Popular Flying May/June 1976

Popular Flying

HomeConstructors— SLINGSBY'S

STOCKTHEBESTINAIRCRAFTMATERIALS: SitkaSpuceforspars;FinnishBirchPlyforleading edges;Ashforenginebearersandfairleads;GaboonPly forfuselageplanking;MultiLaminatedBeechforpropellorblanks;GlassCloth;EpoxyResin,Polyester Resin,GelCoatandFlameResistantResinforcowlings andfairings;Perspexforcanopiesandwindscreens:Steel Tube,SteelSheet,AlloyTube,AlloySheet,AlloyBar andSectionsforallmetalparts;StreamlineSteelTube forStruts;MadapolamFabric,TauteningDope,AluminiumDope,FinishingDopeforcoveringplusallthe accessoriesyouneedincludingWheels,Shackles,Pins, Nuts,Bolts,Tyres,Tubes,DiscBrakes,Parachutes,etc. WeSTOCKtheASH360,360-channelV.H.F.Radio,1 microvoltsensitivity,2wattsR.M.S.output,lowpower consumption,willworkfromadrybatteryforaircraft withoutelectrics.PYEVANGUARDSon129.9and 130.4megacycles.AircraftAerials;CarAerialsfor V.H.F.Maeneticbasejustclampsonyourroof.Microphones;Headsets;Plugs,etc.

InstrumentsinstockincludeBendix1.8.Horizons; F.A.A.-approvedwithlowconsumptiontransistorinverters;A.S.I.s:Altimeters;Turn&Slipswithrelease notes;V.S.I.s;Clocks:OxygenSystems.

WritefordetailsorsendforCatalogue-50p. (Refundablewithorders)

FLYINGFORFUNfromAtoZ

Altimeters.ASIs,AGS,Adhesives,Alternators.

Betas,Brakes,Bolts,Batteries,BanksBrackets,Bushes Condors.Carburettors,Cabks,CylinderTernpKits,Controls, Crankshafts.Canopies.Confines,Cylinders,Compasses. Dope,Drises,Ducting,DrainValves, Engines(Continental,Gipsy,LyeonainBArden)),Extinguishers.ExhaustPipes.

Filters,FuelCocks,FuelPumps,Fittings,FlyingWires,Fabric,Fork Ends,Fasteners.

Generators.CIMeters,Gyros,Glue,Grommets,Gaskets,Gauges. Harness,Hinges,llomebuiidersService.

Instruments,InvertedSystems,InformationPackages,Inspection Panel,. dodels,JubileeClips,Jets.

KitstbrVWconversionsandCylinderTemperature.

Leads,lBgBooks,LandingLights_ Magnetos,Manuals,MasterCylinders,MistureControls. NavigationFights,Nameplates,Notices,Nuts,Needles. OilPressure.OilTemperatureGauges,0Rings.

Plans,Propellers,Plugs,Plywood,Pins,Pito!.Heads.Plexiglas, Pulleys,Pismns.

ouNkReleaseFasteners.

RevCipuners,RaieofClimbindiCators, Rod Lnds,Rings,Racing specialists.

Stampes,SmokeSysrenn,Starters,Shackles,Spruce,Spinners, Sssnclies,Spats,Screws.

Tigers.Turbulent,.Tyres,Tubek Turnbucklen,Tailwbeels,Tanks, Tape,TossingHooks.

Undercarriages.

VoltageRegulidors,Ventilators,VacuumPunts,VaIses.

Wheels,Wires,Windscreens

XeroxCopyingService. YourenutdriesarealwaYsweIcome.

Zerohourengineoverhauls.

Andwrite,callorvisit

ROLLASONAIRCRAFTANDENGINESLIMITED BRIGHTON.HOVE&WORTHINGJOINTMUSIC.AIRPORT, SHOREHAM-By-SEA,SUSSEX,BN4Wi

Telephone:Shoreharn-hy-Sea(Sussex)62680

FLYINGONA BUDGET?

Whynothavemoretospendonyouraeroplane andequipment?

Ourcredittermsforinsuranceneedcostyou nothing.

FROMTHEPFAOFFICE:

ItisregrettedthattheP.F.A.cannolongerabsorbthe currencyfluctuations.increasedpostalchargesand generalinfladon.andtheleflowingchargeswillhave immediateeffect.

AllpricesincludeVAT(whereapplicable)andaresukrect tochangewithoutnoticeduetoincreasesinpricesand currencyfluctuations.

CashwithOrderplease

Flying

The views expressedinPOPULARFLYINGarethoseofthe contributorsandnotnecessarilythoseoftheP.F.A.ThePublishers retaintheright10relnseorwithdrawadvertisementsattheirdiscretionanddonotacceptliabilityjhrdelayhipublicationorfor clericalorprinter'serrorsalthougheverycareistakentoavokl

PFAEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President:

A/CMOR.G.J.C.PAuf,C.I3.,D.EC M.A..C.Eng.,E.RAe,S

Chairman:

D.E.FAUi.KNtRBRYAN]

Treasurer:

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

EngineeringOfficer.

F.I.V.WAEKIIR,CEng.,E.R.Ae.S.

CommitteeSlemhers:

DDLICiBIANCHI PHERCHANNON EDWARDDAVIS LESDRAM joHNDLINFI>RD ALANDUNN MissPATllotAns ERNIEIbutsumr. LAURIEMANSEIILI) ROBINOWLN JoIINPOIFIECAR)IImREACAN ABM'VAISEV ButWIIKS BDLNAzi)0DHA5I5

LEADINGARTICLEWRITTENBYINVITATION

Ifyougohacktothefirfitofmyarticles ontheBritishultralightevolutionyouwill seehowwehoveadvancedin50yearsof aeroplanesforrecreationaluse.

InthisseriesIhavetriedtokeepwithin thePEAparametersofIor2seats;125hp rind1750lbsALIW.BecauseofthepopularitVofMilesPercivalandAusterdesigns poweredbyGipsyengineswehavehadto strayoutsideofthoselimits.

ReadagaintheguidelineslaiddownIbr thedesignerofthe'Moth'(PEJan.f75) andyouwillsechowlittletheserequirementshavechanged.Theycouldverywell beadapiedforatwoseatPEAdesignof thefuture.Theaeroplanemaynotchange hutthepoliticalenvironmenthas.Wewdl nowconsidertheproblemsofthefuture. I.FuelcostshaveimnainedIfemarka hly consistentatabout20-25%;ofthecost ofhiring a twoseataeroplane,probablynearer33",,ofaprivateowner's outlay(secmyleiterinPE).Thecostis stilltherehowever,andthereisnothing wecandoaboutitshortofgettingtax reductionforaeroplanes.

Hangarageishecon-angincreasingly difficulttoobtain,thereforeweDMIsI considerfolding\mapandsmall -lockupsheds.Eventhesemayhe difficult10provideatanairfieldorIM possibletobuildatafarmstripdueto planningregulations.Ultimatelywe mayhave(a)toremovethewingsand trailertheaircrafthackhome.Ulf designlightweighthangarsorsheds capableofwithstandingsay80mph windsandtheweightof6)!snow.

'o 4,? EtriNG oc->

Founded1946

Individualmembership:0.50p.a.

TheJewelingandrepresentativebodyinthe UnitedKingdomofcaratcawconstructors andoperatorsofultra-lightandGroup operatedaircraft

P•EA.(ULAIR)Ltd

COVERCOMMENT-

MikeWhittaker'sMW-2Ci-BDDX, sponsoredbyMikeRobertson,isseenat Bodminpriortofirstflight_

Photo:R.Hawke),

PopularFlying,May-June,1976

Py APublicaerodromeshavesteadilyde creasedinnumbersforthepast20Orso yearsandthistrendisunlikelytohe reversed.

Fortunatelyincreasinginnumbersisthe farmstripbutmostofthesehavetheirown problemssuchasgradient,lack of fuelling facilitiesandperhapstheneedtofenceoff acoupleofdozenbullocksbeforeyonl can fly!However,theprivatestripistheonly solutionandwemustalllobbyourlocal faFMingcommunityN.B.-farmersdo notwantagreatuseoftheirfacilitiesfor fearoflocalreactionanditisforthis reasonthattheyareunderstandinglyreluctanttoletstrangerslandattheirstrip oreventodivulgetheirwhereabouts. Hencethelackofa'nation-widelanding stripdirectory'whichsomeelementshave calledfor.

AirspaceAverycontentioussubject,hut

eversinceAlanCobhambroughtaviation tothemassestheneedforcontrolledarea hasgrown--thefirstappearinginthemid thirties.IFYOUFINDTI-IATGOVERNMENTREGULATIONSRESTRICT YOURLOCALFLYING,INFORM THEPEACOMMITTEE.WEDO HAVEREPRESENTATIONATNAT IONALLEVEL.

Aircraftequipment

EngineTheonlycheapengineatpresent availableisthcVWconversion.Other enginesarebeingdevelopedandofcourse lightAmericanenginesareavailable.IN THEIO0hpBRACKETTHEPEACAN OBTAINTI-IFBRO200ATAREDUCED RATEFORITSMEMBERS.

Ex-militaryCPUhavebeenconverted foraircraftuse.Nocommitteewillever provideyouwiththeanswerandultimately awillbethework eione cleverindividual tolindasolutiontoourengineproblem. InstrumentsHeremotorcarinstruments canheadaptedtogiveengineindications atyen,lowcosts.Slipindicatorsare essentialandareeasy10obtainandlit. SecondhandlowreadingASI'sand sensitivealtimetersarchecomingharder tofindasoreafterafttypecompasses.The solutionhereistobuywhatyoucanfrom theadvertisementcolumnsofPOPULAR FLYINGandotherpopularpublications, withaviewtofutureneeds.

RadiosSincethedemise or Shorrockand Nipperradiosnocheapradioisavailable onthissideoftheAtlantic.Theplacesto whereyoumayflywithoutRrrarcincreasinglyrestrictedbutyoumaybe assuredthatthePEAhavestrenuously resistedanyCAAreethitinenttomake carriageofradiomandatory.Radiosfor lightaircraftcanneverbecheapduetothe extremelylimitedproductionrun.

TheaeroplaneThesingleseataeroplane musthecheapest10buildandoperatebut isratheranti-social.Flyingonone'sown soonpallsandcanbecomeaboringexercise,howeverImustagree.oneman'smeat ..Amaximum or twoseatsisallthat canbecertificatedUnderPEAmandate.A r hi-planepohahlytakeslessspace,particularlyifitiswithfoldingwings(thismod existsfortheCurrieWork

ItnowremainsforPEAmealhersto laydownparametersfortheSUM01 aeroplanesweshallhebuildinginyears tocome. JOHNPOTHLCARY

ENJOYTHESKY

WingsandThings

AnotherSywellcameandwent.Sywell'75.theone towhichIhadplannedtoflywith007.myveryown V.P.I.Butwedidn'tmakeit.

ThelongdelayovergettingtheS514steelforthe wingrootfittingsandtheflyingstrutendswaspartly toblame,but I fearthatitwasmainlymyown indolencethatpreventedourappearance.

FormethehighspotofthisgreatPopularFlying occasionwasthedebutofJohnIsaac'sSpitfire,the mostbeautifulhomebuiltaeroplanethatIhaveever seen.Againandagain I wentbacktolookatitand marvelattheperfectionoftheworkmanshipbut,most ofall,atthebrilliantdesignwhichhadcaughtthe impressionoftheoriginalinwhichIhadspentsomany happy.satisfyingandsometimesexcitinghours.

Itis,ofcourse,impossiblesimplytoscaledownan originaldesigntosixtenthsoffullsizeforallsortsof reasons.Forone,youcouldnotgetanythingapproachingasixtenthsscaleMerlinengine,andforanother. youwouldhavetofindamidgettoflyit,sincethefull scaleSpitfire'scockpitwassnugtosaytheleast.There isalsothedreadedReynoldsNumberbarringyour pathwithaflamingsliderule.

Soyouhavetoembarkonatotallynewdesign usingaflatfourcylinder,aircooledenginequite unlikeaMerlin,andhavingacockpitnotmuch narrowerthantheoriginal.Consequently.thebasic parametersarequitedifferentfromthosethatMitchell employed.

Inspiteofallthis,John'slittlecreationisundeniablyaSpitfiresothat,whenBobColestookitup. itsatintheairjustlikeitsprogenitorandeventhe fixedundercarriagedidnotseemtodetractinanyway fromtheimpression.Thesizzlingperformancethathe gaveus,whenheputthelittleSpitthroughitspaces, madeeverythingelselooktame,evenNeilWilliams' polishedaerobaticsthatfollowed,unfortunately, immediatelyafter.

BobColesdidthingsthatIwouldnothavecared totryintheoriginalandcertainlynotinthcsmall amountofairspacethatheused.Onehadtheimpressionofmanandmacffineperfectlymatched,and perfectionisalwayslovelytobehold.John'sgreatgrin irradiatedthewholeairfield.

Unfortunately.familycommitmentsonlyallowed meonedayatSywellandIhadashoppingand enquirylistafootlong,sothatIcouldnotaffordmuch browsingtimewhich,forme,iswhatSywellismostly about.

I woulddearlyhavelikedtotaLktoChrisLodge abouthisbeautifulTaylorMonoplanewhichhasthe samepowerplantandairscrewthataregoingonthe frontof007andfphotographedanumberofother aircraftonwhichIfoundsolutionstoinstallation problemsoverwhichIamcurrentlypuzzling,butI gotnochancesoftalkingtotheirownerswhichcould havebeenmostvaluabletome.

Andsohomewithmyloadofshoppingandpamphletsandcataloguestothebusinessoffinishingoff007's wings.

Buildingwingsseemstotakeforever.Frommy diary,Iseethat I startedcuttingoutribsinAugust 1974andfinallycompletedthewingsinOctober1975. IfwedeductthefivemonthswaitingfortheS514steel

thatstillleavestenmonthsofsparetimeandweekendswhichseemsfartoolongevenforanunskilled, cag-handedamateur. Thereisreallynothingdifficultaboutthesewings. Theyarestraight,ofconstantsectionwithnotaperor washout.Freadin PopularFlying ofallsortsof difficultiesthatotherpeoplehadanticipatedandof sometimeselaborateexpedientsthattheyhadtaken toavoidtheseimaginedproblems,allofwhichworried meconsiderably,but,goingonpreviousexperienceof theexcellenceofEvans'advice.Ifollowedhisinstructionstotheletterandfoundnoserioussnags. drewoutonewingsectionfromEvans'offsetplan directlyontheply,drawinginthecurveswithanaval architect'sspliningbattenandducks.Mybattensare madeofashofasectionthatmeasuresapproximately k"by-,3,7"andtheyaresixfeetlona.Modernnaval architectshavethemmadeofperspexbut I much prefermywoodenones.Theducksareboat-shaped piecesofquarterinchmahoganyabout6incheslong by 2* incheswideloadedwithlumpsoflead2"by4" by1"thickscrewedontopofthem.Withfourducks youcanholdthebatteninplacewithoneedgepassing throughalltheoffsetpointssothatyoucanrunyour pencilroundthebattenandsodrawafaircurve.

Thebattenwillnotcopewiththesmallradius compoundcurveattheleadingedgeandforthisyou willneedeitherapearcurveoraFrenchcurve.Naval architectsusepearcurves,ordinaryarchitectsuse Frenchcurves.Theyareridiculouslyexpensivesoitis bettertoborrowasetifyottdonotalreadyhaveyour own.

Iusedoneribblankcutoutexactly.withIhecentres ofthelighteningholesdrilledthroughwitha drill,asapatternformarkingoutthcremainingribs_ Itisimportanttonoticethat,thoughtheymaylook superficiallyalike.thereareanumberofsmall differencesincertainribs.

I failedtonoticethattheNuinber9ribshavetwo lighteningholesomittedandintheirplaceacoupleof slotsfortheaileronpulleys.

Luckily I hadenough!,"plytoallowforcuttingout twomorenumbernines,butIamleftwithtwospare ribs.IfthisweretheGardenaEden,007couldhave gothimselfacoupleoffemalecompanionsin a way thatevenIanFlennngneverthoughtof.

Withalltheribsroughlycutout,Iplanedtheflat bottomofeachtothepencilline,thenclampedthem togetherinfourbatchesonthejigtableandsanded thetopcurvestomatchthemasterpattern.

Drillingthelighteningholeswasatediousbusiness. Ihadacheapholesawthatdidabouttworibsbefore itdiedonme.Ithenboughtasetofthenecessarysizes fromBlackandDeckeratenormousexpense.Halfway throughthejobmydrillmotorburntout.

BlackandDeckerofferedtotradeitinforanew 4 " chuckmodelwhich,theyreckoned,wouldheman enoughforthejob.

Allthroughthebuildingof007BlackandDecker havebeenconsistentlyhelpfulandfriendly,somuch soonthisoccasionthatTcameoutwithahorizontal drillstandandagrindingattachmentthat Thadnever intendedtobuywhen I wentin.

Withalltheholesandslotscutoutoftheribs.Igot apairofsprucespars,frontandrear,outofthetimber rackandtriedthemonthejigtable. I cutthemto length,gavethemalickortwowiththeplanetotrue themupandmarkedoutforbushandboltholes. I

fittedandgluedthecentrecheekplates.tackedtheply rootendplatesinpositionandthendrilledtheholes forbushesandbolts.

ThisdoneIthreadedontheribs,fittedthedragwire attachmentsandbushes—andrealisedthatIwasstuck untiltheS514steelarrivedforthewingrootend plates.Stuckforfivewholemonths.

IsupposeIcouldhavemadealittlefurtherprogress butIwantedtocheckthefittingofthewingstothe fuselagebeforeinstallingleadingandtrailingedges. torsionboxes,etc.

Afterthesteelarrivedfmusthavefittedthewingsa dozentimes,ateachstageofconstruction,beforethey werestructurallycornplete,andeachtimeitbecamea littleeasierasIlearntthedrillandfoundtheessential toolsandsequencesofassembly.

Thefirstfittingwasimmediatelyafterthewingroot plateshadbeenmadeandinstalled.Ifoundthatthe boltsallwentintoplacewithonlyalittleeasingwith adriftandonlyinacoupleofplaceswasitnecessary touseafile,whichIthoughtwasnottoobadconsideringthattwelveboltshavetobepassedthrough twelvebushesandtwenty-fourplates.

Havingsatisfiedmyselfthatthewingscouldbe matedtothefuselage,theywerereturnedtothejig table.AtthisstageIhadtoremovethecompression struts,because.inmyearlierhastetoassemblethe wings,Ihadforgottentopaintthedragwirefittings. ForspringingthecompressionstrutsinandoutIused alongscrewjackIhadfoundlyingaroundinmy father'sgarage.

Withthefittingsproperlypaintedandthecompressionstrutsbackinplace,Imeasuredupforthe dragwireswhichweremadeuptosizewiththebottle screwsbymyfriendlyrigger.

PopularFlying,May- June,1976

Nowwiththeribslinedupontheirmarksandthe dragwirestightenedupsothatthewholewingwas perfectlysquare,Istartedonthetediousbusinessof gluingincornerblocks—hundredsofthem.

Ihadnotbeenabletogetquarterroundspruceso hadtoacceptitsquareandplaneittoshape.Fortunatelyjustatthisstage,ayoungdoctormovedinto thehouseacrosstheroadbringing Withhimthcfinest collectionofpowerwood-workingtoolsitispossible toimagine.Hehadnosoonerofferedmetheuseof hisspindlethanIwastherewithmypileofspruceand inhalfanhourhadsavedmyselfafortnight'swork.

TheleadingedgesIplanedroughlytoshapeonthe benchandthcncutouttheslotstotaketheforward endsoftheribsandtheintermediatenoseribs. sprungthemintoplaceandgluedandblockedthem tothemainribsbeforefittingthenoseribsandfinally sandedtheleadingedgetoitscorrectcontourusinga femaleprofileguagewhichIhadcutoutofsoftalloy sheet.

Thetrailingedgeswereeasyenoughtofit,clamped flattothejigtableoverasheetofMelinex.

Withtheaileronpulleyboxesinplace,Iturnedthe wingoverandgluedonthebottomplyforthetorsion box.ThenIturneditrightsideup,fittedthestiffeners forthewalkwayandgavethewholeoftheinsideof thewingacoatofvarnishbeforeglueingonthcwalkwayply.

Ihadbuilttheaileronsduringtheperiodofwaiting forthesteelandtheseInowfittedinplaceandbolted intheneutralpositionwithaquarterinchboltthrough theleadingbalanceweightholeandaholethrough theendrib,withaquarterinchplyspacerbetweenthe balancearmandtheendrib.

NowIwasreadyforafittingtomeasureupforthe

WingTip of RobeltLowe'sVPIshuttingdieneli.No. 9 Rib

aileroncontrolcables.OnthenextlinedayIwheeled everythingoutintothegarden,summonedmywife fromthekitchenandwelittedthewingstothe fuselage.Sheilahadtokeepdashinginsideatawkward momentstocheckonthejointthatwascookinginthe oven.

Finally I releasedherandgotoutacoilofthin, plasticcoatedgardenwire,attachedanendtoan aileronborn,threadeditthroughtheribsuntilIarrived atthefuselageonlytofindthatFhadforgottentodrill theholesinthefuselagasidestopassthecablesthrough.

Sheiladidnotsayverymuch,butshelooked distinctlywintrywhen f draggedheroutofthe kitchenagaintounngeverythinginordertodrillfive holesinthefuselagesides—fourforthecablesand oneforthepitotpressuretube.

Afterre-rigging,mythreelengthsofgardenwire navemethecorrectlengthsfortheaileroncontrol cablesandtheseItookwiththeturnbucklestothe riggerforsplicingupthecables.

Withthewingsbackonthejigtable,IgotMiketo lookinsidethetorsionboxbeforeIfittedthetopskin whichIcarriedrightovertotheleadingedge.Atthe sametime I fittedtheleadingedgealloytotheouter endofthewing.

This,inspiteofreportstothecontrary,isreallyno problemIshapeditbylettingalittlehangoverthe edgeofthejigtableandbeatMgitwithamallet.Then fmoveditoutalittlemoreandrepeatedthedoseagain andagain.untilIhadtheapproximateshape.

I punchedaholeateachcornerandtackeditin placeonthewingsothatIcouldmarkthepositions oftheribsinpencil on theundersideofthesheet.Then Tremovedthesheetfromthewing,laiditupsidedown onthebenchandpunchedtheholesforthebrads betweentheribpencillines.Thatwaytherewasno problemandFneversplitasinglerib

AtthisstageIcouldnotfittheinnerleadingedge alloyasIhadgotneitherthejurystrutsnorthe extrudedalloyanglesbywhichtheyareattachedto themainspars,butthesearrivedinduecourseandI hadanotherwingfittingsessiontochecktheexact positioningoftheanglefittingsonthemainspars usingalargesetsquare.Atthesametime I liftedand checkedtheaileroncontrolcables.Mikeattendedthis performanceanddeclaredhimselfgenerallysatisfied exceptfortheleadofoneaileroncablewhichnecessitatedanewaileronhorn.

Thedrawingsare a littleambiguousregardingthe stiffeningoftheunderside or theendribs,butsome stiffeningisobviouslyrequiredtopreventdistortion bythetauteningofthefabricso,withMike'sapproval. Igluedinsomethreequartersquarespruceandthat seemedtodothejob.

Withthejurystrutanglefittingspaintedandbolted inplaceand[Ileinnerleadingedgealloyinstalled,the wingswerestructurallycompleteandreadyfor covering.

Withnofurtherneedforthejigtablemidwinter comingonagain,thisseemedtobeagoodtimeto makeandlitthetransportgearsothatthewingscould behungonthesideoftheaircraft,thejigtabledismantledand007manoeuvredintoitsplacesothat wecouldgetbothcarsintothegarageagain.

ItonlyLookaSaturdaymorningtomakethe transportgearandIhadjustfinishedIntimgit.when MichaelClarkewhoisbuildingankaacsFury arrivedwithhissisterandtwofriendstocollecta sparesheetofalloythatIhadpromisedhim.

Onthepretextofgettingatthealloywhichwas stackedagainstawallbehindthewings,Ipressedthe wholepartyintoservicetohangthewings on theside oftheaeroplane.Ithinkwewereallsurprisedathow

easilyeverythingslippedintoplace,thoughFatleast shouldhavegotovermyearlyamazementattheprecisionofEvans'detaildrawinganddimensioning.

Andso,aftertwoyearsandfourmonthsofleisurely, tooleisurely,sparetimework.007'sairframewas structurallycomplete,thoughcoveringthewingsand fittingtheenginestillremainedtobedone

Attheoutsetwasprettyincompetentintheuse or tootsandattheend f wasnotmuchbetter.Iamalso physicallylazy.

ThatitgotfinishedatallisatributetoEvans' brilliantanduncompromisingdesignconceptionand beautifullycleardrawinganddescriptivetext.

Idonotevenlikebuildingthings.Itookitonasa meanstoanend.becauseTlovelivingandIjust cannotaffordtohireotherpeople'saeroplanes.

Andsoitseemsclearthatif f, ofallpeople,cando itanyoneelsecanmakehimorherselfaV.P.Iand soenjoythesky.

SUNDAY,1stAUGUST,1976

Non-RadioWelcome–GrassField

—No Land ingFees-Free LunchforPFAAircraft

LuckyArrivalPrizes

EvIINTS

Parachuting.Aerobatics,Hovercraft.etc.

VHF22.7 or Tel.061-7894785

Projects

ThemostradicalchangeinthePFAconstructors numberingsystemforsometimehasrecentlytaken place,withJohnWalkernowallocatingnumbersinthe newseriesfortypeshithertocateredforinseparate blocks.Thoseprefixessofarallottedinclude60-Taylor •Citch,62-EvansVP-Iand63-EvansVP-2.Agap existsbetweenprefix47and60—theseweunderstand havebeenallocatedbyEIVWtoexistingPFA-approved manufacturedtypes.

Onaverysadnotewemustreportthelossduring FebruaryoftheLutonMajorG-AVXG—withtheloss oftwolives,includingthatofDavidSpall.Rarelyseen inrecentyears,theMajorXVGwascompletedby. MauriceRobinsonatBlackbusheonbehalfofR.C. Kellett.Formostofitslifeitwasresidentonthestrip atBenenden,Kent,andatthetimeoftheunfortunate accidentweunderstanditwasforsale.Oursympathy isextendedtoallconcerned.

IANBURNETT

PEA71I---Wehavebeentakentotaskforour remarksconcerningthisEmeraudeprojectinthe Nov./Dec.1975issueof PopularFlxing. Thankstoa kindletterfromJ.PMcGrath(secretaryofthe Emeraude711Group).wearenowabletoputthe picturestraight.TheprojectwaspurchasedbyMr. McGrath,AlexBennett.andRowanStephensinearly 1975fromTonyLockyeratSherburn-in-ElmetThe Grouparenowintheprocessofassembly,having borrowedplans.Atpresentthefuselageisbeing workedoninSale,Cheshire,and(aspreviously reported)thewingsarestoredatManchesterAirport. Mr.McGrathalsotellsusthathealsoacquiredthe remains of theLinnetG-ASFWlastyear-thisuould probablyexplainourearlierreferencetoLinnet G-APNSwhichofcourseiswithRobinVoice_Our apologiestothe711Groupforpublishinginaccurate information;wewishthemwellwiththeirproject.

712—WearepleasedtoreporttheF/F of the EmeraudeG-BCCR-thistookplaceatStaplefordon 4.1.76inthehandsofCedricDrinkwaterandisonE thesecondofitsbreedtosodointheU.K.Alex Fisherwasattimeofwritingwellonintothetest nightscheduleandhealsotellsusthattheWaltham FlyingGrouphasnowbeenrenamedtheForestFlying Group.

9I6—WeareadvisedthatD.El.Mitchell'sJodel D.IIprojectwasnotstartedandthatheisatthe momentproceedingwiththeCavalierG-BDEIM/ 01-10133.Interestingly,thismustbeoneofthemost far-flungcurrentprojects,asconstructionistaking placeinHongKong,whereMr.Mitchellworksfor CathayPacificAirways.

1322—BillGreenwood'sFalconarF-I1-3G-AWHY hasbeenaroundforsometimeand,asalreadyreported. wasacquiredbyPatBarkerlastyear.Pataccordingly tookadvantageofthesituationtosecure"personalmarksfortheaircraftand,on23.1.76,itofficially becameG-BDPB(alsowithhisc/nPEB/02).Nowwe hearviathegrapevinethatPatwillnotcornpletethe aircraftafterallandthatitwillprobablymoveon again(makes(here-registrationabitofawasteof timedoesn'tit!).

PopularFlying,May-June,1976

1336-TheGanagobieG-BAMGhasnowpassed 10J.A.Brompton.whoispressingonwithassemblyWeunderstandthatJ.D.Bromptonhasunfortunately died.

1352—WereportedthemosieoftheKittiwake G-BBRNfromLeetoYeoviltonlastyearithasnou beenre-registeredtoJ.W.BatesoftheRN&RMGSA (whichforthenon-initiatedstandsforRoyalNavyand RoyalMarinesGlidingandSoaringAssociationI preferPEAmyself!).

I373—A.V.FrancisritestotellusthathisIsaacs FuryG-AYJYfirstflewinOctober75.Itispowered byanRRC-90-12FandisbasednearDuxford.

1393-Wewereverypleasedtohearthatthefirst British-builtCavalierhasflown—thiswasDavid Buckle'sG-AZFIF1whichwebelievelivesatSunderland/Usworth.Judgingfromtheexternalfinish,the machinemustsurelybeastrongcontenderforthe honoursatSywell76.

1433—ThankstoawelcomeletterfromL.Byatt,we havereceivedthehistoryofthisMonoprojectwhich ueincorrectlyattributedtoG.Pensonrecently.Mr. ByatttellsusthattheprojectwasoriginallycommencedbyA.E.SmithofMcir,Stoke-on-Trent.On. hisdeath,MrByatt'sbrother(amemberoftheNorth StairsLightAeroplaneGroup)boughttheunfinished airframeAshehadonlylimitedtimeavailable.Mr. ByatttookoverandlastMarchhetransporteditto Devon.whereitnowresidesonafarmnearPtymstock. Hereportsthatconstructionisnowproceeding smoothlywiththeassistanceofTimEaves,withtime tocompletionestimatedataroundtwoyears.

1459-LatestTaylorMonoprojecttoberegistcdis R.A.Codling'smachinewhichisnowG-BDRF.

1557—Thepart-completeVP-Ihasnowbeen acquiredbyColinGoodman(ofBarnstormersfame) atSywell.

1800--Mentionedacoupleoftimesrecently,the MinicabG-AVRWisnowresidentatHucknalland isownedbyR.B.Pybus.

2208—Recentlyadvertisedforsaleinanunfinished statewasA.VHorsey'sSiroccoproject.Thoughthis maybedormant,wewonderwhathappenedtoMr. Horsey'sotherbrainchild—theBug—whichwas mootedacoupleofyearsago.

3607—WeunderstandthatA.1.Sutherland'sPazmanyprojecthasnowbeenshelvedinfavourofhis EvansVP-2PFA/7033.

14-10028—Latest BedeBD-5AtoberegistedisP. R.Cremer'saircraftwhichbecameG-BDPCon 23.1.76(alsowiththeI3edec/n3217).

33-10070—Registered toA.J.WatsonofChandlers Ford,Hants.,on5.2.76asG-BDPL,thisprojectis interestinginthatitwasoriginallyadvisedasaChasle Tourbillon(indeedthe33prefixconfirmsthis)—but nowappearsasaFalconarF-II.Inthiscaseaprefix 32wouldbemoreappropriate.PerhapsMr.Watson canputusoutofourmisery!

07-10131—Woody Pusherprojectwasregistedas G-BDSGtoD.S.GingenofCoventryrecently.

29-10141—Yet anotherFredtoappearisR.A. Yates'machinenowregisteredG-BDSA.Alsowith themysteriousc/n"LAS/I803",itistakingshapein Boston,Lincs.

NewProjects

17-10149—PazmanyPL-4.M. L.Martin.12 Hawkenbury,Harlow,Essex.

43-10150—Colibri Mk.2.J.J.Penney,6Brecon Close,Hirwaun,Aberdare,Glatnorgan.

55-10151—TaylorMono. F.G.Sanderson,3GlenfieldTerrace,Galashiels,Selkirkshire.

64-10152—Steen Skybolt.W.R.Penaluna.4 BodinarLane,Newbridge,Penzance,Cornwall.

56-10153—Minicab. A.B.Holloway,111Pack Lane,Kempshot,Basinstoke,Hants.

42-10154—Motor Tutor.J.Dickens,14RockinghamCourt,Rushden, Northants.

17-10155—Pazmany PL-4.B.P.North,21Douglas Road,Aylesbury,Bucks.

09-10156--Pias Special.B.Bray,28KelmarshAve.. WigstonMagna,Leicester.

38-40157—BA-4B. HornetAviationLtd.,TheAerodrome,Sherburn-in-Elmet,Leeds.

38-10158—BA-4B. HornetAviationLtd.,TheAerodrome,Sherburn-in-Elmet,Leeds.

6340159—Evans VP-2.D.Bradley,60ACrusoe Road,Mitcham,Surrey.

5640160—Minicab.A. S.Orne,3AlbanyDrive. Salesbury,Nr.Blackburn,Lancs.

60-10161—TaylorTitch.B. J.flellings,Whipcot Cottage,HolcombeRogus,Wellington,Soms.

56-10162—Minicab. P.C.H.Clarke.203ConeygreeRoad,Stanground,Peterborough.

OtherProjects

G-BDRL—Stits SA-3.TheStitsPlayboyG-BDRL hasbeenaroundintheU.K.foraconsiderabletimeas N73OGF.Itwasbrieflyactiveafteritsarrival,being seenatRedhillandWhiteWaltham--butforthelast coupleofyearsithasbeenstoredatRochester.On 12.2.76itwasregisteredtoD.L.MacLeanatRochesterandwehopetoseemoreofitthisyear.

NipperNews...

G-ARBP.—One ofonlytwoaircrafttofeaturethis time,RBPhasnowbeenboughtbyP.J.Thompson andapparentlyisbasedatRAFMona,Angelsey.

G-AVTB—Thankstoaletter fromJ.Hobday,we havesomedetailedinformationonthisNipper.Ithas recentlybeenacquiredbyS.StrideandJ.Hobdayof theLongMarstonFlyingGroupwhichisbasedat LongMarstonairfieldnearStratford-upon-Avon.

VTBisaMarkIIIaircraftand,at thebeginningof March,wasnearingtheendofaC.ofA.andgeneral sprucing-upexerciseaftersome10monthsoutof action.TheGroupincidentallyalsooperatetheJodel 117G-BCLU.

Miscellaneous

WewereinterestedtoseeanewsitemontheBBC Regionalprogramme"ReportingScotland"on9.3.76 reportingontheprogresssofarofthePrestwick Man-PoweredAircraftGroup.TheirDragonflyMPA G-BDFIJisnowcompleteand,althoughasgroup leaderRogerHardysaidtheyhaveyettomakeitinto theair,theyarewellonthewaytowardsaserious attemptontheKramerPrize(nowstandingat£50,000). Wemustunfortunatelymentionthedamagetoaircraftcausedduringthenotoriousgalesofthenightof 2.1.76.HappilynoPFAaircraftsufferedserious damage,butonasadnoteatleasttwoAusterswere writtenoff.AircraftsufferedmostdamageatBarton, wherethehangardoorscollapsed.Amongtheaircraft damagedwereBA-4BG-AYFV,Auster3G-ATAX, andMinicabG-BBFL.AtEnstonethehangarwas literallymovedbodilyand,aswellaswritingoff AusterG-AGVF,TerrierG-ASCHandJodel112 G-AYMUwerebadlydamaged.Elsewheredamage wasmainlytotinmachines,thoughcasualtiesdid includeAusterG-AJUO(writtenoffatNewbury). TigerG-AHIZ(Cambridge),AusterG-AGVG(Hull Paull),andAusterG-ANFU(Humberside).

G-AFJA—Dingbat.

Afteritsapparentdemiseat Headcornon19.5.75,weweresomewhatsurprisedto noteitsrecentrestorationtotheregister.Theremains havebeenrestoredtoRoyNerou—andwewishhim wellinhistasktorestorewhatisprobablytheoldest British-homebuiltstillinexistence.

G-ADYS—Aeronca C-3.Notexactlyahome-built. butworthyofinclusionifonlyforitsrarityvalue,is theAeroncaC-3G-ADYS.Thiswasrestoredtothe registeron8.12.75toR.G.BoytonofChelmsford (whoisrestoringtheSlingsbyT.29BG-AZSD/PFA/ 1574). It wasoriginallyregisteredin1937toT.Birkett atPortsmouth,untilsoldin1939totheBedfordSchool ofFlying.ItwasstoredduringtheWarandrestored in1946toJackWillmot.Thoseofyouwhowerc regularsatthosesuperbearly-PostWarSBACdisplaysatFarnboroughwillprobablyrememberseeing itinstore inthe RAEAeroClubblisterhangar.As farasweknow,however,itisstillinstoreelsewhere atFarnborough—neverthelesswehopeitseesthelight ofdaysoon.

G-BDNT—Jodel D-92.Theex-FrenchBebe F-PINLhasnowbecomeG-BDNTwithJaneS. BarkerandA.Tringharn.Attimeofwritingitwas beingfully"anglicised"atRedhill.

ProviewsofCassutlSE-XCLwhichBrinStrombing and011eAhrstrandbuiltinSweden.First.tlightwas 29thNor.'75.PerhapswewillseeitalSywell.

MikeVaisey's GroupNews

Bythetimeyoureadthis,theworstoftheclaggy seasonwillbeoverandwewillbehopefullylooking forwardtomoreofthosebeautifulwarmdayslikelast summer.Well,whoknows?Byallaccountslastyear wasarecordintermsofflyinghoursformostGroups upanddownthecountry.Withmorepeopleturning tocommunalaeroplaneoperationaftertottinguptheir flyingclubbills—alreadyinflatedbytheiniquitous SUPERVAT—anincreasinglylargenumberoffolk areaskingaboutthewhysandwhereforesofGroup operatiom

Tohelpanswersomeofthesequestionsandto assistthosecontemplatingstartingaGroupaswellas thosealleadyinvolvedintheiroperation,wehope, overthenextfewissues,totouchonsuchsubjectsas insurance,legalliability,trainingonGroupaircraft andtrainingfromunlicencedfields,certificationof Groupaeroplanes,grantsforGroupInstructorsand taxandtheFlyingGroup.Butfirstlet'sstartatthe beginning.

OntheoccasionoftheRoyalAeronauticalSociety WilburandOrvilleWrightMemorialLecture/Banquet heldinLondononI1thDecemberlastyear,Michael JosephwaspresentedwiththeN.E.RoweMedalfor the21yearsto25yearsagegroupbyH.R.H.TheDuke ofKent.Theawardwasinrecognitionofapaper writtenbyMichaelwhileastudentattheCollegeof AirTraining,Hamble,onthefeasibilityofGroup OwnershipandwasfirstpublishedintheR.Ae.S. newspaper'Aerospace'.MichaelandGrahameJoseph arewellknowntomanyPFAersfortheirexcellent workasarchitectsoftheSywellpublicitymachineand theyarebothqualifiedonthesubjectofGroup Operationhavingformed,withColinPicktonand IvanWood,theGriffonFlyingGroupin1972, operatingtheirNipperG-ARXNfromHucknall.In Michael'sownwords:—'Wehavehadourfairshareof successesandfailureswhichwemightnothavebeen abletosurvivehadwenotbeenaGroup'.Thefirst partofMichael'spaper,reproducedherebycourtesy of'Aerospace',dealswithinitialconsiderations.

Flyingneednotbetherichman'shobbythatitis generallythoughttobe.Thispapersubstantiatesthis claimwiththepracticalanswerusedbymyselfasan almostpermanentlyinsolventstudentintheaerospace industry.Withadesperatedesiretofly,itispossible, throughgroupownership,toovercomethecircumstancesthatkillsomanywould-bepilot'sdreams. WhetheritistolearntoIly,ortouseandmaintaina PrivatePilot'sLicence,oneiscontinuallyupagainst theproblemofcost.Learningdoesnotstopatthe PPL;becausemostpilotsliketoflylongernavigation 'cross-countries',tolearnaerobaticsandtoimprove theirskills,theneedisneverfullysatisfied.

PossibleAlternatives

Clubflyingatcommercialratesistheeasiestwayof Hyingwithfewresponsibilitiesfortheaircraftmaintenance.Itisexpensiveandrestrictive,for,tokeepcosts down,theutilisationhastobehighwhichmeansthat stopsawayfrombasehavetobeshort.Otherformsof airsportlikegliding,parachutingorballooningare,I believe,moreexpensivethangroupflyingintermsof costperflyinghour.Buildinganaeroplaneisvery popular,butittakesthreetosixyearstogetairborne, unlessapartlybuiltoneorkitisavailableandthe necessarytimecanbespared.

PopularFlying,May- lune,1976

Theveryhighcostofanewaircraftlimitsone's choiceofownershiptotheusedmarket.Individual ownershipisimpracticableonalimitedbudgetbutas agroupthecost,liabilityandworkloadissharedtoan extentthatmakesthisalternativerealistic.Much helpfuladviceandassistanceonflyingascheaplyas possiblecanbeobtainedfromthePopularFlying Association,anorganisationopentoall,whichencouragesthedesignandconstructionofultra-light aircraft.

FormingaGroup

Thesuccessofagroupisonlyasgoodasitsmembers sothechoiceoffriendsisbothimportantanddifficult. Firstonehastofindcolleagueswithsimilarenthusiasm whileacrosssectionofageandexperiencecan strengthenthebalance.Increasingthesizeofthegroup decreasesthepurchaseandrunningcostsbuthasthe disadvantageofaeroplaneavailabilityandsharingthe workloadfairly.Thusinternalpoliticsmayresult whichcanonlyberesistedbyamutualdepthof enthusiasm.ForthesereasonsIsuggestanoptimum numberofgroupmembersoffourtoeightforaPPL grouporsixtofifteenforatraininggroup.

SelectingtheSpecification

Oncetheprovisionalgroupprocessiscompletea tightspecificationshouldbeformulatedonthetypeof aircraftthatwillbestsuittheneedsofthemembership. LOANS:Itmustberememberedthatthebasisof successdependsonkeepingthecoststoaminimum andsoifpossibletheaeroplaneshouldbebought outrightratherthanresortingtoaloanonwhich interestwillhavetobepaid.

SIZE:Inalmostallcircumstancessizeandweightare proportionaltocost.Somelightaircraftmayqualify foraSpecialCategoryC.ofA.Thismeansthatthe membersmaydoalltheworkandmaintenance necessaryontheaircraft,providedthatitisuptothe standarddemandedbythePFAorCAAinspectorate. Justhowoneevaluatestimespentonkeepingan aeroplaneairworthyisdifficult,foritcontributesto therewardsofflyingandtopaylabourcostsdoes muchtoliftthepriceoutsidethereachofmany.The SpecialCategoryC.ofA.limitsflighttovisual meteorologicalconditionsindaytimeclearoflarge townsandcitiesbut,inpractice,thisisnotrestrictive withintheprivilegesofthebasicPPL.

Iftrainingisanticipated,atwoseataircraft,either tandemorside-by-side,isaminimum.Afourseater aircraftisveryattractivefortouringandthefamily man,butexperienceshowsthatitwillinvariablyspend mostflyingtimewithonlyoneortwopeopleaboard, whilstusingabout501morepower.Thecheapestof allisthesingleseatultralight,atypicalcostanalysis ofwhichwillbegiveninthesecondpartofthispaper togetherwithoneforatwoseattraining/touring aircraft.

Itisveryimportantwhenbuyinganaeroplanethat onehassomewheretooperateandkeepit.Atmost airfieldshangarageratesareproportionaltoeither weight,wingspanorbothwhichagainpointsto havingsmall,lightaircraft.Inadditiontotheother advantagestheultralightsingleseaterinsuranceisless. becauseithasnopassengerorhijackliability!

AGEANL)TYPE:Likemotorcars,aeroplanesbecome relati‘elycheapertheoldertheyare,untilreachingthe vintageclasses,whenthepriceincreasesagain.Unlike motorcars,thevalueofaircraftwithinthebracket considereddepreciatesataboutthesamerateas inflationandthiscanthereforebeignored.Restorationofavintagetypeoroneinpoorconditionisone meansofrecoveringmoneyfortimespentonthework. Caremustbetakentoseethattheaircrafthasnot deterioratedbeyondeconomicalrepairandtheengine lifeisnotabouttoexpire.

TREASUREHUNT

byDavidBrown

Itisearlymorning.Wearewhisdingsouthon AmberOnewiattherhytlimicsweepofthecloud warningradarpickingupthecoastlineahead.The distinctiveorangediamondoftheIsleofWightslowly crawlsdowndierighthandsideofthetube.Aheadin thedistancethe\Vhiteglareofthecloudisbrokenbya darkerline.Anotherminuteandwesailoutoverthe edgeofthecloudintoclearaii

MorethansixmilesbelowusthemapofSouthern Englandisspreadoutinthesunshine.Thecoastlineis etchedagainsttheseafromtheNeedlestoBeachy Head.ApennantofsmokedriftingNorthwardfroma powerstationnearFawleyistheonlysignoflifeon theminiaturisedlandscape.F10111thisvantagepointI canamusemyselfforamomentbytiacingthecompletecourseofanotherflightbegunonasimilar morningyearsbefore.Ourtransportthenwasata muchloweraltitudeandourspeedwasthatofasnail comparedtoourturbine-poweredsteedtoday.

Thepurposeoftheflightthatdaywasatreasure hunt.Ouradventurebeganateighto'clockona summerSundaymorning.Onanotherwisedeserted airfieldtwofiguresstrainedtoopenreluctanthangar doors.Withmuchrattlingandsqueakingthedoors partedtorevealamongtheclusteredU.A.S.Chipmunksasolitarybiplane.OnthisdayTigerMoth G-ALNAwouldlivfromHambletotakepartinan OpenDayorganisedbytheSouthernAcroClub at Shoreham-by-Sea.

AsNAwaspushedfromthehangarthesunshone fitfullyonthewhitefabricofthewingsandplayedon thedew-speckledgrass.Eair-weathercumuluswas arrayedoiltheIsleofWight,buttheforecastpromised thattheweatherwoulddeterioratelaterinthedayas tiwarmfrontedgedinfromtheSouth-West.Movementwasawkward in ourfiyingclothes,withpockets bulgingwithmaps.pencilsandbarsofchocolate.

AsjuniormemberofthecrewIprimedtheengine. Thisentailedstandinginthewetgrasswithafingeron thecarbutettorprimingbuttonuntilpetroldripped out.Withthecowlingbuttonedupthewoodenpropellorwasturnedovercompressionhalfadozen times.Thecoldoilwasthickandtheexertionof pullingoverthepropellorwentsomewaytowards combatingthedampcreepinguproundmyankles. PetewasbynowstrappedintherearcockpitAquick lookbehind,allclear.Thumbsup.Contact.Amighty swingoftheprop.Theenginefired,apuffofblue smoke.Another—andasallfourcylinderscamealive afteraweek'sidlenesstherevs.btfiltupslowly.The engineransmoothlyuntilPete,satisfied,throttled back.Ipulledthechocksawayandscrambledon beard.BytheLimeIhadsettleddowninthefront cockpit.closedthesideflaps,pluggedintheintercom andfastenedtheSuttonharnesswewerebumping acrossthegrasstothetake-offpoint.

WewerequicklvoffandturnedlenolerSoutIminptonWaterontooureasterlyheading.Atfifteen hundredfeetpowerwasreducedandwithafollowing windNAbowledalong,her70m.p.h.cruiseboosted toagroundspeednearer85m.p.h.Navigationhere wasnoproblemwithPortsmouthNavalbaseNisible betweenthewires cn thestarboardsideAswepassed inlandofPortsmouthAirportwekeptagoodlookout buttheairbelongedtousaloneatthathour.Onlythe livelyairoverPortsdownHilldisturbedthetranquilityofthemorningasPortsmouthlayinthesunlight,patchedbythecloudshadows.

Thecloudswerebegirmingtothicken.Wewereonly tooconsciousofthenow-risinggroundoftheDowns toourleft,sokeptedgingseawar'dintheclearpatches. WiththepromontoryofSelseyBillnowoffourright wingtip,Shoreham wasiLisi Visiblealmostatthefoot oftwosmokingchimneysonthecoastsometenmiles ahead.Throttledback,wedriftedthroughanisolated veilofgreyvapoursuspendedunderalastblackcloud AstheTigeremergedfromthemistwecouldseethe fieldmoreclearlywithanumberofaircraftalready lineduponthegrass.ABolkowJuniorprecededus intothecircuitandmadeacrosswindapproachon21. BothwindsockandTeewereindicating27so.keeping awaryeveonthetowerincasetheystartedshiningred lightswerumbledroundontofinalsfor27.once aroundthecornerwehadalineviewofLheriver, lookingverycoldandmuddywiththetideout,betweenusandthedownwindboundary.Thisprompted atouchofpowertotakeusinovertheembankment. TheoldTigerdidnotdisgraceherselfandgently touchedmainwheelsandtailskidtogetheronthegrass.

Hardlyhadwejoinedthelineofseaward-facing aircraftthaniLbecameapparentthatthewindwas rising.NAswayedonhernarrow-trackundercarriage inwarning,soweliftedthetailandturnedtheTiger headtowind.

AttheClubhoUse we signedinandwereoffered lunchandachanceatatreasurehunt.Afteraccepting, werealisedthatourtaskwasalittlemoredifficultthan ithadappearedatfirstsight.Thecoursewasnoiniindly ofanhour'sduration.truefortheBonanza.Jodels. CessnasandBeaglesparkedoutside,butforaTiger Moth?

Armedwithclues,wewentintoahuddleofsecret flightplanningSoonthetablewaslitteredwithhalfmillionmaps,pencilledcalculations.fuelstatesand painstakingmapreferences.Itwasfinallydeemed possibletocompletethecourseatthecostofmissing lunch.Equippedwithacoupleofbarsofchocolatewe wentouttorefueltheTiger.

Thebrightyellowbowserchuffedslowlynearer betweentherowsofaircraft,takinganagetofilleach GneWepassedthetimewatchingthelatearriyals bouncingdownfinalsintheturbulenceovertheFlyer. Whatseemedtobehalfadavlaterwefoundourselves withatankbrimmingwithseoctanefuel.Taxyingout afteranAusterweswungroundtocheckthatthe approachwasclearandopenedup.Thetailcameup. aslightbounceandwewereawayinthegustyair, climbingon270degreesforLittlehampton.ourlirst checkpoint.Thequiveredat55m.p.h.inthe climbasLiftlehamptoncreptgraduallynearer.

Ourfirsttaskwasaneasyone,to"findtheoccupationofoneJohnEedeButt–.Onaworks'roof thenamestoodoutintenfoothighwhiteletters. "JohnEedeButt—TimberImporterandThat wasenoughandLherestofthesignwaslostbehinda wingLipasweturned.Alongdragintowindalongthe gentlycurvingcoastlineofSelseyBill."Notethe colourofthelifeboat-housedoor".Therewasthe building,silhouettedagainsttheseaasitperchedon pilesabovethewater.Aswecreptoverheadtwopairs ofeyesfixedontheboathousedoor.Wasitblueor wasitgreen?Bluewonandtheanswerwaslaboriously writtendown,glovedhandsalreadyfeelingthecold, onthepaperwhichflutteredinthedraughtycockpit. Crankingintoaturnweweresweptdownwind, climbingtotakeadvantageoftheincreasedwindat

TigerMothG-ALNAatHumblebeforesettingout.forShoreham(Photo:D.Brown)

height.WewerenowfollowingtherailwayNorth tothevillageofPulboroughwherewewererequired to"countthebridges".Acircleoverthevillageproducedafascinatingthoughneck-craningnumberof bridgesofalltypes,includingrailwayandfootbridgesoverthemanyconvolutionsofthelocal streams.Wecountedandagreedoneleven.Weturned again.Therewasaflashofsunonatree-linedbrook. Wasthatadarkerlineacrossthestream?Isquinted throughtheslipstreamforaclearerlook."Putthe wingdownabit".Webankedfurther.Yes,another tinybridge.

Southagaintowardsasmalltownwherethecolour ofthemunicipalgasholderwastobenoted.Wings glintedinthesunaswenearedthespot.Anotheraircraftwasalreadycircling.Thebloatedgasholderhad insipidgreensides,but,unknowntotheearth-bound mortalslivinginitsshadow,actuallyhadasilvertop.

Twowindmills,highonthewindyDowns.Their colour?Onewaswhite,theotherdarkandweatherbeaten.PassingthesewecametothetownofLewes. Theclueherewas"Atriumphantsymbolthreemiles NorthWestofthetownonthefaceoftheDowns". Inthatareawecouldseeaquarryandachurch. Possible,butnotlikely.Keepturning,aracecourse, couldthisbeit?ABeagleTerrierjoinedinthefun. Obviouslythecunningoftheorganisershadpuzzled someoneelse.Wekeptlookingandturning.The Terriershotoffonhisnextleg.Eitherhehadfound whatwewerelookingfororhehadgivenup.Aquick lookatthefuelgaugeshowedthefloatgettinglowin

GROUP NEWS—continuedfrompage 7

Themoreplentifulaparticulartype,thecheaper andmoreeasilyobtainablewillbethespares.For exampleaconvertedmotorcarenginewillbecheaper tomaintainandreplacethanaproductionaero engine.Likewiseawoodandfabricairframeis normallyconsideredtobeeasiertoworkon,with limitedjigsandtools,thananequivalentinmetal.

EQUIPMENT Sincetheaircraftwillonlybeusedfor privateflyingingoodweather,complicatedandexpensivenavigationaidsarenotnecessaryandcan alwaysbeaddedatalaterdate.Sophisticatedelectrical, hydraulicorpneumaticsystemsincreasemaintenance time,unserviceabilityandweight.

GROUPPREFERENCES:Theseareasinterestingasthey arevaried.Forexample,atrainingaircraftwillneed dualcontrols.Atailwheelconfigurationmaybemore durableandgivebetterperformanceontake-offfrom ashort,roughstrip,butatricycletypeiseasierto PopularFlying,May-June,076

thetube.Notimeformorethanaguessatthisanswer andweflewontoourlastmapreference,toidentifya brewery.Ontheindicatedspotthefamiliarlabelsof TaplowandCharringtonsappearedonthebrewery walls.

OurlastlegwaswestagaintoShorehamalongthe coast.AstheTigerslowlypassedthechalkcliffs, patchyseafogwaftedpastandwehuddleddownout ofthefreezingvapour.Chimneys,thenShoreham appearedoutofthemist.Thecircuitwasbusydespite theapparentlackofaircraftaroundourlittletrip.We landedandtoourdelightfoundthatalatelunchwas stillbeingservedintheClubhouse.Thawedoutafter amuch-neededmealwegaveourcompletedanswer papertothejudges.

Thehourwaslate,theweatherthreatening.Wedid notstayuntiltheothercompetitorsreturnedbut refuelledoncemore.Bundledupagainstthecoldwe tookoffandheadedbacktobase.Hamblewasreached injustunderthehour,thelittlebiplaneslidingunder tbehigharchofstratusprecedingthepromisedfront. Lowclouddraggeditsgloomywaytowardsusabove theNewForest.Asweenteredthecircuitrain spatteredthewindscreensandbythetimewehad pushedtheTigerintothehangaritwasrainingsteadily.

WhathappenedtotheTreasureHunt?Wenever foundout.Somebodyelsecertainlywontheprize, whateveritwas.Onthatsummerday,seeingthesun onlandscapes,seaandclouds,exploringnewcorners ofthecountrysideinthecourseofournavigationand givingouroldaeroplaneanoutingwasprizeenough.

learntoland.Manypilotspreferthewarmthand comfortofanenclosedcockpitbut,forthetallpilot, anopencockpitmightbeanecessitywithanultralight.Highwingforthephotographer,lowwingfor speed,biplaneforaerobatics;everyonehasideas.

Twotypicalspecificationsforsuchaircraftare:—

Singleseat—lowmaximumall-upweight—wood andfabric—aerobatic--enginepower40bhpto 60bhpfromconvertedmotorcarengine—small, simple,toughandinflyingcondition.

Twoseat—training/touring—dualcontrols— baggagespace—radio—in-productionflat-four engine—ruggedandinflyingcondition.

NextissueMichaelJoseph'spaperwillcontinue bydelvingintothesecretsofchoosinganaeroplane, costanalysis,feasibilitystudyandfinallypurchaseand operationofyournewaeroplane.

„Aka

A spotofbackseatpleasure

It isnosecretthat 1 havemadeanonsenseofmore spotlandingsthanRoger B. hashadhotdinners.Soit waswithgreatalacritythatIacceptedChetParham's mostgenerousinvitationtobepassengerwithhim whilehetookpartintheVintage —,U—CIj —nowballrally atFinmere.ChetwasflyinghisdelightfulAcronca LI6AN797USwithitsnewlyoverhauled85h.p. Continentalmotor,and.rubbingmyhandswith pleasurableanticipationatwatchinaanexpertflythe spotlandingevent,Iclimbedintothecomfortableback seatandfastenedmylapstrap.

Aaustysouth-westwindwasblowingacrossthe hundred-acrepastureaswetaxiedouttowardsthe take-offpoint.Afteracarefulcheckthattherewas noconflictingtraffic,Chetturnedintowindandtook offinaremarkablyshortdistance.Havingspentmost ofmyvintagelitesittingbehindsixty-fivehorses(and someofthoseweredead)thisseemedtobearevelationofacceleration.Mostimpressive.Asweclimbed overthefamiliartreesthatformthesouthernboundary ofFinmereairfield,Chetwasassessingtheprogressof theothercompetitorsaheadofusinthecircuitand judgedthatacoupleofthreesixtieswererequiredto makethespacingriaht.Turningdownwindatcircuit height,thestrengthofthesouth-westwindbecamevery apparentasourgroundspeedleapedtowellover 100m.p.h.andbeneathusthcwinterbaretreessped rapidlypast.Theskillormakinaaperfectspotlanding istogetthebaselegandthrottleclosinapositionjust rightfortheexistingconditionsofwindandChet

VINTAGE NEWS

settledforafairlycloseinbaseleg.Aswerolledout oftheturn,heclosedthethrottleandsaidalittle prayer.Well.Ithinkthatwaswhathewassaying. WatchingtheTigerMothinfrontofuslandshort, Chetedgedintothefinalturnandsettleddownto playingthefinalapproach.VintageClubrulesprohibitsideslippinaoranyturnsbelow300rt.so.without flapsorpower,airspeedistheonlyparameterremainingtothepilot.Theaim or theexerciseisto touchdownonthreepointsjustbeyondthefirst markerformaximumpoints.Toundershoot.evenby ayard,spellsdisquafification

Chetloweredthenoseafractiontoincreasespeed overahedgebut,evenso,thegroundspeedseemed miserablyslowandthetouchdownmarkerstillalong wayoff.Aswcenteredtheflare,itbecameaguessing gameofwindagainstmomentum.Chetheldorrasthe speeddecayedandIsubconsciouslyeasedmyweight offtheseatwillinathelittlemachineon.Thenatlast weslidbythemarkerandaninstantlaterwithall momentumspenttheAeroncasettledonthreepoints underChersexpertcontrol.Itwasaperfectscore-mostimpressive.

Cho!ParhamtaxiinghisAeroflot(L-16.4lothetake-qhfposition.Odom.schemeismilitarydarkolivegreer withU.S.A.F.insignia.Thecockpitis51176(11)0. tOe)iii andcomlormble.

(Photo:A.Chalkleil

SnowballRallyStampe

Theoverallwinnerofthespotlandingcompetition withIwoperfectlandingswasMartinHollowayflying hisredandsilverSV-4cStampeG-BAKN.Basedat HenstridgeairfieldinDorset.Martinalsopickedup somevaluablecross-countrypointstowardsthe VintageAircraftClub0P.cup,havingcoveredmore thanin11etymilestogettothemeeting.The140h.p Renault-poweredStampewasimportedfromFrance fouryearsagoandcompletelyoverhauledonarrival tothiscountry.Sincethattimetheaircrafthasbeenin regularuseandlastyearMartinresprayedherinthe

presentcolourschemeofredfuselageandsilverwings tokeepthefabricintip-topcondition.

Saywhatyoulikeaboutwinterflyingweather,the factremainsthattheVintageClubhasbeenremarkablyluckywithitspolicyofholdingamid-January meetingeveryyear.Clearskiesandgoodvisibility madeitpossibleforfourteenvintageaircrafttogetto Finmerealongwithlivehomebuiltsandsevenothers. Notabadturnoutbyanystandardsandawordof thanksheretothegroundcrewwhokeptthehotsoup, sarniesandcoffee_flowing.

Conunitteechanges

Followingfourbusyyearsofhardworkorganising theVintageAircraftClubcommittee,CarlButlerhas resignedasChairmantotakeamoreactiveroleinthe creationofasystemofmonitoringtheinspectionand airworthinesssideofvintageaeroplanes.Forthistask hewaselectedtotheseatofVice-Presidentofthe V.A.C.whichwillgivehimafreehandtoestablisha teamofsuitablepeoplequalifiedtoinspectvintage aircraft.

SucceedingCarlasChairmanisTonvHaroldwho wasformerlythehon.secretaryoftheclub.Tony bringstothejobmanyyearsofexperienceofvintage aeroplanesandhasforthepasttwoseasonsflownwith theBarnstormersacrobaticairshowdisplayteam,apart fromhisregularjobofrunningtheRAF.museumat Hendon.Thetaskofsecretaryisnowinthccapable handsofPaulLongthorpewho,asanengineerand memberoftheS.L.A.E.T.,hasmanyyearsofpractical experienceoftheproblemsinvolvedwiththerebuildingandmaintenanceofoldaircraft,apartfrom hismanagementskillswhichwillbehighlyvaluableto theclub.

AlanChalkleytakesoverthejobofhon.treasurer fromthelovelyMissJaneCollinswhowillcontinueto gracethecommitteewithhercharmandbeauty.All theseappointmentsbecameelTectiveaftertheAnnual GeneralMeetingwhichwasheldatCranfieldduring theEasterweekendalongwiththeEasterEggrally. Thenewcommitteelooksforwardtocontinuedprogressonallmattersfurtheringthesportofrebuilding andflyingofoldaeroplanes.

PopularFlying,May-Jane,1976

posesTbrthephotographerorfrontofhisredandsilver SV-dcStanrpepriortoraking-offandwinningthe VintageAir(TahClubspotlandingeventattheSnowball Ihnnere

VINTAGECALENDAR1976

28/29/30 SommerCamp

Aug.BickMarshairfieldinthelovelyvaleof Evesham.Bringyourtentorcaravanfor thatperfectmixtureofcampingand flyingvintageaeroplanes.Competitions, passengerflying(formembersonly)anda GrandBar-B-Cueevening.

19thSept. TeaPatrol

Finmere.V.A.C.pilotsandobserverswill bebriefedat2p.m.ontheirflyingduties andpatrolsectors.Allinvadersthatget through,ourdefencesduringtheprearrangedtimeswillberewardedafree tea(yum-runa)-

26thSept. Espin'sStrip

Invitationfly-intothisnewairfieldDetailstobeannouncedlater.

17thOct.SpotLandingCompetition

Themainspot-landingeventinthe Vintagecalendar.OldWardenairfield,by kindpermissionoftheShuttleworthTrust. 20thNov. V.A.C.SocialEvening

Oxford.Detailslater.

Keepinganereontheopposition.il/lartinHolloway

(Photo:Milkley)

RobinOwen's STRUTNEWS

TheIPSWICHSTRUThashadanactiveindoor winter,withsucheventsasatalkbyStanWardonhis hook,aBritishAiiwavshelicopterpilotandinstructoronoilrigflying,andauthorRogerFreeman. TheStruthasafullsummer'sflyingaheadanddetails ottheirfly-insarepublishedinthecalendar.Jim Empsonpointsoutthatalltheairstripsareprivate andrequire a hrieling:thiscanbeobtainedbysending astamped,addressedenvelopetoJimat27AWarringtonRoad,Ipswich.TheStrutwillbecombiningwith theCHELMSFORDSTRUTtorepresentthePEA atDuxfordonJune20th.BothStrutsemphasizethat PEAmemberswishingtoflytoDuxfordinthe morningmustcontacttheairfieldonCambridge 333963fordetails.Afrequencywillbegiventoaircraft withradio.forthosewithout.fulllandingdetailswill hegiven.

TheCI!ELMSFORDSTRUTnowhasabout30 activememhers,andsomeoftheirprojectsarelisted belowTonyBrown.Cavalier:•erryMoue).FRED: RobinGill,FRED:GrahamJones.IsaacsFury:Brian Sims,MauriceJacksonandJackPickerellarebuilding aSoneraiIwhileTerryHughesandDesEasta Sonerai2:KenDawsonhasbuiltEAABiplane G-BBMHofwhichtheStruthoshighhopesatSywell thisyear.TheStruthasarallyonSeptember12that HazeleighGrange

TheextravaganzaplannedbytheEASTMIDLANDSSTRUThasbeenamendedbycancellingthe Mondayflyingdisplay.Therallywilltakeplace tt HucknallontheSundaywiththeformatasofprevious years.Thelatestnewsletteriswrittenintheusual humorousstyleofStuartJackson.Thecontentsreveal thattherewillbeplentyofaerialactivityintheMidlandsthisyear.

AnotherrallytomentionisthatoftheNORTH WESTERNSTRUTonAugust1st,whichwillbe heldatBartonnearManchester.TheStrutheldavery successfulrallylastyearandhopestomakethisyear's evenbetter.IanJennison(Rallyorganiser)canhe contactedon0254-830909forfurtherdetails.

ThephotographsaboveshowthebeautifulCavalier beingconstructedbyHarryYardley,chairmanofthe GLOUCESTER&CHELTENHAMSTRUT.The workshopinwhichtheaircraftisbeingbuiltisalso themeetingplaceoftheStrut,whichmustheatremendousencouragementtomembers.Harrysaysthat theCavalieristheresultofthreeyearswork,fivedays aweek.TheworkshopissituatedonStokeOrchard airfieldandattendanceisaroundthe25markforeach meeting.TheStrutwillbeverypleasedtowelcomenew members,meetingshavebeenarrangedforthelirst Thursdayofeverymonthat8p.m.Afly-inwilltake placeontheairfield,whichis31milesN.N.E.of Staverton,onJune12th.

Thenextairfieldwhichmustbe Mentioned is.of course,Popham,whichJimEspinandtheANDOVER STRUThavebeenhackingfromtheHampshirescrublandforsomeconsiderabletime.Jimsaysthatthe airfieldisnowavailableforuse,infact,therewillbea regularonthesecondSundayofeverymonth. AllPFAaeroplaneswillheverywelcome.Pilotsmust observegroundsignals,allcircuitswillbetothe north,andpleaseavoidoverflyingtheIdlingstationon theapproachtorunway26.inotherwords,doa curvedapproach.TelephoneJimatLinkenholt659 forfurtherinformation.

AshortnotefromtheOXFORDSTRUTannounces thattheynowmeetatTheFox,StantonHarcourt. Oxon.,onthesecondWednesdayofeverymonth.

MylocalStrut,theSOUTHERN,hasnowsettled inatShorehamasaregularmeetingplace.Thelast meetingwastoformulateplansforourforthcoming rallyonJune13thatShoreham.GerryPrice,the publicitymanager,gavemealonglistofattractions. £5fuelforthemostmeritoriousflight,engraved tankardsfor:theclosesttosealedtimeofarrival, landingcompetition,besthomebuilt,concours.Nick deBruynenavigationcompetition,gyrorosebowl.In additiontherewillbearaffleforCubflights,tombola, children'sarea,brantub,freetea,etc.,forarriving crewsandthefirst25landingswillbefree,somake sureyouarriveearly.Therestaurantwillbeavailable.

Muchtomygreatsurprise,1receivedaletterfrom theIRISHSTRUT.TheStrutisdisplayingaPFA standattheannualLeisureandPleasureexhibitionat King'sHall,Belfast.DavidMcGill's90%complete TaylorMonoplanewillhaveprideofplaceinthe exhibition.IhavenomoredetailsoftheStrut,but suggestthatmemberscontactNoelO'Neill57 ClevelyPark,BelfastBT84NB.Tel.645827.

Finally,ifanymemberisinterestedinstartinga Strutinanypartofthecountry,wouldtheyplease contactHeadOfficeformoreinformation.

POWERFORTHEPEOPLE

Whatengineareyougoingtouseinyourplane?"

'Well,er,IthoughtperhapsaVW1600ifIcangetmy handson one, failingthat.4',etc..etc.Howmany timeshaveyouoverheardthatsortofconversation'? wagerthatatnearlyeveryStrutmeetingyouhave everattendedsomeoneistryingtodoadealfor:"A setofbigpotsforhisVWinexchangeforaspareset ofconvertedcylinderheads(hardlyused)andaprop bossthrowninforluck".Well,thissortofthingisall veryOne,butwhatisgoingtohappenwhenVolfshurg eventuallydecidetoceaseprodUctionoftheir ubiquitousflatfour?Ithinkthatthetimehasconic forasearchtobemadeforareally worthwhile alternative.Hasanyoneanyideaofhowmany would-behomeconstructorshavebeenputoffbecause therearenooff-the-shelfenginesavailable?Ithas beensaid,"Firstobtainyourengine.thendecidewhich aircraftyou Can buildtolitit".Someclaimthatisthe secretofeventualsuccess.Justthinkhowmanyaircraft lurkinhangarsofworkshopspracticallyreadytofly. wMisttheirconstructorsscourthelocalcar-breakers fortherightengine.It'sallveryfrustratingtohave VOLD-prideandjoygatheringdust,whilstyouhaggle with"Mr.Smith"atthescrapyardoveragreasyand dubiouspileofjunkthatmasqueradesasa(quote) "Practicallybrand-newengine..."Boss,Itookitout of.aVariantthathadafrontshunt".Assumingyou getithomeIbrlessthan50quid(you'llbelucky)and thatit is inMircondition,yourtroublesareonlythen justbeginning.

Butwhydowegotothistrouble?Whatever happenedtotheAeronca WalterMicrons. Scotts„A.B.C.sandPobjoys?Theansweris.thatin thetermsofthepresentdays'accountancy-controlled business,suchaeronauticalgemsare"notcommerciallyviable".Butisitnotpossibletoproducea brand-newengineevenintoday'scut-throateconomic climate?Ibelievethereisaway.Letuslirstexamine brieflysonieofthepowerplantsincurrentproduction aspossiblecandidatesforaeronauticaltweaking.

FirsurMotorCycleengines:

TheB.M.W.R700.Wellengineered,lightoverall weight,easytocoolhutratheri-areandcostly.

TheHonda750&Kawasaki900.Bothin-lineO.H.C. fourswithamplepowerandsmoothrunning,light weightbutnotsoeasytoarrangethecooling.

TheSuzuki750.Athree-cylindertwo-strokewith liquidcooling.Quiteeasytoarrangethecooling,

NOTEFROMTH

YouwillbepleasedtohearthattheAssociation's accountsfortheYearof1975havealreadybeen auditedandcopiesareavailablefromHeadOfficeby sendinginastampedaddressedenvelope,quoting Membershipnumber.Asannouncedinanearlier issue,theminutesofthe1975AGMarealsosimilarly available.

InanycorrespondencewiththeOfficeitwouldhelp considerablyifmembershipnumberscouldbequoted. Itissurprisinghowmanymembershaveasimilarityof names!!

byDaveGroom

positivelubricationbymeteringpump-notpetroil. Verysmoothturbine-likepowerdelivery.

TheTriumph&B.S.A.Botharethree-cylinder O.H.V.engines.(Wecandiscountallverticaltwins andsinglesbecauseofpoorbalancecharacteristics). TheSilk.(ThisisthemodernScott).Aliquidcooled700ccTwin.Verywellmadeandsmooth runMng.Lightinweight_Virtually"handmade".

Secondly.CarEngines

TheHillmanImp.Plentyofpower,producedinlarge quantities.Liquidcooled,henceeasytoarrangethe cowlingandradiatormountingShouldbeverycheap topurchaseandsparesshouldbenoproblem. Citroen.Twopossibilities,theDyane6/AM16flat Twin(35BHP)aircooled,verysimilartotheB.MW. andAeroncaLAP.ortheGSaircooledflatFour (Fley,thisisnearlywhereIcamein!).ShadesofV.W. anyway,ofthetwo,theDyane6wouldseemthemost logicalchoice.

Theproblemwithalloftheseenginesisthatthey producetheirpoweratrelativelyhighR.P.M.and.in ordertotametherevs,downtousableproportions. song:formofreductiongearingwouldberequired. Thisisnojobfortheamateur,andfurthermore,the costofproducingasuitablereductiondrivewould greatlyincreasetheoverallcostofthecompleteunit_ Theaddedcomplexityandcostcouldwelldefeatthe objectiveofanyprojectofthisnature.Onefinalpoint regardingtheenginesinthelist:manyofthemcannot beeasilyconvertedtodualignition.

Sowhatalternativeisavailable'?MayIsuggest whatIbelievecouldhethemostsimpleandcheap wayofobtaining50reliableandusablehorsepower:— halfaRolls-RoyceContinental0-200engine,a horizontally-opposedMrcooledflatTwin.This enginewouldutilizestandardcylinders,headsand piecesallofprovenreliability(needIsayso?).Now then,whowouldliketoassistmeindesigninga crankcaseandcrankshaft tosuit thesecomponents? Hasanyonegota"time-expired"0-200tolendme forineasuringpurposes?Orisittoomuchtohope thatsuchaschemehasalreadyoccurredtoCrewe's "AeroWizards?"!Iamsurethatanengineofthis typewouldinjectagreatdealofvigourintothehome buildingandindeedcouldwellre-vitalizelightaviation generally.

EP.F.A.OFFICE

Inrecentweeksquiteafewnewitemshavebeen addedtoourstock,andmembersmightliketoknow thatthefollowingnewitemsarenowavailableFrom theOffice:

PazmanyPL4ABrochures.+,300plus30p postageandpacking.

PazmanyPL4A-ExplodedView"Manual. £6.45plus30ppostageandpacking.

TheLightPlanesinceI909—HeritagePress, U.S.A.£3.00plus30ppostage.

TheVintage&VeteranAircraftGuide—Heritage Press,U.S.A.£2.50plus30ppostage.

AerobaticsintheSky—HeritagePress,U.S.A. £2.50pluspostageandpacking.

P.F.A.LapelBadgeinBlue&Silverenamel (7/10"x2/5").60pplus5ppostage

WestillhaveafewP.F.A.Diariesfor1976which canbepurchasedatthereducedpriceof40pplus10p postage.

OSHKOSH1975

Itistheambitionofmostprivatepilotsandaviation enthusiaststovisittheannualconventionofthe AmericanExperimentalAircraftAssociationat Oshkosh,Wisconsin,andforthe275,000visitorsto theconventionthisyearthelongjourneywaswell worththeeffortandexpenseinvolved.Byland,sea andairtheycamefromplacesasfarafieldasEngland andAustralia,GermanyandJapan,FrancenalNew Zealandtoseeandtakepartinthe23rdannualconventionoftheE.A.A.Thesightofover5000visiting lightaircraftplusnearly1000"Experimental-or 'Homebuilt-aircraftgatheredtogetheronWittman airfieldmakesthe7-dayconventionanunforgettable experience.

WhentheproposedP.F.A.packagetourideawas dropped,mycolleagueIanEldredandIsetabout organisingourownholidayatOshkoshandbywayof BritishAirwaysB707toNewYork,"Amtrack- Lo ChicagoandHireCartoOshkosh,atleasttwoP.E.A. memberswereabletoseetheAmericanLightAviation sceneatIisthand.

Somuchwastheretoseeandsomuchtolearnthat

byJIMCRAWFORD

makenotesofthemall—evenin7days.Sowith several"still-and"cine-camerasbetweenus,we concentratedonthemoreunusualaspects.Thosewho travelledtoseethediminutiveBD5sand5.1swerenot disappointed.Fourofeachtypewereonshowand flownandthosewhohavenotyetseena5orSJeither flyingoronthegroundhaveabigsurpriseinstore.So tinyisthisaircraftthatwhenparkedbesidealarger machineitiseasilyoverlooked,andonehastobend (dmostdoubletoseeinsidethecockpit.The53sitson itstailwhenparked,thenosewheelonlycominginto contactwiththegroundwhenthepilotentersthevery crampedcockpit,soverydelicatelybalancedisthe C.ofG. in relationtothesmalltricycleundercarriage. Thecockpitisverycomprehensivelyequippedwithall theusuallevers,andasurprisinglylargearrayofihe speciallydeveloped"Bede- .nstruments.allabout two thirdsfullsize.OthermachinesondisplayfromJim Bede'sfactoryincludedmanyI3D4sandtheSailplane.

OneOwner/Constructorcrfrefullypre-flights'his inthelimitedspaceavailablehereIcanonlygivea briefoutline.Fortheuninitiated.theE.A.A.isthe AmericanequivalentoftheP.F.A.andtheOshkosh conventionisequivalentofourSywellrally,themain differencebeingoneofsheersize.Themeetingran from28thJulyto4thAugustbutevenarrivingthree daysearlywcfoundeverythinginfullswing.From 6a.m.tomidnight—theofficial'open'hours—aircraft ofthehomebuiltandlightcommercialvarietywere arrivingattherateoftwoorthreeaminuteThe productsofWichitaandFortHoverbeingparkedin rows30deeponthenorthsideoftheairfieldwhilethe 'homebuilti;weremarshalledinavastareainfrontof thepublicenclosure.ByMondayeveningpriortothe officialopening,therewasbarelyaparkingspaceleft andsoon3overspillfieldstothewestoftheairfield werefullupaswellOneinterestingfeatureworthyof notewasthccampingfacility.Thereweretwolarge campingsitesforvisitingaircraftandpassengers,the ideabeingtoland,switchoff.removetentfrom baggageholdanderectitbesidetheaircraft—orunder thewinginmanycases—andsendthewifeoffforthe "Coca-cola"supplies.Result—twovastcampsites filledtocapacitywithaircraftandtents,eachhaving theirowntransportfacility(farmtrailerstowedby tractors),Cinema,FoodStores,LoosandDisco available.

Somanyandvariedwerethetypesof"Homebuiltonshowthatitprovedimpossibletophotographand

Breezy&foreqfieringJrceflightstothepill-4n'

Manyaircraftondisplaywereconstructedfromthe vastnumberofkits,allreadilyavailableintheStates. PittsSpecialsweretwo-a-pennywhilethe"BabyGreatLakes,WittmanTailwinds,E.AA.Aerosports, etc.,werethereinabundance.Butitisinthefieldof thetrue'homedesignedandhomebuilt'an-craftthat theAmericanflairforingenuityconiestolight.Who Would believethattheupright4-cylinder,in-line. water-cooled,Mercedes-BenzDieselenginecould possiblybefittedtoalightaircraft?Well,Doug RhodesdidjustthatandinstalledonesuchengineinIns PietenpolAircamperandflewittoOshkoshandhome again—theenginerunningsweetasanutandlikelyto goondoingsoformanyayear.

Wehaveheardmuchinrecentyearsaboutthe famous"Breezys-.ThreewereinevidenceattheconventionandthePilot/ConstructorlOwnerswerevery keentogivefree"roundthelighthouse-ridestothose whowerewillag Lo wait in the yen/ longqueues.They maintainedthisfreeHyingthroughouttheentire meeting.(Withaviationgasolineattheequivalentof 25!p.pergallon.onecanunderstandtheirwillingness todemonstratetheiraircraftwithoutcharge).Also availableforjoyrideswasthe1929FortTriMotor, ownedandflownbyLeMaster,justtoprove,itseemed, thattheoldergenerationofaircraftcanstillholdtheir ownintheskiesalongsidetheplastichot-shotsbuilt inbackgardens.

The"Warbirdswerethere.ofcourse,bythedozen

Sr\ililleremco/otersare'eyedonthisverywellequippedPeil"Emeraude".Oneolthefinest'Home/miltsC!dwshow

intheirownpalkingarca,Harvards,Mustangs.GrummanHellcatsandtheamphibiousJ2FDucksalongsidethemanyothertypesofex-servicemachinerystill keptinexcellentflyingconditionbytheirdevoted owners.Thesebeautifuloldaeroplanestookparteach dayintheirownfly-pastat4p.m.,eachpilotdemonstratingthathismachinewasstillcapableofdoingall thatitsdesignerintendedittodoallthoseyearsago. Intheirbrightlypaintedcolourschemesthesemachines providedanairbornekaleidoscopeforcolourfilm.

IntheprivateandcommercialparksarowofBeech Staggerwingsprovidedphotographerswithmany hoursofdelight,thevastradialenginesandtheYen, highlypolished,chromium-platedspinnersbeingrecordedforposterity.PiperCubsinalltheirvariations werelinedupinrowsalongsidetheStearmansand olderCessnas.Wetakeafewpacesforwardandwhatisthis?—alittle rowof brightlypaintedbiplanes!Cantheypossiblybe 9Theyare,you know,twoofthebestkeptTigerMothsyoueversaw, completewithR.A.F.roundels.Homefromhome.

IanandIreeloffseveralfeetoffilmjustforthehellof it,fullofdelightatfindingtheseexamplesofBritish Historyamongthemilesofspam-cans.

Butletusreturn to the"Experimental"park.Two fineexamplesoftheAmphibiousSpencerAirCartill ourcamerasights.Thesearecomparativelylargeaircraftbuiltonmodernlineswiththepopular'above thewingpusherengine.Weturn90toportandthere isthedelightfullittleOsprey2justprayingtobe photographed.Withitssuperb.highly-polishedfinish andexcellentappointments,itssleeklinesand decorativemarkingsitwontwoprizesforitsbinlder. AfewpacesfurtheronandahandfulofMidget Mustangsareattractingsuchacrowdthatwemust waitourturntogetwithinlookingdistance.Casting ourappreciativeeyesoverthesebeautiesweexamine eachrivetandmarvelatthehighdegreeoffinishthe Americansareabletoachieve.Steppingbackwards foralong-shotwereverseintothetailplaneofa midget-SPITFIRE!Goodgrief--whatnext?Rebounding.weturnrightandthinkWorldWar11is abouttostartagain,foraI-scaleFW190ispointing itsevileyeatus.ItisapitythatthepulT-cheeksofthe

Spitlirecowlinghetraythepresenceoraflat-four inside,buttheimitationmachinegunbarrelslooka littletoorealforsafetyThebeautiful(Plastic)cowlof WarAircraftReplica'sFW190encompassesa100hp. Continentalbutthisisnotapparentfromtheoutside. Onemustlook"downthetube-toseejustwhatmakes ittick.Completewithitsblackandwhitecrosses, swastikaandimitationoilslicksonthefuselage,this machinestrikesanoteofuneaseinthemindsofthose whosawitsbig-brotherforebearsnotsolongago.

Forthemoredown-to-earthlightaircraftweclosely examinedtheWittmanTailwindsonshow.These delightfullittleaircraftarereasonablyeasytoconstructandtheirappearancebeliestheirperformance. ThosewhohaveseenonearriveatSywellwillrecall howtheycaneatupacircuitinjustafewseconds.Itis tobehopedthatwemaysoonsecthesehigh-wing monoplanesingreaternumbersonBritishairfields, alwaysassumingthatsufficienthangarspacecanbe found.Simplecontrols,excellentvision,goodfuel consumptionandhighcruisingspeedcommendthis aircrafttotheBritishhomebuilder.Anenormous varietyof"ONEOFF-woodandfabricand LIII-metal aircraftwereinevidence:somedidnotevenhavetheir names.theirownerscontenttotalkabout"it".leaving proofthatitwouldflytoitsmerepresenceontheairfield.Highandlowwingaircraftwereaboutequalin numbers,butloreaseofconstructiontheformerholds thebalance,itbeingafairlysimplelayoutand.presentingfewerproblemsofconstructionthanthelow ormid-win.gconfigurations.BinIderswithmetalworkingmachineryavailable(andthenecessary expertise)allseemedtofavourthelow-winglayout.

Atourofthelargecommercialbuildingsshowed whythisshouldbesoandhowfaradvancedisthe Americanlightaviationindustry.Onecouldbuya tailwheelattheentranceandthencollectallthebits andpiecesasonewalkedthrough.Acowlhere, instrumentsthere,fabricoft-the-roll.wheelsand'tires' furtheralong,thenwithan'offtheshelf!enginethe wholelotcouldbedroppedintothebackoftheDodge. drivenhomeandconstructionstartedaftertea. UnlikethepoorBritish,thereseemedtobenowaiting timefortheAmericanbtUlder.everythingfroma6BA

At5.30aanthisMidgetMustangisrarin'togo.AllaircrqftmustbetieddownatalltimeswhennotactiwIli.moving. Sidden"Dust-Bugs"canoverturnthemwithoutanywarning

nutandbolttoa200hp.enginecouldbepurchased thereandthen(usuallywithaBankamericard!).You nameit,theyhaveit.Onewondersifandwhenweare likelytoseethissystemobtainingintheBritishIsles. Yes—onewonders.

Outsidein95F.thedailyflyingshowisaboutto beginandwhatapatrioticdisplaythisis.Onthe strokeof4.45p.m.aparachutistleavesaStearman Biplaneat8000feetandtrailstheAmericanflagand redsmoke.IncorkscrewfashiontheStearmancircles roundtheparachutistandtrailswhitesmokeuntil botharewithinafewfeetoftheground.Whilethisis goingontheseveralhundredloudspeakersaroundthe airfieldareblaringouttheAmericanNationalAnthem, whilethecrowd,foroncestandingquitestill,doff theirhatsandholdthemovertheirhearts,awaiting thearrivalonthegroundoftheparachutistwhom,we arerepeatedlyremindedaftertheevent,hasjustmade hisXhundrethparachutedrop.

Allthisisveryimpressiveanditisthesignalfor everyaircraftintheFlyingdisplaytoattempttolay athickfog.Oneafteranotheraircrafttake-offto out-dotheotherchapandnotonepilotcanperform withouttheaidofasmokegenerator.Onegainsthe Impressionthatthefirstitemeveryhomebuilderor

timeagain,eachgettingalittlemorehairythanthe last.Thedisplayendswiththemostpopularturnof all.BobHooverinhisyellowMustangoutshinesthem allwitharoutinethatvariesdailyanddoesnotcontainanydangerouselements.Whileotherpilotsdress themselvesforatriptotheMoon,Hoovermakesa pointofflyinginacitygent'ssuitandlooksasunruffledwhenheleaveshisaircraftashedidwhenhe enteredit.

Whenthedisplayendsat6.45p.m.,therearestill threehoursofsunshineleftinwhichtowanderround theparkedaircraftorattendafilmshowintheopen hangar.Oshkoshdoesnotseemtosleepatallduring 7daysoftheconvention,foratalltimesoftheday andnightthereisactivitysomewhere.Theblessedcool oftheeveningisaverywelcomereliefafterthesearing temperaturesofthedayandwiththecrowdsrapidly dispersing,thephotographerscanmakefulluseofthe goldeneveningsunlighttoproducesomebeautiful effectswiththehighlycolouredaircraft.Thisisnow thebesttimetoexaminetheaircraftingreaterdetail and,asthefielddoesnotclose,onecanwanderatease alongtherowsofshiningmetalandfabricuntilthe Moon,shiningfromacloudlesssky,throwsinto silhouettethewings,strutsandpropellors—andeven thiscanbephotographedifyouhavethepatience.

commercialconstructorconsidersisthesmoke generator.Smokeofeverycolourandsmellispoured outintorrentsuponthecoughing,sneezingcrowd below.Afterawhiletheimpactislostforwhenan aircraftdisappearsinthedriftingsmokeleftbyhis predecessorstheinterestwanesandthecrowdceases tobeimpressed.Unfortunatelythissmoke-happy bunchkeepitupfortwohourswhiletheloudspeakers constantlyblareoutthecommentor'spraiseforthe pilotperformingatthatmoment.Thiswastheonly pointthatwedidnotlikeeachday.IntrueBritish spiritwebelievethattheviewercandecidewhetheror notaperformanceisgood—wedonotneedtobetold. Beforetheman-madefogmadeusputourcameras away,wewereabletorecordtheaerobaticsofDuane ColeinhisclippedwingTaylorcraft.Whenonlyafew inchesmorethanhalfawingspanabovethegroundon take-off,Colerollsintotheinvertedpositionandcontinuestheclimbandclimbingturninthisattitude. Muchbreathisheldatthebeginningofthismanoeuvre becausethisaeroplanehasonlyverybasiccontrolsand instruments.Withhisnameprintedupsidedownalong thefuselage,oneisleftinnodoubtastotheidentityof thepilotashefinisheshisturnflyinginverteddown therunwaywiththeupperwingonlythreefeetabove thesurface.

ArtSchollinhismuchmodifiedChipmunkputson animpressivedisplayaddingmorefogduringhis 20-minuteturn,tobefollowedbythefirstofmany PittsSpecials.Alltheaerobaticstuntsofwhichthese lovelylittleaircraftarecapablearedisplayedtimeand

Theweekwearsonandgraduallytheaeroplanesare preparedfortheirlongflightshome,someofmore thanathousandmilestothesouthernslates.Like migratingbirdstheyrisefromtheground,circlea littleandheadfordistantlandinggrounds.Amongthe lasttoleavewasthelittleP.D.Q.2.The"toy"aeroplanegivestheimpressionofbeingconstructedfrom junior'sMeccanoset.Awoodenkeel,Kingpost,3 verysmallcasters,oneegg-cupengine,parasol-type wing,asmallconventionaltailunittrailingonsome steeltubing,afewyardsofbowdencableandawayyou go—youhaveyourveryownpersonalaeroplane.The simplicityofallthiswasbroughthometousonthe finalday,aswephotographedthislittlemachine.A teenageboy(helookedabout15)walkeduptothis aircraftandremovedthetwosmallpolythenebags thatcoveredtheentireengineandinstrumentpanel. Acoupleofprodsontheprimingleverandtheengine firedatfirstswing,soundingratherlikeamotormower.Theladwalkedroundthewing,satonthe motorcyclesaddleandstrappedthewholethingtohis back.A.littletouchofthrottlesentthecontraption scurryingbetweenthelegsofthewide-eyedonlookers andoutontothetaxyingarea.Aquickrun-uponthe clockworkandhewasoffandaway—airborneinthe Lengthoftheaveragebackgarden.Withitstinyengine pop-poppingawaythisminiatureaeroplanewithits miniaturepilotclimbedtoabout4,000ft.andset courseforhome,disappearingintothewideblue yonderinthedirectionofMinesota.Suchwasthe spiritofOshkosh1975.

OneofmanyBD4sinthepark.

THEULTRA-LIGHTRE-APPEARS

Asnewandnot-so-newdesignssuitableforhome constructionwereappearinginthelatefifties.Governmentfinancialpolicywasreversedasimportrestrictionsonforeign-builtaircraftwererelaxed.

Manyflyingclubshopedthat.asMistersandTigers becameuneconomicaltooperate,theirreplacementby Iodels,TurbisandEmeraudeswouldbecomewidespreadandthatthiscouldbecoupledwithcheapsolo hoursinTurhulents.Intheeventhowever,only[he Rollason-builtCondorbecameacceptablebysome flyingclubs.ThereasonforhiswasthatAmerican importswerebeingleasedorpurchasedbytheclubs. Operatorsweresoontofindoutthatthequietand comfortofthesenewtypeswasleadingtotheincrease ofprospectivePRI.candidatesandthattheeasewith whichtheycouldbeflown—and.moreparticularly. landed—meantthatmanymorepupilsfinallyobtained alicence.

Criticismofthetricyclegearedaeroplaneistobe heardatmanyagatheringoflightplanepilots.hutthe factremainsthat,ifitwerenotforthecaseofground handlingandthesimplicityofinstructor:pupil communicationinflight,therewouldnotbesomany pilotsenjoyingtheskytoday.

In1961anairworthinessnoticeprohibitedany furtherflightsforhirebyaircrallhavingwoodenbox sparsbuiltpriorioabout1950.Thisincludedallthe ProctorsandalltheMiles aircraft.AustersandTigers

by JOHNPOTHECARY

soldieredonintotheseventiesindwindlingnumbersas clubmachines,butwereoverwhelmedbytheattractiveAmericanandContinentalofferings.Asa directresult,thenumberofstudentpilotsdoubled everyfiveyears

Whenmanynewpilotsgetthemselvesalicence,they wishtobuyanaeroplaneand.foralargeproportion ofthese,ithastobesomething'different'.

At one limetherewasnothingdifferentunlessone wishedtobecommittedtoanantiqueaeroplaneand anenginebecomingincreasinglydifficulttomaintain; nothingdifferent,thatis,unlessonewishedtobuildor designandbuildone'sownaeroplane.

ThisiswherethePFAcomesin,anditisthehome buildingmovementiithiscoulltrywhichisprogressivelygivinganewlooktotheprivateflying sectorofgeneralaviation.TheBritishlightaircraft constructionindustryisaliveandwellandisconducted[loinprivatehomesthroughouttheland.In thiswehavethemakingsofanotherGoldenEraand Isuggestthatweneedanewseriesofdesignssuitable forhomeconstructionwhichwillformthebasisa ailotherhalfcenturyofrecreational Ld.---More informationonnewultra-lightsinreport fromthedesignsymposium.

ALetterfromourPresident

DearEditors,

I!havereadwithgreatinterestandponderedlong overyourexcellentandtimelyarticleintileMarch. AprilissueofPF.

Asyouknow.thequestionofpilotproficiencyis onetowhichagooddealofanxiousthoughthas iecentlybeengiven,andoneoutcomeorthisisthe creationofournewPilotageCommitteeunderthe chairmanshipofJohnPothecary.

FewofusWho arekeenPEAmembershavesomuch sparecashthatwecangetinalltheflyingwewould like:butIthinkitiscommongfoundamongmostof usthatthelegalfivehoursperannumtomaintaina currentPPLisnotenoughtomaintaingenuinepilot proficiency.Sowhatisthedesirableminimum? Obviouslyitwillvarybetweenindividuals,anddepend tosomeextentuponpastexperience,orlackofit.Ido notadvocatejustboringholesinthesky.adulland unproductivemethodofacquiringtime,butIdo suggestthattomaintainreasonableproficiencyonour sortofaircraftoneshouldaimataminimumof twentyhoursayear,andthatthisshouldbespreadas evenlyaspossiblethroughoutthetwelvemonthsLittle andoftenisbetterthanallatonce.Thirtyhoursayear wouldbebetterstill;andhoweverexperiencedapilot is,aconcentratedspellofcircuitsandbumps,with concentrationonreallyaccuratespeedsduringclimb out.approach.andoverthehedgeis,inmyopiniona MUST.Thisshouldhedoneatleasteverytwomonths.

Itisaremarkablefactthat,withtheexceptionof therecentlyinstitutedwingsschemeforwinchthe PilotageCommitteeareresponsible,andtherather differentRoderickTurnerMemorialTrophy,we,as asanAssociation,doverylittleinthewayofpractical

inducementtowardspilotefficiency.Ithinkweneed !loillekindofaward!orthispurpose.Somethingnew. andsomethingwhichcanaswellhewonbytheholder ofthenewestPPL.asbythemostexperiencedold handinthePEA.Itmustalsobesomethingwhich encouragesproficiency,asopposedtomyparticular aversion...boringholes.Afteragooddealof thoughtIhavecometotheconclusionthatitmight beworthtryingacompetitionthewinnertobethe pilotwho,flyingaPEA-typeaircraft(i.e.withinthe limitsofweight,power.speed,etc.,forwhichthePEA isresponsible)landsatthegreatestnumberofdifferent airfields.landinggrounds,strips,andfieldsduringany. periodofthirtyconsecutivedaysduringthetwrIve monthspriortoSywell.Tinsseemstometoencourage thesortofflyingpracticewhichismostvaluable,as wellasavarietyofotherthings.likeencouraging discoveryanduseofnewultralightstripsaroundthe country.

Ifpeopleareinterested.I.asChairmanofthePEA AwardsCommittee.willacceptentrantsforEllisat Sywellthisyear.Eachentryformmustcontainthelist ofairfields.countersignedbyaresponsiblewitnessfor eachlanding:nameofpilotanddetailsofaircraft used(itneednotbethesameoneforeachlanding, tho'eachlandingmustbeagoodone!).Ifeach entrantputsLONEwithhisentry,thewinnertakesall. Toensureadecentsumofprizemoney,Iwilladdit: Oneforeachfsubscribedtiptothefirstten,sothat withtenentrants,thewinnercouldtakeaway£20. Now,getcracking,andlet'sseeifthereisanythingin thisidea.Firstawardtobemadeatthisyear'sSywell, andofcourse,thclastentryoneachformcouldbe Sywellitself.

OLDWARDEN 1975

byW.H.SANSOM

When,ayearortwoago,thewriterbecameaware oftheexistenceofOldWarden,afirmresolvewas madetovisitthe'Mecca'oftheveteran'flying machine'attheearliestopportunity.Afterseveral unavoidablepostponementsthejourneywasfinally madeonthelastflyingdayoftheyear—inthe fortiethyearsincetheinceptionofthis"flyingmuseum–.ThislatterexpressionsumsupthcmagicofOld Warden,othermuseumsworthyofattentioncertainly thereare—HendonandYeoviltonforinstance.But thesearestaticdisplayswhereasatOldWarden—even thenameseemsappropriate—theflyingmachinesdo actuallyfly.

RichardShutdeworth,scionofawealthylandowningfamilyinthelocality,startedtocollectveteran carsintheearlytwentiesanddevelopedthisinterest intoestablishingtheShuttleworthCollection,towhich headdedexamplesofearlycycles,motorcycles,fire enginesandhorse-drawnvehicles.Laterthisinterest expandedtoencompassaviationandheacquiredhis firstaeroplane.

AttheoutbreakofthesecondWorldWarShuttleworthhadacquiredanotablecollectionofaircraftand vehicles.HejoinedtheR.A.F.tocontinuehisactive interestinflyingandunfortunatelywastragically killedinaflyingaccidentin1940.Atrustwasthenset uptoadministertheShuttleworthestatewhichincludedmanyacresoffarmland,thevillageofOld WardenandtheCollectionasitthenstood.

Sincethentheorganisation,nowregisteredasan educationalcharity,hascontinuedtoexpandwithin theobviouslimitsofavailablefunds,withtheaddition ofnewhangarsandworkshops,togetherwiththe necessaryancillaryfacilitiestocaterforaneverincreasingnumberofvisitors.

Theairfielditselfhasbeenextendedandisavailable forvisitingaircraft,withemphasisonareasonable shortfieldperformanceandassociatedpilotcapability. Thefieldisprivateandunlicenced,non-radioandprior permissiononly,atowner'srisk.

Asthevisitinquestionwastobepartofafive-day Autumnholiday,thejourneywasmadebycar,staying overnightatBiggleswade,whichliesconvenientlya

THEFORTIETHYEAR

coupleofmilesfromthcairfield.Sundaydawned happilywithjusttherightcombinationofsunshine, minimalhazeandstillair.Thelatterishighlydesirable asitwillbeappreciatedthat,fortheveryoldestaircraft,acombinationoflowenginepowerandlarge, flatfuselagesurfacestendtomakeflyingdifficultifnot impossibleinevenmoderatelygustyconditions.

Conversely,ahotsummer'sday,productiveof Mediterranean-styleambienttemperatures, cancreate similardifficultiesforthelower-poweredtypeswhich haveproblemsinstrugglingupwardseveninairof optimumdensity—characteristicofthemoreconventionalEnglishclimate.Althoughthedisplaywas notscheduledtostartuntil2.30p.m.,theairfield openedat10.00a.m.—andthewriterboughthis ticketwithmorethanalittlepleasurableanticipaton at10.30a.m.

Virtuallythefirstsightwasthatofanimmaculate lineupofadozenorsoaircraftstandingagainsttheir chocksandduetofly later intheday.Amongthese weretheMarkVclippedwingSpitfire,BristolBoxkite, BlackburnMonoplane(1912),DH60Moth,Hawker Tomtit,GlosterGladiator,MilesMagister,Percival ProvostandavenerableAusterAOP9—afantastic assemblyofpricelessaircraftindeed.

Themenentrustedwiththegreatresponsibilityof flyingtheseirreplaceablemachinesareallServicetrainedpilotsofwideexperienceintestandjor instructionalflying—andwhatasenseofinward gratificationmuststemfromaperfectlyexecuted demonstrationflightofasixty-threeyearoldaeroplane.

Thefirsttaskwastotakegroundphotographsof thevariousaircraft,gainingadvantagefromthe mellowsunshine,apreciouscommoditythatcouldso easilydisappearlater.Apronchecksandfuelingwere inprogress—includingafootpumpvigorouslyemployedonthemainwheelsofthe'Spit'.

Afterthegroundshots,andawelcome'cuppa'with achancephotographicacquaintanceitseemedagood ideatohavealookroundthestaticexhibitsinthe varioushangarsandadjoiningbuildings.Itspeaks volumesforthequalityofinterestandexcellent

TheShintleworthCollectionsSp4fireMk.y.c.

(Photo: W. H.Sonsom)

presentationofthemultiplicityofexhibitsthatthe writerreturnedaftertheairshowtospendthelast fortyminutesfeelingthatanothervisitcouldwellhe spentinthisway.

Theaeroplanesonstaticdisplaywereasintriguing asthoselinedupoutside.Somearenotflyingpropositions,otherswererecognisedfrompreviousdisplays —forinstancetheBristolFighterandtheGerman 'LVG'—wellrememberedforthemock'dog-fight' enjoyedbytheauthoratCranfieldthreeyearsago.The latterlookedtrulyenormousintherelativelyclose confinesofthehangar—afirstwarbiplaneinauthentic camouflage,whichactuallysawserviceagainstthe Britishtowardtheendofthe'14-18'War.Largerand heavierthantheBristolFighter.poweredbyamassive 230H.P.uprightin-linesix-cylinderBenzengine,the 'LVG'wasusedforreconnaisanceandbombing duties.

Incontrasttheminute'PoudeCid',designedby M.HenriMiguel,sitslikeagarage-built'hohby horse'.

The'FlyingFlea','SkyFlea'byliteraltranslation, wasnotagreatsuccessandseveralseriousaccidents, followedbywindtunneltestsbothinthiscountryand France,eventuallydamnedthetypeafteraninitial burstofpopularityamongthe'home-builder'fraternity. AmemberoftheShuttleworthVeteranAeroplane Societyrestoredthespecimencurrentlyondisplay.

Spaceprecludesadetaileddescriptionofallthe aeroplanesonviewinthehangars,sufficientto mentionafewbyname,nameswhichhaveechoed downthefewdecadessincethebirthofaviation.The Sopwith'Pup'of1916,andtheEnglishElectric'Wren' of1923—forerunnerofthemodernpoweredglider-whichflewanastonishing87.5milesononegallonof fuel.TheDH.5IwhichwasreputedlythefirstaeroplanetobebasedandregisteredinKenyaandthe PercivalGullSix,flownbyJeanBattenonherseveral record-breakingattempts,includingthefastestsolo timeacrosstheSouthAtlantic.Goingwayback,the veryearliestyearsarewellrepresentedbytheAvro TriplaneIVandtheDeperdussin—awire-braced monoplanewithwarpingwingsand35URAnzani V3engine,bothcirca1910,andoneyearjuniorstill— theBlériotTypeXIbuiltin1909andvirtually identicalwiththemachinewithwhichBlériotperformedthethenalmostsuperhumanfeatofcrossng theChannel.Thisvenerableflyingmachineoperated withtheBlériotSchoolatHendonuntilitcrashedin 1912.Itwassubsequentlyre-builtandflownfroma BedfordpologroundbyMr.A.E.Grimmer.

RichardShuttleworthandhiscolleaguesre-builtthe machineatOldWardeninI935—anditstillflies, fortyyearslater,atadizzyfortymilesperhour, poweredbythesanteenginetypeastheDeperdussin.

Sonicaircraftarestillintheprocessofbeingcarefullyre-builtwithpainstakingattentiontothesmallest detail.ACiervaautogyroandaHawkerHindare presentlyundergoingrestoration.Thelatterwas presentedtothecollectionbytheRoyalAfghanAir Forceandsurvivedadifficultjourneyofsixthousand milesoverland.Althoughmorethanfivehundred HindswerebuiltinthethirtiesfortheRoyalAir Force,thereappearedtobenosurvivorsatthecoelusionofthelastwar.Afteranextensivesearchover mostoftheglobeitwasdiscoveredthatasquadronol' 'Hinds'hadremainedinoperationalservicein Afghanistanuntil1953andthefavourableclimatehad helpedtopreventseriousdeterioration.Workonthe 'Hind',withassistancefromRollsRoyceinoverhaulingthe'Kestrel'engine,shouldbecompletedin 1976—andthe'Hind'willflyagainunderthemarkings oftheR.A.A.F.Itwouldseemtothewriterimpossible topaytoohighatributetotheEngineers.AirFrame

PopularFlying,May-June,1976

menandotherhelperswhovoluntarilygivetheir servicesweekafterweekonapart-timebasistosee theseprojectsthroughtotheend.AMarkIHurricane, modifiedforuseasaSeaHurricane,isawaitingsucha restorationprogrammewhichislikelytospreadover atleastfiveyears.

Twooftheoldestaircraftareuniqueinadifferent way—inthattheyarebothreproductions,builtas nearlyaspossibletotheoriginaldesign.Thesearethe Bristol'Boxkite'andtheAvroTriplaneIV,bothbuilt speciallyforthatveryentertainingfilm''Those MagnificentMenintheirFlyingMachines-.Air CommodoreAllenWheeler,theAviationTrusteeof theShuttleworthCollectionactedasTechnical Adviserduringtheproductionofthefilm.Oncompletionoftheflyingsequencesthe'Boxkite'was acquiredbytheTrustonthegroundsthatthemodel wasveryaccuratelymade—andnootherexampleof themachinewasavailableanywhereintheworld.The 'Boxkite'hadobvioussimilaritiestothcFrench 'Farman',andwasnotableforbeingprobablythefirst aeroplanebuiltforexportinthiscountry,eightbeing suppliedtotheImperialRussianArmy.Inplaceofthe authenticrotaryengineof1910,amodernmotorof 100H.P.suppliesthepower.

TheShouleityrthcolleethms:Bristol"Boskite-(top) andBlaekhornTypeD.(Photo:W.H.Sansom)

Flyingcommencedat14.00hours,half-an-hour earlierthanadvertised,inviewoftheshortdaylight hours.Thefirstdisplaywasgiveningreatstylebythe PercivalProvost,acomparative'newboy'datingback onlyto1951.Asabasictrainerthe'Provost'was,and is,averypleasantacrobaticplanewithpositive handlingcharacteristics,andhadbeendeservedly popularwithbothInstructorsandStudents.That goldencharacteristicoftaut,positivehandlingwas demonstratedtothelimitbyJohnLewiswhoflewthe machineonthisoccasion.

Apowerfulnine-cylinderradialengineof550H.P. ('Leonides')givesaplenitudeof'poke'andamaximum speedof190M.P.H.—areallydelightfulaircraftfor theacrobaticenthusiast.Replacedin1961bytheJet Provostthelatterisstillinroutineserviceandmaybe seenmostdaysabovetheCotswoldareainthevicinity ofLittleRissington,performingthebasicaerobatic manoeuvresinthehandsofpilotsfromtheCentral FlyingSchool.

Thisfull-bloodeddisplaybythepiston-engined Provost'wasfollowedbytheremainingselected aircraft,oldandnotsoold—somegivingsimilar performancesofvirtuosostandard—othersflyingtheir gentlecircuitswithallthecarenecessarilyimposedby greataee.Ofoutstandinginterestwasthequite-agile performanceofthelittle'Archaeopteryx',asemitaillessmonoplanewithswept-backwing,builtbythe GrangerBrothers,amateurconstructorsinNottingham intheearlythirties.Thisminiaturetype,of'Dinky Toy'appearancewasflownbyNeilWilliams,who,by massivecontrast,flewtheclipped-wing'Spitfire'later intheday.Thiswasonlythesecondpublicappearance ofthe'Arch'—andthesurvivingGrangerBrotherwas presentamongtheassembledcrowd—whatimmense gratificationhemusthavefelttoseehislittlebrainchildsoelegantlyairborneoncemore.

contrastoftypesfromthestuttering25FLP.Anzanis, barelystaggeringintotheair,totheMighty'Merlin'. Eventhe'Boxkite',perhapsthemostdifficultofallto flywithitscomplexstructureofforeplane,mainplanes andtailplane,performeditsstatelycircuitsatadizzy 40M.P.H.Itrequireslittleimaginationtoappreciate theeffectofbumpyairandgustsonthatcomplicated sequenceofaerofoils.

Andsoequaltributemustbepaidtothepilotswho exercisetheutmostskillinflyingtheseancient,andin mostcases,irreplaceableaircraftofbygoneyears— surelya'Corpselite'intheaviatorfraternity.

DavidOeilvy,theCollection'sGeneralManager, flewthe'Magister'—appropriatelyenoughasheused toinstructon'Maggies'indayslongpast.Theflight patterntodayhastobesedateasthisisthesole remainingairworthyspecimenintheworld—andthe caseingluedstructuremustbetreatedwitha'kid glove'respect.

Ofthestaticdisplayasmuchaeaincouldbewritten —amiscellanyofinterestingexhibitsincludesancient bicyclesandmotorcycles,veterancars,horse-drawn carriageswithharnessandhorsebrassgalore.Of specialinterestforcarenthusiastsisa5-IlitredeDietrich,atrueveteranof1903,whichclocked 60M.P.H.on13rooklands—nomeanspeedatthat pointoftime.Otherexhibitsincludeafinecollection ofpaintingsbytheGuildofBritishAviationArtists, numerouswallcharts,originalpapersanddocuments, navigationalequipment,flyingkitsanduniformsand photographs.Oneroomisdevotedentirelytoliehterthan-aircraft,withmodelsandphotographs,anengine andotheritemsofrelevancetotheairshipera.Aero enginesaregivenagoodproportionofspace,in keepingwiththeimportanceofkeepingeitheroneor severalfansturning,orjetpipesblowing.Avarietyof enginesareondisplay,chosentoshowthemainline developmentbothinpistonenginesandgasturbines.

Howtrulymagnificenttohearthecrackleofthe 'Merlin'firingspasmodicallyatfirstinbluesmokeand thensettlingintoasteadyroarofpowerasEngland's numberoneaerobaticace'gunnedit'downtheshort lengthstriptoliftoffinsoshortaruntoasteepclimb out.Howeasilyonecanimaginetheheavycounter rudderpressurerequiredtobalanceouttheincredible torqueofthatgreat-heartedveetwelveengineof 1440H.P.Thedisplaywhichfollowedwasoneofsheer virtuosity,countlessfiguresinterspersedbyzerolevel 'knifing'acrossthefieldwithhair-partingprecision pullingupintowingovers,verticalrollsandallthe otherstockintradeoftheperfectionist.Untilits reappearanceinJunethisyeartheVc'slastflightwas in1968whenitwasusedintheBattleofBritainfilnn— afterwhichitwasstoredatBedfordtoawaitatwoyearrestorationprogramme,whichwascarriedout withlovingcarebyavolunteerteamatDuxford.

TheDeHavillandMoth,precursorofpopular aviation,isuniqueinbeingRichardShuttleworth's ownandfirstaeroplane.Boughtsecond-handin1932, hecommutedtoBrooklandsinthosehalcyondaysto pursuehisfirstlove,i.e.racingmotorcars.AtBrooklandshemetLeslieJackson,laterSqdn.Ldr.,R.A.F., whowastobecomehismechanic/engineerandgeneral helpmateintherestorationofsubsequentmachines. AirCommodoreAllenWheeler,whoflewthe'Moth' onthisoccasioncanclaimtohaveflownthemachine sinceitsarrivalatOldWardenin1932—atruly astonishingcontinuityofassociationofpilot,aircraft andestablishmentthatcouldwellbearecord.

Somuchtosee—andsomuchconcentratedpleasure foranyaviationenthusiast—withallthefantastic

Asisthecaseofaircrafttheemphasisisrightlyupon evolutionfrompioneerprototypetomoderndesign andoneseestheultimatecontrastbetweenthe5H.P. steamunitdesignedfortheFrostOrnithopterof1870, andthecomplexgasturbinesstemmingfromWhittle's originalconceptwhichhaveledtotheR.B.211of today.Evenpropellers—asthemainmeansoftransmittingpoweruntilrecentyears—arewellrepresented withseveraldozensofalltypesandsizesdecorating thewalls.

Todescribetheremainingaircraftonstaticdisplay wouldbeimpossibleinthisshortaccount,butthe GermanLVGVIandSopwith'Pup'evokemisty memoriesofyouthfuldaysofnearlyfiftyyearsago whenthemainreadingofconsequencewas'WarAces', absorbingtheendlessexploitsofBallandMcCudden —theRedBaronandtheleeendaryRichtofenCircus.

Anextrabonusoccurredaftertheofficialendofthe flyingdisplaywhentheBlériotXI,whichhad,todate, onlybeenflownstraightaheadinshort'hops',was llownbyJohnLewisinafirstattemptatsustained Rightwithacircuitofthefield.Theengine—athree cylinder,25H.P.Anzani,hadbeenrunfornearly half-an-hourwithapparentsatisfaction.Conditions wereidealatsunsetandtheaircraftliftedofftothe stutteringtuneoftheoldAnzani—veritablemotorcyclepowerengine.

Unfortunatelytheenginewasunabletosupply sustainedpowerfortheclimboutandMr.Lewishad toland,undamaged,inthenextfieldbutone.Agallant attemptwhichroundedoffamemorableday'sflying andagainunderlinedthegreatskillandpersistenceof thepilotsentrustedwiththeseirreplaceableandunique 'flyingmachines'.

TheArcheopteryx,builtbytheGrangerBrothersinthe earlythirties.

(Photo:W.H.Sansont)

DearSir, SYWELL

Somediscussionhastakenplaceamongstmembers ofthisStrutconcerningtheformatofthePFAannual rallyatSywell.WhilstitwasagreedthattheSaturday isgivenovertoentirelythe'interests'itwasfeltthat theSundayshouldbeconsideredmoreofapublicday, whenthePFAandotherinterestingvisitingaircraft shouldbepresentedtothepublicindisplayform.

TheFly-pastisaconfusingspectaclefromwhichthe publiccanunderstandlittle.Itisalsoconsideredby someofourmemberswhohavetakenpartinthe fly-pasttobedangerousandonlyamatteroftime beforeaseriousaccidentoccurs.

Sywellhasalltheingredientsforafinedisplaybut whicharehardlyused.Wefeelitwouldbebetterto spendatleast1hourofSundayafternoonshowing PFAhomebuiltsandvintagemachinestothepublic oneatatime,insaythreeminutespots.Thisneedonly involveabout12homebuiltsand12vintage.Agood commentarygivingdetailsofbuildingandrestoration, etc.,wouldgivefarmoreinformationtothelayman andarousetheirinterestthaninthepresentmeagre display.

Perhapsthemostsurprisingfacttohaveeludedthe SywellcommitteeisthatduetomostofPEAmembers beingdispersedoverthecountry,weneverhavethe chancetoseeinrealitymostofthesupremeaircraftwe knowexist,builtbyourownmembersandthatwe cometoSywellhopingthatourinterest‘011be satisfiedonlytocatchaglimpseofaMidgetMustang orFuryinafly-pastOrelsestationaryontheground.

Weshouldalsoconsiderthepublic,whowehopeto bringpastthegatesandwhowehopewillpassonthe wordthefollowingyearinrecommendingtotheir friendsthattheyshouldalsovisitSywell.

ConsideringthepresentSundayatternoonevents thisdoesnotlooklikely,tosaytheleast,ofthe attractionofnewmemberstothePFA.Theseopinions havebeenvoicedpreviouslyfromothersources,tothe PFASywellcommittee,andnoreplyhasbeenforthcoming.Itisapitythatthecommitteehaveapparently notseenfittoconsiderthematter:

WegotoSywellforapurpose. Weinvitethepublic.

Weshouldexplaintothepublicwhatwe aredoingthere.

Yourssincerely, P.BUSSEY, Secretary,ChelmsfordStrut 13THORNBERAROAD, BISHOPSSTORTFORD, HERTFORDSHIRE CM233NJ ***

DearSir, JYROJOTTINGS

MickLangtongleefullypointedoutthat,inFigure 2ofthefirstpartofthisarticle,Igottheslackand tightsidesofthebeltreversed!

Changeoverthedirectionsofthetwoarrowsand allwillbewell.Figures3and4areO.K.

ThankYou, PETERLOVEGROVE 6ABBOTTCLOSE, DIDCOL OXON.

PopularFlying,May -June,1976

DearSir, ULTRA-LIGHTAIRCRAFT,NON-STOP FLIGHTS,AUTOGYROS

SomemonthsagoIsentsomeinformationonan autogyronon-stopdistanceinastraightlineWorld Recordattempt.TheflightwaswithmyWA-I16/F autogyro,G-ATHM,fromLyddtoWick,viaDalcross andaturningpointWestofDornoch.

TheofficialfiguresforsubmissiontotheF.A.I.have nowbeenprovidedbyTheSchoolofMilitarySurvey, whocomputedthedistancetotherequiredaccuracy. Theyareasfollows:—

GreatCircleComputation:874kms.330metres.

GreatEllipseComputation:874kms.314metres.

Thisisthestraight-linedistancetocountforthe record.Becauseitwasnecessarytofollowaroute avoidingairtrafficanddangerareas,theflightwas considerablylonger,anditisapparentfromthe additionalcomputations,plustheknowndeviations fromtheplannedroute,thataflight of over966kms. (600statutemiles)wasachievedinunder6hrs.25min.

Thebasicweightofmyaircraftwas3161bs.The extratankweighedafurther14Ibs.Iwonderwhether anyultra-lightpoweredaircraft,ofanytype,otsuch smallsizeandweighthaseverflownsofarnon-stop. Perhapssome-onecanadvise.

Anotherinterestingperformancefigureofficially recordedisacircuitatRAEBedford,landingatan All-upWeightof753Ibs.,thebasicweightofthetwoseaterautogyroachievingthisbeing2401bs.

Atateofplay-intheautogyroworldrecordfield isenclosedherewith.Iunderstandthattherewereto beattemptsintheU.S.onmyaltituderecord,butI havenotheardofanysuccess.Ashame—alittle friendlycompetitionwouldbeagoodthing;Iwanta reasontogohigher(orfurther)!

Bestwishes, Yourssincerely, KENNETIIWALLIS REYMERSTONHALL,NORFOLK ***

Sir, UNUSUALPROJECT

Aspartof aprojectIampreparingforPFpublicity Iwould liketohearfromprivateandgroupownersof ultralightaircraftjusthowmuchitcoststhemto operatetheiraeroplanes.AsaguideIcangiveatwelve monthbreakdownforaPiperCubowner-maintained.

Firstcost,1974price:/2,000;interestonthissum at10%,1200.

100hoursfuelatfourgallonsperhour,£320. 100hoursengine(£900value),£50.

Oil,£5.

Insurance—thirdparty,£50.

Landingcardforoneaerodrome,£48. Otherlandingfees,£10. fiangarage,£252.

Allowancefordepreciationforfabricandtyres,£50. C-of-Afee,£30.

TOTAL:£1,015,orjustover£10anhour. Iwouldliketoaverageyourexpensesandpublish theminPFmagazineandPFpublicitymaterial; anonimitywouldbemaintained.

Yoursfaithfully, JOHNA.POTHECARY, RF.DWINGS,KIRDFORD,

BILLINGSHURST,SUSSEX.

HomebuildinginSouthAfrica

bySteveCrutchley

HomebuildingofaircraftinSouthAfricaisbecomingane‘ermorepopularpastime.Thisisinno smallwayattributabletoaverytolerantbigbrother. intheguiseoftheDivisionofCivilAviation,who watchesoverusandpermitsusagreatdealoffreedom providedthatwedon'tendangerorannoythosewho donotshareourboyishenthusiasm.

ThemajorityofourcitieshaveorganisedChapters (i.eStruts)andinmostcasesthereisalinkwithFAA InternationalintheStates.Toco-ordinatetheactivities ofthevariousChapterswehaveanationalbody knownastheEAAofSouthAfricawhosemain functionsaretopublisharegularnewslettertokeep membersuitouchthroughoutthecountry.andto organiseanannualfly-in.

Becauseofourgeographicalisolationfromthe aviationworldoneotthegreatestproblemsfacingthe homebuilderinthiscountryistheprocurementof materialsforaircraftconstruction.Virtuallyevery item,fromsprucedowntothelastnutandbolt,has tobeimportedThismeansprotractedconstruction times,highcostsandalotofgeneralfussandbother.

Inspiteofthiswehavequiteanumberofhomebuilts alreadyinthcairandmanymoreunderconstruction_ Somecompletedprojechthatcometomindarea BakengDuce,aBreezy,threeNippers,aTailwind,a VP-Iand2,andassortmentofJodelF9'sandII's, sixTurbulents,aTaylorTitchandfivePittsSpecials.

HereinPietermaritzburg,asmallcitysomefifty milesinlandfromtheportofDurban.wehave What

isprobablypercapitathehighestconcentrationof homebuiltaircraftinAlrica.

Thingsfirststartedmovingin1968when'TonyWills, ;Ilocalhighschoolteacherandex-Spitfirepilot,began buildingaBowersFlyBaby.Thisnovelideacaught thefancyofJohnBuchanwhosoonstartedaJodel F-IIprojectandOwenPilcherwhostartedbuildinga SmithTermite.Tony'sFlyBabyhaditsmaidenflight inSeptember1972,anditnowhasmorethan300 hoursofflyingunderitsbelt.TheJodelandTermite bothhadtheirfirstflights.purelybycoincidence.on 26thDecember,1972.

Whenthelocalssawthatmanindeedcouldflyahost ofnewprojectsbegantoappearandduringthesubsequentyearsaJodelF-9andasnazzylittleTurbulent werecompleted.Themostrecenthomebuilttotaketo Pietermaritzburgskiesisanall-metaloriginaldesign ratherunimaginativelynamedtheCrutchleySpecial.

Projectsstillinthelocalpipelineareabraceof TaylorMonos,aBD-4.LwoJodelF-II'sandaSteen Skybolt.ForalittlecityknownthroughoutSmith Africaas''SleepyHollow"wefeelwearedoing reasonablywell.Thereisawonderfulspiritofenthusiasmandco-operationanditisasmuchfuntobe partofthisgroupasitistoactuallyflyone'sown creation.

AnyP.F.A.memberwhomightfindhimselfinthis neckofthewoodsiscordiallyinvitedtodropinfor alookaroundandanaleafterwards. We wouldhe pleasedtoseeyou.

TheAuthor's"CrutchleySpecial-all-mewlmonoplanepowered16aVW-Rennovter2100cccruisesat90mph on501',,power.

CijelkovicMiniAce,poweredhyaVW-1600givescruisingspeedof90mphandrangeof600miles

OwenPitcher'sSmithTermite Motorhasnonbeenfittedwitha rear-mountedLucasMagnetoto eliminatetheunsightlyScintillaVertexInstallation.

FlyBahy,poweredbyaContinental87hpmotor,abouttoaftolfontheMailerFlight,Sept.,1972.

AnotherofthethreeSmithTermites flyinginSouthAfrica.AllareVW powered.

CarecranderMernT'S LutonBeta.PowerisaVGVReymaster2100ccengine.

below:BD-4builthyDr.BergamascoofCapeTownhasa Lycoming160hpengine.

POPULARFLYINGispublishedin Januaryandthereafterinalternate months.Alladvertisementstobesent to:AdvertisementManager,Popular FlyingAssociation,TerminalBuilding, ShorehamAirport,Shoreham-by-Sea. Sussex.

Semi-displaypercolumninch£300. Lineage(minimumthreelines)perline 44p.Discounts:seriesofthree5%. Seriesofsix10%.Agencies10%.

FREE! leeretrosa FreounrowFereneAdverts.peryear,subjecttobeingofnon-businessnature andtospacebeingavailable. QuoteMembershipNo.

For£1-50wewillincludeaphoto ofAeroplanesforSale.

ThePFAdoesnotnecessarily guaranteeorendorseanyproduct offeredthroughouradvertising.

Members'attentionisparticularly drawntobuiltandpartly-builtAircraft.Theyshouldsatisfythemselves thatthemachinehasbeenclearedto P.F.A.standardsiftheysubsequently intendtooperateitthroughthe P.F.A.Airworthinessfacilities.

WANTED-Nipperlongrangetanksand plumbing:BarrySmith,'phoneMiddlesborough42451dayorScarborough73256 night.

RADIO-Collins 618F-1360ChVHF. AlsoCollins51X-3VORrcvrc/wpope: packandIN2laCoarseindicator. Currentcertificates.Offersaround£100 each.Phone0491-38208.

APPROVEDWELDER- requiredfor SaturdaymorningsorSundays,within16 milesLondon.Alsowouldlikesomelathe turningifpossible.ContactMikeTurner, 48ChesterWay.Kennington,SE11.

CURRIEWOTFORSALE-G-BANV, 125Lyeengine,beautifulmachinetofly. Reluctantlyforsaleduetonearcompletionoftwoseaterproject.ContactChris Turner:NewcastleuponTyne666638.

GLIDERFORSALE-K-4 twoseater, CofAfromdateofpurchase,delivered anywhereinUKBobMcLean,Scottish GlidingUnion.PortmoakAirfield,Scotlandwell,ByKinross.Tel.-Scotlandwell 243.

WANTED-Backissuesof PopularFlying to1946.WillpayLIperyear-musthe goodcondition.BobFinch,31Oakdede Drive,Tolworth.Surbiton,Surrey.

AERONCAJAPENGINE 399 wanted-Manual,enginemountand/or propellor.Fairpricepaidimmediate. ContactLaurieMansfield,Hazelbank, DitchlingCommon,Hassocks,Sussex. Tel.BurgessHill3160.

RADIO-Radiostal12ChVHFTranscvr completewithallharness,needsservicing, £30.TigertypeTurn&Slip£25,French Altiinmetres£7,4"venturi£5,Cloth helmetc/woxymask,mikeandphones Elf),generator/banregforContC9OF £12.ContactHK.Rowley,Southend 0702-555776.

WANTED- Aircraftand/orinfoon ChiltonorAeronca.ContactRoger Breckell,7BelviderePark.Gt.Crosby, LiverpoolL23OSP.

STOLperformanceonVWorLawranceengines.De-rigsandrigsas easilyasaglider.Roadable.Plansincluderoadfittings.Easytofly. Cheaptobuild.Longestsinglecomponent12'9"long.Plansconsist of25highlydetailedsheets.

PerSet-£15.00

Informationsheet,3viewdrawing,photograph-75p ERICCLUTTON, 92NEWLANDSSTREET,SHELTON STOKE-ON-TRENT,STAFFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND

AIRCRAFTWANTED-Auster,Jodel, Minicaborany2seaterconsidered.Must haveC.ofA.BoxNo.324,PFAOffice.

WANTED-Part-completeordamaged FRED11clearedtoPFAstandards:G. Cullen,89LangleyGrove,Sandridge,Nr. St.Albans.Herts.AL4905.

TURBULENTFORSALE-1200cc Ardemengine240hoursTT.newC.ofA BasedSouthMidlands,flyslikeadream, -0200ono.RingBrianWinstanleyat Blackburn52196orPaulConnattyat 0614371713orIanJennisonatBrinscall (0254)830909.

JODELHARDWARE for sale-undercarriages,fueltanks,sticks,rudderbars. alsoailerons,tailplanesfor£1.20,DI17, etc.Call016540898.

ARTIFICIALHORIZON,FerrantiMk. IVwith12vtransistorisedinverter160. Altimeter£30,AST0-200kts.£20,Jodel enginemount£25,Compass£7.Wanted DIvacuumor12velectric.Watson,6Park Road,ChandlersFord,Hants.04215 4138.

RADIOFOR SALE--Cessna300,360 channelcomtransceiver,12voltsupply, compactsetwithnoexternalpowerpack needed,c/withconnectorsandmanual, £200ono.Wantedslidingcanopyfor TurbulentPhoneJ/TRileyonHonnington(035961561Ext375(officehrs.)or writeatAFSF..FES..RoyalAirForce Honington,BurySt.Edmunds,Suffolk.

WANTED-I2ChannelRadiotransceiversuitableforultralightinA/Cband frequency.Shouldbelight,willconsider slightlydamaged.R.Beath.Kitchener Flail.RMCS.,Shrivenham.Nr.Swindon, Wilts

FLYINGMagazine.1972(9copies)1975 (complete)1974(IIcopies)1975(con, plete).Smith,151PorlockAvenue,Stafford,ST17,OXY

JODEL120Paris-Nice,Halfsharefor sale£700.BasedHemelHempsteadstrip Completelyre-coveredwithpolyester cloth,newrestrictedC.ofA.500hours leftonengine(C90).AlsoCollins618f 360Chtransceivercompletelyoverhauled withharnessetc.,£170.PhoneRegGladstone,GerrardsCross83874.

WANTED-constructionaldrawingsfor JodelD9orsimilarsingleseatultralight DetailstoJohnFMcGovern,141 BooterstownAve,Blackrock, Ireland.

CONTINENTALC9014Fforsalein excellentconditionwith680hourstorun. £575o.n.o.PhoneHobbs,Bembridge3219 eveningorweekends.

WANTED-TipsyNipper,cashwaiting forgoodexamplewithcurrentC.ofA. PhoneHobbs,Bembridge3219.evening orweekends.

ONEBRANDNEWTYRE420x1506.5/3(Ambassadeur)£15.PairScooter Wheelswithtyres/tubesandbrakes£8.00 OneEnginePylonfromhovercraftfor Cont,seriesengine,c/wCowlings£18.00. Fivegall.ShellW100Oilunopened£5.50. Tenassorted10mmPlugs(VWconvert) £2.50.CompleteHotAirBox&Filterfor 0-200Com.(asnew)£25.00.ContactJohn Bygiayes,129LondonRoad.Biggleswade, Beds.

GROUPFLYING-EnthusiasticI9-yearoldwouldliketojoingroupandlearnto flythisSummerifpossible.Groupshould notbcbasedmorethana30-mileradiusof London.ContactPiersBowlan,24Park VireRoad,Ealing,London,W.5.01-997 8681.

TACHOMETERDRIVEforsale.AC tacho-VW-4'length.Wanted-propellortosuit1500VW(Nipper)andcompleteoriginalspinnerassy.DavidShrimpton,23DuncanCourt,AnsonDrive. Southampton.

PROPELLORfoisale,suitablefor cruisingon0-290enginedCub.X-ray tested.MakeSensenich,ModelM76A M/2,Serial4900TCIP2,P52D74.Price £100,viewat25HollybankGrove,Holgate,York,YO24EATel.0904-20831.

TURBULENTforsale-fittedfactoryreplacement1600ccengine,newprop,spec. cat.CofASept.,76.Alsoconverted 1500ccengineneedingattention.Best offer.Saleduetobusinesscommittments. Merriday01-668-5146.

SWOPYOURHANGGLIDERformy part-builtVP1withspruce,ply,tocompleteairframe.ContactR.Mitchell,The Caravan,c/oGlenOchillGameFarm, LowerMains,Dollar,Scotland.

WANTEDforBeta-Ribtemplatesfor mainwings,finandtailplane.G.Jiggins, 29SouthRoad,Sandy,Beds.

SWOPNEWUNUSED1500/1600VW Cyl.Heads,machinedsecondplug(RWG) withPlusandSpannerfornew,unused normalheads(reason-changeofplan). JohnDuggan,SouthKnock,NewRoss, Co.Wexford,Ireland.PhoneNewRoss 21651.

WOODSAEROPLANESS.A.

DEALERSforAEROSPOREQUAIL, SCAMPANDWOODYPUSFIER. BrochuresEl.

PLANSforDYKEDELTA(Brochure £23,SIDEWINDER,SONERAI1 OE II andmostUSdesignstoorder

ANSTOCKIST—Everythingper yourDrawings.KitsforPAZMANY PL-2,PL-4CAVELIER,SONDEMI andII,Prrrs,VP-I,V1'-2,and MUSTANGIandII.

HARDWARE—Wheels.Props.new Cont.EnginesandSpates.Radio, Nay..Mags.,FibreglassNose Cowls,Spinners—younameit. Wedonotsupplyrawmaterials, excepttospecialorder.

Catalogue50p.SAEwithletters.

Callersbyappoin(mentonly5FitzmauriceClose,DerryHill, Wiltshire,England

StrictPPOAintripamilable(inside LynhamSRZ)

FURYPROJECT—wa medex-TigerStat ends,alsoStick,BoxandSeat.Miller LowerFarmCottage,NetherCompton Sherborne,Dorset.

MOSTPEOPLEwhoenjoydoingyour kindofthing.Datesinallareas, selected bycomputor.Allages,interestsand personalitytypes.WriteSIM(Dept.892), BraemarHouse,Queen'sRoad,Reading.

WANTED FORBETA—Componentsor completeitems,Wings,Ailerons,Aileron ftgs.,C90Enginemount,Cowlings,large FuleTank,Enginecontrols,PropandexPupBrakes.T.MartinJones,38South Avenue, Chellaston,1Derby.Tel.0332 70112.

TAYLORTITCH

FROMTHEP.F.A.OFFICE...

JUSTINSTOCKFROMTHEU.S.A.

"TheLightPlaneSince1909" byUnderwoodandCollinge

Fullyillustrated£3.00.H 30pp.&p

"AerobaticsInTheSky" by1.Underwood

Fullyillustrated.£2.50-E.30p p.&p.

"TheVintage&VeteranAircraft Guide" byJ.Underwood illustrated. £2.50+30pp.&p.

"ThePL4aExplodedViewManual" £6.45±30pp.&p.

LOSTinareaofKronfeldClub,Londor oneright-handladiesshoe,vintage1954 ContactLaurieShaw,WinklieldRow 2217.

WOODENAIRCRAFT PROPELLERS

Availableto suitawiderange includingVW,Continental,Lycoming andDeHavillandengines also Gyrocopter,Airboatand AirCushionVehiclePropellers

Availableinavarietyof LeadingEdgeSheathingsand finishes

Contact:

HAWKERDEHAVILLAND AUSTRALIAPTY.LTD. P.O.Box30Bankstown,2200 Telephone:Mr.IanHart—770111

MERSEYSIDEAVIMIONSOCIETYLTD. 'BRITISHHOMEBUILT

AIRCRAFT SINCE1920'

Thisisthelatestandmostcomprehensiveguidetotheseaircraftever published.Inover 100pagesarefull detailsonhomebuddsfromFlying FleastoMicros,HeathParasolsto DykeDeltas,manpoweredtoelectricpowered.Fullyindexedand cross-referenced.Over100illustrations.AMUSTforanyonewith aninterestinBritishLightAviation. AtLI-40,postageincluded,itis availablefrom:

MerseysideAviationSociety c/o4WillowGreen,Liverpool L254RR

RENEGADE

VW poweredlands50mph,tops150. Plans&workinstructionsLI.6.Also FormulaOnemodelforRollsRoyce £16.Brochureonboth £1.

SouthernAeronauticalCorp., 14100LakeCandlewood, MiamiLakes,Fla.33014,USA

NewPFALapelBadge inblueenamel,i"1"

*60p+5pp.&p.*

FromthePFAOffice

TYPE LowWingAcrobaticMonoplane

CONSCRUCEIONWoodandFabric

PERFORMANCE Stall(withflap)50m.p.h.Cruise—I55m.p.h.

SPAN-18'9"Length-46'I*"

REMARKS:Suitableforracingintheformulaoneclass.Notan aeroplaneforthenovice.Stressedto90.

Brochure45p-I- lOp Plans £16±35p P.&P.

TAYLORMONOPLANE

TYPE LowWingMonoplane

CONSTRUCTIONAllWoodandFabric

ENGINEVWContinentalA40

PERFORMANCE Stall30(withflaps)Cruise80kts.

SPAN-21'Length15'

REMARKS: Specificallydesignedforbuildingintheminimumof space.

Brochure 35p-I-lOp. Plansfrom £12+35p P(ftP.

From: MRS.J.TAYLOR,25ChesterfieldCrescent, Leigh-on-Sea,Essex.

30 sq. ft.of drawingsanda15,000-wordmanual providedesignsandinformation enablingonetoconvert anyV.W.engineupto1600ccs.Fully approvedfor amateur-builtaircraft,theseplansareofferedwithlifetimefreeadviceforonly£9-50postpaid.

DonaldG.Peacock, MeadowCottage,ArdleIghHeath,Colchester,C077QB Tel.Colchester230446

Tel.—Dunstable62068

OPENMONDAYTOSATURDAY-9A.M.TO6 P.M.

StocksofmostmaterialsfortheHomeBuilder

Fabric,343,575,Linen7F1/5CandDacron

Dope(ClearandColour),PinchinJohnson, TitanineandRhodius

Spruce,PolishPineandAsh

ControlCablesmadeuptoorder

Adhesives,AeroliteandAerodux

Fibreglass,ResinandMicroballoons

SteelTube,SheetandRod

GL1AircraftPlyfrom0.8mm.to3.0mm.thick

Widerangeofinstrumentsinstock

C.A.A.welding.Machiningandre-sprays

Sends.a.e.forpricelist

Doncaster Sailplane Services for

HOMEBUILDERSSUPPLIES

0.L.1 aircraftbirchply0.8mmto5mm. Fabric-2weightsforsupportedandunsupported areas.

Dope—tauteningandcolouretc. Jointingcompound—forwood/metal.

Spruce,DouglasFir,WhitePine,Ash,gradeA.

A.S.I.V.5.1.compassesetc.etc.

S.514and5.510steelsheetandT45tubes. Controlcablemadeuptoorder..

V.P.I. StrutTubes,UndercarriageStock. Cavalierplansandallrawmaterialtobuild. Fibreglassandresin,releaseagent,pigmentetc.

Sends.a.e.forpricelist