Currie Wot

The Currie Wot (pronounced as what) was a 1930s British single-seat aerobatic biplane aircraft. Plans were sold for home building of the aircraft.

History

The Wot was designed by J R (Joe) Currie, and two examples were built by Cinque Ports Aviation Limited at Lympne Aerodrome in 1937. They were both powered by a single 40 hp Aeronca-JAP J-99 two-cylinder engines, but had minor differences in design. They were designated the Wot 1 and Wot 2, the name came about whilst Currie was building the first aircraft and being tired with being asked what he would call it, replied; 'Call it Wot you blooming well like'. Currie built two aircraft (G-AFCG and G-AFDS), that he offered for sale at £250.00. Both were destroyed in 1940 during a World War II German air raid on Lympne. After the war, at the request of Viv Bellamy, then Chief Flying Instructor at the Hampshire Aeroplane Club (HAC) at Eastleigh, Currie used the same drawings to enable the HAC to build two more examples under the supervision of J O Isaacs. The first aircraft, registered G-APNT, first flew on the 11 September 1958. G-APNT was soon re-engined with a four-cylinder 60 hp Walter Mikron II engine and was also trialled using floats. With the more powerful Mikron engine it was known as the Hot Wot and later, with the floats, as the Wet Wot. The floatplane version was not a success and they were soon removed. With the original Aeronca-JAP engine fitted it was delivered on 29 May 1959 as the personal aircraft of Westland Aircraft test pilot H J Penrose, who christened the aeroplane 'Airymouse' and wrote a book of the same name about his experiences flying the aircraft. The second aircraft, registered G-APWT had a number of different engines fitted for trials, including a 60 hp Rover TP60/1 industrial gas turbine engine, before being delivered to Elstree Aerodrome in 1962.

Aircraft plans were sold to amateur builders and soon examples were being constructed, the first homebuilt aircraft flying in 1963. The most unusual Wots were built in 1967 by Slingsby Sailplanes Limited. Slingsby built six aircraft modified to represent the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A for film work. They were powered by 115 hp Lycoming engines with dummy exhausts and other modifications as 0.83 scale replicas. They were delivered to Ireland and fitted with dummy guns for the films The Blue Max , Darling Lili. Some of the aircraft were also used in the films I Shot Down Richtofen, I Think, and Dubious Patriot.

The design rights for the Currie Wot were first sold to Dr J H B Urmston (trading as Botley Aircraft) who sold the designs to Phoenix Aircraft Limited.

References

• Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2. London: Putnam. ISBN 0370100107. 
• Severne, J. (2007). Silvered Wings - The Memoirs of Air Vice-Marshall Sir John Severne. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1844155590

See also

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Currie Wot".