Does anyone know anything about this plane?

Does anyone know anything about this plane?

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Eric Mc

122,345 posts

267 months

Friday 17th April 2020
quotequote all
GliderRider said:
Thank you for posting that Eric Mc. Although I knew GdH had worked at Farnborough, I had no idea where he lived.

You don't happen to have either of these books do you? I feel sure it will hold the answer to the OP's mystery:

British Homebuilt Aricraft since 1920 - Merseyside Aviation Society

British Light Aeroplanes 1920 -1940 - Arthur Ord-Hume
Don't have those books.

In the 1920s, the Royal Aero Club organised "Light Aeroplane Trials" to encourage the building of aircraft that could be sold "to the masses". Aircraft manufacturers were struggling due to the post World War 1 cancellation of orders and the government hoped that promoting small affordable aircraft would rescue the aviation industry. Most of the aircraft that took part in these trials never entered production and were often just "one-offs".

Astacus

Original Poster:

3,417 posts

236 months

Friday 17th April 2020
quotequote all
GliderRider said:
British Homebuilt Aricraft since 1920 - Merseyside Aviation Society

British Light Aeroplanes 1920 -1940 - Arthur Ord-Hume
Wow! I may have to pay a visit to the British Library after lockdown! Thanks for that GR.
I have contacted the Shuttleworth collection via their facebook page and they have promised to take a look. Fingers Crossed!

This thread has been great. Ive learned a lot about amateur plane builders inter war!


Simpo Two

85,883 posts

267 months

Friday 17th April 2020
quotequote all
GliderRider said:
British Homebuilt Aricraft since 1920 - Merseyside Aviation Society

British Light Aeroplanes 1920 -1940 - Arthur Ord-Hume
I had a sudden flashback to 'Fly Fishing' by J R Hartley!

Astacus said:
I have contacted the Shuttleworth collection via their facebook page and they have promised to take a look. Fingers Crossed!

This thread has been great. Ive learned a lot about amateur plane builders inter war!
There ya go, badger mode engaged!

The interwar years mirrored the car sector I think - so much ingenuity and invention and entrepreneurship, yet so few survived as everything became nationalised or 'corporatised' into faceless giants. Geoffrey de Havilland's autobiography 'Sky Fever' is worth a look.

GliderRider

2,205 posts

83 months

Friday 17th April 2020
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Don't have those books.

In the 1920s, the Royal Aero Club organised "Light Aeroplane Trials" to encourage the building of aircraft that could be sold "to the masses". Aircraft manufacturers were struggling due to the post World War 1 cancellation of orders and the government hoped that promoting small affordable aircraft would rescue the aviation industry. Most of the aircraft that took part in these trials never entered production and were often just "one-offs".
Eric Mc, I had look through the various Lympne trials aircraft, although none fit the description of this one, nor do the various subsequent aeroplanes built and modified from the competitors. The British Anzani V-twin in the picture was developed as a result of the Lympne trials, as it was evident that there was a need for a small, reliable aero engine.

The DH53 Hummingbird was the most successful in terms of quantity, with thirteen being built. Of those, at least two were converted into other designs (RAE Scarab, Martin Monoplane).

DH.53 Hummingbird build history