Avro G-ACAF and Desoutter G-AANE

[motherbird]

Hi

Has anyone details on prewar Avro G-ACAF and Desoutter G-AANE aircraft.
Where were they flown from? Who owned them?
My father had a flight in one or both while still at school so before 1937 I should think. Both photographed in same field.

Cheers Motherbird

[one11]

The CAA's G-INFO site has the following but G-ACAF was a Spartan 3 seater not an Avro - you may need to check your photo. Follow the links and then on Pre 1986 register entry.....

GINFO Registration History | Aircraft Register | Safety Regulation (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=reg&fullregmark=AANE)

GINFO Registration History | Aircraft Register | Safety Regulation (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=reg&fullregmark=ACAF)

[AnthonyHornidge]

Hello. I came across your post when researching an aircraft my father owned. This is also my first post, so I am hoping that I get a reply. If we are talking about the same aircraft, G-ACAF was a Spartan Three Seater which my father bought around 1936. He kept it at Southampton I believe, but used to joy ride it from Hayling Island. He would have also flew it around the south of England - I shall have to check his log books. The aircraft was badly damaged when he crashed it as a result of an undercarriage leg collapsing. He walked away fortunately. If you have any photos of this aircraft, I would be most interested to see them. I look forward to hearing from you.
Anthony.

[Noyade]

Hi Anthony. From the site one11 provided above...

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6007/gacaf001.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/i/gacaf001.jpg/)

And from this site...

SIMMONDS-SPARTAN PRODUCTION (http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/iowweb/sim.html)
106 Spartan II Three-seater [Hermes IV] G-ACAF regd [CofR 3997] 10.32 to Spartan Aircraft Ltd, Somerton.
Regd [CofR 4267] 18.3.33 to Hill & Phillips Ltd, St Austell;
operated by subsidiary Cornwall Aviation Co Ltd on British Hospitals Air Pageant. CofA 3843 issued 31.3.33.
Operated on 1934 National Aviation Displays tour, flown by Capt EW Jordan.
Regd [CofR 7327] 4.9.36 to [successor] Air Publicity Ltd, Heston.
Regd [CofR 7928] 8.6.37 to Patrick B Hornidge, Hayling Island.
Regd [CofR 8538] 7.6.38 to Loftus CGM [Gerald] Le Champion, Leamington [based Bishops Tachbrook].
Le Champion died 21.9.38 and regn lapsed at census 1.1.39.
Fate unknown but probably scrapped during WWII.

[Fly380]

Picture of G-AANE on this site.

Photograph of Aircraft G-AANE (http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-AANE&imgname=G-AANE001&imgtype=jpg)

[AnthonyHornidge]

Many thanks Noyade. I was aware of the Simmonds-Spartan website and the entry for aircraft 106, but not the register record and photo on the CAA website, so I am grateful for this additional information. The photo is certainly not one we already have, although where/when it was taken is anyone's guess. I wonder if Motherbird will reply, and also post his photos - I might be able to answer his question then of who was flying his father. My father bought the Spartan from Captain Percival Phillips who ran the Cornwall Aviation Company, which was essentially a joyriding outfit. Later on, Phillips joined Sir Alan Cobham's Flying Circus until his untimely death in an aircraft accident. My father too joined Sir Alan Cobham, and unltimately became Chief Test Pilot of Flight Refuelling Ltd.
Is anyone able to contact Montherbird directly, or does the forum not allow it?
Regards, Anthony.

[Mechta]

Anthony, If you click on where it says Motherbird, the second option allows you to send him a private message which he will receive in his email box.

Mrs Mechta Senior was born on Hayling Island, and Mr Mechta senior was born in Chichester, and was/still is an avid modeller and aircraft enthusiast, so I will ask them if they recall either aircraft when I see them tomorrow.

[motherbird]

Hello
Sorry for delay in replying.
The photograph of G-ACAF was in an old photo album of my fathers.It was taken possibly around 1934 as other photos are of that date. It gives no indication of where it was taken but there are other aircraft on the same field.
He writes underneath one of these. My first and perhaps only flight. He was proved to be very wrong on this point as he eventually joined the RAF during WWII and flew Tiger Moths, Hurricanes and Spitfires as a Reconnaissance Pilot with 16 168 and 2 Squadron!
Cheers Motherbird.
I shall now attempt to post photo of album.

[motherbird]

http://http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj60/reallyusefulboxes/?action=view&current=Copyofphto017.jpg

[motherbird]

Ah well that didn't work!
Maybe this will....
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj60/reallyusefulboxes/Copyofphto017.jpg

[PJTAYLOR49]

Hi, i was just researching some old photos i have and have found one of g-acaf on the ground about to be started. If any one is interested please let me know, peter