Our Next Project

[Molyned]

One of the more interesting but maybe underlooked post war aircraft was the Boulton Paul Balliol advanced trainer.
As originally built in 1948 it was the world's first single engined aircraft with an 'airscrew turbine' a.k.a a turboprop. This was the Armstrong Siddeley Mamba.
However, production delays etc. caused 'the Ministry' to change its mind and after 3 were built, subsequent aircraft were fitted with the R.R. Merlins which were in plentiful supply in the immediate post-war days.
The majority (196) were for the R.A.F. and 30 were T.21 Sea Balliols with arrestor hooks and a few other mods.
Such an aircraft, WL732 is preserved in the Cosford museum.
This is what we are modelling for FS9 -

Here's a first look - very much in an early stage of W.I.P. so don't hold yer breath.
Cheers
Dave M(oly)

[DaveB]

Looking pretty darned good thus far Dave I was hoping to see a Piston Provost but this'll do nicely

ATB
DaveB

[Rich]

I have a piston Provost done by Dev 1 check Britsim it is Fs9 but works in FSX .
Works for me.

Provost T1 V2.0

Keith Paine V2.0 11 Sept 2011.

Been hoping the Sea Balliol would appear for some time

[Tomliner]

Looks good Dave.This is one of the types that as a boy I used to see flying in or out of Hucknall in the fifties.For some reason , in my mind, I always associate the Balliol with the Avro Athena EricT

[Molyned]

Stop it you lot ! let me get this one done first before polluting my feeble mind with other build plans .
Ah Hucknall I used to watch the aircraft as a small boy from the golf course. I once saw the flying bedstead there at some date back in the foggy past.
I suppose it's now very non-pc to mention my newt catching trips in the old brickworks ponds there.
Dave M(oly)

[DaveB]

I suppose it's now very non-pc to mention my newt catching trips in the old brickworks ponds there

As long as you didn't eat 'em or attach them to fireworks, I'm good with that Dave

ATB
DaveB

[Tomliner]

Hi Dave.I wasn't hinting at you starting another type! That's not my style There used to be such a variety of types at Hucknall.Many's the time we used to cycle there and sit on top of embankment near the end of the runway.This was probably where my interest in aviation started. Regarding the brickworks,the last time I was down there I noticed that the old chimneys had gone.ATB EricT

[thehappyotter]

The chimneys were demolished in 2009 sadly, they used to be a brilliant landmark of being nearly home from the M1.

Their demise was kept very quiet but, working at Eastwood at the time, we were given a heads up in case anything went wrong. I stood from a field away and watched their demolition, catching it on a now sadly lost to HD failure video.

Was a sad day (not that I ever hid down there and had 40 winks on nights...)

The official party line was that they were unsafe, suspiciously enough a large 'for sale for development' board was put up on the perimeter fence a short time later...

It still sits derelict and empty to this day.