LAA Strut News
T
he anticipation of an opportunity to spend a few days with fellow LAA members, after so long under restrictions, put a spring into the step of many LAA aviators and Struts during the months of preparation for what was initially the LAA 75th Anniversary UK Tour. Covid sadly put paid to that, but a Tour of England, planned for later in the year (early July) was arranged instead. It was therefore with heavy hearts that discussions at HQ resulted in another postponement of the tour until next year, owing to the forecast of particularly inclement weather, which it seemed would be pretty well following the route. However, the amount of work that goes into preparing for any event is sometimes unrecognised, so I thought it appropriate on this occasion to give an opportunity for a few of those who planned for the LAA 75th Tour to share their thoughts. Neil Wilson was key to the overall organisation of the event and writes: “Before the weather caused us to cancel our 75th Anniversary Tour of England, I wanted to involve as many Struts as possible while touring our way around the country. Starting with the Wessex Strut at Henstridge with a fly-in we would then include the Cornwall Strut for a night at Bodmin, plus an evening meal and breakfast (as with all the night stops) was also arranged. “On Tuesday morning, members of both Bristol and Gloster Struts were going to greet us at Kemble for coffee. Shobdon Strut were going to host us for lunch and help with any mechanical issues if required, while Cliff Mort and friends in the North Western Strut were to look after us at Barton as well as ferry us about to hotels. At Eshott the North East Strut were to join us for a BBQ lunch before we went to Breighton and joined both LiNSY Trent Valley and Vale of York Struts who were hosting and planned to give us lifts to nearby accommodation. Finally, on Thursday 8 July, we planned for lunch at Leicester with the East Midlands Strut. “Strut coordinators and members were very helpful with information when I phoned local ATC at airfields and airports (Bristol/Manchester/Newcastle) and RAF stations whose airspace we were going to go near or transit, as a potential 50-60 aeroplanes may have caused a conflict had they not known of our intentions. Let’s hope for better luck next year, but as always the weather is one thing we cannot control!” LAA Board Strut Coordinator David Millin commented: “There are a lot of ups and downs in aviation and I am not referring to variations in altitude! On the one hand you can have a great day out with blue skies and on the other hand you are afflicted with a huge weather-related disappointment. I am, of course, referring to the cancellation of the LAA’s 75th Anniversary Tour of England. As I sit here listening to the rain pounding upon the roof of my study, I think I should have been making merry with my mates at Bodmin Airfield, which was to be the first stop of the tour. “Had the weather been favourable we might have gone on to Kemble, Shobdon, Manchester Barton, Eshott, Breighton and Leicester before making our way home. Never mind, perhaps next year. This is a reminder of the cost, both in time and money, that is expended with little gain on such speculations.
Struts 4U by Anne Hughes
75th Anniversary England Tour
32 | LIGHT AVIATION | August 2021
Above A warm welcome awaited at Breighton despite work in progress on a new clubhouse. Fingers crossed for 2022! Photo: Andy Wood. Right The Sopwith Bar and Grill at Barton was ready to provide participants with sustenance throughout their stay. Photo: Cliff Mort.
Thanks go to all the people who prepared for the trip, for the airfields that made preparations to accommodate everyone and above all to Neil, who coordinated the whole event. Let’s do it next year!” Thank you also to Cliff Mort who was looking forward to the tour’s arrival at Barton: “Part of the joy of flying is the making of friends from all parts of the country. Wherever we go to enjoy a fly-in, there are old friends to meet and new friends to make. This time though the friends were coming to us – that is the North Western Strut at Barton, or would have been if the weather had played its part in the scheme of things. “We had the Sopwith Bar and Grill ready with a fantastic ambience and plenty of volunteers ready to ferry pilots to and from their hotels. There was much disappointment when the tour had to be cancelled but I would rather have that than to see people stranded around the country due to bad weather. Here’s to next time, and don’t make that too long either!” The Vintage Aircraft Club were fortunate to spend the weekend before the planned tour up at Breighton, where preparations for the last night of the tour were eagerly anticipated. Charles Sunter, Chair of The Real Aeroplane Club, writes, “Here at Breighton Airfield the members of The Real Aeroplane Club like nothing more than to welcome and host visitors (well, perhaps we are rather partial to flying
