STRUTS4U

The skies around Turweston have been buzzing in the last weeks with a combination of fair weather for flying and the easing of restrictions. One aircraft type you might be lucky enough to see is the Aeronca, designed and built by the Aeronca Aircraft Corporation. The C-2’s distinctive design gave it the nick-name of The Flying Bathtub, in the 1920s, and later models include the Chief, Champ, Chum and Sedan. In Cornwall, Pete White, Chairman of the Aeronca Club of Great Britain, has been focusing his thoughts on flying for fun again and sent us the following. “The Aeronca Club of Great Britain was formed in 1992 after an Air Britain Aeronca-themed fly-in at White Waltham Airfield. This was instigated by Alan Biggs, who was soon joined at the helm by Roger Jones and then Pete White. The Club grew and established itself as a worthy and very active ‘type club’, which enables owners/operators to keep in contact and meet at regular fly-ins around the UK, with occasional trips to France and Ireland. “Roger Jones left the fold in 1994, and in 1997 Alan Biggs passed the reins to Pete White, who has been at the helm ever since. The Club has successfully maintained a casual approach but has gained more useful contacts worldwide for advice and spares with the help of the Club website (www.aeronca. Struts 4U co.uk), initiated by Bob Swan, then Jon Turner and now in the by Anne Hughescapable hands of Seth White. The stalwarts on the committee that assist in the running of our Club are Alan Crutcher, Reg Above Aeronca Club The Club holds about six fly-ins a year around the UK, McComish, Rich Valler, Derek Boyce and John Colgate. All Chairman Pete and we stay in touch using email to assist our members, and are flyers of the Aeronca White, left and fellow members enjoy a other enthusiasts, to make their ownership and flying of breed, a type that is very drink and a chinwag. Aeronca aircraft as pleasurable as is possible. Have fun, fly special in the world of an Aeronca!” US Classics. Left A period “Part of the joy of Aeronca advert Informative Aeronca ownership is encouraging farmers to take up flying. There have been many excellent and informative Strut Zoom being able to evenings over the last few months, including David self-maintain the Below A gathering of Cockburn’s fascinating talk, Chipmunk over Berlin, when he aircraft through the Aeroncas at a Club told us about working in Berlin during the Cold War. I’m sure LAA Permit to Fly Fly-out. it would be a popular talk for many Struts, should David wish scheme, and it gives to talk about his experiences again at a future date. His you the unique presentation had all the ingredients of a Cold War thriller! opportunity to really During the March edition of the LAA end of month zoom get to know your pub night, Noggin and Natter, we discussed the situation aircraft. regarding Strut zoom evenings that are arranged after this

column has gone to press. It was suggested that if Struts wanted a wider audience for a special evening, it could be communicated to members on the LAA website Strut Forum. Alan Kilbride, from the Vale of York Strut, uses Facebook and the Forum to advertise some of the arranged online meetings. Not all Struts may be able to facilitate larger numbers, but it is good to look at various ways of sharing programmes, as it is beginning to look as if online events may become a useful alternative to gatherings during the winter months. We have learned a lot over the last 12 months that will be of benefit to groups and clubs in the future. We would like to extend our best wishes to Ellie Carter who is the new Chair of the LAA YES Strut. It is to be hoped that we can start to engage with young people again later in the year, and look forward to seeing the new programme for YES when it becomes available.

We have been asked on several occasions if there is enough interest in Northern Ireland for setting up a new LAA Strut there. It has in fact been a matter of debate several times over the years, and we would certainly welcome positive news from across the water should a group of like-minded NI aviators wish to make a formal arrangement. LAA member Scott McMurray is happy to be a contact/ coordinator in this respect. If you would like to be involved, please get in touch with LAA HQ and we will be pleased to report the outcome in this column.

Strut calendar

At this time some Struts are continuing their monthly meetings using Zoom and you are welcome to contact any Strut should you be interested in the advertised

talk or to find out if fly-ins, fly-outs or BBQ’s have been arranged.

Andover Strut: Spitfire Club, Popham Airfield, SO21 3BD. 1930. Contact: keith.picton@ntlworld.com

Bristol Strut: BAWA Club, Filton. 1930. Contact: chairman@bristolstrut.uk www.bristolstrut.uk 4 May - Zoom. Steve Slade & Eddie Clapham - Kiev to Odessa microlight rally 1988.

Cornwall Strut: The Clubhouse, Bodmin Airfield. Contact: Pete White pete@aeronca.co.uk 01752 406660

Devon Strut: The Exeter Court Hotel, Kennford, Exeter. 1930. Contact: david.millin@sea-sea.com 19 June - Terry Case Memorial Fly-In at Farway Common.

East of Scotland Strut: Harrow Hotel,

Dalkeith. 2000. Contact: inrgibson001@btinternet.com 0131 339 2351.

East Midlands Strut: Please contact: tonyrazzell2@gmail.com for meeting details a few days beforehand, or to be added to our email circulation to get details automatically. We also have a Facebook group and upload recordings of some meetings where we have speakers.

Gloster Strut: The Victory Club, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2SY. Contact: harry.hopkins@talktalk.net

Highlands & Islands: Highland Aviation, Inverness Airport. Contact: b.w.spence@btinternet.com 01381 620535. 19/20 June - Easter Airfield Fly-In (dates provisional).

Kent Strut: Cobtree Manor Golf Club, Maidstone, Kent. 2000 (currently Zoom). Contact: Steve Hoskins hoskinsltd@outlook.com 07768 984507.

LiNSY Trent Valley Strut: Trent Valley Gliding Club, Kirton Lindsey. pilotbarry1951@gmail.com http://linsystrut.wixsite.com/website

North East Strut: Fishburn Airfield. Brunch third Sunday of each month. 1130-1330 at Fishburn Aviator Cafe. Contact: alannixon297@btinternet.com

North Western Strut: Veterans Lounge, Barton, Manchester, 1930 for 2000. Contact: cliffmort@btinternet.com 07813 497427.

North Wales Strut: Caernarfon Airport, Dinas Dinlle. HEMS Bistro Café 1300. Contact: Gareth Roberts gtrwales@gmail.com 07876 483414.

Oxford Group: New Venue TBC. Second Wednesday each month. Zoom meetings. Email for joining details. Contact LAAOxford@gmail.com www.oxfordlaa.co.uk 12 May - Flying on Green Ammonia by Mike Mason.

Redhill Strut: The Dog and Duck, Outwood, Surrey, RH1 5QU. Third Tuesday of each month at 1930. Contact: david@milstead.me.uk

Shobdon Strut: Hotspur Café, Shobdon Airfield, Hereford HR6 9NR. 1930. Meetings (once lockdown completed) second Thursday of month. Contact: Keith Taylor bushebiggles@sky.com 19 May - Zoom meeting 1930, Flying Dakotas by Kath Burnham. 16 June - Strut BBQ, location and time to be confirmed. Southern Strut: The Swiss Cottage, Shoreham-by-Sea. 2000. Normal meetings will resume on the first Wednesday of the month when permitted. Contact: palmersfarm@sky.com

Strathtay Strut: Scottish Aero Club, Perth Airport, Scone. Scone Clubhouse. Contact: keith.boardman@peopleserve.co.uk 07785 244146.

Suffolk Coastal Strut: Crowfield Airfield

Clubhouse.1900. Contact: Martyn Steggalls events@suffolkcoastalstrut.org.uk 07790 925142. 19 May - Zoom meeting 1930, Flying Dakotas by Kath Burnham.

Vale of York Strut: Chocks Away Café, Rufforth East Airfield. Contact: Chris Holliday 07860 787801 valeofyorkstrutlaa@gmail.com www.valeofyorkstrutlaa.wordpress.com

Wessex Strut: Henstridge Airfield Clubhouse. Contact neil.wilson@laa.uk.com 26 June Wessex Strut Invitation Mid-Summer Evening BBQ, Middlezoy Airfield. Fly or drive-in.

West Midlands Strut: Navigator Café, Halfpenny Green Aerodrome 1930. Contact: Graham Wiley westmidlandslaastrut@ googlegroups.com Stuart Darby stuartdarby134@hotmail.com. or visit our website wmstrut.co.uk

West of Scotland Strut: Bowfield Country Club, Howwood, PA9 1DZ. 1900. Contact: Neil Geddes barnbethnkg@gmail.com 01505 612493.

Youth & Education Support (YES): Contact: Graham Wiley gw20home@outlook.com

NB: Thank you to all Struts and clubs for getting in touch. If you have any stories, items you wish to share or updates for the calendar, please contact me at struts@laa.uk.com ■