G-AJDY, cn. 2522 is a 1946 Auster J1N Alpha (Converted Autocrat) fitted with a Gypsy Major I engine (c.122hp). The Aircraft was originally a J1 Autocrat, powered by a Blackburn Cirrus II when it was originally constructed in 1946. In 1947 the aircraft moved to the Yorkshire Aeroplane club at Sherburn-in-Elmet. In August 1947 the aircraft was purchased by Mr. Percival J. Dredge who ran a plastics and scientific instrument manufacturing company in Leeds. Mr Dredge bought the aircraft with the intention to fly to South Africa to facilitate some business contacts within the region. Mr Dredge enlisted the help of accomplished pilot and Yorkshire Aero Club CFI, Squadron Leader H. N. Gravenor as his pilot in command for the venture. Sqn Ldr Hubert Norman Gravenor was the Commanding officer of No.10 AGS (Air Gunnery School) during the war and had a vast career flying everything from the Avro 504 to Lancasters.
The proposed journey stirred up much local interest and the pair featured frequently in the Yorkshire Evening Post throughout the journey. The flight beginning in Yeardon (Leeds East/ Church Fenton) took them across France, North Africa, down the Nile through Egypt and Sudan then through East Central Africa, both Rhodesias and finally into South Africa. During and after the trip, the newspapers followed them closely and were able to provide the public with some interesting albeit limited insights into the journey. During their time in North Africa the pair spent part of the journey over Tobruk where Sqn Leader Gravenor took great interest as the North Africa campaign had only ceased 5 years prior and the remains still littered the desert. In Sudan as the terrain shifted rapidly from desert to jungle Mr Dredge commented that for about 1,500km in the jungle each aircraft must fly in convoy for safety. The pair also crossed the Tanganyika and Northern Rhodesia (Tanzania and Zambia) border on only one magneto, which they were forced to address in the field at Kasama. Upon reaching South Africa, Mr Dredge was able to meet the contacts he had envisioned and made many local flights in the Durban area, likely as part of these dealings. Ultimately the aircraft reached Cape Town on September 29th 1947. Later on the 3rd of October the aircraft was derigged and shipped back to England on the RMMV Athlone Castle. The reasoning behind this was time, Mr Dredge was not able to commit another month of time to return to England. This journey over 33 days (Including sightseeing and business) saw the two travel 13445.91km in around 96 hours of flight time, an impressive feat, especially with the 100mph cruise of an Auster.
Mr Dredge owned the aircraft until 1951, when the aircraft moved to Northamptonshire. In 1954 the aircraft moved back to Yorkshire Aeroplane club and subsequent private flyers briefly spending one year in 1958 with Jack Heywood of Derby. In 1962 the aircraft was based at Leeds Bradford airport under Yorkshire Light Aircraft Limited. It passed again into private ownership from 1967 to 1971. From 1971 to 1981 the Aircraft was based at Sherburn-in-Elmet with General Aviation Services Ltd. General Aviation Services Ltd was founded by Michael Collett and in 1977 became Air Atlantique. In these early years they dealt primarily with light aircraft before the acquisition of their famous DC-3s.
G-AJDYs history is perhaps more brief than that of other Auster's of its age as it languished for many years offline, in disrepair and decline. The aircraft was permanently withdrawn from use in 1981. Since 1981 the aircraft declined and ended up in a Yorkshire scrapyard yet was visited by a number of enthusiasts (Mr Paul Kiddell and Nigel Hitchman) and individuals looking to restore her. One of these was Nick Stone (now of Blackstone Aviation) in 1988 who was seeking to rebuild the aircraft with RAF colleagues at RAF Finningley. The owner at the time however would not sell. In 1989 the aircraft was under the ownership of Truck Panels Ltd, it is unknown if this was the same owner.
In1995 the aircraft was restored at Sywell, that same year the Aircraft was seen at the PFA rally at Cranfield in the photograph below;
Between 1995 and 1999 the aircraft fell into a state of disrepair and its airworthiness cancelled, in 2008 the aircraft was put up for sale requiring a total rebuild.
The aircraft was bought by professional pilot Warwick Bayman of Warminister who set out to restore it. The restoration work was carried out at Spanhoe beginning in 2008 and was completed in 2012 by Windmill Aviation.
During the restoration the aircraft was rebuilt in RAF AOP colours and converted to a Gypsy Major powered, Auster J/1N Alpha. The aircraft was affectionately owned and attended by Mr. Bayman following the rebuild.
The aircraft since 2012 wears the colors of 659 squadron aircraft MT182 which was shot down by ME109s over Normandy during Operation Overlord on 27th June1944. The pilot in command of MT182 was Captain Peter Ian Douglas Heard of the Royal Artillery who was seconded to serve in the RAF as an Aerial Observer in the 569 Aerial Observation Post Squadron. Capt P.I.D Heard was from Bridgend in Glamorgan, Wales.
Unfortunately in May 2023 Mr. Warwick Bayman was tragically killed in a RTA and his aircraft was unable to be repaired after a recent state of decline. In August 2023 the aircraft was transported to Blackstone Aviation for restoration and it will assuredly fly again.
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