1946 Aeronca 11BC Chief
.
Welcome back everyone to our vehicle of the month series. This August, we are introducing our Aero Facts Disc.
.
This month our feature story is about a 1946 Aeronca 11BC Chief called ‘Oscar’.
.
Aircrafts have unique stories to tell just like our beloved classic vehicles, sometimes they are often hidden from the world with no easy way of sharing them. Well, we’re about to change that with our most recent launch of Aero Facts Discs.
Charlotte was one of the first pilots to embrace our latest product. She chose the Chief as her father had one when she was a child, which he imported himself and was the first in the country. It was registered with his name, G-IVOR and was a well known machine in the Aeronca community. Here's how she highlights some of the key moments in her aircraft's life...
.
'Oscar' is a 1946 Aeronca 11BC Chief
owned by Charlotte Dadswell and Andrew Collicott. Restoration was completed in 2020 by Classic & Vintage Aircraft Services.
owned by Charlotte Dadswell and Andrew Collicott. Restoration was completed in 2020 by Classic & Vintage Aircraft Services.
.
The aircraft won the inaugural Rob Wildeboer Cup for best restoration at the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation at the Goodwood Revival in 2021.
.
.
17th April 2017
Andrew, Charlotte and Oscar safely arrived at Goodwood after their first flight, collecting Oscar from Ventfield Farm near Oxford.
.
.
12th June 2017
Air-to-air shot from a PA28 with some flap out!
Flying back to Goodwood after a day out at Compton Abbas with the Real Flying Company team.
.
.
1st August 2017
Charlotte clocked up 2,000 flying hours during a flight from Goodwood with Andrew.
.
.
15th August 2017
First landing at home! The strip is only 230m/250yd long but even with only 65hp the Chief has excellent short-field performance.
.
.
15th August 2017
Time to put the aircraft away. It's starting to look like a hangar but there is plenty more work to do!
.
.
26th January 2018
All dismantled and ready to go for rebuild...Classic & Vintage Aircraft Services here we come!
.
.
5th June 2020
New Hercules propeller, a thing of beauty as well as a performance enhancement!
.
.
August and September 2020
All logos and text on the aicraft are painted, no stickers here! Fantastic detailing from Classic & Vintage Aircraft Services. Additional lifting handle on the rear fuselage (one each side now) for easy manoeuvring by hand on the ground.
.
.
1st September 2020
New floor...too pretty to put your feet on!
.
.
23rd September 2020
The clear roof panel is a modification, allowing more light into the cockpit and improving visibility. As Oscar operates on a LAA Permit to Fly, such mods are much easier to arrange than for a C of A aircraft. Many thanks to the LAA Engineering team for their support during the rebuild.
.
.
September - October 2020
Engine runs and final preparations for flight...
An upgrade from Continental A-65 to C-85 along with the new prop. means better short-field performance for our 230 metre strip. With this modification the aircraft is converted from 11AC to 11BC specification.
.
.
4th November 2020
Charlotte airborne on the first test flight!
Glorious weather and the aircraft performed faultlessly. A short local flight from Lee-on-Solent, then on to Goodwood where the test flying would be completed.
The last day before Covid lockdown.
.
.
Oscar at Goodwood on the day of the first post-rebuild flight.
.
.
8th December 2020
Test flying resumes post-lockdown.
.
.
31st May 2021
Back home, test flying complete and with a new Permit to Fly.
.
.
16th September 2021
Just arrived at Goodwood to compete in the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation at Goodwood Revival.
.
.
19th September 2021
Oscar won the inaugural Rob Wildeboer Cup for best restoration in the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation at Goodwood Revival.
.
This meant a lot to all concerned as it was awarded in memory of a much missed friend and colleague of Charlotte.
.
Well deserved recognition of the quality of work by Mark and James Masters of Classic & Vintage Aircraft Services in making Charlotte and Andrew’s vision a reality.
.
.
1st July 2023
Oscar was invited to exhibit at the Army Flying Museum’s Wheels and Wings Event at Middle Wallop. The first event with Oscar proudly displaying his Aeroplane Facts Disc! Maybe some of you found this there…
.
.
1st July 2023
Great picture by Plane Richie of Oscar departing from Wallop Wheels and Wings.
.
As it happens, 'Oscar' is going to attend the LLA Grass Roots Fly-In on the 18th of August 2023 at Popham Airfield. If like us, you're local to the area and can attend the event, you'll have a chance to meet this magnificent aircraft from up close amongst other aeroplanes that day. The event itself is spread over 3 days, and it's one of the biggest general aviation events of its kind making it the perfect weekend activity for any aviation enthusiast.
Stay tuned in, enjoy August, and Thank you for continuing to read the stories we share!
Stay tuned in, enjoy August, and Thank you for continuing to read the stories we share!