London to Perth(Aust.) in a Miles M28 (1950)
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London to Perth(Aust.) in a Miles M28 (1950)
Hi all,
I am doing some research on a flight that was conducted by two gentlemen in a Miles Mercury (4 seats, 150hp single engined) in 1950 from Lymme Airport (near Dover) to Maylands airport at Perth, Western Australia. The aircraft was bought (second hand) from Shackleton's of London. The Australian registration was VH-BBK which was entered onto the Australian Register before leaving England. The owner Frank Burt and his friend Lachlan McTaggart, both from Australian Pastoral families, flew the aircraft to Australia departing 4th Nov 1950.
Does anyone have any info regarding this flight. I know they went to France then flew down the coast to the Mediterranean. Even for 1950 it seems quite a feat, and I hope that there is some info out there that may piece some of the jigsaw puzzle that I have.
Thank you in advance for any snippets.
I am doing some research on a flight that was conducted by two gentlemen in a Miles Mercury (4 seats, 150hp single engined) in 1950 from Lymme Airport (near Dover) to Maylands airport at Perth, Western Australia. The aircraft was bought (second hand) from Shackleton's of London. The Australian registration was VH-BBK which was entered onto the Australian Register before leaving England. The owner Frank Burt and his friend Lachlan McTaggart, both from Australian Pastoral families, flew the aircraft to Australia departing 4th Nov 1950.
Does anyone have any info regarding this flight. I know they went to France then flew down the coast to the Mediterranean. Even for 1950 it seems quite a feat, and I hope that there is some info out there that may piece some of the jigsaw puzzle that I have.
Thank you in advance for any snippets.
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I will post up what I have found to date from other sources.
The two men departed Fremantle on the SS Orion in July of 1950. McTaggart actually met his future wife to be, Jan, one this voyage. The aircraft was purchased from Shackletons and then numerous weeks were spent organising the coming flight. The British Air Board would not approve Frank Burt's Private Licence so they used Lachlan McTaggarts as he had been trained by the RAF during WWII. They based the aircraft at Redhill.
On a test flight to Ireland, the engine failed near Cambridge and subsequently landed in a paddock near a village called Panshanger. The local Plod thought that they were carrying contraband, so a long day was had and the two ladies accompanying them were not impressed.
More soon........ any bells ringing
The two men departed Fremantle on the SS Orion in July of 1950. McTaggart actually met his future wife to be, Jan, one this voyage. The aircraft was purchased from Shackletons and then numerous weeks were spent organising the coming flight. The British Air Board would not approve Frank Burt's Private Licence so they used Lachlan McTaggarts as he had been trained by the RAF during WWII. They based the aircraft at Redhill.
On a test flight to Ireland, the engine failed near Cambridge and subsequently landed in a paddock near a village called Panshanger. The local Plod thought that they were carrying contraband, so a long day was had and the two ladies accompanying them were not impressed.
More soon........ any bells ringing
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The McTaggarts held large pastoral interests. As a airport bum in my youth at Whyalla in South Australia occasionaly used to see Ian who used a Beechcraft V tail Bonanza to get about. The following links may provide some info you may find of interest. Will chase some old contacts in Whyalla to see if I come up with anything.
http://www.history.sa.gov.au/chu/pro...ine/July05.pdf
http://www.history.sa.gov.au/history...h_Anderson.pdf
http://www.history.sa.gov.au/chu/pro...ine/July05.pdf
http://www.history.sa.gov.au/history...h_Anderson.pdf
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Some curious anomalies in that info, muster.
Having flown to France they almost certainly didn't get to the Med via the coast, that's an 1800 mile jaunt around Spain and Portugal to reach the Med at the wrong end, for that journey. One would expect a route down Italy (via France or Switzerland, depending on Alpine weather) to Greece (to avoid E bloc and Albania), Turkey & roughly; Syria, Persia, India, Burma and island hop to Oz
Also, if their test flight to Ireland was from Redhill (an assumption, sure) and they force-landed near Panshanger (which is not remotely near any logical route) it is no wonder the Police didn't believe their story. Even if they were actually routing from Cambridge to Ireland via the Bristol Channel they would have have passed nowhere "near" Panshanger.
Fascinating tale, hope you find the rest and post it!
Having flown to France they almost certainly didn't get to the Med via the coast, that's an 1800 mile jaunt around Spain and Portugal to reach the Med at the wrong end, for that journey. One would expect a route down Italy (via France or Switzerland, depending on Alpine weather) to Greece (to avoid E bloc and Albania), Turkey & roughly; Syria, Persia, India, Burma and island hop to Oz
Also, if their test flight to Ireland was from Redhill (an assumption, sure) and they force-landed near Panshanger (which is not remotely near any logical route) it is no wonder the Police didn't believe their story. Even if they were actually routing from Cambridge to Ireland via the Bristol Channel they would have have passed nowhere "near" Panshanger.
Fascinating tale, hope you find the rest and post it!
Last edited by Agaricus bisporus; 5th Apr 2008 at 11:55.
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Talked to Malcom McTaggart half an hour ago by phone. In 94 he had a 1,000 book run privately published of the familys history in Australia. He was gracious enough to say he will post a copy to me and says that it does detail to some extent the flight in question. airmuster - If you would like to PM me your email address will scan the relevant pages and send to you. Lachlan died 18 months ago at the age of 88. Nothing is known of the Burt family other than that Frank has passed away and the son died in an aircraft accident.
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Extracted from "The McTaggart Story" by Ruth Anderson ISBN 0 646 25534 7
Lachlan originally flew with 40 Squadron RAF as a WAG on Wellingtons. His first missions were over the Ruhr in 1942. In June 42 he went to Malta where his Wellington was destroyed in a Stuka attack. Three months later he went to Port Tufic on the Bitter Lake. Here during a night mission the aircraft caught fire at low altitude as a result of anti aircraft fire. He parachuted out and over the course of three days walked 70 miles under the cover of darkness to avoid German and Italian patrols. Four of the crew did not survive. In 1943 he remustered as a pilot, trained in Canada and returned to the UK for operational training. With the end of the war in sight he was released from the service with out completing the operational course in 1945.
Lachlan, Frank Burt and Franks wife travelled from Fremantle to England on board the HMS Orion. On arrival in London they immediately took delivery of the Miles Mercury from Shackletons and commenced flight testing, during which various troubles arose. The worst occurred when taking Winsome Burt and Janet Williams (later to be Lachlan’s wife) for a test flight to Ireland. Fifteen minutes from take off from Red Hill in Surrey, over Cambridge the engine failed and a forced landing was made in a field.
They departed Lyme airport, crossed the English Channel and upon landing at Le Touquet the tail wheel fell off. After repairs were made, thanks to Ian Forbes of Miles Aircraft from Red Hill in Surrey, they bypassed Paris to Dijon where they refuelled and continued down the Rhone Valley to Marseilles. The next hop was to Cannes, an exciting sea side resort which occupied their entire concentration for three weeks. From there they flew at low altitude along the Italian coast, passing over Nice, Monaco, San Remo, Genoa to Roma. After two days there they proceeded to Brindisi in Southern Italy and crossed over the Adriatic Sea to a small landing field called Avazos, a German fighter strip used during the second world war. Here Lachlan and Frank were greeted by an Australian of the 8th Division who, with six other soldiers, was still living in the mountains of Greece. Here they enjoyed three wonderful days with these men and their families before flying down the corridor to Athens.
Due to problems with obtaining visas through Turkey a course had to be made to Rhodes Island, Sicily to Beirut. On this leg of their journey the engine failed and they were very lucky to limp in to the airport. In due course spare parts were sent from England and after a week spent at the Sir George Hotel they were again ready to take to the air. Frank was an excellent mechanic and between the two of them a new intake manifold was fitted plus a good general overhaul made. The flight from Damascus, Bahrain, Bagdad to Basra was uneventful. After 24 hours here they departed for Karachi and crossed the Truchal States at 6,000 feet to proceed down the Gulf of Oman and then followed the coast to Karachi. Crossing the coast they ran into a dust storm which blinded them at 5,000 feet and they were forced to land the Miles Mercury in Iran at a little village near Jaska. Not having an Iranian visa Lachlan and Frank were interned by the Iranian Army and held in the army barracks. They were held there for a week before being released and were allowed to proceed thanks to Ramit Alli Khan of Burma Shell, Karachi, who was not only influential but also most generous in helping them. When they thankfully took off from Karachi they proceeded down the Indus Valley and were shown lavish hospitality in Lahore by the 6th Lancers Regiment. They then flew on to the Pakistani Airforce base at Pashawar. Leaving the plane there the airforce transported them to Gigit some 300 miles north to the army frontier base commanded by Frank’s brother in law Hissam El Efuindi who was the Colonel in Chief. They spent three weeks here being magnificently treated by Mary and Hissam and they reluctantly departed to return to their aircraft at Peshawar.
From Peshawar they made their way across India to Calcutta and to a small village called Akyab and onto Rangoon. The RAF at Penang made them welcome for two days and then they continued onto Singapore. Here extra fuel tanks were fitted for the Timor Sea crossing. The route onwards was Jakarta, Bali, Dili and across to Darwin. In all the journey took three months.
NB. Only six Mercurys were built, two of which ended their days in Australia. Photos of Frank Burts aircraft here.
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austb/VH-BBK.html
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...mz/VH-PMG.html
History of the airframes.
Mercury 1 M.28 U-0232 Dismantled England 1942 U-0232 Known History: Built in 1941, and then first flown by George Miles on 11 July 1941; Dismantled and the fuselage & tail unit used for prototype M.38 Messenger in 1942; NO
Mercury 2 M.28 G-AJVX HM583 Untraced Perth Australia 1951 VH-BBK U-0237 Known History: Built at Woodley in 1942 and used by Miles Aircraft for communication duties; In 1947, civilianised as G-AJVX and fitted with 150hp Blackburn Cirrus Major III; On the 11th December 1947 CoA issued to the Hulland Gravel Co. Ltd, Burnaston; In 1950 sold to J.E. Nicholson, Croft. Flown to Perth, Australia by F. Burt in November 1950 as VH-BBK; On the 17th January 1951 it arrived in Perth after 64 days;
Mercury 3 M.28 4684 G-AISH U-0242 Scrapped England 1948 PW937 Known History: Built in 1943 and initially flown as U-0242 and later as PW937; In December 1946 the registration G-AISH was reserved, however it was scrapped in February 1948; NO
Mercury 4 M.28 4685 G-AGVX U-0243 Untraced Australia 1953 HB-EED VH-AKH VH-AKC Known History: Built at Woodley in 1944 and first flown as U-0243; In November 1945 registered to Miles Aircraft Ltd as G-AGVX; Used by Miles Aircraft Ltd for communications duties; On the 26th April 1946 the CoA was issued; In April 1947 sold to Aerotaxi AG Zurich: HB-EED; In March 1948 it was restored to H.W.H. Moore; It then had five subsequent owners before being sold in Australia in January 1953 as VH-AKH, later VH-AKC;
Mercury 5 M.28 6697 G-AJFE Crashed Denham England 1955 HB-EEF Known History: Built at Woodley in 1947; On the 28th October 1947 the CoA was issued to K. Hole, White Waltham; Sold to J.F. Schumaker, Geneva on an unknown date; In June 1951 registered as HB-EEF; In December 1954 restored to A.T.C. Carey, Denham; Dbr in a forced landing at West Hyde, Bucks on 13th March 1955; NO
Mercury 6 M.28 6268 G-AHAA Airworthy Turweston England 2000 D-EHAB OY-ALW Known History: Built at Woodley in 1946; On the 3rd May 1946 the CoA was issued; 1946-48 to BEA; In 1946 it was used as the personnel aircraft of the Chairman of BEAC until April 1948; 1947 used by Airways Aero Association?; In March 1948 to K.E. Millard & Co. Ltd, Wolverhampton; In November 1954 bought by F.G.Miles; During September 1956 to Hans Kublbeck, Augsburg, Germany as D-EHAB (Sold in Germany by Adie Aviation Ltd); Circa 1968 to H. Kirchner, Frankfurt; In 1976 to Hans Kolby Hansen, Lem; 1979-82 noted at the Dansk Veteranflysamlung, Skjern as OY-ALW; Unknown when registered as OY-ALW; Owner flew it to the UK in 1998, and it was initially based at Woodford. Now based at Turweston.
Lachlan originally flew with 40 Squadron RAF as a WAG on Wellingtons. His first missions were over the Ruhr in 1942. In June 42 he went to Malta where his Wellington was destroyed in a Stuka attack. Three months later he went to Port Tufic on the Bitter Lake. Here during a night mission the aircraft caught fire at low altitude as a result of anti aircraft fire. He parachuted out and over the course of three days walked 70 miles under the cover of darkness to avoid German and Italian patrols. Four of the crew did not survive. In 1943 he remustered as a pilot, trained in Canada and returned to the UK for operational training. With the end of the war in sight he was released from the service with out completing the operational course in 1945.
Lachlan, Frank Burt and Franks wife travelled from Fremantle to England on board the HMS Orion. On arrival in London they immediately took delivery of the Miles Mercury from Shackletons and commenced flight testing, during which various troubles arose. The worst occurred when taking Winsome Burt and Janet Williams (later to be Lachlan’s wife) for a test flight to Ireland. Fifteen minutes from take off from Red Hill in Surrey, over Cambridge the engine failed and a forced landing was made in a field.
They departed Lyme airport, crossed the English Channel and upon landing at Le Touquet the tail wheel fell off. After repairs were made, thanks to Ian Forbes of Miles Aircraft from Red Hill in Surrey, they bypassed Paris to Dijon where they refuelled and continued down the Rhone Valley to Marseilles. The next hop was to Cannes, an exciting sea side resort which occupied their entire concentration for three weeks. From there they flew at low altitude along the Italian coast, passing over Nice, Monaco, San Remo, Genoa to Roma. After two days there they proceeded to Brindisi in Southern Italy and crossed over the Adriatic Sea to a small landing field called Avazos, a German fighter strip used during the second world war. Here Lachlan and Frank were greeted by an Australian of the 8th Division who, with six other soldiers, was still living in the mountains of Greece. Here they enjoyed three wonderful days with these men and their families before flying down the corridor to Athens.
Due to problems with obtaining visas through Turkey a course had to be made to Rhodes Island, Sicily to Beirut. On this leg of their journey the engine failed and they were very lucky to limp in to the airport. In due course spare parts were sent from England and after a week spent at the Sir George Hotel they were again ready to take to the air. Frank was an excellent mechanic and between the two of them a new intake manifold was fitted plus a good general overhaul made. The flight from Damascus, Bahrain, Bagdad to Basra was uneventful. After 24 hours here they departed for Karachi and crossed the Truchal States at 6,000 feet to proceed down the Gulf of Oman and then followed the coast to Karachi. Crossing the coast they ran into a dust storm which blinded them at 5,000 feet and they were forced to land the Miles Mercury in Iran at a little village near Jaska. Not having an Iranian visa Lachlan and Frank were interned by the Iranian Army and held in the army barracks. They were held there for a week before being released and were allowed to proceed thanks to Ramit Alli Khan of Burma Shell, Karachi, who was not only influential but also most generous in helping them. When they thankfully took off from Karachi they proceeded down the Indus Valley and were shown lavish hospitality in Lahore by the 6th Lancers Regiment. They then flew on to the Pakistani Airforce base at Pashawar. Leaving the plane there the airforce transported them to Gigit some 300 miles north to the army frontier base commanded by Frank’s brother in law Hissam El Efuindi who was the Colonel in Chief. They spent three weeks here being magnificently treated by Mary and Hissam and they reluctantly departed to return to their aircraft at Peshawar.
From Peshawar they made their way across India to Calcutta and to a small village called Akyab and onto Rangoon. The RAF at Penang made them welcome for two days and then they continued onto Singapore. Here extra fuel tanks were fitted for the Timor Sea crossing. The route onwards was Jakarta, Bali, Dili and across to Darwin. In all the journey took three months.
NB. Only six Mercurys were built, two of which ended their days in Australia. Photos of Frank Burts aircraft here.
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austb/VH-BBK.html
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...mz/VH-PMG.html
History of the airframes.
Mercury 1 M.28 U-0232 Dismantled England 1942 U-0232 Known History: Built in 1941, and then first flown by George Miles on 11 July 1941; Dismantled and the fuselage & tail unit used for prototype M.38 Messenger in 1942; NO
Mercury 2 M.28 G-AJVX HM583 Untraced Perth Australia 1951 VH-BBK U-0237 Known History: Built at Woodley in 1942 and used by Miles Aircraft for communication duties; In 1947, civilianised as G-AJVX and fitted with 150hp Blackburn Cirrus Major III; On the 11th December 1947 CoA issued to the Hulland Gravel Co. Ltd, Burnaston; In 1950 sold to J.E. Nicholson, Croft. Flown to Perth, Australia by F. Burt in November 1950 as VH-BBK; On the 17th January 1951 it arrived in Perth after 64 days;
Mercury 3 M.28 4684 G-AISH U-0242 Scrapped England 1948 PW937 Known History: Built in 1943 and initially flown as U-0242 and later as PW937; In December 1946 the registration G-AISH was reserved, however it was scrapped in February 1948; NO
Mercury 4 M.28 4685 G-AGVX U-0243 Untraced Australia 1953 HB-EED VH-AKH VH-AKC Known History: Built at Woodley in 1944 and first flown as U-0243; In November 1945 registered to Miles Aircraft Ltd as G-AGVX; Used by Miles Aircraft Ltd for communications duties; On the 26th April 1946 the CoA was issued; In April 1947 sold to Aerotaxi AG Zurich: HB-EED; In March 1948 it was restored to H.W.H. Moore; It then had five subsequent owners before being sold in Australia in January 1953 as VH-AKH, later VH-AKC;
Mercury 5 M.28 6697 G-AJFE Crashed Denham England 1955 HB-EEF Known History: Built at Woodley in 1947; On the 28th October 1947 the CoA was issued to K. Hole, White Waltham; Sold to J.F. Schumaker, Geneva on an unknown date; In June 1951 registered as HB-EEF; In December 1954 restored to A.T.C. Carey, Denham; Dbr in a forced landing at West Hyde, Bucks on 13th March 1955; NO
Mercury 6 M.28 6268 G-AHAA Airworthy Turweston England 2000 D-EHAB OY-ALW Known History: Built at Woodley in 1946; On the 3rd May 1946 the CoA was issued; 1946-48 to BEA; In 1946 it was used as the personnel aircraft of the Chairman of BEAC until April 1948; 1947 used by Airways Aero Association?; In March 1948 to K.E. Millard & Co. Ltd, Wolverhampton; In November 1954 bought by F.G.Miles; During September 1956 to Hans Kublbeck, Augsburg, Germany as D-EHAB (Sold in Germany by Adie Aviation Ltd); Circa 1968 to H. Kirchner, Frankfurt; In 1976 to Hans Kolby Hansen, Lem; 1979-82 noted at the Dansk Veteranflysamlung, Skjern as OY-ALW; Unknown when registered as OY-ALW; Owner flew it to the UK in 1998, and it was initially based at Woodford. Now based at Turweston.
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London to Perth (Australia) in a Miles M28 Mercury
It might help a little if you had the correct spelling for "Lympne", however I regret that I am unable to advise any assistance at this stage.
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lawrence, the family history book states "Lyme Airport". There are a number of places by the name of "Lyme" in the UK so could it be that they are referring to some place other than Lympne.
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London to Perth (Australia) via a Miles M28 Mercury
Brian,
I would have thought that Lympne as a main customs approved aerodrome at that time
would have been most likely due to its location as a hopping point for continental Europe and the short time in crossing the English Channel.
Regards
EUROFOIL
I would have thought that Lympne as a main customs approved aerodrome at that time
would have been most likely due to its location as a hopping point for continental Europe and the short time in crossing the English Channel.
Regards
EUROFOIL
Well Lympne is close to Dover.
But this wasn't the only light aircraft to make the trip; there was a married couple who did it in a Prentice named 'Koomela' using only a 4 channel VHf radio in the early '50s too (sorry can't remember the reg) Trying to remember where I read about that and I think it was a Meccano Magazine c1958
But this wasn't the only light aircraft to make the trip; there was a married couple who did it in a Prentice named 'Koomela' using only a 4 channel VHf radio in the early '50s too (sorry can't remember the reg) Trying to remember where I read about that and I think it was a Meccano Magazine c1958
Last edited by chevvron; 3rd Sep 2008 at 18:01.
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Brian Abraham's posted Extract from Ruth Anderson's book was an excellent read and I although cannot totally agree with Fareastdriver, the flight was certainly an achievement.
Most of the Australian's I've met can spell a lot better than most Brits of the same generation (probably including myself) and whilst this forum contains gurus on aviation both modern and historical, a book on the History of the McTaggart Family is unlikely to have been written by an Aviation Expert, so I feel that getting irritated over the spelling of Lympe is actually slightly churlish.
So in the short time before I am flamed/moderated off this thread I hope airmuster is able to expand the story further.
Note to self: Better take a few dried frog pills before coming back to this thread.
Most of the Australian's I've met can spell a lot better than most Brits of the same generation (probably including myself) and whilst this forum contains gurus on aviation both modern and historical, a book on the History of the McTaggart Family is unlikely to have been written by an Aviation Expert, so I feel that getting irritated over the spelling of Lympe is actually slightly churlish.
So in the short time before I am flamed/moderated off this thread I hope airmuster is able to expand the story further.
Note to self: Better take a few dried frog pills before coming back to this thread.
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NB. Only six Mercurys were built, two of which ended their days in Australia. Photos of Frank Burts aircraft here.
VH-BBK
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...mz/VH-PMG.html
History of the airframes.
Mercury 1 M.28 U-0232 Dismantled England 1942 U-0232 Known History: Built in 1941, and then first flown by George Miles on 11 July 1941; Dismantled and the fuselage & tail unit used for prototype M.38 Messenger in 1942; NO
Mercury 2 M.28 G-AJVX HM583 Untraced Perth Australia 1951 VH-BBK U-0237 Known History: Built at Woodley in 1942 and used by Miles Aircraft for communication duties; In 1947, civilianised as G-AJVX and fitted with 150hp Blackburn Cirrus Major III; On the 11th December 1947 CoA issued to the Hulland Gravel Co. Ltd, Burnaston; In 1950 sold to J.E. Nicholson, Croft. Flown to Perth, Australia by F. Burt in November 1950 as VH-BBK; On the 17th January 1951 it arrived in Perth after 64 days;
Mercury 3 M.28 4684 G-AISH U-0242 Scrapped England 1948 PW937 Known History: Built in 1943 and initially flown as U-0242 and later as PW937; In December 1946 the registration G-AISH was reserved, however it was scrapped in February 1948; NO
Mercury 4 M.28 4685 G-AGVX U-0243 Untraced Australia 1953 HB-EED VH-AKH VH-AKC Known History: Built at Woodley in 1944 and first flown as U-0243; In November 1945 registered to Miles Aircraft Ltd as G-AGVX; Used by Miles Aircraft Ltd for communications duties; On the 26th April 1946 the CoA was issued; In April 1947 sold to Aerotaxi AG Zurich: HB-EED; In March 1948 it was restored to H.W.H. Moore; It then had five subsequent owners before being sold in Australia in January 1953 as VH-AKH, later VH-AKC;
Mercury 5 M.28 6697 G-AJFE Crashed Denham England 1955 HB-EEF Known History: Built at Woodley in 1947; On the 28th October 1947 the CoA was issued to K. Hole, White Waltham; Sold to J.F. Schumaker, Geneva on an unknown date; In June 1951 registered as HB-EEF; In December 1954 restored to A.T.C. Carey, Denham; Dbr in a forced landing at West Hyde, Bucks on 13th March 1955; NO
Mercury 6 M.28 6268 G-AHAA Airworthy Turweston England 2000 D-EHAB OY-ALW Known History: Built at Woodley in 1946; On the 3rd May 1946 the CoA was issued; 1946-48 to BEA; In 1946 it was used as the personnel aircraft of the Chairman of BEAC until April 1948; 1947 used by Airways Aero Association?; In March 1948 to K.E. Millard & Co. Ltd, Wolverhampton; In November 1954 bought by F.G.Miles; During September 1956 to Hans Kublbeck, Augsburg, Germany as D-EHAB (Sold in Germany by Adie Aviation Ltd); Circa 1968 to H. Kirchner, Frankfurt; In 1976 to Hans Kolby Hansen, Lem; 1979-82 noted at the Dansk Veteranflysamlung, Skjern as OY-ALW; Unknown when registered as OY-ALW; Owner flew it to the UK in 1998, and it was initially based at Woodford. Now based at Turweston.
VH-BBK
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...mz/VH-PMG.html
History of the airframes.
Mercury 1 M.28 U-0232 Dismantled England 1942 U-0232 Known History: Built in 1941, and then first flown by George Miles on 11 July 1941; Dismantled and the fuselage & tail unit used for prototype M.38 Messenger in 1942; NO
Mercury 2 M.28 G-AJVX HM583 Untraced Perth Australia 1951 VH-BBK U-0237 Known History: Built at Woodley in 1942 and used by Miles Aircraft for communication duties; In 1947, civilianised as G-AJVX and fitted with 150hp Blackburn Cirrus Major III; On the 11th December 1947 CoA issued to the Hulland Gravel Co. Ltd, Burnaston; In 1950 sold to J.E. Nicholson, Croft. Flown to Perth, Australia by F. Burt in November 1950 as VH-BBK; On the 17th January 1951 it arrived in Perth after 64 days;
Mercury 3 M.28 4684 G-AISH U-0242 Scrapped England 1948 PW937 Known History: Built in 1943 and initially flown as U-0242 and later as PW937; In December 1946 the registration G-AISH was reserved, however it was scrapped in February 1948; NO
Mercury 4 M.28 4685 G-AGVX U-0243 Untraced Australia 1953 HB-EED VH-AKH VH-AKC Known History: Built at Woodley in 1944 and first flown as U-0243; In November 1945 registered to Miles Aircraft Ltd as G-AGVX; Used by Miles Aircraft Ltd for communications duties; On the 26th April 1946 the CoA was issued; In April 1947 sold to Aerotaxi AG Zurich: HB-EED; In March 1948 it was restored to H.W.H. Moore; It then had five subsequent owners before being sold in Australia in January 1953 as VH-AKH, later VH-AKC;
Mercury 5 M.28 6697 G-AJFE Crashed Denham England 1955 HB-EEF Known History: Built at Woodley in 1947; On the 28th October 1947 the CoA was issued to K. Hole, White Waltham; Sold to J.F. Schumaker, Geneva on an unknown date; In June 1951 registered as HB-EEF; In December 1954 restored to A.T.C. Carey, Denham; Dbr in a forced landing at West Hyde, Bucks on 13th March 1955; NO
Mercury 6 M.28 6268 G-AHAA Airworthy Turweston England 2000 D-EHAB OY-ALW Known History: Built at Woodley in 1946; On the 3rd May 1946 the CoA was issued; 1946-48 to BEA; In 1946 it was used as the personnel aircraft of the Chairman of BEAC until April 1948; 1947 used by Airways Aero Association?; In March 1948 to K.E. Millard & Co. Ltd, Wolverhampton; In November 1954 bought by F.G.Miles; During September 1956 to Hans Kublbeck, Augsburg, Germany as D-EHAB (Sold in Germany by Adie Aviation Ltd); Circa 1968 to H. Kirchner, Frankfurt; In 1976 to Hans Kolby Hansen, Lem; 1979-82 noted at the Dansk Veteranflysamlung, Skjern as OY-ALW; Unknown when registered as OY-ALW; Owner flew it to the UK in 1998, and it was initially based at Woodford. Now based at Turweston.
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Miles Mercury
I have red the story, extremely interesting, as I'm the happy owner of the Mk6 Miles Mercury.
if anybody have anything further I would be very pleased.
I'm flying the Miles every summer, in and out of my 415 mtr farmstrip in Denmark. rest of the year it's in hangarage at Stauning Airport Denmark.
I have quite a few photos, if anybody are interested.
vbr
Hans Kolby Hansen
if anybody have anything further I would be very pleased.
I'm flying the Miles every summer, in and out of my 415 mtr farmstrip in Denmark. rest of the year it's in hangarage at Stauning Airport Denmark.
I have quite a few photos, if anybody are interested.
vbr
Hans Kolby Hansen
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
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forgot email
[email protected]
[email protected]
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Western Australia
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Lachlan McTaggart
Lachlan son is still alive and am sure could tell you in more detail about the flight. Also Frank Burts son is still with us, he infact has a diary which was written by Frank.
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: North of the 26th and not above FL010
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Bidgemia, isn't that a property name where Lachlan senior used to own/manage??
Do you have a contact, ie email for Frank Burt's son??
Kolby.... will email you
Do you have a contact, ie email for Frank Burt's son??
Kolby.... will email you
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Miles Mercury OY-ALW
I have now had the old Miles through its CoA with flying colours. its beeen hangared so no real issues. 10th August I am flying to a airshow up north in Sweden close to Falun, - Dala Jarna.... a 700 nm roundtrip..
I am just wondering if there are any news of any of the two Australian Mercury????????
I am just wondering if there are any news of any of the two Australian Mercury????????
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: West Australia
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Still Looking
Hi,
I am Frank Burts second son and have taken over from the original Airmuster , hence interested in the fellows earlier comments about the aircraft he saw in some collection at Wangaratta , if "RadiosAppear" is still on this forum , can he give me some background on the "Airworld" place he had visited.
I'm no Pilot , albeit i love flying , so no idea what i would do with the Miles if i actually located it , but i have two sisters who would be very interested in seeing the Plane for old times sake. Frank died whilst Mustering on his Pastoral Property in 1971 , his first son took over the property in 1981 and was there up until last year when he passed away. The Diary of the trip is still at the property with his wife and the rest of the family (including the McTaggarts) all have copies.. Would have to have been the ultimate boys trip..
Cheers for now
Rob
I am Frank Burts second son and have taken over from the original Airmuster , hence interested in the fellows earlier comments about the aircraft he saw in some collection at Wangaratta , if "RadiosAppear" is still on this forum , can he give me some background on the "Airworld" place he had visited.
I'm no Pilot , albeit i love flying , so no idea what i would do with the Miles if i actually located it , but i have two sisters who would be very interested in seeing the Plane for old times sake. Frank died whilst Mustering on his Pastoral Property in 1971 , his first son took over the property in 1981 and was there up until last year when he passed away. The Diary of the trip is still at the property with his wife and the rest of the family (including the McTaggarts) all have copies.. Would have to have been the ultimate boys trip..
Cheers for now
Rob