KIDLINGTON LIGHT AVIATION SHOW, 6th May 1960.
Apr 3, 2024 9:45:02 GMT 1
northbynorthwest and deteulada like this
Post by viscount on Apr 3, 2024 9:45:02 GMT 1
While trawling through the Don Stephens collection, find there are many photos taken in the late 50s/early 60s at airfields that today one does not associate with air displays, or even with the town having an airfield! This is also an opportunity to present images of the civil aviation scene in Britain and a time when the American volume manufacturers of light aircraft for the civil market were only just beginning to make an impression on the European general aviation scene.
The early ‘60s were an interesting time for the civil aviation enthusiast and for private flyers. The first American metal skinned tricycle singles were just appearing this side of the Atlantic as the designs evolved, while the Cessna 310 and Piper Apache twins were way ahead of anything European manufacturer’s produced. The development by Cessna of it's range of high wing tri-cycle undercarriage singles, and by Piper of the Cherokee range were still a year off in 1960 and flood-gates opening to imports from the USA only just beginning to crack open as import restrictions were lifted.
No idea who the organisers of this Show were, however, several carloads of enthusiasts set off from Liverpool for a day out there. The result was recorded in the Merseyside Group of Aviation Enthusiasts monthly journal 'Northern Aeronews' in the days before renamed Merseyside Aviation Society and the monthly mag became 'Flypast'; this light-hearted report by PHB – Phil Butler, of a general aviation sales event held at Kidlington in 1960, illustrated with Don Stephens photographs.
Magazine page limitations preclude a comprehensive account of the MGAE’s numerous assaults on Kidlington, as well as other related matters, such as a study of the flying characteristics of the Bellanca 260 – or the ancestry of the Hartlebury Hound. For these omissions we apologise, so on with the report.
Kidlington has maintained its growing reputation as the ‘Farnborough for light aircraft’, and anyone lucky enough to have been there for the whole three days no doubt witnessed over 200 aircraft – in fact the writer saw over 175 on the Sunday alone. It is evident that the event is becoming more popular among visiting pilots, although the number of new demonstrators seems to have waned slightly. However we understand that the show will be better organised next year, so numbers should then be greater than ever.
A number of interesting new demonstrators were present, of which the RW.3 Multoplan was undoubtedly the most obscure. This aircraft, D-EBEV, is most satisfactorily described using the words of John Fricker, of ‘The Aeroplane’, as “Multoplan, the (under-)powered glider”. It was the Cessna ‘circus’ that provided the most varied interest, since only the ‘310 – which was, as usual, superb – had appeared before, new were the ‘150, and ‘210, all being seen for the first time. The ‘210 deserves special comment for its intriguing undercarriage retraction, which has to be seen to be believed. The ‘Piperama’ was much as before, with the addition of the Aztec. The Aztec (PA-27) seems to be Piper’s answer to the Cessna 310. Despite the obvious value of its effect on the take-off (which was remarkable), the enormous power increase over the Apache is largely inspired by an effort to boost it to match the ‘310s cruising speed. Despite the Aztec’s resemblance to the Apache, in fact only the wing is common to the two.
In contrast the most significant British demonstrator was the Auster D.4 – Auster’s attempt to meet the Cessna challenge. Altho’ the furnishing and general finish of the ‘D’ series is a vast improvement on the ‘old’ Austers, they still have a long way to – especially in the fields of variable-pitch propellers, tri-cycle undercarriages and sales technique. Nevertheless the D.4 is a nice aeroplane – even at & 3,020, and the D.4/5/6/7 will probably keep Auster’s in business until they think of something better. The other interesting British aeroplane was the Currie Wot, G-APWT. Despite the rough workmanship and the surplus of oil on the windscreen, it seemed to fly quite well. For all that, we are quite sure we wouldn’t like to own one!
The other aircraft being offered for sale were their usual familiar selves, some like Dove G-AMZN never seems to get tired, popping up everywhere. For the record types on show included the Aiglet Trainer, Prospector, Jackeroo, Prentice, Jodel D.117 & D.140, the excellent Tipsy Nipper, Turbulent (mashed into two halves by someone’s Auster on the Saturday, but flying again 3 weeks later!), Falco, sundry P.166s, the Meto-Sokols and the Bellanca 260. Also mention of the Linnet, whose future must be in doubt as Garland Aircraft still haven’t found anyone to build it for them.
The visiting/second-hand/resident aircraft were of above-average interest, including three Leopard Moths (one, G-ACLL in beautiful condition after restoration by Ron Paine), the J-4A Cub G-AFSZ, Swallow G-AEVZ, Super Ace G-AKUW, Sokol G-AIXN, ex-Liverpudlian Sedan CF-FNM**, both DH Dragonflies, Hawk G-ADWT, Mooney G-APVV, Aeronca Champion N82391, Tipsy G-AFWT and many more. One type that seems to have staged a minor revival is the Hawk Trainer, more were seen than for many a long day.
As usual a number of the promised demonstrators failed to appear: the Bonanza was still under repair after a nosewheel collapse at Goodwood, the PZL-101 and ‘102 still in Poland (although the ‘102 has appeared since), the Cessna 182 not now due in the UK until August and the Pawnee – which was promised last year, but still hasn’t arrived.
Sundry items noted at other aerodromes in the Oxford area included an IAF Hunter BA282 wrecked at Bicester, the sole Hawkridge Kittiwake and two Twin Pioneers at Weston-on-the-Green, a Supermarine Swift at Upper Heyford AFB, Walrus G-AIZG still at Thame, Comet 2X G-ALYT at Halton and the Lincoln freighter ZP-CBR-97 on the International Alloys heap at Aylesbury.
I have refrained from a too detailed study of the other delectable attendees at the Show on pain of sudden death at the hands of those (led by another member of the MGAE editorial team) who were unable to attend - this was a mistake which they need to rectify next year. P.H.B.
** “ex-Liverpudlian”, this reference had me puzzled as the aircraft does not appear in any Speke Airport records. The Liverpool connection being that the aircraft was imported via Liverpool Docks and the crate it was in ‘intercepted’ by MGAE members there. Evidence at the end of the first set of images.
2024 comment. I’ve altered some twisted English in the process of this re-type – likely the result of the original being typed onto Gestetner skin. Any errors made were near impossible to correct – if a word or punctuation was missed out, it could not be added-in later and once a sentence was started you had to finish it somehow even if not correct grammatically. Incidentally, I recently read a news-feed piece on the Internet titled: "10 things missing today that were vital in the 1960s office", items like the rotary dial telephone, manual typewriter and pencil sharpener, but no mention of the Spirit ‘Banda’ or Gestetner duplicators, so vital then for producing multiple copies of anything.
KIDLINGTON – 1960
The early ‘60s were an interesting time for the civil aviation enthusiast and for private flyers. The first American metal skinned tricycle singles were just appearing this side of the Atlantic as the designs evolved, while the Cessna 310 and Piper Apache twins were way ahead of anything European manufacturer’s produced. The development by Cessna of it's range of high wing tri-cycle undercarriage singles, and by Piper of the Cherokee range were still a year off in 1960 and flood-gates opening to imports from the USA only just beginning to crack open as import restrictions were lifted.
No idea who the organisers of this Show were, however, several carloads of enthusiasts set off from Liverpool for a day out there. The result was recorded in the Merseyside Group of Aviation Enthusiasts monthly journal 'Northern Aeronews' in the days before renamed Merseyside Aviation Society and the monthly mag became 'Flypast'; this light-hearted report by PHB – Phil Butler, of a general aviation sales event held at Kidlington in 1960, illustrated with Don Stephens photographs.
KIDLINGTON, OXFORD - LIGHT AVIATION SALES SHOW
6th May 1960
6th May 1960
Magazine page limitations preclude a comprehensive account of the MGAE’s numerous assaults on Kidlington, as well as other related matters, such as a study of the flying characteristics of the Bellanca 260 – or the ancestry of the Hartlebury Hound. For these omissions we apologise, so on with the report.
Kidlington has maintained its growing reputation as the ‘Farnborough for light aircraft’, and anyone lucky enough to have been there for the whole three days no doubt witnessed over 200 aircraft – in fact the writer saw over 175 on the Sunday alone. It is evident that the event is becoming more popular among visiting pilots, although the number of new demonstrators seems to have waned slightly. However we understand that the show will be better organised next year, so numbers should then be greater than ever.
A number of interesting new demonstrators were present, of which the RW.3 Multoplan was undoubtedly the most obscure. This aircraft, D-EBEV, is most satisfactorily described using the words of John Fricker, of ‘The Aeroplane’, as “Multoplan, the (under-)powered glider”. It was the Cessna ‘circus’ that provided the most varied interest, since only the ‘310 – which was, as usual, superb – had appeared before, new were the ‘150, and ‘210, all being seen for the first time. The ‘210 deserves special comment for its intriguing undercarriage retraction, which has to be seen to be believed. The ‘Piperama’ was much as before, with the addition of the Aztec. The Aztec (PA-27) seems to be Piper’s answer to the Cessna 310. Despite the obvious value of its effect on the take-off (which was remarkable), the enormous power increase over the Apache is largely inspired by an effort to boost it to match the ‘310s cruising speed. Despite the Aztec’s resemblance to the Apache, in fact only the wing is common to the two.
In contrast the most significant British demonstrator was the Auster D.4 – Auster’s attempt to meet the Cessna challenge. Altho’ the furnishing and general finish of the ‘D’ series is a vast improvement on the ‘old’ Austers, they still have a long way to – especially in the fields of variable-pitch propellers, tri-cycle undercarriages and sales technique. Nevertheless the D.4 is a nice aeroplane – even at & 3,020, and the D.4/5/6/7 will probably keep Auster’s in business until they think of something better. The other interesting British aeroplane was the Currie Wot, G-APWT. Despite the rough workmanship and the surplus of oil on the windscreen, it seemed to fly quite well. For all that, we are quite sure we wouldn’t like to own one!
The other aircraft being offered for sale were their usual familiar selves, some like Dove G-AMZN never seems to get tired, popping up everywhere. For the record types on show included the Aiglet Trainer, Prospector, Jackeroo, Prentice, Jodel D.117 & D.140, the excellent Tipsy Nipper, Turbulent (mashed into two halves by someone’s Auster on the Saturday, but flying again 3 weeks later!), Falco, sundry P.166s, the Meto-Sokols and the Bellanca 260. Also mention of the Linnet, whose future must be in doubt as Garland Aircraft still haven’t found anyone to build it for them.
The visiting/second-hand/resident aircraft were of above-average interest, including three Leopard Moths (one, G-ACLL in beautiful condition after restoration by Ron Paine), the J-4A Cub G-AFSZ, Swallow G-AEVZ, Super Ace G-AKUW, Sokol G-AIXN, ex-Liverpudlian Sedan CF-FNM**, both DH Dragonflies, Hawk G-ADWT, Mooney G-APVV, Aeronca Champion N82391, Tipsy G-AFWT and many more. One type that seems to have staged a minor revival is the Hawk Trainer, more were seen than for many a long day.
As usual a number of the promised demonstrators failed to appear: the Bonanza was still under repair after a nosewheel collapse at Goodwood, the PZL-101 and ‘102 still in Poland (although the ‘102 has appeared since), the Cessna 182 not now due in the UK until August and the Pawnee – which was promised last year, but still hasn’t arrived.
Sundry items noted at other aerodromes in the Oxford area included an IAF Hunter BA282 wrecked at Bicester, the sole Hawkridge Kittiwake and two Twin Pioneers at Weston-on-the-Green, a Supermarine Swift at Upper Heyford AFB, Walrus G-AIZG still at Thame, Comet 2X G-ALYT at Halton and the Lincoln freighter ZP-CBR-97 on the International Alloys heap at Aylesbury.
I have refrained from a too detailed study of the other delectable attendees at the Show on pain of sudden death at the hands of those (led by another member of the MGAE editorial team) who were unable to attend - this was a mistake which they need to rectify next year. P.H.B.
** “ex-Liverpudlian”, this reference had me puzzled as the aircraft does not appear in any Speke Airport records. The Liverpool connection being that the aircraft was imported via Liverpool Docks and the crate it was in ‘intercepted’ by MGAE members there. Evidence at the end of the first set of images.
2024 comment. I’ve altered some twisted English in the process of this re-type – likely the result of the original being typed onto Gestetner skin. Any errors made were near impossible to correct – if a word or punctuation was missed out, it could not be added-in later and once a sentence was started you had to finish it somehow even if not correct grammatically. Incidentally, I recently read a news-feed piece on the Internet titled: "10 things missing today that were vital in the 1960s office", items like the rotary dial telephone, manual typewriter and pencil sharpener, but no mention of the Spirit ‘Banda’ or Gestetner duplicators, so vital then for producing multiple copies of anything.
