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The Fairchild 24 Argus (also known as the Forwarder) was a four seat light communications aircraft, which first flew in 1933. Most had a 165hp Warner Scarab radial engine, though some later models (the 24R Argus III) had a 175hp Ranger inline. With a gross weight of 2,560lb, top speed of 130mph and 640 mile range, it was a useful, rugged performer for its day. Length is 23 feet 9 inches and wing span 36 feet 4 inches. Over 1,000 were built, including several for the US Army Air Force (UC-61 and a few as C-68) and US Navy (J2K), as well as several for the Royal Air Force.

This 24R was at Badminton in April 1988.

The design for the Globe Swift was reputedly inspired by Al Mooney's Culver Cadet. A racy two seater with retractable undercarriage, it was intially (under) powered by an 85hp Continental engine, though this was quickly upgraded to 125hp. The first aircraft flew in 1940, though the second world war delayed production until 1945. It is 20 feet 10 inches long, with a wing span of 29 feet 4 inches. It cruises at 125mph for a range of up to 1,000 miles. Gross weight is 1,975lb. 410 of the 85hp version were made, plus 1,090 of the higher powered version. Many were built by Temco in Texas.

This one was at Cranfield in July 1996.

The Great Lakes 2T-1A is a two seat biplane of robust construction, first flow in 1929. It is powered by a Kinner R-55 five cylinder radial engine. 250 were built in the 1920s and 30s; but the design was then revived in the 1970s, now powered by a 180hp Lycoming AEIO360. It cruises at 115mph for a range of 375 miles. A compact machine, it is 21 feet 2 inches long with a wing span of 26 feet 8 inches. Gross weight is 1,750lb. They are highly sought after, and a rare sight in Europe.

This one was at Cranfield, July 1998

The Grumman AA5 was a scaled-up four seat development of Jim Bede's American Aviation AA1. Originally powered by a 150hp Lycoming O-320 engine and named the Traveller, later versions included the AA5A Cheetah and the 180hp AA5B Tiger. It frist flew in August 1970. It cruises at 120mph, with top speed of 140mph and range of 475 miles (the Tiger manages 600). Gross weight is 2,200lb (2,400 for the Tiger). Length is 22 feet and wing span 31 feet 6 inches. Over 3,200 have been built; the aircraft is still available from Tiger Aircraft, who market it as the AG-5B.

This one was at Toussus-le-Noble in June 1979.

The Grumman Ag-Cat is a specialised agricultural aircraft which first flew in May 1957. Initially powered by a 220hp Continental radial engine, later versions had engines up to a 450hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 nine cylinder radial. It is a big aircraft, with a wing span of 35 feet 11 inches and gross weight of 4,500lb, though it is only 23 feet 4 inches long. The payload, including the single pilot, is 1,810lb, most of which are the chemicals for spraying. 2,640 were built.

This one was at Toussus-le-Noble in June 1979.

The Harlow PJC-2 was a two seater designed by John Harlow while he was a teacher at Pasadena Junior College. It is powered by a 165hp Warner Scarab radial, giving it a top speed of 160mph and cruising speed of 140mph, range of 490 miles, and gross weight of 2,300lb. It proved sufficiently good to put into production; 11 were built in 1939 and 1940 before the war caused production to cease. Length is 23 feet 4 inches and wing span 35 feet 10 inches. Four of them were impressed into service by the US Army Air Force, designated C-80.

This one was at Salinas in September 1981.

The Helio Courier is a rugged utility aircraft which first flew in 1952. Its speciality is hauling medium loads into and out of remote and awkward airstrips. For this, it is powered by a 295hp Lycoming GO-480 engine. This enables it to gross 3,400lb, of which over 1,300 is payload. It will seat six (the oldest versions seat four) and cruises at 160mph; range is 630 miles. Over 500 were built including many for the US Army, with whom it was designated U-10. It is 30 feet 4 inches long, with a wing span of 39 feet.

This one, complete with very striking colour scheme, was at Bellingham in September 1981.

The Helton Lark is a reincarnation of the 1941 Culver Cadet, which was initially designed by Al Mooney as a pilotless drone (USAAF designation was PQ-8). The Lark was built from 1962 onwards. The single-seat Lark is powered by a 90hp Continental C-90 and has a top speed of 140mph. It is 17 feet 8 inches long, with a wing span of 26 feet 11 inches. Gross weight is 1,475lb.

This one, the only one in Britain, visited Cranfield in 1998

The Lake LA4 is one of a very small number of amphibian aircraft. Lacking much competition (and being a pretty good aeroplane) it is quite popular, having sold over 1,000. It first flew as the Colonial Skimmer in July 1948; after the design was taken over by Lake Aircraft, it flew in LA4 form in November 1959. Initially powered by a 180hp Lycoming engine, it was later upgraded to 200hp (known as the Buccaneer) or 250hp (Renegade). Most versions are four seaters; the Renegade seats six. The Buccaneer grosses 2,700lb and cruises at 140mph; maximum range is 800 miles. It is 24 feet 11 inches long, with a wing span of 38 feet. Most notable feature is the strange engine mounting, designed to keep the intake and propeller as far clear of spray as possible when operating from water, at the expense of some dramatic trim changes with power.

This one was at Kidlington in June 1980.

The LeVier Cosmic Wind was designed as a specialist single seat racing aircraft by Tony LeVier, who at the time was working for Lockheed. It is a diminutive aircraft, only 420lb gross weight, 16 feet long and with 19'6" wing span, powered by an 85hp Continental engine. The type first flew in 1947. Three were built initially, and a small number have also been completed as homebuilts. One of the original four, `Ballerina', was entered with some success in the 1964 World Aerobatic Championship; the superb responsiveness of the controls more than compensated for the lack of an inverted fuel system, rather a handicap in competition aerobatics! Maximum diving speed is 300mph, astonishing for the available power.

This one was being prepared for a race at Teesside, date uncertain.

The Luscombe Silvaire is a stylish two seat touring aircraft which was first introdued in 1937 - almost a decade before the Cessna 120 and 140 with which it is visually easily confused. Almost 6,000 were built in many different versions, with various different engines from 50 to 90 horsepower. These gave a gross weight ranging from 1,200 to 1,400lb and maximum cruising speed between 100 and 110 mph. Typical range was 400 miles. It is 20 feet long, with a wing span of 35 feet. One of its best features is fuel economy. During the second world war, many were impressed for use by the US Army Air Force for light liaison duties, and were known as the C-90.

This one was at Leicester in July 1980.

The Maule M-4 Rocket first flew in September 1960. A tough, short take-off & landing machine, it was initially powered by a 145hp Continental engine. Progressive upgrades followed, leading ultimately to the  MX-7, which has a mighty 235hp Lycoming engine. This higher powered aircraft has a gross weight of 2,750lb and a top speed of 165mph, with a range of over 450 miles. A four seater, it is 22 feet long with a wing span of 29 feet 8 inches. Over 2,000 of all versions have been sold to date.

The top picture shows a Maule M-4 at Leicester in July 1980. The lower picture is an MX-7 which visited Top Farm in Autumn 2005.

Al Mooney designed his distinctive M-20 in the early 1950s; the first one flew in August 1953. Everything about the M-20 is optimised for speed, from the very thin, smooth surfaced wing to the extremely small frontal area for minimum drag. An unfortunate side effect of this is that the cockpit is very cramped, and the pilot's legs are stretched almost horizontally forward to reach the rudder pedals. Still, the performance is worth it: on 145hp, the initial versions cruised at 160mph over a range of 850 miles. Over time, the type has been progressively upgraded and renamed; examples include the M-20C Ranger, M-20E Chaparral, M-20F Executive, M-20G Statesman, M-20J Mooney 201, M-20K Mooney 231, M-20R Bravo, Encore and Ovation; and M-20S Eagle. All versions are four seaters, but they differ in gross weight (from 2,575lb initially to 3,370 for the Bravo), speed (the Bravo cruises at 240mph), range (the longest legged versions manage 1,150 miles), and power (the highest being the Bravo's 270hp Lycoming engine). Dimensions vary too, with length ranging from 23 feet 2 inches to 26 feet 9, and wing span from 35 feet to just over 36. All versions have the characteristic forward swept tail. They are generally regarded as up-market machines; over 7,500 have been built to date, with several versions (including the Bravo) still being in production.

(Top - M20J at Wellesbourne Mountford, January 2005. Centre - M20E at Skegness, July 2005. Bottom - M20F Executive at Cranfield, date uncertain.).