Treadigraph and Ken.
Thank you for your replies
The Accidents at Rehill:
The Auster was in 1983 and after that Tom Storey became the sole registered owner.
The 1986 Incident - Desmond Penrose - More formally John Desmond Penrose. He owned the Aircraft as of May 1986, so I am currently
guessing his accident was April.
But if I guess and publish, then someone somewhere is going to pick me up on it.
As for the Aeroplane Article I would appreciate any information:. What I have written so far on this part of the History is as concise as anything I do, but is a rough Draft:
In early 1972 two members of the
Tiger Club Tom Storey and Martin Barraclough acquired G-AEXF from Mr Batt and became joint registered owners on the 11 April that year.
The Aircraft Transported to
Redhill Aerodrome and there then followed a total rebuild, in many cases requiring major re-manufacturing of parts to bring the Aircraft back to near the original factory configuration. A ground up rebuild restoration was going to take years and also technical knowledge of the Aircraft, re-enter Jack Cross formerly of Essex Aero, who collaborated on the restoration and the specialist skills of Speedwell Sailplanes of Marple who rebuilt the Wings.
In early April 1978 the rebuild was complete and the lives of Alex Henshaw and G-AEXF once more began to converge.
Between 1954 and the early 1970's Alex Henshaw had been running his business and looking after wife and son Alexander Junior. As the rebirth of G-AEXF approached, so the newly retired Alex Henshaw was starting his first book: 'Sigh for a Merlin'.
On 24th June 1978 Alex was reunited with G-AEXF and Jack Cross at Old Warden home of the
Shuttleworth Collection . Alex presented Tom Storey and Martin Barraclough with his Capetown Journey Logbook.
In 1979 with G-AEXF operating from Redhill, Alex Henshaw's 'Sigh for a Merlin' was published and work on a second book 'The Flight of the Mew Gull' about his adventures with G-AEXF was underway. This was published in 1980. Surely this was the last time there would be a direct link between Alex Henshaw and the Mew Gull?
Note the Date John Batt Ceased to be registered owner and Martin and Tom became owners is 3 Months apart but that appears to be explained in the Registration Notes.
The Story Continues (in Draft - So its rough):
As for G-AEXF, she continued operating from Redhill and even an accident in 1983 when an Auster collided with with her only resulted in a short repair interlude. In the same year Tom Storey became the sole registered owner.
On 21st January 1984 the creator of the Mew Gull and the other Percival Gull Aircraft types, Edgar Wikner Percival passed away aged 88.
As for G-AEXF, by early 1986 Tom Storey had been involved with the Mew Gull for 14 Years and put G-AEXF up for sale
Ernie Crabtree - You are correct - totally my 'bad'. He who posts to PPRuNe should check his own writing before guessing any name!
Note I have NOW edited my original post to correct this!
I
think I have been through most of them. Just when I was starting to get a Life too!
But on a general note, the
Flight Archive is an invaluable resource and repays the time spent searching, Just be aware it does take time and if you spot Articles that interest you, but are not related to the search, then hours and hours will pass!