Re The Owlet - Reading between the lines General Aircraft gambled on the next generation of RAF Heavies having nosewheels and operating off hard runways, and there being a requirement for nose wheel trainers - One could see the Owlet potentially replacing the Tiger Moth and Magister. Didn`t work out that way. Many more Owlet ads at
Classic Aviation Ads Series: General Aircraft Company 1947
Re the challenge..... It looks like it's piston engined, and quite sporty if the ASI is anything to go by... Tucanoesque
NDN 1 Firecracker?