1969 BP Sponsored London - Sydney Air Race
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Not forgetting the Yellow Auster AOP.9 XR241 (G-AXRR) flown by Major Somerton-Raynor AAC. The aircraft made the journey Gatwick-Sydney in 1969-1970 at the BP Air Race England-Australia. Leaving on December 18, 1969 and arriving on January 4, 1970, after 141 hours and 10 minutes of flight.
Last edited by MReyn24050; 18th Dec 2007 at 21:55.
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BP England-Australia Air Race 1969
The winner of the single engine class was an Arrow race number 46 VH-CRC owned by Christopher Cowper. The aircraft was stolen from Chieftain Aviation at Bankstown in the late 1970s and crashed killing the pilot. The wreckage was discovered several months later.
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Since I used to have a 150 Super Airtourer, I thought that the tale of a 100hp version in this race might be of interest. Flew from Australia and then back again!!
Little Nugget
Little Nugget
Not in the Race...
because not the dosh for the entry fee and an ADF fit. But pushed an Auster down the "roo route" anyway with a bag of commem. mail to help pay the bills.
Left before the race started and landed DWN early Jan 1970.
With a big 50 on the tail, got signed in at a few places as Air Race 50.!
Which was kinda handy as fees were waived and my tight budget needed all the help it could get, Landed DWN with abt 3$ worth of Portuguese escudos from Timor in the pocket and borrowed $50 to make it home.
During the trip I got some pics of BP Air Race aircraft and back in Oz picked up copies of the BP booklet and the aerodrome diagrams.
In Bankstown I recovered my pair of spare mags that I had loaned to G-ARGT in Rangoon. Hadnt been returned and the Auster J1/N was abandoned there and later sold.
From KL to Singapore I flew along with ARGT and the RAF chaps on board took some air to air pics of G-AOHF. Never did get a copy. Due late arvo and Cbs up ahead I peeled off and went to Malacca instead.
Was that all nearly 50 years ago...good grief.!
Need another go,, someplace ..Adventure before Dementia and all that.
Left before the race started and landed DWN early Jan 1970.
With a big 50 on the tail, got signed in at a few places as Air Race 50.!
Which was kinda handy as fees were waived and my tight budget needed all the help it could get, Landed DWN with abt 3$ worth of Portuguese escudos from Timor in the pocket and borrowed $50 to make it home.
During the trip I got some pics of BP Air Race aircraft and back in Oz picked up copies of the BP booklet and the aerodrome diagrams.
In Bankstown I recovered my pair of spare mags that I had loaned to G-ARGT in Rangoon. Hadnt been returned and the Auster J1/N was abandoned there and later sold.
From KL to Singapore I flew along with ARGT and the RAF chaps on board took some air to air pics of G-AOHF. Never did get a copy. Due late arvo and Cbs up ahead I peeled off and went to Malacca instead.
Was that all nearly 50 years ago...good grief.!
Need another go,, someplace ..Adventure before Dementia and all that.
I run the Condor group which owns the aircraft (G AXGS) which was entered in the race by Norman Jones of Rollasons. We still have the slipper fuel tank which bolts underneath and the transfer pump still works. I understand that he got as far as Le Touquet
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Thought I'd dredge this thread up from the depths as I have an interest in the 1969 BP Air Race. Presently, as part of Threshold.aero, I'm organising a G-VFWE type event due to be held in 2019 (Date and location TBC/TBA) at which I'd like to gather as many aircraft which took part in the race for its fiftieth anniversary.
I've done quite a bit of research (I'd post a link but haven't posted enough to be able to) and have thus far ascertained that five aircraft which competed are still airworthy in the UK:
Auster AOP.9 G-AXRR/XR241
Rollason Condor G-AXGS
Beagle Pup 150 G-AXMX
Piper PA.28 Cherokee Arrow G-AWBC
Piper PA.24 Comanche G-ATNV
I've still got quite a few gaps which could well reveal further airworthy aircraft which could attend, however, I'm struggling to work out which other aircraft competed.
Many thanks,
Martin
I've done quite a bit of research (I'd post a link but haven't posted enough to be able to) and have thus far ascertained that five aircraft which competed are still airworthy in the UK:
Auster AOP.9 G-AXRR/XR241
Rollason Condor G-AXGS
Beagle Pup 150 G-AXMX
Piper PA.28 Cherokee Arrow G-AWBC
Piper PA.24 Comanche G-ATNV
I've still got quite a few gaps which could well reveal further airworthy aircraft which could attend, however, I'm struggling to work out which other aircraft competed.
Many thanks,
Martin
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One of the Piper Twin Comanches at Shipdham was in it, G-AXRW, and won its class? The Mooney also based there was entered, but blew it's engine on a trial trip to Holland.
DW
DW
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Sheila Scott in G-ATOY which, following an accident near Elstree, is now preserved with the Museum of Flight at East Fortune.
Red Arrows pilots Terry Kingsley and Pete Evans plus Arthur Gibson flew a SF-260 - possibly G-AXKA as it was registered to the late James Baring in July '69 and cancelled as sold to Australia in Feb '70.
Red Arrows pilots Terry Kingsley and Pete Evans plus Arthur Gibson flew a SF-260 - possibly G-AXKA as it was registered to the late James Baring in July '69 and cancelled as sold to Australia in Feb '70.
Last edited by treadigraph; 29th Sep 2018 at 09:07. Reason: Corrected/added names
Red Arrows pilots Terry Kingsley and Pete Evans plus Arthur Gibson flew a SF-260 - possibly G-AXKA as it was registered to the late James Baring in July '69 and cancelled as sold to Australia in Feb '70.
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 Minerva
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Never knew the SF-260 was named the Minerva!
DH89 Dominie ZK-AKU is apparently still airworthy and I understand is based in Tauranga, North Island NZ. It was race number 20 and there are photos of it in the race livery available on the internet. I last photographed it at Griffith, NSW on the morning that the race planes departed there on the last leg to Sydney. I last flew it in January 1972.
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Well, they are so alike! Perhaps confusion with the US marketing name, Waco Meteor.
Just dusted off British Civil Aircraft Vol III which confirms that 'XKA was the Red Arrows mount for the race.
This page suggests that it possibly then went to the Philippines.
Photo at Bankstown also shows
A J Spiller's Cessna 180 is G-ASIT which is still flying with Bill Tollett.
Just dusted off British Civil Aircraft Vol III which confirms that 'XKA was the Red Arrows mount for the race.
This page suggests that it possibly then went to the Philippines.
Photo at Bankstown also shows
- Aztec G-ARXF - probably been scrapped.
- Mooney G-ASNR which was owned by Peter Clifford Aviation then Dr Ian Hay who I seem to recall took part in several air races; it later crashed into English Channel in October '71.
- Debonair N1250Y which appears to be based in Europe these days assuming same aircraft!
A J Spiller's Cessna 180 is G-ASIT which is still flying with Bill Tollett.
Last edited by treadigraph; 29th Sep 2018 at 18:28.
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It's all beginning to make sense... 
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Many thanks for the assistance! Presently, I've ascertained that there are at least six aircraft still airworthy in the UK/Europe, potentially seven with N1250Y. G-APPL, the Prentice which took part (not G-AOLK as I previously thought) has also been airworthy as recently as last year. It made it as far as the south of France before retiring.
Auster AOP.9 G-AXRR/XR241
Rollason Condor G-AXGS
Beagle Pup 150 G-AXMX
Piper PA.28 Cherokee Arrow G-AWBC
Piper PA.24 Comanche G-ATNV
Cessna 180 G-ASIT
Pulse01 - I'd love for AXGS to be in attendance - I'm looking to gather aircraft irrespective of how far they progressed, plus I'm curious to see what a Rollason Condor looks like with a slipper tank fitted! If you drop me an email martin(at)threshold.aero, it'd be great to discuss you attending.
If anyone would be interested in seeing my spreadsheet thus far, I've still not been able to find a way of sharing it either as an image or a link, but I'd be happy to email it to people should they let me know at the above address.
Many thanks,
Martin
Auster AOP.9 G-AXRR/XR241
Rollason Condor G-AXGS
Beagle Pup 150 G-AXMX
Piper PA.28 Cherokee Arrow G-AWBC
Piper PA.24 Comanche G-ATNV
Cessna 180 G-ASIT
Pulse01 - I'd love for AXGS to be in attendance - I'm looking to gather aircraft irrespective of how far they progressed, plus I'm curious to see what a Rollason Condor looks like with a slipper tank fitted! If you drop me an email martin(at)threshold.aero, it'd be great to discuss you attending.
If anyone would be interested in seeing my spreadsheet thus far, I've still not been able to find a way of sharing it either as an image or a link, but I'd be happy to email it to people should they let me know at the above address.
Many thanks,
Martin