Leonides powered DHC 2 Beaver

[Pilot DAR]

Does anyone here have knowledge of the Mk 2 Beaver made for the British Army, which was powered by the Leonides engine? My research suggests that maybe only one of these planes was made.

In particular, that Beaver had a different fin from the regular Beaver. I presume, in part, because the engine had greater power, and thus torque. But also, I'm expecting that the Loenides turned the opposite direction, and wonder if there is also a fin offset, perhaps opposite to the Mk 1 Beaver to overcome torque from the opposite side?

[DaveReidUK]

Yes, there was only one Beaver II (MSN 80), though confusingly it wore two different UK military serials at different times.

The fin/rudder was certainly bigger then the Mk I Beaver. I can't comment on the direction of rotation (other than to observe that usually British and US radials rotated in opposite directions), nor on any fin offset.

Edit: Forgot to add that the Beaver II is still flying from Flin Flon in Canada, albeit now re-engined with a PZL-3S (Polish licence-built Ivchenko AI-26).

[treadigraph]

Picture on the Air Britain site (https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1061310) by Peter Fitzmaurice while it was registered G-ANAR - I'll link rather than post the pic as I'm not sure if copyright issues might come into force.

[Haraka]

Wasn't this originally an attempt to put a UK engine in to qualify for the modified "Farnborough" display qualifications?

[chevvron]

Wasn't this originally an attempt to put a UK engine in to qualify for the modified "Farnborough" display qualifications?
Probably; they did it the other way round with the EP9 by fitting a British aircraft with an American engine to try and qualify.

[Haraka]

IIRC an EP9 (Lancashire Prospector) was fitted with a Cheetah radial in order to participate in the SBAC show........
In those days it had to be a British engined, British built aeroplane. Then this requirement was watered down to 50% British content , before finally going totally international.

[megan]

I can't comment on the direction of rotationThe Alvis rotated in the opposite direction to US radials, clockwise looking from the front.

[spekesoftly]

My late Father's log book shows that he flew that very aircraft (GANAR) several times in July 1957. On one occasion he used it to fly from Hurn, with my late Mother as passenger, to the Scilly Isles for a short holiday!

[India Four Two]

Here it is with the PZL engine. It looks very strange:

https://www.airhistory.net/photo/308939/C-GHGN

https://www.dhc-2.com/id394.htm

[DaveReidUK]

Here it is with the PZL engine. It looks very strange

Not least because of that four-blade prop !

[Pilot DAR]

It looks very strange..... Not least because of that four-blade prop

Pish-posh! I approved this prop, and think it looks magnificent!


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_5867_ee3ae6f08d7b95446040f71529746d9e584eb696.jpg

'Sure flies nice anyway!

[Consulman]

Have just noticed this thread.
I served my apprenticeship with Alvis and spent part of it at Baginton (Coventry) airport where 'Alvis Flight' was based in one of the hangars.
The Beaver was based there at that time and was owned by Alvis and modified for the Leonides in a bid to sell it to the MOD (Army), which obviously failed.
It was retained as a company aircraft and was flown by ? Williams the test pilot (apparently an ex-pathfinder Mosquito pilot) and JJ Parkes who was the Chairman.
Apparently he used it to fly his son, Mike Parkes, back to the UK after a race car crash on the continent.
It did not fly that much and was sold around 1972/3. Due to this the flight department closed and was re-invented as Alvair which operated for a few years as maintenance company

[Pilot DAR]

Williams the test pilot (apparently an ex-pathfinder Mosquito pilot)

That makes sense. DHC Test Pilot Russ Bannock was the first to fly the Beaver in 1947. Russ was also a pathfinder Mosquito pilot, I imagine it's a small fraternity! Russ was good enough to take me flying once in his Beaver.

[Commander Taco]

That makes sense. DHC Test Pilot Russ Bannock was the first to fly the Beaver in 1947. Russ was also a pathfinder Mosquito pilot, I imagine it's a small fraternity! Russ was good enough to take me flying once in his Beaver.

I was fortunate to have met Russ about 5 years ago. Took him in the B787 sim and he was kind enough to sign my copy of “Terror In The Starboard Seat”. What a gentleman he was.