Meet the Members
Shipshape and Bristol fashion
This month we talk to Binder Smaragd co-owners and Bristol Strut stalwarts Mary Leader and Trevor Wilcock
W
elcome Mary and Trevor. Mary, can you tell us something about your career, please?
I was born and raised in Jersey with five siblings and was married there in 1973 to Ian. We moved to Bristol in 1974 and I worked in a local secondary school admin office until I retired following Ian’s terminal diagnosis in November 2007 of Motor Neurone Disease.
What started your interest in aviation?
My first involvement was when I went with my elder brother to the model aircraft flying club in Jersey. Then later, when Ian was learning to fly model helicopters in the 1980s I also learned and was, at one time, the only female model helicopter pilot (in the country I think – and that was at a time before we even had gyros in them). My first interest in powered flight wasn’t until Ian got his PPL in the late 1980s in Bristol. I flew with him purely as a passenger in a hired Cessna 152 from Bristol Flying Centre. Following that we had the use of a Jodel and then a Stinson at a local farm strip, until in September 2000 we bought a half share in Binder Smaragd G-DENS, a
Above Trevor and Mary with their Binder Smaragd, a German-built variant of the Piel Emeraud.
German-built (and improved) variant of the Piel Emeraude. From then on, I took an active part in flights, helping with navigation, transponder etc.
Where did you learn to fly?
After Ian’s death in February 2009, I kept the share in DENS and in 2011 I was persuaded to get my NPPL. This I did at Hinton-in-the-Hedges in a Slingsby T61 Venture motor glider. I undertook this by staying there for three days a week over six weeks, but although I had done plenty of flying with Ian I didn’t solo till 41 hours and gained my NPPL at 53 hours. Not so bad at the age of 59. I then converted that licence to an SSEA in DENS at the farm strip using the LAA Pilot Coaching Scheme. Landings have always been, and still are, my nemesis!
How did you hear about the PFA/LAA and become connected with the Bristol Strut?
Ian saw a leaflet about the PFA (as it was then) at an airfield we had flown into in the Club C150 and he said, “That’s the kind of flying I want to do.” We contacted the local Strut, then meeting at the Bristol and Wessex Flying Club – and the rest is history. I’ve been involved in the Strut for more than 25 years as secretary and newsletter editor.
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