A CIVILIAN AFFAIR - REVIEWS

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Over the weekend of August 9/10 an event called 'Ottringham Invaded' was held at the airstrip known as 'The Poplars' close to the Humberside village. The reasoning behind this was to mark the launch of a new book - A Civilian Affair by Eduard F. Winkler and published by Barry Ketley's Flight Recorder Publications, which is based in Ottringham. The book is a delightful study of the Civilian Aircraft Company and its only product, the CAC.1 Coupé, which was built just up the road at Hedon. The production run was, well, small, just a handful of these cabin monoplanes being produced from 1929. The detail in this book is incredible, the author having gone to great lengths to find a mass of photos, documents, anecdotes and data. At the event, the author was on hand to sign copies and the sole surviving CAC.1, G-ABNT, was ferried up from Biggin Hill. This was its longest cross-country flight for many a decade and it became the centrepiece for the occasion. This was a very pleasant and enjoyable afternoon out and another book has now joined my winter reading pile!

Andy Wood
Flypast
November 2003

From a new publisher comes A Civilian Affair, the story of the Civilian Aircraft Company by Eduard Winkler. Under the direction of Barry Ketley, late of Hikoki, Flight Recorder Publications has launched itself with this modest 48-page book. Only five Civilian Coupés had been completed by February 1933 before the company became bankrupt, but one survivor, G-ABNT, remains and this is currently airworthy at Biggin Hill. To those acquainted with the steady demise of the British aircraft industry, this story will have a familiar ring about it.

Aviation News
November 2003

The first book to emerge from Barry Ketley's new company, this well-presented A4-sized monograph spotlights the shortlived Yorkshire-based company that produced the small Coupé enclosed two-seat touring monoplane. Only five Coupés were completed (discounting the mysterious, unregistered fourth Mk II) and the Civilian Aircraft Company lasted only from July 1930 to late September 1933. This slim volume tells the story of that company and the key personalities involved, describes the development of the aeroplane, and provides individual histories of each machine, including the sole survivor, the third Mk II, G-ABNT. It is excellent value for money, being profusely illustrated with monochrome photographs and original documentation.

Philip Jarrett
Aeroplane Monthly
January 2004

This book is quite excellent and at only £5.99 'a snip'. The Coupé would make a nice R/C model, the book has only small plans but everything is there for the potential builder, and one still exists at Biggin Hill. This is a labour of love book. How to do it for a very low price and high quality.

BMFA News
December 2003