1944 L4H CUB AQUIRED.

[Rod Rushton]

Yesterday I went to collect the new toy - a 1944 L4H Cub from Perranporth in Cornwall.
After many years I finally have a share in my favourite aeroplane!
It was accepted in July '44 and shipped to England on 10th September 1944 to be issued to the 8th AF
After the War it went to Belgium and finally back to England in about 1986 and registered G-AKIB.

Fitted with the non-standard 90HP engine and an additional wing fuel tank - a very good set of mods in my opinion - the aircraft suffered a Woopsy and went for a complete rebuild a couple of years ago and the slightly non-standard full set of invasion stripes applied over the olive drab/grey.
Apart from a few little cosmetic touch ups, it is ready to go and celebrate the Piper Cub's 75th Anniversary this year.

My regular pilot/partner has already a very nice L18 Cub in USAF livery and in the past couple of years I have flown with him in an L4 and the ultra rare AE-1 Ambulance Cub, both of which are sold. He would also fly my DH Chipmunk for me too until I sold that a couple of years ago.
Much as I like Jeeps, for the past 10 years I have realised a lifelong interest in flying and old Ex-military aircraft.

I'll keep you posted
Regards
RR

[foofymonster]

would you be interested in using these aircraft authentically with us for ten days April/May 2015 ? Flying them and having them serviced in the field and spotting for multiple armored columns ?

Youtube

look up

Artilery spoter buzzes WW2 convoy

I know, the spelling is not mine

http://www.2ndarmoredineurope.co.uk

Peter

[Avn-Tech]

Rod,

congratulations on your purchase, I can not wait to see photos.

I have 3 ea, L-5's that I am restoring; along with 2 ea, PT-19's and a Yak-52.
I also have a static display Fouga Jet, F-5F and an F-86D.

Laterrrrrr
Avn-Tech

[wjohn]

artilelry spooter buzzes ww2 convoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShSfITzRT5Y

[Rod Rushton]

Hi Guys
Thank you for your interest.
I have no pictures of it at the moment but will take some soon. Meanwhile if you go onto G-INFO site or Google the registration G-AKIB there are some photos taken in the past posted there.
Two years ago several historic aircraft performed a couple of fly - bies at the Slapton Sands Memorial, and weather permitting we shall do the same around the 19 / 20th of this month as the re-enactor group are holding an event there. (Operation Tiger)
Whenever original wartime footage is shown on TV of Slapton - I always look out for the L4 flying through the frame.

Last June two Cubs landed at 6am on the sand at Braunton Burrows - another D-Day training beach. It was a magic flight through the early dawn mist, and fortunately there was no one about at the time!

We often try and give the local MV Groups a showing and in July we have the 40th Anniversary of our airfield - see Devon Strut/Eggesford Airfield showing all the types there are there.
Eggesford houses the largest number of Auster Aircraft and in particular the most Auster AOP Mk9's in the country, and has a couple undergoing rebuilds at the moment.
More pics will follow....
Regards
RR

[Rod Rushton]

Last weekend the weather was finally good enough to fly. Our first trip was to the former USN Base of Dunkerswell, now a thriving GA airfield about 1/2 hours flight from our base at Eggesford.
On Sunday we went up to Popham via Compton Abbas, for the Vintage Piper Club Meet. The return was via Old Sarum (nice cake!)one of the UK's oldest historic airfields, total journey time of nearly 5 hours.
The Cub performed faultlessly, and the weather was calm and sunny - for a change!
Still a few cosmetic details to carry out, and make a more comfortable seat squab for me in the front!
Here is a photo taken at Dunkerswell.

CUB L4H 001.JPG (128.86 KiB) Viewed 777 times

[Bill M]

Nice wings Rod!
Bill.

[Rod Rushton]

Thank you - I think so too.
I don't know why I had not bought one before now; I have had two bouts of Lymphoma and after the last lot I sold my DHC Chipmunk, but continued to fly with my friend, who has had several Cubs, and who had been keeping an eye on this one for a long time.
I am now in my 68th year and thought I'd better get one before it's too late! As this one was the one we both considered "The Perfect One" I just had to have it and darn the consequences!
We just love flying low & slow over our interesting countryside!
Photos of the restoration of both the Cubs are on the Sky4 website at Branscombe Airfield, Devon.
Regards
RR

[lowbonnet]

Fantastic! Congratulations.

[Rod Rushton]

Hi All,
I thought I would update the article and include a photo taken during the Fly-By over the Devon Military Vehicle Trust meeting at Buckfastleigh in July.
More recently Cobbaton Combat Museum in North Devon held a VJ Weekend and Commemorative Service and we were asked to give them a Fly-By too. We arrived at the appointed time just as the ceremony ended, and it was reported that the effort was well received
The other aircraft with the L4H was the only remaining Mk3 Auster, known as the "Burma Auster" as it saw service there during the War - and had particular significance for the Veterans present. I will try to obtain a photo of this and will attach at a later date.

L4H over Buckfastleigh 07 12.jpg (161.81 KiB) Viewed 406 times