Smiths Aviation Services

Post by **Garry Russell** » 19 May 2006, 20:30

That's right Rick

G-APAZ crashed into houses

G-ARFP went back to the RAF

Was RFP Marconi I think Smiths only had one and that was the one that crashed. This pic of RFP was on a bit about Smiths but I don't think it was their com to think of it.

Garry

Post by **DaveB** » 19 May 2006, 22:06

Blew the dust off my scanner and this popped out..

Here's a comparison..

Regards

DaveB :tab:

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 20 May 2006, 10:26

Found a link to Smiths aircraft here....

http://www.gloster.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk ... smiths.htm

Interesting piccy of their 748 panel there too..

Regards.

Bridon Bear

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 20 May 2006, 11:03

Whilst on the Smiths topic and their base Staverton airport. There was another little aircraft that was also based there, this immaculate little Dove 8 that was used by Dowty Aviation to ferry around their chairman (Sir George Dowty) and other 'bods'. This aircraft was I believe piloted by non other than Neville Duke who at the time used to arrive for work in his own Piper Commanche.

I clearly remember listening to the R/T at Staverton as Neville took off in his Commanche at the end of the day to presumably fly home. He used runway 09 and on clearance for take off, he lifted off from the runway, retracted the U/C and before he got to 400ft, he made an almost vertical bank fighter style and headed South. All I heard from the tower was " Thanks Neville..Good night".

Normal procedure was to climb out to 1000' before any course alteration....he must have been a popular chap to get such informal treatment from the tower...ahhh happy days.

Anyway, the Dove mentioned was G-ASPA (fitting as Cheltenham was a Spa town!!). From memory, it was slightly less stark white than the photo below depicts...more of a slightly creamy white.

Post by **DaveB** » 20 May 2006, 11:36

Nice shot of the 748 flightdeck Brian. Some interesting 'addons' as well as Smiths military HDI/HSI

ATB

DaveB :tab:

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 20 May 2006, 11:40

Brian
I stand corrected its RFP in that photo and it DOESNT have the
pannier - seems PAZ did and FP didnt - I looked at the cockpit photo
when Ricks Budgie was in Beta and I think it was decided then that
it was a "one off" custom panel - it resembles the military flight deck
that the civilian one. -- SO we have a paint job of RFP - Garry feel
like doing OSE and we will have a matched set - until someone comes
up with a Good Gemini,Proctor and Anson 19/21

Leif

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 20 May 2006, 16:55

I have found a fairly clear photo of G-AOSE in a nice air to air shot as below:

Plus I managed to dig out a 4 page article on Smiths Aviation Division. This article is very interesting as it gives a history of the Aviation Division plus some interesting photos of the fleet. Included is a shot of the Ill fated Varsity T1 G-APAZ that crashed onto a house in nearby Tuffley on 27th March 1963....regretably killing both crew members on board.

I have made a PDF of the article for those interested:

http://briang.cbfsim.org/Smiths.pdf

I must say, it would be rather nice to see the Smith's Dove again in FS. :dance:

Regards.

Bridon Bear

Post by **Garry Russell** » 20 May 2006, 17:36

Thanks Brian

I will have a good read of that a bit later

ATB

Garry