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Need Help To Identify This Bi-plane

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Avro Anson A4-4	Posted: Apr 11 2014, 11:23 AM
DH Tigermpth (A17) Group: Members Posts: 11 Member No.: 7,411 Joined: 22-October 13	Hi guys, I'm hoping that someone could help me identify the bi-plane below (IMG:http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k485/Coopjack1/imagejpg1_zpsc2930199.jpg) The photo was taken in Alexandra Victoria in the early 1930's. The identity of the plane is required for a historical fact sheet that is being prepared on Alexandra and it's surrounds. Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers This post has been edited by Avro Anson A4-4 on Apr 11 2014, 03:02 PM

Martin Edwards	Posted: Apr 11 2014, 10:49 PM
FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05	You have certainly stumped me with this one! I have posted the question on a couple of Facebook pages in case someone more knowledgeable than me recognises it.

Ron Cuskelly	Posted: Apr 12 2014, 07:37 AM
General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 212 Member No.: 83 Joined: 11-March 06	Martin I believe that to be a Sopwith Gnu, probably VH-UBY. Regards Ron

Avro Anson A4-4	Posted: Apr 12 2014, 08:44 AM
DH Tigermpth (A17) Group: Members Posts: 11 Member No.: 7,411 Joined: 22-October 13	Thanks for your help guys! Cheers

Martin Edwards	Posted: Apr 12 2014, 11:17 AM
FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05	Great Gnus Ron, you have it! VH-UBY Sopwith Gnu Photo Ed Cotes Collection http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austu/vhuby.html Attached Image

Martin Edwards	Posted: Apr 12 2014, 11:59 AM
FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05	The following from ''The Historic Civil Aircraft Register of Australia (Pre War) by Bert Cookson" courtesy of Ron Cuskelly Attached Image

Avro Anson A4-4	Posted: Apr 12 2014, 01:31 PM
DH Tigermpth (A17) Group: Members Posts: 11 Member No.: 7,411 Joined: 22-October 13	The name on that register, K Farmer matches the newspaper clipping I've seen mentioning " Mr Keith Farmer a well known Shell Aviator" Amazing replies guys thanks so much!

Brendan Cowan	Posted: Apr 12 2014, 04:38 PM
Messageboard Co-ordinator Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,458 Member No.: 48 Joined: 20-September 05	You can find some more information and photos here: http://www.pirep.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t...33b3d308e427a1a Cheers Brendan

Brendan Cowan	Posted: Apr 12 2014, 04:42 PM
Messageboard Co-ordinator Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,458 Member No.: 48 Joined: 20-September 05	And the other Sopwith Gnu in Australia G-AUBX: http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austu/G-AUBX.html (IMG:http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austu/VH-UBX.jpg) Also from the every informative Eddie Coates Collection. Cheers BC

Avro Anson A4-4	Posted: Apr 12 2014, 06:43 PM
DH Tigermpth (A17) Group: Members Posts: 11 Member No.: 7,411 Joined: 22-October 13	Here's the article I was talking about. (IMG:http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k485/Coopjack1/imagejpg1_zpsfa18a07e.jpg)

Martin Edwards	Posted: Apr 13 2014, 01:26 AM
FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05	UBX is a very different looking aircraft to UBY

Ron Cuskelly	Posted: Apr 13 2014, 11:49 AM
General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 212 Member No.: 83 Joined: 11-March 06	Martin and all Someone on that other forum suggested a consultation with Hopton. John advises that it's definitely the Gnu VH-UBY. He also advises that he's going into hospital in the morning so let's hope it's good gnus for him too. Regards Ron

Martin Edwards	Posted: Apr 13 2014, 05:35 PM
FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05	What other forum? ;) Please pass our best wishes to John if you are able.

derekbu	Posted: Apr 13 2014, 06:09 PM
CAC Sabre (A94) Group: Members Posts: 74 Member No.: 3,826 Joined: 28-November 10	AUBX (ex G-EAHQ) was imported with a cowled LeRhone engine, AUBY (ex G-EAIL) was imported with a cowled Bentley engine. UBY looked quite similar to UBX before it went through a series of modifications. Regards, Derek

Martin Edwards	Posted: Apr 15 2014, 10:38 AM
FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05	There were two models of Gnu, one with 110hp Le Rhone and the other with 200hp Bentley. UBX was a conventional open cockpit whilst UBY was a ''3 seater limousine'' Article from a 1919 Fight Magazine. Attached Image

Brendan Cowan

Posted: Apr 15 2014, 10:52 AM

Messageboard Co-ordinator

Group: ADF Serials Admin
Posts: 2,458
Member No.: 48
Joined: 20-September 05

You can find more New/Gnu information at:

http://flyingmachines.ru/Site2/Crafts/Craft30101.htm

It includes reference to VH-UBY being fitted later with a Wright Whirlwind J-5 radial engine.

Here are some notes from this site:

QUOTE

That many modifications were made to Gnus is clear, though the Australian installation of a Wright Whirlwind engine is touched on only at the very end of this chapter. Another Australian 'mod' was the fitting of an 18-gal (82 litre) petrol tank under the centre section, and thus above the pilot's seat. With a Gnu so fitted, from a little clearing on a bend of the River Murray, F. S. Briggs essayed a take-off in this 'heavily loaded machine of small horse-power' (as he described it). Briggs climbed as steeply as he dared, but one cylinder of the 110 hp Le Rhone cut out and a 60-ft fall into a gum tree Briggs considered ‘fortunate’. Even so, as the Gnu stalled, he put his right hand over the side to switch off the engine - only to get his hand trapped, and a finger fractured, by the three-ply side of the fuselage. Into the bargain, he got an involuntary bath in 18 gallons of petrol. No fire, thank Heaven; but the petrol stung 'like Hades'.

QUOTE

K-169 (G-EAHQ) to Larkin-Sopwith Aviation Co, Melbourne, as G-AUBX, registration cancelled (after use by Fulham Air Transport, Melbourne) March 1922;
G-EAIL to Larkin-Sopwith as G-AUBY, privately used, destroyed in freak storm April 1946;
G-EAIM to Larkin-Sopwith (believed as spares);

So there might have been a third Gnu in Australia that was never registered here!

P.S. Very best wishes to John Hopton.

Attached Image

Martin Edwards	Posted: May 8 2014, 10:14 PM
FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05	I came across an interesting fact regarding Sopwith Gnu G-AUBX The first descent from an aircraft by parachute in Australia was by Captain G C Wilson at Epsom Race Course Mordialloc, Vic. on 26th December 1919 The plane involved was G-AUBX Attached Image

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