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Post by viscount on Jul 27, 2011 14:47:11 GMT 1
LIVERPOOL FLYING CLUBS IN THE FIFTIES -
INTRODUCTION There are a group of Liverpool based aviation companies which need to be covered, about which I have to admit I knew little, apart from disjointed snippits, as they operated at a time before aviation enthusiast recording was widespread. Although some information may be sketchy, it is well worth recording what is known, as these organisations set the post-war foundations for subsequent flying training clubs at Liverpool. Indeed it was the eventual demise of these early flying schools that permitted Jim Keen’s ‘Liverpool Aero Club’ the opportunity to commence operations in 1963 and become so firmly established that the company is now, by some margin, the oldest flying school operating from Liverpool today. I am greatly indebted to Phil Butler, Cedric Flood and Bernie MacKenzie for their help and input. Even knowing the correct name to use for each evolution of the early Flying Schools was fraught, with various sources using different names, or older names after they had been replaced. If anyone knows more than stated here, do let me know so I can update and correct information about an important period of local aviation that I’ve just learned a lot about! ISOC – In service on company closure ISOF - In service on formation of the company ISOT – In service when company taken-over and moved away from Liverpool Approximate dates are shown as month and year, actual event dates are given in full. |
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Post by viscount on Jul 27, 2011 14:48:37 GMT 1
WRIGHT AVIATION/WIRRAL AERO & GLIDING CLUB
WRIGHT AVIATION'S - LIVERPOOL FLYING CLUB
1949-1953 BackgroundAlthough the existence of Aero Club activity can be traced back pre-War, to the ‘Liverpool and District Aero Club’, formed in 1928 and based at Speke from 1934, clearly civilian operations in the UK ceased to exist during the war years 1939-1945. Post War, there was an attempt to revive the Liverpool and District Aero Club in 1946, however there is no evidence that they ever managed to restart operations. It would be 1949 before a new aero club would operate from Speke. Immediately post War, there was initially a surplus of trained pilots leaving the military, many finding employment with small airlines, while some joined the Voluntary Reserve or Auxiliary Air Force, yet others found whatever income they could from flying at weekends. The earliest post war flying clubs at Liverpool were a part of small airline operations, the flying club aircraft were much occupied with pleasure flying work, air-taxi charter flights for the parent airline and small military contracts such as acting as radar targets for Territorial Army anti-aircraft units, rather than flying training. Wright Aviation was established in 1946, initially at Hooton Park, and shared its aircraft with the Wirral Aero & Gliding Club. Sqdn. Ldr. Gordon C. Wright, being not only founder and director of Wright Aviation, but also Chairman and CFI of WA&GC. Gordon Wright was a busy man as he was at the time also Chief Pilot for Liverpool airline, Skytravel 1946-1947. A fleet of 5 Auster aircraft were soon built up during the first year of operation at Hooton Park, although one was subsequently lost during 1948. Move to Liverpool, Speke Late in 1949, Wright Aviation assisted in the formation of ‘Liverpool Flying Club’ at Speke. Sqdn. Ldr. ‘Wilbur’ Wright becoming Chairman of the Club, with Capt. G. Ford, formerly assistant manager of the B.E.A. Helicopter Unit, as CFI and General Manager. The official opening of the Flying Club took place on 5th November 1949, with Wright’s Austers forming the basis of the Club’s fleet. Initially the fleet was split between Speke and Hooton Park, however in April 1950, Wright’s operations at Hooton Park were closed down as military activity there increased. To the fleet of Austers; 3 Hawk Trainers were added in 1950 and 1951, then a Miles Gemini twin in 1952 for air-taxi work. The Hawk Trainers were used under an Air Ministry contract to provide Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force scholarship winners, with flying training through to PPL standard. The contract specified either Hawk Trainers or Tiger Moths as the aircraft type to be employed. In August 1951 the Liverpool Flying Club (that is the Liverpool Daily Post wording) played a major part in the 'Liverpool Festival' regatta and air display off Otterspool Prom, with formation flying featuring 4 Austers a Magister and Tiger Moth. The Tiger Moth then being put through a 'breath-taking' aerobatic routine flown by Sqdn Ldr G.C.Wright, Chief Instructor of the Club. The display ended with a "learning to fly" display and bombing of a launch by balloons from Liverpool's Flying Club aircraft. The Club was known for its friendly character, and attracted several members of the motor trade as members, Stanley Reece owned the Ford agency, Blakes on Leece St, and Jack Auty, Merton Motors of Wallasey. As a result exotic motor cars were often parked outside the club and the Liverpool Motor Club used to hold competitions on the taxiways outside the club. There was an interest in racing too, Reece and Auty participated in the Monte Carlo Rally, while ‘Wilbur’ Wright flew a Hawk Trainer in an all red scheme in the King’s Cup Air Races. The Flying School’s fleet colours were cream overall, with red registration and cheat-line, the company name expressed as ‘Wright Avn - School of Flying’ on the engine cowling. Wright's operations were obviously in trouble during summer 1953. Considerable sums of money (rumoured to be £5000) were borrowed as a debenture from one of the club members, Donald Tod (of shipping family). In late '53 the debenture was called in, 'Wilbur' Wright couldn't pay and a court hearing in November 1953 decided the fate of the company and Wright's was placed into receivership. Donald Tod was already a director of Dragon with Guinane and Harold Bamberg. Very quickly, by January '54 Dragon was well established at Liverpool. For a little more about Wright Aviation’s passenger and Dragon Rapide activity, cross reference with: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history&action=display&thread=3394 Initial post; for Skytravel post #7FLEET LIST (ISOC 12.53)
G-AIBZ J/1 Autocrat 10.46 ISOC
G-AIGP J/1 Autocrat 11.46 ISOC
G-AIKB Auster 5 01.47 26.03.48 when crashed and w/o near Ruabon, Wrexham
G-AIGV J/1 Autocrat 05.47 11.51 when sold to locally to E.Francis of Chester, later to TF-ACC 9.55
G-AIPH Auster J/4 06.47 ISOC
G-AIZL Hawk Trainer 3 31.05.49 ISOC
G-AGVI J/1 Autocrat 08.50 ISOC initially owned by Jack Auty of Wallasey, to Wrights ownership c.6.53
G-ALOG Hawk Trainer 3 25.08.50 ISOC
G-AKRM Hawk Trainer 3 11.51 08.04.53 when crashed and w/o near Chester, was registered to Stanley Reece
G-AKEM M.65 Gemini 1A 03.52 ISOC
G-AHAK Taylorcraft Plus D 08.53 ISOC arrived by road dismantled, never flew with LFC.
Probably acquired .52, two Hawk Trainer aircraft from Herts & Essex Aero Club for spares recovery:
G-AKNA (in silver with green regn) and unconverted V1028/G-AKMY. Quite likely to Fire Service end .53
.
Also during this period Wright's operated two Dragon Rapides, G-AHPT (5.52 ISOC) & G-AIBB (briefly during 1953). ASSOCIATED AIRCRAFT
G-AIAA P.44 Proctor 5 03.48 owned by T.Wayman-Hales, initially at Hooton & later Speke
G-AJUZ J/1 Autocrat throughout 1950, owned by Margaret Kelly and used by LFC at times
G-AHDD Tiger Moth Owned by Chipperfield’s and followed the Circus around the country,
used by Wright on occasions.
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Post by viscount on Jul 27, 2011 14:49:49 GMT 1
DRAGON AIRWAYS & LIVERPOOL FLYING CLUB
1954 - 1955 In January 1954 the operation of ‘Liverpool Flying School’, with its mixed fleet of Austers, Hawk Trainers and single Gemini was transferred to Dragon Airways on their expansion and move into Liverpool Speke Airport from Pwllheli. The aero club reformed as ‘Liverpool Flying Club’, although alternatively still known as ‘Liverpool School of Flying’. The aircraft appear to have been not only available to members, but also used by the parent airline for public pleasure flights, air-taxi work and for Territorial Army co-operation contracts. Maurice Guinane was in charge of Dragon's Liverpool operations. Eric Minshaw, who had been an instructor with Wright's became the CFI with Dragon. He left during 1955 and 'Dickie' Holmes became CFI until departing with Dragon when they transferred to Newcastle. Dragon Airways repainted the Flying Club fleet in their fleet colours of dark blue fuselage with white top and registration and silver wings. It would appear that Dragon Airways did not add to the Club fleet during the two years they were in control, indeed the Hawk Trainers were retired from service. During 1954 the Royal Artillery Aero Club’s Auster Alpha G-AJAE arrived at Speke and operated with LFC on behalf of the RAAC’s northern members, of whom there were many also flying with the locally-based Auxiliary AOP units at Hooton Park and Ringway. The RAAC subsidised their members’ civilian flying to help keep them in flying practice. The Liverpool Flying Club under ownership of Dragon Airways continued to use Hangar 34 and the hangar annex, with the former Civil Air Guard wooden building as a clubhouse, as had Wright’s Liverpool Flying School. As an aside, No.34 was the one constructed for the ‘Liverpool and District Aero Club’ in 1934, and was used during WW2 as the maintenance base for the Associated Airways Joint Committee/Railway Air Services. The original L&DAC clubhouse though, was never used by the Aero Clubs post-war as it was used by ‘the Ministry’, possibly for telecoms and radar maintenance. In 1955 Dragon Airways was purchased by Hunting Clan, who moved Dragon Airways’s operating base to Newcastle, effectively from 1st November. All bar one of the fleet (Plus D G-AHAK remained behind in Hangar 39) being transferred with Dragon to Newcastle, although it seems they did not fit in with Hunting Clan's plans, as by February 1956 the Flying Club operation was sold to John Green, along with most of the surviving Austers. As a cross reference, there is more on Dragon Airways passenger operations on: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history&actiondisplay&thread=3394 entry #1 FLEET LIST (ISOF 1.54 to ISOT 11.55)
G-AIBZ J/1 Autocrat ISOF ISOT Loaned to Giro Avn at Hesketh Park, Bank Holiday weekends
To Don Everall Avn at Wolverhampton 2.56
G-AIGP J/1 Autocrat ISOF ISOT then retained by Dragon at Newcastle and later sold 2.57
G-AIPH Auster J/4 ISOF ISOT
G-AGVI J/1 Autocrat ISOF ISOT
G-ALOG Hawk Trainer 3 ISOF 29.07.55 when crashed and w/o at Speke Airport
G-AIZL Hawk Trainer 3 ISOF wfu at Liverpool and scrapped during 1955
G-AKEM M.65 Gemini 1A ISOF ISOT then retained by Dragon at Newcastle, later sold 2.57
G-AHAK Taylorcraft Plus D ISOF ISOT Rebuilt during spring ’54. Stayed at Speke when Dragon moved out.
G-AJAE J/1N Alpha by 7.54 ISOT operated on behalf of the Royal Artillery Aero Club
.
Also, while based at Liverpool parent company, Dragon Airways operated Dragon Rapides G-AHPT & G-AKOB
and DH.114 Herons G-ANCI & G-ANYJ.
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Post by viscount on Jul 27, 2011 14:50:36 GMT 1
MERSEYSIDE & NORTH WALES FLYING CLUB
MERSEYSIDE & NORTH WALES FLYING GROUP
1956 - 1962 With the sudden departure of Dragon Airways’s Liverpool Flying Club aircraft, there was no flying school at Liverpool, leaving the field clear for an entrepreneur to fill the gap. By February 1956 John ‘Jack’ Green, a former Flying Club member, had purchased a number of the former LFC aircraft from Dragon and founded the ‘Merseyside & North Wales Flying Club’, although it would appear that the former name remained in circulation for some time after. The grand title was devised to attract a wider clientele than just from Liverpool, although all flying was conducted from Speke Airport. The initial equipment was the 3 Austers and a Plus D acquired from Dragon Airways. The new owner set about an expansion programme, and establishing a new image. Initially the cold, dark Hangar 39 was used for a few weeks, before moving across into Hangar 50, to be joined later by Federated Fruit Company’s aircraft. The Austers and Plus D were repainted in new fleet colours, with red fuselage with white top to the fuselage and wings and registration, ‘AK was first as it was still at Liverpool, then ‘AE and ‘PH. ‘GV was brought back from Newcastle by Ronnie Ogden, a Dragon engineer, who then went on to work for M&NWFC for a while before moving to Starways. The new Club continued to operate an Auster for the Royal Artillery Aero Club, this too acquired the fleet red and white scheme, but with the RA crest on the tail. By now the contracts that sustained earlier flying clubs operations – pleasure flying, air-taxi work, RAF Flying Scholarships and Territorial Army contracts had largely ended, the emphasis changing to private pilot training and leisure flying, but retaining a ‘club’ aspect to the operation. For some time, the staff were the owner, Jack Green as CFI; with Cedric Flood as engineer (and also a QFI); along with a part-time bar-man! This change of emphasis, with a new generation of would-be pilots requiring training, saw the addition of a Tiger Moth for training, and a Proctor for touring. The Tiger Moths were silver overall, while Proctor ‘PP retained a two-tone green scheme. The first of the Tiger Moths was purchased from the RAF for £75 by John Jones for Club operation, and once it had a civilian C of A, was collected from Thruxton via Staverton by Cedric Flood on 1st May 1956. During the May 1956 Liverpool Air Display, Tiger Moth G-AOHC was loaned to dare-devil stunt man Aleksie Dragoljub, who as part of his ‘performance’ hung from the aircraft solely by his teeth. The M&NWFC provided the closing ‘act’, with a formation routine using three Austers G-AHAK, G-AIPH and G-AJAE. However, not all progressed smoothly for the company. Tiger Moth G-AOHC was landed in a field near the owner’s Holywell home, subsequently in ‘an argument with a hedge’ was written off on 26th May 1956, although was soon replaced by G-ANSX, collected from Knapton’s Farm near Oxford via Kidlington on 26th June 1956 and described by Cedric as a ‘beauty’. The Taylorcraft Plus D crash landed into the Fire Service’s hangar, just inside the airport boundary mid-evening of 16th June 1957 following take-off from 36. Sometime in 1958 Tiger Moth G-ANSX was damaged when turned over by a student at Speke. Rather than rebuilding, it was sold as a rebuild project and ended up on the Dutch register. By this time, another Tiger Moth had been purchased and delivered to Liverpool from Sherburn-in-Elmett on 5th September 1957. G-ANSA was unusual in that it had a glass cockpit canopy over both seats and spatted undercarriage. Tragically the Club founder and owner, Jack Green, was killed on 30th May 1958 when out over the River abeam the Airport, on a very still and misty day - a classic 'glassy water' accident. It is thought he drowned having hit his head on the unusual glass cockpit cover modification on 'SA. Continuation of Club activities for some time was uncertain, however operation was taken over by Herbert ‘Bert’ Green as Trustee of the Assets and the name amended to ‘Merseyside & North Wales Flying Group’. The operation of Auster G-AJAE on behalf of the Royal Artillery Aero Club concluded summer 1958, the aircraft being based elsewhere by the owners. After a period of declining activity, first the Proctor and then the final two Austers were sold, although another Tiger Moth, G-ANEE, was acquired in 1960 by Bert Green and Ron Oldham. However the company never really recovered from losing the enthusiasm of its founder, and in May 1962 this final aircraft too was sold and the operation effectively closed down, with no successor until Jim Keen and his Liverpool Aero Club the following summer. FLEET LIST (ISOF 2.56)
G-AIPH Auster J/4 ISOF 03.10.59 when delivered to a new owner at Blackpool
G-AHAK Taylorcraft Plus D ISOF 16.06.57 when crashed in Garston and w/o following take-off from Speke
G-AJAE J/1N Alpha ISOF mid 1958 when moved away to a new base by owners, Royal Artillery Aero Club
G-AGVI J/1 Autocrat ISOF early 1960 when delivered to Blackpool
G-AOHC Tiger Moth 01.05.56 26.05.56 when crashed and w/o at Holywell, owned by John Jones of Holywell
G-ANSX Tiger Moth 26.06.56 02.06.58 when overturned Speke, owned by John Jones of Holywell. Damaged, sold, to PH-NIS 7.58
G-ANPP P.34 Proctor 3 05.06.57 mid ’58 when delivered by road to a new owner in Blackpool
G-ANSA Tiger Moth Coupe 05.09.57 30.05.58 when fatally crashed into the River Mersey, destroyed
G-ANEE Tiger Moth 23.07.60 10.05.62 when delivered to Sywell, later became EI-ANN
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Post by viscount on Apr 29, 2012 12:59:05 GMT 1
Came across this Auster photo while searching through a box of b&ws once kept by MAS Flypast editors in the mid '80s. Presumably a Phil Butler shot, this was a tiny contact print along with a piture of Danish KZ, both clearly at Speke. Auster J/1N Alpha G-AJAE was owned by the Royal Artillery Flying Club, and was based at Liverpool on behalf of their members and operated with the Liverpool Flying Club and Merseyside & North Wales Flying Club in the period mid 1954 to mid 1958. The flag on the tail is that of the Royal Artillery. Do any of our older readers have pictures of other flying club aircraft covered on this thread in order to illustrate it further?  As this thread covers flying activity at Liverpool before the MGAE/MSAE/MAS recorded day to day activity at Liverpool, in compiling the above histories I was greatly helped by Phil Butler and Credic Flood. At the time Cedric was compiling a book about his life in aviation, much of it at Liverpool with the flying clubs, Federated Fruit and Cambrian Airways. The book is now finished, published and on sale. Anyone with an interest in aviation at Liverpool in the 50s to 70s and beyond, should be very interested in reading of Cedric's experiences flying from Liverpool. His book, published in March 2012, is described in the publisher's blurb as: A Pilot's Perspective
ISBN 1-84683-130-X
Cover price £9.95, and with an Optional book protector +£0.60. Postage & packing, add £1.80.
by Cedric Flood
A former airline captain's reflections on a lifetime of commercial and private flying 1950-2012 In this entertaining memoir, veteran Liverpudlian pilot Cedric Flood looks back on an aviation career spanning more than half a century, dating back to 1950 when, as a 13-year-old schoolboy, he donned a set of overalls and began working as a voluntary helper to the aircraft engineer at his local flying club, based at Liverpool’s Speke airfield. It was to mark the start of a lifetime in aviation which would see Cedric become first an aircraft engineer, then a pilot, then an airline captain for Cambrian Airways and British Airways. Cedric flew a variety of aircraft types, beginning with the propeller powered Tiger Moth, Rapide and Dakota before graduating to passenger jets such as the Viscount and BAC 1-11. His memories of working on and subsequently flying these and other now historic aircraft will be of great interest to aviation buffs and fellow pilots, who will appreciate his knowledgeable and detailed commentary, although you don’t need to be an aviation expert in order to enjoy his many stories of hair-raising events, narrow escapes and humorous incidents in the air or his recollections of the many colourful aeronautical characters with whom he came into contact in the course of his long and eventful career. In the final chapter he describes his recreational activities since retirement, which have included building his own light aircraft and flying from Speke, where his aviation career began. Given the length and breadth of his experience, this book is also an informal history of aviation itself over the last 50 years, during which time it has changed beyond recognition, in much the same way that Liverpool’s Speke airport has evolved from provincial airfield it was when he first began working there to the busy international airport it is today. Purchase is available direct from: www.woodfieldpublishing.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p370_A_Pilots_Perspective_by_Cedric_Flood.htmlAs I gain nothing from this sales plug, being for information only, I hope the webmaster doesn't mind.  Added belatedly by NWAN Forum Admin. |
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Post by cbfkoh37 on May 1, 2012 9:03:29 GMT 1
Thanks, Viscount ! Cheque's in the post !! Nice picture of AE which I've never seen before. Looks like AK in the background.
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Post by maverick on May 1, 2012 9:32:55 GMT 1
Just to note that I tried to purchase Cedric Flood's book through Amazon as directed by Woodfield publishing - been on order since early March - but this morning received the following - We regret to inform you that we have been unable to source the following item: Cedric Flood "A Pilot's Perspective: A Former Airline Captain's Reflections on a Lifetime of Flying 1950-2012" www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/184683130XOur supplier has informed us that this item is no longer available. This item has now been cancelled from your order #202-5076660-7468336 and we can confirm that you have not been charged for it. Has anyone else had a problem getting it? |
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Post by cbfkoh37 on May 1, 2012 9:44:14 GMT 1
Re my book. Amazon is confusing, but they now seem to have modified their information and just direct you to Woodfield. Easiest (and cheapest, as Amazon charge extra postage) is to buy direct from Woodfield as Viscount says. www.woodfieldpublishing.co.uk Hope you enjoy it. Cedric Flood. |
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Post by viscount on May 10, 2012 14:33:16 GMT 1
I ordered Cedric Flood's book "A Pilot's Perspective" direct from the publishers on Sunday 29th April as an e-purchase, along with several other books.
The package arrived on Thursday 10th May, so 12 days from ordering. The receipt enclosed does apologise for a delay in shipping the order, so maybe they are usually faster. A quick 'spot read' of some of the pages looks interesting. So, ordering via Woodhead publishing clearly does work.
Although these last few posts relate to purchasing the book in 2012, if you are reading this thread and find aviation in the '50s interesting, then you will certainly be fascinated by Cedric's book, an excellent read and well worth the trouble of finding.
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Post by viscount on May 14, 2012 12:01:01 GMT 1
Cedric Flood has provided a great number of images, some very small, of Flying Club aircraft from the 50s. A few have been used in his book (for anyone with an interest in the '50s to '70s at Liverpool Airport and light aircraft flying, this book is a great read). This is a selection of shots illustrating a number of aircraft covered in the posts above. I trust I have the photos credited correctly. As some aircraft appear in more than one colour scheme, as a very rough guide: 1949-1953 Wright's Liverpool Flying school: cream overall, red regn & cheat line 1954-1955 Dragon's Liverpool Flying Club: dark blue, white top and wings, silver wings 1956-1962 M'side & N.Wales Flying Group/Club: red fuselage, white top and registration on the Austers, no corporate scheme on Proctor or Tiger Moths. Line up of aircraft outside the clubhouse, with No.50 hangar behind, sometime 1954-1955 judging by the colour schemes on Austers G-AIPH, G-AIBZ, Hawk Trainer 3 G-ALOG, with Dragon Rapides G-AHPT and G-AKOB behind.  Taylorcraft Plus D G-AHAK   Auster G-AIBZ. Upper shot, apparently in silver does not fit with either of the 'corporate' schemes, maybe on acquisition as the scheme is a basic Auster factory scheme. Certainly not at Liverpool Speke either.   Auster G-AIGP  Auster J/1 Autocrat G-AGVI  Auster G-AIPH served the longest, being operated by all three Clubs 1947 to 1959. The first photo must be circa late 1949/early 1950 while Wright's were based at both Hooton Park and Speke, judging by the logo on the nose.    Miles Gemini G-AKEM, which appears to be in three different schemes: silver (with a small logo on the rudder), Wright's cream, and Dragon's blue (the nose-on shot)    Hawk Trainer G-AKRM, at Speke 11.51 to 4.53. Did not appear in 'corporate' scheme colours, but wore red overall 'racing' colours for the King's Cup Races.  Hawk Trainer G-ALOG in both cream and blue schemes.   Another shot inside the hangar, possibly at the time of colour scheme change as neither aircraft has a registration applied to the fuselage! Wings could be Auster G-AIGP.  Proctor G-ANPP with Merseyside & North Wales 6.56 to mid '57   Tiger Moth G-ANSA with it's non-standard enclosed cockpit conversion. A contributory cause to the death of the owner when the aircraft crashed into the River Mersey 30th May 1958. The copy Phil Butler provided me was partly cropped, this image is the same shot but copied from the pages of "Rapide" magazine 2005.  The fine photo of standard Tiger Moth G-ANSX while at Speke with Merseyside and North Wales June 1956 to Spring 1958.  John Jones's short lived Tiger Moth G-AOHC, flying with Merseyside and North Wales Flying Club for just one month, May 1956.  |
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Post by greenspirit on Aug 12, 2012 18:21:19 GMT 1
Greetings All,
I wanted to reply to this thread because Herbert Green "Bert" was my father and John Green "Jack" was my uncle, they where both brothers, and proud to learn that they are part of Liverpool's History.
Jennifer
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Post by viscount on Aug 12, 2012 22:36:50 GMT 1
Welcome 'Greenspirit' to our aviation forum.
Jennifer, when I write about aviation, aircraft and operators, it is very easy to overlook the dedication and effort put in by those who work in aviation. I am delighted to hear that in the process of recording Liverpool Airport based operators, I have been able to include information of your uncle's and your father's considerable local contribution. A reminder to us all, that it is people that make aviation work, and they have families too.
I presume that you have read Cedric Flood's book with many references to your uncle's Flying Club before his untimely early death doing the job he loved.
Brian.
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350biker
New Member
Retired Refinery Safety Engineer
Posts: 20
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Post by 350biker on Aug 13, 2012 16:45:20 GMT 1
I found this section almost by accident. I started to read it and noted the first aircraft I ever flew in was mentioned. This was Auster Autocrat G-AIBZ. My mother's cousin took my father and I (When I was about 8 so that makes it about 1954/5 time) from Speke to a disused strip near Wrexham. We landed and he went off to phone Speke ATc (no radio I guess) to say we were on our way back and a policeman pedalled up to see if we were in trouble. Remember the rear seat was angled to give a view out sideways. I remember being quite sick on setting foot back on firm ground but have never been airsick since and am now a 65 year old NPPL holder flying out of Humberside. Having read the initial entries about the a/c was delighted to find photos of it. Many thanks folks.
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Post by viscount on Jan 29, 2015 23:20:19 GMT 1
Every now and again I am shown as packet of old, usually tiny b&w prints, which although of individual poor quality (faded, stained, scratched, poor focus, over exposure), because of their age and subject matter, just have to be shared. A few days ago Eddie Quinn of FoLA showed me a packet of some 20 or so photographs passed onto him by the daughter of Leslie T. Jones, who worked for BEA at Speke in the late '40s. This first batch illustrate not only the Austers of the Liverpool Flying Club, but also their club house too.  The shot is dated 11th July 1947 and is inscribed "Wright Aviation's Auster G-AIBZ at Liverpool, to take us over to Hooton." The inscription on the engine cowl reads'Wright Aviation, School of Flying, Hooton'. This matches the date, as between 1946 and 1949 Wright's School of Flying operated from Hooton before moving over to Speke.   By far the best images in terms of print quality and camera sharpness is this pair of G-AIPH an Auster J/4. On the reverse captioned "Liverpool Flying Club, Speke, 1950's". From the colour scheme, I reckon these are during Dragon Airways ownership operation of Liverpool Flying Club, 1954-1955. The hangar I presume is No.39 Hangar - the aircraft inside could well be LFC's Miles Gemini twin, with the large landing light in the nose just discernable. It would appear that Les Jones was at some stage learning to fly, as one of the Auster photos is captioned "My flying classroom". I assume that the mechanic behind the engine had just cycled to work, with trousers well and truely tucked inside his socks! (Do read the e-mail from Cedric Flood quoted a few post on, on page 2).   From the processing number on the back of the prints, from the same roll of film, but these two shots lack the quality of the above pair. The Auster J/4 G-AIPH is captioned "Being run-up after maintenance" - likely that on the previous shots. Taylorcraft Plus D G-AHAK is simply captioned "Liverpool Flying Club, Speke, 1950's".  What makes this collection slightly different is this shot, and the next two. Captioned "Liverpool Flying Club, Bar and Accomodation in 1950's at Speke Airport". Added in biro pen a date of August 1950. Few will recognise the building as it was demolished around 1960. It was to the river side of Hangar No.50 and No.39, and was originally built for the pre-war Liverpool Aero Club. I fancy the date is around the same period as the Flying Club photos, that is 1954-1955, but the next few are also dated 1950, so maybe I'm wrong.   One is captioned "Liverpool Aero Club Bar at Speke - August 1950". Cannot make out any brand names, but do recognise the rechargable soda siphons. The low level and angle make me wonder if the photographer was on his way down to floor when the pictures were taken! Must be a subject first on nwan forum, not too easy to combine aeroplane and bar photos! They do convey though the fact that it was a 'Flying Club' - with a social aspect, not the strictly commercial 9 to 5 professional 'Flying School' organisation of today. Anyone know of further old aviation photos, even of dubious quality kept in their parent's attic - some really do need to see the light of day again. Edited in during August 2021, there are further images from both Bernie Mackenzie and Les Jones now to be found: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/38215/1950s-collections-photos-speke-airport |
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Post by ronturner on Jan 30, 2015 13:34:31 GMT 1
Thanks to everybody for all of this and oh! I wish I wish, I wish...".
I had hundreds of photos of this time, and I entrusted them to a so called friend to have them cataloged.. It was the last I ever saw of them in spite of repeated requests.
Let this be a lesson.
Ron
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