The history of Stampe SV4C G-AYGE
G-AYGE is a STAMPE SV4C no. 242 with a Renault PO3 engine that has an air starter. It was built in France.
In the beginning. After ww2, the French government used to lend planes to 'aéroclubs', in for aéronautical activities and civil pilot training. F-BCGM was one of these aircraft.
It was first registered with ‘A.C Marmande’, the Aero Club of Marmande which was the Aero Club of Gascogne. Vincent Guillon, the secretary of the Aéroclub de Gascogne based at Marmande has confirmed this. On the clubs website, 2 pictures appear that feature F-BCGM. One picture is from the date of delivery in 1946 and the other is in 1952. F-BCGM was used as a training aircraft and a glider tug between 1946 and 1969 when it was sold to the United Kingdom.
The colour scheme remained the same throughout this whole time. Silver with a black lightening flash down the side and black struts, undercarriage and propeller. The tips of the propeller were yellow. You can just make out some lettering on the cowl and this has been confirmed to say " 'Aéroclub de Gascogne Marmande' by Vincent Guillon, Aéroclub de Gascogne's secretary.
On the Registrar's Register of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), we find: 'SV-4C No. 242 built by Ste Nle Const Aero Nord' which is a bad translation of SNCAN for National Society of North Aeronautical Construction. December 5, 1946 was the date of registration by the State for its Service of Light Aviation and Sports (SALS) by DGAC.
In the beginning. After ww2, the French government used to lend planes to 'aéroclubs', in for aéronautical activities and civil pilot training. F-BCGM was one of these aircraft.
It was first registered with ‘A.C Marmande’, the Aero Club of Marmande which was the Aero Club of Gascogne. Vincent Guillon, the secretary of the Aéroclub de Gascogne based at Marmande has confirmed this. On the clubs website, 2 pictures appear that feature F-BCGM. One picture is from the date of delivery in 1946 and the other is in 1952. F-BCGM was used as a training aircraft and a glider tug between 1946 and 1969 when it was sold to the United Kingdom.
The colour scheme remained the same throughout this whole time. Silver with a black lightening flash down the side and black struts, undercarriage and propeller. The tips of the propeller were yellow. You can just make out some lettering on the cowl and this has been confirmed to say " 'Aéroclub de Gascogne Marmande' by Vincent Guillon, Aéroclub de Gascogne's secretary.
On the Registrar's Register of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), we find: 'SV-4C No. 242 built by Ste Nle Const Aero Nord' which is a bad translation of SNCAN for National Society of North Aeronautical Construction. December 5, 1946 was the date of registration by the State for its Service of Light Aviation and Sports (SALS) by DGAC.
From 1946 on the actual day of delivery. It had not been painted with the Flying Club stripes and name at this point.
Picture above from the Aero Club De Gascogne, Marmande, France.
Picture above shows the original registration card for F-BCGM and the pictures of the UK paint scheme from 1970
The 1970's paint scheme
G-AYGE was imported from France (French registration F-BCGM) in 1970. On arrival in the UK it was treated to a new paint scheme that can be seen in the pictures below. The dark colour on the sunbursts was blue and the struts black. The predominant colour was white. The proud chap stood next the aircraft is Jeremy Mitchell who bought the aircraft off Phillip Meeson and learned to fly in it.
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G-AYGE was built in 1946 and it appears that it was issued to l'Aéroclub de Gascogne. The Aero Club is now called 'Aero Club Gascon'. I have no idea why?
From the 'Aero Club Gascon' website (Translated directly). "In 1946 The Aero-Club receives in July its first plane: a Stampe 140 hp. Mr. FROISSART a pilot of the wars 14-18 and 39-45, is the first pilot monitor of the Aero-club. A second Stampe is attributed to l'Aéroclub de Gascogne, then later a AERO 101 of 75 hp. The Stampe was used in the initiation flights and the schools pilot are training." Pictures on the right show G-AYGE, then F-BCGM in 1946 (top picture) and we believe 1952 (Bottom picture). In 1952 the aircraft had an accident that resulted in 60% damage to the airframe and 20% damage to the engine. The picture from 1952 shows it was rebuilt well and brought back to flying condition quickly. |
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G-AYGE History in more detail.
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Stampe no. 242 had an interesting history training pilots and tugging gliders. It only had one serious accident at Marmande and that was in 1952 where the airframe and wings were damaged 60% and the engine 20%.
After the Date of Factory Release in June 1946, F-BCGM went to the Marmande flying club in November 1946 1954 F-BCGM moves to the National Aeronautical Training Center at Carcassonne 1959 Again F-BCGM moves to another National Aeronautical Training Center known for training instructors at Challes-les-Eaux. 1965 This is where F-BCGM starts its glider tug life at La Ferté-Alais 1969, May 20, F-BCGM is acquired by the Aeronautical Association of Val d'Essonne (AAVE), at Buno-Bonnevaux. It stays here just over a year and is then sold to the UK. 1970, On July the 3rd Philip Meeson, becomes the owner of F-BCGM and exports it to the UK. In the United Kingdom. 6.7.1970 First registration in the UK from the French registration F-BCGM. Owner was Philip Meeson, 5 times British Aerobatic Champion who became the CEO of Jet2Holidays. The aircraft was registered under his company, Sausa Limited. During this ownership we believe the aircraft to be painted in the Blue and white sunburst design. A common aerobatic paint scheme of the time. 1.4.1971 The aircraft changes hands to Jeremy Mitchell of Cambridgeshire. He paid £3145.00 to include insurance. Philip Meeson flew the aircraft up to Sywell aerodrome with Jeremy Mitchell as passenger, where the aircraft would be hangard at a charge of £46.20p (The country had just gone decimal to align with Europe) per quarter. The aircraft went to Sywell but was eventuall homed at Marshal Airfield now known as Cambridge Airport. It then moved to Sibson where Jeremy Mitchell was trained to fly the aircraft by Barry Tempest who has flown 350 types and variants from the Sopwith Tabloid to the Jet Provost. He also flew in the Rothman’s Aerobatic Team that flew Stampes. It was at some point between the next 3 owners that the paint scheme changed colour to the current day blue and yellow scheme. Lee Proudfoot tells us the registration lettering was in outline and that it looked really good. The Civil Aviation Authority insisted that the outline letters be made solid in colour. 1.5.1974 Jeremy Mitchell sells G-AYGE to Simon Ward, a very young heir to the Ward-White shoe company that was eventually bought by the Halfords Group companies for £900m 21.1.1977 Owledge Ltd now become the registered keepers of G-AYGE. They are based at 100 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8TH. Nothing is known of this company, directors or who was flying. 16.3.1981 G-AYGE now is owned jointly by Herbert Creek of London and Michael Conner of Hertfordshire. They only had ownership of the aircraft for 4 months. 5.8.1981 The Honourable Amschel Mayor James Rothschild of the banking family is now the owner of G-AYGE. As far as we can tell, the aircraft was kept at his home, Home Farm in Suffolk until his death in Paris in July 1996. 02.12.1996 After 15 years ownership and following the death of Amschel Rothschild, G-AYGE becomes the property of Ian Proudfoot, the son of Sqn Ldr ‘Hoof’ Proudfoot who was tragically killed also in July 1996 flying a Lockheed P38 Lightning at an air show at Duxford. The Rothschild and Proudfoot families were close friends. 16.4.1997 G-AYGE changes ownership within the Proudfoot family to include Lee, Ian and Susan as owners. We know that Lee gained his Private Pilot’s Licence in G-AYGE 5.12.2014 G-AYGE sees Ian Proudfoot leave the ownership and it is now just Lee and Susan Proudfoot that own the aircraft 12.6.18 After 21 years ownership in the Proudfoot family, they finally say a sad farewell to G-AYGE. The aircraft comes in to my ownership. G-AYGE was collected from the Imperial War Museum Duxford by Paul Anderson and Gavin Ashdown where it had lived for many years. Lee Proudfoot had really looked after the aircraft and it had not flown many hours yet was always well maintained. G-AYGE now resides at Headcorn Airfield as its home base and can be seen flying regularly. In 2018 it was in the Shuttleworth Collection Family Day display and the Headcorn Combined Operations Display. Picture below shows previous owner 'Lee Proudfoot' with his hand on the cowl. Picture taken around 1996
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The pictures above and below show a model of Stampe SV4C 324 that was also stationed at the Aero Club De Gascogne. Sadly this aircraft was destroyed in an accident in 1971.
The models colour scheme are correct for F-BGCM other than the lightening bolt down the side. 
ABOVE: Barry Tempest, the instructor of Jeremy Mitchell
Picture showing outline lettering of G-AYGE. 1996/7
Sqd Ldr 'Hoof' Proudfoot 2nd from right. Far Right Lee Proudfoot
Picture above shows current owner, Paul Anderson with G-AYGE. It is not certain when the aircraft went to this colour scheme.
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With a love of AC cars I come across many people that have a link with aviation. This surprise was from Toni Bianchi of Bianchi Aviation Film Services.
"Hi Paul, Interesting you bought G-AYGE. I acquired it in the early 80’s for my old friend Amschel Rothschild (RIP) and looked after for about 10 years until Lee acquired it after Amschel’s passing. It was always a decent Stampe. Of course Amschel was a great AC exponent avidly racing a Cobra and later the Wilment / AC Daytona Cobra. I think he also raced an AC Bristol. So you are in good company
"Hi Paul, Interesting you bought G-AYGE. I acquired it in the early 80’s for my old friend Amschel Rothschild (RIP) and looked after for about 10 years until Lee acquired it after Amschel’s passing. It was always a decent Stampe. Of course Amschel was a great AC exponent avidly racing a Cobra and later the Wilment / AC Daytona Cobra. I think he also raced an AC Bristol. So you are in good company
Other Stampes No. 241 & 243
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The picture on the right is of 243 F-BCKC at the factory exit in 1946. The Year G-AYGE was built. As G-AYGE is number 242 it is probable that it is one of the aircraft in the foreground. It gives an indication of the colour scheme and markings. So the pictures at Marmande we thought were from 1946 are probably in the 1950s
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The Picture Below is Stampe 241. It was modified for "advanced aerobatics". The wing tips shortened, the fuselage shortened and a modified rudder. The fuselage had about 8 inches cut off of the back end. It has a P05 engine.
