The only Courier to survive the war, G-ACVF was pictured over Southend in March 1947, flown by East Anglian Flying Services boss Jack Jones. The landing gear had been locked. It was withdrawn from use nine months later. Photo by: EJ Riding

The Courier prototype seen on one of its first flights, which were carried out by RAE pilot George Stainforth. Designed as an upmarket private aircraft, the type featured retractable landing gear, and the prototype was ordered by Alan Cobham for a non-stop flight to India with aerial refuelling. He only got as far as Malta on 22 September 1934.

Third Courier production aircraft, an AS.5B, fitted with a more powerful Cheetah engine. Co-located with Airspeed at Portsmouth Airport, the RK Dundas company bought sales rights for India and G-ACLF departed to India for a demo tour in December 1933. Attempts to sell the aircraft to Spain during the Spanish Civil War blocked. To North Eastern Airways, Croydon in February 1937. To Portsmouth, Southsea & Isle of Wight Aviation in 1939 and converted to AS.5A, with fixed gear. Impressed as X9342 in 1940 and allocated to Air Transport Auxiliary. Struck off charge in 1944.

The Courier was one of the first British aircraft with retractable landing gear and one example was delivered to the RAF for trials in February 1934. It is probably seen here back at Airspeed's factory at Portsmouth for modifications later in the year. Later used as a communications aircraft, it was written off after a bad landing at Farnborough on 14 July 1943.

Nice photo of G-ACJL without its Melbourne Air Race number 14. Note the tail logo - Aircraft Exchange & Mart at Hanworth were Courier dealers and the photo was most probably taken when the aircraft was new. In Australia the aircraft was registered VH-UUF to Aircraft Exchange & Mart, Mascot. However, it was shipped back to England during 1936, after colliding with Avro Avian VH-UGA on the ground at Essendon in 1935. There is no record of the airframe flying again in Britain, so presumably it was seriously damaged and not repaired.

David and Ken Stodart in Singapore during the London to Melbourne Air Race in which they took sixth place. Photo from: National Museum of Singapore

The Courir was the first British production aircraft with a retractable undercarriage. Alan Cobham tried to fly the prototype G-ABXN to India non-stop with aerial refuelling but only made it to Malta in September 1934. A month later G-ACJL took sixth place in the London - Melbourne Air Race, flown by Sqn Ldr David Stodart and Sgt Pilot Ken Stodart. The type was also used as small airliner. 16 examples built. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum