-WHERE ANGELS FE,AR TO TRE,AD

by A. F. Price

HOSE who know Fairoaks aerodrome or have visited it, have probably been surprised to hear what sounded like a motor cycle in the air. The few in the know nod their heads and say there goes old Bill again in his Aeronca. To the uninitiated an Aeronca vagusly resembles an Auster uses a J.A.P. J-99. and

It was through helping in the reconstruction of this ' real ' aeroplane that the idea of building my own formulated. At that time, early'56, amateurs had little choice; the P.F.A. would not approve the Jodel designs, Phoenix Aircraft had not really arrived on the scene, and no one knew much about the Blairvacq-Piel CP-30, better known today as the Linnet. So my choice was limited, that is if I wanted to operate on a permit, between Druine's Turbulent and Turbi. The latter was decided upon because not only did it seat two, but it could be fltted with that wonderful little engine the Walter Mikron. Assuming of course I could lay my hands on one. I had a lot to learn, some of it to my cost.

July '56 saw the arrival of a set of Turbi blueprints. A11 in French and millimetres, with a seventeen foot fuselage scaled down to around two. Not unnaturally the flrst investment was a French dictionary which although excellent for its intended purpose, did not cover a very large aeronautical vocabulary. A little of the translation had been done by some keen types but it left much to be desired. I am still learning from those drawings after four Years.

A detailed list of necessary materials and suppliers was issued with the drawings, all in French of course. Luckily I decided to check the list and in doing so saved myself quite a sum of money. One should stick to the designers' drawings and leave all interpretations wel1alone !

Filled with thoughts of flights to France and further afleld I set to work. Lists were made out of A.G.S. parts, wood, fabrics, dopes, metal tubing, down to the last split pin. Letters were sent out to obtain some idea of the cost. It was not long before I experienced some of the many surprises and shocks encountered by everyone who has ever tried to build something. I Y1t G* eighteen, in the R.A.F. which presented me with ! two pounds every week, Just the fuselage alone was going to cost over a hundred excluding the engine and propellor. In for a penny in for a pound, so I carried on, starting on the wood first and flnishing up with the dopes and varnishes. News travels fast in the Services and I was pleasantly surprised at the offers of help I received, provided of course money was not mentioned. due thanks, my collection of bits, which was gctting steadily larger and larger, was stored pro tem in a relation's garage.

Usually I only went home once a month. The spare weekends were spent quite profitably on 'duties' for others who had perhaps more than just a square meal waiting at home. When I retired to the warmer and sunnier climate of the south, bills for well over three figures had been met, offers had been received from over a dozen pilots to take the aircraft up on its maiden fliglrt. But on formi ng a group and flying f regularly, that was another matter. " Not just now old boy, some other time."

With the completion of mY 'bit' and a regular occupation with one of the major aircraft firms, it looked as though actual construction might start at last. It was then that I encountered my greatest need, which even now has not been completely met-a space large enough to build in, with heat, light and a large enough opening in the right place to take the aircraft through on completion. Even Surrey County Council were approached to no avail. So with Popular Flying, May-June, 1961.

It was about this time that I found out the Kemsley trust would not flnance an individual or a construction group, in the latter case unless it was for the engine.

I think at this stage a few words of advice to would-be constructors would not be out of place. lf at allpossible examine all parts before purchase, insist on release notes or their equivalents. They are your guarantee and regard as dubious a {irm tlrat won't give one. After paying over f,16 for a pair of wheels and brakes I found one set of shoes so corroded that I had to replace them at a cost of f,5 each ! Don't accept the first quotation-get as many as you can and then decide. Always quote the correct specification when ordering, i.e., T-45, A 26, or BSX-18 as the case may be. Check you really want what you order. It's not a bad idea to number all joints and list the wood according to the joints in connects; Slingsby's, whorn I had found to be very helpful, will stamp part numbers on for you. Before you start any major or minor coflstruction make sure you have all tools, bits and pieces to hand, and if in doubt stop and ask or write for advice. Finally you can read your own writing, can others ?

With acknowledgement to a vintage type limousine I was put on the disabled list and things came to a halt. The compensation will pay for the engine and prop and so I suppose in some ways it was a blessing in disguise. Thanks to a P.F.A. individual member I am now installed in a barn not far from Redhill so perhaps the future may see that white and blue Turbi yet.

To those thinking of embarking on such a project I would say there is a need for tenacity, ;ngineering experience, and above all, the ability to go it alone. With luck you might be able to form a group, then life becomes easier. But I think this quotation might well do as a reminder on the wall above your work bench, " Flying was begun by individuals, and it,s up to us to see it's not entirely taken away from them by Governments and Corporations."