Flying the Avro Anson

Here is the Avro Anson operating out of Omaka airfield in New Zealand.
Take Off - 1:12
Wing View - 4:16
Pilots Perspective - 7:28
Landing - 9:01
Recorded and Taken by Gavin Conroy.

[@ivanlussich8146]

Excellent video. I am from Uruguay, 85, and appreciate the courage displayed by pilot Fuller. I had a distant relative in Australia by the name of Ms Anetta Hornsey, she was a chemist in Melbourne. A great lady, she visited Uruguay twice, decades ago. I still have a small boomerang she gave me.

[@mpoyart]

It's wonderful seeing this classic bird flying again!Fantastic restoration work!

[@SuperEdge67]

New Zealand seems to be the home of restoring old WW2 aircraft. Glad someone's doing it.

[@bergkamp48]

From my late father's (RCAF) Log Book an entry for Sept 6/44 at #4 Air Gunnery School near Morpeth, Northumberland....he was piloting a Master with a F/S Tranmer as 2nd pilot or passenger. Above Tranmer's name my dad wrote "he bought it October 6 in Anson 1". Thanks for looking after these aircraft and for posting the video. I'm fortunate to live within a few miles of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. So far have gone up in one of their Harvards and a few years ago, with two of my brothers, their B-25 Mitchell. Saving up for a trip in their Lanc. (Would always take my late mum, who was in the WAAF and stationed at Middleton-St. George, to the museum whenever the Lanc was scheduled to fly). Cheers from Canada.

[@karlkreuz7612]

Perfect restoration, good vibrations /sound, quality Video / frame/cockpit actions Tks for the ride

[@jphar]

When in the RAF in 1959 I was a GCA Radar fitter of 24 years of age, and one of the officer Radar talkdown controllers had to fly from Odiham in Hants, to Wattisham in Norfolk. in an Anson, he offered me a ride in the co-pilot seat. This vid brought it all back, wonderful!

[@petergreenhouse6654]

Very good restoration and very good video. In 1958 I worked on and flew in G-AHIB an Avro 19 in sevice with LEC Refigeration at their Bognor Regis factory airfield. It does my heart good to see inside on a flight. Thank you very much for the experience.

[@JohnS916]

Beautiful restoration. What a great plane to fly in as a passenger, best view from an airplane I've ever seen. The plane sure talked to you, I think headphones or ear plugs would be mandatory. Thanks for the video.

[@akkersja]

Learnt to fly off this paddock in a PA18. First time I've seen it from the air again in 50 years. I too loved the air venturi on top off the engine, the BIG turn & slip indicator on the panel, above that BIG compass!

[@mothmagic1]

That's hardly a paddock it's almost a full blown airfield.

[@stevelewis7263]

I love the pilot's sunshade, such a lovely little aircraft

[@AxCYeR]

this is what people should spend their millions in, and not buying shitty modern lamborghinis and bugattis and crap like that to feel 'better'. this plane is gorgeous and my absolute favourite of last weekend. thanks for restoring it, it's an absolute stunner!

[@fourfortyroadrunner]

Sounds good and IF I had these millions, I would. However if the brainess "Biebs" we have DID, they'd probably be falling out of the air by the dozens!!!

[@earlwyss520]

If I were a millionaire I'd buy and restore a De Havilland Hornet, & Mosquito, Douglas A-1E & H, A-20 & A-26, North American Mustang III. Then again, if I were a trillionaire, I'd also want McDonnell Douglas F-4E, North American F-86H, F-100D, Republic P-47N, F-84G, & F, Vought F-4U5, & A-7K. Not to mention the training to fly the lot of it.

[@josephlambe2796]

@@earlwyss520 think you need more funds

[@earlwyss520]

@@josephlambe2796 So do I, but don't we all?

[@MC-jo9kb]

@@earlwyss520 You have good taste!

[@PeterMcConnell-gf8zy]

Wonderfull indeed. I flew one in the late 1940's and just found this. What a thrill ! I thank you for making and sharing This video and also for restoring and maintaining it. Well done. Peter McConnell Oakville Ontario Canada March 2023.

[@peteranson4021]

Beautiful restoration and nice video. Like many wartime pilots my father, Colin Mervyn Anson, trained in these, and you won't be surprised to learn that he was nick-named "Avro".

[@geoffreygoodyear7378]

Peter Anson

[@GamePlayWithNolan]

lol

[@AdamHWarren]

My father was a flying instructor in Canada during WWII, and he flew Ansons among other aircraft.

[@maxwellfan55]

My late father joined the RAF in 1944 and flew in Avro Ansons, so this bring to life the excitement of flying in one, thank you, it means a lot to his memory. Beautiful plane.

[@gusjackson3658]

Mine too. Partially deafened as a result. No hearing protection then and in wartime. Did your Dad train in Canada and Scotland?

[@maxwellfan55]

@@gusjackson3658 Dad was a Halton apprentice (electrical), 1944. He would have flown in Ansons as part of his training experience in the RAF. He spoke highly of this aircraft. Thank you so much for your comment. It means a lot to me.

[@cardboardbox3907]

Awesome! I learnt about this plane because it’s what my grandad flew in ww2!

[@DaveGIS123]

My dad was an air navigator in Anson Mk.1's with 280 Squadron RAF, and spent over 500 hours on Air/Sea Rescue patrols over the North Sea. The typical A/S Rescue patrol involved two or three Ansons in line abreast formation, each about 500 feet apart and 500 above the ocean, looking to find lost aircrew near the last known position of a crashed airplane. His logbook was full with the searches he took part in, with entries like "Searched for missing Beaufighter, nothing found" or "Searched for missing Spitfire, nothing found". It was sad; there were so many of them.

[@welshpete12]

Beautiful three point landing !

[@paulwillson8887]

Lovely late 1930s aircraft. Great to see her flying

[@sootcase]

That was an absolute delight! (And a lovely three-pointer!) My old Dad would have loved it. Thank you very much.

[@bigglesflysagain1749]

As a wee lad, my Mum & I flew in an Anson from Mascot, Sydney to Port Maquarie, on the coast, north of Sydney.Seated, I could watch the pilots do what pilots do, including the tiresome hand cranking the under carriage up.GREAT STUFF !! And later in life , watched numerous comings and goings of Ansons out of Mascot when they were being used for oil exploration by ADASTRA Airlines. Again, GREAT stuff !!

[@kevinmalloy2180]

As the pilot/owner of a "girl-next-door pretty" 1946 Aeronca Champ in the States, I've always thought the Anson was a wonderful "girl-next-door pretty" twin--not an absolute beauty like the Mosquito--but with very attractive lines nevertheless. What a marvelous restoration and super video!

[@MrDaiseymay]

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY WERE, INITIALLY, A LIGHT PASSENGER PLANE, AS MANY HAVE THE LARGE SIDE WINDOWS. I READ THAT A HANSON, ACTUALLY SHOT DOWN A 109 ?

[@johnhilliard767]

Absolutely fantastic,brought back some great memories.In 1954/55 I was LAC Air Wireless mechanic.On a few occasions I was promoted to temporary Flt.Sergeant aircrew wireless operator,and supervised the sprog airmen on air experience flight. Marconi 1154 receiver and 1154 transmitter for MF communication,with the 1143 transceiver for VHF.The Anson we had was a much later mark,,but the view from the wireless ops seat looking out over the port wing is just the same.Many thanks,,Chas.

[@mig25pd]

Brilliant video - many thanks.

[@PINSTRIPERART]

Brought back some very fond memories.Thanks guys

[@autophyte]

I went for a 'joy flight' in an Anson out of Bankstown Airport in the early 60s. I think Adastra Airways ran them. This video brought back the memory. As I recall, we flew from Bankstown, through the now crowded airspace , over the harbor, and back again. I remember thinking how neat it was that there was only the thin fabric wall separating you from the great outdoors.

[@leddielive]

Apart from the hideous jerky camera movement whilst filming the cockpit (which will make you feel sick) this is a great video of an all time classic Avro Anson aircraft, just beautiful.

[@smithlds62]

I love this plane!

[@fourfortyroadrunner]

EXCELLENT. Thanks for the great video

[@johncrispin2118]

Thankyou, what a superb aircraft and in the clothes where it did such a superb job in military guise. Another testament also to the great Mr Chadwick And above all the aircrews who served in them.

[@Ronald7077]

Ansons' looked so well. I had an Airfix kit of this one in my childhood days. Still have the model. I never thought that 50 years later I would watch a flight on my PC from the cockpit. I wonder were technology will be in another 50 years. I wont be around mind you??

[@iangilbert6820]

The sight takes me back to my first-ever flight in an Annie in1955 in my first month in the RAF at Jurby. I think my last flight would be about 1966 from Catterick Airfield in what the chief estimated was "a mark 19-21". What a great work horse it was and it's great to see one flying again.

[@PINSTRIPERART]

+Ian Gilbert I think we are of the same clan. same time but flying out of hurn airfield

[@n176ldesperanza7]

Gorgeous.

[@hofico6]

Holy Crap! I had to turn my subwoofer wayyy down! But the rumbling felt good in my belly...

[@jphar]

I just noticed the compass near the pilot's right knee. I used to recon and re-assemble them as an apprentice at Kelvin Hughes before I went into the RAF.

[@dufus7396]

All pilots speak fondly of this craft

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

What a lovely bird. She looks pretty docile and honest. The visibility is unrivaled basically not a bad seat anywhere.

[@sparkybluefox]

Wonderful video! Awesome! Thank you for posting this! SBF

[@massimocallegari4898]

L'aeroporto di Omaka mi sembra diventato un santuario di vecchie glorie!!! Bellissimo!!!

[@alexhayden2303]

1st plan I ever flew on. (That I remember!) A memorable tour of the Thames valley! I was so engaged in looking out of the great windows that I didn't notice the noise. There was parachute under the seat but we didn't need it.

[@maxwellfan55]

Such a handsome aircraft.

[@joe.a5350]

My Father trained on the Anson2. Dad loved that bird he said “it was 10,000 nuts,bolts flying in very close formation. 😊lol

[@pascalvotan7413]

wonderful !

[@jonathansteadman7935]

Y'know what really was the finishing detail........ when you took off those baseball caps and put on the leather flying helmets. (I know they are more resilient than the originals but, hey, it looks the part 👍). Beautiful video, reminds me of my dad helping me build an Airfix one in the late 60s coz he'd flown in one during his National Service with the RAF in the early 50s.

[@clive373]

What a wonderful cockpit, you would want some very good earphones though!

[@SamuelCBueno]

Amazing

[@Twirlyhead]

Lovely plane.

[@davidgillettuk9638]

Avro Anson, the first airfix model I ever made.

[@jingshelpmaboab]

Me too! Though I think my dad did it, really...

[@keithwaites9991]

David Gillett UK ...not the first, but my favourite kit in the late 60's...happy days

[@scootergrant8683]

@@jingshelpmaboab Whose Dad didn't make most of their early Airfix kits?

[@scavuman]

Awesome !

[@GamePlayWithNolan]

Love the grass runway, you don't see many WWII aircraft on them anymore.

[@baker2niner]

Wonderful. This is the only one left flying, I believe.

[@jamesbartlett5640]

This aircraft is now up for sale, as a Brit it be brilliant if it made the UK home especially if it was to be in formation with the Mk I Spitfires and the Blenheim.

[@miksal26]

Fantastic visibility. How did you deal with all the old casein glue? Great restoration. Cheers from Downunder

[@Mikey-Mike1050XT]

Wonderful aircraft,unfortunately a few of them were lost in the Galloway hills,we spend our time locating them and finding out about the crews.

[@pwareham61]

Easily one of my favourite british planes

[@blacknass1943]

very nice airplain.

[@grahamankers6018]

Just reading about the ATAs use of the Anson during WW11, lovely plane I'd kill for a trip in one.

[@hughrowney8621]

My brother flew an Annie out of Mascot in the 1950s on survey work. Out west it could not get off the ground if the sun was up. Had to take off in the false dawn when the air was cooler. Finally refused to fly until variable pitch props were fittedHe moved on to fly a Mozzie.

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

I did not know there were any left. Good visibility out of it for sure. Are the props fixed pitch?

[@Tipi_Dan]

That's New Zealand?! It looks exactly like the inland Pacific Northwest in U.S., especially the take-off and landing shots.

[@MarsFKA]

Omaka Airfield, Blenheim, at the northern end of the South Island. Look it up on Google Earth or Google Map. Excellent wine-growing region. Every Easter in odd-numbered years the Classic Fighters Omaka air shows are held there - the even-numbered Easters are for the Warbirds Over Wanaka air shows.

[@bigglesflysagain1749]

AHOY ! Hugh Rowney....was the survey work for ADASTRA ???

[@cyclicwiggler7522]

Notice the fuel gauge isn't registering do you have to push a button or select a tank to get a reading?

[@brianmarshall1637]

This old bird reminds me of my time as as M.T.mechanic stationed at RAF.Lichfield in the 1950s,every few months on e flew in an the brakes must have been sticking because they always squeaked as it tacked passed ou r hangar on landing,the problem was never solved it was always the same.

[@Cyberpuppy63]

Any old aircraft being restored in the UK?

[@jhettish]

I was intrigued by what seems to be a single mixture control and the pilot manipulating it on takeoff and landing. I also noticed that he seemed to shut the engines down with the magneto switches and not the mixture control. I hope to get an answer but not particularly expecting one.

[@tomcummin6801]

+John Hettish I believe you are correct, there was indeed only a single mixture control on the Anson which, unlike most aircraft granted a fully adjustable mixture control, has to make do with a 3 detent system giving the options of Rich, Normal and Weak to choose from to gain the optimum settings for the engines performance. I am assuming that failing to have the capability of an idle/cutoff setting on the mixture to shut the Cheetahs down the mags are the go to, to strangle them. Someone else may have more information and might correct me if my understanding is flawed here. If not I hope that sheds some light.

[@maxrudder6091]

Shutting down with the mags isn't as unusual as you might think. Aircraft equipped with Stromberg carburetors, like the Cessna 120/140, and other small A- and C-series Continental-powered aircraft also require using the mags to shut-down because there is no idle cut-off. Many of us with those old airplanes shut the fuel off at the tank selector valve, instead, allowing all the fuel in the carburetor bowl to burn off, thus preventing leaks and preventing accidental engine starts.

[@josephlambe2796]

I agree

[@nsxfan16]

i believe this is the mk1 anson ?

[@MrDaiseymay]

THIS IS GREAT TO SEE, VERY RARE. WELL DONE LADS-AND LASSES? MY HALF BROTHER WAS SHOT DOWN OVER THE NORTH SEA IN AUGUST 1940, WHILE ABOARD A AVRO ANSON. HE WAS PATROLLING THE DUTCH COAST (A W.OP). OF 500 SQD.COASTAL COMMAND. HE AND ANOTHER CREW MEMBER SURVIVED. MY BROTHER SPENT THE WAR ,AS A POW, MAKING THE JERRIES ANGRY BY HIS MANY ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE.(THE TWO OTHER CREW HAD DIED ). HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, SPENT THE WAR ON MANY MANY OPS, IN FOUR DIFFERENT BOMBERS, AND DIED ON THE VERY LAST RAF RAID OF WW2, 5 DAYS FROM WARS END. SUCH IS FATE.

[@johnmcnarry4367]

Mk II ?

[@mintee094]

What country is this filmed in? ?

[@nosay2930]

mintee094 It's in New Zealand, due south of Picton at the top of the South Island.

[@MarsFKA]

Omaka Airfield, Blenheim, at the northern end of the South Island. Look it up on Google Earth or Google Map. Excellent wine-growing region. Every Easter in odd-numbered years the Classic Fighters Omaka air shows are held there - the even-numbered Easters are for the Warbirds Over Wanaka air shows.

[@hoodoo2001]

I'll never get to fly in one but if I do I get dibs on the turret.

[@talbotvanman]

I got to fly once after fitting two recon engines ( at Bishops Court N Ireland ) I was a National Service engine mechanic (1950s) I wasnt told the pilot would stand the plane on its tale to be sure I had fitted the engines correctly I threw up of course and flatly refused to fly again !!!

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Yay Team..! Two comments, one from a 1940's vintage Pilot, RAF Coastal Command, who said of the Anson..., "Rather unweildy, slow & underpowered, not a good machine within which to pursue the King's Enemies, actually...!" And another, from an anonymous wit, who penned, "The Avro Anson does not Fly, So much as it wallows..., Accross the Sky...!" But it is suspected that the latter came from an Airspeed Oxford afficionado...(?) ! ;-p Ciao !

[@ClassicAircraftPhotography]

It runs for just over 11 minutes.

[@wadesaleeby2172]

If you wants to be important you needs to look important .... nice leather caps chaps!

[@wawawiwa19]

I have one of the propellers hanging on my wall

[@KB4QAA]

Yeeha. Around the patch we go.

[@tauncfester3022]

I thought the co-pilot's job was to hand crank up and down the landing gear.

[@wadesaleeby2172]

Feather that starboard engine Lieutenant....

[@brucewilliams2267]

had the privilege of flying in one as a 14 year old Air Cadet in 1967 all be it a Mk19 and not a mk1

[@blacknass1943]

i wish htis airplain for DCS :) sim

[@gusjackson3658]

My father trained in them. He called them the flying glasshouse. They navigated by the stars and when they got lost they followed railway lines to find a station and then flew very low to read the name on the side of it, then looked it up on the map and got their location fix that way. Ahh cheating…

[@clara17uk]

my gramps flew this and oxford speeds

[@markrutlidge5427]

Airspeed Oxford

[@clara17uk]

thankyou for keeping me right

[@geoffreygoodyear7378]

mark rutlidge

[@ansonyang9829]

Lolz im anson im a plane 0.0 lolz

[@Robert-qi6mb]

How would you like to take on a zero in that piece of junk?

[@garrington120]

Dear old Faithful Annie, bet he left the undercarriage down !

[@englishmaninfrance661]

What a piece of outdated junk these things were . When you look at the Beaufighter or the Mosquito these just aren't in the same league .

[@georgederekferguson8763]

my father flew these in WW2 and i cant ever remember him calling them junk. he used to mention how they picked up the nickname FLYING GREENHOUSE . he only remembered his RAF days late in his life after developing dementia but he always remains my hero.