Post by viscount on May 9, 2010 22:21:21 GMT 1
At the inspired suggestion of a forum member, Ian 531, a look at the amphibious aircraft that have graced the tarmac at Liverpool over the past 60 years or so.
Amphibious aircraft have always held a fascination, due in part to their flexibility in landing on land and water and in part due to their stepped-boat hull and wing-tip floats incorporated into the aeroplane shape. Over the years a variety of types have called, large and small, old and new. I've enjoyed putting together this article due to this variety, and I've uncovered some interesting aircraft visits.
After some thought I have organised these in choronogical order of visit rather than grouped together by type. I hope it makes interesting reading.
Although not at Speke, an illustration of Short Sealand demonstrator G-AIVX.
The Fifties
Thanks to Phil Butler's research into the landing records of this period, he has come up with several visits, however there may well have been a few others undiscovered during the early part of the decade. It is considered likely by PHB that the Sealand demonstrator G-AIVX made certainly made further visits.
1950
On the 9th October Short S.6 Sealand G-AIVX, their demonstrator and company transport called, arriving from Leavesden, departing to Sydenham (now Belfast City Airport) the factory airfield operated by Short Bros. The Short Sealand was a twin engined, high wing, 6 seater cabin amphibian, an arrangement similar in appearance to the Grumman designs such as the Goose or Widgeon. The Sealand though was powered by two Gipsy Queen 70 inverted inline piston engines. See type entry on www.wikipedia.com for a photo of G-AIVX at Stretton, 1953.
1952
On 12th February a further Short Sealand, this one destined as a luxury 'flying yacht' for an export customer, SU-AHY called routing from Sydenham, and departed for Croydon on the initial legs of its delivery flight across Europe. This aircraft was formerly G-AKLW and is currently the basis of a prolonged rebuild (away from public view) at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Holywood (east of Belfast). www.nmni.com Other Sealands survive in museums in India and Belgrade!
1954
Short Sealand G-AIVX called again on 1st August. While the point of origin is unknown, it left for its Sydenham home. The civil registration was cancelled 3.55.
1955
The Chairman of Monsanto Chemicals arrived on their 'executive transport' Consolidated Canso, N5804N. On 13th July the Canso (Catalina) arrived from Edinburgh/Turnhouse and departed for the next day on a very short hop across to Hooton Park. It is thought that Monsanto Chemicals had business at Stanlow Refinery. This was a long, long time before the name Monsanto became inextricably linked with GM food development.
The aircraft later became N19Q and under the ownership of actor James Stewart came to grief off Monte Carlo whilst landing on the sea on sank en route from Marseille to Malaga 8.72.
1958
I-GULL a Piaggio P.136 Gull landed on the River Mersey and used the Yacht Club slipway adjacent to Speke Airport. The Gull was a twin-engined, pusher-prop, 5-seat cockpit monoplane with a high cranked wing, a general layout repeated their later P.166 cabin landplane. See type entry on: www.wikipedia.com
P.136 I-GULL visited Manchester Airport, 11 to 13th March 1958 and surveyed the Lake District, Dee and Mersey during its stay. The water landing on the Mersey taking place on the 12th March.
Although on the wrong side of the boundary fence, this interesting aircraft is the only recorded amphibious landing on the River Mersey post 1950 - although one other has briefly touched down (see 1986 entry on post #4 & photos post #3).
The Sixties
The Sixties provide the busiest decade in terms of types, visits and number of different aircraft involved.
1962
Two Grumman amphibians were owned by North West and North Wales resident owners, spending time at Liverpool. The first of these was Grumman G-73 Mallard, G-ASCS owned by Denis Ferranti Co Ltd.. The aircraft arrived on the final leg of delivery from Prestwick on 7th September, departing for Valley three weeks later on 28th. On 6th October it was back from Manchester, leaving for Valley on 9th. A week later on 16th October it returned from Manchester and left for Valley on 18th. On 28th November it arrived from Valley and stayed at Liverpool until 18th December, with the final visit of year being from Valley on 23rd, returning to Valley on 28th.
1963
Mallard G-ASCS continued to use Liverpool frequently throughout 1963. First visit of the year, on 23rd March brought G-ASCS in from Glasgow to night stop before a return visit to Ronaldsway/Isle of Man on 24th, then outbound to Valley on 25th. On arrival on 31st May it arrived from a water departure off the Menai Straits (The Ferranti family had a water-edge factory not far from Caernarfon). There were many more visits during the remainder of the year too.
1964
Ferranti's Mallard G-ASCS continued to visit regularly throughout the year.
1965
This was to be the last year that Mallard G-ASCS used Liverpool, although it remained registered to Ferranti until 31.7.67 and was subsequently cancelled as sold in Canada 13.4.69.
1965 was also the first year that the other very regular visiting twin engined amphibian arrived, this one Grumman G-21c Goose, G-ASXG was officially registered to George Ridley, Treasurer to the Assets of the Grosvenor Estates - although usually refered to as simply the Grosvenor Estates aircraft. First appearance was from Heathrow on 20th March, leaving for Northolt the following day. Very often the aircraft called routing between Hawarden and Dublin, for example a day return on 10th and 16th June and outbound on 7th July, return routing the following day etc etc.
Final amphibian for 1965 was a new general aviation 4 seater type, a single-engined design, with the engine mounted on a pylon above and behind the cockpit with a pusher-prop. Lake LA-4 Skimmer, EI-ANR appeared on 13th April, arriving from Biggin Hill and departed later for Dublin, having initially diverted in en route.
On a slightly different tack, Westland Whirlwind helicopter G-AOCZ operated by Plesseys was at Liverpool Airport on 14th April, from Leeds and night stopped before departure for Cambridge fitted with very large floats. It is possible that other helicopters, especially Bell 47s visited during this period fitted with large floats, but no record was kept at the time - unless a photo was taken. Next recorded float equipped helicopter is in 2004.
1966
Grumman Goose G-ASXG continued to visit regularly throughout 1966. Lake LA-4 Skimmer, EI-ANR visited on 17th May, again routing inbound from Biggin Hill and onward to Dublin, having again initially diverted in en route.
1967
Having continued to visit regularly for much of the year, during late 1967 Grumman Goose G-ASXG was sent for conversion to a McKinnon Turbo-Goose, with PT-6A turbine engines replacing the large radials previously fitted.
1968
The first visit of G-ASXG as a Turbo Super Goose was not until 26th July routing from Dublin to Hawarden. Further visits during the year are known on 28th October from Hawarden to Lough Erne, on 28th November from Northolt having diverted in, continued on to its intended destination, Hawarden the next day and finally on 7th December a day return Hawarden-Liverpool-Dublin-Liverpool-Hawarden.
1969
Fewer visits noted in the logs for 1969 by Turbo Goose G-ASXG. On 22nd February from and to Hawarden, while on 2nd April and 10th August from Hawarden, to Dublin and return later in the day.
The Seventies
Just three different aircraft to report in this decade to cover.
1970
This is the final year that Turbo Goose, G-ASXG was to be seen at Liverpool. First visit of the year was not until 25th April when it routed the familar Hawarden-Liverpool-Dublin-Liverpool-Hawarden day-return routing, which was also followed on 31st May. Next visit noted in the logs was on 9th August from Dublin to Hawarden. The final visit of the year was from Northolt on 26th November on weather diversion from its intended destination of Hawarden. A landing accident on runway 08 occurred when an oleo folded. Taken into No.1 for inspection, the Turbo-Goose departed for Hawarden on 28th November (thanks to Graham's posts # 12 & 14 for alerting me to this incident). This was to be the last visit by the aircraft to Liverpool. G-ASXG remained on the British register until cancelled on 6.9.73 as 'sold in Canada'.
A new type to first visit in 1970 was the twin seater Thurston Teal. Similar in layout to the Lake Skimmer and likewise has only appeared in fairly limited numbers on the British register. G-AXZN, actually technically a Schweizer TSC-1A1 Teal newly registered to an owner in Chicester landed at Liverpool on 14th August. At the time noted as arriving from Hawarden (EGNR), I fancy it may actually arrived from irs Chicester (EGHR) base - at that time landings records were all hand written. Regardless of where it arrived from, the next day, 15th, it made a day return flight to Abersoch, was hangared in No.1 hangar (photo in 'Flypast' shows this) and on 17th departed home for Chichester.
1971
The Thurston Teal, G-AXZN returned to Liverpool on 19th August from Black Bourton, Oxfordshire (immediately adjacent to RAF Brize Norton), departing on 21st destined for Brize Norton. A second visit later in the year brought the aircraft in from the Solway Firth late on 30 September, and was hangared until departure on 4th October for Chichester. (Entry updated with information from reply #15).
1972
The same Thurston Teal, G-AXZN making what appears to be an annual late summer visit to Liverpool returned again in 1972. This time on 15th September from Chicester, returning there on 20th. The aircraft was cancelled as destroyed on 15th January 1973, so was not to visit again.
1975
Ten years after the type first visited Liverpool, an upgraded version of the Lake Skimmer, the Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer called on 16th April. G-BBGK appeared at Liverpool en route from Elstree to Glasgow and my research shows that it was almost certainly on a delivery flight from a London based owner to a new Glasgow based one.
1976
Lake Buccaneer, G-BBGK returned on Saturday 24th April, this time from Glasgow and onward to Blackpool. G-BBGK became G-PARK in 6.82 and moved to Irish registry 5.87.
The Eighties, Nineties & Noughties
To bring the account upto date it continues on entry #4 below following illustrations and comment.
Amphibious aircraft have always held a fascination, due in part to their flexibility in landing on land and water and in part due to their stepped-boat hull and wing-tip floats incorporated into the aeroplane shape. Over the years a variety of types have called, large and small, old and new. I've enjoyed putting together this article due to this variety, and I've uncovered some interesting aircraft visits.
After some thought I have organised these in choronogical order of visit rather than grouped together by type. I hope it makes interesting reading.
Although not at Speke, an illustration of Short Sealand demonstrator G-AIVX.
The Fifties
Thanks to Phil Butler's research into the landing records of this period, he has come up with several visits, however there may well have been a few others undiscovered during the early part of the decade. It is considered likely by PHB that the Sealand demonstrator G-AIVX made certainly made further visits.
1950
On the 9th October Short S.6 Sealand G-AIVX, their demonstrator and company transport called, arriving from Leavesden, departing to Sydenham (now Belfast City Airport) the factory airfield operated by Short Bros. The Short Sealand was a twin engined, high wing, 6 seater cabin amphibian, an arrangement similar in appearance to the Grumman designs such as the Goose or Widgeon. The Sealand though was powered by two Gipsy Queen 70 inverted inline piston engines. See type entry on www.wikipedia.com for a photo of G-AIVX at Stretton, 1953.
1952
On 12th February a further Short Sealand, this one destined as a luxury 'flying yacht' for an export customer, SU-AHY called routing from Sydenham, and departed for Croydon on the initial legs of its delivery flight across Europe. This aircraft was formerly G-AKLW and is currently the basis of a prolonged rebuild (away from public view) at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Holywood (east of Belfast). www.nmni.com Other Sealands survive in museums in India and Belgrade!
1954
Short Sealand G-AIVX called again on 1st August. While the point of origin is unknown, it left for its Sydenham home. The civil registration was cancelled 3.55.
1955
The Chairman of Monsanto Chemicals arrived on their 'executive transport' Consolidated Canso, N5804N. On 13th July the Canso (Catalina) arrived from Edinburgh/Turnhouse and departed for the next day on a very short hop across to Hooton Park. It is thought that Monsanto Chemicals had business at Stanlow Refinery. This was a long, long time before the name Monsanto became inextricably linked with GM food development.
The aircraft later became N19Q and under the ownership of actor James Stewart came to grief off Monte Carlo whilst landing on the sea on sank en route from Marseille to Malaga 8.72.
1958
I-GULL a Piaggio P.136 Gull landed on the River Mersey and used the Yacht Club slipway adjacent to Speke Airport. The Gull was a twin-engined, pusher-prop, 5-seat cockpit monoplane with a high cranked wing, a general layout repeated their later P.166 cabin landplane. See type entry on: www.wikipedia.com
P.136 I-GULL visited Manchester Airport, 11 to 13th March 1958 and surveyed the Lake District, Dee and Mersey during its stay. The water landing on the Mersey taking place on the 12th March.
Although on the wrong side of the boundary fence, this interesting aircraft is the only recorded amphibious landing on the River Mersey post 1950 - although one other has briefly touched down (see 1986 entry on post #4 & photos post #3).
The Sixties
The Sixties provide the busiest decade in terms of types, visits and number of different aircraft involved.
1962
Two Grumman amphibians were owned by North West and North Wales resident owners, spending time at Liverpool. The first of these was Grumman G-73 Mallard, G-ASCS owned by Denis Ferranti Co Ltd.. The aircraft arrived on the final leg of delivery from Prestwick on 7th September, departing for Valley three weeks later on 28th. On 6th October it was back from Manchester, leaving for Valley on 9th. A week later on 16th October it returned from Manchester and left for Valley on 18th. On 28th November it arrived from Valley and stayed at Liverpool until 18th December, with the final visit of year being from Valley on 23rd, returning to Valley on 28th.
1963
Mallard G-ASCS continued to use Liverpool frequently throughout 1963. First visit of the year, on 23rd March brought G-ASCS in from Glasgow to night stop before a return visit to Ronaldsway/Isle of Man on 24th, then outbound to Valley on 25th. On arrival on 31st May it arrived from a water departure off the Menai Straits (The Ferranti family had a water-edge factory not far from Caernarfon). There were many more visits during the remainder of the year too.
1964
Ferranti's Mallard G-ASCS continued to visit regularly throughout the year.
1965
This was to be the last year that Mallard G-ASCS used Liverpool, although it remained registered to Ferranti until 31.7.67 and was subsequently cancelled as sold in Canada 13.4.69.
1965 was also the first year that the other very regular visiting twin engined amphibian arrived, this one Grumman G-21c Goose, G-ASXG was officially registered to George Ridley, Treasurer to the Assets of the Grosvenor Estates - although usually refered to as simply the Grosvenor Estates aircraft. First appearance was from Heathrow on 20th March, leaving for Northolt the following day. Very often the aircraft called routing between Hawarden and Dublin, for example a day return on 10th and 16th June and outbound on 7th July, return routing the following day etc etc.
Final amphibian for 1965 was a new general aviation 4 seater type, a single-engined design, with the engine mounted on a pylon above and behind the cockpit with a pusher-prop. Lake LA-4 Skimmer, EI-ANR appeared on 13th April, arriving from Biggin Hill and departed later for Dublin, having initially diverted in en route.
On a slightly different tack, Westland Whirlwind helicopter G-AOCZ operated by Plesseys was at Liverpool Airport on 14th April, from Leeds and night stopped before departure for Cambridge fitted with very large floats. It is possible that other helicopters, especially Bell 47s visited during this period fitted with large floats, but no record was kept at the time - unless a photo was taken. Next recorded float equipped helicopter is in 2004.
1966
Grumman Goose G-ASXG continued to visit regularly throughout 1966. Lake LA-4 Skimmer, EI-ANR visited on 17th May, again routing inbound from Biggin Hill and onward to Dublin, having again initially diverted in en route.
1967
Having continued to visit regularly for much of the year, during late 1967 Grumman Goose G-ASXG was sent for conversion to a McKinnon Turbo-Goose, with PT-6A turbine engines replacing the large radials previously fitted.
1968
The first visit of G-ASXG as a Turbo Super Goose was not until 26th July routing from Dublin to Hawarden. Further visits during the year are known on 28th October from Hawarden to Lough Erne, on 28th November from Northolt having diverted in, continued on to its intended destination, Hawarden the next day and finally on 7th December a day return Hawarden-Liverpool-Dublin-Liverpool-Hawarden.
1969
Fewer visits noted in the logs for 1969 by Turbo Goose G-ASXG. On 22nd February from and to Hawarden, while on 2nd April and 10th August from Hawarden, to Dublin and return later in the day.
The Seventies
Just three different aircraft to report in this decade to cover.
1970
This is the final year that Turbo Goose, G-ASXG was to be seen at Liverpool. First visit of the year was not until 25th April when it routed the familar Hawarden-Liverpool-Dublin-Liverpool-Hawarden day-return routing, which was also followed on 31st May. Next visit noted in the logs was on 9th August from Dublin to Hawarden. The final visit of the year was from Northolt on 26th November on weather diversion from its intended destination of Hawarden. A landing accident on runway 08 occurred when an oleo folded. Taken into No.1 for inspection, the Turbo-Goose departed for Hawarden on 28th November (thanks to Graham's posts # 12 & 14 for alerting me to this incident). This was to be the last visit by the aircraft to Liverpool. G-ASXG remained on the British register until cancelled on 6.9.73 as 'sold in Canada'.
A new type to first visit in 1970 was the twin seater Thurston Teal. Similar in layout to the Lake Skimmer and likewise has only appeared in fairly limited numbers on the British register. G-AXZN, actually technically a Schweizer TSC-1A1 Teal newly registered to an owner in Chicester landed at Liverpool on 14th August. At the time noted as arriving from Hawarden (EGNR), I fancy it may actually arrived from irs Chicester (EGHR) base - at that time landings records were all hand written. Regardless of where it arrived from, the next day, 15th, it made a day return flight to Abersoch, was hangared in No.1 hangar (photo in 'Flypast' shows this) and on 17th departed home for Chichester.
1971
The Thurston Teal, G-AXZN returned to Liverpool on 19th August from Black Bourton, Oxfordshire (immediately adjacent to RAF Brize Norton), departing on 21st destined for Brize Norton. A second visit later in the year brought the aircraft in from the Solway Firth late on 30 September, and was hangared until departure on 4th October for Chichester. (Entry updated with information from reply #15).
1972
The same Thurston Teal, G-AXZN making what appears to be an annual late summer visit to Liverpool returned again in 1972. This time on 15th September from Chicester, returning there on 20th. The aircraft was cancelled as destroyed on 15th January 1973, so was not to visit again.
1975
Ten years after the type first visited Liverpool, an upgraded version of the Lake Skimmer, the Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer called on 16th April. G-BBGK appeared at Liverpool en route from Elstree to Glasgow and my research shows that it was almost certainly on a delivery flight from a London based owner to a new Glasgow based one.
1976
Lake Buccaneer, G-BBGK returned on Saturday 24th April, this time from Glasgow and onward to Blackpool. G-BBGK became G-PARK in 6.82 and moved to Irish registry 5.87.
The Eighties, Nineties & Noughties
To bring the account upto date it continues on entry #4 below following illustrations and comment.
