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About G-BASH
Above: G-BASH in front of the control tower at Southampton G-BASH is an American Aircraft (Grumman) AA5 Traveller. It was built in 1973 serial number AA5-0139. Although theoretically it seats 4 but in fact will only safely take 3 adults and full fuel. MTWA is 998Kg. Cruising speed is about 110 mph at 2300rpm burning between 28 and 30 litres per hour. Equipment includes twin Navcoms, ILS, VOR, ADF TX and GPS. It is IFR equipped and operates on a Public Transport C of A. Martin Smith, the BASH Groups favourite spotter, has found out the following historical information about G-BASH: G-BASH was originally registered in the UK on 12th March 1973 to General Aviation Services (Leeds?). Its original American registration was N5419L It was cancelled from UK register on 20th July 1973 on sale to Ireland as EI-AWV. G-BASH stayed in Ireland until 20th August 1980 when it arrived at Elstree still as EI-AWV.
I first spotted G-BASH at Elstree on 26th April 1981. I also noted G-BASH again on 5th September 1981 when it visited the Light Aviation & Business Show at Cranfield. The next time it appeared in my log was in 1983 at Blackbushe on 19th February & 27th March when the aircraft became resident there (think this is when John Woodhouse had bought the aircraft?). After a spell as a training aircraft at Thruxton and later at Popham G-BASH was bought by present Group trustee Gwyn Jenkins. For information G-BASH was the 12th UK registered AA5 and of those only 6 remain on the UK register. The CAA website has the total time as 3290 hours.
Above: Gwyn Jenkins in G-BASH in 1991. The pink shirt was obligatory in those days! G-BASH is now owned by the G-BASH flying group, of which Gwyn Jenkins is the Chairman and Trustee. |
It was restored to the UK register as G-BASH on 1st September 1980 and was registered to Gilbert O'Sullivan Ltd. 