Gipsy and Cirrus Moths

Sir,

While we whole-heartedly approve that you have allowed the intrusion of airborne sporting machines into your automotive pages, we feel we most bring Mr. Richard Stonor to task in the interests of accuracy.

We believe that the Moth G-AAAG listed was in fact a DH 60X with the construction number 697 and fitted with a Cirrus II engine and not the Gipsy as indicated. This aircraft was originally owned by the de Havilland School of Flying at Stag Lane.

All pictures, drawings and reference sources at our disposal show at cost rudimentary cowlings and baffles on and around cylinder heads of Moths powered by the upright Gipsy I and II engines. Only the Cirrus engines had naked cylinders, often with uncovered tappet gear as illustrated in Mr. Stonor’s picture. In Mr. Stonor’s photograph the Cirrus engine can be seen to he a right-hand tractor. This appears to be characteristic of all Cirrus engines, whereas the DH Gipsy engines were all left-hand tractors.

All this may seem to be nit-picking in the extreme and should in no way have spoiled the enjoyment of the joy-riders shown in Mr. Stonoes photograph.

Hatfield, Herts. JOHN E. SCOTT

Public Relations & Publicity Manager Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd.