Post WWI and peacetime once more.
Many a veteran of that terrible conflict contemplated their future. Hinkler was no exception! What could he do? Despite the war and mayhem, flying was what he did best and did very well. Opportunities were not plentiful.
In 1920 Hinkler flew G-EACQ non-stop from Croydon, near London, to Turin, Italy in record time a flight for which he received the Brittania Trophy.
In 1921 Bert Hinkler sailed to Australia with his beloved Avro Baby, G-EACQ. After assembling the aircraft in Sydney he flew back to his hometown of Bundaberg in Queensland.
He later sold the Avro Baby in Sydney.
Back in England, he was received with acclaim by the Avro Company who created considerable work opportunities for Hinkler.
It was during this period sales were accepted for the 35hp Green powered “Avro Baby”, one in particular later registered G-EBDA was sold to Russia. The aircraft was delivered from Hamble by the Russian pilot Ye Gvaita on the 10th June 1922.
Bert Hinkler’s Involvement
John GF Wientjens
Delivery of the machine was taken by a pilot named Ye Gvaita at the Avro experimental works in Hamble.
The aircraft left Hamble on 9th June 1922 for Lympne Airport near Folkestone (England).
Initial arrangements were made for Bert Hinkler to fly another Avro Baby aircraft to accompany Ye Gvaita all the way to Moscow, to ensure that the delivery was satisfactorily completed. At the eleventh hour the proposition to accompany the aircraft was vetoed due to insurance problems.
News Item with Photo June 1922.
A Russian Pilot was above Belgium when he lost direction due to the appalling weather conditions which caused problems thus resulting in the irregular running of the engine. He was forced to make an emergency landing in the Stevenlandse fields. The boggy ground gave rise to an accident whereby the plane went out of control thus damaging the rudder and steering. The shaken pilot, who was alone in the cockpit, jumped out uninjured. After contact with aerodrome authorities it was decided assistance from the manufacturer was required. Bert Hinkler got the job!
Bert Hinkler writes in “Aeronautical Engineering” (a supplement to the “Aeroplane”, later renamed “Aircraft Magazine”) published on 30th September 1922 as follows:
“I went along as far as Lympne (the customs aerodrome near Folkestone). Pilot Gvaita – a Russian pilot – left Lympne at 5am for Berlin. Soon after my return to Hamble word came through that Gvaita had struck adverse weather conditions and had been forced to land near Tilburg.”
I immediately collected spare parts etc, hopped into my bus, and rushed off to find him. Owing to insurance restrictions I was not permitted to fly the “Baby” out of England, so, at Croydon, I transferred my luggage to a Fokker F7 (H-NABQ) of the KLM. As a passenger of this airline I reached Rotterdam after about 2 ½ hours flight from London, thence by rail. At Tilburg I found Gvaita and the machine quite alright; the only damage to the machine was a broken rudder, caused when she turned over on the very soft ground. As I had brought the necessary replacements she was soon ready for the air again, though we had some difficulty in finding even a small ground for taking off and also getting the “Baby” to it. We managed the next day and I flew her to a military aerodrome about 10 miles away, to fill up with fuel and oil.”
Newspaper Report 14th June 1922:
Again Departed.
After repairs initiated by Hinkler who was undoubtedly an accomplished A.V. Roe Avro Baby pilot, the aircraft departed for Berlin. It would appear that Gvaita told the Dutch Police, who were guarding the plane until spare parts arrived, that he was a British pilot and worked for A.V. Roe. Much difficulty was encountered in Germany where the combination of a Russian subject flying a British machine caused international complications. The plane left the Netherlands on 14th June and arrived in Russia some 13 days later.
A Russian magazine stated that two machines were purchased and that the second one was to be flown by Mr Zerekidze. This is highly unlikely as the owners of the 8 Avro Babies built by A.V. Roe are all accounted for. Mr Zerekidze was present at the hand over, but it is believed he acted as a trade or embassy official.
Bert Hinkler visited the Netherlands on other occasions especially during the development of the Ibis aircraft. Of special interest to him were Antony Fokker and his engineering establishment. These items are a subject for further research!
Incident researched by John G.F. Wientjens.
Acknowledge assistance from:
Mr H. Dekker (Holland) information supplied and permission to use same.
Mr T. Herwijnen of the Regional Archives in Tilburg.
Dr M. Brummans of the Stads Archive in s’Hertogenbosch
Mr J.A. (Lex) Rowland OAM, Bundaberg
AV Roe, R Chadwick, Ye Gvaita, B Hinkler, Zerekidze, Capt Ellerton
