Originally Posted by
MReyn24050
G-AFUG was registered as a 'Henry-Luton LA-4 Minor' with construction number WSH.1. The 'WSH' was William Sheppard Henry of Chronicle Buildings, Newtonards, County Down, Northern Ireland. Its given base was Ards Airport when registered in 1939. It's hard to reconcile that with the NELSAM statement that it was constructed by Frederick Brown in Front Street, Stanley, County Durham between 1938 and 1944. However it's interesting to note that NELSAM say that, originally, G-AFUG was powered by a Sumet 'V' twin from a Morgan. Presumably this is a reference to a Summit engine, as manufactured by the British Vulpine Company (which traded as Summit) of Willesden, which was a licence built 1078cc British Anzani V twin engine!
Whilst it is not specifically mentioned by Ord-Hume, on p.403 of his book he says, with reference to the LA.4 Minor, that:
'Several aircraft were built pre-war with engines ranging from Scott Flying Squirrel, Anzani, Bristol Cherub Mk. III, Carden-Ford and Aeronca-JAP'.
As G-AFUG lost its engine before being donated to NELSAM, presumably it's not known whether it had one of these.
p.s. isn't Alec Lumsden's book a
tour de force in its field!