The first retractable undercarriage

A disaster at Portsmouth Airport was averted in April 1933 when the first commercial aircraft with a retractable undercarriage to be produced in England, a six seater monoplane called the Courier, was on a test flight. Flt Lt GH Stainforth showed exceptional skill when he suffered a complete engine failure at 300ft whilst taking off into an easterly wind towards the mud flats of Langstone Harbour. Stainforth managed to turn the aircraft, lower the undercarriage and land back safely down wind. The failure was due to a defect in the fuel system.

Portsmouth Records Office I169