Ahhhh Austerrrrrrrrrr (Merged)
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You will find who now owns 'YD' here : http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/aircraft_re...nfo/search.asp
Still flying at Swanton it would seem.
PC
Still flying at Swanton it would seem.
PC
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Good memory. It was 1978, when Socata turned up with four or five Rallye variants, including the taildragger agplane and maybe an armed version. I think it may also have been the year when CSE's Lord Waterpark left 29 and took to the grass while landing the Embraer Xingu demonstrator. I was working on one of the daily news magazines at the show, and recall my colleague and great friend Bob Rodwell coming up with the inspired headline: 'Tory Peer veers to the Left!'. I think his Lordship took it in good part. Somewhere on one of these threads (MMMmmmiles probably) atb1943 mentioned being thrown off the EP-9 production line at Stapleford by Eric Thurston.
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Aerohack I am sure will you not mind me correcting you but Draper flew from Tower Bridge - slightly cheating because he flew through the main arch above the bridge - intending to fly under 14 bridges but at the last minute decided that two of them were "too dangerous."
Here is a link to fill in other details also: http://people.aero.und.edu/~draper/mad-major.html
Here is a link to fill in other details also: http://people.aero.und.edu/~draper/mad-major.html
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Love the headline - yes that was certainly the year. The armed version was the - excuse my French - Guerrier, and didn't they name the whole range with names such as Garnier, Gabier Gauloiser... well, perhaps not, but you get my drift...! Then the following year another bizzare shape on a the Air Touring ramp, the Tobago...
That Prospector was destroyed at Lympne a short while later, and I'm not sure I've seen one since in this country - so what a shock to come across one at Oshkosh!
To drag the thread back to Austers - speaking of avions Agricultural, what about the rumour that the mortal remains of an Auster Agricola (sp?) were on their way back from Downunda? I mean the low wing jobbie that looked a little like a Let Cmelak...
That Prospector was destroyed at Lympne a short while later, and I'm not sure I've seen one since in this country - so what a shock to come across one at Oshkosh!
To drag the thread back to Austers - speaking of avions Agricultural, what about the rumour that the mortal remains of an Auster Agricola (sp?) were on their way back from Downunda? I mean the low wing jobbie that looked a little like a Let Cmelak...
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Treds: The B8 'Agricola' is now in the hands of Cliff Baker, near Newark. Being re-assembled for flight.
I also noticed in the last copy of the Auster club mag. A small comment about G-AGVI. That was converted to gas turbine power ?? Anyone heard of that. I've heard about the Chippy with a Rover APu and a tall tale about a Curry Wot with the same. But an Auster...
I also noticed in the last copy of the Auster club mag. A small comment about G-AGVI. That was converted to gas turbine power ?? Anyone heard of that. I've heard about the Chippy with a Rover APu and a tall tale about a Curry Wot with the same. But an Auster...
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Thanks OD! Good to hear that it's here... and will fly again!
There's some stuff on the turbine powered Auster at Fairoaks lurking in this thread:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=bonner
The Wot was the Jet Wot...
There's some stuff on the turbine powered Auster at Fairoaks lurking in this thread:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=bonner
The Wot was the Jet Wot...
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CamelPilot: Have to disagree with you there. I quote from the man himself: "My timetable was 1.45 pm for the first bridge at Waterloo. I have often been asked why I started there and not at the Tower (Bridge), and I often wish I had done the lot. But at the time it had been explained to me that the bridges up to Waterloo were under the jurisdiction of the City Police, whereas those from Waterloo to Kew came under the Metropolitan Police and I thought it best not to antagonise the City Police a second time. I did not know that it would be the River Police who would taken an interest; maybe they did not exist in 1931, when it was the City Police who prosecuted me." Ah well, all Austers under the bridges now, anyway.
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Also. Out of interest.
Does anyone still offer tailwheel training in Austers. Or have those blasted cubs still got the market on that.
(Keep posting people. Starting to catch up with the plywood barge (miles) thread....)
Does anyone still offer tailwheel training in Austers. Or have those blasted cubs still got the market on that.
(Keep posting people. Starting to catch up with the plywood barge (miles) thread....)
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Aerohack, your right to disagree but I then have to question whether the Draper family website which I pointed out is wrong. I am bound to doubt that.
However, here it is again so that everyone can make up their own minds. Two thirds down, in 1953, is a good place to start.
http://people.aero.und.edu/~draper/mad-major.html
However, here it is again so that everyone can make up their own minds. Two thirds down, in 1953, is a good place to start.
http://people.aero.und.edu/~draper/mad-major.html
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CamelPilot: There's no question that Draper flew beneath (or more correctly, between spans) of Tower Bridge, but that was in the Puss Moth on 30 September 1931. He also flew the Puss beneath Westminster Bridge. The photographs on the website clearly show the Puss Moth. As stated in that first-person verbatim quote on my previous post (and in Draper's contemporary article in 'RAF Flying Review'), he did not attempt to fly the Auster through Tower Bridge, and there's nothing on the website that contradicts this. It is in error on another count though, stating that Draper later drove a car thirty-odd times around Hyde Park Corner. It wasn't Hyde Park, it was the statue of Eros. He was attempting 100 circuits in a Messerschmitt Kabinroller, to publicise the little bubble-car. The contabularly stopped stopped him on Lap 43, but brought no charges. Draper reported that the fee he received from the advertising agency handling the Messerschmitt account paid for the five hours' dual he neded to revalidate his pilot's licence!
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Interesting! Wonder if Mr E C Draper knows the details of the bubble car and the fact that the bridge 'lark' began at Waterloo Bridge - not at Tower Bridge. Still, the 'Mad Major' was an interesting character, if just a little rebellious and eccentric.
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>>The Wot was the Jet Wot...<<
Methinks a slight error?
I believe the turbine Wot was known as the Hot Wot.
Wot on floats was known as a Wet Wot.
For a while I owned G-SWOT (project stage) which was planned to be a Super Wot with a Pobjoy Niagara.
Anyway back to the thread!!
Methinks a slight error?
I believe the turbine Wot was known as the Hot Wot.
Wot on floats was known as a Wet Wot.
For a while I owned G-SWOT (project stage) which was planned to be a Super Wot with a Pobjoy Niagara.
Anyway back to the thread!!
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So anyone have any more info / pictures on that turbine Auster.
I also note that Cliff Baker is building a static B4 ambulance Auster, as well as the flying B8 agricola.
Auster certainly did try to cater more many needs.
I also note that Cliff Baker is building a static B4 ambulance Auster, as well as the flying B8 agricola.
Auster certainly did try to cater more many needs.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Fokker...
As far as I can recall, the Hot Wot had a bigger engine (Sorry, don't recall Wot), and the turbine was the Jet Wot... now, where did I read that...? Not that it's much help remembering as I'm at work...
Treadders
As far as I can recall, the Hot Wot had a bigger engine (Sorry, don't recall Wot), and the turbine was the Jet Wot... now, where did I read that...? Not that it's much help remembering as I'm at work...
Treadders
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The 'Hot Wot' (60 hp Walter Mikron II), 'Wet Wot' (floats, unsuccessful), 'Jet Wot' (60 hp Rover 1S.60 APU-derived turbine), and 'Hotter Wot' (65 hp Mikron III) were all one and the same aeroplane, G-APWT. It was also flown (but apparently not re-christened) with a 90 hp Rover TP.90/1, before reverting to Mikron power. It's been in the USA since 1975, currently in the hands of a good ol' boy in Fayetteville, Georgia who has thus far resisted repeated offers from people keen to have it back in Hampshire alongside straight 'Wot' G-APNT.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Maybe they should have christened the Wot-based SE-5As the Wot Nots...! Doh...
Think there might just be a pic of the Turbine Auster in the first volume of A J Jackson's excellent "British Civil Aircraft". I've definitely seen one, outside at Fairoaks I think, and that's the most likely source... once again at work and probably won't get a chance to research until the weekend.
Incidently, on the subject of the three British Civil Aircraft volumes, they are excellent and have some good stories... I wonder if anybody will ever update them; would probably run to six or seven volumes now...
Think there might just be a pic of the Turbine Auster in the first volume of A J Jackson's excellent "British Civil Aircraft". I've definitely seen one, outside at Fairoaks I think, and that's the most likely source... once again at work and probably won't get a chance to research until the weekend.
Incidently, on the subject of the three British Civil Aircraft volumes, they are excellent and have some good stories... I wonder if anybody will ever update them; would probably run to six or seven volumes now...
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Barge-Driving
Oscar Deuce -
How could you? You've obviously never flown one.
Plywood Barge? And I've said some nice things about Austers (even though I didn't really mean them). Wash your mouth out with soap and water!
'Barge' suggests the sort of handling .....well....a bit like an Auster really....
Plywood - yes they are. So is my fairly new Robin Regent. Nothing barge-like about that.
If 'Barge' is intended to describe the Messenger in view of its size - take a look at its performance figures, especially its STOL capabilities. It will knock an Auster into a cocked hat and has the added advantage of really nice handling and, unlike the Austers stodgy rice pudding ailerons - the Messies are crisp and light.
Take a look at the front cover and centre spread of Feb03 FlyPast and tell me honestly that you see 'Barges'.
I think you need a check up for your insane jealousy if not your eyesight! Anybody could have an Auster if they wanted. However, try and find a Miles Aircraft for sale - especially one of the more desirable - and you just won't. Believe me - I am trying hard.
Having wound you right up - I reveal my true agenda.
I am just having a bit of fun - thats what it is all about. No offence taken - none directed at the excellent (approximately...) Auster.
I just don't fancy one - even at their cheap as chips prices. You just can't give 'em away( sorry..off again..)
So - heres another post for you just to show you that I really don't care if your thread overtakes my much more interesting (there I go again...!) MMMmmiles thread.
HP
How could you? You've obviously never flown one.
Plywood Barge? And I've said some nice things about Austers (even though I didn't really mean them). Wash your mouth out with soap and water!
'Barge' suggests the sort of handling .....well....a bit like an Auster really....
Plywood - yes they are. So is my fairly new Robin Regent. Nothing barge-like about that.
If 'Barge' is intended to describe the Messenger in view of its size - take a look at its performance figures, especially its STOL capabilities. It will knock an Auster into a cocked hat and has the added advantage of really nice handling and, unlike the Austers stodgy rice pudding ailerons - the Messies are crisp and light.
Take a look at the front cover and centre spread of Feb03 FlyPast and tell me honestly that you see 'Barges'.
I think you need a check up for your insane jealousy if not your eyesight! Anybody could have an Auster if they wanted. However, try and find a Miles Aircraft for sale - especially one of the more desirable - and you just won't. Believe me - I am trying hard.
Having wound you right up - I reveal my true agenda.
I am just having a bit of fun - thats what it is all about. No offence taken - none directed at the excellent (approximately...) Auster.
I just don't fancy one - even at their cheap as chips prices. You just can't give 'em away( sorry..off again..)
So - heres another post for you just to show you that I really don't care if your thread overtakes my much more interesting (there I go again...!) MMMmmiles thread.
HP
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Sadly Od there are very good reasons Austers are so cheap!!.Still that,s good because it means us more impoverished aviators can still afford to buy something very capable!!.The Auster in classic car terms is the Austin Cambridge!!.Miles plywood barges!!I don,t think so I,ve soloed the Falcon,Magister and Messenger all are lovely in their own way.Miles really were leaders in performance and efficiency in their time (if not ahead of it)together with perhaps Percival. 
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Sorry Hairy / Stampe. I was only fishing.
Yes the miles do look good and I've never flown one. I,ve had a flight in a Percival type some years back and I must say that did feel a bit like a barge and very very big. But then I think a Pa28 is a real barge unless it's an arrow. So thats just me.
Anyway I'm one of the converted young ones. Grew up on yankee spam cans, got bored, almost gave up flying. Had a flight in a Auster, saw what real flying was about again. Just bought one...
In summary. All fine British aeroplanes are better than Yankee push button spam cans...
:o :o
Yes the miles do look good and I've never flown one. I,ve had a flight in a Percival type some years back and I must say that did feel a bit like a barge and very very big. But then I think a Pa28 is a real barge unless it's an arrow. So thats just me.
Anyway I'm one of the converted young ones. Grew up on yankee spam cans, got bored, almost gave up flying. Had a flight in a Auster, saw what real flying was about again. Just bought one...
In summary. All fine British aeroplanes are better than Yankee push button spam cans...
:o :o
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Oscar Deuce,
Yep, the pic of the turbine Auster is in British Civil Aircraft Volume 1 - the booke says Viv Bellamy converted it a Blackbuished in 1965 as a "flying testbed for the 118hp Rover TP.90 gas turbine".
I won't post it here cos of copyright, but email me if you'd like to see a copy.
Mind you, the books are worth buying, a treasure house of info about aircraft on the British register - there's even a pic of the Jet Wot in Volume II, and plenty on Austers, Miles, Percival, de H, etc.
Cheers
Treadders
Yep, the pic of the turbine Auster is in British Civil Aircraft Volume 1 - the booke says Viv Bellamy converted it a Blackbuished in 1965 as a "flying testbed for the 118hp Rover TP.90 gas turbine".
I won't post it here cos of copyright, but email me if you'd like to see a copy.
Mind you, the books are worth buying, a treasure house of info about aircraft on the British register - there's even a pic of the Jet Wot in Volume II, and plenty on Austers, Miles, Percival, de H, etc.
Cheers
Treadders