Airworthy Avro Anson
 

I was really hoping someone else would ask this question so I didnt have to look such an utter spotter. Ah well, armed with banter deflecting cloaking device, here goes:

I saw what looked like an Avro Anson fly jut south of Bicester yesterday afternoon at approx 1700 hrs, 300 ft agl-ish and heading west.

Can any of the 'avaition enthusiasts' (spotters :} ) among you tell me if there are indeed any airworthy Ansons (my aircraft recce isnt that bad that I cant tel the difference between the Anson and, say, a Dakota!).

I aint getting in no plane with no fool

The Air Atlantique Classic Flight have one at Coventry. :)

..& Shuttleworth have an airworthy (blue) Avro Ninteen, which is a civvy Anson.
http://www.airshows.org.uk/2005/airs...s/avro19_1.jpg

BAE Systems base their Avro XIX/Anson at Shuttleworth.:)

Beat yer Charlie! :O

It was the Air Atlantique Anson - been to Odiham.

Queen of the sky. Oh happy days.

Talking of Grand Mothers and sucking eggs, they were used to train crew during WW2. Especially Nav's.

They used Grand Mothers to train navs in WW2.......???!!!!!!!

My grannie was ace with a Silva and O/S map.
Be lucky
David

anson's
 

WWII? They were used for AEO training in from Swanton Morley until the end of '57 and from Hullavington from January '58.

My first solo was in one. No really. Painted yellow, no fabric on fuslage, load the bomb bay in the wing roots with scrap iron for bombing practice, a thousand turns to wind the gear up/down, and had to be expert at short field to get airborne before the scrap yard fence. Great fun for a six year old - happy days too brakedwell.

Thanks for the informative replies. I now also know that there is an aviation history and nostalgia forum - sorry pprune!

Still in use at Bovingdon and Andover until about '67. Seen in the film 'Mosquito Squadron' filmed partly at Bovingdon in about '67; replaced by (of all things) Bassets!
If I ever find my 3822, it will show two flights from Bovingdon in Ansons, one being PH859 in about '65. Pilot's name was Colbourne; he had scarring on his face possibly due to a fire; his takeoff technique was 'must be going fast enough to fly now, gear up!'

My F3822 shows my first ever flight to have been in Avro Anson VV994 from RAF Usworth to RAF Worksop via Rufforth and return. I lived less than 1 mile from Usworth and it was a an aeroplane mad boy's dream. I flew so much as an air cadet I was banned by my CO from anymore flying. I carried on flying but did not get the flights recorded. Happy days !
Bill

Just to confirm it was our Anson C/T.Mk.21, G-VROE/WD413, visiting Odiham for their 70th Anniversary celebration. Vampire G-HELV was also in attendance as were P-51s 'Janie' and 'Big Beautiful Doll'.

We believe VROE is one of only two Anson’s currently airworthy in the world, although there are a few flying restorations nearing fruition in Canada and New Zealand, both MK1's if I remember rightly.

Best wishes,

Tom
Classic Flight Ops

Ah, that explains the Merlins I heard the other day. Couldn't see 'em, must get the chainsaw to the trees out back.:E

Thinking back, I seem to recollect at least one Bovingdon Anson (having been sold) being used to ferry supplies to Biafra where there was a civil war in progress; that must've been about '69.
Edited: I think my second Anson flight was in VL337.

Those airworthy Ansons.
 

Tom, Do you have any idea who might be making a Mk I airworthy in Canada?

We are restoring a Mk II to static display status for the RCAF Mem. Mus.

Canadian Warplane had a Mk V, CF-HOT, flying for many years on which I was crew chief and sometime co-pilot but I have not seen it flying lately. They also had another Mk V fairly well advanced but it was out West at another 'Wing' of the CWH org. I retired some 15 years ago and I am out of touch with them.

We are in touch with Robyn Reid in New Zealand who has a Mk I almost ready to fly and another Mk I which is being brought up to static display standard. He managed to gather up about nine boxed Cheetahs.

Our problem is, we have very few drawings and we are looking for more. These Mk IIs have been sitting outside for the last 50 - 60 years and the wood has disappeared. Some of the steel tubing is OK but mostly the bottom tubes are gone but leaving enough to be able to replicate them.

Maybe the Canadian fixing the Mk I to fly has some drawings!

Deryck