Towards the end of 1934, a batch of 10 Cierva C.30A autogiros (serials K4230 to K4239) began to be delivered to the School of Army Co-operation (SAC) at Old Sarum. They were subsequently found to be very useful in calibrating the radar systems Britain was developing and deploying to counter the Luftwaffe threat in the lead up to WWII.
Two additional trials aircraft were acquired, followed by a further 13 C.30 based airframes which were impressed into service as the war progressed. Most survivors had been retired by Oct 1945.
Two additional trials aircraft were acquired, followed by a further 13 C.30 based airframes which were impressed into service as the war progressed. Most survivors had been retired by Oct 1945.
Units |
| Years | Units | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 1943/45 | 529 Squadron | Henley closed 1945 Halton |
| 1942/43 | 1448 Flt | Duxford |
| 1941/42 | 74 Wg CF | Duxford |
| 1940/41 | 5 RMU CF | Duxford |
| 1934/41 | SAC | Old Sarum |
List of Aircraft |
| C/N | Mod | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 705 w/o 1958 | 1934 | HM581 impressed into RAF service by Sep 1942. | - G-ACUI: C.30A built by AV Roe (1934). Reg G-ACUI Aug 1935. - G-AHTZ: To G-AHTZ Jun 1946, w/o 4 Mar 1958. Reg marked wfu Jul ... | ||||
| 708 | 1934 | DR624 impressed into RAF service Jun 1941 | - G-ACWF: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACWF Jul 1934  G-AHMI: to G-AHMI (Fairey, Hayes) May 1946; Reg cancelled Feb 1... | ||||
| 710 | 1934 | DR623 impressed into RAF service Jun 1941 | - G-ACWH: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACWH Jul 1934 several take-offs and landings (by the Cierva Chief Tes... - G-AHLE: to G-AHLE Apr 1946, wfu Jun 1947; Reg cancelled Jan 195... | ||||
| 712 | 1934 | AP508 impressed into RAF service Jun 1940 | - G-ACWJ: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACWJ Jul 1934 - PH-HHH: to PH-HHH Jan 1935 | ||||
| 715 | 1934 | AP506 impressed into RAF service Jun 1940 | - G-ACWM: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACWM Feb 1935 to G-ACWM Jul 1946; Reg cancelled Mar 1959. Re-discovered in pieces in a barn in Tewkesbury Glouces... - AP506: Parts and frame at BRM/IHM Weston by as AP506, still F... | ||||
| 717 | 1934 | V1187 impressed into RAF service Dec 1939 | - G-ACWO: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACWO Jul 1934 to G-ACWO May 1946, canx Apr 1948 (sold overseas). | ||||
| 723 | K4230 deck trials aboard HMS Courageous, while moored in Portsmouth | ||||||
| 726 | 1934 | HM580 impressed into RAF service May 1942. | - G-ACUU: C.30A built by AV Roe (1934 ?). Reg G-ACUU Jun 1934. to G-ACUU (Cierva Southampton) Dec 1946 for the Air Hor... sold as G-ACUU Apr 1950 to Elmdon; CoA expired Apr 1960 to Skyfame Museum, Staverton from autumn until its clo... - G-AIXE: G-AIXE ntu Nov 1946, reg subsequently re-used for an Av... - HM580: dispersed to IWM Duxford Feb 1978 when Skyfame Museum c... | ||||
| 728 | 1934 | AP507 KX-P impressed into RAF service Jun 1940 | - G-ACWP: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACWP Apr 1937; t... | ||||
| 730 | 1936 | K4235 KX-H to RAF; 1448 Flt; 529 Sq | - G-AHMJ: to Fairey, Hayes; declared wfu Feb 1950. to Shuttleworth Trust, painted as K4235 / KX-H by Feb 1... to Fantasy of Flight Museum, painted as K4235 / KX-H by... | ||||
| 731 | 1934 | V1186 impressed into RAF service Dec 1939 | - G-ACWR: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACWR Jul 1934 | ||||
| 732 | 1934 | AP509 impressed into RAF service Jun 1940 | - G-ACWS: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACWS Jul 1934; to... - G-AHUC: to G-AHUC Jun 1946, sold overseas - SE-AZA: to SE-AZA Jul 1946 | ||||
| 737 | 1934 | BV999 impressed into RAF service Jan 1941 | G-ACXW: Built as C.30A 1934 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACXW Sep 1934 to G-ACXW (Fairey, Hayes) May 1946, canx Jul 1947. | ||||
| 771 | 1935 | DR622 impressed into RAF service Jun 1941 | - G-ACYH: Built as C.30A 1935 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACYH Feb 1936 - G-AHRP: to G-AHRP May 1946, to G-AHRP (Cierva Southampton) Feb ... | ||||
| 775 scrapped 1951 | 1935 | AP510 impressed into RAF service Jan 1940 | - G-ACYE: Built as C.30A 1935 by A V Roe. Reg G-ACYE May 1935 to G-ACYE May 1946; reduced to spares Dec 1951. | ||||
| 954 | K4232 C.30A; became SE-AZB | - SE-AZB: ex RAF K4232; held by RAF Museum at its Cardington sto... | |||||
No longer with this org.
