Aviation in late 1950s early 1960s

Submitted by Andrew Suddaby on Wed, 02/01/2023 - 19:25

I am intrigued as to what type of plane Ken Sly was piloting when this photograph was taken.  Judging by the prop. and engine at top right it must have been a small twin-engine propeller type.  Ken was licenced to fly a wide range of planes both prop. and jet, and I know that while in Hong Kong he flew various R.A.F. planes  to keep up his flying hours.  Austers, Vampires/Venoms, a Hunter and possibly a Meteor and Sunderland flying boat, but  I am not aware of any twin-engine prop planes.  Any thoughts?

Telegraph Bay and surroundings
Telegraph Bay and surroundings, by Andrew Suddaby

I will have a stab at this. Judging by the photographs, the photos were taken in the early 1950's. Interesting that they are in colour. Has someone had them photoshopped to show colour?

The only two aircraft types that seem to fit the profile are the Bristol Beaufighter and the Avro Anson. I am not sure which it may have been but lean more to the Beaufighter, given the engine nacelle position vis a vis the pilot.

I do know from records that there were 2 Avro Ansons in Australia that were sold to Cathay Pacific Airways in November 1947. Whether the ever made it to Hong Kong is another story because I do not have any records to show that Cathay operated them. They could have been flicked on to someone else.

Agree. Auster it is, particularly those that show the wing struts and the landing from the cockpit. Interesting about the wind driven generator. 

Thank you everyone for your comments.  Yes, I have a distinct memory that Ken told me that he had flown an Auster on several occasions while keeping up his hours in Hong Kong.  Not knowing about the wind driven generator clearly led me to think it was a prop. on the starboard wing, thus wrongly eliminating the Auster. Ken told me that this particular photograph (as with the others in this group definitely not colourised) was taken on an occasion when he had been asked to check out the safest and correct approach and take-off  angles for the two runways at Kai Tak. His wide experience of flying many types of planes and also being a fully qualified flying  instructor would have made him an ideal man to check things out.Andrew

Judging by the design of the windscreen - multi-section - whereas the Auster was not, I think this was an Anson.  It certainly reminded me of my very first flight when in the ATC flying out of (I think) RAF Hullavington.  I had the pleasure of sitting alongside the pilot - we were out looking for a training aircraft that had gone AWOL!!