Does anyone know anything about this plane?

[Astacus]

This is my grandfathers plane. He may have built it himself as he was an engineer working at Shorts during the war. He flew it out of various small fields in Kent. The prop, which I still have, was dated September 1924, when he would have been 23.



I am trying to find any information I can on the plane so if anyone has any info or can suggest anywhere I can ask I would be very grateful

Thanks

[Astacus]

Thanks Both. I can't see the there are any markings on the visible portion o the fuselage, but there is something just behind the engine. The engine seems to be an inverted V twin, rather like a JAP. The plane looks very small. Probably a single seater with an open cockpit

[Astacus]

This is about as good as I can get on the side markings

|https://thumbsnap.com/rZXSOgbo[/url]

Could it be something like NATT? The problem is aircraft registrations for there period should be G-E*** or G-A*** post 1929

And this of the engine

Edited by Astacus on Thursday 16th April 17:06

[Astacus]

No Nothing under the wings. Too much shadow.

[Astacus]

Steve_D said:

Have you taken the photo out of the frame to see if anything is written on the back? A very common practice back in the day.

Steve

Yes, Its very firmly stuck to a mount board. I was told years ago the the photo came from Flight Magazine, but I don't think this is true. Flight is completely digitised and I have run searches with no luck.

[Astacus]

DavieBNL said:

It looks extremely small and you say he flew in Kent. It may be worth doing some digging on flying that went on at Lympne during the 1920s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lympne_light_aircraf...

Fascinating Wiki, thanks might be worth a look. Interesting that some of the planes listed had v twins or used motorcycle engines!

Edited by Astacus on Thursday 16th April 19:03

[Astacus]

Simpo Two said:

The prop is 1924 so the photo could be pre-1929.

I guessed G-NATT, which is currently here: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/g-natt

However it's an odd place to put the reg number so perhaps it's to do with the engine.

The aeroplane might be a one-off.

Family legend is that he built it himself using tea crates, but this is probably another dead end. There are many Many family legends about my Grandfather and most of them seem to have been made up by my Grandmother.

[Astacus]

Simpo Two said:

Maybe someone at Shuttleworth might be able to throw some light on the mystery.

Yes. I emailed them a couple of years ago, but they never got back to me.
Latest idea is to see if his pilots license was registered with the aero club.

[Astacus]

Thanks , yes I had just alighted on the B&B Tomtit engine.



there are some tempting similarities, but as you say the shiny discs over the rockers are absent. The crank case and the exhausts are similar. It's tempting to imagine you can see the crank case bolts to the side and the central bolt. Maybe it had some sort of modified cylinder head.

Edited by Astacus on Thursday 16th April 19:26

[Astacus]

GliderRider said:

WIth a bit of further digging, I think the engine is probably an Anzani. Have a look at the one on this Druine Tubulent in the third picture down. As the engine is said to have 20 hours on it, it may even be the same one! Inverted Anzani V twin in Druine Turbulent

Edited by GliderRider on Thursday 16th April 20:05

Marvellous detective work! yes the discs over the valves are there! Many thanks GR.

[Astacus]

eccles said:

It has certain similarities with the Heath Parasol. Just googling them shows they can have a bewildering array of different undercarriages, engines and struts.
The one in this picture looks a little similar apart from the engine....

https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/abpic-media-eu-...

Certainly could be something like this. I can imagine my Grandfather leafing through some early engineering weekly and considering ordering a kit. He does seem to have been an aero engineer at some point in his career.

[Astacus]

ReverendCounter said:

Is there anything on the back of the photo?

sadly no.

[Astacus]

ReverendCounter said:

Are you familiar with Wrecks & Relics? Published by Ken Ellis, Flypast ed?

"Wrecks & Relics remains the essential touring guide to the aviation museums, warbirds, collections and aeronautical heritage of the British Isles."

http://www.crecy.co.uk/wrecks-and-relics-27th-edit...

That looks like the sort of book you can happily spend hours in

[Astacus]

I am wondering whether the lettering on the cowl was simply a name given to the aircraft - maybe it was just called Gnatt

[Astacus]

ha ha, no. Technology came a long way in 25 years!

[Astacus]

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!