WWI fighters

[Hagar]

More photos from Old Warden last Sunday. Not a cloud in the sky but a stiff breeze made flying these vintage aircraft a tad tricky.

First up was the Sopwith Pup. Originally built in 1919 as the two-seat Dove variant it was acquired by Richard Shuttleworth in 1938 & converted to a single-seat Pup.


It was joined by the Sopwith Triplane. This was built for the Shuttleworth Collection by the Northern Aeroplane Workshops & first flew in April 1992.
It's considered a "late production" example rather than a replica. http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth-collection/aircraft-details.asp?ID=7


The lovely little Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. I think this is the only original example still flying.


The Bristol F.2b Fighter, nicknamed the "Brisfit". One of my favourites.
For some years it was the sole airworthy example but I believe two more are now flying in various parts of the world.


The next two were visitors & didn't take part in the display.
It was a treat to see this recently restored B.E.2c replica in the air. It was built in 1969 from Tiger Moth components for a Biggles film which was never completed. It was then used for other film work including the BBC series

[ozzy72]

Wonderful photos Doug and I do believe the S.E.5a is the only one of its kind still flying

[Flying Trucker]

Oh WOW...what a Thanksgiving Treat....

It is great to see real aeroplanes back into the air again.

What no Sopwith Camel?

I can still hear the conversations between my grandfathers and great uncles on what was the best fighter during the Great World War.
The argument always centered around the Camel or the SE5A and of course, the many Canucks who flew them...

A great uncle who flew the Sopwith Triplane while serving with the RNAS could never get his two cents in, he was always shot down by the rest of the family...

Great times were had as children when growing up around the kitchen table in the summer kitchen...

Hope you don't mind me adding this information on the RNAS Doug...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Air_Service

http://www.naval-military-press.com/his ... war-i.html

Thanks again Doug for making my day...

[Hagar]

Thanks for the comments chaps.

What no Sopwith Camel?

I don't think there's an airworthy Camel on this side of the pond at the moment Doug. A replica is currently being built for the Shuttleworth Collection by the Northern Aeroplane Workshops who built the Sopwith Triplane in my photo. Like most of these projects it's taking a long time & this is the latest information I can find on progress --> http://www.svasweb.org/news.php?id=84

[expat]

! finally get around to saying "great shots Doug" and there aren't any to comment on, between now and yesterday they have flown off .....SimV gremlins at it again no doubt.

I must somehow get back to Old Warden, it is easily 35 years since my last visit. Is the Doodlebug still lazying away in the car park

Matt

[Hagar]

! finally get around to saying "great shots Doug" and there aren't any to comment on, between now and yesterday they have flown off ;D.....SimV gremlins at it again no doubt.

I must somehow get back to Old Warden, it is easily 35 years since my last visit. Is the Doodlebug still lazying away in the car park ;D

Matt

Thanks Matt. While the main site is down you can see the pics from this topic in my Picasa gallery. Also lots more from last Sunday ---> Shuttleworth Autumn Air Show 2011

I don't recall a doodlebug at Old Warden. Must have been before my time. C will know.*

*PS. There used to be one on a ramp at Duxford. Not sure if it's still there.

[Craig.]

Brilliant shots
I hope to get back there soon

[Steve M]

Great shots Doug! A question though, some of those old plane engines ran on caster oil if I've heard right. Are any of those modified to run on gasoline? I have read that the  old pilots often came back with a mouth full and a quick dash to the outhouse. Any truth to that? 

[Hagar]

Brilliant shots
I hope to get back there soon

Thanks Craig. You'll have to wait until next year now.

[quote]Great shots Doug! A question though, some of those old plane engines ran on caster oil if I've heard right. Are any of those modified to run on gasoline? I have read that the

[Steve M]

Thanks Doug. Caster oil tastes awfull! I was never a pilot, but I had a caring grandmother that served it to me on a silver spoon. 

[Hagar]

[quote]Thanks Doug. Caster oil tastes awfull! I was never a pilot, but I had a caring grandmother that served it to me on a silver spoon.

[C]

I don't recall a doodlebug at Old Warden. Must have been before my time. C will know.*

Maybe!

I remember that it existed, but I can't remember it being there in my memory of the collection, which really starts in about 1989ish. It may have been there sometime in the 80s, but I'm too young to remember!

As for Camels, there's been at least a couple resident at Old Warden in the past. In the mid 70s, a 1960s radial engined replica, which now lives at the FAA museum at Yeovilton, and at the turn of the 90s, it appears that G-ASOP, a genuine F1 was briefly based at OW following restoration by BAe at Kingston (where it was built in 1917) and AJD Engineering. Apparently it flew in 1993, but was then sold to an unknown owner in the USA, where it disappeared (as they tend to do) until it appeared on ebay in 2005 at a ridiculous price. So, having been painstakingly restored, it disappeared to become unairworthy and effectively held to ransom (a similar story to a well known selection of Mosquito, Tempest and Lysander).

[expat]

I don't recall a doodlebug at Old Warden. Must have been before my time. C will know.*

Maybe!

I remember that it existed, but I can't remember it being there in my memory of the collection, which really starts in about 1989ish. It may have been there sometime in the 80s, but I'm too young to remember!

Well, my last visit was mid to end 70's so I am not surprised that no one recalls:-[

Matt

[patchz]

Really nice photos Doug. And replicas or not, they are gorgeous birds, especially the Pup, B.E.2c, and DR1.

[drtomkat]

when i saw the first pic, i though it was rise of flight.