De Havilland DHA.3 Drover
De Havilland DHA.3 Drover
Looking through my old photos and came across a photo of the Drover that was briefly at Southend with the Historical Aircraft Museum, VH-EAS (G-APXX never taken up).
Using a well known search engine it can be tracked up until mid 2015, when it might, or might not, have left South Wales to go to Gloucester. The 'might or might not' is because it seems, from the conversations on the Aviation Forum, it might have been offered to be re-homed without the knowledge of the owner!
Does anyone know where it is now, and what condition it is in?
Using a well known search engine it can be tracked up until mid 2015, when it might, or might not, have left South Wales to go to Gloucester. The 'might or might not' is because it seems, from the conversations on the Aviation Forum, it might have been offered to be re-homed without the knowledge of the owner!
Does anyone know where it is now, and what condition it is in?
Not the one I saw at Henlow which was all white colour. It was stored with a Comet 2 and the Bristol 173 twin rotor helicopter plus one or two other aircraft.
G-APXX was originally brought from Australia in 1962 by Keith Whyham of Air Navigation and Trading at Squires Gate. It sat in the back of the hangar there for at least 13 years. He lost interest in trying to restore it because (he said) it was difficult to find parts and the CAA equivalent at the time were making life difficult for him. Keith Whyham was killed in an accident in 2000. It seems that the aircraft has followed the name allocated to it and drifted around from place to place ever since.
There were a couple of others allocated G- registrations, but AFAIK they never came here.
I think others were watching to see what happened, but because of the difficulties Keith Whyham experienced, they gave up. Whyham originally had the idea to use it for pleasure flights.
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Originally Posted by barry lloyd
G-APXX was originally brought from Australia in 1962 by Keith Whyham of Air Navigation and Trading at Squires Gate
Olympus (sent first solo on DHC-1 G-ARGG by Keith Whyham 5 June 1969).
Last edited by olympus; 23rd Mar 2017 at 12:36. Reason: Additional info.
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If you are interested in the Drover you may also be interested in this recent publication
https://www.air-britain.co.uk/actboo...er.html#SID=13
G-APDK
https://www.air-britain.co.uk/actboo...er.html#SID=13
G-APDK
"October 1958: Negotiations began for sale to Air Navigation and Trading Co Ltd, Blackpool. In 1.59 the company owner Mr. Russell L. Whyham applied to the Air Transport Licencing Board for a licence to commence a Blackpool-London airline service. It was reported that the company had instructed DHA in Sydney to modify a suitable Drover for airline use. When their route application was rejected, the Drover order was cancelled, however the import of a second Drover VH-EAS from Qantas did continue, finally delivered two years later to become G-APXX. It never flew in England."
De Havilland DHA-3 Drover - Production listing compiled by Geoff Goodall
It certainly was Russell Whyham who had the Drover. His hangar was an "Aladdin's cave" of oddities including a GA Cygnet, various Avro19s and an Aermacchi something or other (AL60?). I was regularly chased out his hangar despite being at school with his other son Chris. I believe he met an untimely end crashing in to a sewage farm in an early Beagle Pup.
Whyham, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and died five days later.
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Originally Posted by VictorGolf
It certainly was Russell Whyham who had the Drover. His hangar was an "Aladdin's cave" of oddities including a GA Cygnet, various Avro19s and an Aermacchi something or other (AL60?).
A fairly unusual Piper - a Cherokee Six G-AWCY - was also operated but this I think was after Russell died.
Last edited by olympus; 23rd Mar 2017 at 21:31.
Just to correct the information regarding the accident to G-ARDA. There were two occupants both of whom were killed. According to a statement made by Russell Whyham in hospital after the crash, the student had "rammed the trimmer like a mad thing" causing the plane to stall from a low height back onto the runway.
The reference to the Beagle Pup crash is probably that of G-AXIB on 16/5/70 which crashed onto the side of Queensway, the road which runs round the east side of the airfield.
The reference to the Beagle Pup crash is probably that of G-AXIB on 16/5/70 which crashed onto the side of Queensway, the road which runs round the east side of the airfield.
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Originally Posted by horatio B
The reference to the Beagle Pup crash is probably that of G-AXIB on 16/5/70 which crashed onto the side of Queensway, the road which runs round the east side of the airfield
Last edited by olympus; 23rd Mar 2017 at 21:27. Reason: correction
You are correct about the crash, olympus. The transfer of ownership did indeed take place as you believe. I worked for Air UK at BLK between 1979-81, but my visits to ANT were purely of the social variety! Mr Bateson was often spoken of during that time, but I will say no more.
Just to correct the information regarding the accident to G-ARDA. There were two occupants both of whom were killed. According to a statement made by Russell Whyham in hospital after the crash, the student had "rammed the trimmer like a mad thing" causing the plane to stall from a low height back onto the runway.
"Shortly after becoming airborne on a check flight, the aircraft was seen to "porpoise" and then dive steeply to the ground. The report on the investigation states that the accident resulted from misuse of the trimmer by the pilot-under-supervision, at a low altitude after take-off. It is also stated that it is likely that the steepness of the final dive, and failure to pull out in time, could have resulted from the additive effects of pushing against full nose-up trim and, at the same time, reversing the elevator trim to fully nose-down. Some negative 'g' would accompany the resulting downward pitch manoeuvre, and this would tend to confuse a pilot not expecting it. The rapidity of the final manoeuvre combined with the effects of negative 'g' probably did not permit the pilot-in-command to retrieve the situation in the time available."
If you are interested in the Drover you may also be interested in this recent publication
https://www.air-britain.co.uk/actboo...er.html#SID=13
https://www.air-britain.co.uk/actboo...er.html#SID=13
20 aircraft were built (c/ns 5001 - 5020)
5003 was registered in the UK as G-ALLK in March 49 but ntu and was cancelled May 51.
5002 was registered in the UK as G-APPP in 59. The sale fell through and the a/c remained in Australia.
5014 was registered in the UK in Dec 60. Delivered through LPL docks in Sept 61. Squires Gate until May 67 then to Southend Mus. To Blackbushe then to Lasham. As stated above currently at Booker in poor condition.
5003 is appears to be the only Drover to have left the Antipodes and certainly the only one to have made it into the Northern hemisphere. Remarkably for such an obscure type 9 airframes survive (45% of the production run), in part or whole. It is possible two are in airworthy condition.
Last edited by Planemike; 24th Mar 2017 at 16:32.