Seen at Salisbury this morning.........

[Pete]

A bonus to a morning at the market.
The Scout is owned, maintained, and flown by the grandson of the original pilot who flew it in 1914-18.
He told me it was the only airworthy example left. The Lewis gun wasn't synchronised, and they found that 1-2 in 10 rounds would go through the prop. blade.
The pic is of an original prop with two hits that had been repaired at the time. Engine is a Rhone 85 hp radial with 4.5:1 comp ratio. It can easily be swung over with one hand.
A beautiful bit of aviation history in good useable condition that can stay airborne for two or more hours and climb at nearly 45 degrees.
He took it to Greece in a trailer last year and flew it from the same airfield as his grandfather did exactly 100 years ago.
The best bit for me is that it's not concours.......it's grubby, drips oil, (total loss system with exposed valve rockers, runs on castor oil), and looks like it's used and enjoyed.

A bit like my 1991 Eunos...........

Pete

[ovenpaa]

Lovely, I do wonder how long it takes to fit and trim the wings after transport to a location other than by flying it.

[Dahonis]

A good find

......and a fantastic insight into our past aviation. We truly have come a long way!!

Thank you for sharing.

[Pete]

Guys, it's a replica, (which wasn't mentioned this morning)............only an engine, control stick, rudder bar, and magneto are original parts.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29736999

Still, an interesting project nevertheless,

Pete

[Pete]

In the excitement of seeing it there, dripping oil, and looking as though it had just landed after a sortie, my inner small boy took over...............
It simply didn't occur to me that it was a replica. Only an engine, magneto, and a couple of the controls had survived.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29736999


Pete

[1066]

I've just read "Flying Fury" ….James McCudden VC.

This is his account of five years of flying in the Royal Flying Corps. 57 victories by the time he died at the age of 23 in 1918. The hardship these early pilots endured is hard to comprehend, patroling at 20,000 feet in the middle of winter in an open cockpit with no oxygen, and I was amazed at how unreliable the guns were, often jams after every few rounds and standing on your seat to change the drum on the Lewis guns while flying with your knees.

Certainly a good read if it's in your interest zone.

[ovenpaa]

This is it in flight and it gives you an idea of just how these things were.

[safetyfirst]

.only an engine, control stick, rudder bar, and magneto are original parts.
Pete

What do you mean? There aren’t any other parts!

The rest is just string cloth and wood!