On the Wing

BY ARBUTHNOT

This little column has a new game which consists of searching for fields in which to land (and with some success it might be added). Now that landing at recognised aerodromes is becoming so expensive the old pre-war habit of keeping a list of handy fields is paying off again. Ten bob for an Auster used to be pretty iniquitous at State airflelds but now twelve bob at some places gets a bit steep. A visit to White Waltham for example costs in this context five shillings for fuel and

Popular Flying, Octoberf November, 1957' thirteen and five for telephone and landing charges. We also learn that a cup of tea at another West London aerodrome comes out expensive, so now dear P.F.A. member in the London area you can go to Southend for tea, if you have a radio set, Fair Oaks only if you have this P.P.O. thing, White Waltham if you if you have a Radio Set have change for the telephone, and so it goes on. Thank the Lord for enlightened places like Stapleford Tawney where the tea is good and they are glad to see you, Bembridge also seems to scrub along without an aeronautical version of Dick Turpirt.

While binding about the London area aerodromes there seems to be a growing tendency to make life for Groups a bit difficult, presumably because they are able to fly at reasonable rates and are not afraid to get stuck into a little self help. This opposition is not confined only to bodies affiliated to the P.F.A. but other bodies of enthusiastic types as well. Lympne is glad to see private pilots and provides a gateway to private flying freedom as was shown en route to the annual rally of the R.S.A. at Toulouse. At Toussus the equivalent of four shillings paid for a landing and the statutory Customs charge, at Limoges no charge, the same at Toulouse. At Angoul6me a friendly club where a drink on the house is the tradition and refuelling takes twenty minutes only. At Beauvais the club can always find a hangar, switch on a flare path, and usually give a lift to town all for two shillings.

This year's meeting at Toulouse certainly showed the way in organising friendly meetings and the sight of nearly seventy aircraft, mostly amateur-built was spectacular to say the least. Several of the aircraft present were amateurs' Popular Flying, Octoberf November, 1957 dreams when it comes to novelty, a special Jodel has been produced, by a club instructor in his spare time, which has three seats and was seen transporting the portly Imray to great heights. A device known as the Statoplan and smaller even than the Turbulent showed its capabilities by flying around with a sixteen stone pilot aboard. This little aircraft is built by an enthusiast known as Gatard who believes that elevators are unnecessary, a large tailplane only being used. Pulling or pushing on the stick moves the mainplane trailing edge flaps up and down and thus the Statoplan. It all seems to work very well as did everything else at Toulouse, even a Flying Flea gave a fantastic demonstration of flying in attitudes which could only be arranged with mirrors. Apart from the many superbly presented Jodel two seaters, one with an Aeromatic v.p. propeller, the Emeraude this year showed a great development. Claude Rousseau, of Dinard, has produced a version with a large sliding one piece hood which together with spatted wheels makes bne of the prettiest aeroplanes for a long time.

Thanks to the kindness of Monsieur Briffaud, an enthusiastic member of the French A.R.B. cum M.T.C.A., it was possible to sample the little Sipa Coccinelle which he had brought to the rally, just like flying a four horsepower Renault in fact and most lively. A two seater Pdurffi Ciel, an old Potez 36, and a Leopoldoff al1 helped to add a picquancy to this wonderful banquet of light aircraft.

Nearer home the Bembridge Turbi has resumed its flight testing and has now otftained its full permit af,ter a delay in the making of a new propeller in place of the old one used at first which almost gave take-off revs at slow running. A word on this Turbi G-APFA, it is being used as a development test bed for piling up experience on the Flying Neptune. While the engine is in prototype form it is somewhat heavy and needs a great deal of lightening but we are gaining valuable experience and using a two-seater aircraft gives some disposable load to the engine without overloading a small airframe such as would be the case had a single seat design been used. For the present the Turbi is therefore flying only one up. At Leavesden the T.K. Turbi is now almost ready and is resplendent in a Iight grey and maroon paint scheme, a pity not ready for the P.F.A. rally but spare time work is spare time after all. The same goes for the Newtownards Turbulent, which all hoped to see at Sywell in the hands of the Reverend P. O'Kelly. The picture, however, is imprgving, this year should see at least six newly constructed ultra-light aircraft in the air while others are following up.

Visits to groups using the more orthodox vintage type aircraft show a healthy activity going on. Cambridge treasurer D. Jackson, has bought a Miles Monarch for himself, while Bill Ison has to freeze in a Tiger; there is obviously no justice. Fred Beezley, well known at Elstree, has joined the Swallow Group, Fred used to prosecute offenders against the A.N.R.'s so the Swallow is being flown with a wig in the locker and a copy of Shawcross and Beaumont under the seat just in case. Hookwood are not store. Aldenham Group Whitney Straight has been seen with a piece of fence wire from Pebsham around its tailwheel while Roberts Eagle, as befits a twin, has been rallying as far as Copenhagen. It is even rumoured that the Hirtenberg was seen with a spot of, oil on it, we find however, that it was only elbow grease. The ex-Ord-Hume Luton Minor has finished "its Permit overhaul and has a new engine mount in train while the Chilton, of Massey Dawson, has had a bubble hood fitted and is awaiting its Mikron installation so that it can show its new blue and white paint job.

Extraordinary General Meeting

An Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at Londonderry House, on Saturday,2lst December, at 2.30 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting will be to consider proposals from the Executive Committee in respect of the alterations to group and individual membership subscription.

being flown with a wig operating at present and have sold the Aeronca Champion but have two Taylorcralt D's in

Full details and formal notice of the meeting and resolution will be circulated to all members and groups.

by Christopher Dearden

Come, fill the cup, and in the fire of Spring

The Winter garment of repentance fling: The bird of time has but a little way

To fly-and lo ! The bird is on the wing. OMAR KHAYYAM.