By: David Burke
- 11th February 2015 at 18:01Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It's not really a matter of shame. - it's a matter of museums looking at what is significant and what is
lesser. So yes museums can take on too much or have an unclear direction . Whether that entirely happened during your tenure Bruce is unclear- I would suggest that Vampire T.11s and Doves became multiples before you .
None of which is massively bad - however museums are often run by enthusiasts which doesn't always allow for a clear direction .
Regards the Drover - it fits at very few places in the U.K - whether it's unfortunate or not people are always going to associate it with a natural fit into London Colney. !
By: Sopwith
- 11th February 2015 at 19:15Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Glad you've found a home for it Nad, I saw it a few years back when I'd called by to see Barry. What other projects are you doing, anything to airworthy?
By: Argonaut
- 11th February 2015 at 19:53Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
[ATTACH=CONFIG]235268[/ATTACH] Great to see that it has been saved, it has been lucky to survive this far and not without a lot of effort by a lot of people. Hopefully now it can be restored to good condition.
By: TonyT
- 11th February 2015 at 20:29Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Regardless of there being some still in Australia etc, it needs to be saved pure and simple, the "there is one left elsewhere" etc thinking is probably why a lot of breeds attained the " there is none left anywhere' status
By: viscount
- 11th February 2015 at 23:12Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
At a slight tangent, has a Drover ever been flown in Britain or indeed in Europe? I suppose that the best bet would be if one was brought over for a SBAC Farnbrough Show during the '50s.
Well done Jet Age Museum. A '50s civilian type could well provide public interest adding variety to the collection, particularly with the Royal Flying Doctor Service type connection to provide a talking point. Clearly an established museum's 'pile of scrap' is a young dynamic museum's 'exhibit worth restoring'. Perhaps the Jet Age Museum might do well, although I know they have built up restoration expertise on fighter types, to chat with SAHG at Speke who have recent experience restoring their Prince, as there are similarities eg '50s civilian small passenger cabin type, sat unloved outside for years etc.
Added later on 'edit': Seems that I (and possibly others) were misled by the 'user name' of the member posting the information that the future of the Drover has been secured. My apologies to the Museum and the actual new owner on my presumption, the correct details provided a few posts further down.
By: Newforest
- 12th February 2015 at 08:02Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No. I believe the subject of our thread is the only example ever to have 'escaped' from down under. I also believe the type has never flown outside the country of its construction, unless you know better?!
By: ericmunk
- 12th February 2015 at 08:12Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No. I believe the subject of our thread is the only example ever to have 'escaped' from down under. I also believe the type has never flown outside the country of its construction, unless you know better?!
Fiji. New Zealand. New Hebrides. There's also the two other UK Drovers, although they never left Oz.
By: viscount
- 12th February 2015 at 09:24Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ericmunk, do you mean 'two others' or 'the only the two'. I ask that, as I am only aware of G-ALLK and G-APXX - and on checking, these two are the only Drovers to come up on a search of the CAA GINFO register site.
For those curious, G-ALLK c/no. 5003 (or 0003), was registered to de Havilland at Hatfield, with 'paper' dates of registration 31.3.49 and cancellation 16.10.50 - entered in the 'destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use' column! I have it simply as 'remained in Australia as VH-EBQ', which was indeed the case. A photo and full history of this aircraft: http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/QantasFleet/VH-EBQ.html
With the benefit of the internet (it is a long time since I first researched the background for VH-EAS/G-APXX in the early 80s) I find that VH-EAZ is correct for this aircraft from an authoritative Australian site. See http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/QantasFleet/VH-EAZ(2).html for a photo and airframe history with explanation of the re-registration from a Qantas historian. I've gone back to page 1 and altered my 'potted' history of this aircraft to incorporate the new information. Interestingly the CAA registration document for G-APXX of 1960 states 5014 as being formerly VH-EAS. All a little confusing.
Posts: 9,780
By: David Burke - 11th February 2015 at 18:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It's not really a matter of shame. - it's a matter of museums looking at what is significant and what is
lesser. So yes museums can take on too much or have an unclear direction . Whether that entirely happened during your tenure Bruce is unclear- I would suggest that Vampire T.11s and Doves became multiples before you .
None of which is massively bad - however museums are often run by enthusiasts which doesn't always allow for a clear direction .
Regards the Drover - it fits at very few places in the U.K - whether it's unfortunate or not people are always going to associate it with a natural fit into London Colney. !
Let's hope it doesn't become ebay coffee tables .
Posts: 80
By: STAN05 - 11th February 2015 at 18:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
This may be of interest. Sales brochure from the Southend museum in 1983:
Posts: 9,780
By: David Burke - 11th February 2015 at 18:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It's a great sales brochure containing some eclectic items.
Still not entirely sure why Doug Arnold bought the Drover !
Posts: 8,464
By: Bruce - 11th February 2015 at 19:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ironically, Stuart Howe was bidding for it that day, for the DH museum.
Times change.
Posts: 44
By: Nad - 11th February 2015 at 19:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Great news everyone. The Drover will be going to Staverton at the Jet Age Museum
Posts: 451
By: rochford - 11th February 2015 at 19:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Perhaps they'll take on the CL44 from Bournemouth!
Posts: 1,712
By: Sopwith - 11th February 2015 at 19:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Glad you've found a home for it Nad, I saw it a few years back when I'd called by to see Barry. What other projects are you doing, anything to airworthy?
Posts: 44
By: Nad - 11th February 2015 at 19:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
At the moment we are well in to having Gannet XL500 flying this year and then it will be on to building a Sea Prince to airworthy condition.
Posts: 5,999
By: Wyvernfan - 11th February 2015 at 19:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Well done to the Jet Age team, as another (together with the Leeming Javelin) airframe is saved from scrapping.
Rob
Posts: 299
By: Argonaut - 11th February 2015 at 19:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
[ATTACH=CONFIG]235268[/ATTACH] Great to see that it has been saved, it has been lucky to survive this far and not without a lot of effort by a lot of people. Hopefully now it can be restored to good condition.
Posts: 9,780
By: David Burke - 11th February 2015 at 19:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It needs to go undercover -I had the opportunity to inspect it at Lasham and it was getting quite fragile - its not as heavily constructed as a Dove.
Posts: 1,712
By: Sopwith - 11th February 2015 at 20:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks Nad, I can see that you've got a lot on indeed. Good luck with them both.
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By: TonyT - 11th February 2015 at 20:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Regardless of there being some still in Australia etc, it needs to be saved pure and simple, the "there is one left elsewhere" etc thinking is probably why a lot of breeds attained the " there is none left anywhere' status
Posts: 5,999
By: Wyvernfan - 11th February 2015 at 20:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Totally agree, 100% !
Rob
Posts: 8,505
By: mike currill - 11th February 2015 at 21:37 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
great news.
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By: mike currill - 11th February 2015 at 21:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That probably accounts for the 2000 pounds difference in gross take off weight.Posts: 422
By: viscount - 11th February 2015 at 23:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
At a slight tangent, has a Drover ever been flown in Britain or indeed in Europe? I suppose that the best bet would be if one was brought over for a SBAC Farnbrough Show during the '50s.
Well done Jet Age Museum. A '50s civilian type could well provide public interest adding variety to the collection, particularly with the Royal Flying Doctor Service type connection to provide a talking point. Clearly an established museum's 'pile of scrap' is a young dynamic museum's 'exhibit worth restoring'. Perhaps the Jet Age Museum might do well, although I know they have built up restoration expertise on fighter types, to chat with SAHG at Speke who have recent experience restoring their Prince, as there are similarities eg '50s civilian small passenger cabin type, sat unloved outside for years etc.
Added later on 'edit': Seems that I (and possibly others) were misled by the 'user name' of the member posting the information that the future of the Drover has been secured. My apologies to the Museum and the actual new owner on my presumption, the correct details provided a few posts further down.
Posts: 8,847
By: Newforest - 12th February 2015 at 08:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No. I believe the subject of our thread is the only example ever to have 'escaped' from down under. I also believe the type has never flown outside the country of its construction, unless you know better?!
Posts: 1,755
By: ericmunk - 12th February 2015 at 08:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Fiji. New Zealand. New Hebrides. There's also the two other UK Drovers, although they never left Oz.
Posts: 422
By: viscount - 12th February 2015 at 09:24 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ericmunk, do you mean 'two others' or 'the only the two'. I ask that, as I am only aware of G-ALLK and G-APXX - and on checking, these two are the only Drovers to come up on a search of the CAA GINFO register site.
For those curious, G-ALLK c/no. 5003 (or 0003), was registered to de Havilland at Hatfield, with 'paper' dates of registration 31.3.49 and cancellation 16.10.50 - entered in the 'destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use' column! I have it simply as 'remained in Australia as VH-EBQ', which was indeed the case. A photo and full history of this aircraft: http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/QantasFleet/VH-EBQ.html
With the benefit of the internet (it is a long time since I first researched the background for VH-EAS/G-APXX in the early 80s) I find that VH-EAZ is correct for this aircraft from an authoritative Australian site. See http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/QantasFleet/VH-EAZ(2).html for a photo and airframe history with explanation of the re-registration from a Qantas historian. I've gone back to page 1 and altered my 'potted' history of this aircraft to incorporate the new information. Interestingly the CAA registration document for G-APXX of 1960 states 5014 as being formerly VH-EAS. All a little confusing.