Popular Flying July/August 1978

FROMTHEP.F.A.OFFICE

Allpricesaresubjecttochangewithoutnoticeduetoincreasesinpriceandcurrencyfluctuations.

Popular. Flying

EditorialCommittee: ALANDUNN MIKEGRIGSON LAURIEMANSFIELD

EditorialAddress:

TerminalBuilding, ShorehamAirpori, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex,BN45FT. Telephone. Shoreham-by-Sea61616

PFAEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President:

A/CMDRE.GJ.C.PAUL,C.B.,

Chairman:

D.E FAULKNER BRYANT

Treasurer:

L. SHAW. D.Ae.,CEng,.NI.R.Ae.S.,

Engineermgfficer:

F.I. V.WAIKER.C.Eng.,

CommitmeMembers: DUNFORD

ONYFARRELI

FONYHAROLD

ERNIEHORSEALL MIKEJOSEPH

AlIKNOWITS,O.B.L., LAI.RIOMANSFIELD

SIHARIMACCONNACHER

JOHNPOTHFCARY

EsRICHARDSON

\PRIVAISEY

MIIWMKs JIMWu

SecretaryGeneral.

J.S.J. LAUDER

hounded 1946

Individualmembership:17.50p.a.

Thelisundingandrepresentativebodyin theUnitedKingdomofamateur c0n3tructorsandoperatorsofWow-light andgroupoperatedaircraft_

(ULAIR)Ltd

COVERCONIMENT—

TonyFrancisflyinghisimmaculate IsaacsFury.

Photo.GordonBain

PopularHying,July-August,1978

VOL.22No.4

2-56DAYSIN MAY

JULY-AUGUST1978

6-8PROGRESSOFAPROJECT

9GROUPNEWS

10 - 12STRUT NEWS

13CHARLIEGOLF

14- 15 LETTERS

16PROJECTNEWS

17 THE SKILLSOFGYRO-FLIGHT

18-19GETTHEDRILLRIGHT

20P.F.A.NOTICES

22-23 TIE DOWN

24-26BUILDINGASCALEMUSTANG

27FINALS

TheviewsexpressedinPOPULARFLYINGarethoseof the contributorsandnotnecessarilythoseoftheREA.The Publishersretaintherighttorefuseorwithdrawadvertisementsat theirdiscretionanddonotacceptliabilityfordelayinpublication orforclericalorprinter'serrorsalthougheverycareistakento avoidmistakes_

BYTHETIME youreadthisSywell'78willbecloseuponus.This greatweekendwhichisnowfirmlyestablishedintheSporting Aviation Calendarrepresentsthehighspotoftheyearforwe enthusiasts.EachyeartheP.F.A.steps forward apace andnowis asgoodatimeasanytoseehowbigapaceithasbeen.

PopularFlying hasrisentonewheightsduringthelasttwelve monthswithitsfullcolourcoverwhichisnowaregularfeature. Thecontenthasimprovedandismorebalancedwhichinitself helpstogeneratemoreinterestamongstmembersandsister organisationswhowishto puttheirnews, viewsandaviation experiencesintoprint.Solet'skeepallthisextracopyrollingso wecanalllearnfromothersinthecomingmonths.

TheExecutiveCommitteehashadaverybusyyearandhas beenparticularlyinvolvedwithourlegislators,theC.A.A.Dave FaulknerBryantasourChairman,showedhisvigilancewhenhe nippedinandstoppedusallhavingtouseradio.Thiswasdone withgoodeffectfornotonly did hesucceedinhisobjectbuthe gainedthemutualrespectofthatareaoftheC.A.A.whointurn showedagreatunderstandingofouractivities,somuchsothat theywillbeamongst[heexhibitorssupportingSywell'78.Onthe aircraftsidewehavegonethroughthetraumaofseeingnew certificationregulationsbeingintroducedwithallthehiatuswhich newregulationsbring.Wehavealsoseenthecompulsoryfitting offullharnessesintroduced,thoughthishasnotaffectedthe amateurbuiltaircraftastheyhavealwaysdonethingsproperly fromthestart!

ToreturntoSywell.Thisyearwehavehadmanylettersfrom othercountriesexpressingintentionstoflytoSywell.Thiswillnot onlyhopefullybringmorenewtypestoSywellandbringmore newfriendsto seeusbutwill imprint theInternationalcontext theRally.Itisgoodtothinkthat anumberofourfellow enthusiastsin Europethinkofitastheireventaswell.

As I writethisEditorialinthesunshineandintemperature aroundthe '80's I amreminded[hataviatorscannotbudgetfor theweather,theylikeallmortals,canonlylivewithit!

7 -0,7 7---il) 1ist.: scp mit/NG NS'

SIXDAYSINMAY

byPatHolmes

EDITORSNOTE

MissHolmeshaswrittenthis,especiallyfor publicationatthistimeofyear,inthehopethatit mayencouragesomeofourfainterheartedpilotsto launchthemselvesintosimilarambitiousadventures thissummer

IhadjusttakenmyFournierG-AVWZtoRedhill forC.ofA.,andwassittingdowntofillinthelog bookwiththeusual,`P1.Shoreham-Redhill.30 mins.forC.ofA.',whenIstartedturningthepages backthrough1977.Oneblockofentriescaughtmy eye,andrepresentsforme,onefabulousweekof flyingforfun.

InearlyAprilIhadreceivedaninvitationtojoin theHighlandFlyingClubattheircampatGlenforsa AirstripontheIsleofMull,andsoearlyinthe morningof12thMay,IsetofffromShorehamto Inverness.Isayearly—Ididn'tinfactgetairborne until11.43,butthenittakestimetopacktheRF4 cockpitwithsleepingbag,warmclothes,mapsand naygear.ImadeTollertonmyFirststop,theflight wasuneventfulandIcrosse'ioverLondon,routed uptheM.1.AroundHusbandsBosworththerewasa bitoflowcloudandIhadsometerrificradio interferencefromthemastsatDaventry.

Tollertonisasmallairfield,veryadjacenttoEast Midlands;infactitiswithintheirzoneandEast MidlandsA.T.Controlarekeenobserversofall properprocedures.Tollertonisn'tallthateasytosee, abitonthesmallsideasairfieldsgo,andissoclose toNottinghamTownrubbishtipsandearthworks thatitlookslikealargerecreationground,untilyou seetheaircraftonit.Infact,IaskedEastMidlands Radarforasteer,andtheywerepleasedtobringme rightoverheadtheairfield.Thelandingfeewas£1.85 whichIthoughtabitexpensiveforaFournier,but worthitbecausethereisnotmuchtrafficandthe coffeemachinewasn'tallthatbad.TheAirport ManagerisamateofBenGunn'sandithadthesame ambienceasShoreham!Interpretthatasyou like—personally/ love Shoreham!(Onaprevious tripnorth,IusedHucknallduringtheweek,andwas askedforabout£2.50landingfee,Ihadtheairfield tomyselfandwasinandoutin15minutes.I'vealso usedEastMidlands—about£1.50—butIhadto queuetotakeoffasit'sasinglerunwayjobwithfull sizeairlinesonScheduleInternalandInternational flights.)

ThenextlegofmyflighttookmeacrossYorkshire toSunderland;justnorthofDoncasteronerunsinto aninterlinkedblockofMATZ.Thesezonesreally areactiveandcompriseChurchFenton,Linton-onOuse,Dishforth,TopcliffeandLeeming.Iwaskept verybusychangingfrequencyfromonetotheother, whiledayglowjettrainerschargedaboutbeneath me.Iwasclearedoverheadandnotbelow2000ft.on theirQFE.IsupposeIfeltsafeenough,butthen circuitheightseemedalittlein-exactandthere appearedtobedozensofaircraftalldoingtouchand goesandextendedcircuitsinthispatch.

PrettysoonIsawtheWhiteHorsecutintheside oftheHillsatSuttonBankandIpassedoverthe YorkshireGlidingClubwithpositivelyaplywood cloudofsailplanessoaringoverhead.ThenIdropped downoverCarltonMoorkeepinganeyeopenfor YorkshireT.V.'shugetransmittermastandsoover theTay—withanoilriginits'birthpangs'andonup toSunderland.Itwasbeginningtogetabit'murky'

withdamplookingcloudsatabout1500ft.Icalledup thetowerandtheygavemeasteer,withinminutesI wasontheground.ThisisoneofthetrulygreatairfieldsintheU.K.forourtypeofflyingandIgiveit 5Starsanytime!It'sthehomeofanactiveStrut,and thehangarisfullofP.F.A.typeaircraft.Infact therewasanotherRF4there,Iranupthestairsinthe towerandwashandedacupofteabeforeanyother businesswastransacted; 1 hadbeenaskedifItook milkandsugarovertheRTwhisttaxiingin!Unfortunatelytheweatherstartedtoclaggatthispoint, andafterseveralcallsmadeonmybehalfbyAir TraffictoNewcastle,Idecidedtonightstop.The RF4washangaredandIwasofferedthefreeuseof theParachuteClub`dormey'withanelectricfireand gallonsofhotwater.Laterintheevening,the weatherclearedandtheFlyingClubC.F.I.invitedme togetaboardanAirTourergoingtoTeessidefor maintenance.Ijumpedatthechanceandsohada pleasanthalfhourrideoverthelocalsightsanda roadretrievethroughthebeautyspots.Ontheway backfromTeesside,westoppedforafew minutesbesideacountryrailwaysiding,whichis usedforaparkforvandalisedrailwaycoaches myword—that'sasight!Coachafter coachwithoutapaneofglassanddoorsrippedoff.Theevening finishedinthelocalpubwithScampiandChips:and sotobedinmysleepingbag.

I waswokenat8.30a.m.bytheFlyingClub Housekeeper,whoinvitedmeovertotheclubhouse. 1 hadtherunofthekitchenandmademyself toastandcoffee.Payment wasrefusedwith offendedlooks,theFournierwashauledoutofthe hangarandIwasstowedonboardwithgoodwishes. Theundercarriageactuallylefttherunwayat 10.55a.m.andIsetcourseforDundee.Thisstretch ofcoastlinereallyissomethingtosee.Oneclearsup overBlythePowerStation,makingcallsto Newcastle,thecountrysideunrollsbeforeyouinthe WestandaheadaremountainstotheEastand thecoastline.Youpasssuchromanticplacesas BanburghCastleandHolyIsland,thenupto BerwickTweedthentheForth;hereIsawmyfirstoil rigbeingtowed,thenasinisterlookingfighter aircraftfromLeucharscametohavealookatme.I calledupLeucharsandgotclearedoverheadinto Dundee.Thesetwoairfieldsareveryclosetogether butco-existquitehappily.(IhadbeenintoLeuchars theyearprevious,theyarepart'civil'andwillaccept lightaircraft.Theychargedme50pforthelanding —valueformoney;onlypointstowatchfor;the thresholdofrunway27islaidoutandriggedforaircraftcarrierdecklandings,completewitharrester wires.Thisistobeavoided!Otherwiseyoucould findyourselfslidinguptherunwayonalittleseat withoutanaeroplane).

DundeeRiversideParkisagrassstrip10/28 andrunsbesidetheriverasyouwouldsuppose.The railwaybridgeofthecrashandBagonigallfame(Tay BridgeDisaster)isascloseasShorehamrailway bridgetoShorehamairfield.TheCityofDundeeis stackedupbesidetheairstriplikeagrandstandand thewholeeffectisaestheticallypleasing—sowasthe landingfeeof75pandthecoffeeandfreshDundee cake,servedinafriendlyspottersrestaurant. 'Ibe airfieldbuildingsaresmallandthetower,pumps restaurantandclubhousewouldallfitintoKen Fehrenbach'sEmporiumbackatShorehamairport.

Itookonboardsomepetrolandacoupleofslices ofcakeandheavedmyselfbackintotheair.There wasabuildupofcloudsoverthemountains,soI optedtoflytheNortherlyroutetowardsAberdeen, andthenturnleftforDalcross.Cloudwas moderatelyhighat4,0000ft.butthisleftnotenough roomovertheCairngorms,however,Iwasableto inchintotheWestandsteerbetweenthesnowstorms andthemountainpeaks.Asthecloudcoverbecame morebrokenandthesummitslower,theviewwas awe-inspiring—greatmauveandbrownmountains withsugaricingsnow—brilliantsunshinethatmade youscrewupyoureyes,andthesnowstormslike greyandpurplegauzecurtainssweepingdowntothe ground.Theeffectwastheatricalandquitebreath taking.

Afteranhour'sflying,Iwasabletoturnontoa Westerlyheading-aheadlayLossiemouth andIcalledthemup.Thisisamarvellouslyfriendly RAFfieldoperatingNimrods.Theyhandleanyone withproblemsandgiveterrificRadarsurveillance. AsIpassedthemthecloudwasgettinginmyway, anddespitethefactthattheyweredealingwitha Nimrodemergencytheystillvectoredmeinto Dalcross.AsIpassedoverNairn,Iranintoatruly thicksnowstorm,andeverythingwentwhite—the RAFsteeredmeoutofitandatthesametime contactedDalcrossbylandlinetotellthemIwould bejoiningthecircuitinthethenextfewminutes. SuddenlyIwasinbrilliantsunshineandpositioned tojoinDalcrossdownwind.Ichangedfrequencyand wasimmediatlyclearedtofinals,Iwassoontaxiing uptohangarbetweentheLonganair TrilandersandBristowHelicopters.

IwasmetbyMaryTurner,CFIoftheHighland FlyingClub,whotookmeofftothelovely farmhouseatCawdor,wheresheandJoekeepowls thatareaboutsixfeethigh;cats,dogs,ducks, chickens,goats,aWayfairerSailingDinghy,several delapidatedvintagecarsawaitingrestoration,a 'Stampe'inbitsandatemporaryholeinthebank balancemadebyaVolmerAmphibianwhichwasin thethroesofdelicatenegotiations.

BythetimeI'dhadahotbath,Joehadreturned fromachartertripouttotheislands;oversupperhe toldtalesofhistripsdroppingmailonSt.Kildaout intheAtlantic.Idon'tthinkthereisaHighland Islandstriphehasnotvisitedsincebecoming acaptainforPeregrineAirServices.Wetalkedof theoldShorehamdaywhenJoeownedDFB'sWot andofthePFAsummercampsatDunkeswell.Iwent tobedrecallingthenostalgiaain'twhatitusedtobe!

Nextdaythecampexpeditionbegan,andtheClub membersconvergedonDalcross,MaryandJoeleft forMullbyroadinavanthatdidn'tknowthe meaningofM.O.T.Onboardwasfood,camping gear,apumpandahugedrumofpetrol.Another memberinasmartVolvoEstatedepartedtoNorth ConnelAirstripatObanwithasecondpetrol drum,andsooursuppliesweresecuredforthe weekend.TheClubmembersclimbedaboardan assortmentofaircraft.(Robin,Cessnas,Taylor MonoplaneandJodel)andsetoffdownLochNess forFortWilliamandtheIslandsbeyond.Itookoff inWZandpoppedovertoNiggtolookattheNigg Rig!Aninterestingsituationhaddeveloped;ahuge rigatNigg(sorryabouttherhyme)wasin closecompetitionwithanotherhugerigatNairn,and bothweretobelaunchedonthetide—they werequitesomethingto see.

TheHighland FlyingHomeBuild'Syndicatehadsomeparttoplay intheNiggRig—partofwhichhasastrange resemblancetoaBetal—theHighlandBetaalsohhs astrangeresemblancetoanoilplatforminplaces—I

PopularFlying,July-August,1978

wonderifthedrawingsgotmuddledup?Thisdouble launchmeantacelebrationdrink-upofsome magnitude,sopartoftheSyndicatefailedtomake Mullnotsurprisingly.

LochNessisformedbya,geologicalfaultandis verylongandverydeep—themountainsoneither sideseemtocomesheeroutofthewaterandget higherandhigherasyouflydownitfromN.Westto S.East.Thusitwasinterestingtostartmyflight fromInvernessTownattherespectableheightof 2000ft.overtheLoch,andseethehillsoneitherside climbupandovertakemyflightlevelsoaringaway abovethecanopy.AsIpassedoverFortWilliam, onemountainstoodoutonmyleftandlooked particularlyimpressive—LaterIlearneditwasBen Nevis.AheadlaytheseaandtheIslands—little islands,biggerislandsandMullitself.Isoonfound Glenforsastripthatruns08/26alongsidetheSound ofMull.Itisgrassandrunsquitesmooth;the08 approachlooksworsethanitis,landinghastobe approachedoffalowturnonfinals,toavoidahill andpowerwires-26isadifferentmatterandyougo straightinoverthewater.

WeallcheckedintotheGlenforsaHotelorpitched tentsaccordingtoourinclinations,andsettledinfor theweek-end.RayDelveswithPhillipAnsell andfriends,soonarrivedintheRobin—Uniform Delta—fromShorehamandthevanandVolvo caughtupviatheFerry.

Wehadafairlyrumbustuousevening,about twentyofussittingdowntodinnertogether.The mealwasexcellent-fivecoursesandworkedoutat about£2.50perhead.Nothingcomparedtosome rip-offsdownSouth.ThehotelisbuiltintheSwedish styleoflogcabinsandpicturewindows;therooms spotlesslycleanwitheveryconvience.Ahuge Highlandbreakfastforthosethatcouldeatone,and platesofexcellentsandwichestosustainonebetween meals.Ioptedtosleepinthehotelandallthese goodiesonlysetmeback£9.50,thebillwas apologeticallypresentedwitha'didIthinkitall right'!

DuringtheafternoonIparkedWZandjoined DavidLockettinaC150foralocaltripofsome2 hoursduration.WecircumnavigatedtheIsleofSkye, visitedKishorn,wherethelongestman-madeobject intheworksisbeingassembled—anoilplatform ratherlikeahugecoolingtower.Weflewaroundit forabout10mins.beforetryingoutsome approachesontothestripatPlocton.Theseawas socalm—orrather'TheMinches'asthatpart istechnicallyknown-thatitlookedlikeglass;how oftenyouhearthatexpressionwithoutreally thinkingaboutit.ItreallydidlooklikeGlass.There wasnotaripple—hereandtherejustabitof distortionfromtheAtlanticswell.Wecouldseethe wholeoftheHebridesfromStornowaytoBarra. Unfortunately,theHebrideonsshutdownfromnoon onSaturdayuntilMondaymorning,becauseof religiousprinciples,alsoitisnotpossibletoeffecta legallandingwithoutoneofthesedispensations things,thatyoucanapplyforthroughtheCAAat Heston.Wetookitinturnstoflyupanddown variousLochs,examiningtinyvillagesandatoy railway thatrunstromtheWest coastthroughthe mountains,backtoDingwallintheEast.Davidtook overanddidaterrificpoweroffapproachfrom2000 ft. over headGlenforsa—notveryeasytojudge,and Ibitmytonguein envy. DavidusedtoowntheexLasham90horseSuperCub,unfortunately,itgot blownawayinitshangaronDavid'sstripat Dingwallduringthewinter—hence,thereasonfor the Cessna 150.Davidlooksallwronginatin job—buthecertainlyflewthislikeitwasaREAL aeroplane.

OntheSundaymorningIgotupat6.30a.m.and wentouttothestripwhichwasalmostoutside mybedroomdoor.Istartedupandwentforaprebreakfastflight.IvisitedStaffawhichisbetter knownasFingal'sCave,andwasinterestedtoseeit inhabitedbyblackcattle.TheIslandisaboutaslarge asabiggarden!Ithasalandingstageandarough lookingtrackupthecliffs.Astherearenoslopesto thebeach—onlycliffs.Iwonderedhowthecattlegot there.Apparentlybyboatforsummergrazing,then theseanimalsscrambleupthecliffpaths,stay fortheSummermonth:andarecollectedinthe Autumn.Ididacoupleoilowpassesandwasableto seeintothecavebefore.ettingcourseforlona.This Islandhastheancientcathedralandareligious community.Whatapit.thereisnoairstrip,asthere wereplentyoffieldsbigenough,butthentheyare aprettyausterelot,and!thinkyouhavetogetthere byrowingboat,asesenoutboardmotorsare consideredanindulgence.

Laterinthedaywestruckcamp—thefuelwas doledout,andRayandpartyaboard,UniformDelta departedforShoreham.Ijoinedthepartybackat Inverness,butfirstcalledatNorthConneltogetthe stripinmybook.Moreaccuratelythisistwostrips, exRAF,nowmaintainedbyArgyllCountyCouncil; botharetarmacandgravelandare02/20and05/23, againontheedgeofthewater.Thenoffagain,and astheweatherwascalm,clearandfine,up,upand overthetopofBenNevis;it'squitesmoothontop andflat,itwascoveredinsnowandhadanorange tentpitchedonit—theoccupantscameoutand wavedwhilstIgyratedandcavortedroundthe summit.Behindthemountainanddeepdowninthe shadowslayGlenCoe,witnesstothatactof inhospitabilitywhentheCampbellsinvitedthe MacDonaldstodinnerandmurderedthem.Much soberedbythatthoughtIheadedbacktoDalcross andsafelystowedtheFournierbackinthehangar. MyhostsforthenightwereWillieandAileenRose, whofarmrightontheedgeofDalcrossAirfieldand operateaRobin.Oversupperthatnight,andasthe weatherforecastremainedfine,wediscussedthe possibilityofatriptotheOrkneys.Aileenwasan OrcadianandIwaskeentodothetripfromWestray toPapaWestray,theshortestcommercialflightin theworld.Soitwasworkedoutthatthefollowing dayIwouldgoNorth;Idon'tquiteknowhowit happened,butwhilstIwasinDalcrossTower,filing myflightplan,arathersillycrosspurposestelephone conversationdevelopedbetweenDalcrossand Kirkwall,andIthought'forgettheOrkneysthis Time—let'sgototheShetlands'.A.T.Control confirmedtheweatherasbeinginthesuper stupendousclass,andachattoSumburghAirfield broughttheinvitationtocomeover,so,howcouldI refuse?JoeTurnercontactedJohnDalrympleSmith, aPeregrineAirTaxiPilotatSumburgh,whowould bemyhost,andsoWZwaspulledoutofthehangar andfiredup.

IflewnorthtoWick;justNorthoftheairfieldwas ahugeheatherfire,thefarmersburnitoffatabout thistimeofyear,—itsillegaltodoitthislate becauseofthenestingbirds—butthisfirewas "goinglikeblazes"withthesmokegoinguptoabout 6000ft.

Itwasamagnificentglidingday,withgoodCuat 4000ft.andnicethermals.OvertheOrkneysup ahead,thecloudpeteredoutleavingaclearbluesky, buteachislandhasasmallcumulus sittingoverhead.IcalledScottishFIRandwas clearedupto6000ft.forthecrossingtoSumburgh.I crossedoverPentlandFirthandLongHope;itwas hardtobelievethathereweresomeoftheworstseas

intheworld,wheretheAtlanticOceanmeetsthe NorwegianSea;howoftenhasthenameLongHope LifeBoatfeaturedindisastersandtheLifeBoat itselfhasbeenlost.IflewoverKirkwallmakinga courtesycallovertheRT,whichagainappearedtobe ofanirritatinglycrosspurposenature.Iwasgladto sayIwasclearedat6000ft.by'Scottish'and— `Goodday'lIcontinuedon—thehillsandislands belowdapplingtheseawiththeirromanticnames— Auskerry,StronsayandSanday.Thenfarawayin thedistanceaheadalittlecloud—itwasDairIsles ownweathersystem,andouttotheNorthahuge buildupofcloud—itmusthavebeenacoupleof hundredmilesaway—ofcourse.,itstheweatherover theFaroes!AstheOrkneysdroppedawaybehind me,Ibegantofeelabitnervous,buttheFournier nevermissedabeat.IstartedtochattoScottish FIRandsaidIfeltveryalone,'Nottoworry'they said'thelowerlevelswerefullofhelicoptersandthey hopedIwasenjoyingmyself'.The75milessea crossingfromKirkalltoSumburghsoonpassed,and itwaswithmountingexcitementthattheShetlands— completewithalineofCU—cameinsight.Ichanged frequencytoSumburghTowerandwascheeredby thewarmthandfriendlinessofthegreetings.Iwas swiftlyclearedtojoinbaselegandfinalsonto runway33,taxieduptotheclubhangarandwas greetedbyJohnD.S.whoescortedmeuptothe tower,thereIsignedinandwouldbeinvoicedfor landing-85p!Whenyouseethesizeandcomplexity ofthisairport,withtheenormousvolumeoftrafficit handles,youcanonlymarvelatthekindnessandthe modestyofthechargesmadetovisitorslikeus.I pluckedupcourageandaskedifImightvisitUnst, themostnortherlyairstripintheUnitedKingdom. "goandhavesomelunch"saidthecontrollers, "we'llcallLerwickTownHallandgetclearancefor you".SooffIwenttolunchwithJohnD.S.atthe airwaysclub,amagnificentmodernclubhouse overlookingthebay.SeveralwildShetland

poniesweregrazingbesidetheroad.Itwaslikeaday besidetheMediterranean,theseaandskysoblueand calmandsowarmthatwesatinourshirtsleeves. Lunchwassoonover—Iwassorrytosaygoodbyeto John,butIwasanxioustobeoff.Thetowerhadmy clearancetoUnstandIrefuelledtheaircraftand tookoffheadingNorthEasttoLerwick.Theclouds overthemiddleofZetlandonlyjustabout15miles wideatitslongestpoint,ithadfounditsown weathersystem.TheShetlandsaresaidtolieonthe samegeographicalfaultasLochNess.Thespineof ZetlandiscomposedofGneiss,whichisprobably 2000millionyearsold.YellandUnstarequite modernislandsofgranite,Redsandstone volcanicsandandSerpentine,workingoutbetween 350and420millionyearsold.1jiggedaboutbetween thecloudsatabout1200ft.soastoseetheIslands.I passednearbyMuckleRoeandturnedslightlyeastto Yell;Fetlar,withitsairstriplayoffmystarboard wingandaheadlayUnst.Habitationwasfewandfar between,justafewtracksacrosstherockysurface, andsheepandponiesgrazinghereandthere,

Suddenlyitbegantorain!,ittookmeafewminutes tolocateUnststripjustbelowthelochat Haroldswick.Unstisasinglerunwaycomposedof smallgranitechippings-justlikearoadafterit's beenre-surfaced,andbeforeit'sswept.Therewasno windandthewindsockhunglikelimpseaweed.I circledthestrip.Haroldswickconsistedofabouthalf adozensmallcottages,andafewfishingboatslayat anchorintheloch.Twoboyswithashotgunwaved tome—thewavelookedfriendlysoIIcircledthestrip oncemore,putthegeardown,openedthe brakesandlandedon12.Iparkedtheaircraftand strolledalongthestriplookingforinterestingstones. Ithadstoppedrainingandwasflatcalm;Ilooked morecloselyatthewindstockwhichwastornto ribbons,andnowonder,thehighestwindspeedever recordedinBritainwasmeasuredotitopofSaxavord UnstonFeb.16th1962,itwasanunbelievable177 m.p.h;buttheislandcarriesseveralbonuses,thereis hardlyeversnoworfrost,theaveragewindvelocity is15/17kts.andday-lightonJune2Istlasts18hrs. 52mins;that'stosaythesunabovethehorizon;it neverreallygetsdark.Thewinterdaysareabit shorterwithonly5hrs.52mins.ofdaylight;butthe darknessisrelievedbytheAuroraBorealis.

Unstairstriplies6Y)45NOCP51W.Ihadpulled Puoley'sguideoutoftheFourniertocheckthefact; as1cogitatedonthis,1realisedIwasnearerthe ArcticCirclethanatLittlehampton.Ididn'thave longtoponderthepointbecauseofasmalldust stormapproachingalongthetrackfromthecottages. ThecentreoftheduststormwasaMiniMinor,and intheMiniMinorwasCustomsOfficer.Hewas friendlybutabitsuspicious."HadIcomefromNorway?"NoSumburgh'—helookedrelieved.Apparentlyhehadn'treceivedmyclearancetolandfrom LerwickTownHall;Bergenisonly200milesaway andthecoastofNorwayisregardedinthesameway asweregardFranceintheSouth.

Thecustomsmensaid1mustsignin,soheleadme totheterminalbuilding.Thiswasaverysmallgarden shedwithdoubledoors.Thekeywashiddenundera brick,inapositionthatIshan'tmention,for securityreasons.Insidetheshedwereseveraldrums ofT.V.O.andatractor.Therewasnotmuch room,andaftersqueezingpastthetractor,wecame tothereceptionarea,whichwasaslightlycleaner upendeddrumandawellthumbedbooking-in ledger.Isignedmynameandregistrationandwas toldI'dbeinvoicedinduecourse.Iamstillwaiting

tohearfromZetlanCountyCouncil,butIguesswith allthatoilandSumburghgoingfullblast,onesmall RF4onUnstdoesn'treckonthepostageforcollectionofthelandingfee.

Muchtomyregretitwastimetogo.1wouldhave likedtospendmuchmoretimeexaminingtheisland. Iclimbedbackonboardandtookoff-1headed NorthtoMuckleFlugga,themostnortherly headlandintheU.K.Iroundedthelighthouseand headedforFoula,anislandoffthewestcoastsof Zetland—about15milesout;ithasthehighestcliffs inBritain—theNorthWesternfaceofthe,island runningsheerintotheAtlanticfora1500ft.drop. Ontheislandisanairstrip,buttimedidn'tallowa visit.IreturnedtoSumburghandrefuelled.

Timewaspressing,soagainItookoff,routing backatDalcross.Iheadedsouthatfirstsoasto overflytheFairIsle,Icouldseethegrassstripinthe middleoftheislandandpromisedmyselfa visitatanotherlime.Iclimbedbackto6000ft.and thefirstthingInoticedonlevellingoutwasthe heatherfire,stillburningatWick.Isettledbackto enjoytheviews;allthecloudshadvanishedandI flewalonginacleareveningsky.Outtotheeast sproutedanestofoildrillingplatforms.Ichanged frequencyfromScotishFIRtoLossiemouthand receivedclearancetoflythroughtheDangerZone andintoDalcross.Istartedashallowletdown;Iwas vettingusedtoflyingoverseanow,andcompleted 200milesfromSumburghtoDalcrossentirelyover water.Idon'tthinktheFourniernotices—ifitdid,it madenocomment.

AndsointothehangaratDalcross.Iwasthrilled andtiredout;WillieRosepickedmetipaitheflying club,andtookmebacktothefarrnforsuppei;and soendedmyholiday.

Thenextdaytheweatherwasstillfine;IreluctantlyheadedbacktoShoreham;Ioverflewthe Cairngorms,lookinglessforbiddingfrom5000ft. andmadeSunderlandinonego.1wasonlyon thegroundfolafewminutesandseloffagain. Tollertoncameandwent,acupofcoffeeandsome fuelandthendowntheM.I.,overLondon,andat 1000ft.overHammersmithBridge,Icouldsee ChanctonburyRing.StraightdownoverGatwick andontoShorehamCircuit.1loweredthe undercarriageandgentlyfloppedontothegrass, therewasanastysmellofburningrubberanda swiftdeclaration,theFourniersanktoitsknees.I switchedoffandgotout.Icrawledunderthewing andlookedintothewheelbay,thebungeeshock absorbershadstretchedandwererubbingonthe wheel,IputmyhanduptosteadymyselfasIcraned myneckroundthegearcasingandthebungees contracted.TheFourniersatupagain,lookingtor alltheworldasthoughnothinghadhappened;but theslightestweightcausedtheaircrafttodipand bowlikeadinghyinaroughsea.Icouldnow seethestringlacingroundtherubberhadbegunto wearthrough,andIletoutasighofreliefthatthis hadn'tleadtoacompletecollapseonsomeoutofthe wayairfield.Icalledupthetowerandthecrash wagoncameout.Soendedmymarvelloustrip,with mesittingon the backofthefireenginewhilstthe Fournierwasdraggedtothehangarontheendofa rope!

NextdayFrankHounslowofRollasonsgotrnea newpairofbungeesandTedShemelfittedthemin abouthalfanhour.Iresolvedtokeepasparesetin thelockerforemergencies.WhenIgothomeIfound thepolicewaitingformewithamotoringsummons, soIknewIwasbackinreallife.

PROGRESSOFAPROJECT

byBrianPerkins

THEFIRSTYEAR

Myfirstintroductiontotheworldofhomebuilt aircraftwasthroughtheadvertisementplacedin the .4erotnodeller 'nowyou'vebuiltamodelwhy notbuildafullsizeaeroplane'.Itsoundedso simple. First thoughtswereambitious,aThorpeTigerora Tailwindbutafewpreliminaryenquiriesaboutcosts broughtmedowntoearth.Somethingpoweredbya V.W.wasindicatedandasingleseaterwouldbe adequateasmywifewasquiteadamantthatshehad nointerestinevertravellinginanyaircraftImight build.Somethingtodowiththerateofdestructionof mymodelsshesaid.

IwasintroducedtoEddy,whohadbuilta Turbulentandhekindlylentmeseveralbackcopies of PopularFlying. Withtheseandthecopies1had receivedonjoiningtheP.E.A.,Iproceededtomake ashortlistofpossiblesand,bycheckingthrough[he constructorslistsinthemagazine1collected telephonenumbersofbuilders.

Afeweveningstelephoningineverwideningcircles aroundBristolmademerealizehowfewsetsofplans evergetused,buteventuallyIhadspokentose\eral peoplewhohadbuiltorwerebuildingthetypeof aircraftwhichappealedtome.

SooffIwentoneSunday,ona350milejauntto seeaTaylorThen,anEA.A.Biplaneanda PazmanyPL4.Averyinterestingdayandwellworth theefforttomeetthosefriendly,helpfulpeople.

Stillnodecisionbutsomeanswersbeginningto appear.FhadbeentalkedoutoftheTitch—toofast forabeginner.Steeltubestructuresneedatame certifiedwelderandlaterenquiriesmademerealise thatthePazmanywasgoingtobetooexpensivein materials.

Oneaircraft1hadnotseenbutwhichIhadheard wouldhesuitablewastheColibriwhich,fromthe photographsIhadseenlookedjust[hejoh.So.back totheconstructorslistandthetelephoneandItrack ouedowninNottinghamandanothernearerhome in SouthWales.RoninNottinghamkindlysentme somedetailsoftheaircraftandatranslationofthe buildinginstructions.AvisntoJohninIlirwaun gavemeachancetolookatthefullsetofplansand someofthecomponents.Thislookedtobejustthe jobso,havingborrowedthesetofplans,backhome todosomecosting.

Ihad,meanwhile,sentofftovariousadvertisers forpricelistsetc.,soafterafew eveningswork was abletohaveafair idea ollikelycostswhichlooked reasonable.

Offwentacuttinglistforthetimberanda carefullyarrangedbusiness[ripfoundmein Dunstable,whereImanagedtopickupmostofthe steelandtubeforfittingsIhadbeenadvisedby DickyBird,whenIwenttochattohim,thatitwas advisabletostartonthemetalcomponents,sonowI hadsomethingtogetcrackingon

IhaveanengineeringbusinessbitIdidnotcheat bymakinguseofthefacilities,butsettointhe gardenshed.Thedetailsstartedtobuildupinamost satisfyingwayandIstartedtothinkaboutany problemswhichmightariseinthebuildingofthe aircraft.

Theonethingthathadbotheredmerightfromthe beginningwastheonepiecewing.19ft.Rin,spanand onlyan18ft.garage.Woulditbepossibletosplitit. AquicklettertoMaxBruggerwithasketch,a

promptreply.'Noobjectionbutyouwillhaveto haveitapprovedbytheP.F.A.'

Thetimehadcomeforsomebrainpicking. TelephonecallstooldcontactsatB.A.C.and, thereby,anintroductiontoMikeWhittaker.Luck wasonmysideagain.

WithhelpfrotnMikemyoriginalschemewas redrawnandsentofftoP.F.A.forcomments.After awhilebackcamemyprintandsomehelpful suggestions.Redrawtheschemeagainandaftera fewmorelettersandcalculationsthewholethingis approved.

SonowIhaveadesignwhichIcanbuildandstore inthegarageandtowbehindthecar—marvellous.

Whileallthishadbeengoingon,ahugeparcelof woodhadarrived,allplanedtosizeandcutinto hundredsoflittlepieces.Ittookmetwoeveningsto sortitoutbutitwastimewellspentbecauseInow hadneatlytapedbundlesofwoodlahelledupasto theirfunctionandworkcouldbegin.

ThiswasMarchandtheweatherwasstilltoocold tostartgluing,whichwasprobablyagoodthingasI settoandmademyselfakitforthecomplete aircraft.Iamfortunateinhavingapowersaw,so thatputtingallthosefunnyanglesonamultitudeof partsandgettingthemalltherightlengthwasvery

Centresection/twinwit!rearSpar—Outersection mainSparbeforegluingfinalleen.

easy.ItookatipfromtheTaylorMonoarticlesin themagazineandpaintedthebenchtopwhite,so thatIcoulddrawcomponentsoutfullsize,which madethecheckingofjointsetc.easy.Theonejob thatdidpallsomewhatwascutting600oddply gussetsforthewingribs,butbydoingahundredata time,somesemblanceofsanitywasmaintained. Suddenlytheweatherwaswarmer,sothetimehad cometounpacksomeofmylittlebundlesandstart construction.Theelevatorsseemedagoodplaceto startbuthowthehelldoyousetitallupsothatit

curvetoallowforspringbackandbindthesteaming stripsinplace.Icannotbelieveitwillworkbutit does.I'mstillworryingabouthowtosetupthe elevators.Thesuccesswithshapingtheelevatorribs encouragedmetotrythelaminatedformersforthe fuselageturtledeck.Idrewouttheshapesonapiece ofply,covereditwithpolytheneandscrewedsmall woodenblocksaroundtheshapes.Theseblockswere madeonlyi"thicksothatitwaspossibletoclampthe laminationsinplacewithspringbackedpaperclips. Theships were toolongforthesaucepan,soagood longsoakinthebathwasused.Thelaminationswere thenclippedinplaceandleftforseveraldaystodry outthoroughly,thenglued,cleanedupandtheply facingsadded.

andCentreSectionRibs.forBrian'sColibri.

staystrue.Theribswereeasy,asheetofpolythene overthefullsizedrawingonthebenchtopandthey gotogetherwithnotrouble,althoughIbeginto realizewhatmessystuffAeroduxcanbe.Still,Ifind iteasiertousethanAerolite.Ibuiltaboatwith AerolitesomeyearsagoandIwasneverhappythatI hadenoughhardenerinthejointsandoncetheywere clampedup,therewasnothingtobedone.Atleast youcanseethisstuff.Anyway,withtheglue,make uptheribformandstapleonthegussets,a marvellousinventionthestaplegun,andinnotime theribsarefinished.Thesametreatmentforthespar andnextdaypassthewholelotovertosonJeremyto removethestaples.Istillcan'tseehowI'mgoingto setthethingupthough.

Thetailplaneribsarecurved,socomesthefirst experimentinformingtimber.Aquickre-readofthe

P.F.A.manualandaraidonthesaucepancupboard andtheyareboilingawaymerrily.Bandsawapiece of3'x2"totheprofileoftheribs,addingabitmore

Themainfuselageformerswerecompletedatthe sametimesoeverythingthatcouldbepreparedhad been.Themomentoftruthhadcome,assembly couldstart.Afewminutesonthecircularsaw trimmedalltheelevatorribstolengthandwiththe headsetoverto30deg.theappropriateendswere producedonthediagonalribs.Iclampedthespar facedownonthebenchandthen,withtheaidofa boxfullofspringclipsandafewstaplesinstrategic places,(hejobwasdone.Withthestructurestanding vertically,itwaseasytolineuptheribsandclipthe previouslyshapedtrailingedgeinplace.I'msurethat themoreyouthinkaboutthesejobs,themore difficulttheyseem.Thethingistogetinandhavea go.Soonwithalittlemoreconfidencetothe tailplaneandrudder,Ihesearebothskinnedwithply butthesamemethodwasused.Sparflatonbench, ribsverticalandtrailingedge(leadingedgefor tailplane)clippedinplacewithclampsandstaples whilethegluecures.Now,theadvantageofhaving themetaldetailsfinishedbecomesobviousas,with somecarefulmarkingoutandsome very careful drilling,hingesandhornscanbefitted.Thesewere thefirsttwounitswhichrequiredtheeyeofthe inspectorso,rathernen,ously,atelephonecalland Arthurarrivedtopassjudgement.Afewquestions,a goodlookround,noproblemsandIcanboxitup.

Whilethiswasallgoingon,Ihadmademyselfa jigforproducingthewingribsandasmallerjigfor pre-bendingthenosecurvesintheribbooms.This curvewastoosharptobebentcold,butbyprebendingthecurveforwardofthemainsparthe battensslippedintothemainjigeasily.Ihadthought Matitwouldtakeseveralweekstoproducethe26 ribsbut,bystaplingthegussetsinplaceIfoundthat itwasnotnecessarytoleavetheribsinthejigforthe gluetoharden.HavingalltheribcomponentsprecutmadelifeeasierandIfoundthatittookmeihour toproduceeachrib.Verysatisfying.

Photoshows,RibJig,PreBendingJig,TypicalRib)

Basic.fuselageofBrianPerkinsMB-2ColibriG-BPBP

Whatnext?Whynotthefuselage.Ire-paintedthe benchtopanddrewouttheoutlineofthefuselage side.Afewdozenofmysmallwoodblocksscrewed tothebenchandthelongeronsanduprightscanbe clippedinplace.Ihadalreadycutandsplicedtheply fuselagesides.That'sanotherjobIwouldhave thoughtimpossiblebeforeItriedit.Thethoughtof planinga1"widechamferinapieceof'115'plygave menightmaresbut,clampitdownfirmlytoanice cleanedge,settheplanereallylineandthat'sanother verysatisfyingjob.OnethingIhadboughtrightat thebeginningwasahoningguide.Iusedtothink thatIcouldsharpenachiseloraplaneironbyhand butIwaswrong.Mytoolsnow cia. Oneweekend sawthesidesfinishedandthenewweekendtheplan viewhadbeendrawnonthebench,thesmallblocks repositionedandIwasreadytoboxupthefuselage. Alltheformershadbeencompletedpreviouslysoit didnottakelongtosetitup,althoughitwasrather difficultworkingontopofthebenchunderthelow garageroof,whichaccountsforthelargeAerodux colouredstainonthebenchtop,whereIkickedthe gluepotover.ThefuselageoftheColibriisastraight taperfromthecockpitaftandthisisallthatIsetup onthebench,sothatIwasleftwiththetwofuselage

surewhetherthesebendswouldbepossibledrybuta quicktelephonecalltoLyn,whohadbuiltasimilar spar,gavemetheconfidencetogoahead,butonly gluingonelaminationatatimeandbeingcarefulto clampthewholethingdowntothebenchandtothe angles.Whenthelaminationswerecompletethey wereassembledtooneoftheplywebsandthe divisionplatesgluedinplace.

fheoutersparswereeasierastheywerestraight buttheboomshadtobetaperedthroughtheir length.Thelaminationswereofvaryinglengthto produceaseriesofstepswhichhadtobeplanedtoa straighttaper.Iplanedonestepwhichmademe realisethatIwasgettingtoooldforthatsortof physicallabour.NextdayIhadawordwithawood machinistfriend,whoshowedmeasimplewayof doingthejobonthecircularsaw.Tenminutesand thejobwasdoneapartfromaquicklickupwiththe plane.Inowhadallthreesectionsofthespar completeexceptforthefinalplyweb,soanotherjob wasreadvforinspection.Noproblemsagainsoon gothewebs.Iwasnowfacedwiththeproblemof drillingIbrthewingjointplateswhichcouldeasily scrapallthehardworkputintobuildingthespars,so thisjobwasdoneintheworksoneweekend.Iwas

sidesdivergingwildlywherethefrontbulkheadwas tofit.Theplanviewofthefuselagefromtheseat forwardisdrawnasabeautifulcurvebutwhenIheld the tiny frontbulkheadinthe huge gapbetweenthe fuselagesidesIwas not optimistic.

HoweverIborrowedsomesashcrampsand proceededtopullthetwosidestogetherandinthey camewithnoproblematall.Itsaysagreaddealfor thequalityofthetimber,forthecurveswere absolutelyuniformandeverythinglinedupwell.I quicklycuttheplydoublerswhichfitthecurveofthe cockpitsidesandwaspleasedtofindthattheywould fiteithersideofthefuselage,toprovethatthecurves werethesame.Abitmoreglueafewmoregussets, anemptygallonoilcan,apieceofplyandIcouldsit init..NotforlongthoughbecauseJohnwas comingovertoseeprogress,soglueontheturtle deckformersandthedashformerandfitthe tailplaneandrudderinplace,tomakeitlooklikean aeroplane.Moresatisfaction.Thespardesignhad nowbeenapprovedsoastartcouldbemadeonthe laminationofthesparbooms.Thecentresectionhad tobebentforthedihedralwhichwasdoneby screwing3lengthsofangleirontothebenchand clampingthetimbertothemduringgluing.Iwasnot

surprisedhowlongittookme,evenso,butthe resultswereworththecareandtime.Everyboltwas alighttappingfitthroughthesparandIcould breatheagain.Thesummerwasnearlyover,sothere wasnochanceofcompletingthewing,butIspenta weekendmakingupsometrestlestoformacradlefor wingbuilding.WhenthesewerecompletedIsetup thesparandthenwonderedwhatafewribswould looklikestrungalongthem.AnhourlaterIhada completeskeletonwingwhichlookedvery impressive.Itseemstogolikethat,youspendweeks workingwithnothingtoshowthensuddenlyappear tomakeahugeleapforward.Coldweatherlethargy begantosetinbutafterafewweeksoftelevisionand decoratingabedroom,somethinghadtobedone. Thewingwasstrippeddownandthefuselagesetup withtailplaneandrudderinplace,sothatcontrol cablecouldbemade.

Thedashpanelwasmadeandinstrumentsfitted, trimtabconnectedup,fueltankmade.It'ssurprising whatyoucanfindtodoifyouputyourmindtoit. ThataboutbringsmeuptothepresentwhereIam makingthemouldforthecanopy,producingbitsand piecesfortheengineandwaitingimpatientlyforthe weathertowarmupsothatIcanassemblethewing forreal. Thinks—can ImakeSywellthisyear???

AnotherviewofBrian'sColibriFuselage

GroupNews by

MikeVaisey

Afteralongwinterofhibernation,thecomingof springseemstohaveawakenedsomeofourGroups andanumberoflettershavepassedthroughthe officelatelytorevealthatyouarestilloutthere.

FirstlytheCliveFlyingGroup,whoseChairman DavidGroomdescribedthebeginningoftheirgroup inapastarticleinGroupNews,extendedaninvitationtoallP.F.A.typesandtheiraircrafttotheir hospitalityontheoccasionoftheShropshireAero ClubAirDisplayatSleapon25thJunenext.This eventalwaysattractsaverylargecrowdtoan interestingprogrammeandDavidhopestoorganisea slotintheprogrammeiftheinterestisshownfrom ourside.Stop-pressreleasefromDavidtellsusthat Sleapissituated5nauticalmilesnorth-westofRAF Shawburyandabout9milesnorthofShrewsbury. Aeronauticaldetailsareasfollows:-Non-radio strictlyPpoandwillbeacceptedupto11.00a.m. localtimeonly.TelephoneWem32882.Aircraftwith radioshouldcontactShawburyon124.12or122.10 mhzinitiallyforApproachControlandwillbe passedontoSleapToweron122.34mhz.Radio equippedaircraftwillbeacceptedupto13.00Hrs. localtime.Allmemberswillbeonhandtowelcome PFAvisitors.AnyonewishingtocontactDavid beforehandformoreinformationshouldcallhimon ChurchStretton3401.

OuroldfriendstheMontgomeryshireUltraLight FlyingGroup,longtimeoperatorsofthe TigerMothattherateof £.5 perhour(noitsnota printingerror!)haveflowntheirownGroup-built VP1.AlanFowles,SecretarytotheGroup,saysthat thefirstflightfromLongMountainwasachievedon 1stJanuaryandlatestnewsfromClaudeMillington, attendingthelastCouncilMeetingatSywell,was thattestflyingwaswellunderway,withoutany problems.CominghacktotheTiger,Alansaysthat thegroupmightbewillingtotakeonafewnew members,butbeforeyouallrushinconsiderthatthe rateof£5perhourisonlyachievedbyalotofhard workandwiththeVPIshortlyavailable,theyare lookingforthatpeculiarbreedthatisalltoorare. Membershipis£21peryearandE5isrequiredto join.VisitorsarealwayswelcomeatLongMountain airstrip,where1OOLLfuelisavailable,butacallto ClaudeonWelshpool2163beforehandwouldbewise forabriefingifyouhaven'tbeenbefore.

AletterfromRoyTaskerofthePoulton-le-Fylde Group,whoseconstructionoftheirPilotSprite projecthasbeenserialisedinthesepagesinthepast, revealssomeexpansionoftheGroup,entailing severalinterestingconstructionprojects.TheSprite whichRoyisbuildingwithBarryParkinsoniswithin anaceofcompletionandwillcertainlybeatSywell thisyearifeverythinggoesasitshould.Itpromises tobequiteamachineifpastphotosareanythingto goby.BarryisalsoinvolvedwithD.Brownand J.ScottinaBabyGreatLakesproject,furtherdetails ofwhichareeagerlyawaited.Sywell'80isthe projectedappearanceofthisone.Thefuselagestands onitswheelsandthetailplanecanbefitted,butas mostbuildersknow,thereisalotofworktwixtbasic frameandcompletedarticle,butlittlebylittlethey cometogether.Thirdprojectwithinthegroup istheTaylorMonoplanebuiltbyDavidHunter, alsoplannedforaSywell'78debut.David hascompleteditinasilverschemeandmadea

beautifuljob.TheVWenginehasbeenrun,butwas foundtohaveamysteriousrattlethat proveddifficulttolocate.Varioustheorieswereput forwardandcamshaftandmagnetodriveswere changedandnowitrunsperfectly,sowithonly cowlingstofitandthenthecanopy,another homebuiltshouldbeonline.

IanHammondofthePortsmouthNavalGliding Clubwasoneofseveralmemberstowritein expressinghisconcernoverthenewcertification arrangementsforlightaircraft,especiallythosemore interestingvintageandclassictypesthat unfortunatelyfalloutsidethePFAportfolioatthe presenttime.InparticularTigerMoths,Austersand similarnon-tintypes.What,onthefaceofit seemslikeahelpfulhandbywayofgreater pilotownermaintenanceoverathreeyearperiod,all becomesadisasteratthethirdyear,whenacomplete 'StarCheck'hyanApprovedOrganisation'falls due.Itisobviousthatsuchanorganisationisgoing totearanaircraftthatithasn'tknownforthreeyears apart,atphenomenalcost,alwayssupposingthatthe ownercanfindan"approvedorganistion"thatwill touchhisvintageorclassicmachine.Andwhatself respectingrealaeroplaneownerisgoingtoputhis belovedandcarefullymaintainedmasterpieceinthe handsofanunconcernedcommercialenterpriseonly tohavetoputitrightagainonitsreturn.I'msure thoseofuswhohavehadexperienceofthis,would wishthatvintageandclassicaeroplanesrequiring specialisttechniquesandattentionshouldbetreated outsidetherunofmodernGeneralAviation,for whichthenewsystemmaybeeminentlysuitable. ManyofouraffiliatedGroupsoperateaircraft withinthiscategoryforwhomcrunchyearwillbe 1981.Thewholesubjectisstillveryliquidatthe momentasfarastheseaircraftandthenewsystem areconcerned,eventhoughitcameintooperationon 1stApril.PfaEngineeringiscloselyinvolvedatthe levelswhereitcountsandhasachievedalotwitha "softly,softly,catchee,monkey"approach,where otherbargeinandantagonisethosepeoplethat count.Morenewsasitdevelopsanon.

Thelatestcloudonthehorizonatthetimeof writingisarecommendationtotheGovernment bytheRoyalCommissiononCivilLiability,that compulsorythirdpartyinsuranceinrespect,if privateaircraftbeimposed.Mostofyouknow!hat thereisnorequirementatpresenttohaveaay insuranceforyouraircraftbutinfactmostoperators dohavesomeformofcover.ArecentsurveyofPFA Groupsrevealedthatsome95%ofgroup.hadthird partyinsurance,halfoftheminexccisofthe minimumlevelsrecommendedbytheCAAitself.We maintaincompulsoryimpositionofthis recommendationwouldnotonlymakean insignificantchangetothepresentsituation,while takingawaythefreedomoftheindividualtoassume theriskshimself(apotentialclaimanthasredressat Lawanyway)butthatnostatisticsjustifythis impositionand,unlikemotoringinourdailylives, ouraviatingactivitiesrepresentsuchaninsignificant risktothirdpartiesasnottowarrantcompulsory imposition.TheAssociationwillbemakingthese pointstotheDepartmentofTradewhohave canvassedourviews.Moreofthisanonalso

STRUTTINGAROUND

WithJimWills

IPSWICHSTRUT

TheStruthaveconcludedanotherverysuccessful seriesofwintermeetings,ablyorganisedby JimEmpson.StartinginOctober,atalkbyBill Moxononthemakingofthefilm"BattleofBritain" fromapilotspointofview(Billflewmanysortiesfor this),wasfollowedbyasplendidtalkbyWitold Lanowski,whowaswingmantothelegendaryGabby GabreskiflyingThunderboltsandMustangsofthe U.S.A.A.F.

DecembersawtheStrut'sannualsocialgathering withadinner/danceorganisedbyStrutmemberand AusterownerLeoBrome.InJanuary,anothertalk wasgivenbyStrutmemberLt.Cdr.FrankCox,RN whotoldmembersabouttheBuccaneerwhichhe fliesforalivingandthePiperJ3-65G-AYCNwhich heownsandfliesforpleasureaftermanymonthsof rebuilding.

FebruarysawyetanotherStrutmember,Charles (Holly)Hall,reminiscingabouthisflying experiencesfromboyhoodtothepresentday,healso showedhisskillasanartistwithmanyfinecanvasses ofaeroplanesofallkinds.DuringMarch,Roger Freeman,author,farmerandhonoraryStrut member,chattedtomembersaboutW.W.2.fighter acesoftheUSAAF.

Attendancehasaveraged30keenflying enthusiasts,meetingsareusuallyofageneralflying nature;itisdifficult,saysJimEmpson,tomaintain interestinnuts,boltsandscrewsateverymeeting.

Agoodliaisonexistsbetweenbuildersinthe locality;groupsgettogether,usuallyatweekends,to discuss,compareandevaluateeachothersprogress.

Mr.EricShipley,whorunstheairfieldatClacton onbehalfof'AirAnglia',hasinvitedP.F.A. memberstotwoTly-in'meetingsthataretobeheld therethisyear.ThedatesareJune4thandAugust 20th,priorpermissionshouldbesoughtbyringing EriconClacton(02557)24671.ClactonStrip,asone mightexpect,isalmostontheseashore,itisanideal placetotakeyourtentforanovernightstop. Althoughthetowncentreandotherentertainments arewellwithinwalkingdistance,Dr.RonaldTurner, whokeepshisaircraftonthefield,willprovide transportwithatleasttwoofhiscarsonthesedays. AsaPhysiciantoButlins(inadditiontohis privatepractice),Ronwillassistanyparentswho mightliketotaketheirchildrentotheskatingrink, swimmingbathsorfunfairwithintheButlinscamp. Besuretoo,thattheyseetheDolphin,aquabatic formationteamwhichisonthepier.Good,budget pricedmeals,areavailableatDaveysRestaurantin thetowncentre.

HEARTOFENGLANDSTRUT

TheMarchmeetingoftheStruthadallthe makingsofadisaster;therewasno'official'news fromHeadOffice,norepliesfromlettersabout visits,andnoprojectoronwhichtoshowtheslides thatwereplanned,howevereverythingturnedout well.

ThesaviouroftheeveningwasStrut memberSteveStride,whobroughtalongatrial sectionofthecannardforhisVari-ezeanddescribed thehotwirecuttingtechnique.

Twonewmembersarrived,oneofwhomownsa LutonMajorcurrentlybeingre-engined.Thismakes twoLutonMajorsontheStrutsbooksin5months,if thetrendcontinuesperhapstheStrutwillbe renamed.IftheHeartofEnglandStrutisinyour areaandyouareinterestedinjoiningthem,then contacteitherColinBrown(Chairman)onRedditch (0527)45715,orJohnMiller(Co-ordinator)on Coventry462012.

HIGHLANDSTRUT

Notseeingtheirnameonthelistofstruts(publishedinlastissue),theStrut'sCo-ordinator, DonaldMcNicholl,hasgiventhoughttobringingus uptodate.TheHighlandStruthasasmall membership,infactsix,livinginprobablytheleast inhabitedregionoftheBritishIslesextendingfrom InvernesstoJohnO'Groats.

Meetingsareheldapproximatelyeverymonthin membershousesintheInverness/Invergordonarea. TheStrutnumbersamongitsmembers,fourPPL's oneflyingJodelD117,aBetaandaTaylor MonoplaneunderconstructionwithaLutonMinor constructionabouttostart;soasDonaldsays"we aren'tjustsittingaroundablazingsheep,pickingat ourkiltsandwaitingforbetterdays".

TheStrutarehopingtoholdtheirfly-inagainthis year,atwodayeventincorporatingaCAMP WEEKENDatFearnAerodromeinRoss-shire (date:August5th.and6th.)thisfollowstheirsmall butsuccessfulandextremelyenjoyablefirstfly-in lastyearwhen10aircraftarrived,onefromasfar awayasSunderland.

Anymemberswishingtoflyinforthisweekend willbemadeverywelcomeandareaskedtodropa linetoDonald,priortotheevent.Theaddressis DonaldMcNicholl47,RobertsonCrescent,Keiss, Caithness,Scotland.

EASTMIDLANDSSTRUT

AletterfromStewartJackson,Co-ordinatorof EastMidlandsStrut,indicatesthatsincethemeeting roomattheFlyingHorse,Kegworth,Derby,has beenextendedtomembersstandinginthedoorway, attendancesnowexceed40-45personsatevery meeting.(Isthisarecord?)TheStrut'srallieshave beenassuccessfulasaporksausageataJewish breakfast;"thisisnotourfaultsaysStewart,asour weathermanhasneverfavouredusyet".Thisyear's rally,scheduledforSunday5thJuneatHucknall willhavepassedbythetimethisisinprint,buta reportisawaitedforfuturepublication.

TheNetherthorpeColibriMB2hasnowflownits requiredhourswithinthelocalityofitsbase,and shouldsoonbeseenaround,hopefullyatSywell.

ThestripatKirbyBeliarsnowhasawindsockfor visitingpilots,thosewishingtoflyinareaskedto ringJohnKnightonMeltonMobray812588,first.

ANDOVERSTRUT

StrutnightmeetingsduringMarchandApril,held atthePophamAirCentreClubhouse,(orrather hangar)havefeaturedinstructiontomemberson propswingingandMarshalling.Monthlyauctionsof

unwanteditemshavebecomearegularfeaturethat helptobringinmoneytocompletetheconstructionofthenewclubroom.

The8thwonderoftheworldintheshapeofthe earliermentionedclubhouse,hasrecentlybeen erectedinphenomenaltimebyJimEspinandhard workingmembersandfriendsofthePophamAir Centre;howeveranenormousamountofworkstill remainstobedoneandanyassistancewillbemuch neededandappreciated.

AndoverStrutandPophamAirCentreareasthe readerwillknow,ormayhaveguessed,verymuch handinhandwitheachother,andbothunder theCo-ordinationofJimEspin.Thepioneering spiritoftheR.F.C.recentlydepictedintheTVseries 'Wings'mayinpartberesponsibleforthenewname ofPopham'soperatingcompanythatJimhasbeen successfulinregistering,namely:R.F.C.(Popharn) Ltd.,ie.RecreationalFlyingCentre.Morenewswill (hopefully)comeinthefuture.

SOUTHERNSTRUT

Afairbitofarmtwistingwasdonebehindthescenes togetstrutmemberMikeHarringtontotalkabout hisexperiencesflyingSunderlandFlyingBoatsand LincolnBombersinthe1950's.Thetalkwasgivenby byMikeattheStrut'sMarchmeeting.About35 membersattendedandprovidedaveryattentive audiencewhileMikedeliveredawellpreparedand interestingtalkthatlastedforalmostanhour.There canbefewStrutswhohaveenjoyedthefeeling oftaxi-ing,takingoff,handlingand'alightinga SunderlandFlyingBoatinsuchcompanyandcomfortandrelativesafetyofabarstool.Mike'stalk wasfollowedbyahithertounannouncedefforton thepartofLaurieMansfield,theirCo-ordinator, whowiththehelpofanassistant,isattemptingto makea'Documentarytypefilm'depictingthe variousfacetsofP.F.A.activities.

AttheAprilmeetingmemberscrowdedin,in similarnumbers,tohearatalkgivenby P.F.A.ChairmanDavidFaulknerBryant.Thetalk,

entitled"LightAircraftPilotage",advancedsound theoryontheartofbothpilotageandnavigation relatedtoourtypeofmachinesandlastedfor hours.

NORTHKENTSTRUT

With19memberspresentattheAprilmeeting,the membersweretreatedtoadisplayofmetal partsandplansfortheF.R.E.D.beingbuiltby LesMalanfromMaidstone.Amini-saleof instruments,offeredbytheStrut'sChairmanAlan Ayles,benefitedsomememberswhowentaway gloatingovertheirnewposessions.

Atalkfollowed;givenbyCavalierbuildersDon JacksonandBrianHope,aimedatthebeginner, describedwiththeaidofplans,thegeneralmethod ofsettingoutbothfuselageandribjigsand interpretationoftermsusedondrawings.Alsothe importanceofplywoodgraindirection,andtips, usedbythebuilders,somesavingtime,otherssaving money;anideaoffabricatingCclampsfromthick plywoodoffcutswiththeaidofabandsaw,the clampsbeingheldinpositionbywedges.The finishedrudder(lessfabric)wasalsoavailablefor membersinspection.

IRISHSTRUT

Thesecondtalk,duetohavebeengivenby MichaelDonohueonthebuildingofhisVP.I,wasto havebeenheldattheclubhouseoftheUlsterFlying Clubon23rd.Feb.Thishadtobecancelledbecause ofheavysnowonpartsofMichael's100milejourney whichpreventedhimfromattending.

Thetalkwasre-scheduled,andtookplaceon Mondayevening6thMarchattheUlsterFlying Club'sClubhouse,Newtownards,at8pm.Thetalk lastedfor2hoursandMichaelillustratedthetrials andtribulationsofbuildingtheprojectathisDublin home.Duringthetalk,slidesandafilm(loanedby BudEvans,theaircraft'sdesiger)wereshownto the24peopleattending.

Sincetheevening,alargenumberofthose

DoncasterSailplaneServices for HOMEBUILDERSSUPPLIES

G1..1 aircraftLurchply0-Xiumto5non. Fabric2weights for supportedandunsupportedareas. Dopetauteningandcolouretc. JoOilingcompound1.01-%1ood/rnetak

Spruce,Douglasfir,WhitePine, Ash,gradeA. V.S.I.ct'rlIpissesetc..CIC.

S.514;Ind5.510steelsheetand.145tubes. C'ontiol cable MAL'Ulltoorder.

V.P.1.Sind1ube,,1MderiarriageStock_

Ca‘alierplans;indallr,e‘materialtobuild. Fibreglassandresin.releaseagent,pigmentetc.

siit.forPH" liS1

whoattended,havetelephonedNoelO'Neillthe Strut'ssecretary,toexpresstheirappreciationforthe troubleMichaeltooktogivethemsuchaminutely detailedaccountofhisexperiences.Theirthanks mustgottoMichaelDonohue,especiallyfor travellingover100milestosharehisexperienceswith others;Welldone.

WESSEXSTRUT

April16thwasthedatesetforthe2ndannual HenstridgeFly-in.Asteadystreamofvisiting aircraftarrivedmakingatotalof129machinesby theendoftheday,that'sabout17morethanlast year'stotal.

In anticipationofsuchanattendance,theWessex Strut,organisersoftheevent,mustbecongratulated ontheirinitiativeforprovidingoneofthemostupto datefirefightingunitsyetseenatanoffairfieldStrut Fly-in.Henstridge,althoughonceanairfieldofthe RoyalNavalAirService,isnowfarmedbyBarry Mogg,bywhosekindpermissiontheeventtook place.

Visitorswereabletorefreshthemselveswith sandwiches,teaandsoftdrinksfromtheBuffetrun bythewives,girl-friendsandotherhelpers.The day'stakingexceeded£580includingatleast£100on P.F.A.'goodies'.

Perhapsthechanceofabargainenticedsomeof thevisitors;theywerewellcateredforalso;Stephen SaywellofR.F.Saywell(Shoreham)wastherewith

OneofthemanyvisitorsatHenstridge"TheCloth Bomber"camefromGoodwood

histableofusefulaircraftparts,in(friendly) competitionwithourotherfriendsEagleAircraft Services,offeringpartsandspares,someofwhich wereslightlyoutsideascrounger'sbudgetbut welcomeallthesame.

MikeWhittaker,ofExcaliburfame,exhibiteda tableofmetalpartsagainstabackgroundof drawingsofhislatestbrainchild—`theWhittaker Aircart'

WessexStrutco-ordinationTonyYoung'sBeagle Husky

TonyLungsWhiteandRedVP-1 G-BDTL

TonyWatsonsFalconerF-I1G-BDPLalHenstridge

CHARLIEGOLF byJohnHollingsworth

Re-printedfromNorthEasternStrutNewsletter

Thisarticleisaimedatthosemembersofour Associationwhoareperhapscontemplatingaircraft ownershipandareworriedabouttakingtheplunge.

Overtheyears,whileflyingclubaircraft,Ihad dreamtofowingmyown,buteverytimeIdidthe sumsIhadfoundthecostprohibitive.Theonlyway out,itseemed,wastojoinalargesyndicate,whichI feltwasarecipefordisaster.Myinterestinusing clubaircraftwaswaning,especiallyinviewofrising costs.Youcouldonlyhireonewhileflying(unless mid-week),andtheusualMurphy'slawthingof findingthattheweather,aircraftavailablityandself andpassengeravailabilityonlycoincidedabout25% ofthetime,andthatwithatwoseater!

AndthenaFairyGodmother,inshapeofBarry 0.Smithappearedonthescene.Achancemeeting withhimshowedmetheP.F.A.sceneandwayof flying,andIsubsequentlyjoinedtheP.F.A.andthe N.E.Strut.Havingfoundthepeoplewhoknew,I wasthenablewiththeiradvice(andtheoddarticlein PopularFlying)to costouraircraftownershipand throughaprocessofeliminationofrequirementsand desires,workoutwhatsortofaircraftIwanted. HavingfoundthattheCap10wastooexpensive1 decidedonaJodel,withaerobaticsbeingconfinedto ClubAircraft,andtheoddtripinBarry's immaculateNipper.YouwillnotethatatthisstageI haddismissedbuildinganaircraftasapossibility because(a)Iwantedtoflynow,and(b)Ithought thatayearortwo'sexperiencetolearnaboutaircraft wouldbeagoodthingbeforebuildingthedream machine.MycostingshowedthatIshouldbeableto runanaircraftmyselfifItwasbasedataprivate strip,butIwouldneedapartnerifitwasbasedat (say)Teesside.Youcanarguerightlythatitissilly foronepersontocarry[heoverheadsofanaircraft flownforpleasure.

Whilestillthinkingaboutthings,CharlieGolf (JodelD117)cameupforsaleinearly 1977.I hada testflightandbagsofinformationfrom GrahamandJohnandaskedalotofpeopleincludingtheP.F.A.inspectorwhattheyknewaboutthe aircraftandbuildupapicture,whichwas good.Itseemedthatinitiallyitwouldbebcsttokeep it(ifbought)atTeesside,andthatmeantapartner.

IhadknownMikeDohertyforsometime throughtheFlyingClubs(wherehemadefewbut impressiveappearances)andfoundhewasalso interestedinaircraftownershipandwasafellow Strutmember.Hehadthoughtofenteringa syndicatewithCharlieGolfbefore.Ialsoaskedat theFlyingClubs(discretelyofcourse)whatMikewas likeasapilot,andwasgladtofindheisquitenormal whenflying!Ipreparedcostingandoperating proposalsanddiscusseditwithMike(whoisa trainedaccountant).Aftermuchheart-searching, excitementandcoldlogicwewentandboughtthe aircraft.

ThearrangementwasthatMikewoulddothe "commercial"sideandIwoulddothemaintenance. Wedecidedtoworkonsharingtheoverheadsequally andpayseparatelyforfuelused (see later).

Atlast,abitonflying!MikeandIbothgot experiencedtailwheelinstructorstocheckusout(this isamust,especiallyifyouareusedtotrikes)and althoughIhadobtainedmyP.P.L.CMTigerMoths, IfoundtheJodelquitedemandingtofly.Coping withitsflatapproach(noflaps)andlowapproach

speedshasbeeninteresting,buttheaircraftisajoyto handle,beingveryresponsive,evenatlowspeedsand respondingwelltowellco-ordinatedhandling.(Isaw "thisAircraftBites"ontheinstrumentpanelofa JodelatSywell!)Thereisnodoubtinmy mindthattheJodelisverymuchanaircraftthat needstobetreatedwithrespectandisnotforgiving oferrorsofjudgement.

Endofinterlude,costing,asIsaidearlierwe decidedtosharetheoverheadsequallyandthat effect, set upanaircraftaccountatthebankand bothputinmonthlystandingorders(£20,1977)to covertheestimatedamount.Wesetupajourneylog intheaircraftandloggedfuelinandflyinghours flown.Atregulaiintervalswehavecheckedthisup, andfounditbalancesoutquitewell.Thecostgiven belowarebasedon85hoursin1977. I haveexcluded capitalcostsforvariousreasons.

Fixedhourlycost

_(baseHangarageand landingfees)

Variablehourly cost

Totalhourlycost-- £10.05

Ofthefixedcost,theTeessideHangarageand LandingFeesadduptoabout£3.60.Quiteabalance betweenfacilitiesandcosts.

Beinganengineerbyprofession,themaintenance sidehasalsoprovedveryinteresting.Ihavelistened topeoplewhoknow,andhavebeengratifiedatthe amountofhelpandinformationI'vereceived.I've managedtogetmanualsandinformation,andbe directedbytheP.F.A.Inspector,helpfulLicensed Engineersandalsosufferedthebitingtongueofa father-in-lawwhospent40yearsasanEngineerin theR.A.F.(Iamstillsmartingathiscommentson myfirstwirelockingattempts).I'vespentquitealot oftimeonmaintenancewhichwillcertainlypayback later.

Overallthen,afterjustoverayearandabout100 hoursonCharlieGolf,Icansaymostpositivelythat I'vethoroughlyenjoyedflyingit,anddoingthe maintenance.DespitethelimitationofnoI.M.C. Flying(whowantstoflyincloudanyhow?)tobeable toflywhenIwant,andstaysomewhereifIwant, makesforamarvellousfreedomofsoul—Iwould doitagain.(Les—Youknowthatengineextension1 wasaskingabout...)

DearSirs, ISOURP.P.L.ADEQUATE?

I wasinterestedtoreadtheviewsofRonThornton &JohnPothecaryonthePPL,inVol.22No.(1). ManyoftheopinionsstatedwereexactlywhatIhave beendiscussingwiththeCAAandBLACcommittees forsomeyears,andnotafewoftheopinionsor proposalswererejectedas'notpracticable'.Yes,the extremesof'flyingaSpitfireatnightwithonly Cessna150experience'arepossible,including withoutanightrating!ManyUSAMustangshave beenwrittenoffbecauseofalackofconversion training,toquoteacommonexample.Sohow muchcontrolisreallypossibleorinthepublic interest?

It allstartswiththequalityofthePrimary Trainingcourse,asthefoundationofallwhich follows.TheinstructorMUSTbeexperienced,orif heisarelativelynewassistant,heMUSTbeunder thepersonalguidanceofareallycompetentCFI, whodoeshissupervisionasperthebook.Thisishow theassistantgetshisexperienceleadingtoan upgrading.ThisshouldleadtoaPPLgraduatewith agoodworkingknowledgeofflying,onatleastone typeofaircraft.Granted,helacksexperience. However,hecouldwellbenefitfromcontinuation training,leadingtoanightratingandIMCracingin thatorder,immediatelyfollowinghisPPLcourse. Thisisnottooearly,ifdoneunderthecorrect management.Thereneverwasanymeritinflyinga lotmorehours,thendoingtheseratings.Farbetter toKEEPthetraineeundertheguidanceofthe instructorandlethimmakethedecisions.Itreallyis saferthatway,asthelevelofcompetencereached willshowwhenthetraineeisfittoflyatnightsolo andwhenheisfittotakeanIMCtest.

Aftersome70-80hours,hereallywillbeafairly competentpilot,whowillnothavewastedanyofhis timeandwhowillhavethebestoftheexperience offeredtohimbyhisinstructor.Now,onto conversiontoothertypes,surelythemost dangerouslyneglectedareaofflyingtraining.Ihave longfavouredthetreatmentoftail-wheeltypesasa separatesub-groupfromthecommonernosewheel hardware.Mr.Thornton'sviewoftheChipmunkis justasmine.Believeme,theONLYwaytoconverta pilottotypeistodemonstrateEVERYTHINGthe aircraftwilldoandthengethimtodoithimself.This isNOTajobforjustanypilot,itmustgenerallybe aninstructororaVERYwellversedpilot,ofwhich themilitarytypesofaircrewseemtomethemost suited.Inevergotthroughademonstrationofan aeroplaneinlessthan1hour35min.,evenwitha fairlywellpreparedtraineewhohadflownatypenot toofarremovedfromthatbeingdemonstrated.The Chipmunk,asIrecall,onceoccupiedatleast8hours

foraBoeing707Captainwhoreachedfitnessfor solo,aftersomequiteintensivework.Hehadonly flownthetypeoncebefore,atHambleonhis CPL/IRcourse,forspinning.

Asoftenfound,theScandinaviancountries requiremorecarethantheU.K.,possiblyagreat helptoinsurancepremiumsformanytypesof aircraft.Denmark,forinstanceDOESrequire individualconversionstotype,signedupinthe trainee'slicencebytheconvertingpilot.Ihavedone manyoftheseandalsobeenconvertedmyself.Inall theseareasoftrainingIwouldinvestthepowersof decisionwiththeinstructor,e.g.thefullyqualifiedor theCFI,justastheformforthenightratingisdealt withandastheIMCratingwas,untilreservedsolely forthe'X'examiner.Thisisaninterestingsubject andwithoutgoingtoScandinavianextremesforALL types,assomearerelated,itwouldbeusefultohear whatreadersthink.

P.S.(Denmarkalsorequiresarenewaltest,2yearly, notjust'5hoursperyear).

13PineGardens, Eastcote,Ruislip, Yoursfaithfully, Middlesex,HA49TN MikeStapp

DearSirs, ISOURP.P.L.ADEQUATE?

ThearticlebyRonThorntononupdatingthe P.P.L.wasmostinteresting,aswasJohn Pothecary'sreply.Unfortunately,Ronseemstohave fallenintotheusualtrapofimaginingthatallprivate pilotswish,andareindeedfinanciallyabletofly sophisticatedmodernmachinery.Itisthespiritof adventurewhichstilllivesinP.F.A.typepilots,but thisspiritcanbesuppressedalmosttoextinctionwith mostpresentdayaircraftandnavigationalaids.Most peopleagreethatthe'goldenage'offlyingwasinthe 1930's,whennewhorizonsweresoughtandpassed almostweekly.Todaythatsamespirittsstillwithus intheultra-lightandvintagemovement,wherethe individualcansethisownhorizonsandseekhisown adventures.

Thevastmajorityofpilotsflyingthesetypesof aircraftshuntheairwaysandthelargercontrolled fields,sotheydonotfeeltheneedforradioaids, particularlyinthesingle-seaters.Dead-reckoningand mapreadingareskillswhichgotomakeabetter pilot.Relianceonradio,totheexclusionofthesehas killedalotofotherwisegoodpilots.Considerthe manyquiteablepeoplewithslightspeechdefects. Insistenceonradiowouldbarthemfromthesky. EventhehearingtestintheP.P.L.medical examinationseemsstrange—deafnesswouldbea distinctadvantageinmanysmallaircraft.Likethe mansay,"Ifyouain'tdeafwhenyoutake-off,you arewhenyouland!"

RonThorntonlamentsthelackofcontroloverthe privateowner,flyingfromasmallstrip.Surelywe areregulatedenoughalready,somuchsothat,inthe foreseeablefuture,everyonewillbeforcedintothis situation.Anyonewithenoughgritandperseverance togetthroughaP.P.L.courseinthiscountry, certainlydeservessomesmallmeasureoffreedom— thekindoffreedomthatclubflying,withitstraining orientation,isunabletogive.

Thebiennial-checksystemisaredherring.This systemisusedintheU.S.A.bysomeunscrupulous organisationstoforceunnecessaryinstructiononto

quitecompetentpilots.Inthecaseofapilotwho regularlyfliesnothingbutsingle-seattaildraggers, usuallyhisown,doeshehavetojoinaclub,get currentonsomeflyingwheelbarroworother,and Olenbecheckedoutonitbeforegoingbacktohis taildragger?ThisisthesituationintheU.S.A.In mostcasesanexpensiveandfutileexercise.

'Wings'systemsandvariouscertificatesarewaved atus,butanybadgeorcertificationsystemwillmeet resistancefromthoseofuswhoneveraspiredtojoin theBoyScouts.

Asnotallofusarebuddingairlinepilots,andonly flytoenjoythesky,therealneedisforatwo-tier PPL,tailoredrealisticallytooursportflying requirements.Thisshouldreducethecostoflearning tofly,whichisstillthebiggestobstacletoP.F.A. growth.HowaboutasystemofP.P.L.training whichinsistson20hourssologlidingexperienceand reducingthepowerflyingrequirementbyamatching 20hours?Thiswouldresultintheawardofa provisionallicence,whichwouldenabletheholderto flysolo,withoutsupervision,butnottocarry passengers,unlesstheytoowerequalifiedfullP.P.Ls (similartosomeroadtrafficlicences).Completionof 100hoursincommandwouldautomaticallyallow theprovisionallicenceholdertocarrypassengers. Glidingexperienceisthefinesttrainingavailablefor smallfieldoperations.Everylandingisaforced landing,sotheseoffernoproblemswhenconverting topower.Powerfailuresontake-off(Cable-breaks) arecommon,dualinstrumentflyingcanbetaught, navigationisbasicbutvital,andagliderpilotis certainlytrainedtobeweather-wise—exactlythe trainingrequiredforflyingP.F.A.typeaircraft. GlidingexperiencecanalreadycounttowardP.P.L. time,butwiththepresentsyllabusthisisusallya technicalpointonlyandmostaspiringpilotshave littlechangeoutof£1000onapresentdayP.P.L. course,whatevertheirexperience.Onefinal thought.Wouldnotacourseinrealisticshortfield landingsbeofmorepracticalusethananI.M.C. ratinginaverage(usuallybad)Britishweather conditions?Itisalwayssafertolandthantopress on.

92NewlandsStreet, Yoursfaithfylly, Shelton, EricClinton Stoke-on-Trent ST42RF

DearSirs, ISOURP.P.L.ADEQUATE?

Mr.Thorntonissorightwhenhequestionsthe validityofourplasticwrappedpieceofcardboard,in theJan./Feb.issueof PopularFlying, butIcannot agreewithhissolutions.

Asheisnodoubtawareveryfewgroups,either havetheaircraft,instructorsorthenecessary permissiontotrainstudentsforthispieceofpaper, beitforthereasonthatthelocalflyingclubwon't allowanycompetition(everyairfieldthesedaysisa potentialL.A.P.completewithaminiB.A.andmust keeptheFreddieLakersout)orourLordsand Masters,theC.A.A.andothersputlicensingofan airstripalmostoutofthequestion.

Groupssuchasoursthereforehavetoreplyupon P.P.L.'sfindingus.

Thetricycleaeroplanesmaybegoodfromthe utilisationpointofview,butbyandlargethefinal productislousy.(Apologiestomembersofthe M.P.M.FlyingGroup)andforeverytwonew recruitsthatmakethegradeinourgradeonegives up.

Nowbackinthe60's,westartedtooperateultra lightaeroplanes,inconjunctionwithanormalC.of

PopularFlying,July-August,1978

A.machine.Bothweretailwheelaircraftand conversiontotheCurrieWotwas5hoursofsafe flyingintheMagisterandabriefing,beforeenjoying thedelightofflyinganultralight.

Maybewewereluckyinthosedays,inthatalarger numberofpeoplewerestilltaughttoflyontailwheel aeroplanes.Thestoryisnowverydifferent,rarelydo wegetataildraggerwantingtojointhegroupand checkingoutthenewboysisalmostentirelymyjob, asmostoftheoldhandshavehadtheirshareof frights.

Mr.Thorntonisalsoright,whenhesaysthatthere arenominimumtimesforthevariousexercises,but surelyitisamatterofthestudentscompetencethat matters,nothowlongisspentonanexercise!

Moreinstrumentflyingandaerobaticsaretotally irrelevanttothewouldbepilotofaTurbulentandis merelyameansofkeepingstudentsdanglingbytheir chequebooks.Themostimportantexercisesandthe oneswefindnewmembersleastabletoperform,are straightandlevelandcircuitprocedure,sothat beforewecanshowthemhowtolandatailwheel aeroplane,wequiteoftenhavetogobacktobasics andwhatgenerallyhappensisthatthechapeither givesupflyingorrevertstothespamcanuntilhis moneyrunsout.

Ithinkmostclubstryveryhardtotrainprivate pilots,buttheyarecaughtoutbythefactthatthey mustkeepthestudentmovingalongandprogressing forthemoneyhepays,aswellaskeepinginstructors andaircraftfullyutilised.

Thestudentnolongerremainsattheclub,talking tofellowstudentsandoldermembersoftheclub, pickingup'lore'asheoncedidsomeyearsago.

Nowitisalmostaproductionlineindustry,with thestudentrequiredtobeinthewaitingroomsome 30minutespriortohislesson,sothatsome'dolly bird'canannouncethedepartureofJoeBloggsfor thebriefingroomandhisflight.

Thisisnotthewaytobolstertheunderconfident ordeflatethebighead,neitherwilltellyouwhatheis thinkingandonlythemostexperiencedinstructor willdetectwhatisunderneaththestudentsbest behaviour,but,ifthestudentswereencouragedto hangaroundandtalktopeople,especiallytheir instructors,theneveryonemightbenefit.

Let'smakesurethatastudentcandothebasics first,lookoutofthebloodywindow(becausethat's whatitisreallyallabout)andgetthingsinto perspective.Teachthemtorecognisetheirbasefrom atleastfivemilesaway(bettermakethat10milesfor someestablishments,astheywouldstillbeinthe circuit).Teachthem180'andoutoninstruments, whilethesunisstillawaterydisc,andthenifthey wanttobeminorleagueairlinepilots,givethemthe propercourseofinstrumentflying,aftertheyhave theirP.P.L.andmakesuretheirratingisexercisedat leastevery6months.

Themostimportantthingistoincreasetheamount ofsoloflyingthestudenthastodoforhisP.P.L.,so thathecanmakesomeminormistakes,whilestill underthesupervisionandstopthepracticeoftaking thestudentaroundthefinalcountryinthemorning, beforelettinghimdoitsolointheafternoon.

Finallyputagradingonthetypesofaeroplanes, withtheinsurancepremiumweightedagainst aeroplaneandexperience.JohnPothecary'sscheme isgoodasitgivestheinexperiencedanincentiveto increasehisknowledgeandskillseitherathisparent cluborhecanbuilduphisexperiencewithagroup andflyothertypesonabuddyridebasisatthe variousfly-ins—ifnothingelseyoumightencourage himtoleavethecircuit.

RoyMills ChairmanMPMFlyingGroup

.1.1Pro

from IANBURNETT

P.F.A.Projects

910.JohnDerricksJoldelD.11G-BDJDisnow flyingregularlyfromGoodwoodandhasapparently flownwellovertenhours.

832.PaulBennisonwroterecentlytotellusthat alongwithhisbrotherRichard,GrahamLamb, andMikeBowden(ofBebeG-AX01fame)theyhave purchasedtheLutonMinorG-AYSK.Thiswas formerlyownedbyLionelPlantandCohnPepper. Problemswith[heenlightenedlocalauthoritywho closeditshomefieldatMeir,followedbysometime inadismantledstatehavemeantthattheTTinsome 8yearsisonly150hours.PowerisaContinentalA65 whichgivesagood900FPMclimb,andstandard70 kts/31GP1-1cruisefigures.Paultellsusthemachineis nowbasedatManchester/Barton,wherethereare currentlyaround12ultra-lights—with4moreto ,:omethisyearalone.Nicetoseeanairfieldwhere ,- iurtypeofaeroplaneispositivelywelcomefora change.

1424.A.Doughtlyhaswrittentotellusthathehas purchasedthisTaylorMonoplaneproject.Workis progressingslowlybutthefuselagesideframes, tailplane,elevator,rudder,wingsparsandribsare nowcomplete.

3220.TaylorTitchG-BTJMwasregisteredtoT.J. MillerofHonitonon9.3.78.Hehaspresumably acquireditpart-built,aswehadtheprojectallotedto R.A.White.

7012.Thoseofyouwhowereunabletoattendthe WessexStrut'sexcellentAprilRallyatHenstridge missedachancetoseeTonyLang'sniceVolksplane

G-BDTL,whichnowshowsnosignofitscontretempsatDunkeswelllastyear.Alsoat Henstridgewewereprivilegedtoglimpseasneak previewofthePerkinsColibriG-BPBP(43-10246), whichwasdisplayedinthehangar.

7013.AnotherVP-1whichweunderstandisnow flyingisP.Kelsey'sG-BBPK,whichwasbuiltin Farnham,Surrey,andnowlivesonthestripatBrook nearHaslemere.Asalwaysweawaitfurtherdetails withinterest.

32-10070.TonyWatson'sFalconerF-11G-BDPL madeaverywelcomeappearanceatHenstridgefrom itsbaseatFarleyHants.

34-10147.LatestCassuttIIIMtoappearisGBFMFwhichwasregisteredtoP.H.Lewisof Stalbridge,Dorseton17.2.78.

30-10178.FirstProcterPetreltoberegisteredsince theprototypeG-AXSFisG-BFPJ—beingbuiltbyS.

G.CraggsofCarnthorpe.

25-10214.JimWallerofShirrellHeath, SouthamptonregisteredhisNipperIIIBprojectasGENIErecently(wewonderifhehasamagiclampas well!!!).

55-10263.FirstofthreeTaylorMonoplanesto appearthismonthisE.A.Taylor'sG-BFPX. ConstructionisproceedinginSouthend.

ect ews

15-10304.G.L.KempandJ.Beckregisteredtheir SoneraiprojectasG-BGLKon24.2.78.

55-10330.TaylorMonoG-BFRFwasregisteredto E.R.Baileyon7.4.78bycoincidenceitisalsobeing builtinEssex.

55-10333.ThirdMonotoappearisG-BFOUbeing builtby1.N.M.CameronofTeesside.

OtherMrcraft

Oneortwoitemsofinterestinthehomebuilt spheretoreport.FirstNipperG-ARBGwas registeredtoH.E.PeacockatSibsonon2.2.78.New projectsnotifiedincludePittsS-1CGBIRD—registeredtoR.N.YorkofHitchin,who securedtheveryappropriateregistrationlastNovember.IthasPiusc/n707-H.Alsorecentlyregisteredis JimWill'slatestbrainchild,theAeraIlG-BJKW, withhisc/nA3JKW.Weweresomewhatshattered toseeaFockeWulfFW.I90ReplicaG-WULF registeredrecentlytoSBVAeroservicesofElstree— whetherthisisafull-scalemachineremainstobe seen!Alsodueforpublicconsumptionthissummer areseveralmoreWWIcreationsintheLeisureSport circus.FinallywenowknowthefullstoryonW.M. Beverley'sJodelD.119G-BWMB.Itisinfacta rebuildoftwoaircraft,andasF-PHQHwas importedlatelastyearbyCliffLovell.Originally JodelD.112c/n77F-BGMAitwasrebuiltintothe Larrieu.1L.2F-PHQHin1965.

NewProjects

29-10337FRED.L.G.Millen,II1UftonLane, Sittingbourne,Kent.

55-10338TalyorMonoplane.S.C.Pope,145 BlackfriarsCourt,SilkSt.,Salford.Lancs.

29-10339FRED.R.Cox,28VictoriaParkAvenue, Kirkstall,Leeds.

29-10340FRED.A.Howes,8LarchClose,Bognor Regis,Sussex.

15-10341Sonerai.M.S.J.lieu.OfficersMess, R.A.F.Marham,Norfolk.

62-10342EvansVP-2.D.J.Keam,Truro School,Truro.

62-10343EvansVP-1.D.Beaumont,91ParkHill Drive,Rhodesway,Bradford.

15-10344Sonerai.J.A.Lowe,40BrookSt.,Wall Heath,WestMidlands.

8th—9thJULY,1978

TheDailyMirrorhavedecidedtoawardtheirAir PageantTrophytothe'Ownerofthemostnoteworthy homebuiltaircraft'attheBlackpoolAirPageantthisyear. Thisisyourchancetogetaphotographofyouandyour aircraftintheDailyMirror.

THESKILLSOFGYRO-FLIGHT

byVernonW.Kelk

WhennotinvolvedinmattersrelatingtotheGyroPlaneIearnmy'corn'asanInternationalOfficer withinaGovernmentAgencyandalargepartofmy dutiesinvolveassessingaperson'saptitudeto developnewpractical'skills'forvarioustracksinthe mechanicalengineeringfield.

Onedaywhilstchasingacardowntherunwayona Gyro-Glider,whichappearedtoflyperfectlywell untilItriedtoimposemywilluponit,Idecidedthat Iwouldattempttoapply"skillsrecognition"to flyingaGyro-Plane.

Firstlyletusconsiderwhatismeantby"skills recounition"—withinaspecifiedtask,(inourcase flyingthe(iyro),therearemanyintricate manipulativemovementswhichareresponsesto informationbeingfedtousbyincomingsensations fromthesensesofsight,sound,smell,touchand taste.Skillsrecognition,thereforeentailsacritical examinationofthetaskandthesensesinvolved asthey,inturnconcernandcontrolthe actualmovementsmadebythelimbs.

Therearefourbasicskillsnamely:Motor orManipulativeSkills— Hiesemaybe describedasdexterityofthebodylotaspecifictask e.g..reaching,grasping,moving,positioning,and theseskillsareobservableasmanipulatbeaccuracy, manualdexterityandmuscularco-ordinationforthe operationofcontrolsandprecisionofmovement.

PerceptualSkills—These aretheskillsconcerned withsensingmeasuringandjudgingandarecentred aroundthefivesenses(sight,sound,smell,tasteand [ouch).Themonitoringofsounds,sibraiions instrumentsandpressuresoncontrolsfallintothis category.Withinthesenseoftouchisthe kineaestheticsensewhichisrelatedtothepressureto beused,anyelementofskillwhichrequiresaspecial pressuretobeexertedtoachter.etherequiredresult mustinvolvethissense,italso,ofcourseappliesio footpressures.

ConceptualorMentalSkills—This isdieabilityto reasonandmakeadecisionbasedonjudge[nent,itis theabilitytoimagineandunderstand'inthe abstract'eventsandprocessesv,hicharenotdirectly observable.Thereisanelementofarbitrarinessinthe useofcontrolswhichbearanindirectrelationshipto theireffect.Themorecomplexthemachine,thetruer thisbecomes.

DiscretionaryorDtagnosdcSkills—Thorough knowledgeofthetaskisnecessaryfortheapplication oftheskills,the HAW skillliesin[heabilitytoconduct logicalanalysisofthecluesandfactstheninterpretingtheminrelationtothesituationexisting andselectingthecorrectmeanswherebythedecision madeandacteduponwillresolvetheproblem.

ToputtheseskillsintotermsofflyingaGyroplane—Motorskillsaretheuseofthehandsandfeet tocontroldiemachinebuteverymotoraction[num beprecededbysomementalaction.Perpetualskill, inourcaseinvolvessightandtouchandtoalesser extentsound,notehowthatkineaestheticsenseof touchentersin,feedinginformationtolimbsto controlthemachinebypressuresonthecontrolsand receivinginformationfromthemachine by"stickpressures"etc.,developedbythemachine itself.ConceptualSkillisourabilitytothinkahead.

Finally,Discretionaryskill,asourflyingtraining progressessodoesourdiscretionaryskillthroughthe knowledgegainedbyourexperiencesandofcourse, theexperiencesofothers.

Sofar,sogood,butwhathasthistodowithflying aGyro.EelusclimbaboardanimaginaryGyroGlider—wearestrappedinandthebladesare spinning—weholdthestickfullybackandsignalthe towcartomoveoff,—thetakeoffrunhas commencedatsomepointwearegoingtoputthat stickforwardtopreventthemachineleavingthe groundlikeahomesickangel—butatwhatpoint?, ourperceptualskilltellsus,throughoUrsenses, OUr conceptualskillallowstomakejusttheright movementofthelimbs(Motorskills)toliftthe machineoff[Ilegroundbythecorrectuseofthe controls.Asourdiscretionaryskillimprovessodoes ourabilitytocarryoutthistaskcorrectly, everytime.Throughthissimpleexampleitwill nowbeseenwheresuchgeneraltermsas"reflex" actionsamdco-ordinationfjitintothepatternthey areacomplexmultipleofskills,carefullyand methodicallylearntandappliedtoaspecifictask.

Iitakestimetodevelopanyskill,20minutesof sustainedpracticetomasterjustonereflexaction! Whenonethinksoftheconlplexityoftheskills involvedinjustliftingasimpleGyro-Glideroffthe ground,andthenconsiderstheHyingofapowered GyroPlaneandofallthesituationswithwhichwe havetobeabletocopc,intermsofskills developmentwehaveanesinnated2yearsforMr. AveragetoflyaGyroinsafety,andmostofthistime willhavebeenspentintowedflightdevelopingbasic skills(Ihisfigureofcourse,takesinto considerationthelimitedtimemostofushaveto spendonourchosensport.ItisnotFlyingTime).

Someofuswillhavetoaddfixedwingtimeio thisfiguretogetthatelusiveGyro-licence.(Someor theskills,notall,butsome,developedonfixedwing flyingarewrongforGyro's,butthatdoesnotreally concernus,asithastobedone.)

ohurryourpersonalflying[rainingprogramme istocourtdisaster,bothfinanciallyandpossiblyin termsofinjurytooneself.Onlybyasteadyprocess oflearningthenecessaryskillsandmasteringeach ont: untiltheGyrobecomesanextensionorone'sself canweavoidlearningbynnstakes!,andtheonly thingthatislearntbythisMelhodishow not tomake 'hatparticularmistakeagain—NOTHOWTODO THETASKCORRECTLY.

HOMEBUILDER SUPPLIES

FORMETAL,WOODEtGRPAIRCRAFT

SONERAIIICANOPIES,COWLINGS&FOLDED SPARS. WINGKITSMADETOORDER.

CAPACITYFORMACHINING&FOLDING— UPTO8ft.LONG.

MATERIALSAVAILABLEINANYSIZEAND QUANTITY.

TRYOURUNIQUESKINFASTENERHIRESCHEME

GETTHEDRILLRIGHT

byPenguin

Fromaverysuperficialstudyofthesubjectit seemstomethatthecomponentsthatcauseMemost alarmanddespondencyamongprospectivehomebuildersarethemetalbits.

Nowmetaltreatedintherightwayisgoodstuff. Atleastitstayswhereit'sputwhichismorethancan besaidforsomematerials.Hackingoutbitsfrom sheetmetalis,Iagreeprettyarduousandthereforeitis importanttoonlydothe job once.Theeasiestwayto scraphoursofworkistodrillaholeinthe wrong place,drillaholethewrongsizeor,drillaholebadly withawornorincorrectlygrounddrill.Thefirsttwo succumbtotheoldadageofmeasuretwiceandcut onceratherthanviceversabutthelastcouldbear investigation.

Themodernhighspeedsteeldrillisoneofthebest bargainsavailablethesedaysbutthere is stillsome rubbishabout.Bewareofbargainpacksofvarious sizesinserve-yourself toolshops.Firstlythereisno pointin buyingsizesyoudon'twant,sameappliesto socketsets,andsecondlythey areprobablycarbon steel. Thedifferenceisthatacarbon steeldrillwill

THESELENGTHSEQUAL

loseitshardnessaftermildoverheating,whereashigh speedsteelhasgood'hothardness'andwillnotdo so.Thebestbetistofindyourlocalengineers'supply shopandbuygoodqualitydrillsofthesizesyouwant only.

Infunctionthedrilloperateslikeanyothercutting toolasshownherebutofcourselikeanycuttingtool itbecomesbluntedparticularlywhenusedonalloy sheetssuchasthoseusedonmosthomebuiltaircraft.

Theeffectofabluntdrillisthatitdoesnotcutthe metalawaybuttriestopushitawaythuscausing burrsontopandbottomandaholethatmayormay notbethedensize.

Thissizebusinessisimportantonaircraftbecause boltsaremostlyusedtolocateandfixapartas againstmostindustrialapplicationswherelocation maybebymeansofaspigotdowelorsomething similar,andtheboltusedasafixingone_Aclearance holeisprobablyacceptabletherebutnotusuallyfor us.Uniessthestressisunidirectionalaboltinan oversizeholelocatesbyfrictionaloneandinnormal loadingwillimmediatelystarttofret.

Becauseatwistdrillisinmostrespectconstantin sectionthroughou:itsworkinglenghallthatis necessaryistogrindawaythewornportionas shown.

Themostimportantthingistogetbothflutes groundtothesamelengthandatthesameangle. Failuretodothismeansthatoneflutecutsmorethan theotherhencethecuttingcentreisnotcoincident withthedrillcentre.Theresultisanoversizehole withanicebigburronthebreak-throughside.

Lookingatthedrillfromthebusinessendreveals twocuttingedges,thecombinedradiusofwhichdoes notequalth.:diameterofthedrill.Inordertohold thedrilltogetherthereisalandinthecentre.The materialatthecentreisnotcutawaybyeitherflute butisreallygraunchedaside.Thisisacceptablewith anewishdrillbutforastrengthconsiderationthis landincreasesinwidthasthedrillisgroundbackand

EFFECTOFDIFFERENT EFFECTOFDIFFERENT ANGLES LENGTHS

theflutesgelshorter.Onewayofovercoming :he pioblemstodrillapilotholeeachtime,butyouwill probablyi2ettiredofthat.Theotheristothinthe pointasshown.Ihavesomedrillswithonlyabout halfaninchoffluteleftwhiastrndrillholts quitehappily.

THININGTHEPOINT

Sometimesdifficultyisexperiencedingettinga drilltocentreexactlywhereiti•wantedevenwitha centrepunchmark.1hisisdueiothelandonthe drill.Therealansweristouseaceniredrillwhivh combinesthepropertiesorasmalldrillwiththe tigidnyofalarge one.

Duringthisshoriarticlementionhasheenmadeof grindingthedrill.InallhonestyOILisonlypossible onaproper'offhandgrindingmaclime.Soifyou don':haveonetrytorindsomeonewhohas. Grindingdrillsonasmallstoneinanelectricdrillor oneofthoseliandoperatedarrangementsisunlikely toproducesatisfactoryresults.Sind:allyiffittings arebeingmadeaportabledrillhandMild,isthemrist unsatisfactorywayofdoingthejob.Ifadrii!pressis notavailablegetabenchstandforgoutportable drill.

Howeverwhenallthisworksouttherewilialways beaburrontheundersideofthejob.Thismust obviouslyberemoved.Donottrytodeburrwitha largerMill,theonlyresultwilldamagethefaceand reversalmoreburrswillexist.Itisbesttogotothe toolshopandbuyametalcuttingrosebitwhichwill dothejobeasily.

CENTREDRILL

Lastlyi,afery.Withthismaterial alwa.sa dangerofthedrillpickingupi!is. breakthrough.Astheworkwinbehelddoisnbyone oi vouihandsyouwilleadup'with s()IlledarlIdeto yourpersonunlessyoupiissessMoine:eauions. ThereforealwaysclampInciobdownparticularlyin usinglar!,;e

Theforegoingmayallnebeneathyoubutnever minditmayhelpsomeoncwitisthemetalbits,you neverknow,theymayevenenjoymakingthem.

ROSEBIT

P.F.A.NOTICES

AIRTRAFFICTOANDFROMTHESYWELL RALLY

Afterthe1977Rally,therewereseriouscomplaints laidaboutinterferencewithcommercialair.trafficin andoutofLutonAirport,bylightaircraftinvading theLutonSpecialRulesAirSpacewithoutprior clearance.Toalesserextent,therewerealso complaintsaboutinvasionsofStansteadSRA.

Ihavenomeansofknowingwhetherthese invasionswerePFAAircraft,ormerelyvisitorsnot belongingtous.ButIwouldurgeallPFAMembers flyingtoSYWELLin1978tomakequitecertain that,iftheyarenonradio,theykeepclearofthese SRA'sandiftheyhaveradio,theyobtainclearance beforegoingthrough[hem.

TheSRA'saremostclearlymarkedonthequarter millionscalemapsofUK,anditisrecommended thatPFApilotsandnavigatorsstudyinparticular Sheet13oftheseries.Thisshowsplainlywhatto avoid,andisspeciallydesignedfornavigationbelow 3,000ft.Thehalfmillionmaphassomuchother informationonitthatthetwoSRA'sconcerneddo notshowupclearly,anditisnotsuitableforlow levelmapreadingnavigation.

Therewillalsobeaspecialpilotsbriefingtentat Sywellfotheuse

Therewillalsobeaspecialpilotsbriefingtentat Sywellfortheuseofpilotsbeforedeparturefrom there,anditisexpectedthattherewillalsobea specialAeronauticalInformationCircularpublished dealingwiththesubject.

GJCPaul President

VOLKSWAGEN

AIRCRAFTENGINEPLANS forAmateurConstructors

THEBILLWOODHAMSMEMORIALTROPHY FORNAVIGATION

ThehistcompetitionforthisTrophywilltake placeattheSywellRallythisyear(1978)

Thecompetitionwillbeintwoparts.Thefirstpart willtaketheformofatestpaperonNavigation, airmanshipandalliedsubjects,includinggeneral knowledgeofthekindthatacompetentpilotshould haveinthesesubjectsandconnections.Thepaper willtaketheformofamultipleanswerpage,in whichthecorrectanswershouldbetickedinthe appropriatebox.

•Thesecondpartwilltaketheformofaflighttest inwhichthecompetitorwillbeblindfoldedaftertake off,andflownblind-foldtoanunknownpointwithinabout30milesofSywell.Theblind-foldwillthen beremovedandhewillbehandedamap.Thewinner willbetheentrantwhosucceedsinnavigatingbackto theairfieldboundary(at1500ft)intheshortesttime fromremovaloftheblindfold.

Thefirstpartofthetestwillbeaneliminating test.Thebestnyeresultswillaoforwardtotheflight test.Thewinneroftheflighttestwillbethewinnerof thecompetition.

EntrantsmustbePFAMembersover18yearsof age.Theyneednotbequalifiedpilots.Thereisno entrancefee.AllentriestobemadeatthePFAStand intheMarquee,wherepaperswillbecompleted.Itis hopedthatthemajorityofentrieswillhave completedtheirwrittenpaperonFriday,allowingthe flightteststobecompletedonthemorningof Saturday,1stJuly.Thecompetitionwillclosefor writtenentriesby10.00hrs.onSaturday,1stJuly, thisbeingthelasttimebywhichIllecompetitioncan berunwithoutinterferencewiththerestofthe Sywellevents.

Intheeventofweatherunsuitablefortheflight test,thewinnerwillbethecompetitorwhoscoresthe highestinthewrittentest,whichwill,intheevent()I noflying,closeforentriesat1200lirsonSaturday, 1stJuly.

GJCPaul Chairman,Trophies&AwardsCommittee

VINTAGE AMGRAFTniagazine

Idealreadingmaterialforloversofold aeroplanes.Nowestablishedasthe leadingmagazineinitsfield.

30siaft.ofdravingsandaI5,000-wordmanual providedesignsandinformationenabling onctoconvert anyVAV.engineup in1600ccs,Fullyapprovedfor arnatcur-huiltaircraft,theseplansareofferedwithlifetimefreeadviceforonly£9•50postpaid.

VintageAircraftbringsyou Air Tests, MuseumReports,WorkshopReports, andmanyotherfeatures;notforgetting ourhistoricalarticlesintheGolden Age'series.

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VINTAGEAIRCRAFTMAGAZINE 137OnslouGardens,SouthWoodford,ImndollEDIINA England Avccm. SUBS('RIPDONS; 1.2.50forfourissues.

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Jane'sWorldSailplanes andMotorGliders

AndrewCoates

Glidingisoneoftheworld'sfastestgrowingleisuresports.Thisuniquebook givestheenthusiastdetaileddescriptionsandtechnicalspecificationsof over170sailplanesandmotorglidersallofwhichareflyingtoday.

Lavishlyillustratedwithindividualphotographsforeachentryplusspecially preparedthree-viewdrawings, Jane'sWorldSailplanesandMotorGliders providestheonlyup-to-dateandaccuratesourceofsailplanedata.

192pp£6.95

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MacdonaldandJane's

At4.15prn,onacalmbuthumidJune afternoon,weairlinegroundpersonnelfirstheardof theimpendingthunderstormabouttohitMitchell FieldinMilwaukee,Wisconsin.Flightcrewsoffour airlineflightsreportedthattheyhadflownaroundit fartothewestofthefield.

Theymentionedthatthisparticularstormwasthe highesttheyhadeverencountered.Anhourorso later,wesawonlytheforwardedgeofthestormwith itsboiling,rollingcumulo-nimbuscloudscoming towardsusatagoodspeed.Ouroperationsoffice postedfieldalertsandwedouble-chockedallourline DC-8sanda727,plusasmallcommuterflight parkednearby.

By5.05p.m.,thepungentsmellofrainanddust [hatusuallypreceedssuchastormwasfillingtheair. Tenminuteslateritstruckus.Drivingrain,wind gustsupto65mphacrosstherunwaysandheavy lightningenvelopedthearea.Suddenlythefieldand AirForceReservefireapparatusrolledoutacrossthe taxiwaystowardsthenorth-westcorner,where privateaircraftareparked.Weknewsomethinghad happened.

Atthetroublespot,weviewedasorrysightindeed. Fourteenlightaircrafthadbeenflippedoveror damagedinonewayoranother.Therewerebroken fuselages,wings,tailsections,canopies.Fuelwas leakingfromtanks.Firemenwerelayingfoam everywhere.

Anexaminationofthewrecksrevealedtie-down eyesonmanyaircraftbroken,tielinessnapped, knotsloosenedandslipped.Someaircrafthadslid sidewaysintoothers,eventhoughalltheirtie-down componentsheldadequately.

Mostoftheaeroplaneshadbeentieddownfora considerablelengthoftime,andbyqualified persons,usingtheirnormalequipmentwhichhad alwaysheldupduringpaststorms.Sowhathad happenedonthisoccasion?

Onepossibleanswer,thefixedbasepersonnel considered,wasthesizeableventurieffectexertedby twolargehangarsneartheparkingarea.Thewest windblowingintothespacebetweenthemwas gustingto65mphandstronger,wherasthespeedas itexitedfromthissamespacewasestimatedtohave been70-85mphatleast.Thefourteenaircraft damagedweredirectlyinlinewiththeresultantblast.

Inadditiontohighwind,astormfrontproduces severeturbulenceaheadandtothesidesatground level.Aircraftofthetailwheelvariety,whentied down,sitatamoderateangleofattackintothe prevailingwind.So,inthiscase,Natureprovidedthe flyingspeed—andanyweaknessinthetie-down systemwasinvitinganaccidenttohappen.Murphy's Lawprevailedonceagain:anythingthatcouldgo wrong,didjustthat.

I—Fromandsideviewofasecurede-downarrangement,wherebyspiralanchorsare setata 45°angletothegroundagainstthepullofthelines.Theaircraftisnow prevented frominoving.forwardora/I,slippingsidewaysortwisting.

effectivetotaltie-downkitwillcomprise6spiralanchors,4 longstraps,2shortstraps,2chocksandananchorinsertionhandle,plus roll-case.foreasystorage a/kit intheaircraft

Equipmentandprocedures

Ropesage,losingtheirstrengthundersudden stress.Incorrectorlooselytiedknotsmayslip.Fig3 illustratestwoknotsthatareexcellentfor[his purpose,aclovehitchandatwohalf-hitchknot whichmustbedrawntightwhenused.Astothe ropeitself,ahighqualitygradeofnylonwith whippedendswouldserveastie-downline. Mountainclimbingropeofinchdiameteriseasily tied,yetverystrong.

Meanwhile,reallyeffectiveaircraftsecurityinthe faceofstormsandhighwindscallsforanumberof considerations.Ropeisonlyoneofthese,thereisalso thematterofanchoringto[heground.Ifthestorm shouldoccuratanestablishedairport,steelcables anchoredinconcreteareexcellent.However,atadirt orgrassfield,whatkindofanchorsareavailable? Theyshouldnotbethelongtentpegorsleetstake type,whichcanpulloutevenwhentheyare12inches longanddrivendeep.Rainsoakstheground,andthe wingpullsonthelinesandanchorsduringthestorm. Thepull-outdangerisgreatestwhensuddenheavy gustsoccur.

Thebestpermanentgroundanchorsonsmallfields aretheaugerorlongspiralscrewtypes,18to24 incheslong.Theymustbescrewedintotheground deepenoughtoallowaircrafttyrestorollharmlessly overthem,yetbeeasytoanchorto.Theirplacement shouldbeata45°fromtwodirectionsunderthe wings,and45°anglesalsoatthetail.Fig.1illustrates thisapproach.Whentieddowntight,theaircraft cannotslipsideways,cannotmoveforwardoraft, andcannottwist.Linesshouldbeaminimumof 5,000lb.teststrength.

PopularFlying,July-Augusi,1978

IpersonallyadvocateusingAirForcerie-dow ii sirapsofatleast2inchwidth,ha'ingquickrelease bucklesandstrongsteelhookends.Thiswdy,there arenoknotstotieorworkloose,vettheycanreadily bedisengagedandstored.Fig.2illustratesatie-down kiteasilygatheredtogether.Somepartsareavailable overthecounter,whilethebalancemustbelocatedin militarysurplusstoresorindependentpartshouses. Somecane enbemadebyhandandatasubstantial saNMgincosts.

Theairframeelement

Weallknowthattieeyesontheaircraftthemselves arefullyFAAapproved.Yetwehavefoundthatthey canstillbreakwhenexposedtosuddenstress. MechanicsI'vetalkedtoaswellasfixedbase opeiatorsallfeelthatthetie-downringcouldbe muchstrongerindesignaswellasdifferentin materials.Themarginofsafetycouldbegreater.

Thecostofthetotalsafetypackage—a comprehensivetie-downkitandadequatetieringson theplaneitself—whilenotinconsiderable,isagreat deallessthanthecostofrepairafteragaleofwind. Peaceofmindisinvolvedtoo,besidestimeand money.Iknowofnopilotwhoenjoysflyinga previouslydamagedaircraft,noranysubsequent owner.

vicknowledgements

U.S.DepartmentofCommerce,NationalOceanic andAtmosphericAdministration,NationalWeather Service—MilwaukeeStation.DanF.SowaSuperintendentofMeteorology,NorthwestOrient, NASACRPublication2806,"WindTunnel MeasurementsintheWakeofStructures".

ReprintedfromShellAviationNews.

lig.3--Clovehitch(top)andIwohalfhitchknot,bothverysuitableforsecuring aircraftwhentheyareproperlytightened.

BUILDINGA SCALE MUSTANG

By BillWilks

PartFour

WhenthepropellerhadarrivedfromtheUSA,it wasinseveralcardboardboxessowasgoingtohave tobeassembled.Somehistoryhereisinteresting.The originalusewasonanAmphibianSCAN30.This wasaFrenchbuiltversionoftheGrummanWidgeon fittedwithaSalmsonengineandsubsequentlyreenginedintheStateswitha300hpLycoming.The propitselfwasoriginallyaconstantspeedHartzell andthishadbeenremovedandconvertedbya propellershopinEdmonton,Canada,toaground adjustabletype.

Thissoundsalittlecomplicated,butinfacteach bladeisclampedinahousing,freetorotateonthe hub,theangleofincidenceofthebladebeing controlledbyatrunnionandboltmountedthrough lugsinthehubitself.Anumberofspacersthreaded ontheboltcanthereforebemovedbackwardsand forwardstovarythepitch.Themostimportantpoint istomakesurethatallthebladesstartoffinthesame place.

Duringassembly,apartfromsettingthepitch,it wasnecessarytocheckbalance,runoutandtracking, allthingswhichhopefullywouldbebuiltintomost propellerswhendelivered.TothisendImadeaball bearingbalancingmandrelwithtwofittings,onea standtoholditverticalandtheothertomountthe wholethinghorizontally.Theangleofincidenceofa bladecanbecheckedonanypointofthebladebut usuallythisis2/3thewayoutfromcentretotip.A gaugetoaccuratelyfitontothebladeatthis2/3 pointwasmadeandwiththebalancemandrelheld vertically,itwaspossibletouseaclinometerandset each.Providingeachbladewassetinthesameplace onthecircle,thenitwasnotnecessaryforthe mandreltobeexactlyverticalastheexercisewasto geteachbladethesame.Infact23°wastheoriginal angularsetting.Newclampboltswereused

throughout,purchasedfromWesterPropeller,in Edmonton,byanoverseasTigerClubmemberand postedbyhimfromthere.

Oftheremainingparameters,runoutand tracking,wereluckilyverygood,withoutanyhelp frommeandbalancewasquiteeasy.Eachblade housingwasdrilledandtappedtoaccommodate screws,bywhichsmallbalanceweightscouldbe mounted.Itwasonlyacaseofdistributingthese weightstoachievebalance.Afurthercheckwith backplatesinpositionwasnecessarybefore mountingthewholelotinpositionontheaircraft andfittingupthespinner.

Quitealotofworkwasneededintheenginebay, makingvariousconnectionswithcontrolsand instruments,plumbingupfuelandoilandoneofthe largejobs,fittinguptheplenumchambertoensure enginecooling.Thislastisverysimilartothatused onaGypsyengine,whereairisducteddown[he starboardsideofthehead/barrelassemblyand thencethroughthefinning,outoftheportside,togo throughaventunderthecowling.Withinreason,this assemblyshouldbeairtight,whilstallowingthatthe engineisrubbermountedandwillwobbleabout some.Mostofthemainpartshadbeenmademuch earlierandthetaskwasjoiningthemalluptothe entryunderthespinner.Thejointbetweenthose partsontheengineandthoseonthecowlingwas madewithsomehighspeedindustrialbeltingpop rivetedacrossthejunction.

Sometimepreviously,inexchangefor£5,[he CAAhadgivenmetheregistrationG-BEFUandthis wasemblazonedonthesideswithafablonmask.We nowhadwhat,toalloutwardappearances,wasan aeroplaneanditwaswithsometrepidationthatit waspushedoutsidetofuelup.SurprisinglytheFuel stayedwhereitwasput,Isupposeeverybodyhas

TheverycomplicatedenginecompartmentofBill'sMustng.

somelucksometime.Withnothingventurednothing gained,Iprimedtheoilpumpanditwasdecidedto tryandstartup.

Beforegoinganyfurther,itshouldbeexplained thatthestartingarrangementswerenotasIhad hoped.Obviouslystartingbyswingingthepropis hardly'on'withametal3bladepropandsix compressions.Ithadbeenmyhopetobuyanelectric starterandIhadevenmountedtheSolenoidonthe bulkheadallreadyforit.Regretablythisdidnot materialisefromAmerica,apartfromonethatwas offeredat200dollars.Electricstartingwillhaveto waitforawhile,butwiththeengine,justincase,I boughtahandstarter.Thisisfixedattherearofthe engine,engagingwithadogattheendofthecrank.

Thedriveisatrightanglesandtheone I madehada shortsplineanduniversaljointinboardoftheengine bearers,beforeaselfaligningballbearingactually mountedinahousingontheframe.Asthisshaft doesnotrotatewiththeenginerunningasquare sectionattheendappearsthroughaholeinthe cowlingandahandleusedtoturnthewholelot.Back totheepicstartup.BrianDunlopwasinthecockpit andweprimedupwiththeelectricfuelpump,two turnsonthehandleandawayshewent.Justabout everythingworkedexceptthedynamoandexhaust temperatureguage.

Atentativefullpowercheckshowedthattheprop wasfartoocoarsesoweshutdownquitewellpleased withlifeforonce.Acompleteaeroplaneisnot,of course,aflyingmachineandamajorproblem loomedup.Thefamouspropellerwhichhadflown ontheprototypewasquitesuddenlysuspect.Hadit beenanyotherproptherewouldhavebeenno problemsandIcouldhaveflownuptothesame numberofhoursthattheprototypehadflown. Hartzellpropellerswere,forsomereason,atouchy subjectinhighplacesandfarbeitfrommeto commentonewayortheother.Sotherewewerewith nochancetofly.Whatwassoamazingwasthe numberoflawabidingandsupposedlyresponsible citizenswhosaid,ineffect,thattheonlywayto proveitwasOKwastoflythething.Whatwould havehappenedhadItakentheiradviceIhateto think.Ifyouareeverfacedwithsomethingsimilar andfeelthatyoumustflywithoutC.ofA.permitto fly,insuranceandalltherest,spareathoughtfor PEAandalltherestofuswhostillsufferforyour daftactions.Ifyoudomanagetostaggerbackfrom thewreckage,lookoutincaseIgettoyoubeforethe D.P.P.does!

Whatwasleftwasalonglistofsmalljobswhich neededworkingthrough.Thislisthadbeencompiled byBrianDunlopandJohnWalkerandthemost importantwassortingouttheflapdetent arrangement.Thedesignwassobadthatitwasmost doubtfulifanystageofflap,apartfromfullup couldbeselectedandrelieduponovertheslightest bump.Theobviousplaceforthewholelotwasthe dustbinandanewarrangementmadewhichwas similartothatonaCondor,butwithanoperating leveraboutthesizeofthatwhichoperatedthe handbrakeonthePFAbus.

Attemptswerebeingmadetoclearthepropandin fact,intheend,itwasCAAwhoobtainedaletter fromHartzellsthemselves,sayingtherewasno reasonwhyitshouldnotbeused.Astwominuses makeaplus,thismeantitwasOK.

Asaninterestingsidelineduringthefivemonths thatthistook, I hadapartfrompaintingthehouse (longoverdue)beenwritingtoeveryoneIcouldthink ofintheStatesandCanadawhoIthoughtcould help.Thenetteffectofthatwasthatitonly underlinedhowfewpeopleinNorthAmericaeither canorwillwritealetterandalsothattheregulations arevastlydifferentfromthosehere.Theyseemto

worryafteryouhavemadeabigholeintheground ratherthanbeforeit.

Whileallthiswasgoingon,IlearntthatButch FosterinCanada,wasflyingaGnatsumbuilttothe JurcaplanswithanAeromaticpropeller.Through theUSEmbassyinLondonIlocatedthemakersand receivedaveryniceletterback,confirmingthatthe propwasFAAcertifiedfortheRangerengine.The cost,Isuppose,wasreasonable,butitwasgoingto hurttohavetopayoutaboutwhattheenginecost, justforapropandwhatwasmore,throwawayall theworkalreadydone.Thisthoughtwasverymuch withme,asononeofmyveryrarevisitsto Shoreham,IrecitedthissadtaletoStanLauder. Believeitornotaswediscussedthematterandwere workingouthowmuchdutyandVATwouldbe leviedthetelephoneranganditwasaCAAman givingadvanceinformationthatallwaswell!

Forvariousreasonstherewassomedifficultyin obtainingthepermittoflyandafurthertwomonths wentbybeforepermissionwasgranted,withalotof restrictions,fortwoweeks.

IfeelIoughttodigresshereaboutthequestionof thefirstflightandwhoistodoit.Withoutadoubt

BrianScillicornpreparesforthe.firstflightinBiil's Mustang.

thisaeroplanecouldbeconsidereddifferent,and althoughIwouldhavedonethefirstflightmyself,it wasobviousthatthepowers-that-beweregoingto bealothappierforsomeonemorequalifiedthan myselftodoit.Myownexperienceincludedmost moderntypeswithnight,IMCandmultiratings,but recently,IhadonlybeencurrentontheTigerMoth andvariousJodeltypes.Althoughnobodyactually askedtoseemylog,thiswasobviouslynotenough andIinvitedBrianSkillicorn,whoisaservingRAF officer,tohaveago,sotospeak.Brianhadseentne aircraftgrowupandhaddonethetestsonTom Reagan'sTitchandalotofothers,apartfromtest workatBoscombeDownfortheR.A.F.

Itisaprettystrongmattertoclimbdownlikethis, butsensibleinaway.Inevitablyflyinghadtakena backseatforsometimeandIsupposeIwasalittle rusty.

Althoughthereisnoreallegalreasontohave anyoneelsedothefirstflight,thereisobviouslysome responsibilityonPFAtoensurethatthepilothad enoughexperiencerelatedtothetypeinvolved.1 supposeintheendtheywoulddeclinetoissuethe permit.AnyhowBrianwasobvoiuslyverywell qualifiedtodothejobandIwashappyforhimtodo it.

Thuswestartedtherunuptothegreatdaywith Briandoingfasttaxiingrunsandvarious modificationsbeingdoneastheyprogressed.

Needlesstosaythereweretheusualcheckstodo beforeandafteranysortieandreallyonlyonething didnotringtrue.Thiswastheoiltemperature,which becameveryhotafterthetaxiingruns.Although coolershasbeenfittedinthescavengt...les,theyhad notbeenductedin.Thiswasdoneforthwithwithone ducteachside,feedingasmallchamberenclosingthe cooler,airgoing,eventually,throughthelargemain coolingventunderthecowlings.MuchlaterIfound thatthescavengelineswerenotlargeenoughand

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muchoilwaslayinginthecamshafthousing,being frothedup,andgenerallygettinghotwhileitshould havebeeninthetank.

Come15thOctoberwithabreezefromtheeast, BriantaxiedoutontotheoldrunwayatRedhill,sat theredoingchecksforafewminutes,linedup,ran forabout300yardsrotated,leftthegroundand disappearedintothehaze!

BrianSkillicorn'sfirstapproachintheAlustang

Aroundhalfanhourlaterheappearedandmade twoapproacheswithone,finallytwostagesofflapto landoffthethird.

About130mphhadbeenreachedandeverything seemedsatisfactorysoforthesecondflighttheprop wascoarsened,afewminorjobsdoneand aircrafttoppedup.Secondflightwas55minutesand ImanagedtogetoneoftheTigerClubJodelsup,to seewhatwasgoingon.Briandidafewclosepasses andthenwepartedcompany:hetocarryonthetest programmeandmetorefillthecameraonterra firma.

The.firsiairlaairallowofBill'sMustang

Itwasdecidedthat,weatherpermitting,afurther flightshouldtakeplaceontheSunday16thafter coarseningthepropandfittinglargeroilcooling scoops.Brianalsofittedupsomesmallbuffetstrips ontheinboardleadingedges.Apparentlythestall wasprettyabruptwithaveryslightjudderhotly followedbywingdrop.

Thisthirdflightlastedthr15minutesand concludedthepreliminarytests.Brian'sreportwas senttoPFAandafurtherpermitissuedforawhole month.IarrangedthatIshouldbeincludedonthe listofapprovedpilotsandon29thOctoberarranged toflywithaTigerClubcheckpilotinthelargeJodel 140justtogetalittlemore'withit'beforeclimbing intotheMustangmyself.Ihadalonganddetailed briefingfromBrianwhorecommendedafullflap approachat95mphwithpoweronrightdownto roundout.

Speedlimitswouldbe130mphasIhadno intentionofraisingthegearand100mphwithflaps down.

Iamnotgoingtodescribemyfirstflight,ifyou wanttoknowaboutthatIsuggestyougetbuilding! Sufficetosaythatitlasted45minutesandIlanded offthethirdapproach.

FinaIs

MostofusintheSouthEastwentdowntothe WessexStrut'sRallyatHenstridge,thefirstrallyof theyear.Amostpopularrally,thisseemstobe, butjustwhy?Mywifetellsmeshejustcomesalong tomeetalltheoldfriendsoflastyearandIknowthat IalsogoalongtomeetalltheAEROPLANESoflast year.However,Ralliesareafunnything,theycanbe SOsuccessfuland,again,sodisappointing,there doesn'tseemawayofregisteringtheirpotential, untiltheyhappen.However,theWessexmeetat HenstridgewasallthingsthatRalliesshouldbe,as willbereportedelsewhereinthesepages.Wewere pleasedtoseethatstillmoreoutsidesupplierswere interestedenoughtotakestandspacetoadvertise theirwares,soevenatstrutlevel,theymustfeelthat wehaveacoreofinterestinthehigherlevelsof radiosandIMCtypeaids(thatwesingleseaterpilots canonlybeinterestedin).

WhilstdownatHenstridge,wewereinterestedto seeasmallstandinthehandsofMikeWhittaker, whoI'msureyou'llallrememberasthedesignerof theExcaliburfanpropelledwinnerofthe'best originaldesign'awardatSywellin'76.Sadtosay, thisaeroplane,whilstproducedandflown,suffered fromseveralaspectsoflitigation,asI'msureallof youwhowatchedT.V.Newsintheensuingmonths realised.ItseemsthatExcaliburisgoingintoa museumandthatMikeWhittaker,inpartnership withhisbusinesscolleagueTomHobbs,is producingtheprototypeofhislatestbrainchild,the MW3Airkart.Thisisasingleseat,VWpowered 22ftwingspanmachineofwhichhehopesto merchandisecertainmetalpartsforthehome constructionindustry.Ithink,verymuchinhis favour,ishisreluctancetodivulgetoomuchatthis stage,asheisunwillingtoseemembersstarttobuy materialsuntilhehas'firstflown'theprototype. Good,nowweareallwaitingtohearofprogresswith theAirkari.

Mikealsowentontosaythathereckonedthathe couldproduceanewhome-builtplaneverysecond year,ifitwerenotfortheunfortunateneedtoearna livinginthemeantime!

Justasthesecolumnswerebeingwrittenabulky packagethumpedonmydoormatandIseethatitis anewbookthatIamexpectedtotellyouisgood.If1 don't,Ishallgetasevererapovertheknuckles

fromhighupintheP.F.A.heirarchy.TheTitle— SYWELL—thestoryofanEnglishAirfield— 1928to1978,andtheAuthorisnolessaperson thanourPresident,AirCommodoreChristopher Paul.Itispublishedtocelebrate50years ofFlying, bothcivilandmilitary,attheP.F.A.'sown annualgrandstand,Sywell.Ihavereadit,inbetween otherthings,inaday.Inshort,Icouldn'tputit down.Thesubjectmatterisnotperhapseveryone's cupofteabut,surelyanyonewithanyinterestin aviationhistoryisgoingtofindthisimmensely readable.Alargeamountofresearchamongthe archiveshasobviouslybeendoneandtheAir Commodorecomesupwithmanyphotosconveying thespiritofflyingclubactivitiesinthetenyears beforethesecondworldwar.Infact,Ithinkthe photosconveymorethananywordscould,thetrue interestingrassrootsflyingthatexistedinthose days.TheAuthorthengoesontocarefullyanalyse theusestowhichSywellwasputintheimmediate pre-warandwartimeyearsbytheR.A.E.and surprisesthereaderwiththediversityofaviation workthatwascarriedontherefrom'39to'45.

Thebookismadeparticularlyinterestingbythe explanationofconternporyhappeningsworldwide, whichhadtheirreflectionsonclubflyingand R.A.F.traininginthisCountry.Thereforetheymore clearlyoutlineSywell'snot-so-smallpartinthis tapestryofaviationdevelopmentduringthoseyears, bothbeforeandintoWWII.

ItoldyouthatIwasEXPECTEDtotellyouthe bookwasGOODreading.Personally,Icannowtell youthatthebookisDARNEDGOODreading.Itis availablefromSywellAerodromeLtd., Northampton.orthePFAOfficeatShoreham,price E3postfreeandI'msurethatthefirstprintisgoing toselloutprettyquickly,ifmanyofyouhavethe sameaviationhistoricalinterestasmyself.

L.C.M.

FLYINGFORFUNfromAtoZ

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Model&AlliedPublications

PlansService,P.O. Box35 HemelHempstead HertsEMI 1EE

WANTED propforV.W.Engine,alsotwo searaircraft.R.Swinn,Scugdale Swainby,Northallerton,Yorks.Tel: HutronRudby700553

BESTPERFORMANCEPROPELLERS foralltypesofaircraftandengines'Upup andaway—ormaximumcruise!'Brian Mills,Tel:0220262951.

FORSALE.55copiesof Popular Flying, 13copiesof SportAviation, Wanted,Nov &Dec.1976 SponAviation, P.Bussey, Tel:027951823.

EVANSVPIProject(No.62-103081for sale.Noconstructionstarted;woodkit, AGS,Hardwaretocomplete.1600ccV.W. engineconvertedtoPeacockdesign. Completekitorwillseparate.A.J. Grieves.Tel+0482654132Evenings.

WANTED.Plans,fittingsandcomponents forCurrieWot.D.Collinson,SunsetView, AlbionStreet,Hylton,Sunderland.Tel.: 078-324-2411.

ENGINE throttlecontrols,pushpulland turntolock£4.75each.Compasscorrector boxesP.8type£2.50each.A.C.Rev counters,incl.enginehourcounter£28 each.BrianMillsTel.:0220262951.

WANTEDUnfinishedprojectVP1/2, PL4A,Jurca,Nipper,Titch,etc.,Damaged butrepairableproductionaire]aft considered,Tel.:J.Wills,Taunton5949.

S.TO.L.Performanceon1500VWandup.Foldingandroadable—onown wheelsortrailer.Easytofly.Cheaptobuild.LongestsinglecomponentI2'9" long.Plansconsistof26highly-detailedsheetsplusriggingnotes,construction notesandmaterialslists.

PerSet— £15

InformationPack—£1

ERICCLETTON,92 NEWLANDSSTREET,SHELTON STOKE-ON-TRENT,STAFFORDSHIRE,ENGIAND.

BEDEBD5A Projectforsale.Fuselage, Horizontalstabilizer,Rudder,Canopy, Nosewheel,structuresalmostcomplete. Includesmajorityofothermaterialsto completeproject(lessengine).Tel.: 1. Wills,Taunton5949.

AMBASSADEURDR1050Repairable mainsparplus8mainribs(new).Allbits andpiecesforcompletewingE65thelot. BrianMills,Tel.:0220262951.

P.F.A.MEMBER(P.P.L.) wishestojoin flyinggroupinthe Peterborough/Cambridgeshirearea,or contactwithotherstostartanewgroup. Anylightorultra-lightaircrafttype considered.WritetoEricJoyce,73Fen Lane,Sawtry,Huntingdon,Cambs.or phonePeterborough240699(Business)or Ramsey830288(Home)

OSHKOSH'78 JimEmpsonwouldliketo hearfromanyonegoing,withaviewto sharingInternalU.S.Traveletc.,Tel.: Ipswich(0473)58185.

5CWT&10CWT Controlcablesmadeup withyourfittings Or 'thimble'endsonly Aircraftreleasedcableused.BrianMills, Tel.:0220262951.

WANTED.60h.pMikronMUTCarden FordorTrain4Tengine,anycondition considered.R.Nerou,Tel.:Coventry77817 after7.00p.m

FORSALE,LycorningG.P.U.,part convertedwithtwobendixmags.£70.R. Nerou,Tel.:Coventry77817after7.00 p.m

GOODPRICES paidforflyingbooks 1925-45and16mmfilmsonflying.Jim Empson,Tel.:Ipswich58185.

BOLTS,AGSBSFthread;3with2" 21with If plain,Ifwithrplain,I" with1plain.Sorrynonuts.5peach.Steve Knight,28BuckwoodAvenue,Dunstable, Beds.,Tel.:602688.

FORSAI.E.V.WPropellerBoss,front plateandcrankshaftmountingbolt,also crankiThaftsprocketmountingholt. All unused.Offers.V.W.200ccengine(ex aircrafr)regroundcrankshaft,needs assembling.Noreasonableofferrefused. A.Young,Sunderland28473 I.

WANTED. CampbellCricketAutogyro. Mustbeinsoundconditionandpreferably withcurrentC.ofA.Detailsandpriceto R.FMorton,Tel.:Windrush(Glos)371.

Simplybuilt-VWpowered.Onlsone verticalandonehorizontaltailempennage.Onepiecebentupaluminiumgear. Simple3--bulkheacEssoodfuselagesvithno metalFittingsorclothcover.Noengine mount.Simplewing.plankspars,ribs-stack-sawedfromf,"ply.EvansVP-I roadtowswithouttrailer,andstoreseasily ingarage.ForPlanandBrochurepricesseeP.F.A.officeadvertisement.

Thcpopularsingle-place.losswing,all woodmodel.30to60h.p.100rn.p.h.. with1300VWengine.Span21,length15. Brochure.35ppluslopP&p.,Plans, £12,plus50p.p.&p.Construction photos.From:MJ.1aylor.25ChesterfieldCrecy:011ELeighonSea,Esse..

TAYIA)RTITCI

Asupersingle-placc,lowwinb,acrobatic tourer/race,.Simpletobuildwood constructionfor40.to95Idp.engines. Superbplansforthissuperbaeroplane includefullsizeribsheets,material listandnumerousadvisoryii(nes.Span 18'9";Length16'1r.Brochure,45pplus 10pp.&p.;Plans,£16,plus50pp.&p.; ConstructionphotosProm:Mrs.J. Taylor,25Ches(erfieldCrescent,Leighon Sea,Essex.

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FORSALE.VP!PROJECTG—AVU.I. 5%ofmaterielsacquired,butonly '5"aoFthegraltdone!Oyer£200worthof sprucecompletedtailsurfaces.Stahilator talirollhar.controlcolumn.pulleys,ILat "tickles,mostnutsandbolts.1110s1pv. 'Unshedribs,spars,hushes.allmetal Mttugs.:ratpaperwork.etc..al.. Completewith.1prnutliedogearedairframe andengineplans-bestOtter.Pairof Merokeeheels.tyres,tubesplus unknownaxles(that ro!). Plusbrakeparts. PairofAuxtetwheels,ryfel,tubesand Brakeparts.NewLucasSRLMagneto,pair newLucasSRImags—Offers7Keay'dui', SpunAltana:nonSpinners Vaillightand extreme!'strong.Iona!supersonic'style. cutvlo6tiiiandas.requtredC5 each—Ihese(ireIcalkbeatutfulitems, PhoneWorthing(0903)206208

FORSALL.3incrediblylightandsmallIS yhannelre-chargeabletranseekers.2jx 7Lrange118-135me.foraircraftUse.000 each.Icavemessageat029346611.

FORSALE.6copies alPractical Mechanics 1937-38,6m:hidingfullworking drawinganddetailedbuildinginstructions 10rtheLutonMinor,priceC20.J.SIAN',69 TileAselute,Lowestoft.F.Suffolk.

FORSALE.StockClearance.Released AircraftPly,allsizes.exampleI.5mmat£6 persheet.DoncasterSailplaneServtdes. DoncasterAirfield,SouthYorkshire.

FORSALE.1300ccV.W.engine,part dismantled,someconversionpartsand32 PHNICarburettor£20.DonPeacock conversiondrawings£5.OneLucasS.R.4 MagnetoEl5.SetunusedMonodrawings £8_SetunusedIsaacsFurydrawings£30. Completeset(2volumes)C.A.A. InspectionProcedures£10.Altimeter£10. Vacuumartificialhorizon£8.R.King57 ConiferCrescent,Newbury,Berkshire.

FORSALE.FullsetofplansforFaleonar F.II,withsupplementsforfoldingwings, flaps,etc.,£25ono,(includingpostage). Variousinstrumentsavailableincluding Altimeters,T/SandHorizons(Vacuum) Alltestedandserviceable.PaulGladslone, 33GodisaCrescent,Bourne,S.Lines,Tel.: Bourne3750,

FORSALE.Props.oneErraDI1284C (Unused)andoneSCM7053(Metalused) both 7(1 diatofit0-200Aetc.,£300&£250 respectively.OriginalWWIIFlyinghelmet, lolleleetricsandGosportassembly£30. Largeflyingsailneeds/ip£15.M.R. Viney,TelbFarnborough(Hants)48910.

WANTED.Shareinalightaircraftin Norfolk.PFAIypeaircraftorpartbuilt PTAtypeaircraft.ContactDavidBalman, 163PlumsteadRoadEast,ThorpeSt. Andrew,Norwich.Tel.:060334399.

WANTED.Franklinengines6A-350 and/or4A-235series.AlsoNapierSabre 2C/2Dor5A.Anyconditionaslongas complete.AlsoDuralSheets1_73(10swg) 1.72(18,22,26swg)plusanysubassembliesolPractasiaSprite.R.Church, Tel.:Caterham47214(evenings).

1:11 ARIANTIforsale.0-200 engine1251)hours10go,new,fullpanel instruments.Airframeneg1977,F.T.50 hours.VisitingSmell1978Rallswhere demonstrationpossible.Tons.Watson. 04215-4138.

WANTED.Magneto(dual)l'orGipsy Minorengine.MagnetotypeB.1'.1.CsE44ugullimpulseslarter.Pleasewrlic AlanMitchell,19SabinaStreet, Woodlands,\\esternAustralia6018, WANTED.PartComplemprojectVPIor similarpreferablywithpropellerand engine.F.Bolton,18DeesideBlackpool. Fel.:0253-42517.

WANTEDanultralightairerall,anything considered,alternativelyIwouldliketo hearfromanyonewantingtosellasharein suchanaircraftinEastAnglia.Fel.:0603 34399.

NARCO.ComIIAPortablecomplete. BrandnewcostE1000.£750ornearofRr. Phone016572686,

DIARYDATES

June/July30-1-2PEAINTERNATIONALRALLY

July

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21-23Rally

22-23R.S.A.RegionalRally

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July/Aug.29-5E.A.A.InternationalFly-In

August 26-28VACSummerCamp

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WANTED. ContinentalC-85orC-90for homebuiltinadvancedstageof construction.Pleaseadvisehistory&hours run.G.F.Rowley.WillowCottage,Broad Lane,Newdigate,Dorking,Surrey.Tel.: Newdigate216.

WANTED.P.F.A.typeaircraft—2seater preferredorwelladvancedabandoned projeciwithengine.L.Davies.TheOaks, WoodyatisLane,Madley,NearHereford.

FORSALE.SetofV.W.1600Barrels& Pistons,usedbutinsoundcondition.Twin plugheadsforabove,serviceablebutneed newvalveseats£30thelot.Mid1930's Typemagswitch£2.50.ColinClark,Tel.: Scunthorpe732251.

WANTED.5R4,BendixorSlickmagsfor M.W.Conversion.A.Young,Tel.: Sunderland284731,

REQUIREDSetoflightsforTigerMoth, completeorpartof.MKnapp,tel.: Cambridge65957.

WANTED.PropellerforA-65Continental engineandaradiosuitableforultra-light. KenBass.TelbRayleigh(Essex)772236.

WANTED.Cavalierplans.AlsoLycoming 0-290GGroundPowerUnit.P.C.H. Clarke,TelbPeterborough267027.

JODELD-I17.SoundandTidy.Good potential.Phone:Preston718559.

WANTED.T3IGliderofparts.Also serlexmagnetoforVWindustrialengine. PhoneWorthing(0903)206208.

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