derekliston

I had the Airfix 1/72 model. Another example of brilliant British aero-engineering which came to nothing. I believe one problem for city centre work was that it was incredibly noisy with the rotors under power.

Didn’t really think so, but it was the closest thing I could find!

Keleher Lark?

Without wishing to cause too much thread drift I have a story about Beagle. As a young know it all apprentice I visited Rearsby in the very early days of Beagle. I was actually doing an aircraft design course at Loughborough University ( I like telling people that, but it was actually a short course for amateurs held at the University over an Easter weekend!) Anyway, part of it was a visit to Beagle and I with all my knowledge told them that the Pup, with all it’s stretch formed skins, dissimilar material welding and complex oleo style main undercarriage was too complex to be a success. Stran

Interesting, another dog! Shame though, it was a pretty aeroplane!

Do you ever wonder if Beagle failed because they were all dogs, literally, Terrier, Airedale, Pup and Bulldog? I don’t remember if the twins had names, only remember their numbers!

I used to help service one back around 1965 in Edinburgh. Quite a luxurious machine although typical early Beagle, probably heavy for what was the British equivalent of a C172. Had an interesting, supposedly thrust augmenter exhaust system.

Possibly wrong but looks a lot like a Beagle Airedale?

My CH701 sat untouched for two years because I was so pissed off with trying to interpret the plans. Eventually got back to work and finished it because it was worth nothing as a pile of bits if I wanted to sell it. I’ve been flying it for about four years now and I’m really glad I persevered.

Back in the dark old days of the Vietnam war, Cavalier built or refurbished mustangs with turboprop engines replacing the Merlin’s. No idea off the top of my head what engines they were but unlikely to have been darts.

Just perhaps another interesting quirk. In the instructions for the Zenith CH701 kit, amongst the list of required tools is a, wait for it, 8ft metric rule!

I always remember when we first arrived in Australia 36yrs ago, I wanted to buy a 6ft length of 4x2. I was told they only had metric lengths and said Ok, I’ll have 2m and they said they only had 1.8m lengths!!!!!

Beautiful place to live! Welcome aboard.

I like it, no change over airbox, no exhaust shroud, no scat hose, like I said, simple!