Popular Flying
JournalofthePOPULARFLYINGASSOCIATION Volume19Number3 May-June1975 35p
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Popular Flying
Editedby: ALANDUNN MIKEGRIGSON JOHNHAFFENDEN
Adveri/sing: L.C.MANSFIELD
&NodalAddress:
TerminalBuilding, ShorehamAirport, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.BN45FF
l'elepholle: Shoreham-by-Se
PFAEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President:
EDIrot-FIATPAcT
2-3 BUILDING A TAYLORMONO
4-5 YIN-IAGENEWS
6-7StRUTNEWS
8-10PROJET is
1AIRCRAFTFORTFIL How: BUILDER
7-13-HIEGOLDENDIT:ADE
3 GROUPNEWS
4-15A WINDYTAIL
5LUTONSQuADRONNEA
6-17 GRASSROOTSFLYING RALLIES
9 CAVALIERSQUADRON NtiwiS
20-21LETTERS
22CENTREOFGRAVITYCALE:I:LAIIONS
23BOOKREVIEW
ThevirusexpressedinPOPULAR FLYING arethoseofihe conirilsworsanelliotIle(tcSarill-thoseofthePFAThePublishers iLreaintherighttorefisseorwithdrawadrertisementsattheirdiscretionanddonotacceptliabilityfordelayinpublicationorfor clericalorprinter'serrorsalthough every careistokentoavoid 61616 mistakes
EDITORIAL
Areosso.G.J. C.PAUL, M.A.,C.Eng.,F.R.Ae.S.
Chairman:
D.E. FAULKNERBRYANI
7Leasurer:
LSHAW,D.Ae_,C.En A.MS.L.A.E T.
EngineeringOfficer:
F.I. V.WATNER, C.Eng.,F.R.Ae.S.
CommitteeMembers:
Doll(i. BIANCHI EDWARDAVIS
JOHNDUNFORD
Miss PAT Hi HTHES LAURIEMANS!IELD ROBINOWEN
Joi INPOTHLCART TONIREAGAN MIKEVAISTY BILLWILKS BILLWOODHAMS
PTA
7771-
1.14)PLYING
Founded1946
Individualmembership:1.5.50p.a, TheMoldingandrepresentativeInqeinMe UntiedKingdomofamateurconsIrtwfors andoperatorsofultra-lightandGroup operatedof/Trott.
Comsdn
RexCoatesairborne aga ininhisMiles M18nearReadingmoreabouttheNIIS
THI,GRASS isgrowing againandthe rallyseasonisuponus.Onceagain ourprizedpossessionsarebeing wheeledOutofthehangar,thedust brushedoff,tlicenginerunandthe calendarconsultedfordieRallywe canrememberpromisingtoattend, promisingat a timewhenthethermometerwaswaydown.Ourflying doneoverabarcounterandthis SummerjustagleaminOureye Sonieofusfearedthefuelsituation wouldgetevenworse,somethatthe airfieldchargeswouldescalatebeyondourmeans,butwhatremained certainwasthatwhilstanyone couldaffordtotaketotheair,at leastourUltralightAviatorwith hisPFAmachinestandsthehest chanceofclockingupjustafew moreblissfulhoursthisyear.
Astherally'seasonopenswecannotdobetterthantoaskhowbetter wecanorganiseourselvesforthe comingyear.Ourtypeofflying,both intheindividualrecreationalsense andinthemassget-togetherrally sensehasbeenmercifullyfreeof incidentsnotonlyinthelastdecade buteversincethePFAcameinto being.Wecanthereforesaytoourselves'whatcompetentPilotsare we'—orcanwe?Arewebeing competentorjustfortunate?As accidentfreeflyingproceedssoour numbersareincreasedandsoour vigilanceneedsalsotobeincreased. justtomakesurethatsomeone. perhapsnotquitesocompetent,is notabouttomergeintoour own personallittlebitofairspace.The reasonforsasingthis,istomake youallrealisethatthetimethatwe areallatourmostvulnerableis whenwejointhatpromisedbreak-
fastpatrol,thatlookedforwardto rally,wheretheairspacetendsto getbusyandinsoniccasesthe groundcontrolisnegligible.
Surprisinglyenough,thegreatest dangerseemstoprojectitselfwhen, theduties or thedayover,weall decidetotakeoffforhomeatthe samemoment,wemanagetobe blissfullyunawareoftheMarshaller'ssignalsanditisaquestion offirstintheair--firsthome.This isatimewhenwecouldallstopand consider—lettheotherchapget safelyintotheairandaway—let's havesoniethoughtfortheMembers ontheground-volunteersatmost rallies--whowanttogetyouin yourturnilltheline.
Whichbringsustoanothertopic forthisissue--whendidyoulast renewyourinsurance?Alldeadly dullstuff,buttheCAAhavebeen lookingintowhetherweshouldall havethirdpartyinsurancesasa compulsionorwhetherthisshould belefttotheindividual.Weallhave adegreeofresponsibilitytoinsure forourthirdpartyliability'tosome extent,buttheextenttheInsurers mentionvariesfromCompanyto Companyandfromrisktorisk. Let'sfaceit,aminimalaircraftsuch as aLtiton Minor,crashingona maximumrisk,sayafirework factory,ishardlylikelytoescapea claimoflessthan£100.000,which istheminimLImcovernowbeing suggestedbytheCAAforprivate aircraftOwnersandoperatorsfor thirdpartyrisks.
Let'sflyiwithfunandsafetyand allmakesurewearewellcovered.
MAY-JUNE1975
inVintageNevis.
Photo:AlanDunn
PopularFlying.May-June,1975
BuildingaTaylorMono
byJimCrawford
part2:FuselageConstruction
ThemoststrikingfeatureoftheTaylorfuselageisits basicsimilaritytothemodelaircraftstructuresmost readerswillhavebuilt.Constructionalsofollows familiarmodelpractice,themajordifferencebeing onlythescaleinvolved"squareisaloteasierto handle!
Beforebuildingthesimplejigachoicehastobe madebetweenthethreefront-endsavailable,the originalstructureforweldedtubemounts,the 1200/1300VWalternativeandthe3"shorter1500/ 1600VWversion.
expectmostbuilderswillchoosethe1500VW version,thisisthetypeIambuildingandwilldescribe indetail,thedescriptionshould,however,hold reasonablywellforalltypes.
Thebasicfuselageframeisshowninfig.1,*sorry abouttheChinesesystemofnumberingbutthiswas donetoagreewiththenumberingsequenceonthe plans,toincorporatethedifferentnoseandtofix numberstosomeanonymousframesontheplans.All myreferencestoframenos.willrefertothisdiagram.
Thebuildingjigwasconstructedontwo2'6"x6' boards(asdescribedearlier)screwedrigidlytogether_ Thehorizontaldatumwasthendefinedbyastraight 12'longstripof!"xi"dealscrewedalongthetop edgeofthejig.Thefirewall(former14),orthevertical datumfortheotheralternatives,wassimilarlydefined byastripaccuratelyperpendiculartothehorizontal datum.
Theverticalmembersofthesideframemaynowbe jigged-upbymeasuringfromtheappropriatepointas perplansanddroppingaperpendicularfromthe horizontaldatum.
NOTE:Thecentre-sectionframesareinclinedat3c tothevertical,i.e.thewingincidenceangle.
Tosetthisangledrawtheperpendicularfromthe horizontaldatum,measure20is„(5I-6cm.)alongit then14I„-"(2-7cm.)forward,thissets30farmore accuratelythantryingtouseaprotractor.
Shortlengths(61of4"xdealwereusedtofixthe positionofeachvertical,twoattopandbottom.rtis importantnottoplacetheseblockstoonearthe top or bottomotherwisetheymayfoulthediagonalmember.
Anaccuratewayoffixingthejiggingblocksisto screwonepairononesideofthelinesdrawnonthe boardandthenclampalengthof-,1"square41 thicknessofpaperwiththeotherblocks.Whenit actuallycomestobuildingtheframeswithoutthe extrathicknessofpaper,theverticalswillbeaccurate butnotsotightlygrippedastomakeremovaldifficult
Withalltheverticalsdrawnontotheboard,the lowerlongeronmaybeblockedup.Onlyoneblockat eachverticalisrequiredat,andaftof,No.2,but forwardofthispointanumberofshapedblocksare requiredasthelongeroncurvesuptowardsthetirewall. Thelongeronof,-;,"squaresprucewillacceptthis curvewithoutsteaming.
Theverticalscannowbecuttolitintheirpositions, followedbythediagonalscuttofitintothecornersat eachend.
*ThefigurereferredtowillappearinPart3ofJim's articlewhichwillappearinthenextissueofP.F.
Ifounditveryusefultomarkeachverticaland diagonalwithanarrowpointingtowardsthetop longeron.Thismadeitreadilyobviouswhichwayup toreplacethepieceafterglueing.(Theyworitfitupsidedownbecauseofthedifferentanglescutinthe endstofitthelowerlongeron).
Lotsoflittleblocksshouldbecutfrom"squareto fitallthejointsfromNo.2aft
Largerblocksshouldbecutforthejointsforward ofNo.2.
Therearetwopointstonotehere:—
1havespecifiedblocksratherthanplybiscuitsfor theextremeaftofthefuselagebecausetheydonot 'hand'theframe,whereasaplybiscuitcanonlybe putontheinside(i.e.awayfromtheskinside).— Greatcaremustbetakennottobuildtwoleft sides!
GlueupalltheblocksaftofNo.2andforwardof No.9Dbeforeremovingtheframefromthejig.
ThesimplebuttjointsoftherearfuselageareextremelyfragilewithoutablockorbiscuitandI fracturedacouple of themwhenFremovedthe framefromthejig_
Ithinkthecentre-sectionshouldbeleftunblocked untilthefuselageisformedintoabox,asthecurvature thereisquitesevereand1fearatoo-stiffjointmay causethelongerontosplit.
Actuallyglueingupthefuselageframeissimplicity itself:—
Istartedwiththewholethingassembleddry,minus diagonals,removedthefirewallvertical,gluedandreplacedit,thenmovedontoNo.12,didthesamebefore returningtodiagonalNo.13,andsoondownthe frame.
Thetwoframessoformedmaybeconveniently storedupsidedownonaflatsurface.
Itisimportanttonotethattherelativepositionsof verticals9DandIAaregovernedbythedimensionsof "theassembledwingspars•.ITthewinghasn'tbeen builtthenthedistancebetweenthesetwoverticalsmay beaccuratelysetusinguwingriborawingsection cutfromsomethinglikecheap9mm.ply.
2
Bath.Frame
PopularFlying,May-June,1975
Itisalsoimportanttorealisethatthecentre-section sparsarerthickertoaccommodatethemetalwing plates,thusthecentre-sectionribsare shorterbetweenthespars.
Thewingsectioncutfromplycouldbeveryuseful here,bothinsettingthefuselageframesandalsothe wingribjigs.
Atfirstsightthegapsbetween9/9Dandt/1Ashould bethesameasthethicknessofthemainandnearspars respectively.Iactuallybuiltmyfuselagejigwiththe mainsparinplace.Whenthetwofuselagesidesare curvedtoformaboxhowever,theinsideedgesofthe gapscloseupandtheouteronesopen,withtheresult thattheinsideedgeshavetobeshavedawayforthe sparstogothroughandthegapsattheouteredge filledwithaplywedge.Itwouldbeveryinterestingto seehowotherbuildershavegotaroundthisproblem.
Afterthebasicframeshavebeenbuiltthefuselage sidesaregivenaconvexsurfacebytheadditionof formers. (I believesomeflat-sidedversionshavebeen builtwithouttheseformers).
I cutalltheformersfrom4"solidsprucebut understandthatthisisnotnecessary—afarneater solutionIhaveseenonRitchieRarnon'smonoisto builduptheformers,withalighteningslot,from4" squarespruce.
Theformersshouldbegluedonoversizeandplaned downtosizeusingastraightedgeacrossthetopto ensurethattheplyskincancoverfrombottomtotop longeronstouchingalltheformersalltheway.
I dividedmyfuselageintofoursectionsforthis straightedgetest:—
fromthefirewalltothefrontmainsparvertical. fronttu/sverticaltoNo.10. No.10—No.IA.
1A-6A.
(Nom—thetailpiececan'tbeputinyet).
CoveringtheFuselageSides
Thefuselagesidesarecoveredinthreesections(4if only4'wideplyisavailable).
I.Firewall—>frontspar(2mm.).
Frontspar—>rearspar(2mm.). Rearspar—>tailpost (1• 5mm.).
Asplicewillberequiredinsection3if4'wideplyis used.ThissplicecanbepositionedoverformerNo.4.
Theplyisfirstcutroughlytoshapeleavingagood inchexcessedge.Thesheetcanthenbeheldinplace ontheframeworkbyanaircraftbradineachcorner, turntheframeworkoverandfromthe'inside'runa pencilalongtheformers.Whentheplyisremovedthe frameworkwillbedrawnontoit,readyforglueing. Leavethebradsintheplytoactaspositioningpins.
Thescarfforjoiningtheplysheetsatformers9D, I A, 4 shouldbecutbeforecoveringtheframes.
Adampspongeshouldberunlightlyovertheouter surfaceoftheplytoswellthefirstveneer,thismoisture shouldnotpenetratetotheworkingsurfaceasit cannotpenetratethetwolayersofglue.
Fixingtheplytotheframesisfairlyeasy,Iuseda triggerstaplertoclampdowntheplywhiletheglue dried.
Astheplydriesoutitwilltautenandthesidescurve alarminglythewrongway.Whentheframesare eventuallypulledtogethertoformthefuselagebox thiswillresultinatightplyskin.
Theplanscallforthecentresectiontobeleftuncovereduntilthefuselageisboxedupotherwisethe sideswon'tbowout.Asyet I haven'thadtocoverthis areabutitlooksatrickyjobduetothedouble curvatureatthispoint.
Boxing-uptheFuselageSides
Formingthefuselageintoaboxisbestdonewith thesideframesrestingupsidedownonthetop longeron. I drewtheplanviewofthefuselageontoa
PopularFlying,May-June,1975
jigboardandblockedintherequiredoutline.The blocksshouldnotgripthetoplongeronsatalltightly asthesidesmustslantintowardsthefloorlongerons, resultinginthemnotlyingabsolutelyflatonthejig board.
Theextremefrontandrearofthefuselageare positionedbythefirewallandthetailpostrespectively. Theseareclampedintotheirpositionsinthefuselage. Thefirewallitselfisveryeasilymade,beingasimple frameworkofspruceandash.Thetailpostmayrequireabitmorethought.Ontheplansitisshownas flat-sidedwhereitisgluedtotheskin,however,Ifound thatwiththefuselageboxedupandthetaildrawn together,therewassomeslackintheply.
Thiswasremovedbycuttinganewtailpostwith convexsides,bowingout+"fromstraightatthe centre.
Thetailpostisn'tquiteassimpleastheplansmay leadyoutobelieve—itmustbechamferedfromfront tobackbecauseofthefuselagewidthtaper,andthe lowerslotsforthelongeronsmustbecutataslantas thefuselagealsotapersindepth.
Tocompletethejigthedistancebetweenthebottom longeronsmustbedefinedand I didthiswithseparatorsatconvenientpointsalongtheframes.
Toensurerigidityofthestructure I fittedaspecial separatoratthemainsparposition.Thispreventedthe fuselageleaningto-oneside.
Oncethefuselagehasbeenfittedintothisjig,ajob requiringmuchpatienceandcare,thecross-members ofthefuselagemaybecuttofitandgluedinat leisure(notforgettingthefirewallandtailpost).
Asthejigisdismantledtheresultingaeroplane-like boxisverysatisfyingtosee,and I defyanybodyto resistsittinginit!
Anoteonbringingthetailendsofthefuselage framestogether:Ittookmetwodaysandliberal applicationsofhot,wetragstopersuadetheframesto bend—therisksincurredbyhurryingaretoogreatto take.
Ididthefinalassemblyofthefuselageboxwiththe mainsparinposition(dry)asanaidtothealignmentof thestructure.
Theplansshowadoubleronthetoplongeron,from theseatbulkheadforward.Thisdoubleriseasytofit butitshouldbefittedaftertherearsurfaceofthefirewallhasbeencovered,otherwiseitbecomesnearly impossibletoget tht plyontothefirewall.
Thefirewallrearfaceisactuallyshownuncovered ontheplansbuttheotherTaylorMono I amwatching closely(RitchieRamons)hasthiscovered,andit seemedagoodidea,soonitwent.
,SPEnIDER4nrnSuffeitnnifFganalORK:-Dat
3
_ eo.aSpecialFuselageSpreader
JohnBeeswax's VINTAGE NEWS
Re-cyclinganotherMiles
Thehistoryofavintageaeroplanecanoftenbe likenedtoawaveformprofileinthatitsuseand conditionriseswitheachnewownerandslowly declineswiththepassingyearsuntilitfindsanother ownerandthecycleisrepeated.Suchanaeroplane, nowreachinganothercrestinitslife-cyclefollowinga longishrestperiod,startedlifewithamaidenflightin January,1939atWoodleyAerodrome,Berkshire. HereatthehomeofMilesAircraft,theprototype MilesM18tooktotheaironthathazywintermorningandpresentednoproblemsforitscautioustest pilot.Afterthetestflyingprogramwascompletedthe machinewasreadilyacceptedbytheRoyalAirForce andassignedtocommunicationdutieswiththeserial numberU-0224.Formostofthewaritwasbasedat Hullavingtonbutin1944themachinewasreturnedto Woodleytobestored,bywhichtimeithadacquired theserialnumberHM-545andwasreadyforarest afternearlyfiveyearsofwartimehandling.Thusended itsfirstlifecycle.
Perhapsnowwecanhavealookatthismost attractivesingleenginedmonoplanethoroughbred fromtheMilesstableofpre-warsportandracing aircraft.Twotandemopencockpitssurmounta gracefullystreamlinedfuselagetaperingtoaslim metalfairingaftofthefinandrudder.Thewingsare ofthefamiliarMilesdesignbutwithrathermore squareoutlineatthetips,givingastockyappearance offsetbythebeautifully-spatted,fixedundercarriage. WithpowersuppliedbyaGipsyMajor3enginegiving atopspeed of 136m.p.h.theaircraftdemonstratesall thedesignadvantagesgainedfromexperienceonthe earlierHawkserieswhichculminatedintheMiles MI4AHawkTrainer,familiarlyknownintheR.A.F. astheMagisterabinitiotrainer.
Theracingbackgroundofthishithertolittleknown typewasnotlostonacertainP/0BrianIleswho purchasedtheMI8fromtheMinistryofDefencein 1946andregistereditasG-AHKY.Thisownership cyclewastolastfortwenty-fouryears.Theaircraft
wasrefurbishedandfittedwithalongrangefueltank locatedinthefrontcockpit.Duringthenextdecade BrianflesflewhisuniqueMilesMI8alloverEurope andenteredthe'RoundBritainRace'in1951.The longestseriesofflightswastoSouthAfricabywayof Egypt,theSudan,andRhodesia.Whenitslong-range touringdayswereover,Brian,bynowaWingCommanderintheR.A.E.,groomedtheM18foritsracing role.Allunnecessaryequipmentwasremovedandits newpaintschemepolishedtoamirrorfinish.Atthis timethemachinewasbasedatElstree,whereBrian andhiswifespentmanyeveningsworkingonGAFIKYinpreparationforparticularevents.Themost successfulyearwas1961whenWg.Cdr.Ileswonthe King'sCupAirRaceofthatyear,andwashighly placedinthe'Goodyear'and'Osram'races.
Gradually,Servicedutiesandfamilyresponsibilities tookprecedenceoverthesportflyingandG-AHKY wasstoredatRedhilluntil1970whenitwassoldto RexCoates,whoisthepresentowner.
TheairframewasremovedtoLondonAirport, whereMr.CoatesworksasaBritishAirwaysengineer. Overthepastfouryearstheaircrafthashadacompleteoverhaulandisnowresplendentinapredominatelyglosswhitecolourschemewithblack undersurfaces.PresentlybasedatWhiteWaltham airfield,theMI8isonceagainundergoingatestflight priortothere-issueofaCertificateofAirworthiness. AfterallofthelongdistanceflightsitisbackinBerkshire,onlyafewmilesfromwhereitwasbuiltin1938, andstartingoutonanewlife-cycle.
TheMilesMI8prototypeduringitsHeathrowdays.OwnerandrebuilderRexCoates(seenin rearcockpit)runningtheGipsyMajorenginesanscowlingandspinnerduringanenginetest.
4 PopularFlying,May-June,1975
(Photo:courtesyR.E.Coates)
KtzWirt W Pte:Vilk
Snowballsuccessstarttothe1975Calendar
SparklingclearJanuaryweatherproducedan ebullientturn-outoftwenty-twoaircraftatthe VintageClub'sSnowballRallyheldatFinmerein peacefulBuckinghamshire,andmuchusefulairtoair photographywascarriedoutbytheClub'spublicity officerStuartHowefromthebackseatofavintage Cub.Oneofthenewcomerstothevintagescenewas R.Williswithhisrecently-restoredDewotineD-26 fighter.BuiltfortheSwissAirforcein1927,theaircraftwasoriginallypoweredbya260h.p.Hispano Wright radialbutwaslaterfittedwiththe300h.p. Jacobsengine.Certainlyitwasdeceptivelyfastbut hasagentlelandingspeedof60m.p.h.Conspicuous amongsttheMothswastheimmaculateG-AELODH. 8711.HornetMothofDr.fanHaywhosebidfbrthe concoursprizesthisyearlooksassured.
OnceagainBeeswaxfearlesslystickshisneckoutto bringyoutherestofthe1975Calendarknowingfull wellthatdatesandplacesmaywellbechangedat shortnoticeduetounforeseencircumstances.
May10-12:BostonFly-in.
June29:OldWarden.VintageClubday.
July19-20:Cross-channelpatrol.
Aug.23-24:SummerCamp,Finmere.
Oct.19:SpotLandingFinals,OldWarden.
Nov.22:DinnerDance.
Vintageversusthetiomebuilt
Imagineifyouwill,ametalframevintageaeroplane completelystrippeddowntoitslastnutandbolt, eachmetalcomponenthavingbeenthoroughlysandblasted,carefullyinspected,andlovinglycoatedwith anetch-primer/chromatefinish.Allowyourmindto pictureallofthesecomponentsneatlystackedand labelled in aclean,well-litworkshopwaitingforfinal assembly.Waitingforthatdaythatallvintageaircraft rebuildersdreamof,thedaywhenthestrippingand cleaningisfinished,thedaywhentheirbelovedaeroplanewilltakeshapeagainintheirownhandsjustlike abig"meccano'model.Nocomplications,aplacefor everythingandeverythinginitsplace!
Thisgratifyingstateofaffairscanbeoneofthe advantagesthatderivefrom the restorationofa vintageaeroplaneconfidedStuartMcKaywhois rebuildingtwo D.H. TigerMothsthatherecently purchasedinFrance.HavingalsobuiltaJodelD92 BebeG-AVPD,Stuartisnostrangertolightaeroplane engineeringandsowesetouttogethisideasandviews basedonhisuniqueexperienceofbothhomebuilding properandvintagerebuilding,hopingthathisadvice
willbehelpfultothosereaderswhoareconfronted withthechoicebetweenmakinganewaircraftfrom scratchorrestoringanoldone.Basicallythereisa lotlessworkinrebuildingavintageaeroplanebutit canbetoughdecidingjusthowfartogoduringthe dismantlingstage,especiallywithall-woodairframes. Ifyougoalltheway,explainedStuart,obtainingspare partscanbehardgoingandmanyhavetobefabricated. At thisstagethehome-builtiseasier,withall newpartsgoingtogethereasily,thecomponentstake shapewithsatisfactoryspeed.Withanewaeroplane, however,thefinalassemblycanbeatediousprocess plaguedbyproblemsofcontrolruns,fuellinesand instrumentcableruns,allofwhichcancauseannoying delayswhiletheoldermachinejustclicksbackinto place,presentingfewcomplications.Inthefinal analysis,theworkshopspaceavailableseemstobe thedecidingfactor,forgenerally,thevintageaeroplane takesupmorespaceduringitsrebuildthanthehomebuiltdesignedspecificallyforconstructioninrelatively -onfinedspaces.
VOLKSWAGEN AIRCRAFTENGINEPLANS forAmateurConstructors
30sq.ft.ofdrawingsandaI5,000-wordmanual providedesignsandinformationenablingonetoconvert anyV.W.engineupto1600ccs.Fullyapprovedfor amateur-builtaircraft,theseplansareofferedwithlifetimefreeadviceforonly£6.00postpaid.
DonaldG.Peacock, MeadowCottage,Ardle:ghHeath,Colchester,C077QB Tel.Colchester230446
TheDeirotineD-26fighterconiesintolandatFininereduringtheVintageSnowballRally. OwnedandflownhyR.Willis.
ii
(Photo:courtesyS.Howe)
PopularFlying,May-June,1975 5
RobinOwen's STRUT NEWS
Wecommencethisissuewithahappynotefromthe AndoverStrut.InconjunctionwiththcSolentStrut. themembershavepurchasedtwenty-oneacresof woodlandfromwhichtheyplantocreateanAir SportsCentre.
AndoverStrut OFTHEPOPULARFLYINGASSOCIATION
JimEspinremarks,"Somepeoplebuyabitofwood andstartmakinganaeroplane.Well,wehavebought alotofwoodandhavestartedtomakeanAirSports Centre-.Ishouldthinkthatthiswinter'srainhas swelleditsomewhat.TheimentionisthattheCentre willprovidealandingarea,constructionaccommodation,hangarageandcontinuationtrainingfacilities, aswellasavenueforphotographers,artistsand enthusiasts.
ToquoteJimagain:--
OurOBJECTistoenablemantorealisehisoldest ambition,theambitiontoFlythroughtheAironhis ownhome-builtwings,bytheprovisionofthe following:—
I.ALandingAreawhereownersofLightAircraft willbewelcome.ParticularlyVintageandUltralight.
ASiteatapricehome-builderscanafford,forthe finalassemblyandtestingofUltra-lightAircraft. ProvisionofasitefortheselfbuildingofAircraft accommodationbyAircraftowners(toan approveddesign).
TheencouragementofAircraftMaintenanceby privateowners.
ToenablepilotswhohavetrainedatLicenced Airfieldstocontinueflying.
EstablishaventleforAviationArtists,PhotographersandRegi.Spotters.
ToEducateourChildrenontheHistoryof Aviation.
ToplayourpartintherevivaloftheLight AviationSkillsinwhichBritainonceledthe World.
Maywewishthemeverysuccessintheconstructionofsuchanambitiousproject
TheAndover/SolentStrutintendtoholdarallyin September,itishoped,atMiddleWallop.
Inthefrozennorth,theNorthEasternStruthasheen winningsonielocalpublicity,andFredHodgsonreportsinhisnewsletterthattheirflyingdoctorfrom Throckely,whoremainsanonymous,hasstarrednot onlyinthelocalnewspapers,butalsoonlocalradio. ***Don'tforgettheNorthEasternfly-inat BruntonAirfieldinNorthumberlandonthe2Istand 22ndofJune.Thispromisestobeaverygoodweekend.
LastAnglianStrutmembershaveseveralprojects underway,suchasTaylorTitchesandMonos,a JodelandaPL4.GerryEllisisworkingonareconstructionofadamagedJodel.fromwhichaFalconer F.IIwillemerge.
Arecentresultoftheincreaseinthepriceofpetrol istheformationofanewStrutintheEastAnglian area,namelytheChelmsfordStrut.TheCo-ordinator isBrianSims,92HamptonGardens,Prittlewell. Essex.
TheStrutmeetingsareheldatRainsfordRoad
School,Chelmsford,onthefirstWednesdayofevery month.Thereare22membersandamongstthe finishedorwell-advancedprojectsarethefollowing: ChrisLodge'sTaylorMonoplane,G.Jones'sfsaacs Fury,T.Morrell'sFredandS.Picknell&B.Sims's Sonerai.
TheStruthasplannedtwofly-insfor1975.Thefirs( willbeonMay4thandthesecondwillbeonSeptember7th,atHazeleighGrange.Furtherdetailsofthe strutmaybeobtainedfromBrianSims.
ioR 7 ?)/ST
AlanHyatthasreluctantlyhandedovertheNorth KentStruttoMickTurner,48bChesterWay,Kennington,London,S.E.11.
Alan'sfinalnewslettermentionsafleetofLuton MinorsinKent.DavidGaskin'sV.W.-powered machineshouldflysoontojointhoseofLesFlepper andBillHymas.FrankTilleyhasbeenbuildingone fortenyearsnow,andChairmanJimWraightbought aMinicabearlierthisyear.
TheStrutmeetsthisyearon4thJune,6thAugust. IstOctoberand3rdDecember,andalsointendsto holdarallythisyear,thedateandvenueofwhichwill beannounced.Unfortunately,theyhadverybad weatherfortheirtwoattemptsin1974,solet'shope thattheweatherin1975willbesunnywithlight winds.
NORTHWESTERNSTRUT OFTHEPOPULARFLYINGASSOCIATION
TheNorthWesternStrut,withitscustomaryseven pagenewsletter,hasreportsfromitsvariousareas. Thisstrutcoversaverylargegeographicalareaand most of theflyingappearstohefroniprivatestrips. theonlyaerodromesintheregionbeingBartonand Sleap.
MartinBourneclearstheairwithInsreporton SleapandthismayinterestP.F.A.flyers.Non-radio aircraftareverywelcomeafter1700hrs.onweekday summereveningsandalldaySaturdayandSunday. Tel.WEM32822fordetails.
UnfortunatelySleapmustnowchargealandingfee —asumwhichisnowalmostuniversal.
Martinreportsthatacollectionofhome-builtsin one oftheirairdisplayswouldbeverywelcome.Perhapshecould supply headofficewithadate?
StrutmemberDavidDunnisanarchitectandconsequentlyinchargeofconstructingastrutstand.This isnotonlyanexcellentway or showingoffastrutto themembers,butalsoameansofattractingnew members,especiallyatafunctionsuchasSywell.
TheSouthernStruthasappointedGerryPriceasits P.FA.Wingsawardexaminer.Hisfirstcandidate, PopularHying,MayJune,1975
6
r,
whowassuccessfulIhastentoadd,wasJenny Pothecary.Thereareadditionalcandidateswaitingto takethewritten,oralandflyingtests.
AnewCo-ordinatorhasbeenappointedforthe Heston/HanworthStrut.InFebruaryJohnDunford gaveuphispositiontoDavidLiveseyof12Kenwood Drive,Walton-on-Thames,Surrey.
Similarly,theRedhillStrutisnowrunbyMike Hallam,Birches,Rusper,Sussex.Themeetingsare heldasusualintheTigerClubatRedhillAerodrome onthesecondFridayofeverymonth.
TheStrutisRainingstrengthafteraquietspellin 1974.
DonLeeandAlistairSutherlandmeetregularlyin theHighlandsconstitutingwhatmustsurelybethe smallestP.F.A.Strut.Donwouldbeverypleasedto co-ordinateanyfurthercontactsinthearea.His addressisc/oGeorgeWimpey&Co.Ltd.,Nigg, Tain,Ross-shire.
TheremustbesomepotentialP.F.A.strutmembers intheHighlandsandIslandsofScotlandandhereis theopportunityfortheformationofaHighlandsStrut.
BERKSHIRESTRUT
AbriefnewsletterfromtheBerkshireStrutannouncestheStrut'sthirdanniversary.Theopportunity wastakenatarecentmeetingtohaveare-appraisalof therunningoftheStrut.
TheEastMidlandsStrutnowhasatotalof43 regularlyattendingmembers.AmongStrutactivities thisyearistheweekendrallyonMay10-11.Strut membersarealsotobecoursejudgesattheFormula OneAirRacetobeheldatSywell1975.
TherearestilllargegapsintheP.EA.StrutMap oftheUnitedKingdom,themostconspicuousblank spacesbeinginthewesternhalfofthecountry.The onlyStrutintheareafromtheSouth-Westpeninsula totheWestMidlandsistheSouthWalesStrut,which iscentredonCardiff.Thisbringsmetopointoutthat ahusbandandwifeteamarekeentofoundaStrutin theGloucesterandCheltenhamarea.Although findingasuitablevenueforthemeetingshasbeena problem.IfanyP.F.A.memberswouldliketoseethe formationofaStrutinthearea,pleasewouldthey writetomec/oHeadofficesuggestingsuitablemeeting placesandpossibletimes.
YourStrutreportsandnewslettersaremostwelcome,especiallyfromthefollowingStruts,Fromwhich Ihavenonewsandcanonlyassumetobenolonger inexistence:Irish,andtheRomfordinterplaneStrut oftheEastAnglianStrut.
MembersinSouthernScotlandwhoareinterested informingaStrutintheEdinburghareaareaskedto contactHughMcGovern,27BroomehallPlace,Edinburgh.
MikeColesoftheWesternStrutinformsmethata StrutmeetingwilltakeplaceattheAchillesSchoolof Flying,Weston-super-MareonSaturdayafternoon, May24th.HecanbecontactedatLulsgate2052and allmembersintheareaareinvitedtothismeeting.
STRUTRALLYANDFLY-INCALENDAR
Someoftheseeventsareheldonprivateairfields andstrips.Priorpermissiontoflyintotheseevents canbeobtainedfromtheco-ordinatoroftheStrut
PopularFlying,May-June,1975
concernedbyenclosingastamped,addressedenvelope, orbytelephoningthenumberquotedforP.P.O.EnquiriesregardingP.F.A.participationeventsshould beaddressedtoHeadOffice.
MAY
4IpswichStrut Monewden
Tel.Mr.J.Wright,Charstield223. ChelmsfordStrut Andrewsfield
1041EastMidlandsStrut Hucknall
16-18P.FA.Participation BigginHill
9 6SouthernStrut Shoreham
JUNE
1WoldsGlidingClub Elvington P.E.A.Participationwelcome.
14-15IpswichStrutFly-in&Soc.EveningNayland Tel.Mr.T.Clark,Nayland262232or262298
21-22N.EasternStrutBrunton,Northumberland
28-29EAASImperialWarMuseum Duxford Tel.Sawston3963
has
4-6Sywell'75 Sywell
AUGUST
3NorthWesternStrut Barton
3fpswichStrut Nayland Tel.Mr.R.Teverson,Sudbury73975.
9-17SouthernStrutSummerCampE.Anglia
25AvonAirDay Weston-super-Mare P.F.A.Participation.
31WestYorkshirePassengerTransport Executive CrosslandMoor
SEPTEMBER
4-6 P.F.A.Participation(possible) Cranfield
7ChelmsfordStrut ElazeleighGrange
7IpswichStrut BelchampWalter
Tel.Mr.R.Teverson,Sudbury73975
21Solent/Andover(Provisional)MiddleWallop
FLYINGFORFUNfromAtoZ
Altimeters,ASIs,AGS,Adhesives,Alternators. Betas,Brakes,Bolts,Batteries,Baffles,Brackets,Bushes. Condors,Carburettors.Cables,CylinderTempKits,Controls. Crankshafts,Canopies,Cowlings,Cylinders,Compasses_ Dope,Drives,Ducting,DrainValves.
Engines(Continental,Gypsy,Lamoming,Ardem),Extinguishers,ExhaustPipes. Filters,FuelCocks,FuelPumps,Fittings,FlyingWires,Fabric,Fork Ends.Fasteners. Generators,GMeters,Gyros,Glue,Grommets,Gaskets,Gauges. Harness,Hinges,HomebuildersService Instruments,InvertedSystems.InformationPackages,Inspection PanelsJodels,JubileeClips.Jets.
KitsforVWconversionsandCylinderTemperature. Leads,LogBooks,LandingLights. Magnetos,Manuals,MasterCylinders,MixtureControls. NavigaiionLights,Nameplates.Notices,Nuts,Needles. OilPressure,OilTemperatureGauges,0Rings.
Plans,Propellors,Plugs,Plywood,Pins,PilotHeads.Plebl Pulleys,Pistons.
QuickReleaseFasteners.
RevCounters,RateofClimbIndicators,RodEnds,Rings,Racing specialists. Stampes,SmokeSystems,Starters,Shackles,Spruce,Spinners, Switches,Spats,Screws.
Tigers,Turbulents,Tyres,Tubes,TornbuckRs,Tailwheels,Tanks. Tape,TowingHooks.
Undercarriages.
VoltageRegulators,Ventilators,VacuumIttupps,Valves. Wheels,Wires,NVindscreens.
XeroxCopyingSertics. Yourenquiriesarealwayswelcome. ternhourengineoverhauls.
Andwith', cullor visit ROLLASONAIRCRAFTANDENGINESLIMITED BRIGHTON,HOVE&WORTHINGJOINTMUNIC.AIRPORT, SHOREHAM-BY-SEA.SUSSEX,BN45E3
Telephone,Shoreham-by-Sea(Sussex)62680
7
**TP Projects
SlightlymoreProjectNewsthistime--mainlyaresult ofincreasedcontributionsfromyou.ItisalsoveryencourayLngtonotearevivalofactivityaroundsomeof theolder-establishedaeroplanesandprojects.Weare currentlypreparingathoroughreprintofthePFA Constructors'List--aconsiderablenumberofchanges havetakenplacesincetheoriginallistappeared,andin orderthatwemaymaketherevisededitionasaccurate andcomprehensiveaspossibleweneedyourhelp! Pleasesendanycontributionsassoonaspossibletothe MagazineEditorsatthePEAOffice,ortomedirectat "Langstone",Riseley,Swallowlield,Berks.
IanBurnett
PFA/229 OneofthetwooldestsurvisingPFAaeroplanes,andoneofthreeTurbisintheU.K.isGAPBO.Thiswasbuiltinthelate1950sasaD.53by theRutherelenFlyingGroup,andfirsttooktotheair on22-7-60.Afterlengthyperiodsofinactivityinthe 196(lsatStrathavenandelsewhere,itwasWFUin December1968,butrestoredsoonafterwardstoF.E. Rocheandpartners_Forthelastfewyearsithasbeen undergoingaleisurelyrebuildintheLoganairhangar atGlasgowAirport,andwaswellonthewaytowards completionwhenlastseenbythewriterlastautumn. fthasnowbeenboughtby J. M.RosseroftheUsworth FlyingGroup—towhomitwasregisteredon13-1-75. Itwillcertainlybeaworthyadditiontothealready thrivingcollectionofultralightaeroplanesatSunderland.
251 Youwillhaveseentheinterestingletterfrom AlanMitchellintheJan./Feb.PFregardinghisTurbi projectinWesternAustralia.Accordingtoour recordsseveralPFAnumberswereallocatedto ULAAATurbiprojects(251,andtheblock265-275) soAlan'saeroplanewasundoubtedlyone of these. 509 IanJennison'sTurbulentG-APUYwasalso registeredtotwomoreco-ownerson30-12-74-namelyStephenConnatty(whoalsoownsthepre-War MinorG-AFIU)andD.B.Winstanley.Atpresentthe TurblivesintheWorcestershireGlidingClubhangar atBickmarsh,hutmaymoveNorthlaterthisyear, probablytoBarton.Ianiscurrentlyworkingonthe rebuildofAeronca7ECChampionG-AVDU(the versionwiththeC-90F)whichheacquiredlastyear, andalsotellsusthatTonyEastelow'sWotG-AVEY andtheTurNG-APFAareduetomovedownto BickmarshsoonfromHalfpennyGreen--totake advantageofthefriendlyatmosphere(ANDcheaper hangarage!).WhileonthesubjectofBickmarshwe mustmentiontheexistencelocallyofaSlingsby Tutor/Cadetwithanauxiliaryengine—thishasbeen aroundforsometimeandhasnotqualifiedfora normalregistrationbyvirtueofitsbeinga"selfsustainingsailplane-asopposedtoa"self-launching" variety!Itiscurrentlyrecoveringfromaslight accidentlastyear.
510 InPFMarch/April1973wetoldtheamusing storyfromOliverSmithofthatTurbulentG-AR1M intheatticinDurham.Therenowappearsasequelto thatunlikelytale--themachinehasnowbeenacquired bytheinveteratecollectorofanythingunusual (aeronautical,thatis..!)—LaurieMansfield!We
understandthathecamebyitfromagentlemanin Harpenden—sowepresumeitmusthavepassedon fromitsoriginalbuilder,Mr.Schima.Thereisalso thepossibility'thatitdidIlysomeyearsago(presumablywithoutapermit),somorenews;iseagerly awaited!
700 SolehomebuiltEmeraudethingintheU.K.is G-ARLIV(thoughitwillsoonbejoinedbvAlex Fisher'sG-I3CCRyFortherecorditsco-ownersare nowC.A.Huxtable,T.VArmstrongandJ.A.Pope --towhomitwasregisteredon13-1-75.Asfaraswe knowitstilllivesatRAFWoodvale,Lanes.
843 AsaresultorseveraladvertisementsinPF (whichprovesthevalueofsuchactivity...).S. KnighthasnowsoldhisLutonMinorprojectGBBEAtoMessrs.GJ.HewittandJ.B.Stocksof Peterborough.Atthetimeofsaleweunderstanditwas 90%complete,soitshouldnotbgvervlongbeforewe seeitintheair
1321 TheRegGladstone-builtFalconerF.9GAYEGhaspassedintotheownershipofA.G.Thelwall,andremainsresidentonthestripatHighwood Hall,HemelHempstead.
1346 RecentlyfeaturedonregionalTVandcurrently undergoingastrictdevelopmentprogrammeatHurn isDavidLockspeiser'sLandDevelopmentAircraft LDA01G-AVOR.OriginallyconceivedasaPFA projectwearehappytolearnthatasecondprototype isunderwayandthatoverseassales/productionofthe typeinunderdevelopedareasisbeingactivelypursued.
1362 MarkingapossiblerenewalofSpriteactivity wecometothefirstofthreeSpriteprojectsmentioned thistime—thisisG.B.Castle'smachinewhichisnow registeredG-BCVFwithMr.Castle'sownc/n GBC.1.
1366 SecondSpriteinthenewsisPFA/1366now registeredasG-BCWHtoK.B.ParkinsonandR. TaskerofBlackpool.Atthetimeofourlastreporton thisprojectthebuildersconfidentlyexpectedthisto bethefirstorthebreedtofly—andtherecentregistrationappearstoconfirmtheirprogress.
1373 TonyFrancisverykindlysentusareporton progresswithhisIsaacsFuryG-AYJY.Hewrites— "Theairframeisnowcompleteandcovered—Ihave finisheditwithRAFNo.1Squadronmarkings.The engMeisanewRRContinentalC-90-12F,andis completewithstarterandgenerator,andIhave includedanelectricalsystemsupplyingtheTM.360 radioandartificialhorizon.Thelastremainingjobis tocompletethecoolingbafflesandcowlingswhich aretobeinglassfibre.OtherFurybuildersmightlike tonoteIhaveincreasedthefueltankcapacityto20 gallons,andtheengineisslightlyfurtherbackthanon theprototypewhichhelpswitbbalancingtheextra fuel.Iwillalsobefittingstreamline wires".
1393 DavidBuckle'sCavalierG-AZHHwasoriginallyintendedforaF/Fin1972,butwaspostponedin hisownwords"duetocircumstancesbeyondour control!".The"Ceconite"coverandpolyurethane paintjobwillbecompleteattimeofwriting(March, '75)—aimingforafirstflightbythesummer,which incidentallywillbethefirstofthetypeintheU.K. Themachineisnow-christened-Time-andisthe subjectofafuturearticleinPFentitledappropriately - TimeFlies".
8 Popaku-FlyingNla_y-iunc,1975
1543B.J.Boughtonkindlyfilledinafewmore detailsontheVP.IprojectnowregisteredG-BCTT. Theaeroplaneisbeingconstructedbyfourmembers oftheFersfieldFlyingGroup,theprojectbeingrevivedrecentlyafteraspell,andworkonthewoodwork isnow807/,',complete.Hehesitatestomakeanypredictionsaboutdatesforcompletion—astheyareall "busymen"(aren'tweall!)--but1975willknocka bigholeintheremainingwork.
20-1-75.ItishappilybeingrebuiltbyB.0.Smithat Scarborough,Yorks.
G-AVKHDetailshavenowemergedregardingthe demiseofG-AVKH—lesshappilyitcrashedatNewbyGrangeFarm,Yorkson26-10-74andwasburnt out.
G-AVTBForsometimeresidentnearitsbirthplace atSuttonBank,theSlingsby-builtNipperG-AVTB hasmorerecentlylivedatSpeke,andon27-1-75was registeredtoitsnewownerJ.S.A.Pritchardof Coventry.
G-AWLSNeilMunro'sOxford-basedNipperhas recentlypassedtoRoyWilksandW.Wells,andwill nodoubtliveinEssex.
OtherAircraft
1580NormanCrow'sVP.1G-BAPPisnowresident incompanywithallthoseBuccaneersatRAFHoningtonandfliesquiteregularly.
1593Themuch-travelledGreatLakesG-BBGLhas passedonyetagain.Thistimeithasbeenacquiredby JohnRamshawfromBenCooperinanexchangedeal involvingacertainex-FrenchPiperVagabond!Atthe lastknownstagetheGreatLakeswasvirtuallycomplete.
1578WehavereceivednewsofthisVP-1project beingundertakenbyJ.Wingett—hestartedworkin Dunstablein1972,buttheprojecthadtobeshelved duetopressureofworkandlackofspace.Work recommenced,however,inExeterlastDecember,and currentstageisfuselage90V„complete,tailplane completelesscovering,VW1500reworkedtoDon Peacockstandardexceptingcarburettorandhead drillings.Allotherbitsandpiecesexceptwheelaxles aretohand,andprojectedF/Fislatethisyear.
1621TheTurbulentisundoubtedlyundergoing somewhatofarevivaloflate,andthemostrecent exampletoemergeisPFA/1621whichwasofficially registeredtoR.A.G.ChapmanofHorley,Surrey,in FebruaryasG-BCRC.Weknowverylittleofthis project,havingitlistedagainstaMr.DuPlessis— presumablyitwaspassedontoMr.Chapmansome timeago.Inanycase,"RomeoCharlie"willbeavery welcomeadditiontotheranks.
1647TheBygraves-builtTurbG-AWBMchanged handslastDecemberandnowlivesatSibsoninthe handsofW.B.GunnandW.B.Paige.
2206OliverSmithasksustocorrectourstatement intheSept./Oct.PFthathisSiroccowasphotographed atUsworth—thelocationwasinfactTees-sideAirport fromwhereitalsomadeitsF/F.Oliveralsotellsus thatG-AZOSiscurrentlyunderrepairfollowinga heavylanding,butshouldbebackintheairintime Forthesummerseason.
05-10032MalcolmBeckinghaminformsusthatprogressonhisPractaviaSpriteprojecthasbeenpainfully slowoverthepasttwelvemonths—evenso,several detailpartshavebeenmadeincludingallwingribs, flapandaileronriblets,tailplane,elevatorandrudder ribs.Assoonasfinanceallows,assemblyofmainspar andwingswillcommence.Malcolmisnotalonein expressingconcernoverdifficultyinobtaininginformationfromPractavia,buildingwouldbemadealot easierifthelinesofcommunicationfunctioned properly(Practaviapleasenote...).
NipperNews
G-ARBGTheoriginalABAC-sponsoredmachine
G-ARBGwasofficiallyrestoredtotheregisteron
G-ASEALutonMinorMentionedintheMarch/ April'74PF,thePhoenixLutonMinorG-ASEA (PAL/1154)hasbeenstoredonthedisusedairfield nearStratford-upon-Avonforthelastfewyearsby Messrs.SmithandFawkes—untilitwasrescuedlate lastyearbyLaurieMansfield(seephotointheJan/ Feb.PF)andtakentoShorehamforresurrection.At thetimeofwritingitisatShorehambeingreadiedfor itsfirstflightforsixyears.(Itmadeit...veryslowly).
G-AFWTTipsyTrainerTipsyG-AFWThasbeen storedatOldWardenforsometimeundertheownershipofA.ThelwallandPeterHarris.Itchangedhands on16-12-74,however,itsnewownerbeingoneN.M. Williams.Wehopethisisanindicationofrebuilding activity,asthoseofyouwithmemoriesforsuchthings willrecallthat'FWTwasafamiliarsightinthe50's andearly60'satElstreeandlaterBooker.Itsmain claimtofamewasitsratherungainlysquarecockpit canopy—farremovedfromthemorestreamlined shapeoftheBelfair.
G-AFJRTipsyBelfairOriginallyconstructedasa TipsyTrainerIin1938atHanworthG-AFJRwas convertedtoBelfairstandardin1957.Forthelastfew yearsithasbeenstoredatJenkinsFarm,Navestock byR.M.Long,untilacquiredlatelastyearby(yes, you'veguessedit!)LaurieMansfield.Ithasnowbeen completelystrippeddownandisintheprocessof "dryingout"priortorebuilding.Thisisscheduledto takearoundtwoyears,duringthecourseofwhicha newenginewillbefitted,andsomedesignrefinements willbecarriedout.
G-APODTipsyBelfairThirdTipsythistimeis G-APOD,whichisnowownedbyRonMillerof Chiswick—long-timePFAmemberandafounder memberoftheVintageGroup.Heisfinishingoffa completerebuildwhichshouldbecompletelaterthis year.
G-BCVEVP-2G.A.BentleyofManchesterrecently registeredhisEvansVP-2projectasG-BCVE.Attime ofwritingwedonothaveaPFAnumberforthe project,butwearesureonewillemergeinduecourse. fthasthec/nV2-1015.
G-BCXDPittsS-24ThelatesttoarriveisG-BCXD whichwillbeputtogetherbyDoug'smerrymenat Booker.
Gyrpolanes
Onlyitemtoreportthistimeishappilyoneaddition tothemuchdepletedGyroscene—thisisBensen B.8MG-BCWI(c/nHB.1)registeredtoW.H. BeeversofPocklington.Yorks,inFebruary.
NewProjects
14-10084BedeBD-5B—RT.Smith,59AbbeyRoad, Bourne,Lincolnshire.
14-10085BedeBD-5B—NSawney,DesboroughAve., HighWycombe,Bucks.
37-10086BedeBD-4—F.E.Telling,86Telegraph Lane,Claygate,Surrey.
NormanCrow'sVP.I,G-BAPPatSyweil'74 Photo:R.Andrews
PopularFlying,May-June,1975 9
14-10087BedeBD-5A--G. L.Birch,WolvertonHouse. 14WolvertonRoad,Dudley.Worcs.
18-10088CootAmphibian—P. M.Napp.23Harriet Drive,KillingworthStn.,Newcastle. 02-10089Beta—R. J.Jennings,TheRedLionInn, Gilmorton,Lutterworth,Leics.
38-10090BA.4B—S. Russell,WilkiestonPeat Inn. Cupar,Fife.
11-10091IsaacsFury—D. B.Wilson,ThistleCon.Co., Glenisha,RuedelaYaleuse,St.BreladesBay,C.I.
14-10092BedeBD-5B—Miss H.Wheeler,29A ElizabethStreet,London,S.W.1.
14-10093BedeBD-5B—K. E.Ware,SedcoLtd., CraigshawRoad,Aberdeen,Scotland.
10-10094BabyGreatLakes—J. Pothecary,Redwings, HeronsFarm,Kirdford,Sussex.
26-10095HurricaneRep.—E. Shouler,116Portland Street,Lincoln.
26-10096HurricaneRep.—Mr. Ashford.
15-10097Sonerai—T. J.Hughes,341GreenLane, SevenKings,Ilford,Essex.
14-10098BedeBD-5--K. E.Armstrong,14Lancaster
Close,Oldhurst,Hunts.
39-10099LutonDuet—I. S.Walsh,2MapletonCres., Enfield,Middlesex.
11-10100IsaacsFuryII—D. E.Starkcy,4Middle
Close,Amersham-on-the-Hill,Bucks.
31-10101WittmanTailwind—M. S.Perkins,"Kinswell',41ButtLane,Hinckley,Leks.
34-10102CassuttRacer—B. Smith,2DoodsPlace, DoodsRoad,Reigate,Surrey.
40-10103FalconairF.10—J. Cockburn,ValleyView, Burneruinack,Gostly,Aberdeenshire.
01-10104Cavalier—N. R.Turner,32WentloogRoad, Rumney,Cardiff.
33-10105Tourbillion—P. Gladstone,46Laneham Close,Bessaccar,Yorks.
41-10106WhittakerSpecial—M. Whittaker,TreswithickFarm,BodminAirfield,Cornwall.
1459TaylorMonoplane—R. A.Codling,9Arran Close,BadgerEstate,Thornby-on-Tees,Cleveland.
1460TaylorMonoplane—T. R.Barron,17Maple Avenue,Heybridge,Malden,Essex.
1461TaylorMonoplane—P. W.G.Eade,5Edgewood Court,HillBrow,Liss,Hants.
1462TaylorMonoplane—J. Skinner,84RobinHood Lane,Chatham,Kent.
1463TaylorMonoplane—J. Simpson,3BrechinRoad, Bishopbriggs,Glasgow.
1464TaylorMonoplane—D. J.Walcroft,11Brimmers Hill,WidmerEnd,HughWycombe,Bucks.
1822Minicab—C. A.T.Periera,17HollandPark Gardens,London,W.I4.
1823Minicab—Dr. R.G.White,1NurseryRoad, BitternePark,Southampton.
1824Minicab—A. S.Jones,95BentLanes,Davyhulme,Manchester.
3230TaylorTitch—R. S.Acton,16Flt.,A.A.C. Dhehetia,BFPO53.
3231TaylorTitch—E. Evans,KentView,HighRoad, Fobbing,Stanford-le-Hope,Essex.
3232TaylorTitch—J. Sharp,209BallochnieStreet, Airdrie.
3233TaylorTitch—T. Horner,42LochliboRoad, Barrhead,Glasgow.
3234TaylorTitch—A. Brenen,13WillsRoad,Didcot, Berks.
7026EvansVP1—W.J. Morris,81Roodegate, Basildon,Essex.
7027EvansVP.1—D. J.S.Thorn,2GlebeGardens, Costophine,Edinburgh.
7028EvansVP.1—A. K.McGrath,24PartridgeRoad, Roath,CardilT.
forALL AlRCRAFT INSURANCE
"SECURITYHOUSE"
160-161BROMSGROVESTREET BIRMINGHAMB56NY
Telephone021-692-1245(10lines)
FORKEENESTRATES
SERVICEANDSECURITY
NEW,REVISEDEDITION
byS.E.Taylor&H.A.Parmar
"Alltopicshavebeendealtwith..ifread, learntandinwardlydigestedshouldproduce averywellinformedandcompetentpilot".
LightAviation
"Wewouldrecommendeveryprivatepilot toreadthisbook". PilotMagazine
Coments: 1Mapsandcharts;2directionand speed;3Thenavigationcomputer;4Aspot ofnavigation;5Magnetismandcompasses; 6Meteorology:7Aeradcharts;8Aviation law;9Principlesofflight;10Thepower plant;11AircraftLoading/FireHazard;12 Playingitsafe;13GettingthePPLfrom scratch.
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trythespecialists... PHONE,CALLorWRITE J.A.HARRISON (BROKERS)LTD.
It _r ft
10 PopularFlying,May-June,1975
AircraftfortheHomeBuilder
Et AlanDunn
THECURRIEWOT
TheWotwasoriginallydesignedinthe1930sby J.Currie,whowasalecturerattheChelseaCollege ofEngineering.G-AFCG&G-AFDSwerebuilt pre-warbutwereunfortunatelydestroyedduringthe warinanair-raid
Sincethewarthedesignhaslentitselftoconsiderablemodificationofexternaloutline.Noteable variationsonthethemehavebeenthereplicaSE5a's, WetWot,JetWotandtheSuperWotinspiredbyprewarU.S.Navyfighteraircraft.
Typicalaircraftconstructedbyamateurbuilders havebeenpoweredbythe36hpJAP,55hpLycoming, 65hpContinentalA-65,65hpWalterMikronand aPobjoyR.
Thedesignisaconventionalpre-warspruce,ash andplywoodstructurewithalargenumberofmetal littingsThefuselageisofboxconstructionwith sprucelonaeronsandacoveringofplywoodThe wingshavetwosparseach.Thewingribsarenearlyall thesame.Theundercarriageisweldedfromsteel tubingandthesuspensionisrubberbungee.
Theaeroplaneisacrobaticandhasthefollowing leadingparticulars:
Span:
Height: 22 6' I" 9" Length: WingArea: 18'1!" 140sqft. WeightEmpty:550lbs.WeightLoaded:900lbs. Theperformancedependsuponthetypeofengine fitted.
No.3OFASERIESbyRobinOwen
Anearlypost-warCur•ieWm'jiltedwithatycoming 0-145-A2
JimEspin'sWallerAtikronpoweredCurielf'ot PopularFlying,May-lune,1975
.-1,mtherMikronpoweredCurrieWotbyTedGould
RalphHarts'4-65poweredCurrieWot
THEGOLDENDECADE
byJohnPothecary
Attheendoftheroaringtwentiesthere Weretwice asmanybiplaneMothsasallothertypesoflightaircraftputtogether.GeoffreydeHavillandonceagain wasshowingthewaywithhishighwingcabinPuss Moth,butnewnameswerebeginningtoappearwith otherideas.
ThebrothersMileshadbeeninbusinessatShorehamduringthetwenties,producingtwobiplanesof originaldesign.Butitwasthelowwingcantilever monoplanewhichbroughtthemfame.PreviousaeroplanesofthistypeinBritaincouldhavebeencounted onthefingersofonehand,thisstemmingfroman earlyWarOfficedecisionthatmonoplaneswere structuallydangerous!
ManufacturedbyPhillips&PowisofReading,the Milesdesignwasatandemopencockpitmachinewith GipsyorCirrusengine.KnownastheHawk,itran toseveralsingleseatracing,andtwoscattraining variantsculminatingintheMilesMagistertrainerof WorldWarTwo.
Inthemid-thirtiesforeignaircraftbegantohavean influenceontheBritishwayoflife.Themostprolific ofthesewastheKlemmL25design:followingthenew• trenditwaslowcantilever,foldingwing.tandem seatingandentirelycoveredwithplywood.
AlltheearlyexamplesfeaturedaradialSalmsonor Pobjoyengine.OriginallybuiltbytheBritishKlemm AeroplaneCompanyin1937,thenamewaschanged totheBritishAircraftManufacturingCompany. Swallowwasthenamegiventothismachineandit musthavebeenthesafestofpre-waraeroplanes. Uniquefeatureswerethewingfoldlatchworkedfrom thehandholdpointatthewingtip;andinthePobjoy version,arachetarrangementworkedfromthecockpitwhichwouldenablethepilottoturntheengine throughthreecompressions!Finalversionsofthe105 builtfeaturedtheCirrusMinorengine.
Pureracingaeroplanesapart,nooneapartfrom Comperhadproducedasinglescataeroplaneandthe 'minimum'aeroplanewasunknown.Severalindividualsinthethirtiesworkedonthethemeofthe 'motorglider!andprominentamongstthesewasMr. C.H.Lowe-Wyldewhomounteda600ccDouglas motorcycleengineonhisBACglider.AgainatHanworth,RobertKronfeldtookoverthedesignand producedthe'Drone!.PoweredwithaCardenFord engine (seeP.F.3-73) theaeroplanewasveryeconomicalandcouldbeflownincompletesafetyby someonewithonlyminimumglidingexperience TheDartKittenwasoneofahandfulofpowered aeroplanesproducedinthennd-thirtiesbytheglider repairfirmofZander&Weyle (seeP.F.2-75).
TheMilesformulaoflowwing,boxspar.square sectionsprucefuselagewiththoopsformingthetop decking,completelyplycoveredexcepttailsurfaces. wasappliedtotheFalconseriesofaircraftwhich featuredthreeseatswiththepilotinfrontandtwo passengersbehindandGipsy4or6-cylinderengine. Anotherfamousname,foundflyingatShorehamin the1920NwasEdgarPercival.AsaresultofInsexperiencewiththeHendersonaircraftheproduceda lowwingmonoplane.TheVegaGullsweretouring aircraft—eventuallydevelopedintothewar-time Proctor.HisMewGullsachievedeverlastingfameas intercontinentalsingleseatracingaeroplanes.
.4 post-war,unregisteredPou,builtfromAero-modeller plansbythegentlemaninthephotograph,Squirrelengine.Thethrottleopenedbypullingitandtherewasno rudderbar.Theauthor's'flight'initwashilarious!
Nowwecometosomeonewhohadaprofound influenceuponhome-buildingalthoughhisdesignwas potentiallylethal.Toquotefrompageoneofhisbook "ifyoucannailanorangeboxtogetheryoucanbuild anaeroplaneHenriMignet,ofcourse.
HisdesignforatandemwingcrossedfromFrance. in1935andcaughttheimaginationofinanyyoung men(see P.F.6-73). PouxorFleaswerebuiltallover Britain.83PermitstoFlywereissuedandafurther35 registered.
Unfortunatelythedesignpermittedthefrontwing tostalleasilyleavingthepilotwithnocontroltobring up(allcontrolinpitchwasbyalteringtheincidenceof thefrontwing).
FollowingseveralaccidentsPouxwerebannedin 1939,however,enthusiasticpilotsofthosedaysdid nothavetowaitlongfortheexcitementtheyneeded.
A/lilesSparrmehawkRaceratThHatonm1950
12
ThelastMewGullalterthefirstofitsmanypost-war accidents,seenatShorehaniinthecavil'50's
PopularFlying,May-June,1975
MilesFalconG-4OFF/atChristchurch, /947
ByDecember1936noteventheheadlinesofthe abdicationcoveredthefactthatapolicyofrearmamentwasbeingadoptedbyH.M.G.Within12 monthsitwasobviousthatEuropewasheadingfora generalwar.Over40flyingclubswerebeingstatesubsidisedandin1937thisamountedto£25.00for eachnewpilot'slicence:£10forarenewalplusan hourlygrant.However,thiswasstillnotproducing therequiredresponseandinthesummerof1938the CivilAirGuardwasborn.Forsuitablesubjectsthe subsidywas£50perlicenceonstandardtypesand£30 ifonultra-lights.Clubscouldthenofferflyingat between2s.6d.and10s.anhour.
Theresponse,ofcourse,wasoverwhelmingandto meettheneedsoftheschoolsthemanufacturers acceleratedseveralnewtypes.
ProminentamongthosewastheMilesWhitney Straight.Namedafterthemanwholaiddownthe specification(43built)andthedeHavillandMoth Minor(115built).Bothwerelowwingall-woodaeroplanes,andsignificantlytheywerethelastcivilaircraft byeithermanufacturertobebuiltwithfoldingwings. Side-by-sideseatingintheMiles:GipsyMajorpower. TheMothrevertedtotheoriginalformulaofopen tandemcockpits,withthequieterGipsyMinorengine, conversationwaseasierandimprovedwindscreens meantarelativeincreaseincomfortovertheoldDH 60.
Withsuchcheapflyingavailabletherewaslittledemandforhome-builtsbutthe5Chi[tonsbuiltby
GROUPNEWS
byMikeVaisey
Itisnow—wellanawfullongtimesinceGROUP NEWSwasfeaturedinPopularFlyingandinthelight oftheveryrapidlychangingpanoramaofourparticularbrandofleisureactivitybroughtaboutbythe currentdepressedstateofourowneconomyandthe worldwidestateofaffairsthatseemstoeverincreasinglyimposeitselfonourdailylives,itisdifficulttokeep pacewithevents.
Theenergycrunch,ormorepreciselytherocketing pricesoffuelandlabourhasmeantthattheenthusiast isnowlookingseriouslyattheeconomicsofflyingat thefriendlyneighbourhoodflyingcluborschooloften atrateswellintodoublefiguresevenforthemost modesttwoseattrainers.Moreandmorepeopleare lookingattheGroupoperatedaeroplaneasawayto casetheloadonthepocket.Onceoverthehurdleof layingoutthepurchasepricefortheaeroplaneofyour choicetheloweroperatingcostsimmediatelyreflecta savingbycuttingoutthepaidadministrationandif youraeroplaneisoperatedonaSpecialCategoryC.of A.themaintenancebillsarealsodrasticallyreducedby doingmuchoftheworkyourselves.Andthere'sthe benefit(totheaeroplaneaswellastoyou)oflooking afterandknowingintimatelyyourownmachine.
MilesWhitneyStraightNo.5,builtin1937,wasimpressedintoAirForceusein1941.SoldfromKemblein 1946toitspre-warminer,workingonitin1947,the authorfoundthepre-ivarowner'snameplateunderseven layersofpaint.
DalrympleandWaradeservemention (seeP.F.3-73 forillustration).J.Currie'sWotfirstsawlightof dayin1937:hebuilttwopre-warbutwewilldealwith theminalaterarticleastheyarethefinestsingleseat designavailabletoday.
Americanlightaeroplaneswerccomingacrossin somenumbersby1929.SixteenC3Aeroncaswereimportedandtwenty-onewerebuiltinBritain—theywere trueultra-lightswithanall-up-weightof1005lbs. SevenPiperCubswereimported,aswastheTaylorcraft.ThislasttypehadaprofoundeffectonBritish Aviationanditsearlyhistorywillbeexaminedinthc nextarticle.
OneofthelastsurvivingVegaGull
Groupsoperatingaeroplanes,however,arenotthe onlybandofpeopletocometogethertoundertakea homebuildorrestorationprojectoradesignandbuild projectorperhapstheymighthavepurelyageneral interestinaviationorundertakeresearchorhistorical projects,inwhichcasetheymaydecidetoformanonoperationalGroup.
GroupsaffiliatedtothePFAbenefitbycoming underthewingofourownindigenousorganisation representingleisureflyingandhomebuildingactivities intheUnitedKingdom.ButthePFAbenefitsand indeedneedstobeabletocountamongitsmembers eachandeveryGrouptoenableittocarryoutitstask ofrepresentationjustthesameasitdoeseachindividualmember.
AnimportantaspectofGroupactivityisinterGroupcontactparticularlythroughthemediumof PopularFlying,sowe'reappealingtoeachSecretary toletusknowwhat your Groupisupto.Don'tbe cagey!ThePFAGrouphasalottoofferassomeof themoreactiveonescanprove.Plentyofflyingat ratespeoplecanafford,PPLtrainingattheirown fields,agreatinvolvementintheiractivitiesbythe members.Lotsofbloodygoodfun.
Wehopethiscolumnwillinfuturebeabletokeep youinclosertouchwitheachotherandalsobeof interestasafocalpointofevents,topicsofcommon interest,information,policies,politics(heavenforbid) orwhateveryoucaretomakeit.
PopularFlying,May-June,1975 13
AWINDYTAIL
byVinceHallam
returnedtoEnglandfromtheEarEastin1972and becamereintroducedtotheP.E.A.almostbychance.
InSingaporeIwasoneofthefirsttodashoffan orderforaBD5Kit.MuchtomysurpriseIfound myselfactually2745ontheorderlist.Asthesekits wereobviouslynotreadyfordeliveryyetIwaspersuadedtothinkofready-madelittleaeroplanes. foundthattheNipperexistedinfairlylargenumbers. IhadflownthefirsttoarriveinEnglandatFaireys, andlikeditthen,thoughI'dfeltabitdoubtfulabout VWsas adro engines.However,the15yearsthathave sincepassedhaveprovedtheVW'sutility,andthe Nipper'stoo.
Havingcheckedpricesfoundthat£600wasthe minimumforaMk.Iorwithtwicethatpricefora Mk.LII.ThenIstartedlookingatactualaeroplanes. Whyis it thatallNippershavealeadingedgerepair andafreshprop.?EveryoneIsawhadrunawayat sometime,andtheyweredifficulttostartanyway. BecauseofthesedefectsIthoughtIcouldzetone fairlyeasily.Notabitofit.Justastherearepeople whotifinkyouaremadtothinkofbuyingaNipper, allNipperownersthinkyouaremadtothinkthey'd sellthem.Priceswerehard.Still,eventuallyLpersuaded DennisLowtherofNewtownardstoletmehaveone ofhistwo.YoumusthaveseenDennis'saeroplane eitherinthePFAMag.onitsnoseonaspecialtrailer, oratSywell1973,alldoneupwithmotorcargoodies.
IoperatedintoSydenham(BelfastHarbour)byjet inthelatesummer1973andcalledupDennisasI passedNewtownards.Hekindlybroughthisplane overformetoseeandtry.
O.K.,soitissmallandslowandonlyaMk.I,but evenLcangetintoitat205lbs.,anditisstilljustlegal toacrobatit.IaskedforamapbeforeIflew.but DennisjustwavedhishandsandsaidNewtownards was"justoverthere-.Thedaywasfineandthelineof thecoastwasclear,soIflewoffanyway.justdownthe road.(Don'tgowithoutamap,youyoungsters,don't doasIdo,doasIsay!!).Andwithinafewminutes Icouldn'tseeNewtownards,huttherewasabeautiful cinderstriponthewater'sedgewhichshallbenameless.Icouldnotresistlandingtosayhellotothe nestingswansalongsidetherunway,andtwofine ladiesatthefarm.
Thisisthewaytofly.thought.andoffwentback toDennisdeterminedtobuytheplane.
Icouldn'ttakeitbackthatdayasIhadtotakethe 125hacktoCranfield.Iwentoveroneweekendby2nd classtrainandboat(atacostexactlyequaltotheair farehacktoGatwick).Theweatherwastoobadto ferrythatweekend.ItriedagainwhenIhitchedover withoneofourplanesbuttheweatherwastoobadall weekendagain.Ievengotanavidenthusiastwho beggedmetolethimdothetrip,Iwasgladenough-Ifeltabitcowardlyaboutcrossingallthatsea,buthe turnedchickenwhenhesawtheplanefacetoface, eventhoughhe'sflownitbefore.
AgainInewover.byschedulefromDerby.accoutredallaboutwithMaeWestandtoothbrush. hadtoleavetheemergencyradiobehind,asEdonly beenabletoborrowitforthehNtoccasion.Each timeIwenttoBelfastcalledDennis,andhewas charmingandIrishandfriendly,drivingorflying overtopickmeupandhelpinallrespects.
Ihad,oneidleevening,plottedadirectrouteto Blackpoolwhichwasonlyusablewitha40kt.tail wind-Ithought.Butnotforme,Isaid,notallthat
sea;I'mcrossingtheMullofKintyreandcoastingall thewaydownpastBarrow-in-Furness,etc.This raisedproblemsonrangeandrefuellinginstrange places.IdoubtedcouldmakeittoBlackpool.It wouldprobablybeNewtownards-Carlisle-BlackpoolHalfpennyGreen-Cranheld.
However.thisweekendagaintheweatherwasfoul, afrontwithverylowcloudlyingalongtheScottishand LancasInrecoastswithwavesrunningalongthefront. Therewasa35kt.N.E.windforecastacrosstheIrish Sea,withslightlyhighercloudbasesof1000to2000 feet
LhadapreviousweekendflownafewmilesasMras theIrishcoastandturnedbackbecause of fog.This timeDennistookmeupinatwoseaterforalook acrosstheMull.Itwasheavyandvisibilitywasvery patchy.ThemetforecastsgivenbyGatwickhadbeen quiteerratic.TheforecasteratBelfastseemedequally outof«nrellwithdetailssuitableforsmallaircraft.As NewtownardshasnoA.T.C.setup.Ihadtogointo Newtownardstownship,withinsufficientchange,to phoneinmyFlightPlanfromabroken-windowedcall box.Liverpoolwouldn'tacceptme,butBlackpool would.soIfiledaPlan,specifyingthatIWouldconhrmthePlanbyradiotoBelfastuponactuallyleaving thecoastoutbound,thatLwouldcircleIsleofMan AirfieldbeforecontinuingdirecttoBlackpool,and, inviewofpossiblewindchangeswhichmightdriftme downthecoastIgaveChesterasanalternative.
TherewasaVictaabouttotakeoffforlocalflying, andlieofferedtofollowmetothecoastandconfirm myFlightPlantoBelfastbyradioonceIactuallyset courseoverthesea.
Itwasafternoonwhenfinallygotairborneon ffight-plannedE.T.D.,andturneddirectlyoncourse. Ihad21hoursgasina70knotaeroplanetomakea landfall(atBlackpoolin90s.miles)expectedinabout 11,hours.TheVictalostmeimmediatelyandI.later heardthathewasnotabletoconfirmmyflightplan toBelfast.However,A.TC.assumedthatIhadgot awayanyhow.Withinaminuteofcrossingthecoastit wasobvioUsthatIcouldnotglidebacktolandinthe teethofthewinddiatwasblowing.Isawamaritime A.S.R.Nimrodsniffinglowdown,thenIwasalone, andthesealookedroughashell.Well,10minutes laterIcouldseetheloomoftheIsleofManbelowthe 1000ft.cloudbase.Overtotheleftthecloudsloped downtowardsthesea,totherightitwashigher,butI wasn'ttoosureoftheexactwindormydrift,andI didn'twanttofinishup2hrslaterstilloverwater,or inthecloudyWelshmountains.Theeasiestwaytolick thedriftproblemwastoflystraightdownthewind lanesonthewater.SoonIwasovertheI.ofM.Ifound a gapinthemountainsandslippedthroughexpecting lotsofturbulence,butitwasn'ttoobadat70knots. Mycircuitoveranapparentlydesertedairfieldat Ronaldswayconfirmedanenormouswind,andsoon Iwent(35knotsormaybe45,Ithought.maybean hourtotheEnglishcoast).Onflewkeepingcloseup undertheslopingfronttocatchthemaximumwind justatthefrontitself.Talkaboutheiferskelter. lookedatthegreatwhitestreaksofwater.Enormous patchesthesizeofacricketpitchwouldrearupand burstintofoam.IfIhitthatlotI'dbedeadinminutes. Certainlythechancesofbeingpickeduporsighted werevirtuallyMI.Myconstantscanofengineinstrumentsrelaxed.Myhighlyprickedearscouldnotavoid
14 PopularFlying,NIay-June.1075
VinceHallam'sNipperatBiggin
listeningtotheenginenote,butifitpackedupthere wasnothingtodo, no decisionslefttomake.Itwas gasping,awe-inspirina,fantastic.Iremembersayingto myselfrapidlyandrepeatedly,"Yousillybugger.you sillybugger!-.Thecloudloomed lower andtheseas reallyweremountainous.Icaughtaglimpseofsome smallshipnearlyonitsside,pitchingandbucking. Hourstogoforhim-maybehalfanhourforme.I heardlaterthatthreesmallshipswentdownthatday.
Thedarkbanksaheadloweredtothesea'sedge. HowwasItopenetrateit?WherewasIgoingtomake landfall:ontheLancashirehills Or theWelshHis,or lostovertheDecEstuary?ShouldIflyleftorright. throughorunder?Withnogyrosonthisaircraftand awildlyswingingcompasswhichobviouslycouldn't hecorrect,myInstrumentRatingwasnouse.(I)Stay contact.(2)IfindoubtcontinueoncoursetoE.T.A.
Suddenly1realisedthedarklineaheadwasinfact land.Morerollingshipsappeared.Iwassouthof BlackpoolandLiverpool.headedintotheDee Estuarystraightformyalternate,Chester.45minutes aftertakeoffImadelandfall.130s.milesfromtake
off.Ilatercalculatedthatthetailwindwasequalto theairspeed.Imustha‘ebeendoffig150knotsatone time.Withthatwind.nohopeofturningportto Blackpool,whichwassockedinanyway.
Theweatherstartedclearingoverland,thewind droppedabitandwentroundontheheam.At Hawarden,Chester,itwastoogustyandstrongto attractme.andafteranorbitandagreenlightof acknowledgmentIflewontotheonlypossibleplace, HalfpennyGreen,whereIlandedafter105minutes flighttime.AsIhadfileda2hourflightplantoBlackpoolIwentstraighttothetowertoclosetheplan. HereFhadtheutmostdifficultyinpersuadingthe 'qualified'A.T.C.O.todoit.Infactittook30minutes beforehe W oulddoso.TheA.TC.O.wasmore worriedthatImighthaveinterferedwithcongested operationsathisP.P.O.held(allaircraftwere groundedduetothe Wi nd!),orotherwiseblotted his copybook.
TheresultwasthatinspiteofmyalternateChester havingseenmysafepassage,anAlertwasraisedfor mymissingaircraft.10/10toA.T.C.atBlackpoolto whomIapologisedlater.hut0/10toHalfpenny Green
SoIrefuelled,paidtheexhorbitantfeeandleftfor homebase,dodgingtheBirminghamzoneonthcway. arrivingatCranfield48minuteslater.
ForthenextfewmonthsG-ATUHhidinabeautiful big,dryhangardisguisedasaglider,withoccasional Ibraystotesttheradio.Nowitlivesinmyowngarden attheedgeofGatwick:hutmyarrivalatafarmer's feettogetherwithapheasanthe'djustshot—well,that isanothertale.
ThcoriginallogbooksshowedmyNipperas OONIF,andBelgianNAILOnedayIlookedinmy oldphotoalbumatthefirstNipperItried15years ago.Thereitwas:OONEF.
LUTONSQUADRONNEWS:- byMikeVaisey
TheSquadronhasgotofftoagoodstartwithtwo majorproblemsconfrontingmanyexistingandpotentialMINORbuilderssolved,oneatleastforthe timebeing.
SetsofstreamlinedliftstruttubingarenowavailablefromDoncasterSailplaneServices(advertising elsewhereinthisissue).Thetuhingisthatusedforthe VPIandVP2.Thespecificationisinexcessofthat requiredbythedrawingsbutithasbeenappovedby theEngineeringDepartmentUseofthistubing necessitatesalterationofdimensionstothestrutend fittings.As.a.e.willbringyoutherelevantamendment sheet.
Inanswertomanvenquiries,theformerdirectorsof PhoenixAircraftLtd.havekindlyagreedforthe drawingsoftheMINORtohemarketedagainthrough thePFAoffice.ThesewillshortlyappearonourSales List.
AnumberofMINORSarecurrentlyreachingayery advancedstageofconstructionandmaywellhave flownbythetimeyoureadthis.InNovemberlastyear GrahamHewittandIanStocksofWhittlesey,near Peterborough.acquiredtheveryadvancedairframe builtatDunstablebySteveKnight.Severalmonthsor hardgraftrevealsG-BBEAatthefabriccoveringstage andfinalcommissioningofrheengine.AtRAFLyneham.Wiltshire.MickGarnerisatasimilarstageof completionwithhisMINORG-BCFY.Arecentpress cuttingshotvingthemachineduringariggingcheck parkedbeneathaHerculestransportmadethelatter lookprettymassive.Nothingquitelikehavingenough
PopularFlying.NI:o.June.1975
room tospreadyourwings!Bothaircrafthave1500 c.c.VWenginesmountedwiththesteeltuhemounting ontheorigimdbulkhead. [nottheHercules?--Ed.]
We wouldstillvery]nuchliketohearfromseveral MINORbuildersthathaveprojectsregisteredonthe constructorslist.TheSquadroniscompletelyinformalwithno'membership'assuch.However,ifyou oncebuilt a LUTONaircraftyoumusthavewished atsometimeorotherthatyoucouldhavecontacted someonetosolvethatparticularsnag.TheSquadron hopefullywillJillthatneedfornewbuildersSoif you'vegotasnag—we'rehere.Andifyou'rethinking aboutstartingaprojectofyourownthesameapplies.
MickGarner(andson)G-BCEYatHomeatWootton. Bassett,Wills.
15
GRASSROOTSFLYING
byHarryBott
Theheadlineinthelocalpaperread'Vicarspeaks outagainstAerodrome'andtherefollowedalong accountofthemeetingoftheParishCouncilatwhich Mr.Davis'planningapplicationwasdiscussedand obviouslythewholevillagewasupinarms.'Constant noise,airpollution,dangerfromlowflyingaircraft', suchwerethetypicalcomments.
Theapplicationwastoerectahangarfortwolight aircraftandputinasinglegrassstripabout600yards long,andofcourse,itwasturneddownoutofhand. Thevillageoncemorereturnedtoitsformerpeaceand quietwiththemainroadrunningdowntheHigh Streetcarryingverylargequantitiesofheavytraffic. Perhapsitwasthepresenceofthelorriesthatprevents theinhabitantsfromhearingoperationsatmystrip whichwasaboutthesamedistanceawayasMr.Davis' proposedstrip.Ihadbeenoperatingfor24yearsand nobodyhadevennoticed.AcautionarytaleIthink youwillagree.
Thestoryreallybeginsonthe13thJuly,1968when ThadmyfirstflyinglessoninG-AIBX,anorangeand blackAusterbelongingtotheWaspGroupoperating fromPanshangerAerodrome.Formanyyearsbefore thatIhadbeendeterminedtolearntoflyandunable toaffordit,butfinallyonthe17thMay,1970, achievedmyP.P.L.andthenextproblemwashow tostayintheairascheaplyaspossible.
ForsometimebeforethatdayIhadrealisedthatas afarmerIhadonegreatasset,landthatcouldbemade intoastrip.Nowforanaircraft.BasedatPanshanger wasaRallyCommodorewhichIthoughtwouldmake anidealfarmer'saeroplane.Iapproachedtheowner andaskedhimifhewouldliketokeeptheaircrafton myfarm.HeagreedandtheCommodore,followedby theMinervawhichtheownersubsequentlyboughthas beenkepthereeversince.Thearrangementhasworked verywellandhasundoubtedlycutcostsveryconsiderably.AttheoutsetIdecidednottogoforplanning consentattheriskofstirringupthelocalpopulation buttoestablishthestripandthenplayitbyear.After thewindsockhadbeenupforaboutamonthIhada 'phonecallfromthePlannersenquiringifIkepta planeonthefarm.Ireplied'Yes,butIdonotthinkI requireplanningconsentasthefieldwasnotused morethan28timesinayear'.Thiswasconfirmedas beingcorrectandIheardnomore.Wetakegreatcare nottoannoythelocalsandnobodyhasyetcomplained.Icannotemphasisestronglyenoughthatif anyreaderiscontemplatingthesameideaitisessential toavoidlowflyingoverhousesandvillagesandifyou aredoingcircuitsandbumpsthendovaryyour circuitssoastoavoidpassingoverthesameground everytime.Inevitablyoneortwodiscoveraboutthe localaeroplaneandaskmeaboutit.Ianswertheir questionsthenofferaflip,notalwaysaccepted,but whenitistheyareinvariablythrilledandbecomevery prolightaircraft.Thisneednotbeanuisancebecause itcanalwaysbefittedinwithrefuelling,cropinspectionoranyotherbitoflocalflying.
Theactualestablishmentofthestripdoesneedsome carefulthought.Ifthemainuseistobebyanaircraft withatailskidthenanareaoflandisverydesirableso thataninto-windapproachcanalwaysbemade.This alsoreducedtherateofwearthatcanbecomea probleminwetweatherifastripisbeingused.Onthe otherhand,ifatricyclegearortaildraggerwithbrakes isusedthenastripofgrassisadequate.Mineis440 yardslongby25yardswideandisonthetopofahill withnoobstructionofanysortateitherend.Evena
shorthedgeIncreasesthelengthrequiredconsiderably. Thedirectionisimportant.Mineislaidout06/24and inmypartoftheworldthisseemstobeaverygood compromise,thewindcomingfromSouthWestfor weeksatatime.haveawoodonthenorthsideofmy stripwhichcanproveaproblemwhenthewindisfrom thatdirection,creatingturbulenceoverthethreshold to06,andIhaveexperiencedveryrapidratesofsink anditisessentialtobepreparedwithanearlyapplicationofpowertocounteractthis.Itistheultimatein sinkingfeelingwhenyoulindyourselfbelowthelevel ofthestripyouhopetolandon!
Considerationshouldbegiventosoiltypewhen planningastrip.Gravelisbestforfreedrainagebutif heavierlandorevenclayhastobeusedagoodsystem oflanddrainageisessential.Thelandshouldbe ploughedwithaonewayploughduringtheprevious autumnandthenwellworkeddowntoaslevela surfaceaspossible;anextrapasswiththespringtines iswellworththetroubleasoncethegrassisgrowing thereisnothingmorethatcanbedoneaboutthe surface.GrassseedisprobablybestsownintheSpring asinMarchorearlyAprilitshouldbepossibletowork thegrounddownreallyfine;absolutelyvitalforthe successfulestablishmentofverysmallseeds.Iuseda mixtureof25lbs.ofAberystwythS.23perennialrye grassandabout2or3lbs.ofwildwhiteclovertothe acre.Thisshouldbebroadcast,harrowedinandthen rolledtwice.Inthreeweeksitwillbeshowinggreen andbyaboutJulywillwantlightlytoppingandrolling again.Dependingonthegroundandweatherconditionsitshouldbepossibletostartusingthestripbut inthefirstyeardobekindtotheyoungplantsanddo notscrubthemoutbyviciousapplicationofbrakes orspinningcarwheels.Asfarasfertilizergoes,half atonofbasicslagtotheacreisveryencouragingfor thecloverandthisshouldbeputonintheautumn beforeitgetswet.Thereshouldthenbenofurther needforfertilizerasthecloverwillprovideallthe nitrogenneededforhealthygrassgrowth.Once establishedthegrasswillrequireflatrollingatleast onceayearandcuttingaboutfourorfivetimes.Ido notletminegrowtoolongasaircraftperformance fallsoffrapidlyinlonggrass,bothtakeourand braking,especiallyifwet.Alsoifthegrasscuttingsare fairlyshortthereisnoneedtopickthemup.Ifgrazing ispossiblebyanimalsthensheepareidealastheyare tidyanimalsandwraptheirdungupinlittlehard pellets.Bewareofcattle—theirdungiswetandsloppy andstickslikegluetopaintfinishes.Theyarealsovery curiousaboutunusualthingslikeaircraftandhave thoroughlylickedthepaintoff,findwingtipsandtail planesmarvellousscratchingpointsforitchynecks. Ahalf-tonbullockcandoagreatamountofdamage, especiallyifhehasfleas.
MystripisnotinPooley'sFlightGuidebecause,in spiteofsayingpriorpermissiononly,manypeople takenonoticeatall.AfriendofminehadaTwin Commanchepileupontheendofhisstripafter arrivingwithnopriorpermission.Luckilythe occupantswerealrightbuttheaeroplanewasbent.The localpapergottohearofitandalso,Ibelieve,the T.V.Hisfriendsofcoursethoughtithimandhis telephonedidnotstopringingforafortnight.Of course,Pooleydoeslistalargenumberofprivate stripsbutthereareinfactscatteredthroughthe countryagreatmanymore.Iwillnotletanyoneuse minewithoutpriorpermissionasforonethingI consideritessentialtobetheremyselfifanyoneuses
16
PopularFlying,May-Junc,1975
itwhohos not beenintherebeforejustincasesometlnngdoeshappenandtheyneedassistance.Theowner ofastripcanbeinaverydifficultpositionifpassengers gethurtanddecidetomakeaclaimagainsthimorif theexecutorsofadeadpilotdecidetomakeaclaim andinfacttheFlyingFarmers'Association,ofwhich Iamamember,isnowrecommendingstripownersto beinsuredagainstsuchclaims.
AsIstatedinthebeginning.Ididnotapplyfor planningpermissionbeforeestablishingmystripbut IdidgetintouchwithLuton,mynearestmajorairfield,atanearlystageinourplans.11foundthem extremelyhelpfulandtheyhaveplacednorestrictions uponouractivitieswhatsoeverTheydolikeacallon theradiowhenweareoperatingandtheycanbe extremelyhelpful,evengivinguswindstrengthsand directionswhenwefinallysignoflforourfinallanding. ItisalsoessentialtotellthelocalCustomsOfficersof theexistenceofaprivatestrip.Itisnotalegalobligationtodosobuttheydoverymuchliketoknow becauseoftheinterestshownatthemomentinlanding aliens.andthisTthinkappliesmoreparticularlyto privatestripssituatedintheSouthofEngland.Thisis againanotherreasonwhy11donotencourageuseof thestripunlesswithpriorpermissionfromme.We keepalogsheetintheaircrafttoshowmovementof theresidentaircraftinandoutofthestripandalso wehanganotebookinthehangartorecordtakeofT timeanddestination.Thisisreallyjustadoublecheck thatwehavestartedsinceMichaelBentine'ssonwas lostinHampshire
totheoutsideina1L1shapesothatitispossibletotaxi theaircrafttothefrontofthehangarontotheconcreteapronandthenwhentheenginehasbeenshut downitcanbeturnedroundontheconcreteand pushedbackwardsintothehangar.Thipiepainteda blacklinedownthecentreoftheconcretetoguidethe aircraftdownforentrytothehangaranditisalsoa goodthingtoprovideanaimingpointforthetailon therearwall.fkeepareserveof8gallonsoffuelin four2-gal.screwtopcansandthishasalwaysbeen adequateforourpurposes.45-gallondrumsarenot atallpopularwiththelocalauthorityFireRegulations. Tocomplywiththelawyouhavetohavealicenceto keeplargerquantitiesofPetroleumSpiritandoneof theconditionsofthelicencewouldalmostcertainlybe thatthedrumshavetobekeptinacompound surroundedwitha9ins,brickwall.also45gallon drumsoreanexpensivewayofbuyingpetrol.Ikeep oneortwoquartsofengineoilonthepremises.Water andelectricityarcobviouslydesirableluxuriesbutI donothaveeitheronmystripForlightinginthe hangarintheeveningIuseanextractor12volt batteryonwhichoneofthecellshascollapsedand thisprovidesveryadequatelightingforhandlingthe aeroplaneinand out
hopewhat11havewrittenwillinspiremembersto golookingforafriendlyfarmerwhohasfieldsinwhich tobasetheiraeroplane.Thetypetolookforisobviouslythemoreyouthfuloneandfwouldalways recommendgoinguptohisbackdoorandmakinga directapproach.Ifyouhavenoluckinyourareatry ringinguptheowneroftheneareststripinPooley's FlightGuidetoseeifhehasanyfriendswhomightbe sympatheticnearertoyou
To SUmmarise:—
IAllowayearforthestriptoestablish.
2Startoperationsunderthe28dayrule.
Theaircraftitselfiskeptinashedwithotherfarm machinerythatisonlyusedseasonallyandsodoesnot havetobemovedveryoften.Farmstoresmorethan 25yardsfromthehighwaydonotneedplanningpermissionandourparticularshedwaserectedonthe edgeofawoodtothenorthsideofthestrip.ftisa Romneyhut35ft.acrossby33ft.fromfronttoback andinitIcankeepmostofmyhaymakingtackleas wellastheaeroplane.Iweldedupfourdoorsmeasuring10ft.squarefromangleironinthefarmworkshop andhungthemonproprietaryslidingdoorgearwhich extendsrightoutbeyondthesidesofthehangarand issupportedateachendbytelegraphpoles.Security canbeaproblemespeciallyinthisareawhichisnear StevenageNewTown.Thehangarhasbtenbroken intothreetimes,twicebychildrenleveringthe corrugatedironsheetsoffthesideandnowIhaveput ffightensilesteelmeshroundtheinsideandIhaveleft asinallholeopenatthebacksothatanybodyonthe outsidecanlookinandseewhatisintheshed.ftis essentialtolockthedoorusingagoodlock.Thefloor isjustplaingravelwithaconcretestripwherethe wheelsoftheaircraftgoandthisconcreteisextended
3Beagoodneighbourandalwaysconsiderthe peoplewholiveunderyourflightpath.
4Considerinsurance.
5Alwaysmakeyourstripusableonpriorpermission only.
6InformCustoms.
7informthenearestairfieldAirTrafficControlUnit. Withtheeverincreasinglandingfeesandhangarage ataerodromesIamsurearealbreakthroughcanbe madefortheP.F.A.-typeflyingfromsmallstripsusing economicalaircraftonrestrictedcategoryC.ofAs.
Articles.
TheEditorswouldliketothankALLcontributors to PopularElythg, bothourregularsandthosewho havereadourrequestsformaterialandhavelaunched intoprintDON'TSTOP.ftwillonlyimproveyour magazirie.
71hehangarissitedmconspicuouslyontheedgeofa uhad.
Athreshohlclearofanyobstracnon
PopularFlying,May-June,1975 17
R.S.A.RALLY3IstJULY--4thAUGUST
Howmanymembershavethoughtoftouringabroad bylightaircraft,notverymanywesuspect.Whynot trythisyearwithaweekendvisittotheR.S.A.Rally atLaVal?Franceisaneasycountrytoflyinwith manysmallfriendlyairfields,veryfewofwhichcharge alandingfeeandallwelcomenon-radioaircraft.Last year'srallyatCastresattractedover250aircraftwhich makesitalittlesmallerthanourownrallyatSywell butjustasinteresting.
Themeetingisbeingheldbetween31stJulyand4th August,1975andwillincludedemonstrationsofbuildingtechniques,displaysofplansetc.andanareawhere amateurbuilderscansellorexchangetheirsurplus materialorparts.
Theairfieldhasa1300mhardrunwayandagrass stripofthesamelength.80and100octanefuelisavailableonthefieldandcustomswillbeinattendance throughouttherally.
Alargecampsitewillbeonthefieldwithamobile foodshopinattendance.Thereisalsoarestauranton thefieldaswellasseveralotherswithin3km.
Localhotelaccommodationmaybereservedby writingtoSyndicatdThitiatives,PlacedelaTremoille, 5300Laval.
TheAeroclubhasaswimmingpoolwhichwillbe open24hoursadayduringtherally.
PFAmemberBarryListerhassuggestedthatanybodywishingtogototherallyshouldassembleat Shoreham,clearcustomsthereandflytolaVal together.AnyoneinterestedshouldcontactBarry directat"LittleHawks",LynwickStreet,Rudgwick, Sussex,andnotthePFAOffice.
THEPAULSALISCOLLECTION
ThefamousFrenchbuilderofreplicaaircraftand restorerofvintageaircraft,PaulSalisishavinganopen houseweekendandflyingdisplayathisairfieldatla FerteAlaisonMayI7th/l8th.Camping,andaCafe, areavailableontheairfield.
HiscollectionincludesCessna170,Navion,FairchildArgus,D.H.DragonRapide,Leopoldoff, SalmsonD-7,Havard,Stampeandmanyotherfamous vintageaircraft.
KZRALLYJUNE20th-22nd,1975
The8thK2RallyisbeingarrangedatStauning Airport,thesamevenueaslastyearsRally,whichwas visitedbysome175aircraftincluding70vintage.
ThisyeartheDanishAmateurbuildersareparticipatingintheRallywithConcoursd'Elegancefor homebuiltaswellasVintageetc.
Thisyeartoo,theyarearranginganothertourof Denmarkforpilotsfromabroad,thistourwillbe fromJune22ndtoJune26th,1975.AnyPFAmembers thatwouldlikefurtherdetailsshouldcontactKZ& VeteranflyKlubben,DK6971Spjald,Denmark.
R.S.A.REGION"ALPES"RALLY
DuringMay17,18and19th,1975,themembersof theR.S.A."Alpes"Regionareholdingarallyat AnnemasseAerodromenearGeneve.Campingor HotelaccommodationisavailableandtheAeroClub hasaradiofrequencyavailableon123.5.However visitorswithradioshouldgiveGeneveApproacha call.
PFASUMMERCAMP
TheSouthernStruthasundertakentoorganisea SummerCampfor1975.ThisisopentoallPFA memberswithorwithoutaircraft.Wehavebeen offeredseveralgoodsitesandaftersomeconsideration andvisitsbytheorganisersClactononSeaAirstrip hasbeenselected.Ascanbeseenonthemapbelow thestripisverynearthebeachandweareinformed alsoverynearagoodpub!Thedatesofthecampare August9thto17thinclusiveandanymemberwillbe
welcomeanytimeduringtheweek.
Detailsofthestripareasfollows:—
Position-51-4TN01-08'E35ftAMSL:1NM WestofClactonPier. Runways:Main01-19,640mGrass;Secondary09-27, 365mGrass.PhoneJimNewmanofAirAngliaon ClactononSea(0255)24671.
PleasephonethePFAofficeatShorehamifyou haveanyqueries.
e{„, 4cToN
Anue4(111daugoop 421V
<>1Vez6C1[1 [2"
18 PopularFlying,May-June.1975
MAQINe PneACus
CAVALIERSQUADRONNEWS
byDavidBuckle
Firstly,asreadersmayhavenoticed,1974has passedwithoutanyCavalierstakingtotheair.As usual,wehaveseendeadlinescomeandgoandthere isstillaconsiderableamountofworktodoonthe fourCavalierswhicharenearingcompletion.
HarryYardleyestimatessometimeinthesummer forhisfirstflight—butnopromises.
TheGwilliam(Millsprojectiscovered,engine mountedand"onthegear"andisacertainstarterin 1975,alsoMalcolmJohnson,whohasstuckatitwith greatdiligence,willhopefullyberewardedwiththat firstflightsometimethisyear.
G-AZHH,rnyownproject,willbecovered,painted and"onthegear"inJanuarywithjusttheengine mountingandcowlingstocomplete.
HarryYardleyhascompletedhistiptanksfrom maleplastermouldswhichhemadehimselfThese mouldsareveryheavyandnotverydurable,butare availabletothebuildersforcarefuluse.Agroupof buildersmightgettogetheronthisandtakesome femalemouldsofftheplasterforms—thiswayseveral setsoftankscanbeproducedandthefemalemoulds willbewellworththetimeandtrouble.Fora"one off"job,theworkinvolvedinfemalemouldsisnot reallyagoodproposition.Itisbettertoputthework intofinishingthemale-mouldedarticleusingapower sanderandmodernfinishingmaterialssuchas polyesterputtyand"BrushCement"fromInternationalYachtPaints.
Internationalalsodoaglassfibreprinterwhich reactschemicallywithpolyestergelcoatstoensure paintadhesion,detailsfromyourlocalchandlery.
MalcolmJohnsonobtainedtanksinunassembled formfromDoncasterSailplanes.Thecurrentpriceis notknown,butisunderstoodtobereasonable.There isalimittothetimemostbuildersarewillingtospend, andyoucancountonthreemonths'sparetimework toproduceasetoftanksfromscratch.Forthosewho thinkthatthetimeinvolvedout-weighsthemoney savedby"doingityourself",thetanksfromDoncasterwillundoubtedlybeagreathelp.
Gearlegsareanotherproblemarea,withspringsteel beingincreasinglydifficulttoobtain.Commercial springmanufacturersdonotshowmuchinterestin makinggearlegsinsmallquantities.Theansweristo obtainyourownsteelwhereveryoucanandhaveit cut,bent,drilledandheattreatedjustwhereveryou cangettheworkdone.Itentailsalotofrunning aroundandthepossibilityoffindinganoutfitwho willruinhoursofworkforyou(andprobablycharge youforittoo!).
Thealternativeistosendthedrawingstoaspecialist likeAjepDevelopmentsandtrytosmilewhenyou paythebill.
SomeCessnaspringsteellegsareadaptabletothe Cavalier,andseveralbuildersareusingCessnawheels, axlesandrudderpedalswithhydraulicmaster cylinders.IfyouwishtomakeyourownCessnatype pedals,drawingsareavailablefromTonyStarkey. PineTrees,TheRidgeway,Lightwater,Surrey.
Tonyisworkingonseveralusefulmods.(whichwill becheckedoutbyP.F.A.Engineeringintheusual manner),andhisCavalierpromisestobeahighly individualmachine.Oneusefulmod.hehasincorporatedistoraisetheformerabovetheinstrument panelapprox.Iinches.Thepanelcanalsobemade morerectangularinshape.Unlessyoucanafforda setofmodernmatchedinstruments,thesemods.to thepanelareaaretheonlywayyoucanfitinafull panelandradiogear.
HarryYardleyisadaptingAirtourergearlegstohis machine—therearemanywaysaroundcertain problemareasandtheuseofpartsfromotheraircraft ofsimilarweight,etc.,isagoodwaytogo—ifthe priceisright.
Otherprojectsaretickingovernicelyincludinga couplehereintheNorthEast.
ThemostspectacularprogressisthatofRidley Kendall,theFlyingDoctorfromThrockleyinNorthumberland.Theprogressonhisprojectis,byall accounts,meteoric.
FromCanada,newsconiesthatK&SAircraft Supplyaresellingtheirplansandmaterialssupply business.Whethertheywillcontinuetosupportplan purchasersisnotknownatthistime.
LarryBurtoninOregon,U.S.A.,hasnowflown 200hourswithtiptanksfitted.Theonlymod.he foundtobenecessarywastorestricttheramair inletsto3/32inchdiameter.Thispreventsfuelloss duetopressurereversalduringsideslips,etc.
Toavoidunevenfeedingandfuelsiphoningoverboard,thefuellinesshouldbeassymmetricalas possible.PartofLarry'sproblemwasduetoafuel gaugemalfunction—helandedfromonecrosscountrywithonetankfullandoneemptyanddidnot recallholdinganyloadontheailerons.Thisreport fromtheWoodAircraftersNewsExchange,San Antonio.
DickyBirdontheIsleofWightcontinuestosupply theCavalierbuilderswithAN.Standardnutsand boltsandotherhardtogetitems—justabouttheonly reliablesourceforsmallquantitiesofAmerican materials,andnoapologiesareofferedforthecontinuedpluggingofhisservices,andothersuppliers, withoutwhomthehomebuiltmovementwouldhave adifficulttime.
That'saboutitfornow.NoMandatoryMods.,but newbuildersareadvisedNOTtobuildthethreepiece wingwhichdoesnotwork.Thedesignerdoesnot seemtobeinterestedindoinganythingaboutit.
Oneadvisorymod.fromP.F.A.Engineeringfor usersofrudderpedalswithtoebrakes—anadditional 20x20tobeefupthefloorareaintheregionofthe pedals.Loadscanbeconsiderableonthepedal mounts,butthelargenumberofCessnapedalusers inAmericahavenotreportedanyproblems.ITyou areinterested,detailsfromTonyStarkey.
IDON'TFORGETTOBRINGYOURAIRCRAFTORPROJECTTO SYWELL'75 - juL.(4th,5th,6th PopularFlying,May-June,1975 19
WALLISWA-116/F,LONG-RANGEAUTOGYRO DearSir,
Thephotosherewithareoftheautogyrowhich,on 13Julylast,setfivenewworldrecords,inclassesE3 &E3A.Therecords,whicharesubjecttoofficialconfirmation,are:—
ClassE3(Allautogyros)&E3A(Autogyrosunder 500kgs.AUW):
Non-stopdistancein100kmclosedcircffit. 670kilometres. 500km.,Speed,inclosedcircuit. 126.138km/hr.
ClassE3Aonly:100kmclosedcircuitspeed. 130.67km/hr.
Youwillappreciate,ofcourse,thattheprimaryaim wasdistance,whichatthetime,Ithoughtwouldbe hestachievedatan1ASof80mph.,i.e..verywell throttled.
Thissameaircraft,atonly26"mercurymanifold pressureonthe60hpFranklinengine,crffiseshandsoffat95mph.
Therecordflightwasmadeunderincreasingly miserableconditionsofrain,becomingadownpour. overmostofthecourse.
IamverygratefultotheRAFatColtishall,West Raynham&EasternRadar,fortheirco-operation. ThanksarcalsoduetoBPLtd.fortheircontinued support,andtoLodgePlugswhoseiridiumtipsalways litthecharge!
AftertheclosedcircuitflightIrealisedtheaircraft hadfarmorerangepotential.Ithereforeslightlyincreasedtheventraltanksize,forastraightlinedistance attemptofover450miles.However,otherworkwith autogyroshadtotakepriority.Thephotosshowthe aircraftwiththisslightlylargerventraltank.
Now I plantodoubletheventraltankcapacity,for anon-stopflightoverthelengthofBritain.Thenwe'll haveagoelsewhere!
G-ATHMhadbeena"hangarqueen"heresince 1970.Priortothatshe'doperatedoverfiveyearsin Ceylon,as4R-ACK.Idecidedtodotheconversion toFranklinpower,ratherthanbuildanewspecial aircraft,followingaseriouscaraccidentin1973.This renderedme"unfittobuild"formanymonths. I startedworkonG-ATHMonIJanuary,1974.
Shewillcertainlybevaluableinshowinethewayon thedesignofthenextmachine,whichwillincorporate alsothenewdesignfeaturesoftheWA-121.Meanwhile,G-ATHMhasquitealottoshow,yet,inrange andspeed.Additionally,itis,ofcourse.poweredbya Certificatedaero-engine(necessarilyincorporating someWallismodificationsfortherole),anditisquiet andreliable.TherearecurrentlytwootherWA-116's convertedtoFranklinpower.G-ATHLandG-ASDY.
Yourssincerely, KENNETHWALLIS
DearSir, Havingreadtheletteron"Inspection"byHarold Best-Devereuxwishtomakethefollowingcomments anddevelopthefundamentallogicalittlefurther. Takinghispointsinreverseorder:
BoxSpar—Theprovingofaboxsparisdoneby complyingwiththeDrawings&MaterialSpec. andsubsequentinspectionbythelicensedengineerpriortocovering.
Apilotiskeptunderdualcontroluntilheisconsideredsafetooperatealone.
CGcalculations:Refermyarticle.Howmany privatepilotsunderstandfullywhyandhow calculationsaremade?
FuelSystems:EtisfullpracticeintheServicesat least,tocarryoutduplicatechecksandflow checksonfuelandoilsystemswhichhavebeen disturbed.Howmanypilotshavehadanemergencysituationcausedbyaleakineitherorboth systems?
Controls—flyingandengine:Assumingthatthe aircraftisfullyserviceable,inallotherrespects, imaginetheconsternationofapilotwhofinds thatacontroloperatesinthewrongsense,is incorrectlylockedresultingintheoperating mediumdetachingitselforinsufficientrangeof movementtocopewithaparticularsituation.
IagreethatthePFAistosimplifythingsforus,but ourcontinuedsuccessfuloperationalsodependson safety,notonlytoourselvesandaircraft,butalsoto otherpeopleandpropertyofthiscountry.Ipersonally havefoundfuelandoilleaks,incorrectlockingand incorrectrangeofmovementofcontrolsonduplicate checks.Thepointisthatweareallhumanand,regardlessofexperience,weallmakemistakesandour responsibilityistoensurethatanaircraftisfullyairworthyevenifapilotmaynotbe.
Eventhoughnotofficiallycalledfor,itisgood practicetohavesomeonecheckfuelandoilsystemson initialgroundrunafterservicing.
Surelysafetyisthecriteriatogoby.
Yoursfaithfully,
B.F.G. LISTER Limu HAWKS, LYNWICKSTREET. R uDelwicK.SUSSEX.
LEVIGO-PLANE
DearSir,
I havereadtheobservationsintheMarch/April issueof Popular/Thing andreferringtotheLeviGoPlane.
Theinformationyouhavepublishedisfarfrom accurateandIwouldalsobegratefulifyouwould respectbothMr.Levi'sandourownwishforno publicitytobeaccordedtothisaircraftuntilitis appropriate.Iknowthatenthusiastsliketolearnevery snippetofinformationpossiblebutalsothepeople intimatelyinvolvedwouldappreciatetheirprivacy beingrespecteduntilsuchtimeastheyarereadyto makeanypublicannouncements.
Wewillsendyousomeinformationwhenandas appropriate.
Yoursfaithfully,
HAROLDBEST-DINER LUX
EUROPEANREGION OFFICE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL E.A.A.
Letters
20 PopularFlyinv.,MayLune,1975
DearSir.
Wethinkyourreaderswillbeinterestedtoknow or theformationofTheMilitaryAircraftOwners'Association.Thishasbeenformedtoassistandpromotethe certification,ownershipandoperationofexmilitary andhistoricaircraftthat,forvariousreasons,cannot qualifyforaCertificateofAirworthiness.Thiswillbe doneinconjunctionwiththeC.A.A.andaspecial permittoflyisbeingdevisedtoallowreasonablefreedomtothistypeofaircraft.
Ownersofmilitaryandhistoricaircraftaretobe encouragedtojoinanditisourintentiontohold fly-insandtoparticipateinairdisplays,etc.Weintend tokeeprecordsofsparessupplyandatechnical library.aswellastocollectspecialtools,etc.
Atechnicalandoperationscommitteeisbeing formed.Fullmembershipislimitedtoownersofex militaryandhistoricaircraft.Associatedmembership isavailabletopersonswhowishtobearoundmilitary aircraftandtoassistintheiroperation.
Wewouldhepleasedtoh•arfromallthosepeople interested.
Yourssincerely,
D.E.BIANCHI
Overthenextfewweekstheownerwastracedand ittranspiredthatRMZhadbeenupforsaleforsonie time,soadealwasmadeandchequeandLogBooks wereexchanged.ThenIrealisedIhadanunairworthy plane120milesaway.andnofriendsorrelativesinthe haulagebusiness.Eventuallyafterfruitlesstripsto locallorryandtruckhirers,1sayfruitlessbecauseof thepricetheyquotedmetobringtheplanehome,I hitontheGlidertraileridea,andlivingquitenear toDunstableIcalledinandsawManagerJohn JeffrieswhosaidIcouldusetheirQueenMaryT2I TrailerfortheweekendprovidingIcouldfindsome thingtotowitwith.HiringaLandRoverwascomparativelyeasy,andsoitwasthatmyfriendMike Vaisey(ofLutonMinorfame)andmyfatherand squeezedintothecabandsetoffforShobdonat 5o'clockonaSaturdaymorningtowingthe30ft. trailer.
AfteroneortWOminoradventureswiththetrailer brakesinChippingNortonwearrivedtostartdismanthngtheTurb.Lookingbackonwhatwelearnt thatdayIainsurewecoulddismantleanotherTurbulentmuchquickerthanwedidthen.Wetoiledall dayandnearlybrokeourbacksliftingthefuselageoff thesupportedwing.
Whofirstcalledthemultralights
DearSir,
ManypeoplewhenseeingTurbulentG-ARMZask meifIbuiltitmyself.
UnfortunatelyIcannotclaimthatdistinction,itwas builtbyRollasonsin1961atCroydon.
Althoughithasbeenflyingforayearsinceitsoverhaul.Iwonderedwhetheryoumightliketoknowhow theaeroplanecameintomypossession.
Theaeroplanefirstcametomynoticequiteby chance,whenanumberofthe(nowdefunct)Chiltern FlyingClubmemberstravelledtoShobdon,bycar,to lookataJodelG-ATLVwithaviewtopurchasingit fortheclub.
Whileothermembersofthepartywerebeingtaken foraflight.I.withmyusualcuriosityatstrangefields. wentsnoopingaroundthehangarandfoundRMZin acornerlookingrathersorryforherself.Although obviouslynotairworthyshewascomplete.andhad beenasmartlittlelady.Withallduerespecttomywife (thenmyfiancee)itwas"loveatfirst sight", thelittle yellowladyseemedtobecryingoutforaffection.
Atlastitwasallsafelypaddedandstowedonthe trailerandwesetcourseforHemelHempstead arrivingat1a.m.Sundaymorning.
Iwasfortunateinbeingabletohavetheplanein myfather'sgarageanditwasheretherestorationtook place.DadandIre-coveredthetailplaneandelevator inthekitchen.Thefuselagewasre-sprayedandthe enginewasgivenatopoverhaul,onenewmag.was fittedalongwithanewchainandvariousothersmall partswerereplaced.
Althoughwestrippedthewingandrepairedoneor twobrokenribs,itwasre-coveredbyBillBowkerat RushGreenandassembledinhishangar,unfortunatelyjusttoolatetoappearatSywell1973.Thelittle yellowladyfirstflewafterherrebirthonSeptember 2nd,1973,andwaslaterflownbyafriendtothefarm stripthatwastobecomehernewhome.
Thiscomparativelyminorrestorationwasgreatfun bothforDadandlandwelearntalotabouttheplane. VisitorstoSywell1974mayrecallseeingtheYellow Turf,.parkednexttoMike'ssuperbprize-winning LutonMinor.
InconclusionIwouldliketomakethepointthat althoughnoexpensewassparedwithnewpartsasand wheretheywerenecessary,thetotalcostoftheproject includingthepurchasepricewasnomorethanone wouldexpecttopayforasecondhandfamilycar,and believemcit'salotmorefunthanasecondhand familycar.
Yoursfaithfully.
GREGSHEPHERD
MeNnetrteNSW,
BIGGINHILL AIRFAIR 16-17-18MAY,1975
timesofarrival. Visit thePFAStandandsignthe visitors'book. PopularFlying,May-June,1975
PFAMembers maylandfreeof chargeonproductionofmembershipcard.SeeNOTAMfor
21
CENTREOFGRAVITYCALCULATIONS-=
Calculationsareasfollows:-
LeverAB-Aircraft.
Positive
Negative(FWD)Weght-5lb.x10ins.=-50(!bins.) -71b.xSins.=-35(„„) (AFT)Weight-10Ib.x12ins.==120 -10Ib.x20ins.=V200(„„) „-251b.x25ins.=+625
TotalWeight=5711bs.TotalMoments-+945-85 =+860
Therefore,distanceC.G.frompivotpoint=860
57 =+15.tins.(beingpositive,theC.G. pointisaftofthepivot).
PivotPoint=ReferenceorDatumpoint(oftenthe leadingedgeofthemainplane).
Weights=Weightsactingontheaircraft.
DistancesinInches=Leverarm,or,distancethe weightisactingfromthepivot point.
C.of0.=Pointwheretotalweightisactingonthe lever,measuredininchesfromthepivot point.
TheCG.pointwillalterasweightsarevaried,e.g., fuelusedduringflight,numberandweightofpassengerscarried,luggage,etc.
TocalculateCG.positionforanyparticularcondition,usingtheabovefigure,eachweightismultiplied bythedistancefromthepivotpointtogivethe Moment,i.e.,theforceactingonthepivotpoint causedbytheparticularweight.Then,themoments areaddedtogethertogivetotalmomentsandthe weightsaddedtogivetotalweight.Bydividingthe totalmomentsbythetotalweight,theresultisthe distancefromthepivotpointwherethetotalweightis acting,i.e.,theCG.point.
EachaircrafthasarangeofmovementfortheCG. point,withinwhichtheaircraftwillremaininasafe flyingcondition.ShouldtheCG.pointmoveoutside thisrangetheriskisthat(a)therewillbeinsufficient
trimcontrol;(b)Intheextreme,therewillbeinsufficientelevatorcontroltomaintainasafeflying attitude.BearinmindthatCG.positionsareusually Aftofthepivotorreferencepointandthusgivea basictaildownattitude.Theelevatorthenprovidesthe extraforcetoensureabalancedcondition,butis limitedinitsrangeofmovement.
TheweightschedulelististheEmptyweight(usually includingoil)actingatXins,aftoftheReEpoint.It alsogivestheMax.AllUpWeight.Thedifference betweenthetwoisthevariableweight,i.e.,weightof pilot,crew,passengers,fuel,luggage.Itisimportant forsafety,thatyouknowthat,whetheronaSunday tripwithyourfriends,oronatouringtrip,thatthe CG.pointwillbeinlimits,atthestart,duringandat theendofyourtrip.
AgoodpracticeistocalculatetheCG.forseveral conditionsthatyoumightflyunder,andkeepthe pieceofpaper,withtheweightschedule,intheaircraftallthetime.Isawoneinstancewhereanaircraft tookoff,enrouteforFrance,andhadtolandimmediatelysothattheloadcouldbemovedforwardto enabletheaircraft,notleast,thepassengers,enjoya safeflight.
Ifyou'renotsureaboutit,asksomeone.Betterthat thanbendyourself,friendsandaircraft.
CALP.LEAFLETS
WehaveobtainedfromtheC.A.A.Printingand PublishingServicestwentyeachofthefollowing leafletsforthepurposeofformingacompendiumof usefulinformationtoincorporateintheP.F.Handbook:-
BL/6-7 SyntheticResinAdhesives.
BL/6-13 LockingandRetainingDevices.
BL/6-24 Cables,SplicingandSwaging.
BL/6-25 FabricCovering.
BL/6-26 Doping.
BL/1-4
BL/I-11 EngineeringDrawings.
BL/2-3
BL/2-6
BL/3-4
BL/3-5
BL/4-I
BL/4-2
BL/4-3
WeightandBalanceofAircraft.
BoltsandScrewsofBritishManufacture.
NutsofBritishManufacture.
MeasuringInstrumentsBasedonthe VernierPrinciple.
MeasuringInstruments-Micrometers.
Corrosion,ItsNatureandControl.
CorrosionRemovalandRectification.
CorrosionMethodsofProtection.
BL/6-1 SoftSoldering.
BL/6-2 Brazing.
BL/6-4 Ocy-Acetylene.
BL/6-6 TimberConversion-Spruce.
BL/6-29 Riveting.
BL/6-30 TorqueLoading.
ThecompendiumisobtainablefromtheP.F.A. Officeatacostof£2.00plus34pencesurfacepostage intheU.K.
Ifthereisasufficientdemandfortheseleaflets furthercopiesmaybeobtainedbutwehavebeen advisedbytheC.A.A.thatanincreaseinpriceis inevitable.
Thispricewillbenotifiedassoonaswearein a positiontoorderfurtherleaflets.
Theseleafletsarestronglyrecommendedfortheir technicalcontentandnoconstructor,would-beconstructor,ultra-lightenthusiastorP.F.A.inspector shouldbewithoutthem.
Negative(FWD)A PivotPoint 71q5") Lever C.G.4, BPositive(AFT) 251b(25") 51b(10") 10Ib(12") 4,101b(20")
22
PopularFlying,May-June,1975
BookReview
FlightBriefingforPilotsVol.I.Anintroductory ManualofFlyingTrainingbyN.H.BirchandA.E. Bramson.
FlightBriefingforPilotsVol.2.AnAdvancedManual ofFlyingTrainingbyN.H.BirchandA.E.Bramson. BothpublishedbyPITNIANPUBLISHINGLTD.atVoll— f2-00andVol.2-0-00respectively.
TheFlightInstructor'sManual.ByWilliamK. Kershner. PublishedbyIOWASTATEUNIVERSITYPRESS. AMANA,IOWA,U.S.A.380pp.
Co-incidentally,therecameintothisofficewithin thespaceofafewweeks,threebooksonflying training.TwowererevisedvolumesoftheBirchand Bramson"FlightBriefingforPilots"andonean Americanpublicationaimedattheflyinginstructor. Thesimilarityleadsmetoreviewallthreetogether thoughtwoarefortherecipientandonetheteacher.
Britishinstructionhasforlongbeenheldupasthe zenithofflyingtraining.Almostcertainly,thishasbeen basedontheextremelyhighstandardsetbythe militaryrequirementsoftheRoyalAirForce'sCentral FlyingEstablishment.Throughtheformativeyearsof privateflyinginthelateTwentiesandThirties,most instructionwasgbyenbyexR.F.C.orR.A.F.personnel,atrendcontinuedintotheFifties.Inthe Sixtiesaroseanewbreedofflyinginstructor,competentintheair,perhapsslightlysuspectintheclassroom,andundoubtedlysubjecttocommercial pressures.Legislationhasbeenbasedonstandardsset inearlierandlessbusytimes,anditisrelevantto querywhether35or40hourstrainingissufficientin themoderncomplicatedenvironment.Equally,one mayaskifsomeonewithamere150oddhours personalflyinghasenoughexperiencetoactasan instructortoothers.Aninsistenceonhigherstandards orgreaterflyingachievementwouldhitmanysmall groupsandflyingclubshard,aswellashurtingthose AEI'swhoregardafewmonthsasaninstructorasa steppingstonetothehoursneededforaCPL.Many, ifnotall,arededicatedtoflying,butthededicated instructorisararaavis.
Fortheinnocentatthesharpendofmodernflying instruction,thebooksofN.H.BirchandA.E. Bramsonarealmostabible.Recommendedand availableatalmostallflyingschoolsaswellasthe mainbooksellers,theyhavebeenforsomepastyears thebasisofallcivil,privateandsomecommercial aspirantpilots'learning.
Withoutdoubt,theycontainawealthofgood instruction,butinmyopinion,thesethirdandfourth editionsdonotgoquitefarenoughtoimpressupon thestudentpilothisorherresponsibilitytootherusers ofthenowcrowdedsky.Insufficientattentionispaid totheuseofradiointheabinitiostagesoftraining. Thedaysoflaunchingstudentsoncross-country qualifyingNAVEX'snon-radioarepast.Thatthe studentmaygooutandbuyhimselfanon-radio equippedaeroplane,orhappily,ifamemberofthe PFA,buildonehimself,isnoexcuseforalackof knowledgeofhowtoconductthebasiccommunicationprocedures.Thecommercialschoolsinthis country,suchasA.S.T.,C.S.E.andtheCollegeat Hamble,traininginmanycasesnon-Englishspeaking students,stillmanagetogettheirpupilsusingproper R/Ttechniquesbythesolostage.Thereissimplyno excuseforanylesserstandardfromthecluborschool preparingtheprivatepilotforthePPL.Ofcourseuse ofradioiscoveredinlatervolumes.Butmanystudent
PopularFlying,May-June,1975
pilotsgettheirPPLbeforetheythinkaboutbuying Vols.3&4.
Onefurtherpoint.Inthe"FlightBriefing-seriesof booksinsufficientemphasisisgiventothedifference betweenflightplanning,i.e.,thedrawingupofthe detailsofone'sflight,checkingweatherNOTAMs, etc.,andfilingaFLIGHTPLAN.Itisunfortunate thatweshouldusethetermflightplantodescribe thatdocumentrenderedtothebriefingofficeorair trafficcontroltoadviseofourintentions.Itwouldbe betterdescribedasaformofFLIGHTINTENTION. Flightplanningisutterlyessential.Filingaflightplan isanexcellentFREEmethodofensuringthatsomeone startslookingbeforethefinalcoldsetsin.
FlightBriefingforPilots,Vol.I,Anintroductory ManualofFlyingTrainingandVol.2,Anadvanced ManualofFlyingTraining,bothbyN.H.Birchand A.E.Bramson.Bothareexcellentintheirway,both carryallthatthecurrentPPLstandardrequires.One mustask"Isthestandardexaminationenoughin 1975?"andergoarethesemanualsasgoodasthey couldbe. I honestlydon'tthinktheyare.
Letmenowturnto"TheFlightInstructor's Manual-byWilliamK.Kershner.lamquitesurethat theauthorknowsnomorenorlessthanAlanBramson. Equally I amsurethathecangetitovertohispupil farbetter.Bethatpupilastudentinstructororaraw studentpilot.Thisbookisanexemplaryexampleof Americanknow-howininstructionaltechniques. Duringthewar,theAmericanstrainedsomeseveral thousandmeninthetechniquesofradiofaultfinding andrepair.Nonehadanypreviousexperienceinthe art.Allweretrainedfirstinwhatisnowcalled electronicsandtheninradiorepairbyinstructionin layman'stermsbyaseriesofbooksgoingunderthe generictitleof"CommonCore".Thesesetout, withoutreferencetoformulaeorobtusetechnicalities, thefundamentalsofreceivers,transmittersandradar sets.TheseenabledthefarmboyfromIowatoservice andkeepoperatingessentialequipmentinthePacific theatreofWar.FromtheStateUniversityofIowa comesthebookunderreview.Perhapstheconnection istenuousbutthetechniqueofinstructionremainsthe same.Simplelanguage,simpledrawings,often humoroustomaketheirpointandallthemoretelling forit.
Thisisabigbook,afoothighandteninchesacross, convertittometricifyouwill,380pagesofpurejoy fortheinstructor,fortheadvancedstudentandprivate pilotwhowishestodomorethanflyfromBigginHill toRochester.
Thelistofcontentsrunstoapageandthree, quarters,sufficetogivethemainsectionheadings: FundamentalsofFlightInstruction,Pre-Solo Instruction, FirstsolotothePrivateCertificate(read PPL.),AdvancedVFRInstruction,Introductionto AcrobaticInstruction,InstrumentInstruction.Absolutelymassesofinformativediagrams,andsuperb, easilyunderstoodtext.Ofcoursesomedetailsare purelyAmerican,andgiveusaninsightintotheir tidier(andmuchstricter)legislation,but99%isflying pureandnotsosimple.Withagoodindex,there's enoughreadingtolastthenexttenyearsofBritish flyingweather.
Thosewhohavereadpreviousbookreviewsfootnoted"PMD"willknowthatIdonotlightlygooverboardforapublication.I'dswimalongwayto retrievethisoneifitwerefloatingaway.
P.M.D.
23
POPULARFLYINGispublishedin Januaryandthereafterinalternate months.Alladvertisementstobesent to:AdvertisementManager,Popular FlyingAssociation,1erminalBuilding. ShorehamAirport,Shore-ham-by-Sea, Sussex.
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WANTED. PhotographsofanyBritishbuiltaircraftregisteredoutsidetheU.K. Postcardsizeblack&whiteprintspreferredbutanythingwilldoincluding 35mmcolorslides.Reasonablepricespaid ornegsborrowedforreproductionand thenreturnedtoowner.Pleasecontact AlanDunnat130AbbeyRoad,Sompting, Lancing,Sussexwithdetails.
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GIPSYMAJORHANDBOOKS. These bookscovereverythingyouneedtoknow aboutjustrunningthemortakingthem down.Thisisafullworkshopmanual goingintothetotalworkshopoverhaul requirements.Almost300pageswith about1,000illustrationsofthebroken downGipsyengine.Allofferedbrandnew for£5.Anyonewithanaircraftwitha Gipsyenginehasagifthere!OrderstoBill Overy,Folkestone76976.
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Sgt.P.Gladstone ofNCOi/c.InstBay, R.A.F.Einningley,S.Yorks,wishesto makecontactwithotherR.A.F.Members buildingPFAprojectsthroughoutthis Countryandabroad,withaviewtoperhapsforminganR.A.F.Strutwithinour organisation.HeisbuildinganF.11,but wouldlikeotherRoyalAirForceMemberstocontacthim.
PARTBUILTVP l—Fuselage,rudder, stabilator,wingribs,minorbits,Buyer collects,£130.EnquiriestoBox832,PFA Office,Shoreham.
ENGINE—NewVW1700cc.,67bhp.at 3,300rpm.Completewithcart's,oilcooler, fuelpumpandtachodrive.Convertedto duallOmmplugs.£275.R..WatlingGreenwood08253242.
AIRCRAFT WANTED—Titch,Mono, Wotorsimilar.Completeornearcompleteonspecialcal.CofA.DaveRiley, FARDE8,AirRadarFlight,R.A.E. Cosford,WolverhamptonWV73EX.
PLEASEDON'T throwawaytheprogrammefromyourlocalflyingdisplay. Advertisingpostersandairdisplayprogrammesanyyearanycondition„avidly soughtbyenthusiasticcollector.All correspondenceacknowledged.StuartMcKay,16ThatchersDrive,Maidenhead, Berks.
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COMPASS WANTED--P8orPII,large sizeventuriandtwocrossoverpintype shoulderharnessalsowanted.G-AZZZis ingreatneed!OfferspleasetoStuartMcKay,16ThatchersDrive,Maidenhead, Berks.
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AIRCRAFTFOR SALE—StolpStarlet— G-AZTV."Ticker'pressureforcesreluctantsale.OfferstoSidMiles,WestEnd, Haynes,Bedford(740385).
LOCTITEFORSALE—gradeAAin smallphials15peach.Also,56-"BSE 3.6"hightenseleaircraftpropellerbolts 20peach,postfree.DonPeacock,Meadow Cottage,ArdleighHeath,Colchester, Essex,C077QH.
ENGINE—ContinentalA65-8Nilhrs. smoh.Completewithmags,harness,oil tankandnewcarb£550withlogbooks. EricClutton,92NewlandsStreet,Shelton Stoke-on-TrentST42RF.
FLYINGSUIT—standardblueR.A.F. issue,fitsixfooterofslimbuild£7.Australiangreenpoplintropicalsuit,sizeas above£7.R.A.F.blueclothhelmetcompletewithearpads,phones,oxygenmask andmike£7.50.D.Buries,61Oxford Road,Abingdon.
ENGINE--Franklin4AC-15050hp., 4Cylinder,newplugs,shieldedharness flags.carb,etc.CompletewithTaylorcraftmount,exhaustsystemandSensenich prop.Nologs,£350.Otherenginesavailablefromtimetotime.EricClutton,92 NewlandsStreet,Shelton,Stoke-on-Trent. ST42RF.
FORSALE—copiesof PopularFlying frommid1957tomid1963andSept'71 toDec.'72. Sailplane&Gliding, Jan.'65to Jan.'74. Sailplane and Glider, Jan.'51to June55(bound).Offersinvited,orwould exchangeforaircraftinstruments,partsor plans.M.G.Adams,3SchoolRoad, Fawley,Hants.SO4ITA.
WANTED—Experiencedhome-builderto helpcompletemyBD-5project,herein Majorca.Willsupplyapartment,small salaryorexpenses.Idealforretiredcouple lookingforextendedvacation.Weather heresimilartoSouthernCalifornia. Expectprojecttolastsixmonthstoone year.Allpackageshereexcept70hpmotor, electricalandretractableassemblies.For informationwrite:D.Chilcott,"ElPeno-, Esporlas,Majorca,Spain.
ENGINE—VW412,1700cc,80bhpat 4,900rpm1974,4,000miles.Suitablefor conversionforaerouse.Muchsimpler conversionthanearlierVW's.Workshop Manual,£130.AlanBruniges01-859-3504 (SE9).
ANNUALDINNER&PRESENTATIONOFTHEAWARDS —SYWELLRALLY—
SATURDAYEVENING,5thJULY,1975
RESERVATIONSFORDINNERTICKETSARESTILL BEINGACCEPTED.Inordertoaccommodatealarger numberofMembersattheabovefunctionthanhashitherto beenpossible,wehavearrangedforalargeextramarqueetobe erectedthisyearandhaveobtainedquotationsforanoutside cateringfirmtoprovideuswithaverycomprehensivebuffet typemeal,forwhichthechargewillbe£3perhead.Thecaterers willneedtoknowthenumbersinvolvedbeforetheeventandwe donotthereforeanticipatethatticketswillbeavailableatthe Rally.Asyouknow,weusuallyselloutwellbeforethemeal inanycaseand,althoughwearearrangingtocopewithlarger numbers,itisessentialtogetyourticketreservationinearly. Orderscanonlybeacceptedwithremittanceandshouldbesent tothePFAOffice,whowillacknowledge.Ticketswillthenbe availableforcollectionfromthePFAstandatSywellforthose whohavereservedthem.
24 PopularFlying,May-June,1975
WANTED.StarterringorLycoming 0-235C.FORSALE—TwoCessnawing tanks,about15gallseach—anyoffers? RidleyKendall,3TheMount,Throckley Newcastle-on-Tyne.675876.
MATERIALSwantedforbuildingTaylor Monoplane,especiallyTimber,spruce, etc.Musthavereleasenotes.Pleasedstate quantityandpricetoBobCole,52Kinross Avenue,Lipsom,Plymouth,PL47EX.
AIRCRAFT—AusterAutocrat.Excellent order,CirrusMinor2A,45hourstorun, £600ornearoffer.NewCofAabout£50 extra—contactMr.Cox,19ChurchRoad, WinterbourneDown,BristolBS171BX.
MAGNETOS—ScintillatofitVW£15., Wipac4cylinder,new,£20,Scintillafit ford£15.ApplyMr.Cox,19Church Road,WinterbourneDown,BristolBS17 1BX.
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