Civilian Varsity?

[AlexP]

http://www.duxford-update.info/ has a picture of Duxford’s Varsity which has now been moved under cover (fantastic news in itself).

The reason for my post is that it the picture below shows the Varsity with a civilian registration just underneath the tail plane:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mclaydon/yh5-1.htm

Can anyone shed some light on this, was the aircraft ever operated in civilian hands prior to arriving at Duxford or did Duxford have plans to use her for pleasure flights?

Alex

[Garry Russell]

That was one of three bought from the MoD and flown by enthusiast/preservation groups and put on the UK civil register. G-BDFT G-BEDV, G-BHDD

One was lost in a fatal forced landing (G-BDFT)

Earlier there had been two genuine civil Varsities operated by Smiths G-APAZ. G-ARFP

One with the pannier and one without. One of those was lost in a crash (G-APAZ).the other one was returned to the RAF as WF387

Garry

[Prop Jockey]

Hi Alex,

I'd guess it was operated on a civvie reg for a while before going to Duxford. I don't know the history of the aircraft, but according to the CAAs database it operated under a Permit To Fly in 87, when the C of A expired. The G-BEDV reg was De-registered by the CAA in 89 - presumably after it arrived at Duxford and there was no intent to see it fly again ? Only a guess though

Cheers

Rich

[Prop Jockey]

Lol - there you go - Garry had the rest - a fine example of multi-crew co-operation

[AlexP]

Thanks very much for the info guys an excellent joint effort.

Alex

[Garry Russell]

That was a good spot Alex and an excellent question to pose here

Garry

[DaveB]

Here's a civvie Varsity and it's real (it must be.. it's in colour!)



I use this sometimes on the VA when I want to fly a Viking but not a taildragger

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

:o



Garry

[DaveB]

Just goes to show.. if an aircraft can handle BEA Red Square, it's worth flying ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

Whatever next Dave....a Red Square 748?



Garry