Rallying together...

Five aircraft, four frequency changes, three hours, two crew per aircraft and one Irish Sea was Mark Chambers’ recipe for fun with friends on the annual pilgrimage from Northern Ireland to the LAA Rally…

It was 1 September and the summer was drawing to a close. I reflected on a summer of flying adventures and how this weekend would be one last hurrah before autumn took her grasp. Warming up the Luscombe on the apron at Aughrim Airfield, I intended a short local flight around the Mournes to check everything over before my big cross-country flight to the Rally. That was until my right brake cable snapped as I taxied out. Managing to avert a taxying disaster, I made it back to the hangar.

Luscombes can fly just fine without brakes, but the notion of arriving at Sywell then navigating around hundreds of other counterparts’ ‘pride and joys’ didn’t much appeal to me. The trip was off… Or so I thought. After a chat with my LAA Inspector and another couple of Luscombe chaps, a repair plan was figured out in the absence of having a store nearby that sold Luscombe parts. After two stressful days we found a suitable brake cable, installed and tested it. The trip was looking possible again…

Departure day arrived, the morning was murky, and I couldn’t make out much of the misty Mourne Mountains from my view at home. Looking towards the coast I knew we wouldn’t have fantastic visibility either. But the phone was hot from the rest of the Mourne Flyers eager to make a move.

We all gathered at Aughrim Airfield, Newry, for the annual pilgrimage to the Sywell. Five aircraft, four frequency changes, three hours, two crew per aircraft and one Irish Sea. The recipe was simple, I was in a Luscombe, the slowest of

Below 'Tango India's intrepid crew, Mark Chambers (left) and Matthew McClune the squadron, so I had to lead the way. Matthew McClune was my map reader, critic and in-flight entertainment. Following me, would be the Tri-Pacer, affectionately known as Garfield – owing to its reg (G-ARFD) – carrying Thomas Alderdice and his three children, Archie, Lily and Samuel –Archie would be second-in-command for this sector. Then the Nicholson duo, Gary and Gregory, in their Eurostar. Paddy McCusker and Brendan Digney seemed very comfortable getting into their roomy Sportscruiser. Husky drivers Ivan and Alan Doake would keep us in check at the back. By 1100 we’d decided things had improved enough, and the Aughrim Airfield was alive as all five aircraft roared into life.

Thankfully the assistance of a headwind helped my departure – and I took up an easterly heading. Aughrim is only three miles from the coast so we were over water before we knew it. Climbing out 1,500ft meant I wasn’t far off the cloud base and forward visibility must have been around 10 miles. Looking left and right I could see the gaggle of friends following me. Due to the weather, I thought it best to aim directly for a town called Amlwch that was 75nm away – it was rather disheartening to look over and see I was only clutching 75kt of ground speed. That helpful headwind was less so, now.

Flying over water isn’t particularly challenging in itself, in my experience it’s actually rather easy; the conditions are usually smooth and you don’t have to worry about many other items of traffic. But the water does have the ability to focus the mind. One hundred miles of water in a 75-year-old Luscombe may not sound like much to hardened seafarers – but to a young lad like me it still feels more like an ocean. After an hour of listening intently to my 100 Continental stallions up the front, regularly checking: oil pressure at 38, temperature at 140. Any significant variation would be cause for alarm. At last, the hazy outline of land comforted my mind – Anglesey, right on time. Altering course slightly north towards Llandudno, a check behind revealed that our loose formation had managed to stick together for the crossing. I sometimes wonder if Don Luscombe would ever have imagined his aircraft still in use for trips like this at its fine age.

Hawarden was the next waypoint, and friendly controllers permitted our ‘V’ formation to pass through their overhead at 1,000ft. This was spotted by some of our Northern Irish friends who had stopped for a coffee on their way from Newtownards. If we needed a name, it could be The Grey Arrows. It has a nice ring to it, and would be a tribute to most of our members’ hair colour! In-flight lunch meant handing over control to my first mate Matt, who has been known to command a Luscombe in the past. Sandwiches and, a NI staple, Tayto crisps – you can’t go wrong with old favourites!

Top left Garfield the Tri Pacer

Top right Landing in front of the spotters and enthusiasts at the Rally always dials up the pressure!

Above inset Just the tent to set up then Mark? Don't leave it too late…

Above left The Mourne crew at Sywell

Above right Sun just managing to poke out from behind the overcast

Pitsford Water loomed into view at the 2hr and 45min mark. How refreshing to discover it wasn’t busy, in fact, we were the only arrivals at that point! Then a friendly voice on the radio ‘Golf Oscar Oscar’, a fellow Luscombe driver Pete Bush was about to land, too. While landing on 03 grass gives the spotters a good view, it does dial up the pressure on the pilots. Luckily I managed a half-decent wheeler with a half-numb derriere. Touchdown, 1405. We hit the pumps and Tango India had sipped 69 litres over the three hour block time – I was pretty pleased with that! Gary ruined it by trumping my 69 with his mere 40 litres. It’s not a competition, I muttered to myself. The fabulous marshallers got us parked in the vintage section, where I was immediately greeted by one of Tango India’s previous owners. He had flown it at Old Sarum many years ago under its previous old paint scheme. He was delighted to see the aeroplane and fun to hear stories of her previous life. That’s one of the best things about the Rally, chances are you’ll meet someone who knows something about your aeroplane.

Some fellow Luscombe guys and gals had made the trip, including Duncan Campbell in G-AGMI, and as he’s a big fan of very colourful shirts, he’s easy to spot. Plus, Phil and Lorraine Laycock in G-LUSK, the most frequent fliers of our little Luscombe community. Vic Leggott and his son also joined in BSYF. Getting to meet Martin Orr in G-BTCH was an absolute pleasure and the aircraft looked great in its new colour scheme. Pete Bush and Michelle in BROO were parked behind us, bearing glad tidings of great joy… New Luscombe brake cables!

Many of my fellow LAA Luscombe pals have celebrated their aircraft’s 75th anniversary in recent years. This year many turn 75 since post-war aircraft manufacturing took off in 1946. Tango India was lovingly crafted that year.

On 17 October 1946, Luscombe 8A Serial 4101 rolled off the factory floor in dusty Dallas, Texas. Cliff Lovell imported this one and many of our other British Luscombes in the 1980s, managing to fit three aircraft per 40ft container! Martin Oliver restored ours, fitting the bigger, beefier O-200 engine and finishing it in the colours you see today – and such a lovely job. The early 2000s saw James May of Top Gear fame and his mate Colin Goodwin get their hands in with Luscombe flying in Tango India. A Luscombe would probably suit ‘Captain Slow’ by today's standards but in the 1940s an all-aluminium monocoque aircraft that did 100mph on 65hp was quite the speed machine. Sold to my dad, Colin, she now resides in the Mourne Mountains, and it’s the perfect machine for Aughrim Airfield. Luscombes without a doubt have captured part of my heart, and why wouldn’t they? Slower than a speeding bullet, less powerful than a locomotive… but faster and more sociable than a Cub!

Almost all the hardy Mourne globetrotters made off for hotels. But Matt and I hadn’t crossed the Irish sea to stay in a Travelodge. No, we were going for the full camping experience – and I hope Don Luscombe would have approved of our underwing digs. Of course, I didn’t forego all luxuries, a big steak dinner in town was fitting.

I headed back to Sywell to catch up with more of the usual suspects. Keir Williams the hip vagabond pilot, Jonny Salmon the RV-skipper (yes, ‘him’ from the Flyer Livestream…), Will Harmer the extra-jockey ,and the trio of steely eyed Taylor Monoplane pilots from Sleap – Ben Gilmore, Tom Beever and Bruce Buglass. None of this lot were great at tent construction, particularly after dark. The less said the better!

Being able to laugh and converse with these old friends into the wee hours of the morning, is the reason we make these trips, and why I suspect we will continue to make them for many years to come. The LAA Rally at Sywell is brilliant. If you haven’t been I truly cannot recommend it highly enough!

Above left Joining Mark on the trip were Gary and Gregory Nicholson in their Eurostar.

Above right Ivan and Alan Doake and their Husky.

Above Dad, Thomas Alderdice, had Archie, Lily and Samuel riding along in their Tri Pacer.

It’s a paradise for aviators, whether you enjoy walking through the lines of hundreds of beautifully maintained aircraft, scoring landings or haggling for a good price on a radio, there’s something for everyone. I spent my Saturday afternoon perusing the stalls and meeting the great team at SkyDemon. After lunch, I lay by the flight-line, partly to try and catch up a bit of rest after a poor night’s sleep – Luscombe seat cushions make for rubbish pillows – but also to score some landings with the legendary Paul Kiddell.

When it came time to head home, we were treated to better weather and a slight tailwind, enabling us to crack 95kt The journey was much like the day before, but greater opportunity to enjoy the sights with the improved visibility. Again, our formation was granted the opportunity to show our best moves over Hawarden. I suspect people will travel many miles to wave us on our way during our annual trip through the Hawarden overhead. Coasting out at Rhyl, 100nm to home – an hour once more. This time we had a better margin, 3,000ft above the water was the sweet spot, hazy but again smooth. Perhaps the longest and most competitive game of ‘I-spy’ led by Lily on the way home – wow, kids can be creative! Fifty miles to run, ‘Tango India are you on frequency?’. It was my dad, who had unfortunately been unable to make the trip. Landing back at Aughrim Airfield and being greeted by owner and Sywell-veteran Archie Alderdice, we told him he’d need to join us in 2022! Two hours and 30 minutes to get home – what an incredible trip, with great friends. Until next year… ■

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Email: ed.hicks@laa.uk.com