HISTORICAL ARCHIVE

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</div> <script type="text/javascript"> if (typeof lycos_ad !== "undefined" && "slider" in lycos_ad) { document.write(lycos_ad['slider']); } </script>  <div id="FooterAd" style="background:#DFDCCF; border-top:1px solid #393939; clear:both; display:none; width:100%!important; position:relative; z-index:999999!important; height:90px!important"> <div class="adCenterClass" style="display:block!important; overflow:hidden; width:916px;"> <div id="footerAd_container" style="display:block!important; float:left; width:728px"> <iframe id="lycosFooterAdiFrame" style="border:0; display:block; float:left; height:96px; overflow:hidden; padding:0; width:750px"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c76ba3.gif"> <div> <IMG SRC="0bdc84e0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="78" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> To show that the Air Atlantique Historic flight aircraft are no museum pieces gathering dust,the opportunity was taken to fly the Avro 19 and Devon to the Sudan in the year 2000.</div> <div> This remarkable flight for a duo of vintage aircraft was taken so that Gulfair could use the aircraft for their celebrations as both aircraft were used by Gulf Aviation the companies former title.Note the legend -AIWX the missing letter 'G' is intentional as this was the only way the period registration marks could be used over the UK,this is the result of a tightening up by the authorities on the practise of displaying registration marks which were never used by a particular aircraft,this picture was taken at the open day at Birmingham International airport in the year 2000 by Dave Peace.</div> <div> (A larger photograph of this aircraft appears in the Focus on type section on this page which features the Avro 19 aircraft) </div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03d76bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>WINGS OVER WARWICKSHIRE</b></FONT><B>   |   </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WINGS OVER WARWICKSHIRE"><U><B>home</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT MYSELF"><U>ABOUT MYSELF</U></A>   |   <B>HISTORICAL ARCHIVE</b>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WORLD AVIATION"><U>WORLD AVIATION</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="AEROMODELLING"><U>AEROMODELLING</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTSInteresting visitors a"><U>AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS-Interesting visitors and overflying aircraft</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03d76ba3.gif"> <div> WINGS OVER WARWICKSHIRE serves as a detailed account of interesting aircraft movements both over the Warwickshire countryside and also details of visiting aircraft to local airfields,the intention from the beginning was to collate and publish hard to find information as an ongoing archive for aviation enthusiasts and to promote flying in this area. </div> <div> THE HISTORICAL ARCHIVE<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > will cover interesting facts about aircraft that have appeared in this area over the years and combined with the present day material will serve as a unique record of historical information that has not been published anywhere before,much of this material was gathered first hand.</FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="070f2060.jpg" border=0 width="498" height="262" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> One of the many Tiger Moth aircraft which saw ROYAL NAVY service was NL879 which went on to become G-AVPJ in civvie street,the aircraft which has seen a very interesting history is currently owned by Tony Hooper and Cathy Silk and flown from a strip in Warwickshire,it is shown here at Lee On Solent with a Supermarine Sea Otter in the background.</div> <div> Photograph via Tim Crowe and supplied by Tony Hooper.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="072bfc00.jpg" border=0 width="447" height="192" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> FLASHBACKS-Around 1983-85 I used to help keep a Cessna 170 G-BCLS flying from an airstrip called Shotteswell ran by a great flying enthusiast Fred Spence who flew for a bank based in Guernsey,I spent many happy hours there messing about with aeroplanes.At that time regular vintage aircraft rallies were held at the airstrip which is located near Banbury,this is where this photograph was taken of Tony Hooper about to take off in T-6G Harvard G-BGHU which landed here 1.7.84.</div> <div> The aircraft had 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 shortly after these photographs were taken.</div> <div> The machine was normally kept at Wellesbourne airfield but spent some time outside at Coventry airport.</div> <div> Barry Clay photograph.</div> <div>  <IMG SRC="075770a0.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="266" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Another view of the same aircraft at the Shotteswel flyin on 1.7.84.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0787fa80.jpg" border=0 width="383" height="168" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This one is for Harry Fanshawe who owned this splendid Percival Proctor 3 G-ANPP and flew it extensively from Baginton in the sixties,Harry made an extraordinary flight to South Africa in her and on one occasion landed in a small field in France when he got caught up in fog,the next day when the fog cleared it was apparent how lucky he had been,the airfield was only over the fence! the aircraft had to be dismantled and taken by lorry to the airfield much to the consternation of the local French police.We often talk about this aeroplane which he took me for flights on occasions,the photograph was taken on 25.4.68 when Ace Freighters operated from Baginton,note the L-749 Constellation in the background.The aircraft was sadly damaged when it caught fire whilst being started up following some maintenance work (probably due to being over primed) and the centre section was damaged in the ensuing fire,the aircraft was then sold to Charles Boddington who was shortly afterwards killed in a flying accident whilst doing stunt flying in the film 'Darling Lille' which its only claim to fame was that it was a box office flop! it is understood that the aircraft then went to Duxford but has not been seen since,if anyone knows its present whereabouts then we would love to hear from you and get re-aquainted as she was a very special aeroplane.</div> <div> Gemini Aerofotos picture.        </div> <div> FOCUS ON TYPE-THE AVRO 19</div> <div> Sometimes referred to as the ANSON but not strictly true as the true Ansons were early Mk 1 aircraft  with wooden wings,the series 19 and 21 types were a new aircraft designed to meet the needs of the post war RAF,the series 1 of the Avro 19<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>had parallel chord wooden wings and the series 2 had new increased span tapered chord wings,this is the basic identification feature.The Australian civil aviation authorities would not issue any more certificates of airworthiness to Anson 1 aircraft from 1952 and the British authorities followed suit in 1962 due to some accidents attributed to glue failure on the wooden aircraft in Australia,the glue scares spread to many aircraft including Miles Magisters,Percival Q6 and Proctor,Miles Messenger and other types,the problems lay with a beetle type of adhesive used for wartime production of aircraft which was said to deteriorate especially in damp humid conditions,despite the use of resorcinal resin adhesives a lot of valuable aircraft were scrapped off which on reflection was totally uncalled for as the full potential problems of the adhesive failures were unfounded. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="07a2c9e0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="158" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >    G-AHIB Avro 19/1</FONT> </div> <div> This aircraft was photographed at Wymeswold 12.3.62 by Dave Peace,with c/n 1317 it was built in 1946 and last registered to Pomeroy Developments Ltd,Guernsey although it is shown here in the colours of Olivetree Estates Ltd and doped green and white,the final demise of this aircraft was probably due to the aircraft having wooden wings as shown here in its final resting place and the date ties in with the British authorities concern over early versions of Anson aircraft and their beetle glue construction.       </div> <div>  <IMG SRC="07c7b890.jpg" border=0 width="379" height="137" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> G-AHKX Avro 19/2 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >constructors number 1333,ex Smiths Aircraft Instruments aircraft hack was built in 1946 and shown here in Treffield Aviation colours (Treffield was the amalgamation of Lord Trefgarne and Charles Masefield) colours were a pale blue/green almost a duck egg shade.The aircraft survived and is now at Woodford on restoration.</FONT></div> <div> Gemini Aerofotos picture.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="07e8c910.jpg" border=0 width="396" height="145" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > G-AGWF Avro 19/1 </FONT>c/n 1287 was built in 1946 and operated by Fairways (Jersey) Ltd.</div> <div> Gemini Aerofotos photograph.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0809fa50.jpg" border=0 width="415" height="165" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >VM318 Avro 19 </FONT>at St Mawgen in 1960 when it was part of the station flight at the airfield,note the tail of a Canadair CL-44 in the background probably visiting for one of the stations at home displays.</div> <div> Photograph by Barry Cole.  </div> <div>  <IMG SRC="0826a970.jpg" border=0 width="362" height="151" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >G-AGPG Avro 19/2 </FONT>c/n 1212 was built in 1945 and used by Ecko for research and as an hack aircraft ,photographed at Baginton circa 1963-64 note the bulbous nose modification for the experimental radar,this was actually the second Avro 19 used by the company they having used G-AHKX also for some years although not with this type of nose.The aircraft went onto the Historic Aircraft Museum at Southend and is now in store with the Manchester Aviation Museum.</div> <div> Gemini Aerofotos picture.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="08498a70.jpg" border=0 width="408" height="167" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >TX237/FKNL Avro 19 </FONT>Taken on a foggy day at Finningley probably in the mid fifties,this is a 1948 built aircraft,we make no excuses for the picture quality of this historic photograph note the tone of the roundals due to the use of ortho film used at that time and a confusing thing for people unaware of this process in identifying aircraft colours. </div> <div> picture credit-E.G Hall,Leamington Spa.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0bfbdae0.jpg" border=0 width="445" height="174" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >G-VROE (G-BFIR) AVRO 652A ANSON C.21.</FONT></div> <div> This is the aircraft preserved in flying condition by the Air Atlantique Historic Flight and kept at Baginton.Flown for many years by G.M.K Fraser and based at a variety of airfields in the UK terminating at Enstone were it was stored for a while with its former RAF serial WD413 the aircraft at one time was a maintenance aircraft with the serial 7881M although the official quoted c/n of 3634 is incorrect and suspect.The aircraft has been kept at East Midlands,Lee On Solent,Turnhouse,East Fortune in recent years and had been used on the airshow circuit for many years by Mr Fraser.</div> <div> picture credit-Dave Peace at Birmingham Airport.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0c181b50.jpg" border=0 width="385" height="181" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> VH-ASM anson 1<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > This is a true Anson Mk 1 used by Marshalls Airways at Tamworth,Australia NSW,this aircraft has been shipped to the UK and after a spell at Duxford is now on display in the RAF Museum as an RAF example W2068.</FONT></div> <div> Via N.M Parnall phptograph.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="088799f0.jpg" border=0 width="377" height="159" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >G-AIPA Anson 1 </FONT></div> <div> Ex RAF EF866 built in 1942 and withdrawn from use in April 1960 ,Derby Aviation Ltd/Canadian Air Service which was a subsidiary company specialising in magnetometer research,the aircraft had trailing monitoring equipment.</div> <div> Picture-Aviation Archives.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="08a4c2a0.jpg" border=0 width="332" height="298" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >G-AMDA Avro Anson 1 </FONT>picture shows David Ogilvy putting G-AMDA/N4877 coded FV-X 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 Mosquitoes performed extensive research work for minerals in Canada.</div> <div> On the demise of the wonderful Skyfame museum which was way ahead of its time and started by Peter Thomas and his wife the aircraft were transferred to Duxford where they carried on the work of aircraft restoration with the Imperial War Museum collection.</div> <div> The latest on this aircraft is that it is undergoing restoration by a team at Duxford.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="09195b10.jpg" border=0 width="405" height="177" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> N4877 shown at Duxford on an unknown date picture by Dave Peace.</div> <div> (Some additional notes from the Air Britain publication 'Anson File') </div> <div> G-BISU Bristol 170 Freighter 31M  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="08dc6d70.jpg" border=0 width="454" height="215" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  Coventry Aviation Archives photograph.</div> <div> Twenty eight years separate these two photographs of big Bristol twin engined freight aircraft both taken at Baginton airport,in actual fact they are two different types of aircraft the aircraft above is a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M G-BISU and the aircraft below is non other than the true prototype Bristol 170 Wayfarer prototype aircraft G-AGPV for all the later versions,note the rudder fillet on the one above added to improve directional stability and the opening front nose doors which were not a feature of the Wayfarer prototype.  The picture above was taken on 21.10.87 and the one below on 9.3.61 and a separate history is given below of these two fascinating aircraft.</div> <div> G-AGPV Bristol 170 Wayfarer (series 1 later converted to series2) operated by Trans European Airways,Baginton.</div> <div> Trans European Aviation was a unique company formed by Captains Stauber and Ross moving to Baginton airport in 1960 from Fairwood Common airport, bringing with them two Dragon Rapide aircraft G-AFFB and G-ALBA,with which they gave pleasure flights at weekends at nearby Elmdon airport,the two aircraft would fly over every available opportunity in formation and gladly take young enthusiasts with them like myself for the ride over to Birmingham.The company developed very quickly and started to do ad-hoc charter work with the Rapides but soon something larger was required and this is where the Bristol 170 Wayfarer came in.In 1946 a requirement for an Air Ministry specification C9/45 the prototype flying shell G-AGPV was converted for the Air Interceptor radar tests at the Royal Radar Establishment at RAE Defford flying as VR380 together with its sister aircraft G-AGUT which became VR382 the aircraft were delivered to Defford on 24.9.46 and a few days later set to work in the Telecommunications Research flight there,G-AGUT was actually the fourth prototype with Bristols and for their Air Ministry trials had previously worn serials VK900 and VK903 respectively.Once their work had been completed  and in 1958 they were both taken to Blackbushe airfield where G-AGUT was broken up to provide valuable spares to get G-AGPV airworthy for the civil market and was taken over by Trans European Airways at Baginton,its life with the company was to be short lived as it was retired and scrapped by the company in 1963.</div> <div> A few words about the early life of this aircraft as like most prototypes of its day it was merely a flying shell to test the aerodynamics of the aircraft,G-AGPV was without the nose loading doors and strengthened floor of the later versions but it had additional windows and a small crew door in the front of the fuselage,the aircraft made its first flight at Filton on 2.12.45 and first test flights showed a need to lower the tailplane by three feet and increase the wingspan by four feet until these modifications had been incorporated the aircraft could not be flown hands off,it is interesting to note that whilst in Trans European service the fin still did not have the dorsal fins fitted of later aircraft as severe structural  failure to the fin had occured whilst in a single engined climb causing two crashes one in the English Channel and one at Llandow in 1949 and 1950.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="08feaca0.jpg" border=0 width="490" height="202" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> Dave Peace photograph.</div> <div> G-BISU was operated on behalf of the racehorse company Instone by Air Atlantique from Baginton airport in the period 1986-87,it started life as G-18-194 which was its 'B' Class test registration used by the Bristol Aeroplane company at Filton,the aircraft then went to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ25912 on 17.3.55 operating for a while as ZK-BVI until returning once again to NZ5912 and used by 41 squadron at Tengah in Singapore it was then resold  as ZK-EPH on 4.81 and later came to the UK as G-BISU with the aforementioned Instone Air Transport operating initially from Gatwick and then Baginton with a joint operation with the newly formed Atlantic Air Transport,in 1988 it went to Duxford for temporary storage pending sale which eventually transpired to Trans Provincial Airlines in Canada and being registered as C-FDFC serving as a mining support aircraft,other aircraft in the fleet were lost in take off accidents,once a ground loop developed with these aircraft it was difficult to correct.In September 1994 the aircraft once again returned to the UK wearing its Canadian registration it was stored for a while at Heathrow having been purchased by a group of British Airways pilots and eventually moved to Enstone airfield in Oxfordshire following an hardstanding  which was specially built for her there,it made a few special appearances including that years Popular Flying Association rally at Cranfield circling for over an hour while a damaged aircraft was removed from the runway there.Tragically the dreaded swing developed whilst taking off from Enstone on 18.7.96 intending to go to a Bristol aircraft show at Filton and  later to go onto the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford,however it was not to be as the aircraft had swung heading straight towards some aircraft hangars and corrective action had to be taken  quickly,however the aicraft broke in two and was never to fly again,all on board escaped with a few bruises.The nose section remained at Enstone for some years later until eventually scrapped.</div> <div> THE CIERVA C30A AUTOGIROS-A personal reminisance of these amazing flying machines.</div> <div> As a lad I would always be on the look out for unusual aircraft flying over and one aircraft that certainly fitted this category was the Autogiro,what is not generally realised is that Elmdon (now Birmingham International ) was at one time an haven for these whirling rotary devices.Acompany by the name of Rota Towels Ltd operated at least two of them and very spectacular they were too! My memories of dashing into the garden one day in 1957 to see one flying over will be embedded in my mind forever,it seemed to make little progress but with a lot of associated noise of that wafting rotor,for a better description of how they flew what better than the originator,Juan De La Cierva who wrote an article in a U.S Services magazine called Wings of Tomorrow the following-</div> <div> The take off in itself is effected exactly like that of an aeroplane.One may dive and climb at will,make vertical turns,and so on.The autogiro flies exactly like that of any aeroplane.The real sensation that I experienced was in landing.Cutting off the motor 1,000 feet directly over the field,I pulled the sytick backand proceeded to fly,on my first landing,about thirty miles an hour coming into land.The descent was about an angle of 45 degrees and on touching the griund I did not roll more than ten feet without any application of the wheel brakes whatsoever.I took off again and landed to become accustomed to this strange craft .It intrigued and thrilled me.</div> <div> I now had enough experience to attempt a more vertical descent.....it is quite a sensation for a pilot who has been flying a fast aeroplane that lands between 60 and 70 miles an hourand that must be manoeuvred carefully into a field,making sure his judgment  is accurately managed,to step into a machine and fly right over the centre of the field ,shut off his motor and then drop right straight down into the circle which marks the centre of airports.</div> <div> To recreate my memories I have to resort to my sketchbook and portray what it looked like in the air,here are two paitings that I have made of each of the Elmdon Cierva C30A autogiros as they would have appeared,firstly is G-AHTZ which had a rather tragic demise when it turned over and caught fire right in front of the then Lord Mayor of Birmingham on 4th March 1958,this aircraft was formerly G-ACUI of the autogiro fying club and served in the RAF as HM581.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6600FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><IMG SRC="093a61c0.jpg" border=0 width="422" height="284" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" >G-AHTZ CIERVA C.30A.</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> The other autogiro which was present at Elmdon was G-ACUU which was owned by Guy Baker who flew her on occasions,this aircraft was ex Air Service Training at Hamble and was exhibited at the 50 years of flying exhibition held at Hendon in 1950,it went ot Skyfame at Staverton and then onto Duxford where it still resides.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="097e0270.jpg" border=0 width="480" height="295" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> G-ACUU CIERVA C.30A</div> <div> Sadly the ex Shuttleworth machine G-AHMJ shown here painted as K4235 and coded H-KX  has been sold to Kermit Weeks in the United States 11.98 and will probably never be seen again,thanks to Dave Peace who has provided this picture for me-<IMG SRC="095c8780.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >G-AHMJ CIERVA C.30A</FONT></div> <div> And now for my flying model autogyro produced so that I can  recreate rotary flight- <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >GYRACE CONTRA ROTATING AUTOGIRO.</FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="09a99090.jpg" border=0 width="409" height="265" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> FLASHBACKS TO YESTERYEAR-Airspeed AS.57 Ambassador 2,G-ALZT.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0c5cdb40.jpg" border=0 width="461" height="180" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Gemini Aerofotos photograph.</div> <div> The magnificent lines of the Airspeed Ambassador which was called the Elizabethan in British European Airways service are captured here in this photograph taken at Baginton circa 1965-66 whilst operating a charter.Powered with two Bristol Centauras 661 engines this one was built in 1952 and operated by BKS Air Transport (the name BKS was derived from Barnaby,Keegan,Stevens who formed the airline).The aircraft was withdrawn from use in 1968.</div> <div> 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 only wish that I had the same freedom thesedays,airport authorities please take note! so many good photographic opportunities are lost to record interesting movements.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0c7b2c60.jpg" border=0 width="434" height="198" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> G-ALGC DRAGON RAPIDE DH.89A.</div> <div> I experienced my first aeroplane flight in this machine which was owned by Luton Airways.The flight was a birthday present from my Father and took place at an airshow at Baginton on 11.6.59,the aircraft was originally registered in Iraq as YI-ABT and more than likely was part of the Iraq Petroleum Transport fleet who operated a lot of thes aircraft until replaced by De Havilland Doves.Aircraft is c/n 6906 and was cancelled 28.2.73,its sister aircraft was G-AIBB which was sold as F-OBVJ 8.61.</div> <div> photograph-Gerald Walker.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="0c9d2c60.jpg" border=0 width="466" height="198" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> G-AHGD DRAGON RAPIDE DH.89A.</div> <div> Certainly one of the best attempts to preserve a Rapide in RAF markings as a Dominie (service name) G-AHGD is actually ex RAF NR786 but marked here as Z7258 which was a famous aircraft named 'Women of the Empire' provided by public funds as an Air Ambulance.The aircraft was owned for many years by L.H.Riddle an engineer from Harrogate in Yorks and tipped onto its nose at Woburn Park during a fly in in the late 1950's but changed hands a few times before being based at Old Warden.</div> <div> The aircraft was a regular visitor to the Royal Show in Warwickshire and landed at Baginton for its stay.,sadly the aircraft is no more as it was involved in a tragic fatal accident  when a seat buckle became entangled in the flying controls during an airshow display at Audley End.</div> <div> photograph by Barry Clay at Baginton 3.7.84.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0d2ecca0.jpg" border=0 width="492" height="202" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> (file picture no.AK296)</div> <div> 9G-OLF BOEING 707 Race Air Cargo/Phoenix</div> <div> Another interesting Phoenix aircraft which visited Baginton on 21.10.91 to transport a consignment of young calf,the subject of much controversy amongst the animal rights movement,and an unfortunate sequence of events leading up to the tragic crash of a Boeing 737 Freighter,on the threshold approach over Willenhall in bad weather,needless to say the flights terminated after much grief and tragic loss of life.</div> <div> To the memory of those people I dedicate these photographs.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0cdec4c0.jpg" border=0 width="492" height="332" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> SX-DBO BOEING 707-320 'CARGO' (Leased to Phoenix Air Cargo)</div> <div> Flashback to troubled days at Baginton and in some ways the start of the hostility to enthusiasts which has brought about paranoid security measures at the airport in recent years.</div> <div> The controversial veal flights operated by Phoenix Aviation were flown by many interesting and evasively marked aircraft,one such aircraft was this Boeing 707 series 320 a former Olympic machine shown here on 11.11.89,note the non descript 'Cargo' titling.</div> <div> photograph by Barry Clay.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0dc91b00.jpg" border=0 width="401" height="176" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> G-AKIN MILES MESSENGER 2A.</div> <div> Fast becoming an extreme rarity in British skies is the Miles Messenger,designed by F.G.Miles and built at factories at Shoreham and in Ireland,one aircraft became the personal mount of Field Marshall Montgomery in the second world war and was landed on roads and small fields.</div> <div> This aircraft G-AKIN has been operated by A.J.Spiller for many years originally based at Sywell and now lovingly kept at a strip at Keystone.This picture was taken at a fly in at Shotteswell on 1.7.84.</div> <div> picture by Barry Clay.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0de9bcb0.jpg" border=0 width="411" height="203" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> G-ADSK HORNET MOTH DH.87B</div> <div> Ithink it would be safe to say that I can claim part of this aeroplane as I spent hundreds of hours rebuilding her to flying condition in 1963,photographed here at Baginton in 1963-64 when owned by Ray Turner of Light Aircraft Servicing who learned to fly in her.</div> <div> The chequered history of this aeroplane is impressed into RAF service as AV952,sold in Pakistan and based at Dacca as AP-AES and came back to the UK for overhaul,sold in Germany as D-EJOM in 1957 crashed on delivery and once again returned to the UK to be rebuilt again.</div> <div> Flown from Cryfield Grange farm in Kenilworth and crashed on take off causing extensive airframe damage,went South and used as a spares source for the rebuild of G-ADLY by Peter Franklin.</div> <div>       </div> <div>          </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>