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First Flight by Gerald Coulson. - Cranston Military Prints

First Flight by Gerald Coulson.


First Flight by Gerald Coulson.

On July 21st 1951 WB188, the Hawker PIO67 Prototype, made its first flight from Boscombe Down, flown by Hawker Chief Test Pilot and WWII fighter ace, Squadron leader Neville Duke DSO, OBE, DFC**, AFC. This historic aircraft went on to become the Hunter, one of Britains most successful fighter aircraft. Created under the guiding hand of famed Hawker designer Sydney Camm, the PI067 Hunter became the RAFs standard single seat fighter from 1954 until 1960. It was also the first British produced swept-wing fighter to serve in large numbers in the RAF. The maiden flight was successful with only minor problems. Due to the undercarriage light staying on Neville Duke took the decision not to exceed 19,000 ft or 350 knots. The P1067 was Hawkers first application of powered controls but British experience of this was very limited at that time. Consequently the elevator hydraulic power boost was disconnected but the ailerons remained in use.This meant that the pilot struggled to maintain control especially on landing. Neville Duke has fond memories of the aircraft, which has become synonymous with his name: Of the multitude of designs from the board of Sydney Camm over a period of 43 years the Hunter is arguably the most graceful of all. The saying if it looks right it will fly right applies to the Hunter and can be illustrated by the fact that within some ten test flights the aircraft was flying in excess of 700mph, as demonstrated at the SBAC Farnborough Show shortly after the first flight. Sydney Camm proclaimed it to be his most beautiful design and I am not alone in claiming it to be a pilots aeroplane, a view expressed amongst the fighter pilots of the 21 nations who flew this aircraft in operational service up until 1995. Our aim was to give the pilots a fighter without limitations and this unique clearance was obtained. Long may we see them in the air as a tribute to the genius of Sydney Camm and his design team. Some 2000 Hunters were produced in the UK, Holland and Belgium and many more refurbished for 14 nations and returned to service through-out the world. The Hunter continues to serve in non-operational roles in various services and establishments as well as in private hands. WB 188 now resides in the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, West Sussex. This superb release by one of the masters of aviation art, Gerald Coulson, depicts the prototype on its historic first ever flight from Boscombe Down.
Item Code : GC0103BFirst Flight by Gerald Coulson. - Editions AvailableExtra....


A photo of an edition of the print.

DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 22 inches x 15 inches (56cm x 38cm)
Duke, Neville

Died : 2007
Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC*, AFC, CzMC (deceased)
Neville Duke flew Spitfires as wingman to Sailor Malan in 92 Squadron. In November 1941 he was posted to 112 Squadron in the Middle East. After a second tour in the Desert, he flew a third tour, with 145 Squadron in Italy. He was the top scoring Allied Ace in the Mediterranean with 28 victories. After the war, in 1953, he captured the World Air Speed record. He died 7th April 2007.
Signature Value : £75
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Gerald Coulson

Signature(s) value alone : £75		£60 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!		Now : £120.00

Quantity:
Limited edition of artist proofs. Image size 22 inches x 15 inches (56cm x 38cm)
Duke, Neville

Died : 2007
Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC*, AFC, CzMC (deceased)
Neville Duke flew Spitfires as wingman to Sailor Malan in 92 Squadron. In November 1941 he was posted to 112 Squadron in the Middle East. After a second tour in the Desert, he flew a third tour, with 145 Squadron in Italy. He was the top scoring Allied Ace in the Mediterranean with 28 victories. After the war, in 1953, he captured the World Air Speed record. He died 7th April 2007.
Signature Value : £75
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Merewether, Hugh
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2006
Hugh Merewether OBE (deceased)
Born in South Africa, he joined the South African Navy during WWII and after secondment to the Royal Navy was taught to fly by the US Navy in 1944. From 1948 to 1953 he worked under Sir Barnes Wallis at Vickers Armstrong in research and development and during this time flew with 615 Squadron on Meteors. After spending a year as a freelance pilot he joined Hawker as a test pilot in 1954 where his aeronautical engineering background led to development flying of the Hunter. He had a deep involvemen
Signature Value : £50
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Simpson, Duncan

Died : 2017
Duncan Simpson OBE (deceased)
Educated at the De Havilland Aeronautical Technical School he joined the RAF in 1949 and completed a tour with 222 Squadron. He then served with the Central Fighter Establishment flying Vampires, Meteors, Venoms, Swifts, Sabres and Hunters. Joining Hawker Aircraft Ltd as a test pilot in 1954 he became involved in development and production test flying of the Hunter. From 1964 he was part of the P.1127 Kestrel - Harrier Squadron and became responsible for the conversion of the Kestrel Triparti
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Lockspeiser, David

Died : 2014
David Lockspeiser (deceased)
Joining the RAF in 1949 he flew with various fighter squadrons on many aircraft including Vampires and Meteors. After leaving the RAF in 1955 he joined Hawker Aircraft Ltd as a test pilot where he was instrumental in the development and production testing of the Hunter and also the Sea Fury and Buccaneer. On leaving Hawker in 1976 he joined BAC as a communications and test pilot and in 1977 was under contract to Lockheed, running all aspects of the fighter testing department for specific weapo
Signature Value : £50
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Gerald Coulson

Signature(s) value alone : £230		SOLD
OUT		NOT
AVAILABLE
Limited edition of 10 publisher proofs.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item!		 Image size 22 inches x 15 inches (56cm x 38cm)
Duke, Neville

Died : 2007
Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC*, AFC, CzMC (deceased)
Neville Duke flew Spitfires as wingman to Sailor Malan in 92 Squadron. In November 1941 he was posted to 112 Squadron in the Middle East. After a second tour in the Desert, he flew a third tour, with 145 Squadron in Italy. He was the top scoring Allied Ace in the Mediterranean with 28 victories. After the war, in 1953, he captured the World Air Speed record. He died 7th April 2007.
Signature Value : £75
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Merewether, Hugh
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2006
Hugh Merewether OBE (deceased)
Born in South Africa, he joined the South African Navy during WWII and after secondment to the Royal Navy was taught to fly by the US Navy in 1944. From 1948 to 1953 he worked under Sir Barnes Wallis at Vickers Armstrong in research and development and during this time flew with 615 Squadron on Meteors. After spending a year as a freelance pilot he joined Hawker as a test pilot in 1954 where his aeronautical engineering background led to development flying of the Hunter. He had a deep involvemen
Signature Value : £50
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Simpson, Duncan

Died : 2017
Duncan Simpson OBE (deceased)
Educated at the De Havilland Aeronautical Technical School he joined the RAF in 1949 and completed a tour with 222 Squadron. He then served with the Central Fighter Establishment flying Vampires, Meteors, Venoms, Swifts, Sabres and Hunters. Joining Hawker Aircraft Ltd as a test pilot in 1954 he became involved in development and production test flying of the Hunter. From 1964 he was part of the P.1127 Kestrel - Harrier Squadron and became responsible for the conversion of the Kestrel Triparti
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Lockspeiser, David

Died : 2014
David Lockspeiser (deceased)
Joining the RAF in 1949 he flew with various fighter squadrons on many aircraft including Vampires and Meteors. After leaving the RAF in 1955 he joined Hawker Aircraft Ltd as a test pilot where he was instrumental in the development and production testing of the Hunter and also the Sea Fury and Buccaneer. On leaving Hawker in 1976 he joined BAC as a communications and test pilot and in 1977 was under contract to Lockheed, running all aspects of the fighter testing department for specific weapo
Signature Value : £50
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Gerald Coulson

Signature(s) value alone : £230		£100 Off!Now : £225.00

Quantity:


Some other related items available from this site.

In Gerald Coulsons fine study First Light, Mk Vb Spitfires of 92 Squadron climb out of Biggin Hill at the outset of an early morning patrol on a cold winters morning in February 1941. Leaving the mist behind as the first beams of light streak across the heavens, they will turn to the east and steel themselves to meet the enemy, high in the dawn sky.

First Light by Gerald Coulson. 		As cuts to the RAF and other armed services by the Labour Government were implemented in the late 1960s, Flt Lt Alan R Pollock of No.1 Sqn took it upon himself to stage a very personal protest whilst en route to West Raynham from Tangmere on 5th April 1968. Peeling away from the rest of his flight immediately after take off, Pollock flew low-level to London where he buzzed the Houses of Parliament three times before flying his Hawker Hunter FGA.9 under the upper spans of Tower Bridge. The incident is now part of British aviation folklore, but Pollock was immediately removed from flying duties for his audacity. He will always be recorded in history, however, as the first pilot to fly a jet aircraft <i>through</i> Tower Bridge.

Take it to the Bridge by Ivan Berryman.		 As cuts to the RAF and other armed services by the Labour Government were implemented in the late 1960s, Flt Lt Alan R Pollock of No.1 Sqn took it upon himself to stage a very personal protest whilst en route to West Raynham from Tangmere on 5th April 1968. Peeling away from the rest of his flight immediately after take off, Pollock flew low-level to London where he buzzed the Houses of Parliament three times before flying his Hawker Hunter FGA.9 under the upper spans of Tower Bridge. The incident is now part of British aviation folklore, but Pollock was immediately removed from flying duties for his audacity. He will always be recorded in history, however, as the first pilot to fly a jet aircraft <i>through</i> Tower Bridge.

Take it to the Bridge by Ivan Berryman. 		As cuts to the RAF and other armed services by the Labour Government were implemented in the late 1960s, Flt Lt Alan R Pollock of No.1 Sqn took it upon himself to stage a very personal protest whilst en route to West Raynham from Tangmere on 5th April 1968. Peeling away from the rest of his flight immediately after take off, Pollock flew low-level to London where he buzzed the Houses of Parliament three times before flying his Hawker Hunter FGA.9 under the upper spans of Tower Bridge. The incident is now part of British aviation folklore, but Pollock was immediately removed from flying duties for his audacity. He will always be recorded in history, however, as the first pilot to fly a jet aircraft <i>through</i> Tower Bridge.

Take it to the Bridge by Ivan Berryman.
Signatures on these products
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature and is for the unmatted version where available. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
NameInfo




Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC*, AFC, CzMC (deceased)
Died : 2007
*Signature Value : £75

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 500 prints.
Limited edition of artist proofs.
Limited edition of 10 publisher proofs.


Duke, Neville
(Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC*, AFC, CzMC (deceased))

Neville Duke flew Spitfires as wingman to Sailor Malan in 92 Squadron. In November 1941 he was posted to 112 Squadron in the Middle East. After a second tour in the Desert, he flew a third tour, with 145 Squadron in Italy. He was the top scoring Allied Ace in the Mediterranean with 28 victories. After the war, in 1953, he captured the World Air Speed record. He died 7th April 2007.


Hugh Merewether OBE (deceased)
Died : 2006
*Signature Value : £50

Editions signed :

Limited edition of artist proofs.
Limited edition of 10 publisher proofs.


Merewether, Hugh
(Hugh Merewether OBE (deceased))

Born in South Africa, he joined the South African Navy during WWII and after secondment to the Royal Navy was taught to fly by the US Navy in 1944. From 1948 to 1953 he worked under Sir Barnes Wallis at Vickers Armstrong in research and development and during this time flew with 615 Squadron on Meteors. After spending a year as a freelance pilot he joined Hawker as a test pilot in 1954 where his aeronautical engineering background led to development flying of the Hunter. He had a deep involvement in a comprehensive inverted spinning programme and all aspects of the Hunter development. In 1967 he became Chief Test Pilot at Hawker and worked extensively on the P.1127 and its derivatives, the Kestrel and the Harrier. While test flying the P.1127 on 30th October 1962 the P.1127 suffered a catastrophic engine failure and fire over West Sussex. Rather than eject, he managed a high-speed glide landing at RAF Tangmere thereby allowing engineers to investigate the cause. In recognition of this feat, Merewether was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. and later a OBE in 1965. He retired in 1970. sadly Hugh Merewether past away on 13th September 2006.




Duncan Simpson OBE (deceased)
Died : 2017
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Limited edition of artist proofs.
Limited edition of 10 publisher proofs.


Simpson, Duncan
(Duncan Simpson OBE (deceased))

Educated at the De Havilland Aeronautical Technical School he joined the RAF in 1949 and completed a tour with 222 Squadron. He then served with the Central Fighter Establishment flying Vampires, Meteors, Venoms, Swifts, Sabres and Hunters. Joining Hawker Aircraft Ltd as a test pilot in 1954 he became involved in development and production test flying of the Hunter. From 1964 he was part of the P.1127 Kestrel - Harrier Squadron and became responsible for the conversion of the Kestrel Tripartite Evaluation Programme pilots. In 1969 he repeated this with the first RAF Harrier training team. Awarded the Queens Commendation in 1969 he became Hawker Chief Test Pilot in 1970 and continued on the Harrier dvelopment, making the first flight in the Hawk aircraft in 1974. Retiring from flying in 1978 he became Deputy Director of the Society of British Aerospace Companies until he finally retired in 1992. He died on 7th December 2017.




David Lockspeiser (deceased)
Died : 2014
*Signature Value : £50

Editions signed :

Limited edition of artist proofs.
Limited edition of 10 publisher proofs.


Lockspeiser, David
(David Lockspeiser (deceased))

Joining the RAF in 1949 he flew with various fighter squadrons on many aircraft including Vampires and Meteors. After leaving the RAF in 1955 he joined Hawker Aircraft Ltd as a test pilot where he was instrumental in the development and production testing of the Hunter and also the Sea Fury and Buccaneer. On leaving Hawker in 1976 he joined BAC as a communications and test pilot and in 1977 was under contract to Lockheed, running all aspects of the fighter testing department for specific weapons, navigation and reconnaissance development. Whilst still test flying he formed Lockspeiser Aircraft Ltd serving as Managing Director, to develop his own design, the Land Development Aircraft (G-AVOR). The prototype was first flown in 1971 and he oversaw development to production configuration until 1989. In all he flew 7100 hours and 90 types of aircraft. He died on 23rd March 2014.
Aircraft Related to This Print
Hunter

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