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A rare glimpse into early 20th-century aviation: a Hucks Starter in action, firing up the engine of the Airco DH.9. This ingenious ground vehicle, built on a Ford Model T chassis, replaced the hazardous hand-swinging method and revolutionised aircraft starting during WWI. Captured here at IWM Duxford, this moment brings vintage aviation engineering vividly to life.
The Hucks Starter was an ingenious mechanical device developed during World War I to start aircraft engines more safely and efficiently. Invented by Royal Flying Corps Captain Bentfield Charles Hucks, it replaced the hazardous manual propeller swinging method. Typically mounted on a Ford Model T chassis, the Hucks Starter used a power take-off shaft to engage with the aircraft’s propeller hub, spinning the engine until it started. This innovation significantly reduced the risk to ground crew and streamlined aircraft operations in the 1920s and 1930s. Today, restored examples like this one are preserved in aviation museums, serving as a testament to early 20th-century engineering advancements.
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN
THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS
THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
THE ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE
FROM THE LANDING GROUND LOCATED
IN THIS FIELD DURING THE GREAT WAR
1914-1918
“LEST WE FORGET”
The former WW1 airfield was located near the village of Little Dunham, Norfolk and was officially known as Sporle Landing Ground.
It was one mile south of Little Dunham railway station and within the current parish of Little Dunham. It was used by Avro 504Ks and Sopwith Camels of 51 Squadron, part of the 47th. Wing, 6th. Brigade, Royal Flying Corps between 1916 and November 1918. The landing ground was a satellite station to RAF Marham for home defence duties.
The airfield covered 43 acres and measured 1,560 x 1,320 ft. (475 x 402 m). Facilities at a Class 3 night landing ground would have been very basic, a hut for the pilots and ground crew and paraffin lighting for the landing strip.
Little Dunham Parish Council built the memorial at the entrance to the airfield to mark the 100th. anniversary of the start of the First World War.
A Tornado from RAF Marham conducted a flypast at 10 a.m. on 11th. December 2014, then the memorial was unveiled by Group Captain Harvey Smyth, RAF Marham Station Commander. It was dedicated by Rev. Martin Joyce.
Top to Bottom.
RAF Se5a
Avro 504K
Airco DH.9A
Newark Air Museum 09-04-25
Newark Air Museum 09-04-25
No message on the reverse but dating from the early 1920s. An interesting mixture of regiments but oddly some of the cap badges do not match the shoulder tiles. For example the soldier seated on the ground has a RAF cap badge and a Scots Guard Shoulder title. Other regiment are -
Gordon Highlanders
Seaforth Highlanders
Royal Tank Regiment
Household Regiment
South Staffordshire Regiment
Wiltshire Regiment.
Three brother by the name of Fred, Will and Charlie Saunders Unfortunately Fred's cap badge is too blurred to make out the regiment.
I didn’t yet work up the courage to get down with a spray can on the new Super Mario kart wheel piece I've used here as an engine cowl cover, but that doesn’t mean that even as it is, it’s all that far from a reasonable "IKANOPIT", the real deal which originally inspired me and got me into building this. I love the deep dark browns livery of that biplane and there are some very cool images around, should you be interested to pull a quick search or follow the tags.
I didn’t yet work up the courage to get down with a spray can on the new Super Mario kart wheel piece I've used here as an engine cowl cover, but that doesn’t mean that even as it is, it’s all that far from a reasonable "IKANOPIT", the real deal which originally inspired me and got me into building this. I love the deep dark browns livery of that biplane and there are some very cool images around, should you be interested to pull a quick search or follow the tags.
28 December 2024, Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre
Waddington Airshow 2010
Saturday 3/07/20201
Great War Display Team
Royal Flying Corps - RAF 1918 -
Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a (Replica) F8010 G-BDWJ
Shuttleworth Trust
Old Warden
Nikon D300S
Nikkor 70-300 AF-S
Bristol F.2B Fighter E2466 seen at Hendon
Cutaway of Bristol F.2B Fighter E2466 shown at Hendon
Sopwith Camel F1 F6314 on show at Hendon .
Sopwith Camel F.1 F6314 on show at Hendon