clay photograph.

FOCUS ON TYPE-THE AVRO 19 (SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE ANSON BUT THE TRUE ANSONS ARE MK.1's)-
A selection of photographs from my files of this interesting gentle breed of aircraft

G-AHIB Avro 19/1,Wymeswold 12.3.62,c/n 1317,built 1946,Pomerot Developments Ltd,photographed by Dave Peace who tells me the colours were green/white.

G-AHKX Avro 19/2 c/n 1333,ex Smiths Aircraft instruments hack aircraft,built 1946,shown here in Treffield Aviation formed by Lord Trefgarne who later was a shareholder at Executive Air Engineering Ltd at Baginton.
Gemini Aerofots picture.

G-AGWF Avro 19/1 c/n 1287,built 1946,Fairways (Jersey) Ltd,
Gemini Aerofotos picture.

VM318 Avro C.19 at St Mawgen 1960,CL44 in background.
Barry Cole picture.

VH-ASM A true Anson Mk 1,this aircraft now in the uk awaiting restoration.
Via N.M.Parnall photograph.

G-AGPG Avro 19/2 c/n 1212,used by Ecko for research and hack,built 1945,to Historic Aircraft Museum Southend,believed broken up,photographed at Baginton circa 1963-64.
Picture-Gemini Aerofotos.

G-AIPA,Anson 1,ex RAF EF866,built 1942,withdrawn from use April 1960,Derby Aviation Ltd/Canadian Air Service which was a subsidiary company specialising in magnetometer research,aircraft had trailing monitoring equipment.
Picture-Aviation Archives.

Taken on a foggy day at Finningley in 1948 this a A.V Roe Yeadon built Avro C19,we make no excuses for the picture quality of this historical photograph.
With thanks to E.G Hall,Leamington Spa.

David Ogilvy putting Avro 652a Anson 1 through its paces at a Skyfame Staverton airshow in the seventies,the aircraft was built in 1938 with two Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah 9 engines and became part of the Derby Aviation magnetometer fleet which together with civilian Mosquitos performed extensive research work for minerals in Canada.
The aircraft is G-AMDA and was ex RAF N4877 coded FV-X it eventually went to Duxford on the demise of Skyfame,this museum was way ahead of its time however Peter Thomas who was the founder together with his wife carried on with aircraft restoration at Duxford.
Picture-Gemini Aerofotos.

INTERESTING AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS-
25.10.2000 G-BSDU Jet Ranger Draycott
Water site to Draycott
G-SCOW Twin Squirrel to Battersea
and return to Windermere.
N1065B Beech 55 Tatenhill to
Mona Anglesey.
G-SCBI TB20 Enstone-Carlisle.
G-MILT Jet Ranger Battersea
-Liverpool.
G-AZAB PA30 Denham-Baginton.
26.10.2000 G-BVTM Cessna 152
RAF Halton-Wellesbourne.
G-RVRA PA28 Liverpool-Wellesbourne.
G-FLYP Beagle 206 Cranfield
to?
G-BAMY PA28 Blackpool-
Wellesbourne.
G-MURY R44 Bath-Baginton-
Wellesbourne
G-OGEE Pitts S2B Leicester-
Baginton
G-BTHA Cessna 182 Leicester-
Baginton
G-BPYR PA31 Leicester-
Baginton for ILS runs.
G-PROD Squirrel Prodrive
Banbury site to MIRA testing grounds.
G-BKSS Mascaret Baginton.
G-AZVM Hughes 369s to private
landing site near Corley services.
G-ODOD Helicopter Baginton-
Brize Norton.
30.10.2000 G-PZAZ Navajo ambulance
flight from Baginton.
HB-IBH Falcon 2000 Baginton.

XS235 Comet 4C seen here landing at
Fairford on 28.7.94 has been
civilian registered as G-CPDA
(G-APDA was a BOAC Comet 4c)ex
Boscombe Down it has been ferried
to Bruntingthorpe and overhauled
for its eventual ferry flight to
Lasham, which is no strange airfield
to Comets being the base of the
now defunct Dan Air Engineering
headquarters who operated a fleet
of Comet 4c aircraft in the past,
my thanks to Dave Peace for providing
this lovely picture.

That roving photographer Dave Peace
has provided this latest photograph
of XS235 shown here in civil markings
as G-CPDA.British Aviation Research
Group provide these brief details-
built by Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd
at Hawarden for use by the A&AEE
Boscombe Down as a navigational
trials aircraft,first flight 26.9.63
and named 'Canopus'

Lovely atmospheric shot of Grosvenor House thr famous racing DH88 Comet G-ACSS together with the aforementioned Comet 4C XS235 from the A&AEE and celebrating 25 years of Comet operations recorded on the nose.
credit:Dave Peace,at Hatfield open day 1.7.89

FURTHER MOVEMENTS-
1.11.2000 G-WURL R22 Leicester-Wellesbourne
G-OSEE R22 Wellesbourne-Chipping Warden.
G-BTIS Twin Squirrel photographic work Banbury area.
5.11.2000 G-DOOZ Squirrel 2 through BHX zone.
6.11.2000 G-KFRA PA32 Baginton.
N1874M Gulfstream III GFSC Finance Corp,Baginton.

STOP PRESS! FIRST BALISTIC RECOVERY SYSTEM AIRCRAFT VISITS COVENTRY AIRPORT-
Today Tuesday 2nd January 2001 the first purpose designed aircraft to have a built in parachute for recovery in an emergency visited Coventry (Baginton) airport) the aircraft type a Cirrus SR20 N184CD paid a brief one hour visit to the airport,the aircraft has recently received full FAA type approval following extensive testing in the States,the machine boasts an healthy order book.
The manufactures Cirrus Design,4515 Taylor Cir,Dulluth,MN,55811-1548 kindly supplied this photograph of a similar aircraft to the one that visited Coventry today.

This Thomas Morse Scout Replica G-MJTD was to have been the first of many world war one replicas to be built in an aircraft factory at Baginton in 1988.This particular machine was built in Cambridge by Dega Engineering and was photographed by myself whilst preparing an article for Aviation News magazine at that time.The date of the photograph is 3.4.88 and shortly afterwards the aircraft was moved to smaller premises on the North side of the airfield and was not seen again.

Beech Kingair C90 aircraft are fairly common visitors to Coventry but this example is a freighter,OY-JRO operated by Danish Air Transport visited Baginton on 15.6.97 and sports a rather unusual colourscheme.
Pic credit D.Peace archives.

MOVEMENTS REVIEW-
10.11.2000 G-BAGB SIA Marchetti SF260 British Midland Airways,through BHX zone.
12.11.2000 G-IZZS Cessna 182 diversion to Wellesbourne due to windshear.
G-OFIL R44 private site 5 miles South Glos to private site at Stratford.
N6107Y RC114 Tamboti Aviation Inc trustee,Baginton.
15.11.2000 G-OCAA HS.125-700B Luton-Baginton.
G-OVBJ Jet Ranger III,Aeromega pipeline survey work carried out every Wednesday,low level Baginton-Silverstone.
N41AK Kingair Baginton-Dublin.
N600RN MD600N helicopter,Shoreham to ?
G-MAFF Islander,Luton-BHX.
N40386 Bassler BT67 Turbo Dakota conversion,Baginton for ferry tank overnight installation,then to Oshkosh USA.
17.11.2000 G-MASS C152 Baginton.
NIUK PA28 Baginton.
G-BFBB Aztec,Halfpenny Green-Cranfield.
N818Y PA30,Two day stay Baginton.

Former Kirtons Farm Enstrom F28-UK G-BCFP seen here at the Midland Aircraft Engineering auction at Coventry on 5.8.2000 the helicopter was purchased by Wings Over Warwickshire and has been rebuilt following its dereliction.
The helicopter suffered a catastropic failure of a big end over Theale,Reading on 9.9.84 crashing into a ploughed field and turning over,the pilot escaped unhurt.
If you flew this helicopter or owned it at any time I will be pleased to piece together its history.

Convair 440 CS-TML seen here in its original Air Atlantique markings.Portuguese civil aviation rules precluded the use of these titles and it has reverted back to Agroar Cargo titles,Delivered to Mohawk airlines as N4402 on 29.7.59 it has been registered in the past as N357SA,N28KE,N28KA.
The aircraft has recently undergone an engine change and has been seen compass swinging at Baginton,my thanks to Dave Peace for this photograph at Coventry on 21.5.2000.

At last thanks to Dave Peace a photograph
of the elusive first scheme applied to this
aircraft a CV440,note the legend Atlantic
Airlines which was removed not long after
and replaced with the Agroar titles explained
above.
Picture taken on 21.5.2000 at Coventry.

MOVEMENTS-
17.11.2000 G-BWAC Waco YKS.7 Wellesbourne.
N818Y PA30,Baginton two day visit,One Eight Yankee Aviation Inc Trustee.
19.11.2000 G-BVPR R22B Leicester-Wellesbourne.
20.11.2000 G-BTDI R22 Baginton.
22.11.2000 G-BPRI Squirrel 2,railway line vandalism survey Coventry.
N176AF Citation 650,Baginton,General Aircraft Capital Corp.
G-BZEI A109,private site Bicester-private site Walsall.
G-NJAG Cessna 207 Super Skywagon,Fairoaks-Liverpool.
G-MILI Jet Ranger,Sirius Aviation,Leicester-?
G-CYLS Cessna T303 Crusader,Baginton.

AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS-
24.11.2000 G-..ZH Piper Clipper,Husbands Bosworth -strip in Bath,further details requested.
G-TSAM Bae 125 srs 800B,BHX.
25.11.2000 G-JETX Jet Ranger,Elstree-site near Tatenhill calling for fuel at Wellesbourne.
26.11.2000 G-AZSZ Aztec D,Wellesbourne.
G-TGRZ Jet Ranger,Sywell-Wellesbourne.
N554RB Beech Baron,Bruntingthorpe-Baginton,Rodney Badham Inc Trustee.
29.11.2000 G-FPLA Beech A200,calibration,back and forth over Warwickshire landed BHX.
N115VC R44 Clipper,Wellesbourne,based in Greece on sales tour.
1.12.2000 G-WHST Squirrel,Wellesbourne-Belfry.
N92562 AA5 To Blackpool,through BHX zone.
D-GAMA PA44 Baginton.
2.12.2000 G-BZEI A109,private site Wigan-private site in Heathrow zone.
G-BVPL Zenair CH601 through BHX zone.
G-JENN AA5 Baginton.
3.12.2000 G-MELV Rallye,Staverton-Baginton.
G-PPLH R22,private site Belper-Wellesbourne.
G-LORR PA28,Halfpenny Green-Wellesbourne.
G-ROZI R22,private site Belper-Wellesbourne.
4.12.2000 RA-26044 AN-26B,Air Charter Services,Baginton.
6.12.2000 G-WARP Cessna 182,Army Parachute Association,Netheravon-South Cerney.
16.12.2000 G-BSXD Soko P-2 Kraguj,Wellesbourne.
G-IBRO Cessna 152,diversion Bourn-Leicester.
G-TOSH R22,Wellesbourne.
G-OSCH Cessna 421,Cardiff-BHX.
G-OOGI Cougar,Denham-Wellesbourne for circuits.
17.12.2000 G-DACL Short 330,Air Cavral,EMA-Baginton.
G-BIUV HS748,Emerald Airways,Baginton.
G-BTXG Jetstream,Highland Airways,Aberdeen-Baginton
(operated by Air Atlantique)

DID YOU KNOW? That there are 226 Robinson R22 helicopters currently on the British Civil Register,140 Jet Rangers and 92 Robinson R44 HELICOPTERS.
And this figure is growing weekly,the Robinsons have been more successful over here than in the States!

For many years now a pool of Learjet pilots has been held at Baginton witness the number of Learjets passing through the airport.Companies such as Sea Containers Associates,Graff Diamonds and the Automobile Association have all used this type of aircraft and operated them from Coventry,shown here is N15SC the Sea Containers aircraft which was operated on their behalf by McAlpine Aviation.
Photograph was taken outside the Airworks hangar previously occupied by Alvair who operated a fine maintenance organisation run by Denis Hancox.
Archive photograph by Barry Clay.

MOTHER OF THREES ROUND THE WORLD FLIGHT-
Fifty six year old Polly Vacher left Birmingham airport today 12.1.2001 for her 22,000 mile flight around the world.
The aircraft being used is a Piper PA28 Dakota G-FRGN will visit 17 countries including India,Australia and large portions of the USA.The trip will mark the smallest aircraft flight by a woman around the world to be flown solo.The purpose of the trip is to raise money for the Royal International Air Tattoo Flying Scholership scheme which enables disabled people to reach their full potential.

Delightful photograph comes courtesy of John Dunbar/Imagecare shows Sqd Ldr Pinner formating with Polly at the start of the round world flight from Birmingham International Airport.
The Piper Dakota has a range of 2400 miles with the special tanks installed,2 VHF radios are fitted,together with one HF radio,2 emergency locator beacons,avionics fit is 2 VOR's,one RM,one HSI with glideslope and locator,2 GPS's and a three axis autopilot.

Why not follow her remarkable journey by going to this link-

RECENT AIR ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BRANCH BULLETIN EXTRACTS-
Jodel DR1050 G-AWWN struck a small tree during an overshoot at Baxterly airstrip on 30th July 2000 during a fly in at the strip,damage to the aircraft included the underside of the port wing,aileron and pitot head.

My thanks to Jeremy Parkin of Rotorhub.com for checking much of the helicopter data on this site.

To show that the Air Atlantique Historic flight aircraft are no museum pieces gathering dust,the opportunity was taken to fly the Avro 19 G-VROE and Devon to the Sudan in the year 2000.This remarkable flight for a duo of vintage machines was in order that Gulf Aviation could use the aircraft in their celebrations as both types plied the skies for the early days of this company.Note the legend -IWX which was the only way the period registration marks were allowed to be displayed for the flight from the UK,as a recent tightening of the rules governing such practises of displaying marks not actually allocated would have made the full set of marks illegal.
credit for picture goes to Dave Peace and was taken at the Birmingham Airport open day in the year 2000.

DISCLAIMER-Whilst every care is exercised to ensure accuracy of material in Wings Over Warwickshire no responsibility can be taken for any mistakes that could occur,material on these pages is constantly updated and ammended as necessary,views expressed are not necessarily those of the author and material is given in good faith.The ulrtimate object of this site is together with the many other enthusiasts throughout the country looking after their patch provide Aviation educational material and to create an archive of material for future generations to study.
Please note that this is an unnoficial site for the airfields mentioned however it is my sincere wish that the relevent authorities sit up and take note that such promotion would be in their interests and co-operation on their part would make information gathering a much easier task!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the numerous people who have offered their kind comments to me about this site and this makes the task even more enjoyable for me

WELLESBOURNE RESIDENT OF THE MONTH-
G-BBMO Chipmunk 22 photographed at Wellesbourne
11.4.99 by Dave Peace earns our aircraft of the
month award.This Polish designed,initially built
in Canada type served our own RAF well for many
years and continues today to be flown as this one
in civilian hands,and enjoyed as a splendid aero-
batic aircraft with beautifully harmonised con-
trols,long may the type continue.

FLASHBACK TO YESTERYEAR-The magnificent sleek
lines of the Airspeed AS.57 Ambassador 2 which
was called the Elizabethan in British European
Airways service are captured here in this exam-
ple G-ALZT,photographed while operating a BKS
charter into Baginton circa 1965-66,powered with
two Bristol Centauras 661 engines,this one was
built in 1952 and operated by BKS Air Transport
the name is derived from Barnaby,Keegan,Stevens
all famous names in airline operations.
As can be seen I enjoyed unlimited ramp access
at the airport at that time when I worked for
Light Aircraft Servicing Ltd (Ray Turner) and later
rebuilt De Havilland Doves and Heron aircraft with
Executive Air Engineering Ltd,I only wish that I had
the freedom to photograph aircraft at the airport
now! airport authorities please take note.

This one is for Harry Fanshawe who owned
this splendid Proctor 3 G-ANPP and flew it
from Baginton in the sixties,Harry made an
extraordinary flight to South Africa in her
and we often talk about this aeroplane which
he tok me for flights on occasions,this picture
was taken in its later days at Baginton with
one of Ace Freighters L749 Constellations in
the background,25.4.68 to be exact.
The aircraft was sadly damaged when the aircraft
caught fire whilst being started up following
some maintenance work (probably due to overprime)
and the centre section was damaged in the fire,
shortly after this it was sold to Charles Boddington
who was killed flying a replica world war one aero-
plane in Ireland whilst making 'Darling Lille'
a box office flop,then the aircraft went to Duxford
but has not been seen since? if anyone knows it
present whereabouts then we would love to be re-
aquainted as she was a very special aeroplane to
Harry and myself.
Gemini Aerofotos picture.

I had my very first flight in this aeroplane
a lovely De Havilland Dragon Rapide G-ALGC
owned by Luton Airways.The flight was a
birthday present from my Father and took
place at Baginton on 11.6.59,the aircraft
was originally registered Iraq as YI-ABT
and probably was owned or operated for the
Iraq Petroleum company who had a fleet of them.
Gerald Walker photograph.

Fast becoming an extreme rarity in British and european skies is the Miles Messenger,this example G-AKIN is a series 2a which has been in use by A.J.Spiller for many years,formerly Sywell based it is now lovingly kept on a strip at Keystone and still flown to displays and fly ins,this picture was taken at Shotteswell on 1.7.84 on the occasion of a Vintage Aircraft club fly in.
Picture-Barry Clay.

I think that it would be safe to say that a claim could be made for part of this aeroplane as I spent hundreds of hours restoring her to flying condition in 1963! She is Hornet Moth G-ADSK c/n 8091 which is phptographed here at Baginton 1963-64 when Ray Turner of Light Aircraft Servicing owned her and learned to fly in her.
The chequered history of this aeroplane is served in the RAF as AV952,Sold in Pakistan as AP-AES and based at Dacca came back home to the uk and then whilst on delivery to Germany as D-EJOM in 1957 it crashed and returned back to these shores to be rebuilt again.
Flown from Cryfield Grange Farm,Kenilworth where it crashed on take off causing damage to the airframe,went South to be used as a spares source by Peter Franklin the Hornet expert.
Picture-Gemini Aerofotos.

One of the best eforts to preserve
a Dragon Rapide in RAF Dominie
colourscheme was that of G-AHGD/Z7258
which was rebuilt at Booker to represent
'Woman Of The Empire' a famous aircraft
donated by the public in wartime,the
aircraft was a regular visitor to the
Royal Show landing at Baginton for its
stay.
The aircraft is sadly no more as it was
involved in a very tragic accident when the
seat buckle became entangled in the flying
controls during a display.
Photograph-Barry Clay at Baginton 3.7.84.

Red Nose day 1988-several aircraft at Baginton sported red noses for Charity Aid,this Dakota was zapped overnight by persons unknown,G-AMRA photographed 8.2.88 by Barry Clay.

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