NEWS

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The Pup on final approach at Turweston after its successful first post-restoration flight.

Photo: Nigel Hitchman

Pup Prototype flies again

The prototype Beagle Pup, G-AVDF, returned to the air for the first time in half a century on 19 May, with two successful test flights from Turweston in the hands of LAA Chief Engineer Francis Donaldson.

The date was particularly auspicious as it was 51 years to the day that the Beagle Bulldog made its maiden flight at Shoreham on 19 May 1969. A few days later AVDF, which had been used as part of the Bulldog programme, was grounded and partially dismantled. Among those fortunate enough to see the flight was Mark Larroucau whose late father, John, had designed the Pup.

While other Pups remain on EASA Certificates of Airworthiness, the hand-built prototype is sufficiently different from production models that it was deemed appropriate that it be rebuilt under LAA oversight as a Permit aircraft. Watch out for more on this unique aircraft soon!

A revolutionary future

Government funding of £30m is up for grabs for both aviation and non-aviation companies and organisations in the second phase of their Future Flight Challenge, a competition seeking projects that develop systems and technologies to support the use of new types of air vehicles in the future.

The Vehicles could include for instance, flying taxis, delivery drones, small electric aircraft, VTOL and autonomous aircraft, enabling people and goods to be moved quickly and efficiently with reduced carbon footprints and congestion. And systems could cover integrating these vehicles into existing airports, airspace, rural and urban environments, building public confidence and developing new business models.

Bids are invited by the UK Research and Innovation Initiative in two categories: ■ £150,000-£500,000 per project https:// tinyurl.com/apply-funding ■ £500,000-£10 million per project https:// tinyurl.com/innovation-funding

Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said, “The Future Flight Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for businesses across the UK, whether large or small, to bid for funding to make their most advanced ideas a reality… this exciting competition will pave the way for the future of flight.”

COVID-Canopies and Air Superiority

With the medical profession raising concerns about the shortage of PPE as the COVID-19 crisis worsened, a group of LAA members including an aircraft designer, aircraft owners and pilots, and aerodynamicists, decided they could perhaps make a contribution. Jon Laszlo explains…

“With the virus being transferred in the air we realised that if the patient could be enclosed in a negative pressure canopy, and their carer protected in a positive pressure hood, then the chances of viruses getting across two barriers and up a pressure gradient would be significantly reduced.

A preliminary series of drawings were assembled and passed around the group. Giotto Castelli discarded corners, David Stevenson designed air-filters, Roger John digitised everything, and Lynn Williams drew the detailed diagrams.

In April, with a sense of urgency, we learned of frontliners in the UK losing their lives from COVID-19. So we contacted hospitals and medical schools to hand over our designs. However, it was only a concept and there were already plans for the RAF to bring PPE into the UK. We were told not to worry as everything was under control… and stay at home. We tried manufacturers to see if they were interested in making the units but were told that as we didn’t have a patent or a trademark, we’d have to sort that out before it could even be considered for production.

As time passed the PPE situation was not getting any better, so Lynn Williams drew up a trademark and applications to the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) were made to register the trademark, the designs and the claims. Soon after, Neil Sutherland from DUPONT UK provided samples of their flash spun Polyamide Tyvek 4412 and Paul Handley of White Ellerton Products (WEP) in Borehamwood then rang to say his firm was shut and the workforce were furloughed but… Paul and his staff were super-keen to volunteer, the WEP factory doors were opened and six prototypes were assembled in a week. We are now applying for the CE Certification so all frontliners can use these designs.

White Ellerton Products supply the automotive and aviation industries, holding patterns and examples for aircraft canopies including several marks of Spitfire, and even Lancaster turrets and nose-bowls! The same standards that go into the WEP Malcolm Hood for the Spitfire went into creating the prototypes. Eighty years after Reginald Mitchell’s masterpiece flew in battle, similar profiles, principles and Perspex can potentially be used to protect frontliners against a merciless enemy that has taken so many so quickly.

With COVID-19, there is another aviation connection worthy of mention. Charity Tedder, a dental student, has written a children’s book: A Message from Corona with her father Professor Richard Tedder, one of this country’s leading virologists. Her grandfather was Arthur Tedder, Marshall of the Royal Air Force, whose maxim was Air superiority is a condition for all operations, at sea, on land and in the air.

We have applied this same philosophy as we move towards superiority over an unseen enemy in the air we breathe. We hope to build on this start to our project and see it into production – and to see all of you safe and well at the LAA Rally later this year.”

Above White Ellerton Products’ volunteers demonstrate two of the COVID-19 PPE prototypes. Photo via John Laszlo

912 Soft Start back in production

The popular Rotax 912 Soft Start Modules, previously supplied by Conair, are now available from Gyroplane Services. The module automatically retards the spark on one of the ignition circuits when starting, to prevent kick back and subsequent sprag clutch damage, and generally gives a much smoother engine start. The modules are approved on LAA aircraft under Standard Mod number SM12305 and BMAA aircraft under Standard Mod TIL 111. Available in four and six pin versions, price is £197.38 including VAT and shipping. Contact Graham Shackleton Email: gchqservices@gmail.com or Tel: 07507 405845