Norman Surplus

1963 - 2022

Some of us love to fly, some of us love to have adventures, Norman Surplus loved to do both.

Norman’s early years were spent between Larne, N. Ireland and Preston, Lancashire. The son of a Merchant Navy Officer, Norman was always happy on the water, becoming a windsurfing instructor and the second coxswain of the Larne RNLI lifeboat. Businesses included constructing models from pipe cleaners, through to creating the tracks for the highly successful Formula 1 Grand Prix computer game series, to being involved with the development and building of the first wind farms in Ireland. Norman was passionate about the environment, helping run outdoor activity centres, and planting thousands of trees in his spare time.

While undergoing chemotherapy in 2003, aged just 40, he saw a TV programme about restoring an autogyro… and a seed was sown. Norman set himself the challenge that, if he was to recover, he would not only learn to fly such a craft, but go on a great adventure and become the first person to fly an autogyro around the world. It’s not easy to plan such a journey, but seven years later he took off from Sandy Bay playing fields next to his garden in Larne.

I met Norman going east as he was going west, on the Island of Nantucket, north of New York. The Russians hadn’t let him through and he had spent three years stuck on a Japanese airfield, away from his family. The immense tenacity to continue working through the problems was hugely admirable. Yet he had not succeeded, and had to ship Roxy, his aptly named autogyro, to the home of the Spruce Goose in the USA, to be able to continue his journey. Unselfishly, he gave me the information I needed to succeed, to go where he could not, just because he wanted the best for anyone and everyone.

In 2019 he wrote to me saying, “I think we can get through Russia”, and later that year he set off again from Larne and indeed flew VFR across all of Russia, crossing the

Bering Strait and back down to the Spruce Goose, then becoming the first person to autogyro around the world! I was so happy he achieved his nine-year journey, a feat that he was barely recognised for… Why, I do not know? Other much more revered journeys didn’t take nine years of endeavour and perseverance.

Such a warm chap, Norman made everyone around him feel valued. He was modest and humble, yet he had a wicked sense of humour. When dealing with a ship that had run aground, to lighten the severity, he merely mentioned that it had just ‘run out of water’.

Thank goodness he finished writing the book about his epic journey, such a shame he is not here to receive the gratitude and see the happiness it will no doubt bring its readers. It was an honour to attend his funeral and to meet his wife Celia, son and daughter Felix and Petra, and so many family and friends. He will be missed.

Top chap, Norman… Top chap. Colin Hales

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

Prompt Permit renewal

Dear Fiona,

Thank you very much for all your help and assistance over the past week nudging the CAA in order to get our Permit issued, it is very much appreciated.

Would you be kind enough to pass on our thanks to Mr Donaldson for all his assistance as well, please. We have, and remain, highly impressed with how efficient the LAA is, and only wish it was put in charge of UK GA replacing the CAA. I’m so very glad we sold our CAA licensed aircraft in order to fly under the LAA.

With kindest regards and best wishes, Andrew & Charlotte.

Electric aviation

Hi Ed,

I’ve been a continuous Member of the LAA/ PFA since 1970. During that time there have been 12 LAA Chairpeople and numerous changes to our magazine. Can I say the April 2022 issue under your editorship is excellent, bringing us up to date with the latest in Electric aviation with the World Record beating Rolls-Royce NXTe.

Many thanks, Mike Walling no.2450.

Ed: Mike, great to hear you’re enjoying the magazine. I was pleased to tell the tale of the NXTe from the point of view of the LAA members involved – a tremendous achievement!

Wise up to woodworking

Hello Ed,

I note that Dudley mentioned in his article (LA, May 2022) about Mosquito failures in Malaysia, due to high temperatures not being suitable for use of Aerolite.

Now I know nothing about this issue, but I wonder if he is confusing these failures with the earlier Mosquito failures in the same region?

Early in production, Casein adhesive was used and Mosquito failures were attributed to this. Casein being derived from a natural product in hot humid climates resulted in failures due to attack by fungus, insects and mould. I found the following in Mosquito by C Martin Sharp and Michael J F Bowyer. P.263 ‘Operations in Far East’.

Following an accident: “Further investigation revealed that the aircraft in which formaldehyde glue had been used were in a satisfactory state. At Hatfield all completed glue parts in which formaldehyde glue had not been used were ordered to be destroyed, or sold off as scrap.”

I have a particular interest in the Mosquito, living in High Wycombe, where significant production of wooden parts were manufactured in the town’s furniture factories. Kind Regards, Dave Scott.

Turweston for annual Rally?

Hi Ed,

I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering why Turweston cannot be considered for our Annual rally. If there is a limit for the number of movements / aircraft then surely it would be possible to approach the appropriate planning authority to ask for a three-day annual exemption?

Mike Walling.

Stephen Slater writes: Yes, we did look at Turweston, but car parking would either be a long distance away, or would necessitate pedestrians walking under the runway approaches which we could not allow.

YES Education developments

For years YES has enjoyed conferences at Brooklands Museum and in more recent times it has added Cosford Aerospace museum as a venue. The conference is an action-packed day with many speakers from all aspects of aviation – and many youth movements – who are all locked together in a single thought of helping our youngsters discover the world of aviation. There was also time for networking, between attendees which has led to incredible opportunities for our future adults.

The last two years have presented problems for us all due to the pandemic, so it was decided to hold the 2022 YES conference by Zoom, with which we now have all become very familiar. So the date was set for Friday 11 March at 1900, with a running order of speakers on the agenda. More than 50 people joined the meeting from all aspects of YES activity and support.

On another note, after last year’s YES Aviation Taster days for Scouts where the WWI Aviation Heritage Trust exhibited its simulator, they worked with the Mayor Richard Porch to find funding for the sim to be displayed at schools.

Having applied to the local council’s Youth Initiative working group, it has now been funded and booked for more school visits to inspire youngsters – not just about aviation but to help them understand history and life skills.

The simulator activity also helps to fund the unique aircraft that the Trust fly which are on LAA Permits.

Stewart Luck, Acting Chairman / President. ■