The photograph comes to us via our Finnish specialist Eino Ritaranta. YR-ABY paid a visit to Finland during the mid thirties but we know nothing more about it. Can anyone positively identify the type or add any other information about this particular aircraft or the purpose of its visit? There is an inscription on the tail fin but it is not possible to read it.
We have at least positively identified YR-ABY. This is a Fleet 10 or 11 (the US model 11 being the same as the Canadian model 10D) fitted with nonstandard spats and a Townsend (?) ring over the Kinner radial. Jack Meaden, Terry Judge and Stefan Barnickel win the recognition prize, but variously suggest that YR-ABY was a European demonstrator or one of several exported to Rumania in 1934/5. Terry promises more details later, keep the lines open....

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fleet Model 10 / 16 Finch - КанадаCanada - 1935

The photograph which comes to us via Roderick Simpson, may raise a few comments from readers. The back of the print is merely marked "In the grill-room at Khartoum" and is undated. In the foreground is Whitney Straight HB-EPI c/n 349 and facing the camera is "Delia" the Imperial Airways DH.86 G-ACWC c/n 2304. The presence of the DH.86 enables us to date the photo between 1935 and 1941, can anyone be more accurate? Perhaps the purpose of the Straight's visit is also known - part of a long distance flight perhaps? The structure between the two aircraft also raises some editorial doubts - is it a partly complete hangar? a wind-break? an early attempt at damming the Nile?? There could almost be a prize for the best answer, but surely there are readers with knowledge of pre-war or wartime Khartoum who can reveal the truth.
Our photo of Whitney Straight HB-EPI (83/30) has been accurately identified. The aircraft was owned by Dr. Kurt Tschudi who flew it in February 1938 from Bergamo to North Africa, up the Nile Valley, across the southern Sahara and back via the north coast. Tschudi had made a shorter trip previously in a Luscombe Phantom and took delivery of HB-EPI in 8.37. B.A.Clarke and P.E.Skinner tied down the facts but apart from 'a giant sun-shade and wind-break' the large structure in the photo is still unidentified.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Express Air Liner / D.H.86 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934Miles Whitney Straight / M.11 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1936

Here we have a shot from Malcolm Fillmore's collection which comes from a badly scratched negative. It shows a DH Dragon labelled "The Daily Express Airplane" which is clearly owned or operated by Air Commerce Ltd but there is no other visible identity. Malcolm knows that Air Commerce operated G-AEKZ briefly in 1936, so is that the correct identity and what did the Daily Express use the aircraft for?
Way back we published a photograph of a DH Dragon labelled "The Daily Express Airplane" and "Air Commerce". Flt/Lt Sunderland points out that Leonard Stace, a director of Air Commerce, owned two Dragons, G-ACGG from 4.36 to 12.37 and G-AEKZ from 8.36 to 4.39. Presumably the newspaper hired one, possibly for the Coronation in 1937, so we still do not have a definite identification.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Dragon / D.H.84 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1932

Our mention in Feedback p82/27 of the Walsh Bros Flying Boats prompted Keith Cruttenden to send this Auckland Institute & Museum shot of one of their aircraft taking off at Kohimarama, now known as Mission Bay. The caption records that this aircraft was powered by an 80hp Anzani engine and reference to our listing on page 81/3 identifies it as the Walsh Solo Flying Boat c/n 4 of 1918. A clear resemblance to the Curtiss model F is apparent although little detail is discernable.
After ARCHIVE 2/83 was printed the Editor noticed that there were apparently two people in the 'Solo Flying Boat'! Now Warren P.Russell has positively identified the photo as being of the Curtiss Flying Boat 'B' in its original version "No.1 Bus". The engine details quoted on the official Museum photo are clearly incorrect as a Curtiss OX-5 was always used.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Curtiss F - СШАUSA - 1913

Via E.D.Daw we have recently received this photo of G-AAKK piloted by Francis Chichester arriving in Australia on 30.1.30. Since his flight terminated at Darwin on 25.1.30 and Sydney on 31.1.30 there seems to be an error here somewhere! It is also noticeable that the Moth is not carrying the name "Mme Elijah" which was definitely worn during the trans-Tasman crossing as ZK-AKK in 1931.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Gipsy Moth / Moth X - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1928