Do it yourself-if you dare

Tsn Popur-eR'FLvtNc AssocIArIoN exhibited at the Fifth Annual Hobbies and Handicrafts pxhibition held at Earl's Court, London, in September. When we decided to put Turbi on our stand, we did not realise just what an attraction it would be. There had been boats, garages, greenhouses and yes, eveu kitchen sinks, but neve.r before had there been an aeroplane. Therefore it was a great innovation to have a 'Done it Myself' aircraft at a 'Do it Yourself ' show.

The-exhibition started for us three days before the opening when the Hon. Member for Bembridge taxied Turbi up to the hangar at Elstree. Here; with the aid of a pair of pliers, Maurice Imray, a bicycle spanner and the editor of a well-known magazine published by the P.F.A., he proceeded to render the machine into srnall pieces-technically. Messrs. R. and J. Parks very kindly supplied a low loader vehicle and two first class chaps free of charge and thus, with little difficulty,.G-APFA arrived at Earl's Court to take her place with Do It Yourself wallpaper kits, Make Your Own Lampshade outfits and doubtful devices for .burning weeds off grand pianos.

The P.F.A. stand, measuriqg forty feet by twenty, was devoid of everything, save Principle Exhibit No. l. Ted Davis raided his own store bnd produced two handsome black velvet back-drops, half a dozen ornamental pillars and some white, rope donated during the visit of the Bolshoi Ballet. He also put his team cif expert sign-writers into action to turn out notices for us.

' Now we had the aeroplane, a space and some furnishings, but no one to fix them:up. Activity was all around-everywhere except on our stand. A most respected member of your Committee, having stood around long enough, took off his jacket, picked up a nail and began knocking it into a piece of wood with the side of a hammer. At once work around us stopped. A burly carpenter, whose upper garments consisted of a cap and a vest, cunningly cut to reveal a hairy chest like a sofa with a rip in it, slowly walked up. Hon. member was still clouting the nail, which was now bcnt. The carpenter placed his left foot firmly on Hon. member's shoulder and gently dislodged him. 'There ain't gunna be no show if you goze on like that!'he said, gesticulating menacingly with a rip saw. 'That's our job, see mate!' He removed the nail with a well-placed boot heel and walked away. Here was a Do It Yourself exhibition where the last thing you could do was to D.I.Y.

At long last, tradesmen rallied to our aid and, in a surprisingly short time, our stand began to take shape. In the meanwhile, a pair of skilled Dexionographers arrived to make for us, at no extra charge, a very smart stand for Turbi, a pair of 'Go Up and Look Inside' steps and a stand for the Ardem engine, which had just arrived. At this moment, a well-known, wellbattered Land Rover materialised with the largest roll of green linoleum it has ever been the writer's privilege to see. We stood by as Lino Layers came along to put it down, then waited whilst a carpenter was found to put a nail in. Finally, the Coventry Victor Flying Neptune exhibition engine was put in position and the flower boxes put in place.

By Wednesday, lSth September, P.F.A. had a very smart stand ready for the press preview. The press-boys organised a segment of their favourite fodder-a shapely piece of cheesecake. They demanded that she should sit on the side of Turbi's cockpit, tapping her neat ft" diameter heels on the wing fabric. Your member for Bembridge (having, incidentally, refused to return home without Turbi) persuaded her to remove her shoes and then delegated to himself the job of lifting her off the machine. He swears that his thoughts were solely for the safety of Turbi. Mention of the Association and pictures of G-APFA appeared in most daily and evening papers, both London and provincial.

At 10 the following morning the turnstiles began clipking and the public descended on the exhibition. Right from the start it was apparent that our stand was a great attraction to the public who stood around, asked questions, peered into the cockpit and even bought copies of popuLAR FLyrNG. In addition to our magazine, we had on sale other literature regarding flying instruction and co-Ownership Group formation and, of course, sets of drawings for Turbi and Turbulent. These we had done up like boxes of chocolates in polythene bags with (inaptly) red ribbon. It was not expected that a great number of sets would be sold, so we were content to make up only a few sets of each aircraft thus.

The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, who graciously opened the exhibition, took great interest in our display and spent quite a while with us. We were also visited by Lord Luke who, likewise, was extremely interested.

It was noticeable that members of the general public were reticent about the idea of building an aeroplane themselves and, although we were inundated with questions, only a few people seemed all-out to have a crack at the task. Quite a large number of people wanted to know where they might learn to fly and large quantities of our Lists were disposed of to these enquirers. We have no doubt that, as a result of this, a good many groups can expect to increase their membership.

Maurice Imray, realising that it was impossible to be at both Londonderry House and the exhibition, decided to move in with the p.F.A. office. Accordingly there arrived a desk, a chair, your editor's typewriter and Jill Exell.

Among the many interesting people who came along to see us were three members of our American counterpart, the Experimental Aircraft Association. It was interesting to compare notes on amateur aircraft with these chaps who really are keen. Also visiting us was George Wing, of the Transland Company, California. His company manrifacture the experimental 'Ag' series of crop spraying and dusting aircraft. Mr. Wing made a thorough inspection of G-APFA and promptly pulled out his cheque book and bought a set of drawings. Your member for Bembridge was seen huddled in a corner with a slide-rule trying to work out thirteen guineas at the current rate of exchange. That night, Jill cashed ,p in sterling, dollars, rupees, kopeks and lira !

On the first Saturday of the show, Ted Felce, Stan Clarke and Bev Adams, from the Coventry group, arrived to do their stint on the stand. Their gallant gesture in travelling so far to face almost tWelve hours solid questioning, mostly by small boys, was very much appreciated by those of your Committee who had done many hours with but an occasional scotch and soda to fortify them.

Another person who was a most welcome visitor to our stand was Mr. C. H. LatimerNeedham who did so much for the ultra-light movement before the war. He is perhaps best known to us for his association as chief designer to the Luton Aircraft Company. Mr. Charles Brown, who donated three of his excellent airto-air photographs of Turbulent and Luton Minor also visited our stand. Later, we were to have the pleasure of the company of Mike Hawthorn, who came along to see our handiwork. perfectly good flying days to come along and help us. For their most useful assistance we were all extremely grateful.

The exhibition closed on Saturday, 28th September, and here began the job of getting everything packed up. At the close of an exhibition, everybody seems to go mad in their endeavours to render everything into produce, from stands upwards and downwards-including, presumably, any poor unfortunate who happens still to be on his stand. This show was no exception. Hardly had the last of the public been shepherded out than a small electrician arrived with a pair of steps which he straddled across Turbi. He shinned up them and, with a pair of side-cutters, snipped off each electric light fitting. As each shade and lamp crashed to the ground, showering glass everywhere, he looked down at us, bit his lower lip and gave a nervous little smile before proceeding to the next one. By some stroke of good fortune, each missile fell clear of Turbi.

There was an amusing incident one evening as a news vendor approached along the aisle shouting 'Late Night Final!' A well-known P.F.A. representative donned his cloth cap and opened up in competition shouting 'Popular Flying! Gechore copy ear!' This move seriously affected sales of both publications for some minutes.

Mr. Alfred Weaver, of Coventry Victor Motor Company, provided invaluable assistance by serving the whole of the second week with us. Whilst I am sure he will not mind my saying that he knows infinitely more about engines than aeroplanes, he made it his business to be able to answer any and every question he might be asked about both Turbi arld P.F.A. He tells me that he received numerous enquiries concerning the Flying Neptune, the development of which Major Weaver now has in hand.

Several members of the Experimental Group made their services available on our stand and thus, on the second week-end, they forsook two

On Sunday morning, having borrowed a Land Rover full of trestles from Elstree, we dismantled the aeroplane ready for Messrs. R. and J. Parks the next morning. The only unfortunate incident of the whole show manifested itself that morning when, having arrived to take Turbi away,we found that somebody had taken a liking to tile front seat complete with upholstery. Also the Ardem engine had been carefully stripped of ignition lead caps.

Again, Mr. Alfred Weaver was of immense assistance at Elstree in helping to put Turbi together again. He also displayed considerable skill in fashioning a temporary front seat out of hardboard so that the pilot's feet might not get frostbitten. On Tuesday, lst October, your member for Bembridge ascended into the autumn murk in a diminutive blue and yellow two-seater to return it to its hangar on the Isle of Wight.

What was the outcome of the exhibition? Was it worth while? First, the Association, by presenting itself to the public, did a tremendous amount of good for the ultra-light and amateurconstructed aircraft movement. The great majority of people had no idea that it was possible to construct their own aeroplane, nor had they heard of the Popular Flying Association, its aims and objects. An equally large proportion of our enquirers had no idea that an amateur-built aircraft could operate without a Certiflcate of Aifworthiness. Whilst financially, we are, as far as we can at present see, slightly out of pocket, it was most deflnitely worth while. Several dozen new individual members were enrolled, a few sets of drawings sold and thgstrength of our Groups increased.

The spirit of our movement has been shown to the general public, hitherto unaware of our activities. To a great many people, a home-made aeroplane meant a Flying Flea-an unsafe object of derision. I believe we have once and for all eradicated that impression.

In conclusion, we would like to express oLlr thanks to the management of the Hobbies and Handicrafts exhibition, in particular to Mr. W. Leah for his very great assistance in making this, our first exhibition, the success which we feel it has been.

A.W.J.G.O-H.