ROBERT HODGSON MEMORIAL COLLECTION
No. 6112. Rollason Druine D.62B Condor (G-AWSP c/n RAE/634)
Photographed at Enstone, UK, May 20, 2005, by Robert Hodgson

Rollason Druine D.62B Condor

12/15/2021. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Rollason Aircraft and Engines Ltd. was founded at Croydon Airport in the 1930s by Captain William Rollason as Rollason Aircraft Services Ltd. Initially an aircraft service and overhaul company, it started to build the French designed Druine D.31 Turbulent aircraft under license in 1957. A few years later this was followed by the Druine D.60 Condor.

D.62 Condor: The first Rollason-built D.62 side-by-side two-seater was started as a homebuilt project under a construction number of the Popular Flying Association, PFA 247, but during construction it was taken over by Rollason. Registered G-ARHZ on December 13, 1960, and fitted with a 75 hp Continental A75 engine, it first flew in May 1961. Subsequently the A75 engine was changed for a 90 hp Continental C90-14F. It was later modified to D.62A standard with an 100 hp Rolls-Royce/Continental O-200-A engine. G-ARHZ is still active as of this day, on August 22, 2018, it was registered to its fifteenth and present owner, Barry Reid Hunter of Lincoln.

D.62A Condor: The first two Rollason-built production aircraft, G-ARVZ c/n RAE/606 and G-ASEU c/n RAE/607, were fitted with an 100 hp Rolls-Royce/Continental O-200-A engine, but the D.62A model had no flaps. Six aircraft of the type were built of which later four were brought up to D.62B standard.

D.62B Condor: Rollason-built variant with a slightly shorter fuselage, the same engine, but fitted with flaps. Of the 38 built, four were later modified to D.62C model.

D.62C Condor: Rollason-built variant based on the D.62B, but with a more powerful 130 hp Rolls-Royce/Continental O-240-A engine. The D.62C had modified square wingtips, a larger cockpit canopy and larger diameter wheels and tires. This version was also suitable for use as glider tug. Four were built as new aircraft and several earlier D.62A and D.62B were brought up to this standard.

G-AWSP was first registered to Rollason on October 31, 1968, Rollason sold the aircraft on May 30, 1969, to Norman Herbert Jones of Claygate, Surrey, UK. The aircraft changed ownership three times before it was registered to its present owner, Adam Waters of Andover, Hampshire, on May 13, 2019.

Rollason Druine D.62B Condor


Created February 15, 2007