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

Welcome 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 German-built (and improved) variant of the Piel Emeraude. From then on, I took an active part in flights, helping with navigation, transponder etc.

Above Trevor and Mary with their Binder Smaragd, a German-built variant of the Piel Emeraud.

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.

How has being in the Strut helped you?

I’ve made loads of friends over the years and I had great support from them when Ian died, when they encouraged me to take my NPPL.

How many types and how many hours have

you flown?

My logbook shows only G-DENS for the last eight years. However, I have flown in, but not piloted, many aircraft at the farm strip including a CAP10, which is what persuaded us to buy the Smaragd when it came up for sale – it’s the same basic construction.

Do you have a ‘favourite’ and ‘worse’ type flown?

My favourite is the Smaragd, obviously – it’s so stable yet responsive. For me the worst is either Cessna 152 or PA 28 as I can’t see over the coaming! Maybe also the Europa, as I found the cockpit very biased towards the pilot and not an interested passenger.

Is the Smaragd a good aeroplane to maintain and keep serviceable?

Yes, the Smaragd is straightforward to maintain and Trevor and I do the work for the annual permit together – he obviously has the engineering experience, but I’ve learned a great deal over the years. If you don’t have any technical background, it’s a great way to learn new skills.

Would you recommend sharing an aeroplane?

Yes – sharing an aeroplane is a brilliant scheme. The aircraft gets much more airtime than sole ownership and you also get to share costs, maintenance and flying together. Since being interviewed for this article we have been joined by a third partner, Neville Parton, an ex-RAF senior engineering officer.

Have you done any touring?

Trevor and I have been over to France many times to various fly-ins and it’s a wonderful way to meet fellow aviators. We’ve made friends from France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany at our favourite foreign meeting at St Omer – only 15 minutes flying time from Calais and a very friendly event.

What has been your best aviation moment

and flight?

All flights are special to me, but probably those rare totally smooth flights when it’s possible to take your hands and feet off the controls and be able to ‘bank’ the aircraft purely by shifting body weight are the most memorable. I also love climbing through holes in the clouds and being surrounded by cumulus, when still able to keep sight of the ground (obviously!). Above The Smaragd is a direct forerunner of the CAP 10, which shares its delightful handling.

Above left Mary featured in the Association’s ‘I Fly’ promotional campaign.

Have you experienced any ‘I learned flying from that’ moments?

Flying back from Kemble with Ian in late autumn and climbing above what was thin cloud, we got back to the strip, only a 15-minute flight, but the cloud had turned to fog, and we realised we couldn’t land. He climbed up again into perfect sunshine ‘on top’ and managed to contact Kemble, who said they had a hole above them, and we could return there. We then had to leave the aircraft there overnight and they kindly arranged car transport back to the airfield. I am always very wary now of flying in those late autumn afternoons when fog can form so very quickly.

Do you have any non-aviation hobbies/ interests?

I enjoy anything to do with thread and needles –- I knit, crochet, cross stitch and make lace. I also make sponge cakes and apple pies which I sell to raise funds for my local church, with which I’ve also been involved for over 45 years. I also invigilate at local secondary school mock GCSE and A-level exams in both the winter and summer sessions, which I’ve done for the past 10 years.

What advice would you offer fellow pilots?

I wouldn’t deign to think that I know as much as any other pilot to be able to give any aviation advice, other than to enjoy what you can, while you can, because you never know what life will throw at you.

Hello Trevor: What has your career entailed?

I was brought up in Stockport, close to Manchester/ Ringway airport. After university, I joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Bedford as a scientist, using a moving base piloted flight simulator to investigate the handling qualities of Concorde, the Lynx helicopter, the Tornado and other types before first flight. I was also involved with flight tests on BAC221 research aircraft and flew as observer in Hunter, Meteor, Whirlwind, Wessex, Auster AOP9 and transports. I also had 10 hours of instruction on the Scout and Sioux helicopters. After Bedford I had MoD postings in Washington, Paris and Munich and was involved in project management of Tornado, Typhoon and Future Carrier-Based Aircraft (now F-35 Lightning), but I’ve been retired since 1999.

What started your interest in aviation?

I followed my elder brother into spotting at Ringway Airport, and went on to join the school ATC.

In what, where and when was your first flight?

It was in around 1951 in Auster G-AGXN, owned by Airviews at Ringway – I was the fourth person in a three-seat aircraft, perched on a ledge behind the

third seat! That Auster is now owned by a fellow Ringway spotter.

Where did you learn to fly?

I started gliding with the school ATC at Hawarden, first flights one weekend, solo the next weekend. I continued gliding at a rather low level at Oxford, Cranfield and Husbands Bosworth. Then, fortunately, the RAE thought it would be of value to me to have power flying experience, so in 1973 I was funded for a PPL at Sywell on Beagle Pups, during which I also managed to convert onto the Auster and Cessna 172. I continued flying in the US (PA28), France (Rallye 100) and the UK, and resumed gliding after my retirement in 1999.

How did you hear about the PFA/LAA

When I joined an Aeronca Champ syndicate at Popham, later replaced by a Piper Vagabond and a Morane-Saulnier Rallye.

How long have you been in the LAA and the Bristol Strut?

Not sure when I joined the LAA but have been a member of the Strut from around 1997. I have been coordinator/ chairman for seven years. The Strut was very useful to me as it broadened my knowledge of Permit aircraft operation and led to my joining my present aircraft syndicate.

How many types of aircraft and hours do you have?

I have more than 700 hours power, more than half on my present aircraft. A modest 15 types, and around 150 hour gliding on some 19 types.

Do you have a favourite and ‘not so’ type?

Favourite by a long way is my current aircraft the Smaragd; exemplary handling, excellent view, great tourer. Worst type was a Schweizer 2-33A glider, it was like sitting in a deep bucket, clutching a long broomstick, which was only vaguely associated with the aircraft’s control surfaces.

What do you see as the advantages of group ownership?

Affordability, work sharing, better aircraft utilisation and the enjoyment of shared experiences.

What has been your best aviation moment?

As a passenger it was low level in a Hunter T7 through the South Wales valleys. As PIC none particularly stands above the rest, but the satisfaction of organising and achieving various overseas flights puts them high up the scale.

Above On one of their French trips, this one a Piel Fly-in at delightful Quiberon in the Golfe du Morbihan. Credit: Graham Wasey. Where have you been touring?

We try to take G-DENS across to France once or twice per year. So far that has included St Omer, Joigny, Cosne-surLoire, Amiens, Abbeville, Quiberon, Belle-Ile, Persan, Enghien-Moiselles (within the Paris CTA), Verchocq, Calais and Le Touquet.

Do you have any aviation heroes?

Capt. Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown (once chief test pilot of my RAE unit, Aero Flight, but before my time) for his flying and analytical skills – and memory! Listen to his talk to the RAeS at https://tinyurl.com/rjytsd9.

Have you experienced any ‘hairy’ aviation

moments?

A return flight from St Omer in not very good weather was ‘interesting’. After landing at Lydd for UK entry, we made three more landings before getting back to Garston Farm. Lesson implemented was have a Plan B, but be prepared to change even that!

Do you have any non-aviation interests?

Not non-aviation, but I support the professional development of Aerospace engineers applying for registration status through the RAeS. I also enjoy birdwatching.

Would you recommend any aviation books?

‘Winkle’ Brown’s Wings on my Sleeve in which of particular note is his account of getting to know the Sikorsky R-4 at Liverpool. And Harald Penrose’s Airymouse.

What advice would you offer to pilots?

Never stop learning and always see what you can extract from analysing your most recent flight. ■