CAFU aircraft 1944–96
CAFU had 49 aircraft in total registered to them, the last two assigned in 1982.
There were 13 different types from seven separate manufacturers, six British & one American. There were four single engine types, and nine twin, six piston engine, two turboprop and one turbojet.
MANUFACTURERS
Airspeed
Avro
DH / DHC
HS / BAE
Miles
Piper
Taylorcraft
AIRCRAFT Tasks
Single engine aircraft Eight.
02 Taylorcraft Auster Refresher Flying & Communications
02 Percival Proctor Refresher Flying & Communications
02 de Havilland Tiger Moth General Flying Tests / Instructor Ratings / Refresher
02 de Havilland Chipmunk General Flying Tests / Instructor Ratings / Refresher
Twin engine aircraft 41, Nine Types
13 Avro Anson Tels Flight Inspection /Communications/ Refresher/ GCA/ Ordnance Survey
03 Miles Gemini Refresher Flying & Communications
05 Airspeed Oxford I/R/Com/GCA
09 DH Dove Tels FI/OS, IR/Com/Ref/VIP/GCA/OS
03 Percival Prince Tels FI
01 Percival President Tels FI
03 DH125 / HS/BAe VIP/Com/Ref/Radar
03 HS748 / BAe Tels Flight Inspection / Communication /Refresher / Euro MPs / Educational Flts / Middle East Flight InspectionI
01 Piper PA31 Refresher Flying & Communications
(See aircraft registration dates below the last photograph).
PHOTOGRAPHS
Aircraft types flown by CAFU 1946 - 1996
Airspeed
Avro
DH / DHC
HS / BAE
Miles
Piper
Taylorcraft
AIRCRAFT Tasks
Single engine aircraft Eight.
02 Taylorcraft Auster Refresher Flying & Communications
02 Percival Proctor Refresher Flying & Communications
02 de Havilland Tiger Moth General Flying Tests / Instructor Ratings / Refresher
02 de Havilland Chipmunk General Flying Tests / Instructor Ratings / Refresher
Twin engine aircraft 41, Nine Types
13 Avro Anson Tels Flight Inspection /Communications/ Refresher/ GCA/ Ordnance Survey
03 Miles Gemini Refresher Flying & Communications
05 Airspeed Oxford I/R/Com/GCA
09 DH Dove Tels FI/OS, IR/Com/Ref/VIP/GCA/OS
03 Percival Prince Tels FI
01 Percival President Tels FI
03 DH125 / HS/BAe VIP/Com/Ref/Radar
03 HS748 / BAe Tels Flight Inspection / Communication /Refresher / Euro MPs / Educational Flts / Middle East Flight InspectionI
01 Piper PA31 Refresher Flying & Communications
(See aircraft registration dates below the last photograph).
PHOTOGRAPHS
Aircraft types flown by CAFU 1946 - 1996
A 1
One of three aircraft put on to the Civil Register by the Air Ministry in June 1944.
Photo: Eddy harris
Photo: Eddy harris
A 2
Two Austers G-AGLLand GLK were both civil registered in August 1944 by the Air Ministry for use by the Air Ministry Civil Operations fleet.
Photo: Eddy Harris
Photo: Eddy Harris
A 3
Two de Havilland Tiger Moths were registerd to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for use by their Operations Fleet in June and August 1945.
Photo: eddy Harris
Photo: eddy Harris
A 4
Not the first Anson assigned to the MCA, this one registered in July 1948 before the move from Croydon to Gatwick.
Photo: Eddy Harris
Photo: Eddy Harris
A 5
One of two Gemini believed to be used by the Unit for communication purposes, particularly by HQ staff.
Photo: Eddy Harris
Photo: Eddy Harris
A 6
G-AJLV was the first Dove to be registered to the MCA in April 1947. LFT wasn't registered until Dec 1948. Both these aircraft were used for Flight Inspection.
A 7
One of the five Airspeed Consuls registered to the MCA in June 1947. They would not be needed for the Instrument Rating tests until the airways came into being toward the end of the decade and the early 50's.
Some thought that they were not around until the 1950's but two of them were seen at Gatwick in 1947.
Photo: Eddy Harris
Some thought that they were not around until the 1950's but two of them were seen at Gatwick in 1947.
Photo: Eddy Harris
A 8
G-ALVS was the first Instrument Rating Dove registered to the CAA in October 1949. But this one, G-ANUW was not registered until May 1955, when the testing of candidates was increasing and the Consuls were about to be replaced.
Photo: Eddy Harris
Photo: Eddy Harris
A 9
One of the three Percival Prince aircraft, G-AMKW, MKX & MKY, registered to the MCA in August 1951 to be used for flight Inspection of navigational aids throughout the UK. MKY seen here in the Calibration Bay at Stansted in the 1950's.
That's CAFU, the Nissan Hut behind the open nose on the left. Very cold and draughty in the winter.
Photo: Eddy harris
That's CAFU, the Nissan Hut behind the open nose on the left. Very cold and draughty in the winter.
Photo: Eddy harris
A 10
The President G-APMO was not registered until 1958. It completed the set of Telecommunication aircraft of four Doves and three Princes, plus this one in an early paint scheme at Stansted.
Photo: Eddy Harris
Photo: Eddy Harris
A 11
The first HS125 delivered to CAFU in 1966, it was one of the first batch of ten, note the six passenger windows. The other nine went to the U.S.
Nice early shot of the Air Traffic Control Tower at stansted.
Photo: Eddy Harris
Nice early shot of the Air Traffic Control Tower at stansted.
Photo: Eddy Harris
A 12
G-AVXI & VXJ were registered in November 1967, delivered in 1969 and became operational for flight inspection duties later in the same year.
Photo: Eddy Harris
Photo: Eddy Harris
A 13
By the 1980's the 748 aircraft were put into corporate colours of the CAA.
The colour scheme was not approved by those at Stansted who had to crew the flight inspection aircraft, or by those who had to man the telecroscope equipment on the ground.
Photo: Derek Ferguson www.abpic.co.uk
The colour scheme was not approved by those at Stansted who had to crew the flight inspection aircraft, or by those who had to man the telecroscope equipment on the ground.
Photo: Derek Ferguson www.abpic.co.uk
A 14
This 748, G-ATMJ was a 44 seat aircraft which gave CAA crews a more up-to -date environment in which to fly. It was also used for Educational flight by Essex Schools, Carried Members of the European Parliament to Luxembourg and Strasbourg as well as being leased to Dan Air at weekends.
Airway reported that it had carried 42,000 passengers (4,000 of them children).
Airway reported that it had carried 42,000 passengers (4,000 of them children).
A 15
G-BFBH PA31 registered in 1982 and never put into CAA colours. A replacement for the twin-engine Doves and used for refresher flying by CAAFU and Flight Ops Inspectors.
Photo: Jan Jenkins
Photo: Jan Jenkins
A 16
The last aircraft to be registered to the CAA, G-CCAA in December 1982. Not in corporate colours - but nearly.
Photo: Peter Moore www.abpic.co.uk
Photo: Peter Moore www.abpic.co.uk
CAFU AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION DATES
Auster G -AGLK AM / MCA Aug-44 Aug-52
Auster G-AGLL AM / MCA Aug-44 Jan-50
Proctor G -AGLJ AM / MCA Aug-44 May-51
Anson XI G-AGLM AM / MCA Oct-44 Feb-46
Proctor G -AGPA MCA Jun-45 Jul-48
Tiger Moth G-AGRB MCA Jun-45 Aug-52
Tiger Moth G-AGRA MCA Aug-45 Aug-52
Anson G-AGPB MCA Sep-45 Nov-50
Anson G-AGWD MCA Dec-45 Feb-46 (Not with CAFU)
Anson G-AGWE MCA Dec-45 Jan-53
Anson G-AGWF MCA Dec-45 Nov-51
Ason G-AGWA MCA May 46 Jan-54
Anson G-AGZS MCA May-46 Jan-52
Anson G-AGZT MCA May-46 Jan-53
Gemini G-AIRS MCA Oct-46 Oct-52
Dove G-AJLV MCA Apr-47 Apr-72
Aircoupe G-AKFC MoS 29-Aug-47 17-Jan-52 (Not CAFUs)
Consul G-AJXE MCA Jun-47 Nov-55
Consul G-AJXF MCA Jun-47 Sep-55
Consul G-AJXG MCA Jun-47 Jan-56
Consul G-AJXH MCA Jun-47 Jan-56
Consul G-AJXI MCA Jun-47 Aug-56
Gemini G-AKDD MCA Sep-47 Sept 55
Anson G-AGVA MCA Oct-47 Jul-54
Gemini G-AJZL MCA Sep-47 Mar-51
Viking G-AGRR MCA Dec-47 Mar-51 (Not CAFUs)
Anson G-AHID MCA May-48
Anson G-AHIH MCA May-48 21.07.54
Anson G-AHIJ MCA May-48 21.11.51
Anson G-AGUD MCA Jul-48 Jul-54
Anson G-AHIC MCA Jul-48 Oct-54
Dove G-ALFT MCA Dec-48 Feb-77
Dove G-ALFU MCA Dec-48 Apr-72
Dove G-ALVS MCA Oct-49 Nov-72
Prince G-AMKW MCA Aug-51 Jul-71
Prince G-AMKX MCA Aug-51 Jul-71
Prince G-AMKY MCA Aug-51 May-71
Chipmunk G-AMMA MCA Sep-51 May-63
Dove G-ANAP MCA Jul-53 Aug-73
Dove G-ANOV MCA Mar-54 Jul-81
Chipmunk G-ANWB MCA Feb-55 Apr-71
Dove G-ANUT MCA Feb-55 Feb-77
Dove G-ANUU MCA Mar-55 Feb-77
Dove G-ANUW MCA May-55 Jul-81
President G-APMO MTCA Apr-58 Jun-71
DH125 G-ATPC MoA Feb-66 May-71
HS748 G-AVXI BOT Nov-67 Oct-96
HS748 G-AVXJ BOT Nov 67 - Oct 96n-70 Jan-83
HS125 G-AVDX BOT Jun-70 Jan-83
HS748 G-ATMJ CAA Dec-72 Jul-78
PA31 G-BFBH CAA Apr-82 - May 87
HS125 G-CCAA CAA Dec-82 - Sep 87
HS125 G-UKCA Magec Av. Sept 87 - Aug - 92 Used by FOPS 6
HS125 G-OCAA Lynton Av. Apr 92 - Aug 2002 Used by FOPS 6
Auster G -AGLK AM / MCA Aug-44 Aug-52
Auster G-AGLL AM / MCA Aug-44 Jan-50
Proctor G -AGLJ AM / MCA Aug-44 May-51
Anson XI G-AGLM AM / MCA Oct-44 Feb-46
Proctor G -AGPA MCA Jun-45 Jul-48
Tiger Moth G-AGRB MCA Jun-45 Aug-52
Tiger Moth G-AGRA MCA Aug-45 Aug-52
Anson G-AGPB MCA Sep-45 Nov-50
Anson G-AGWD MCA Dec-45 Feb-46 (Not with CAFU)
Anson G-AGWE MCA Dec-45 Jan-53
Anson G-AGWF MCA Dec-45 Nov-51
Ason G-AGWA MCA May 46 Jan-54
Anson G-AGZS MCA May-46 Jan-52
Anson G-AGZT MCA May-46 Jan-53
Gemini G-AIRS MCA Oct-46 Oct-52
Dove G-AJLV MCA Apr-47 Apr-72
Aircoupe G-AKFC MoS 29-Aug-47 17-Jan-52 (Not CAFUs)
Consul G-AJXE MCA Jun-47 Nov-55
Consul G-AJXF MCA Jun-47 Sep-55
Consul G-AJXG MCA Jun-47 Jan-56
Consul G-AJXH MCA Jun-47 Jan-56
Consul G-AJXI MCA Jun-47 Aug-56
Gemini G-AKDD MCA Sep-47 Sept 55
Anson G-AGVA MCA Oct-47 Jul-54
Gemini G-AJZL MCA Sep-47 Mar-51
Viking G-AGRR MCA Dec-47 Mar-51 (Not CAFUs)
Anson G-AHID MCA May-48
Anson G-AHIH MCA May-48 21.07.54
Anson G-AHIJ MCA May-48 21.11.51
Anson G-AGUD MCA Jul-48 Jul-54
Anson G-AHIC MCA Jul-48 Oct-54
Dove G-ALFT MCA Dec-48 Feb-77
Dove G-ALFU MCA Dec-48 Apr-72
Dove G-ALVS MCA Oct-49 Nov-72
Prince G-AMKW MCA Aug-51 Jul-71
Prince G-AMKX MCA Aug-51 Jul-71
Prince G-AMKY MCA Aug-51 May-71
Chipmunk G-AMMA MCA Sep-51 May-63
Dove G-ANAP MCA Jul-53 Aug-73
Dove G-ANOV MCA Mar-54 Jul-81
Chipmunk G-ANWB MCA Feb-55 Apr-71
Dove G-ANUT MCA Feb-55 Feb-77
Dove G-ANUU MCA Mar-55 Feb-77
Dove G-ANUW MCA May-55 Jul-81
President G-APMO MTCA Apr-58 Jun-71
DH125 G-ATPC MoA Feb-66 May-71
HS748 G-AVXI BOT Nov-67 Oct-96
HS748 G-AVXJ BOT Nov 67 - Oct 96n-70 Jan-83
HS125 G-AVDX BOT Jun-70 Jan-83
HS748 G-ATMJ CAA Dec-72 Jul-78
PA31 G-BFBH CAA Apr-82 - May 87
HS125 G-CCAA CAA Dec-82 - Sep 87
HS125 G-UKCA Magec Av. Sept 87 - Aug - 92 Used by FOPS 6
HS125 G-OCAA Lynton Av. Apr 92 - Aug 2002 Used by FOPS 6