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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 0281.PDF
I LIGHT International, 21 February 1963 267 Correspondence was immediately undertaken with the United States Air Force Museum at Dayton, Ohio, where another Bentley BR.2 engine reposed on display. The engine was forwarded to me quickly through the excellent co-operation of Mr Mark J. Sloan and the museum staff, and its innards were dissected for needed samples to make a new cam ring. By March 1961, with new inlet and exhaust cam rings plus all new bearings, the Bentley was again assembled and installed in the Snipe. Painting and marking then was completed and the aircraft was air-lifted to Wright Field at Dayton, just in time for the First Annual Reunion of Veterans of the American Expeditionary Force, which was scheduled for June 24-27, 1961. Here the Snipe was assembled, put on display and shown pub licly for the first time. The engine behaved extremely well, always starting with the first pull of the prop, and in every respect the aircraft was ready for the air. Although certificated as airworthy, the registration had been delayed through my inability to contact the owner and arrange for necessary documentation. The registered owner, Mr Reginald Denny, was at that time working in My Fair Lady on Broadway in New York, and 1 hope he will forgive me if 1 say he was difficult to get in touch with. Thus the FAA had no alternative other than to deny me the opportunity to fly in the show. I am told, however, that one short taxi run developed into an ex tremely low-altitude pass. After the show, the Snipe was again disassembled and flown back to Lo6 Angeles for storage until its disposition could be decided. Upon detailed inspection, one can find practically an original aircraft here, through the combined efforts of many British firms who co-operated tirelessly in providing me with technical data and parts with which to effect the restoration as accurately as present knowledge permits. The instruments, thanks to Smiths, are ori ginal or have been made from original drawings. The armament is original, although the guns are 11mm. The cartridge boxes, link chutes, feed chutes, the gunsight and all controls are made from original drawings. One of the most frustrating experiences occurred during the manufacture of the gunsight when, just after committing myself to the machining of the entire assembly with all lens mounts, etc, an original Aldis sight was found in Washington, DC, in its factory shipping case complete with a still-usable rubber eyepiece. Such are ever the experiences of the dedicated restorer. Seated in the cockpit, one finds the scene surprisingly busy for an aircraft of its particular era. The smell of castor oil and petrol is heavenly and the view forward and upward extremely good. One's line of vision lies just under the centre-section rear spar and Sopwith For the 1961 AEF Veterans' Reunion at Wright Field the Snipe was flown from California in a USAF C-II9 obligingly supplies a generously padded section on the spar for one's forehead for gunsighting and sudden stops. Engine opera tion is surprisingly simple after a little experience has been gained with the manipulation of the throttle and mixture control. If one depresses the "blip" button on the stick-grip at high power, waits a moment while the engine runs down, and then lifts one's finger off the button, the Snipe will gracefully lean over—nearly touching the ground with the left wingtip—as the Bentley roars back to life in a cloud of castor smoke. All this play is some slight repay ment for the time, effort and dollars expended. [At the present time the Snipe is on display at the Air Force Museum in Dayton on a loan basis. Paperwork permitting the aircraft to be flown has now been completed. Mr Denny (the owner) and Mr Canary (the restorer) are attempting to find a permanent home for the Snipe, in England if possible, and are offering the machine for sale. Enquiries to Mr Canary, who now resides in West Germany, may be addressed c/o "Flight International."—Ed.], ". . . and the view forward and upward extremely good' I IIHnnimim^jgiijriijirT ••••,; - \, \ \
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