Harry Butler (aviator) - are you related?

[J170 Owner]

Are you related to Harry Butler, aviator from the past who flew the Red Devil (a Bristol monoplane), located at Minlaton, South Australia? (Apparently there is a relative who owns a plane living in Loxton). If so, there is talk of building a flying replica of this plane and you may be interested. On the scary side, if you are related to Harry then you are related to me. A fellow from the USA is coming over to examine the Red Devil with a view of building his own flying replica back home. Apparently there are no flying replicas in existence. That has got the Minlaton folks interested in having our own flying replica. Anyway, just thought I'd mention it.

 

 

 

[facthunter]

Is he related to Arthur Butler who started Butler Air Transport and flew a Comper Swift from England to australia.? Nev

 

 

[J170 Owner]

Is he related to Arthur Butler who started Butler Air Transport and flew a Comper Swift from England to australia.? Nev

I do not think so. Googling both reveals no connection between the two. I shall ask my brother who is up with all the history etc.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

That's a nice plane there mate......bloody nice !......lots of work there , ahead of it's time...........................................Maj...

 

 

[facthunter]

It has a 110 Hp Le Rhone rotary in it too as far as I can gather, Nice!!!

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Bet she could be a handfull on landing though, with that smallish rudder and lots up front !..................Maj...

 

 

[Neil_S]

...and here is a video of Arthur Butler & Comper Swift :-

 

 

Spiffing stuff!

 

I was lucky enough to see a Comper Swift fly at Old Warden (Shuttleworth Collection) in September at an Air Pageant there.....very cool.

 

Cheers

 

Neil

 

 

[facthunter]

He was always known as Arthur. His actual plane did a barrell roll around me in a chipmink when I was on my first solo cross country from rutherford to mudgee. It had been re engined with a Cirrus minor engine. It was owned and flown by someone else then who can remain nameless. Nev

 

 

[J170 Owner]

Thanks for posting that video. I sent it to my brother who is doing the family tree stuff and the research on Captain Harry Butler. This will probably keep him busy trying to establish a link between Harry and Cecil, if there is one. Going by the dates, Harry Butler died around the time this flight took place.

 

 

[facthunter]

You will be busy. In most mysteries generally the "butler did it" Nev.

 

 

[J170 Owner]

You will be busy. In most mysteries generally the "butler did it" Nev.

You and I know that, but I'm not telling my brother

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Also a great looking aeroplane.....they knew how to design them back then...............................Maj...