Fri, 09/11/2015 - 21:33
#1
--63b Seaplane Mercury (1939-1941) and Seaplane (1945-1949 / 1952-1957)
No. 63b Seaplane 'Mercury', the mail aircraft that was carried by no. 63a Flying Boat 'Maia', together forming the set 63 Mayo Composite Aircraft (1939-1941), had the correct registration number G-ADHJ (see picture). The same no. 63b was re-issued post-war as ‘Seaplane’, without ‘Mercury’ transfers on sides below the cockpit, without gliding game hole on top and without clamp underneath, for coupling with 'Maia'. And, it had a new, but fictive number G-AVKW.
Just curious if there was any chance that this new number was ever in use for a registered aircraft, the internet gave a quick answer: yes there was! The number G-AVKW was assigned to a Belgian aircraft, a two seater double decker Stampe-Vertongen SV-4B C/N 561, developed pre-war, but this version built in license in France by SNCAN (Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Nord) in 1947. It was registered two decades later in the UK: 1-5-1967 (these were very popular second hand aircraft for recreation, stunt teams etc.). It didn’t last long, however, after that, because it crashed near Godstone, Surrey, 29-10-1967. Registration belatedly cancelled by the CAA as aircraft ‘destroyed’ on 29-6-1970.
See also: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=65788 Kind regards, Jan
Sat, 09/12/2015 - 04:14
#2
Great writeup Jan on a most interesting model, when it was combined with the Flying Boat. But I always thought the Seaplane by itself was also a nice airplane model, and got one several years ago. The photo of the two of them together is amazing.....thanks!
Regards,
Terry
Sat, 09/12/2015 - 07:41
#3
Thanks, Terry, remarkable find, isn't it? I found two more pictures in my image files, one showing differences underneath and a final one showing the Composite Aircraft (uploading images is very easy and produces nice quality in my opinion). Kind regards, Jan
P.S.: see also this interesting contemporary documentary:
Sun, 09/13/2015 - 00:54
#4
Jan--What a great short film showing the composite planes in action and separating successfully. I did not know earlier that they used power from both planes for takeoff....amazing!
Regards, Terry
-501 - 505 Foden type 1 (DG, 1947-1952)
-150 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (1959-64)
--25h and 250 Streamlined Fire Engine (1936-54)
--25h and 250 Streamlined Fire Engine (1936-54)
--25h and 250 Streamlined Fire Engine (1936-54)
--25h and 250 Streamlined Fire Engine (1936-54)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
New arrivals
Dinky Toys re-painting
-760 G.P.O. Pillar Box (1954-60)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
-191 Dodge Royal Sedan (1959-64)
New arrivals
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
-888 Berliet GPO saharien avec chèvre [Berliet GPO Sahara Pipe-Layer] (1960-1968)
-888 Berliet GPO saharien avec chèvre [Berliet GPO Sahara Pipe-Layer] (1960-1968)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
Military Matters
New arrivals
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
--39d Buick Viceroy Saloon (1939-50)
-822 Half-track M3 (1960-71)
--27d and 340 Land-Rover (1950-71)
-822 Half-track M3 (1960-71)
Military Matters
-822 Half-track M3 (1960-71)
New arrivals