Letters

We are always pleased to receive your letters, photos of your flying, and your feedback. Please email the editor at ed.hicks@laa.uk.com

Dear all at the LAA, A year on since being awarded an Armstrong-Isaacs bursary, I thought I ought to update everyone as to where I am today. After receiving the award, I completed my Touring Motor Glider rating, then after 21 hours in an RF3, I converted my SPL with TMG into a LAPL A SEP in June. Since then I flew with my LAA coach Alex Harris to get my tailwheel signed off, then with the help of the bank, bought a beautiful Taylor Titch! We have flown around 12 hours together so far and I absolutely adore her. Without the help from the LAA, my instructors Jonathan May and Ian Atherton from Motorglide, all this would not have been possible.

I cannot put into words how eternally grateful I am to all of you!

Kindest regards and best wishes, Jake Gazzard

Ed. Congratulations Jake!

Henri Mignet tribute: LA Dec 2021

Bonjour Steve Slater, I have read Arthur Ord-Hume’s letter on page 8 of the December 2021 LAA magazine.

As heirs of Mignet, we are very proud of this tribute paid to our founder.

Please convey our best regards to Arthur.

All the best, Dominique SIMON, Président,

Fédération RSA.

Churchill’s visit to Clacton

Referring to Nic Orchard’s letter in the December 2021 magazine about the plaque to

First Sea Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill having visited the RNAS seaplane station at Clacton on 25 April 1914, I advise that this episode is covered in one of my books, Fields of the First, a history of all 31 aircraft landing grounds set up in Essex during the WWI.

Due to bad weather and engine problems, the Short Admiralty Type 74 Seaplane (No 79) Churchill was in had to make a forced landing at West Beach (the seaplane station), and he enjoyed one of his famous cigars while it was being attended to.

However, the engine could not be fixed and a Short Seaplane S38 (No 19) was sent from RNAS Grain to collect him. Paul A Doyle. LAA 040296

Safety promotion

With reference to the item on page seven of the December issue, and without wishing to embarrass David Cockburn on his welldeserved award, I’d like to put the record straight about the inauguration of CAA Safety Evenings.

Safety promotion got going in 1977 when I was in the CAA Safety Data Unit and succeeded, despite some scepticism, in convincing management of the need for the General Aviation Safety Information Leaflet (GASIL) to promulgate all the good stuff from voluntary Occurrence Reports. I’d also started the Pre-Flight Defect Challenge, the first being at the 1981 Cranfield Business & Light Aviation Show using a College Beagle Pup 100. It was good to find it at the 2021 Sywell Rally and looking very smart.

GASIL led, in 1984, to my starting and writing, along with the late David Hockings, many of the series of Safety Sense Leaflets, which I am pleased to see are now being re-started by the CAA. After a time I suggested to the Head of Safety Data that the best way to influence people was to talk to them. His response was very positive ‘tell me what you want to do and go and do it’. I did the first in February 1986 at Swansea Airport for the Swansea Flying Club run by Martin Jones, now at Derby Egginton, who I was delighted to bump into at the 2021 Rally.

Before retiring from the CAA in 1999, I had personally given 387 evenings and David Hockings did another 230 prior to leaving to set up his own business. David Cockburn took over and did a brilliant job until he retired when many things passed to the General Aviation Safety Council, GASCo. Nowadays, GASCo, provides the Challenge at outside events, safety evenings and the emailed Flight Safety Extra, which now includes a valuable summary of Occurrence Information. In 1977 I attended my first GASCo Council meeting – and 45 years later I am still there as an Honorary Member. Plus ça change!

John Thorpe

Ed. Thanks for the correction, John. Looking back, I have a Safety Evening sticker in my logbook from one of your safety presentations!. ■

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