STRUTS4U

sponsors, including Garmin, Survitec and Biggin Hill Airport, has been totally fantastic in their continued support. “I have always been aware that I work best when under pressure. In fact, the 500 hours invested into the aircraft (bringing the total build time so far to 2,850 hours) over the summer months was only possible due to that pressure. However, at no point was the pressure allowed to circumvent best build practices. To be honest, my obsessive attention to detail and perfection is part of the reason why the build has far exceeded the time that most other builders take to complete their RVs. There was one occasion that I had a run of paint on an internal rear bulkhead that would never have been seen again. It irritated me so much that I had to strip the paint and start again… Well, that and the fact that it is a transatlantic, night/IFR, full glass cockpit, integrated autopilot-equipped, SATCOM-equipped, CS propAbove The righthand footwell tank will carry 80 litres of fuel and has been purpose built to fit under this beautifully designed panel.

Left Full LED lighting will enable a low power drain while meeting the requirements of the LAA Night/IFR Clearance

Right With so much ‘Garmin Glass’ filling the panel, this centre console houses other essential controls.

equipped, oxygen-equipped, survival system-equipped aircraft! “Five hundred hours of work on the aircraft since June has not been enough. However, the decision to delay is a ‘no-brainer’ and will allow the team to optimise the outcome of the record attempt; provide the best science, technology, engineering and mathematics programme for the RAF Air Cadets – and maximise the charitable fund-raising for the RAF Benevolent Fund.”

Safety perspective

Mark has met Jon Johansen, a previous Class C-1-B World Speed Record Holder and has discussed the Project numerous times with the current UK Speed Record Holder (and Garmin Avionics expert), Manuel Quiroz. He says that the books of Jon and Manuel have been hugely inspiring in his journey so far. However, from a safety perspective, it is the tragic death of current world speed record holder Hans Schmidts’ accident report that has provided the best learning points. “I have read the Swiss AAIB Report many times and asked why did this happen? I have dissected the background story, occurrences and AAIB findings and have shaped the Safety Case of the flight test schedule and circumnavigation around it. The message is simple, there is a comprehensive and incremental 90-hour flight test schedule that will not be cut short. Until it is completed to a satisfactory standard, the circumnavigation will not be attempted!” So, the schedule is set and it looks like an exciting prospect for British and international aviation enthusiasts alike. At the moment, Mark is concentrating on route planning and the final modification submissions and says that attention will turn to having the aircraft finished by the end of March, and the first flight is expected in May.

As part of the test schedule, there will be an attempt to beat the circumnavigation of the UK record in late June and appearance of the aircraft at UK airshows, which will be announced soon. The LAA is using this as an ambassadorial event for our Association and it should put UK General Aviation firmly on the map at a time where this is critical for our future.

We will bring you news as it happens, meantime checkout the website and Facebook page, which has all the video logs, photos and detail at www.raffotn.org.uk and www.facebook.com/raffotn. ■

Aims of the RAF Flight of the Navigator Project

1 Break the UK and World Speed Records for Circumnavigation of the Earth (Class C-1-B) 2 Raise £100,000 for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund 3 Inspire the ‘Next Generation’

It has been a real pleasure to join the Andover Strut at Popham on several occasions. Our first encounter was a couple of years ago at the Strut evening, when David Collings and I gave a presentation on the Prototype Beagle Pup, G-AVDF. The evening was particularly memorable as a Chinook decided to call in for fuel halfway through the talk! Travelling to Popham Airfield by road can, on soggy occasions, be a little challenging, but the welcome is always warm and friendly and the cafe’s ‘all day breakfast’ is irresistible! The Vintage Aircraft Club has also recently used the new Conference Room for our Aerial Adventures talks, and this facility is absolutely ideal.

Alan Lovejoy, VAC, LAA and Strut member, reminisces about the beginnings of the Andover Strut:

“The Strut came into existence in the late 1960s and, as the name might suggest, its catchment area was predominantly Wiltshire and Hampshire. The

Strut’s initial meeting place was Thruxton, hence the

‘Andover’ connection. At that time, staunch member

Jim Espin had the vision of our own airstrip, and the project was born with Jim purchasing a strip of wooded land adjacent to the A303, being part of

Popham Copse. Five years later EGHP was born. The first structure, a wartime Nissan hut still stands, and that hut hosted the first Strut meetings at Popham. The hut had no floor covering, and heating courtesy of the Honda generator was the norm for many months.

Meetings moved up several notches when the present club rooms were built. Once again this was on a DIY basis with the buildings being offered free of charge, provided we dismantled them and took them away! Growing numbers

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Strut expanded, with a membership of around 60 for many years. Many will remember our annual Strut Fly-in, joining forces with the

Solent Strut for the Hampshire Rally, hosted by the Army Air

Corp at Middle Wallop. Top The Strut’s annual Barton Ashes fly in and BBQ highlights LAA’s grassroots appeal. Photo: Alan Lovejoy. Left Promoting the Association in Basingstoke town centre. Photo: Alan Lovejoy. Below left The Strut has been associated with Popham airfield from the very start, founder of the airfield, Jim Espin, was a Strut member. Photo: Andy Amor.

Struts 4U by Anne Hughes The event came a close second to the annual Sywell Rally, certainly in aircraft numbers. It became a weekend affair complete with campsite and the notorious campfire sing-song into the early hours. As a Strut we were lucky to have a veritable Strut Squadron. Annual Strut fly outs across the Channel to various rallies became the norm, taking in Lelystad, Budel, Stauning, St Omer and Schaffen to name but a few. Andover Strut is probably known throughout the LAA as the Strut providing the Rally Campsite. We took on this task when the Rally moved to Leicester (in the late 1970s) and we’ve been doing it ever since! Today the campsite reflects the changing face of the Rally. The heady days of Cranfield saw us hosting many family groups with Struts offering all sorts of incentives for us to group their caravans and tents together – happy days! Our Strut year focuses around our home airfield, Popham, with two annual fly ins, one of which is held on the nearby strip of Barton Ashes, always an enjoyable day reflecting our grassroots flying. As with most Struts, we enjoy more structured meetings during the winter months, with my good self-seeking out interesting, and hopefully memorable, guest speakers. During the summer our meetings usually take the form of a relaxed evening of chit chat. Notably though, the June meeting is given to our annual ‘bums-onseats’ evening whereby our non-flyers get an opportunity to enjoy the local area aloft, courtesy of fellow Strut members.

Strut Calendar

We have heard from many of the Struts that they are not able to proceed with planned talks for April and probably May. Consequently, we have removed the planned events from the list but left the contact details so you can remain in touch with the Strut and find out what is happening locally. We will continue to share the Struts4U stories and hopefully things will return to normal before too long. In the meantime, stay safe and keep in touch!

I am always happy to hear your news, views and stories so do feel free to contact me at struts@laa.uk.com

Andover Strut: Spitfire Club, Popham Airfield, SO21 3BD. Contact: keith.picton@ntlworld. com Trent Valley Strut: Trent Valley Gliding Club, Kirton Lindsey. pilotbarry1951@gmail.com http://linsystrut.wixsite.com/website Airport, Scone. Scone Clubhouse. Contact: keith.boardman@peopleserve.co.uk 07785 244146

Bristol Strut: BAWA Club, Filton, Room 4. Contact: chairman@bristolstrut.uk www.bristolstrut.uk

Cornwall Strut: The Clubhouse, Bodmin Airfield. Contact: Pete White pete@aeronca. co.uk 01752 406660

Devon Strut: The Exeter Court Hotel, Kennford, Exeter. Contact: david.millin@sea-sea.com

East of Scotland Strut: Harrow Hotel, Dalkeith. Contact: inrgibson001@btinternet.com 0131 339 2351

East Midlands Strut: The Plough, Normanton on Soar, LE12 5HB. Contact: tonyrazzell2@gmail.com

Gloster Strut: The Victory Club, Cheltenham. Contact: harry.hopkins@talktalk.net

Highlands & Islands: Highland Aviation, Inverness Airport. Contact: b.w.spence@btinternet.com 01381 620535

Kent Strut: Cobtree Manor Golf Club, Maidstone, Kent. Contact: Brian Hope bfjjodel@talktalk.net 01795 662508 North East Strut: Aviator Café, Fishburn Airfield. Contact: alannixon297@btinternet.

com

North Western Strut: Veterans Lounge, Barton, Manchester. Contact: cliffmort@btinternet.com 07813 497427

North Wales Strut: Caernarfon Airport, Dinas Dinlle. HEMS Bistro Café. Contact: Gareth Roberts gtrwales@gmail.com, 07876 483414

Oxford Group: The Duke of Marlborough, Woodleys, Woodstock, Oxford. Contact: LAAOxford@gmail.com www.oxfordlaa.co.uk

Redhill Strut: The Dog and Duck, Outwood, Surrey, RH1 5QU. Contact:david@milstead. me.uk

Shobdon Strut: Shobdon Airfield. Contact: Keith Taylor bushebiggles@sky.com

Southern Strut: The Swiss Cottage, Shorehamby-Sea. Contact palmersfarm@sky.com Strathtay Strut: Scottish Aero Club, Perth

Below Strut fly-ins as well as monthly meetings will be victims of Covoid-19, but hopefully we can soon get out to enjoy the company of friends and fellow members. Suffolk Coastal Strut: Crowfield Airfield Clubhouse. Contact: Martyn Steggalls events@suffolkcoastalstrut.org.uk 07790 925142

Vale of York Strut: Chocks Away Café, Rufforth East Airfield. Contact: Chris Holliday 07860 787801 cwaholliday@gmail.com

Wessex Strut: Henstridge Airfield Clubhouse. Contact neil.wilson@laa.uk.com

West Midlands Strut: Navigator Café, Halfpenny Green Aerodrome. Contact Graham Wiley westmidlandslaastrut@ googlegroups.com Stuart Darby stuartdarby134@hotmail.com or wmstrut.co.uk

West of Scotland Strut: Bowfield Country Club, Howwood, PA9 1DZ. Contact: nkg@barnbeth. demon.co.uk 01505 612493

Youth & Education Support (YES) Contact: Stewart Luck captainluck@hotmail.com

NB: Some Struts make a small charge towards costs for members, but all are welcome to attend the gatherings. Please check with the Strut contacts above if you have any queries. Let me know of any changes to contact details for your group asap please. (struts@laa.uk.com). Thanks to Strut co-ordinators and newsletter editors for the continuous flow of information. ■