Mr Autogyro 'The Legendary Ken Wallis'.

[Batchy]

A few photos from a superb visit to the home and airstrip of Kenneth Horatio Wallis at Reymerston Hall in Norfolk.

What a visit it was, Ken made everyone feel so welcome, his affable nature coupled with his tremendous enthusiasm made this a visit to remember. Its just hard to believe he has just celebrated his 91st birthday!!

If you ever get the chance make the trip, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Special thanks to Ken for a day of lasting memories and the demonstration of his Wallis Autogyro WA-116-T

Fascinating fact #1. Ken said that the name Little Nellie was coined by Hamish Mahaddie, the 'Only Live Twice' Autogyro was named after the Music Hall star Nellie Wallace.

see here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/04/2006_15_mon.shtml

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto10.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto13.jpg

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

These aircraft have a horrendous accident record, yet ken Wallis seems to prove that if you know what you are doing, they are perfectly safe.

Or is it his design that makes the difference (I understand his aircraft are his own design)?

[WG774]

What an absolute inspiration Mr Wallis is!

Fantastic photos - many thanks for sharing!

BTW, Has anyone here read his biography?
Taken from his site (http://www.kenwallisautogyro.com/): Designer and builder of motorcycles, speed boats, sports cars and autogyros. Engineer, inventor, marksman, armaments expert, model maker, photographer, WWII RAF bomber pilot, RB-36 pilot with Strategic Air Command, James Bond film “double” in “You Only Live Twice” flying “Little Nellie” .…and much more! Ken has set a total of 34 World Records in two classes of autogyros since 1968 and is President of the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum; Ian Hancock is the Chairman.

I see he's kept himself busy over the years. :ok:

[Akubra]

Thanks for that. :ok:

Looks like a very interesting fellow.
I found a video presentation he made for the purpose of commercially marketing his craft to the government if anyone is interested.

Commercial gyro pt 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHZD1ihNsOM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHZD1ihNsOM&mode=related&search=)
Commercial gyro pt 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPvXrZ8fUCU

[doubleu-anker]

Yes I too have admired Ken Wallis work with the Autogyro.

However I am not able to understand why he has not tried to market these machines to the civilian market. He has made statements in the past inferring his machines are superior to all other gyrocopters, which I have no reason to disbelieve. Then why are his plans or machines not for sale? If am not mistaken.


If I had a hanger full of those goodies I too would want to keep them if I could afford too but would let the secret out how it is done.

[Cornish Jack]

I suspect that most of the "problems" associated with autogyros is rather more to do with the operators not understanding the limitation(s) rather than any inherent handling problems. AFAIR practically all the fatals were as a result of the 'G' going negative - a no-no for these machines. Keep the 'G' positive and all's well. Trouble is, I reckon that they must be great fun to fly and enjoyment can lead to lack of discipline.
Anyway, brilliant photos and unbelievably well done for Sir Ken:ok: :ok: :ok:

[RETDPI]

Cornish Jack .Succinct and to the point: also the reason of course why Ken (not Sir Ken) Wallis decided not to sell his aircraft on the open market.

[Batchy]

Ken recalled during my visit that he had a close call many years ago at an early display he was performing at Tangmere, following a very lucky escape he was quick to share with the ARB (CAA) this potentially fatal manoeuvre.

BTW. Not all of Kens machines were built by himself, Miles/Beagle Aircraft and Vinten constructed a number for MoD and unmanned RPV trials as well as an aborted German Army contract.

A couple more photos to follow.

Thanks for all the kind comments.

Batchy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/KenWallisphoto17.jpg

[airborne_artist]

Minor thread drift, but ISTR a C4 programme about the restoration of an autogyro, and it turned out the workshop is in Wallingford, just up the road from AA Towers.
From time to time I see one airborne, but I've no idea who/where from.

[Barbaryfalcon5]

Hi !

My name is Y. Imai Gyro fans in Yokohama Japan.
About 20 - 25 years ago, I once sent a letter to Commander Ken Wallis asking about his Auto Gyro and I wanted to buy an information kit including price of gyro kit, parts and components and a set of complete plans. Surprizingly, he kindly returned a letter stating he was not selling any of those mentioned in my letter. I was so disappointed at his response.

Since I was a member of PRA(Popular Rotorcraft Association) , I came to know about Wallis Autogyro through PRA quarterly magazine. The design was so beautiful and even now I believe Wallis Autogyro is the most beatiful and looks so stable among many designs now available on commercial market . After several years later, I found another beautiful gyroplane named "Wombat" desinged and marketed by Chris Julian of England. Wombat looked very much like Wallis autogyro. So I sent a fax message to Chris asking for similar information I asked for to Commander Ken Wallis. This time I was quite welcomed by Chris and I got all the necesssary information from Chris. I was preparing to buy the kit at separated kit group one at a time. However, a few years later, I came to know Chris was killed by an accident which caused during toe-gliding flight of Bensen trainer gyro plane with his fried. I was very much disapponted again since there was no way to retrieve similar design autogyro to Wallis.

About 2 - 3 years ago, I happened to find out through internet that "Wombat" design has been succeeded by a man running a company titled as "Boris Aerial Photo" as "Dingbat". But Recently, I could not see web site of "Dingbat" anywhere on the internet. The man said he had no plan to sell its kit but only finished Dingbat and added he was looking for anyone who would buy all of toolings for a Dingbet. Do you know anything about Wombat or Dingbat ?Do you know whereabout of "Dingbat"? They look very much alike Wallis Autogyro. As long as Ken Wallis is not going to change his mind not to market his design, I would like to know whereabout of Dingbet.

The most ideal way is that Ken Wallis is going to change his mind to share his great gyro design with all of Wallis gyro fans in the world to market its plans and kits.

What do you think ?
Y. Imai

[Agaricus bisporus]

The answer to the "why doesn't he sell them" question is, I believe, that someone was killed many years ago in one of his designs, and he felt so bad that he decided never to let them, or the design, onto the public market lest he be made to feel responsible for more deaths. Sad, but understandable.

And I too once wrote to him - must have been 35 years ago, and received a lengthy and very informative reply from him.

Wonderful man.

[doubleu-anker]

Agaricus bisporus

Thanks for that and totally understandable. What a shame no one explained this, here before now.

[Agaricus bisporus]

As I said, I can't be sure that info is correct but I have it firmly in my head from somewhere long in the past.
I'd love to have an autogyro, in fact it is the only private aircraft I'd be bothered with as the performance is so practical for private use (short field etc) but only the Wallis design seems to me to "look right", which isn't a very scientific approach, I know.
I have seem KW in action a couple of times and was mightily impressed at how stable and easy to fly the thing was, and this, I think, may be the reason for the autogyro's appalling safety record. It seems to me that an aircraft that lets you fly hands off, land and take off in 10 yards, scoot around at 15kts or do chandelles and such is just going to lead the unwary or the adventurous into eventually exceeding the very finite flight envelope when, with the first ever rapid stick-forward movement of the gyro-tyro's short career, the thing instantly goes from carpet kitten to falling out of the sky like a fish supper.
In inexperienced hands they just seem to be lethal, which is inherent to the design which by necessity uses a teetering head which cannot be controlled in zero or negative g. Flown by an experienced Jet Ranger pilot I'm sure there would be no such problems, but that can't be specified by the vendor, sadly.

[Kieron Kirk]

A Wallis WA-116 crashed at a Farnborough show late 60's or early 70's.
The pilot, J W C Judge died.

The date was 11th September 1970.

The link below gives further details.

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/rcy85/webdoc2.htm

[Flying Lawyer]

Ken Wallis passed away on Sunday, 1st September.

The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (http://www.gapan.org) awarded him the Guild Award of Honour last year in recognition of his outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation.


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/63686000/jpg/_63686041_d2613c1b-c6f6-4b8d-8279-da3e62cf7b06.jpg

Link to Full Citation (https://www.gapan.org/about-the-guild/trophies-and-awards/award-winners/the-guild-award-of-honour/)


FL

[ShyTorque]

A terrible shame. Ken was a one-off, a gentleman and an aviation genius in his own right. We will not see his like again, certainly not in the world of the autogyro.

RIP, sir!

[Haraka]

Just checked. The notification of Ken's D.O.D. ( 1 Sep 13) has now been removed from Wikipedia.
This seems to have been the only source of this information- so far.

[joy ride]

Just heading out so no time to read this thread in detail, but if true that he has died it is very sad news indeed as he is a huge hero of mine, I particularly like the miniature camera he made and of course all his autogyros. Yes he had a long, full and productive life, but this is still very sad news, he was a real one-off. RIP.

[DaveReidUK]

Surprising - and rather disappointing - that the media seem not to be taking any interest in this, no sign of any obituary (yet?) for someone who could truly be described as a pioneering aviator.

[astir 8]

The Norfolk Eastern Daily Press says he's unfortunately gone. I believe he lived in Norfolk.

I met him at Tibenham a few years ago. A fascinating man.

[terrain safe]

Wow what a star he was. I only saw an autogyro last week over East Wittering, which was the first time I'd seen one outside of an airshow. The man was a real hero.

[Mechta]

The BBC have mentioned him as 'James Bond stunt pilot', although typical BBC they don't even mention the fact that he designed and built 'Little Nellie' and all the others.

BBC News - Ken Wallis: James Bond stunt pilot dies (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-23952207)

I had the pleasure of meeting Ken Wallis at a show where he had 'Little Nellie' on static display. I asked him which was his favourite engine, as he had used a wide variety over the years. He replied 'The Subaru', so I asked what modifications he had to make to the Subaru for autogyro use. The answer was, 'Change the oil and bolt it in!'

[chevvron]

Years ago when I was about 15, I wrote to him asking about his gyrocopters and he sent me a very nice handwritten reply. The same happened a few years later. Then many years later when I was working in ATC at Farnborough, I actually got to meet and talk to the great man!! What a privilege for me.

[nacluv]

That BBC 'obituary' is a complete travesty. A derisory piece, typical of their shambolic and shallow journalistic efforts.

Here is a slightly better one:

Ken Wallis: 007 Autogyro Pilot Dies At 97 (http://news.sky.com/story/1137084/ken-wallis-007-autogyro-pilot-dies-at-97)

R.I.P. Wg Cdr Ken Wallis.

[LTNman]

Nice story here about his life.

Wing Commander Kenneth Wallis - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10286869/Wing-Commander-Kenneth-Wallis.html)

[HyFlyer]

Ken had a long relationship with Suffolk based company, W. Vinten Ltd. who at one stage were developing and marketing his autogyro machines.

I had the opportunity to meet him on several occasions back then...'at the height of his fame', and when I was a young 'sprog' at the lower end of the greasy pole of aviation.

I have not since encountered a more charming, erudite, passionate, gentleman. He impressed me greatly then and his passing brings me great sadness. I have on my computer a letter written only a week ago and waiting to be sent to him, sadly now not possible.

The angels will be upgrading to autogyro's now...for sure.

RIP Wing Commander Ken Wallis

[Heliport]

That BBC 'obituary' is a complete travesty.


BBC One did a better job.

BBC iPlayer - Look East - East: 04/09/2013 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b039fp8m/?t=20m50s)

The link expires at 1900 today 5th September.

[spacegrand]

A truely wonderful gentleman, I knew him briefly as he needed an R/T Licence and I was his closest examiner. A mere formality.

RIP Ken, a legend.