Piper Comanche?

[draglift]

Does anyone know the details of the photo below? i.e What, who, where and when. It looks like a Piper Comanche but I am not sure. It is quite a photo. I doubt he has followed the curve of the road.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1325/657ca274_0f69_4508_87be_b390ec01d6d4_a1c87b63dac229fcb21efea 26d1c72ae432bf6cc.jpeg

[kenparry]

I suggest that it is a Saab Safir, not a Piper product. Look at the shape of the front of the cowling, and the windscreen. No idea of where when or why.

[treadigraph]

Definitely a Safir and I read the story in a mag or online a few years ago. A new stretch of unopened bypass near Northampton or Coventry or somewhere like that and the pilot couldn't resist. His dad took the pic I think. Actually I think his dad is on the bridge. When? About 1980?

I did a Google lens search on the image and got a Facebook link with details - can't paste it here...

[DaveReidUK]

David Williams flying Safir G-BCFW under the Pixley Lane bridge over the (then) new A41 bypass at Hinstock in December 1983. He was still the owner of the Saab up until a couple of years ago.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Good to see that he is almost on the right side of the road !

[treadigraph]

Cheers Dave! Did he get away with no agro from the CAA? If memory serves it was an early morning sortie...

You might not want to try it today (https://www.google.com/maps/@52.8337408,-2.4587387,3a,75y,170.02h,91.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swCl2Of680QiCcpVAEC1F5A!2e0!7i16384!8i819 2), seems to be some tree growth encroaching slightly...

[Shackman]

I’d rather meet that than the three abreast HGVs coming down the hill the other night as I was going the other way!!

PS Showed the picture to Mrs S and she recognised it straight away, and gave me all the details including names and details.