Dates

Event

1948

Constructed as a C.H.3-Series 4.

From 8 March 1948 to 27 July 1951

To Chrislea Aircraft Co. Ltd, Exeter Airport, Devon, UK with new c/r G-AKVR.

From 22 January 1952 to 18 May 1955

To Arthur R. Tindall, MacFarlane Downs Station, Tambo QLD with new c/r VH-BRP.
Log book indicates only 21 hours flown.

From 19 December 1955 to February 1956

To Roderick C. Dyer, Woodside FARM, via Buangor Vic keeping c/r VH-BRP.
Only 30 hours flown since re-engined. Returned to KSAS due poor performance.

21 April 1956

To Kingsford Smith Aviation Service Pty Ltd, Bankstown keeping c/r VH-BRP.

17 April 1962

To Austerserve Pty Ltd, Bankstown Airport, Sydney keeping c/r VH-BRP.

May 1963

Photographer: Geoff Goodall
Notes: Chrisleas tailwheel model was the CH-3 Series 4 Skyjeep. VH-RCD looks very weathered while retired in the open at Bankstownin May 1963. Some years earlier it had been modified at Bankstown with raised rear fuselage and deeper cowling when re-engined with a much more powerful DH Gipsy Six. After a long rebuild, it flew again in September 1988 at Bathurst NSW, fitted with an original Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engine. Later sold to England, where it took up its original registration G-AKVR.

1977

To Alan Stanfield, Supreme Mousetraps, Sydney.
Under re-build.

From 1983 to 1987

Restored to airworthy at Bankstown and Bathurst over 4 years by Mick English, Cirrus Major 3 engine. Weight was reduced by using light-weight seats and interior, modern fabrics, and an aluminium turtle deck in place of the steel and timber lift-up turtle deck.

1985

Photographer: Arthur Scarf
Notes: 1985 photo - under restoration at Bathurst, NSW.

18 August 1987

To Michael J. V. English, T/A Mick English Aviation, Bathurst NSW with new c/r VH-OLD.

1988

Photographer: Arthur Scarf
Notes: 1988 photo after restoration

21 September 1988

First post-restoration Flight.
First flight at Bathurst after restoration. First flight since 1956.

1990

Photographer: Arthur Scarf
Notes: 1990 photo - at Bathurst, NSW.

5 July 1991

Damaged.
Damaged in forced landing on beach, Moruya NSW.

24 February 1993

To Michael J. Bonnick, Negara, Brunei keeping c/r VH-OLD.

23 October 1998

Civil registration, VH-OLD, cancelled.

27 October 1998

To David R. Jim Bean, Old Manor FARM, Anwick, Lincolnshir with new c/r G-AKVR.

1999

Aircraft was moved from Australia to England, still in damaged condition. Restoration commenced, but Mr. Bean fell ill and died.

2 March 2001

To Neil David Needham, Sleaford, Lincolnshire keeping c/r G-AKVR.

April 2001

Restoration started.
Moved to Needhams farm at Sleaford where he rebuilt it to immaculate condition -When the Chrislea was close to completion, David Needham died of an illness on 26 March 2003. His wife Cherith and son Justin oversaw the final stages through to Permit to Fly stage and offered the aircraft for sale.

26 August 2003

To Cherith L. Needham, Sleaford keeping c/r G-AKVR.

30 May 2004

First post-restoration Flight.
First test flight after rebuild, at the farm strip Sleaford. Painted in original Chrislea factory scheme of maroon and silver.

6 July 2005

To Richard Brian Webber, Chumleigh keeping c/r G-AKVR.

13 September 2008

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At Kemble Vintage Flying Weekend in 2008

13 April 2009

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: Arriving at Fly-In at Wolverhampton in 2009