By: DragonRapide
- 21st June 2011 at 21:05Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
[QUOTE=Sky High; I half hoped one of the Classic Wings Dragons might have been an Island Services one [/QUOTE]
Sky High
Mark and David Miller's beautiful Rapide G-AGJG, based at Duxford, is ex-Island Air Services. Not available for public flying, but often to be seen in the air over Duxford.
By: Duxman
- 21st June 2011 at 23:04Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
For those who have not seen the picture already on the Duxford again Thread here is Rapide G-AIYR at Duxford today during filming as Imperial Airways G-ADCN ( which was in fact a DH86)
By: Sky High
- 22nd June 2011 at 08:31Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Sky High
Mark and David Miller's beautiful Rapide G-AGJG, based at Duxford, is ex-Island Air Services. Not available for public flying, but often to be seen in the air over Duxford.
So might that have flown the joy rides from London Airport along with the two already mentioned?
By: Wyvernfan
- 22nd June 2011 at 08:46Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
For any ex Russavia team its 24 years today since G-AGTM swung on take off.
Dave
Remember that day very well, sadly for both the Rapide and Blenheim.
And my first ever flight was from Duxford in TM in 1985. Have always admired the Rapide since that day.
By: Sky High
- 22nd June 2011 at 10:39Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
:D. In answer to your question might it be that they are the oldest passenger aircraft still fulfilling that role? Or are there older DCs in the US, perhaps?
By: DCW
- 22nd June 2011 at 11:09Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
While I was researching these Rapide pictures, I realised the significance of one particular airframe. G-ACPP is now preserved in Canada, and is the oldest survivor, being the fifth built. It was delivered to Railway Air Services at Croydon in 1935, and served with Scottish Airways in WW2. This makes it a very historic aircraft indeed, there are very few pre-war British airliners remaining (Only the Spartan Cruiser at East Fortune comes to mind). Perhaps we should start a campaign to repatriate it....
By: Sky High
- 22nd June 2011 at 11:35Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Electromag-Neil was based in Bristol until it was dissolved 2 years ago. This snippet from some googling:
"By WWII when MH Gamble (who had served his apprenticeship with a German Piano Company) joined the family firm the company had been diverted by the Government into producing Aircraft parts at their 3 factories. After the war MH Gamble went into partnership with the Neil Tool Company to form Electromag-Neil Ltd. Some of the aircraft that the firm produced parts for included the Spitfire, De Havilland, Nimrod & of course Concorde. By 1963 L. R. Neil had sold his share of the company to MH Gamble &, today the company is called ENL Ltd & still has a Gamble at the helm."
By: Wyvernfan
- 22nd June 2011 at 17:10Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Indeed they were. Made a point of sitting right at the front to the right so i could see the pilot. Then watched nervously as fuel came out the top of the primer or whatever it was as he pumped away.
Still got my ticket somewhere with the exact date on. Might even have your initials on :).
By: G-ASEA
- 22nd June 2011 at 17:21Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Did you get a first flight certificate? We gave them out if you asked.
G-AGTM was use in a film around 1984? About the England to Austraila air race. The DC2 came over and a Puss moth was used. I never saw it.
Posts: 1,011
By: DragonRapide - 21st June 2011 at 21:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
[QUOTE=Sky High; I half hoped one of the Classic Wings Dragons might have been an Island Services one [/QUOTE]
Sky High
Mark and David Miller's beautiful Rapide G-AGJG, based at Duxford, is ex-Island Air Services. Not available for public flying, but often to be seen in the air over Duxford.
Posts: 956
By: Duxman - 21st June 2011 at 21:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Rapide G-AGUF believed at Cambridge 4/7/51 and G-ALBB believed at Heathrow 19/2/50
Posts: 1,405
By: G-ASEA - 21st June 2011 at 21:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I never have had the chance to fly in G-AGJG, But did help move the fuselage around during its rebuild. Here it is flying at Halton the other week.
Dave
Posts: 956
By: Duxman - 21st June 2011 at 23:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
For those who have not seen the picture already on the Duxford again Thread here is Rapide G-AIYR at Duxford today during filming as Imperial Airways G-ADCN ( which was in fact a DH86)
Posts: 4,956
By: Sky High - 22nd June 2011 at 08:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
So might that have flown the joy rides from London Airport along with the two already mentioned?
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By: Sky High - 22nd June 2011 at 08:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for those pictures Duxman.:)
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By: DCW - 22nd June 2011 at 08:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
G-AGJG at Heathrow 24-8-53:
G-AGJG at Halton 11-6-11:
Posts: 6,004
By: Wyvernfan - 22nd June 2011 at 08:46 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Remember that day very well, sadly for both the Rapide and Blenheim.
And my first ever flight was from Duxford in TM in 1985. Have always admired the Rapide since that day.
Great shots DCW.
Posts: 4,956
By: Sky High - 22nd June 2011 at 08:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
DCW - this thread just gets better and better!!:D
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By: DCW - 22nd June 2011 at 10:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Rapides seem to be popular, so here's a few more:
G-AGJG again, no details:
G-AHLF (Wfu by 1962) Location anyone?
G-AIDL still flying with Air Atlantique as TX310:
G-AKIF still flying with Classic Wings at Duxford. Bardock Aviation Services titles date this to 1963-1966:
Unkown Rapide (EDIT:G-AEML) with 'Electromag-Neil' titles:
Posts: 4,956
By: Sky High - 22nd June 2011 at 10:39 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
:D. In answer to your question might it be that they are the oldest passenger aircraft still fulfilling that role? Or are there older DCs in the US, perhaps?
Posts: 1,777
By: Steve Bond - 22nd June 2011 at 10:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
My money is on Biggin Hill for that shot of G-AHLF.
Posts: 2,454
By: DCW - 22nd June 2011 at 11:09 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
While I was researching these Rapide pictures, I realised the significance of one particular airframe. G-ACPP is now preserved in Canada, and is the oldest survivor, being the fifth built. It was delivered to Railway Air Services at Croydon in 1935, and served with Scottish Airways in WW2. This makes it a very historic aircraft indeed, there are very few pre-war British airliners remaining (Only the Spartan Cruiser at East Fortune comes to mind). Perhaps we should start a campaign to repatriate it....
Posts: 2,766
By: John Aeroclub - 22nd June 2011 at 11:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Do any parts of ALPK survive?
John
Posts: 4,956
By: Sky High - 22nd June 2011 at 11:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Electromag-Neil was based in Bristol until it was dissolved 2 years ago. This snippet from some googling:
"By WWII when MH Gamble (who had served his apprenticeship with a German Piano Company) joined the family firm the company had been diverted by the Government into producing Aircraft parts at their 3 factories. After the war MH Gamble went into partnership with the Neil Tool Company to form Electromag-Neil Ltd. Some of the aircraft that the firm produced parts for included the Spitfire, De Havilland, Nimrod & of course Concorde. By 1963 L. R. Neil had sold his share of the company to MH Gamble &, today the company is called ENL Ltd & still has a Gamble at the helm."
ENL is now in Portsmouth.
Posts: 1,011
By: DragonRapide - 22nd June 2011 at 15:07 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I might have briefed and boarded you - was doing so from 1984 to 87, as was G-ASEA.
Glorious days.....
DR
Posts: 6,004
By: Wyvernfan - 22nd June 2011 at 17:10 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Indeed they were. Made a point of sitting right at the front to the right so i could see the pilot. Then watched nervously as fuel came out the top of the primer or whatever it was as he pumped away.
Still got my ticket somewhere with the exact date on. Might even have your initials on :).
Posts: 1,405
By: G-ASEA - 22nd June 2011 at 17:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Did you get a first flight certificate? We gave them out if you asked.
G-AGTM was use in a film around 1984? About the England to Austraila air race. The DC2 came over and a Puss moth was used. I never saw it.
Dave
Posts: 66
By: dh83 - 22nd June 2011 at 17:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
"Electromag-Neil" was G-AEML now registered EC-AAY
hd83
Posts: 66
By: dh83 - 22nd June 2011 at 17:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
"Electromag-Neil" was G-AEML now registered EC-AAY
dh83