Posted by Bob Grimstead on Sunday, September 6, 2020 @ 09:01 PM:
This prototype of René's ideal trainer first flew on 16th May 1974.
It appeared at the Paris airshow at least once (and probably twice).
I have seen photographs of it in three colour schemes, seen here.
In the mid/late nineties it went to the Aéro Club du Vexin, in Normandy, northern France.
[Edit by Bob Grimstead on Friday, September 11, 2020 @ 10:13 PM]
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Friday, September 11, 2020 @ 10:08 PM:
I have been told the following information by Martial Pain of 'LE TRAIT D’UNION’ 310.
First flight took place on 12.03.74 at Athée-Nitray, pilot Bernard Chauvreau. My information says 12th May, but no matter.
The aircraft originally carried the provisional registration F-WPXV, and this alternated with its final registration of F-BPXV until 1978.
F-BPXV was exhibited at the Paris Air Show in June 1975.
On 1st August 1976 it was present at the RSA (like EAA or LAA) rally of Saint-Junien.
It originally had a Continental C-90 engine, so was designated LP on 16th February 1977 as RF-6B.90. Then it was re-engined with an O-200 and re-designated on 22nd June 1977 as RF-6B.100.
"CdN of 09.11.79, CI n ° B-16814." I do not fully know what this means, except that CdN presumably stands for Certificate de Navigabilité – what we would call a Certificate of Airworthiness.
05.06.80 Aero Sport Association. Saint Laurent de Mure, departure-69.
08.01.83 Aéroclub du Soleil, Le Castellet, departure-83.
Change of colour scheme.
13th February 1992 it went to the Aéroclub du Vexin, Etrépagny, Normandy from part-27.
Noted out of service on 20th May 2000 in Etrépagny.
Noted dismantled in Etrépagny on 12th April 2002.
Stored disassembled in March 2016 in Etrépagny, fuselage stripped.
I shall provide information on the progress of re-assembling/restoring this airframe if I ever make any progress,
[Edit by Bob Grimstead on Saturday, September 12, 2020 @ 09:47 PM]
[Edit by Bob Grimstead on Saturday, January 8, 2022 @ 11:26 PM]
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Friday, September 11, 2020 @ 10:24 PM:
If I had not collected the remains of this aeroplane, it would have been scrapped.
The only components remaining of this historic prototype F-BPXV when I collected it from Normandy were the fuselage and the wing.
The parts missing are:
The log books (airframe and engine)
The engine, a (Rolls-Royce) Continental O-200-A
The propeller, a Hoffmann HO 14-175-110
The spinner
The cowlings
The complete landing gear with wheels & brakes
The canopy and its mechanisms
Both seats
The tailplane (horizontal stabilizer)
Both elevators
The fin (vertical stabilizer)
The rudder
I would love to be able to re-fit everything back together and make this aeroplane fly again, but obviously I cannot do so until I have all its parts (original or replacement) so I would be very grateful for any information leading to the whereabouts of any or all of these components.
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Saturday, August 12, 2023 @ 09:20 AM:
Three years later, and progress is at last taking place.
With Dave Bland at his Malvern workshop, we are stripping and thoroughly inspecting its wing, ailerons & flaps preparatory to a little woodwork rectification & re-covering prior to incorporating it in the assembly of G-RFGB.
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Friday, January 19, 2024 @ 11:38 AM:
The brief was: maximum yellowness, minimum weight. Polyfiber rules 😃
Dave did an absolutely masterful job in a reasonable timescale and for a reasonable price.
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Friday, January 19, 2024 @ 11:51 AM:
Another 150 miles with that unwieldy trailer over Britain's awful potholed roads and it's safely back in my hangar...
Lots of manpower from my airstrip mates plus the loan of the farmer's son with his quad bike and we're over the airstrip's mud.
So why are Wagon's fin and rudder missing? Because Dave is carefully lacquering René's signatures and painting stripes on the rudder.
[Edit by Bob Grimstead on Friday, January 19, 2024 @ 11:52 AM]
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 @ 01:14 PM:
Then I prepared its stripped fuselage by cleaning off all the old dope with MEK, and filling depressions with a slurry of West epoxy & microballoons...
...towed it to The Light Aircraft Company at Little Snoring...
...and under their supervision and with their help covered it with black (underside) and yellow Oratex.
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 @ 01:38 PM:
During the past yearI have mostly been occupied with collecting all the missing major components I need. I managed to discover a half-life O-200 engine from my restorer friend Mark Masters.
While fellow owner James Hallam donated the empennage and undercarriage from the deceased G-BKIF.
And Fournier wizard Dave Bland gave them a light 'blow-over' in the correct matching shade of yellow.
So far I have only fitted one aileron and flap set to the wing.
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 @ 01:48 PM:
My biggest obstacle will be getting the British authorities to allow G-RFGB to operate on a Permit to Fly. Apparently some smart CAA lawyer currently suddenly popped up to say there's some medieval 20th Century law preventing it, despite all the other English-speaking countries (all of whom must abide by ICAO diktats) allow it.
Anyhow, meanwhile I have tried to keep myself optimistic by fitting 'KIF's smashed cowlings to 'GB's fuselage and mocking up my preferred paint scheme. When repaired, the whole cowlings will be black.
My mock-up showed me I must move the black area further forward, but otherwise I think I am quite pleased with it.
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Posted by SteveBeaver on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 @ 08:54 AM:
Love that colour scheme Bob. It's going to be a beautiful a/c 
Posted by Bob Grimstead on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 @ 01:58 PM:
Thank you Steve, The idea is it should kinda be the opposite of G-BLWH so that we can fly together.
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Posted by Bob Grimstead on Sunday, October 13, 2024 @ 04:43 AM:
Sadly, G-BKIF's wing was damaged beyond repair, but this did mean I could cut out its landing gear legs (with a chainsaw! 😱
I also bought this wrecked Slingsby T67C from which I should be able to use the canopy.
I think I now have all the major components required, so there are two jobs left: convince the authorities to allow it on a Permit to Fly (like Experimental) and nail it together.
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