Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Four-seat high-wing light sport monoplane

Power Plant:

One 116 kw (155 hp) Blackburn Cirrus Major III four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

Chrislea commenced construction of its CH-3 Ace (G-AKFD), designed by R C Christophorides, at Heston in Greater London, UK in 1946, this initially being a high-wing cabin monoplane with a single fin and rudder and a tricycle undercarriage, having an unusual control system with a single wheel on a universal joint replacing the conventional control column and rudder bar.

The Company moved to Exeter in 1947 where the Super Ace Series 2 with a Gipsy Major engine was developed, making its first flight in February 1948. This was followed by the Series 4 Skyjeep, the first aircraft G-AKVS (c/n 126) being flown on 21 November 1949. having conventional flying controls, a tailwheel undercarriage and a 116 kw (155 hp) Blackburn Cirrus Major III engine. An unusual feature was a removable top decking to the rear fuselage, this providing space for a stretcher or light freight.

Production of the Skyjeep only amounted to three aircraft, taking place at Exeter in Devon in 1949-1950. Of these, one went to South America, this aircraft G-AKVT (c/n 127) going to Uruguay early in 1951; one went to Australia; and the prototype was later sold to French Indo-China. Construction of two further Skyjeep airframes was abandoned when Chrislea ceased trading in the early 1950s.

The Skyjeep made its first public appearance at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Garden Party at White Waltham in Berkshire in May 1950 and was flown in the Goodyear Trophy Race at Wolverhampton in Staffordshire at 187 km/h (116 mph) after lapping the Kings Cup course at 192 km/h (119.5 mph). The Skyjeep differed from the Super Ace in having the fuel tanks in the inboard wing area rather than under the rear seat, having two inter-connecting cells of 173 litres (38 Imp gals) capacity and optional long-range tanks adding a further 91 litres (20 Imp gals). It had a metal propeller and a Goodyear crosswind undercarriage. A stretcher and cropdusting or spraying equipment were offered as an option.

Brown & Dureau Ltd of Melbourne, VIC was the Australian agent for Chrislea Aircraft Company Ltd. The only Skyjeep imported to Australia was VH-BRP² (c/n 125 – ex G-AKVR) [the same registration as the CH-3 aircraft destroyed at Port Said]. It was registered to A T Tindall of MacFarlane Downs Station in Queensland. It was first flown on 22 January 1952 and registered on that date.

Major structural changes were made to the machine, including the installation of a 149 kw (200 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Six engine replacing the 116 kw (155 hp) Cirrus Major III.

In 1955 it was re-registered VH-RCD to R C Dyer of Woodside, Buangor, VIC but the modifications were not a success and the aircraft returned to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services at Bankstown, NSW where the rear fuselage decking was built up to the rear of the cockpit glasshouse. It was placed on the market for sale. However, it was not sold and remained stored for some years until ownership was transferred to Austerserve Pty Ltd in 1962. It was removed from the Register on 29 September 1965.

In March 1977 it was again re-registered VH-BRP, painted overall yellow, rebuilt, and re-fitted with a four-cylinder Cirrus Major engine. However, it did little flying, if any. During 1986/1987 it was restored to airworthy condition at Bathurst, NSW by Michael English, the aircraft becoming VH-OLD on 23 August 1989. Shortly thereafter it had a problem with the throttle linkage, had to make a forced landing when flying at Moruya, NSW and crash landed into the sea, overturning. The aircraft was recovered and restoration was commenced but was not completed.

In 1998 VH-OLD was exported to the United Kingdom where the restoration was completed at D R Bean’s Anwich workshop in Lincolnshire, It is extant on the British Civil Aircraft Register as G-AKVR and is the only surviving Skyjeep.