I found this site and its fine pictures, remembering from my aircraft spotting days in the 1950s that the EP9 was built at Stapleford Tawney, the cause of my current investigation. We never then knew it as Abridge Aerodrome. I had forgotten quite how unusual the EP9 looked. And to return to the airfield, I had been unaware that Stapleford Tawney had in fact been used during the Hitler War, or that it remained open and obviously rather more sophisticated today with one asphalt runway. For me, a mid-1950s visit was an interesting cycle ride from the Kent suburbs via what we then always knew as the Woolwich Free Ferry. These days, I live a lesser bike ride from Salmesbury, if I still cycled!
James Veale, e-mail, 14.05.2016 08:24
Manawatu topdressing company operated the only EP9 that operated in NZ. I new the Pilot that flew it on topdressing jobs I rode in the aircraft from time to time. On February 19th 1958 it crashed in bad weather on the way to a job and the Pilot Dave Ballard and a loader driver were killed. Another loader driver survived.
David Baker, e-mail, 20.07.2014 09:59
I flew one of the early EP9s in 1959 at Fairoaks where I was flying instructing at the time. It was on a sales tour, it was definitely the Lycoming powered version and the demo pilot was The Earl of Bective (known to one and all as The Defective Earl!). Perhaps he was the 'madman test pilot' to whom "huaren" refers?! Seemed a good aircraft with a good load capability although it was a little bizarre to look at.
Barry, 25.01.2013 11:29
The only reason the MkII was built was so that the Prospector could be exhibited at the Farnborough SBAC show in the days when only all British aircraft could be shown. There is no way that James Percival would have given up using the Lycoming engine for a rather dated Cheetah.
Roy Ogilvie, e-mail, 24.06.2011 20:57
The P9 was buit & designed at Abridge Aerodrome A number where built and used for crop spraying, Laddy Marmold used it as such as it could carry a Ton,being used in Europe & Africa. I changed the engine on that one in under 6 hrs then test flew it, a truly great m/c with a short takeoff & landing
huaren, 20.06.2011 13:10
I can't remember the test pilots name but he fancied himself and used to fly the aircraft like a madman.It looks bloody awfull but it could certainly fly
e taylor, e-mail, 21.12.2009 22:49
The view is from the companys factory on Blackburn new rd Samlesbury with the present B A E factory on the Whalley rd in the background. I can't remember the test pilots name but he fancied himself and used to fly the aircraft like a madman.It looks bloody awfull but it could certainly fly
John Newby, e-mail, 27.01.2009 12:32
A bit of a 'nothing' really but I do seem to recollect that the Cheetah was installed to qualify for entry into Farnborough Air Show.
