The Ongoing Mystery Aircraft Thread Part Deux.

[grumpos]

I know, I know, I know....

Westland P.V.7

I knew that my Bumper book of Westland aircraft would come in handy one day.

Best wishes
Steve P

[lefty]

You got it, Steve ! What other Bumper Books do you have for a new mystery ???

[grumpos]

Not got a bumper book of this company's products but one day...

[lefty]

Having a spot of bother here. The whole thing shrieks de Havilland, but that tail isn't right - the angled rudder section above the hinge is just not DH.

Is that a side-by-side cockpit ? Hmm.... Come Kevin - you must be awake by now!

[Moses03]

I'm still recovering from trying to find that blasted Astra-Paulhan. Will check back in when the biplane nightmare has passed.

[grumpos]

Mike's racing away here. Yes it is a two-seater, and no it isn't a de Havilland. That leaves us with...

I'm surprised that this one has lasted. The company went on to produce a couple of the Second World War's most successful aircraft.

[grumpos]

Another view...

[lefty]

Well I think I've covered Hawker, Avro, Fairey, Bristol, Short, Gloster, Boulton Paul, so far...........

[grumpos]

A quick final clue before all is revealed in a few hours.

The name of this little tinker was reused on one of Britain's most important post-war aircraft.

[grumpos]

OK, looks like nobody is going to get this one so...

Austin Kestrel.

Austin produced Hurricanes and Lancasters (amongst other types) during WW2. Hawker Siddley designed the Kestrel in the post-war years.

Great footage of the Austin workforce at the bottom of this page:

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...icial%26sa%3DG

Nothing lined up at the mo so,

OPEN FLOOR!

[lefty]

Well that was suitably obscure, Steve, I fear the Bumper Book of Austin Aircraft will be a long time coming out !

Our Moses is getting a bit ratty about all these biplanes, so we'll revert to a monoplane this time. Only clue is that this has a very strong connection to another machine posted quite recently. An extra dram for the connection.

[Moses03]

Salmson-Lebeau Droopwing? You got me...

[& Co.]

You got me too...

(wish I had that sabbatical mentioned earlier )

[lefty]

OK, general surrender, I see.

This is the Holle Varioplane, built in Britain but designed by a Dutchman, A.A.Holle. Mynheer Holle also designed the Alula wing, seen on Ferry's Martinsyde Semiquaver, hence the link I mentioned. The Varioplane also had some very advanced features for 1917.

Now for something entirely different - let's see who is first to this !

[Ferry_vO]

I was on the right track investigating mr. Holle, but unfortunately only found dead ends.

Your new one's a Ling-Temco-Vought XC-142A.