G-BWEF

G-BWEF is a Stampe SV4C. The 'C' implies that it has a Renault 4P03 engine (145 h.p) but our Stampe has a DeHavilland Gypsy Major 10 Mk 1 engine. G-BWEF is therefore properly defined (according to the CAA) as a Stampe SV4C(G), the 'G' presumably meaning Gypsy. G-BWEF was originally built with a Renault engine but this was replaced at a later date with the Gypsy. The following article tells how the original Stampe aircraft were Gypsy powered and outlines some of the history of the Stampe company.

The Background

The Stamp company was created in 1923 and located in the airport of Anvers-Deurne in Belgium. Their founders were Jean Stampe (ex-pilot of the King Albert of Belgium) and Maurice Vertongen (ex-WW1 Pilot). It soon became an important flying school but also handled air transport and other related activities. In 1930 the company became representatives of De Havilland and they sold "Tiger Moth's" and "Puss Moth's". They started to built aeroplanes based on designs from Alfred Renard such as the RSV series (RSV32, 26, 26/100, 18/26, 22). Alfred. Renard left the company to form his own business and was replaced by a young engineercalled Georges Ivanow who brought further improvements (ST26, RSV32G11, SV3).

The first SV4

In 1932, George Ivanow was asked to design a new aircraft and thus in 1933 the SV4 was born (the first flight was on 13 May 1933). It received its certificate on May 26, 1933 and was registered as OO-ANI. The SV4 weighed 760 Kg, was powered by a Gipsy Major engine and cruised at 76 knots with an initial climbing speed of 13 feet/sec. The aircraft was quickly put to service and between 1933 and 1938, 6 were built (00-ANK, OO-AAC, OO-ACB, OO-APR, OO-ASU). However, following the crash in 1935 of a twin engine SV10 which caused the deaths of Georges Ivanow and Leon Stampe (son of Jean), Stampe and Vertongen ceased all aircraft design and building activities and concentrated on maintenance activities.

The SV4 Second Series

After repeated requests from Stampe's ex-student Elza Leyzen, Stampe finally agreed to re-open the SV4 files and built an aerobatic version of the aeroplane. B. Demidoff, his new engineer went to work and soon, on 19th October 1937, OO-JAN was ready. It had a maximum weight of 825 kg, rated for aerobatics with a VNE of 385 km/h. OO-JAN first flew with a upright Gipsy engine but was then changed to incorporate a Gypsy major. Although it had received the approbation of the Belgian Air Force, no orders came through. A second example was built for the Brussels Flying Club in 1938.

The SV4B

In 1939, in order to resubmit the SV4 to the competition organised by the Belgian Air Force to replace their current aeroplanes (AVRO530), Demidoff reviewed the drawing of OO-JAN and simplified the aircraft. Two aircraft were built OO-ATC and OO-ATD. With the approval of the submission, the second aircraft was sold to the baron Thierry d'Huart. In July 1939, Jean Stampe took OO-ATC to France where with the assistance of Michel Detroyat, it was presented to both the French Air Force and Artillery. Jean Stampe returned to Belgium, in his pocket an order for 30 SV4Bs( B to differentiate from the 8 previously built SV4s) for the French Air Force. The same month, OO-ATC was presented at the Brussels International Air Meeting, flown by the Lt Phillipart and was a tremendous success. It appeared then that the SV4B was destined for a great future....However, on September 3, Germany invaded Poland...

The War Period

In earnest, production started in Deurne(Belgium) in December 1939 and the last aircraft was delivered on 13 may 1940. Of the 30 built, 24 survived the invasion, shipped to North Africa and recuperated by the FAFL in 1943 where they were put in services for liaison. In September 1939, France placed an additional order for 300 SV4. Due to the incapacity for the Belgian firm to built such a large quantity, they asked the Farman company in France for facilities to built the SV4. Finally an agreement was concluded in January 1940 for 400 SV4Bs for the French Air Force and 200 more for the Artillery. The Belgians were to produce the first 50 SV4s however 10 only were built before the armistice. One aeroplane was tested in Belgium, the airframes of the nine remaining were shipped on a barge to Lyon but were caught by the Germans and destroyed on route..

OO-ATD escapes to Great Britain!

One of the 2 SV4s (OO-ATD) built originally for the submission in 1939 and sold to baron Thierry d'Huart, had been hidden in the gardener's shed of his castle in Ter-Blok. On the 4 July 1941, it was "borrowed" by 2 Belgian pilots, Michel Donnet and Leon Divoy, and flown to Great Britain. In 1945 when Belgium was liberated, it was flown back to its rightful owner. OO-ATD flew until 1957 when it was given to the Belgian Air museum where it can be seen today! OO-ATD was the only survivor of the SV4s built before the war.

Post WW2 The Belgian's rebuild their factory

In 1944, Jean Stampe's factory had been destroyed by a V.1 doodlebug; in 1947 Stampe and Vertongen renewed their partnership with their original partner Alfred Renard to form the Stampe et Renard Co. They redesigned the SV4B, introduce a more powerful engine, the Gipsy Major series 10 of 145 Hp and introduce the sliding canopy. The Belgian Air Force wanted to replace their Tiger Moths and ordered 65 SV4Bs in 1947 for their "Ecole de Pilotage Elementaire" (Basic Flying Training school). The last SV4B came out of the production line on the 7 October 1955. ( It was in fact identified as SV4D since it was equipped with a Continental engine and registered as OO-SRS. It is now the property of the Belgian Air Museum). The SV4Bs were used for basic flight trianing for the Belgian Air Force until they were replaced in 1969 by the Marchetti SF260. The end of anl era.

This article is based on the booklet "Stampe SV4" by Reginald Jouhaud, Published by Quest France in 1981.