Even the names in this thread like, Fred Dunkerly, Ron Paine, Percy Blamire, Peter Hoare, David Ogilvy are pure nostalgia.
I flew with all the above as a young apprentice who managed to scounge a ride any time one was going.
All true gentlemen of the air!
I worked on most of their aircraft and worked on the conversion from Gemini to Aries on Percy Blamires aircraft and also worked on Fred Dunkerleys Aries aircraft. All at Burnaston. We also did the maintenance for The Elstree Flying clubs Maggies that David Ogilvy ran.
Burnaston was an ex RAF training airfield during the war and after the war The Wolverhampton Flying Club moved in and became Derby Aviation.
The original RAF buildings were all there just as the RAF left them.
We utilised a few of these building but as a lad exploring the many other buildings was like aladdins cave. They were full of Maggie and Tiger Moth parts including Maggie wing spars, which were in great demand as a bad crosswind landing often ripped the gear off the front face of the spar.
A group of us got together under Tony Topps, and with Ron Paynes help we "found " enough parts to build most of a Maggie.
It took some time but we finished it and fllew it as G-ANWO.
Ahhh Miles
What about the Aerovan
