Rollason Condor D62b G-AVOH

Originally a French two-seat design by Roger Druine first flown in 1956 as F-WBIX as an amateur constructed aircraft. However, it was less well suited for the demands of club flying. Norman Jones, the founder of the Tiger Club and owner of Rollason Aircraft & Engines, had already built a number of Druine D.31 Turbulents and hit upon the idea of developing the Condor for this role.

Initially Rollasons constructed D.62 G-ARHZ in 1961 with a 75 hp Continental A75, with which it made its first flight in May of that year. "Air Pictorial" for April 1961, when reporting the completion of this first Rollason-built specimen, mentioned that it was to be called the Tutor. In 1964 the first Condor was upgraded by the installation of a 90 hp Continental C90-14F engine. Despite the fact that Croydon Airport had closed in September 1959 Rollasons retained a factory there where the first and all subsequent Condors were constructed. As flying was no longer possible from the former Airport site all the Condors, on completion, were transported to Redhill for their first flight.

Norman Jones was keenly interested in the development of Flying Clubs and so made Condors available on favourable loan terms. To emphasise the fact that his company was entirely independent and un-subsidised, Norman Jones had painted beneath the registration of Condor G-AVKM the legend "This aircraft is British Made - Private Enterprise and No Taxpayers Money". Writing in "Flight" in August 1967 he pointed out that all design development work and certification had been done by Rollason who paid a royalty to Roger Druine's widow for every Condor built. He went on to say that since the Condor had obtained a full CofA it had been used successfully for instruction by many Flying Clubs and Groups and had flown over 20,000 hours with many PPLs obtained on them. A remarkable number of Condors still survive although, with Flying Clubs having moved on to other types, they remain largely in the hands of private owners or Groups. After over 50 years they are still providing interesting and pleasurable flying at a reasonable rate