As you might remember yesterdays visits to Culdrose and Predannack were a great succes, only disappointment was the weather. When we woke up today the sun was shining brightly, while my camera was still a bit wet.... Nice, this English autumn!
After yesterdays "heavy metal" we would be hunting W&R all day today, since there's nothing operational in this area we needed. Our first stop was a bit off the track, but we wanted to clear out Cornwall and Devon as much as possible.
Davidstow Airfield and Cornwall at war Museum, Davidstow Moor (50º 38' 48" N, 4º 37' 59.50" W)
XG831/396 Gannet ECM.6 pr, 831 sq mks
Driving north on the A39 turn the first right after the crossing with the B3314. You'll end up at the old airfield soon enough. Follow the signs for "museums", which seems to lead you off the airfield again but gets you at the right spot after all. The museum was closed when we were there but the Gannet is outside (actually under restoration still) and is easily visible.
After this disused airfield the next was an active one.
Bodmin (50º 30' 00" N, 4º 39' 50" W)
XN198 Cadet TX.3 std
G-BBMR Chipmunk T.10 u. rest (ex WB763), this one has lost its military colors and markings!
The Cadet is stored on the attic of the main hangar here, and is not visible from outside. We were also hoping to catch L-4 G-AKIB here without realising we already saw that at Perranporth yesterday.... No sign of Hornet Moth G-ADNE that also is supposed to be here, anybody who knows where this one is living nowadays?
Castle Motors, Liskeard (50º 24' 58.50" N, 4º 23' 43" W)
(XS936) Lightning F.6 pr, 111 sq mks
This on is on a pole southeast of Liskeard along the A38, on the south side of the road. Just behind it is a helicopter maintenance company where they have lots of A.109s as well. We got a short tour through the hangars, very friendly. All were civil by the way, but still nice.
Bealbury (50º 28' 38" N, 4º 18' 37.50" W)
44-79609/44-S L-4H G-BHXY
This one is in a little hangar at a private strip in the little village. We asked around in the village for the exact location, and finally got directions to where it was. Unfortunately the place was locked up and nobody was there, and the hangar turned out to be spotter proof. While we were thinking what to do next suddenly the owner showed up; he was called by one of the locals we asked directions because apparently she didn't trust us! How could she..... When we finally had comvinced the guy we were just aviation enthusiasts he opened up the hangar for us and allowed us to graph his Piper. He also had Super Cub G-YCUB in there by the way, but afaik that's a civil one.
This did take us some time all in all, and when we finally left here I looked up the Cub and found out I already had it...... So much time spent on preparations, but it's never enough
Well, the next one would definately be new.
Pencrebar House, Callington (50º 29' 25.80" N, 4º 19' 18" W)
XR755/BN Lightning F.6 pr, 11 sq mks
This one is preserved in the garden of a hughe house along the A390, just south of Callington. You have to enter the driveway to see it I think. When we arrived the "lady of the house" was just leaving, but no problem in taking some pictures. She even asked wether we knew of the other Lightning at Liskeard!
Working our way up north from here we came in the vicinity of Brentor, where the local gliding club should have Sedbergh WB959, so we decided to have a look. Only one guy was present working on a winch. He confirmed one of the members does have a Sedbergh under restoration, but he wasn't very helpfull unfortunately. Well, one to come back for again!
Westover Farm, Sheepwash (50º 50' 19.20" N, 4º 09' 56.50" W)
G-BJEI L-18C ex MM52-2388
Another small farm strip. We had a bit of trouble finding it since I got fooled by Google Earth! I knew more or less where it should be, and when I looked it up on Google Earth you clearly see three runways on the south side of the road from Sheepwash to Black Torrington.But the farm strip is actually on the other side of the road, a mile or so further away from Sheepwash.... Well, when we found it the reception was very friendly again, and we were shown the hangar and aircraft.
We had three more airfields on our list for today and had to hurry up. The first one was Belle Vue Farm at Yarnscombe where a Birddog should be living. I had "very friendly" in my notes, but that was not right! When we rang the bell we were told the Birddog was sold, probably in the Reading area, but we were not allowed in to see the other aircraft present unfortunately. Well, at least we didn't loose any more time here, and we drove on to the next airfield.
Eaglescott (50º 55' 40" N, 3º 59' 11" W)
TW591/6 Auster AOP.6 (G-ARIH) 664 sq mks (based here now since a year or so, not Spanhoe)
WT867 Cadet TX.3 std, no mks
XA289 Cadet TX.3 std, no mks
WZ882/K Chipmunk T.10 G-BXGP, no mks
"VX147" Ercoupe G-AVIL, no mil history
WT744/VL-868 Hunter GA.11 pr, FRADU mks
NL750 Tiger Moth II (G-AOBH, real id ex T7997)
43-30238/A-24 L-4H G-LIVH, Gen. Patton Artillery HQ mks
G-AGZZ DH.82A (ex RAAF A17-503)
G-BEUI L-4H (ex 44-79878)
Although I heard stories of people not welcome here we had no problems at all. The Ercoupe looked nice; I never knew the RAF used one of those. I did some Google searching and found that one was used at Boscombe Down from 1949 til 1952. After that it turned civil again, and finally crashed in 1968. Funny! I presume this was the only one they ever used? Both Yaks (HA-YAV and G-ETHI) and the Venture (XZ563) have gone. The Venture possibly to Nympsfield, the Yak-18 we would find at the next stop, and the Yak-52 no idea.
Eggesford (50º 52' 08" N, 3º 52' 06" W)
MT438 Auster III (G-AREI) no mks
VF516 Terrier 2 (G-ASMZ) 662 sq mks
VF581/G Terrier 1 (G-ARSL, cvtd from Auster AOP.6)
VX113/36 Terrier 1 (G-ARNO, cvtd from Auster AOP.6)
WZ662 Auster AOP.9 (G-BKVK) no mks
XN441 Auster AOP.9 (G-BGKT which unit mks are this: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Auster-B ... 1220462/M/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (on the nose)?
(XP241) Auster AOP.9 (G-CEHR) std, fuselage, no mks
XR241/25 Auster AOP.9 G-AXRR, no mks
WG422/16 Chipmunk T.10 (G-BFAX) 229 sq mks
WP983/B Chipmunk T.10 (G-BXNN) no mks
208/IR MH.1521M (G-YYYY) GSRA 78 mks
51-15373 L-18C (G-AYPM, also ex FAF 115373)
G-AJAJ Auster J/1N mil mks but civil only
(G-AYDW) Terrier 2 std, frame (ex Auster AOP.6 TW568)
G-CUBP L-18 see below
HA-YAV Yak-18T (ex DOSAAF, c/n 22202047817)
The Cub is a problem (again). It has c/n 18-8823 in official records, but I understand it has been rebuilt with the fuselage of 18-8482 (which itself included parts of 18-4649....). But for neither one I can find a history. Is there a Piper Cub/Super Cub production list somewhere?? We arrived here rather late, but were lucky to catch a boy walking his dog. He was involved in the Auster business here and was happy to show us around. This is really Auster heaven, with all those and also some more civilian examples. The Yak-18 used to live at Eaglescott but moved here.
After this visit we had one more stop left, for the Auster frame owned by Dave Taylor.
Romansleigh
(XK421) Auster AOP.9 std, frame
When we visited Dave two days ago he showed us his aircraft at his home, but he also has this Auster frame. It is stored in a grass field, and we needed our flashlight to find it since it was almost dark by now. But thanks to Dave's directions we indeed got it, another gap filled. Thanks!
And that was it for today. We were still not sure yet what to do tomorrow, so during dinner we had to make some decisions. More on those tomorrow!
As always corrections, additions and comments are very welcome.
That´s all folks!
Hielko Overeem, Frank Mink & Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation
