LIGHT 'PLANES

LIGII1″PLANES

Sir,

The articles and the letter from Francis Kappey in the December MOTOR SPORT concerning old time aircraft interested me greatly. The Avro Avis mentioned by Francis Kappey was owned by a Capt. Baddeley in late 1927 ; he had a Potted landing near Birmingham at that time. The aircraft was then fitted with a Bristol Cherub engine. I believe that Capt. Baddeley bought this aircraft at an Oxford Street store where it was on exhibition, and I do not know its later history. The mention Of the 45-11.p. Aniani engines also interests me as it was I who soId these engines for installation in the A.N.E.C. These engines were found stored in a chicken run in Birmingham and I bought the lot. I sold them to variims people who were building or moilifying their own aircraft, including Blaekburns for testing the first Bluebird. and. among others, to a gentleman who built an aircraft from the rear end of a Bristol Fighter with a Fokker wing fastened to the top longerons, and it flew !

The Anzani engines had originally been intended for the Austin Whippet made by Austin Motors about 1919. This little aircraft was before its time and had nearly everything for the ideal cheap single-seater, including all-metal fuselage and folding wings, and is just the type needed today for getting in solo hours under the existing ” A ” licence arrangements. Hoping the above may interest some of your readers, and wishing your excellent. journal the compliments of the season. I ant. Yours, etc.,

Portsmout It. W. J. lisr4.srm. * .* *