Popular Flying Nov/Dec 1977

Popular Flying 411

Allpricesaresubjecttochangewithoutnoticeduetoincreasesinpriceandcurrencyfluctuations.

Popular Flying

EditorialCommittee: ALANDUNN MIKEGRIGSON LAURIEMANSFIELD

EditorialAddress:

TerminalBuilding, ShorehamAirport, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex,BN45FT.

Telephone: Shoreham-by-Sea61616

PFAEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President:

A/CMDRE. G..1.C. PAUL,C.B.,

Chairman:

D.F. FAULKNERBRYANT

Treasurer:

L. SHAW:H.Ac.,C.Eng.,M.R.Ac S..

A.M.S.L.A.F_T.

EngineeringOfficer'

F.I.V. WALKER:C.Eng.. F.R.Ae.S, CommitteeMember3:

DOUG.BIANCHI

JOHNDUNFORD

TONYFARRELL

TONYHAROLD

ERNIEHORSEALL

MIKEJOSEPH

AlEKNOWLES,OTTE.,A.F.C.

LAURIEMANSFIELD

STUARTMACCONNACHER

JOHNPOTHECARY

I.ESRICHARDSON

MIKEVAISFY BILLWILKS

JIM WILLS

N0VEMBER-DECEMBER

2-4GOINGSHORT

5AIRCRAFTFORTHEHOMEBHILDER

6-7VINTAGE NEWS

8-9BRIENNE-LE-CHATEAG

10-11PROJECTS

12-15OSHKOSH1977

16-17PARISAIRSHow

18-20S MUT NEWS

21-23PILOT NAVIGATIONINVERYSMALLAEROPIANES

24 STRATHALLENAEROPLANECOLLECTION

26 AvIATIONQuiz

27FINALS

TheviewsexpressedinPOPULARFLYINGarethoseofthe contributorsandnotnecessarilythosepfthePF.A.The Publishersretaintherighttorefuseorwithdrawadvertisementsat theirdiscretionanddonotm'ceptfordelayinpublication orforclericalorprinter'serrorsalthougherecrcareistakento avoidmistake5.

Aviationisnolcheap!Manypeoplehavelaunchedthemselvesintoaviationonlittlemore thanabucketfulofenthusiasmandaverystrongambition.Someweresuccessful,others werenot.ThosethatweresuccessfulprobablyhadthesortofabundantenergyHimcarries allbeforeitandwouldsucceedinanyfield.Othershadafairsliceofgoodluckandgood Fortune.Themajorityofusarenotsoluckyandusuallyfindthingscanonlybereachedthe hardway,Wecan,however,increasetheoddsinourfavourbycuttingourclothaccording toourmeansandmakingsurethatwhatweattemptiswithinourscopeandourlimitations Onmanyoccasionsweconicacrossmemberswhohavesettheirsightstoohighandcannot maintaintheiraircrafttoanadequatestandardThey(endtogoforthecheaprepairand blunderonuntilthenextcrisisoccursonlytofindoutthattheskimpedrepairbecomesafar moreexpensivejobat(henextcheck.ManyownershavetriedtheoldAeroClubIwoyear CofAscheme,inthefondhopethattheywouldsavemoneyonthe C of A fees,onlyto discoverthatsvhenthetwoyearcheckcomesuptherepairbillshavemountedmuchhigher thaniftheyhadstucktotheoneyearofCofA.Thecheapestwayofoperatinganaircraft istoensureitiswellmaintainedonanadequatebudget,Labourchargesareundoubtedly thebiggestexpensesandherethePEAmembercandoalottohelphimselfprovidedhe seeksagoodcounsellorinhisinspector.Muchrubbishisspokenbysonicof(hebrethren whosurroundtheaviationworldandsaythatoldaircraftcanbemaintainedtomodern standards;butwhattheyforgetisthatwhilstamodernpieceofmachinerycanbe maintainedinlinewithnewtechniques,theoldaircraftwerebuiltofoldertypesofalloys, einesandrivetswhicharenotnecessarilysuitedtothesemodernpracticesYearsofwisdom haveinmanycases,ensuredthattheseoldaircraftsurvivedTheirownersshouldtreat hemwilhcareandmaintainthemwiththetechniqueswhichhavebeentestedfor them.Thisphilosophyisparticularlytrueofengines.Theenginewhichwasmanufactured sonte30yearsagohasprobablyreachedanabsolutelimitofextensionofitsrunninghours forallpracticalpurposesandtotryandpushuptherunninghoursstillfurtherisonly askingforavervexpensivehillintheend.

SecretaryGeneral: J.S.J.LAUDER - 77117 17—

PT A

'?4• co /ICINGPs-

Founded1946

Individualmembership:£7.50p.a.

Thefoundingandrepresentativebodyin theUnitedKingdomofamateur constructorsandoperatorsofultraPght andgroupoperatedaircraft.

P.F.A. (ULAIR)Ltd

Coy,-a CONINILNT—

ExecutiveCommitteeMemberJohn PothecaryflyinghisComperCLA-7Swift

overSussex

Photo:GordonBain

PopularFlying,November-December,1977

Ontheconstructionsidethestoryisstillthesame.Manybuildersneverreactttheirgoal simplybecausetheyhavetakenontoomuchandtheirresourceswillnotstretchthatfar Forthelaanwithnotunlimitedresourcestheadage'SWallisbest'isnotabadthing—but donotmakeittoosmall!Manvglossybrochuresappearinthatpromisedlandofthe aviationenthusiastsontheothersideoftheAtlantic.Things,however,arenotalwayswhat theyseemandthepowerfullookingWW2fighterwillprobablybeagigantictasktomost ofus.Itisalsoworthwhilemakingsurethattheperformanceissuitabletoyourneeds. ManyofthenewaircraftnowappearingarenotsuitedtotheaverageUKgrassstrip.The wheelsmaybesosmallthattheaircraftisonlysuitableforrunwayuseorthetake-off performancemayonlybeforthelongcorporateairfield'srunway.Allinallyoushould buildanaircraftwhichyoucanaffordtobuildandflyonceyouhavefinishedit.Aviation isnotcheapandifonestopstothinkofwheretheprivateaviationscenewillbeinthenext 25years,onefindsasoberingthought.Itismorelikelythatthetrueprivatelyownedsports aircraftaswehaveknownituptonowwilldisappearaltogether.Theupmarketsectorwill bethecorporateexecutivebusinessmachine,fullyequippedwithanexpensiveradioset-up. Theseaircraftarenotlikelytobehandeddowntothelowermarketsectortoendupas cheapersecondhandaircraft.Moreoverthetrueprivateownerwillnotbeabletoaffordto maintaintheaircrafttoanacceptablestandardandtheaircraftwilleventuallyendtheir daysinthescrapyard.Whatseemslikelytohappenisthattheonlywayforprivateaircraft tokeepintheairisthroughtheamateurbuiltaircraft.Thebigexpansionofinterestinthe amateurbuiltaircraftwhichisnowstartingtoshowitselfisprobablythetipoftheiceberg. Theprivateaviationsectorislikelytofinditselfinapositionsomethinglikethestylethat theglidingmovementenjoystoday,withalargegapbetweenitandthenextsectorwhich willbethesmallbusinessaircraft.Thiswillbenobadthingwithsmalllightaircraft operatingveryefficientlyonsmallpistonenginesoftheautomobiletype,makinglittle demandontheWorld'ssmalloilresources.Besidesallthisaviationwillstillnotbe cheap—thegoodthingsinlifeneverare!

GOINGSHORT

Glengarriffisasmallholidaytownonthenorthern shoreofBantryBay,onthesouth-westcornerof Ireland.Ataroundmiddayon19thAugustlastyear, downonthequayside,acertainamountofconfusion wasevident.

Someeightypeoplehaddisembarkedfromtwo coachesafewminutesbefore,havingleftGatwickat ninethatmorning.Thereasonforthisinvasionwas thepromiseofanhour'sflightinoneoftheonlytwo airworthyShortflyingboatsintheworld: SandringhamVP-LVE,ofAntillesAirBoats.The PresidentofAABisCaptainCharlesBlair,who, beingmarriedtofilmacressMaureenO'Hara,had thebrilliantideaofvisitinghisin-lawsbyflyingboat, andgivingjoy-ridestoBritishenthusiaststohelppay forit.

Theaircraftconcernedwasbuiltoriginallyasan RAFSunderlandbyShortsatRochesterin1942, poweredbyfourBristolPegasusengines.Thesewere replacedbyR-1830TwinWaspspriortoits conversionin1946toacivilSandringhambyShorts atBelfast.AlongwithanotherSandringham,itwas usedformanyyearsbyAnsettontheirSydney-Lord HoweIslandservice,butsometwoyearsagoAnsett decidedtouselandplanesonthatservice,andthe Sandringhamswereupfordisposal.

CaptainBlairhadflownflyingboatsduringthe war,andafteraspellasCaptainwithPanAm, foundedAntillesAirBoatstoprovideairtaxi servicesandtouristjoyridesaroundtheCaribbean usingafleetofMallardandGooseAmphibians. HemadeasuccessfulofferforbothSandringhams, andthetrans-Pacificdeliveryflightswere accomplishedwithoutincident,thelongestlegbeing nolessthan2,277nauticalmiles!Allat130knots!

OurtriphadbeenorganisedbyGangplankTours ofKingston-on-Thamesinconjunctionwith Aviation News.We hadbeenflownfromGatwicktoCorkin DanAir748G-ASPL,andapartfrombeingkept waitingforageswiththedooropenatCorkwhile theyfoundthestairs,thatbitwasquiteenjoyable. Regrettably,thesamecannotbesaidforthe62mile coachtriptoGlengarriff.NowondertheIrishnever hurry—theirroadshavetobeexperiencedtobe believed!Thevehiclewasbynomeansnew,and everybumpandpotholewasfeltwithamazing clarity—weallhadblurredvisionafterthefirstmile!

Itwastowardstheendofthelong,hotsummer, andafterparchedoldEngland,wewereamazedto seethatIrelandwassolushandgreen,withmileafter mileoffuschiasgrowingwildinthehedgerows.All duetotheGulfStream,weweretold.

Eventuallywearrivedandmadeourwaytothe quayside,allanxiousforafirstglimpseofthe Sandringham.Butno,afewluxuryyachtsand sailingdinghieswerealltherewastobeseen. Questionswereasked,andwewereassured,"Ah, 'tisjustoutofsightaroundtheheadland,sor!'

Therewereworriedlooks,evenso,asitappeared thatnoarrangementshadbeenmadetogetusacross thewetbit,hencetheconfusion.However,withthe arrivalofCaptainBlair,orderwasrestored,and threesmallboatswerehired.

WesetoffononeoftheBoats,propelledbyatiny Japaneseoutboard.Eventuallyasmallisland appearedahead,andweveeredofftotheleftand madeourwayroundthelandwardside—and suddenly,thereshewas!Inspiteoftheold boatman'spleasforustokeepseated,everyonewent mad,withcamerasclattering,repeatedlystanding

byMartinBourne

up,sittingdown,andhangingoverthesidetoget theirshots.Butitreallywasastirringsightaswe approachedastern,thesunbehindreflectingoffher wrinkledskin.

Shetoweredaboveus,aswemadeourway carefullyalongtheportsidetowardsthenoseentry door.Nowthiswasourfirstexperienceoftheseso called"enthusiastsoutings"andthemadrushtoget allthebestseats,apparentlynormalonsuch occasions,caughtuscompletelyunprepared.Itwas justlikebeingcaughtupinthechargeoftheLight Brigade,withjetpropelledcamerasandgadgetbags crashingpastonallsides.MywifeJulie,whocanjust aboutmanagefivefeetonthelocalQFE,wasindire peril.

ThesituationwassavedbyOmarSharif,oratleast hisdouble,who,onhearingthecommotionappeared inthedoorway,helduphishandsinhorrorandsaid "Gentlemen,please!Whereareyourmanners?Let theladyonfirst!"Withadazzlingsmilehehelped Julieonboard,followedbyMalcolmandI,thenthe rest,lookingverysheepish.

AccommodationontheSandringhamisontwo levels.Wehadembarkedatthebowonthelower deck,alongwhichanopencorridorrandownthe portside.Thisgaveaccesstofourfirst-classrailwaystylecompartments,eachwitheightseats,four facingforwardandfourfacingaft.Anupstairs loungeattherear,reachedbyastaircasefromthe rearfirst-classcabin,hadmoreconventionalseating. Adoorintherearbulkheadgaveaccesstotherear fuselage,andtheupperescapehatch.

Wewereluckyenoughtogetthreeseatsinthe first-classcabinjustaftofthemainspar,whichgave ustheclassicflying-boatview,withwing,engines andfloatstoframeourphotographs.

"OmarSharif"appearedagain,togiveuslifeboat andemergencydrills,butexcitementwasrunningso highthatIdoubtifanyonelistened!

Therewasadistantrumbleastheport-outer enginewasstarted,quicklyfollowedbytheother three.Thiswasmyfirsttripinafourpiston-engined aircraft,andhavingbeenbroughtuptothink 'Merlin'Iwasquiteunpreparedfortheverysubdued noiselevel,evenattakeoffpower.

Wewereunderwayimmediately(nochocks!)and wetaxiedforperhapshalfamilewiththeshoreon ourleft.Afewpeoplestoppedtowatchusgoby. Thechapnexttomesaid"Iwonderiftheyrealise whatthey'relookingat...".

Theengineswererunupwhilstonthemove,first theouters,thentheinners,thenoncameallfour, andstayedon.Nobodyspoke.Wewerenotyeton thestep,soasweaccelerated,vastamountsofwater werebeingthrownupandverysoonvisionthrough oursidewindowsbecameimpossible.

Withaloudswishingnoiseunderourfeetshecame uponthestep,everythingbecamesmoothasthe speedapproached80knots.Visionwasrestored,and aswewatched,thewakefromthestarboardfloatgot lessandlessandfinallystoppedaltogether.

Wewereairborne!

NowIamnotnormallyanemotionalsortofchap, butthosefirstfewmomentsIshallrememberfora verylongtime,asweallsattheregrinningatone anotherlikeovergrownschoolkids!Afterall,this wasanewexperienceformostofus.

Thisreallywasairtravelfromanotherage.Isat backandfounditeasytoimaginewhatitmusthave beenlikeontheImperialAirwaysboats,flyingoffto thefar-flungoutpostsoftheEmpire.Herewas luxuryindeed,withbeautifulwood-panelled bulkheads,carpetedfloors,luxuriousseatsonejust sankinto,withpaddedarmrestsjusttherightheight, andaboveall,stacksoflegroom.Racksaboveeach seatheldadequatesuppliesofwhitesilkdown-filled cushions,areminderthatit'salongwaytoIndiaat 130kt.!Ithoughtbacktothe748thathadbrought ustoCork.Isitreallyprogresstobepackedlike sardinesintoapressurisedtubewithyourkneesup underyourchin?

Welevelledoffatabout600feetandflewalong theNorthcoastofBantryBay.Omarcamearoundto saythatitwasOKtomovearoundtheaircraft,and PopularFlying,November-December,1977

forafewmomentsitwaslikesittinginthemiddleof PiccadillyCircus—amidcamerasgalore.WhenI eventuallygotupforawanderroundtheremusthave beenatleastfourateachwindow.

Backinourcabin,ayoungladyappearedand askedifwewouldlikeanydrinks.ThreeG&T's dulyarrived-£1.90!Butthey were trebles!Itwasas thisyoungladywasdelicatelybalancingherveryfull drinkstrayinourcabinthatwehitsomereallyfierce turbulence.Aboutfortyhandsshotouttosaveher andI'mpleasedtosaynotadropwaslost.

"WhatbetterwaytoseeIreland?"saidsomeone tousaswemotoredserenelyon;theseashoreand picturesquevillagespickedoutinsharpdetailbythe harshautumnsun.OverdesertedBearIsland,we beganagentleturnrighttotakeusoveranarrowspit oflandtoBallydoneganBay.Wewatchedour

Topleft:CaptainBlairalwork.Topright:WhatbetterwaytoseeIreland.Bottom:Shepoundedtowardsus withagreatphoneofspraystreamingouthehind.

Photo's:MalcolmSmith.

shadowchasingusoverthewater,andagaincameras clicked,mineincluded.

Weheadednorthwestacrosstwelvemilesofopen watertoBolusHead,St.Finan'sBayandPuffin Island.Fromourmovinggrandstand,wewereable toappreciatetothefullthebeautyofthiscornerof Ireland,thegin-clearwater below,with ruggedcliffs toweringoutofthewater,inplacesalmostuptoour level.Ontheclifftopstheoccasionalwhite-washed cottagewassurroundedbyroughpasture,andgrey mountainsrisingfromthedistanthaze.

OutoverthewatersofDingleBaywedida180° lefttogobackdownthecoast.Fromourstarboard windowtheAtlanticlookedverybig,andIthought foramomentofJimMollisonallthoseyearsago coaxinghisheavily-ladenpussMoth"Heart's Content"offanIrishbeachtoflytoAmericanonstop,inthe'wrong'direction.

Ijoinedthequeuetovisitthebridge,towhich accesswasgainedviaaverticalladderleadingup througha2ft.squarehatchinthecockpitfloorjust behindthethrottlepedestal.Comparedwithmodern flightdecks,thiswaslikeabarn,withampleroom forabouthalfadozengawpersatatime.

Iwasimmediatelystruckbythegenerouswindow area,givingexcellentvisibilityforthe pilots—somethingtheydon'tseemtocaremuch aboutthesedays.Theaircraftwasbeinghand-flown fromtheleft-handseat:whilstCaptainBlairwasin therightkeepingtabonourpositionwithabiroona half-milliondrapedoverhiscontrolwheel.Ithanked himformakingdreamscometrueforsomanyflying boatfans,andhesaidhowmuchheenjoyeddoingit, addingthatareturnvisitin1977withpossiblyboth Sandringhamswasbeingplanned.Whatafeastthat willbe!Healsomentionedthelong-distancerecord attemptshemadeafterthewarinMerlin-powered P.51s.

Isawthatourspeedwas125kt.,ourheight800ft. andourpositionovertheWesterntipofDursey Island.Nestlingintotheleadingedgeofthewingwas theFlightEngineer'sStation.Wearingear protectors,asthenoiselevelherewasquitehigh,the Engineerstoodathispanelconstantlymakingminor adjustments—goodnessknowswhy,tomyuntrained earsthoseenginessoundedbeautiful!

Ireturnedtoourcabinaswecrossedthemouthof BantryBay,nowstretchingawayonourleft.We thenvisitedtheuppersaloonforagoodviewofthat vast112footspanwing.Thegalleyandbaroccupy theforwardendofthissection,withaservinghatch throughthemainsparforthebenefitofthecrew!

BackinourcabinIrealisedthatwehadturnedleft intoanorth-easterlyheading,FastnetRockwas behindusandwewereabouttocrossthecoast.We wereaskedtoreturntoourseatsandfastenseatbelts. Therewasadeeprumblesomewhereaboveourheads astheflapswereextendedout.

DunmanusBayappearedontheleftandsoonwe wereonfinalapproachoverthewaterofBantryBay. Thewindwasalmostnon-existentsowelandedona reciprocaltothetake-offruntosavetaxyingtime.

Thespeedcamebackto155,rpm'supto2550and flaps4out.Craningourneckswecouldseethewater cominguptomeetus,thenagentlehissunderour feettoldusthatweweredown.Gentledeceleration continuedforafewseconds,theswishingunderour feetgettinglouderasthekeelbitdeeperintothe water.Thenthingshappenedquickly.Withasudden roarshecamedownoffthestep,pitchingdownby thetail,almostlikeastallinreverse.Thesudden decelerationthrewusforwardinourseatsandagreat wallofwaterwasthrownuponeitherside completelyblottingouttheview.Weweretaken

completelybysurpriseaseverythinguptothenhad beensosmoothandgentleandwehadbecome convincedthattheoldladywasincapableof anythingasabruptasthis!Peacewasrestoredaswe slowedtotaxyingspeed.

Theflapscamein,theinboardengineshadbeen stoppedtokeepspraytoaminimum,andfromour windowwecouldjustseethatthebrakingdrogues hadbeendeployedfromthefrontmooringhatch. Usingengine,wedida180°toapproachthemooring buoyinanoutboundheading;hadtherebeenany windofcourse,thiswouldhavebeendone upwind—andtheflapswereextendedfullytolose way.

Theouterswereswitchedoff,andsuddenlyitwas allover,Wemadeourfarwellsandthankstothe cabinstaff,andembarkedonourlittleferryboat again.Keepingwellclearofthefloat,ourboatman tookusroundthefrontoftheaircraftforphotosto betaken.withOmarSharifwavingfromthemooring hatch.Otherboatsappeared,includingthose carryingtherestofourpartybookedforthesecond flight.

Thensomeonehadthebrightideaofbribingthe boatmantotakeusoutintothebayforagrandstand viewofthetake-off.Whatamagnificentsightitwas too,asshepoundedtowardsuswithagreatplumeof spraystreamingoutbehind.Sheliftedoffjust oppositeus,barelyahundredyardsaway—it couldn'thavebeenbetter!Withcamerasstill steaming,weheadedbackforGlengarriff.

Wethenfellintoconversationwithabig,bearded Irishfellainaredjersey,whowasbemoaningthe factthathehadjustrunoutoffilmatthecrucial moment!Anyway,hisnamewasDonal,adevout flying-boatfanfromupLimerickway,whosefather hadbeenaflightengineerwithPanAm,andperhaps wethreewouldacceptalittleOirishhospitalityatthe pubuptheroad?Oh,anddidweknowanyIrish jokes?

Sooffwewent,alongwithmostofourpartyasit happened,andaveryconvivialgatheringitwastoo; whatIrememberofit.Flying-boatfeverwasrunning high,withonechapdoinga'beerogram'designon thebar-topofthesetoffloatshewasdeterminedto fittotheBD5hewasbuilding (nowthatwould be interesting...).ManyGuinesseslaterweheard thattheSandringhamhadlandedandwouldwe pleasegetbacktothecoaches.

Asweweredoingso,anear-splittingexplosionjust aroundthecornerstoppedusdeadinourtracks. Eightyheartsfroze...BelfastIknowwasalong wayaway,butIfeltthehairstanduponthebackof myneck,Icantellyou.

ThesilencewasbrokenbyDonal'sboomingvoice: "Relax,fellas,'tisonlythequarry!".

WeboardedthecoachesandsetoffforCork. Thenalmostasifithadbeenplanned,whenwe climbedthewindingroadoutofGlengarriff,wesaw theSandringhamriseriseslowlyabovethetrees, silhouttedbythemostbeautifulsunset,asitturned northtoflybacktoitsovernightmooringatKillaloe.

Thejourneybackseemedtopassquickly.AtCork wesaidgoodbyetoDonal,who,likeus,isalready savingupfortheSandringham'snextvisit,andflew backtoGatwickinthe748.ThenintoMalcolm's ScimitaranduptheroadtoRedhilltostaythenight atTheLakerHotel.

Itwasjustmidnight,andoveranightcapwewent backovertheeventsofthedayandcametothe conclusionthatairtravelwouldneverbequitethe sameagain.

Thentobed;sinceleavingCreweatthreethat morningithadbeenaverylongday.

BARNEYOLDFIELD'S BABYGREATLAKES

The"BabyGreatLakes"wasdesignedby'Barney'Oldfieldjustunder25yearsago,andisstillasgoodto-day asitwasthen.ConstructionfollowsthesamegeneralmethodsusedonthefullsizeGreatLakesBi-plane,an aircraftthathas,bypopulardemand,justre-enteredproductionintheU.S.A.BothhaveN-typeinterplane struts,doublelandingandflyingwiresandN-typecentresectionsupportingstruts.Thewingshavesprucespars andribswithaileronsonthebottomwingonly.Thefuselageisofweldedsteeltubeconstruction,asisthetail unit,thewholestructurebeingfabriccovered.Undercarriagecanbeoftheoleomainlegtypewithalternate bungee,springsteelorrigidversionsavailable.

Anypowerplantfrom50to100h.p.canbeused,withthe65h.p.Continentalbeingpopularasitiseasy toobtain.Over650BabyGreatLakesareunderconstructionworldwide,withtwoorthreeintheU.K. ProspectivebuildersshouldnotethatthedesignisnotyetP.F.A.approved.

Detailsavailablefrom:

JohnBeeswax's VINTAGENEWS

PacerPerfection

UnderthelightsofthebigtentatSywell,Ted Gardnerreceived,onceagain,thecoveted"John Randall"trophyfrompresidentChrisPaulandwas warmlyapplaudedbythegatheredinternational audience.Winningthetopvintageaircraft prizeforasecondtimeplacesTedGardner andhispartnerBillButleramongtheforefrontof amateurvintageaircraftrebuildersinthiscountry. Theirhallmarkisperfection,butintheirnaturally modestway,theywouldnotadmitthistoanyone,

TheirprizewinnerthisyearwasPiperPacerP.A. 17G-BDVB,builtatthePiperLockhavenfactoryin 1948.ItwasactuallyproducedasaP.A.15with singlecontrolsbutwaslatermodifiedwithfulldual controlsandhenceupgradedtothelaterPiper designation.PoweredbyareliablecontinentalA658Fengine,theaircraftspentmostmostofitsflying lifeinFrancewhereitreceivedvariousgallic additions,includingtheFrencholeostrutsfittedto theundercarriage.(PipersdesignedtheirPacers withoutanyformofundercarriageshockstrut, relyingentirelyonthe'bouncy'qualitiesofthe American8.00x4lowpressuretyreandalsothefact thatmostU.S.municipalairportshadsmooth tarmacrunwaysbythelateforties).

TedGardnerandBillButlerpurchasedthe aircraftinFranceafterithadbeenbadlydamaged inalandingaccidentthere.Ehecomponentswere storedatTed'shomeuntiltheywerereadytostart thebigjobofreconstruction.Thelowerfuselagehad takenthebruntofthedamageandnewsteeltube

longeronshadtobeweldedintotheframeinthe landinggeararea.Substantialrepairswerealso requiredontheundercarriagebutnoneofthiswork presentedthemwithtoomanyproblems.Ted Gardnerhadlearnedtheskillsofairframerepairs alongsideCliffLovellinearlierdaysatBlackbushe whenTedhadrebuilthisownprizewinningLeopard MothG-AIYS.WithableassistancefromBillButler theworkonthePacercontinuedwithpainstaking care,whichbroughtthemtothestagewhereTed Gardnerisrightlyrenownedamongstthevintage aircraftfraternity-thatisthecoveringandfinishing process.Despitethelaterartificialfabricsavailable forlightaircraft,TedchoosetheAmericangrade'A' cottonfabrictogivethebestresults.Thefinishthat hecangetonthisfabricandusingjustordinary aviationcellulosehastobeseentobebelieved.Using aheavydutysprayingunitobtainedbyBillButler theyachievedamirrorlikesurfacethatisobviously theresultofmanyhoursofhardelbowworkwitha cuttingcompond-butthatistheirsecret.Theactual colourschemeisadelightfullyrestful'montego' greenoverallwithyellowregistrationlettersoutlined withthinblacktrimlining.Thecockpitislinedwith amid-tanleathermaterialgivingatotaleffectof Rolls-Royceopulence.FellowPiperVagabond enthusiastBenCoopercompletedthetrimbykindly paintingtwoclub"vagabond"insigniasforthe verticalfin.

FinalassemblywascarriedoutatBillButler'shangaratMapledurhamairstripnearingReadingin Berkshire.Setamidtreelinedrisingground overlookingtheRiverThames.Mapledurhammakes aperfectsettingforanyoftheearlyPiperhighwing aircraftwiththeirexcellentshorttake-offandland capabilities,anditisherethatthePA17Vagabondis based.

TedandBillaretobecongratulatedfortheirwell deservedwinandforhavingsuchanimmaculateand delightfulaeroplanetofly.

TedGardnerandthePrize-winningPiperPA17. Thisphotographdoesnotdojusticetotheextremelyhigh glossfinishonthewholeaircraft.Notetheneatoleo'sonthelandinggear,andalsoBenCooper'sarlworkon thefin.

Photo.A.J.Chalkley

Lysandertakesoff

"FinestcowlgillsinBuckinhamshire!"grinned JoeAustinashetwirledthecockpitcontrolhand crankandwatchedthecowlgillsextendaroundthe circumferenceoftheBristol'Mercury'engine.He hadspenttheafternoonre-designingthedrive mechanismduetoitsstiffnessduringtaxiingtrials, justoneofthemanysmalljobstobecompleted beforethefirsttestflight.

WithNeilWilliams,theLysanderprojectpilot,he hadspentmanyhoursduringthesepastfewmonths inearnesttechnicaldiscussions.

Followingenginerunsandtaxiingtrials,making surethateverythingwaso.k.forthebigday.Onlya homebuilderwillappreciatethemanyproblemsthat cancropuptodelayafirstflight.Onthebig Lysanderthereweredozensofsmallbuttime consumingitemssuchascontrolrunsand movements,modificationstotheengineoilsystem andfuelflowtests.Eventheweighingwasnot without its problems.TheLysanderhadbeen designedtocarryheavywarloadsintherearcockpit andaftfuselage.HencetheemptyC.ofG.waswell forwardbutwhatwerethelimits?Recordshadbeen lost. Itwasdiscovered,duringthetaxiingtrials carriedoutinMaybyNeilWilliams,whiledoinga fastruntofeeloutcontrolforcesandeffectiveness thatapronouncednoseheavinessexisted.Butwhere toballasttheaircraftandbyhowmuchwithoutthe guidanceofdefinedlimits?DougBianchi'spersonal planeservicesatWycombeAirParkareprobablythe onlypeopleintheU.K.withtheexperienceto successfullycompletesuchabigprojectandfind answerstotheproblemsofthismagnetudebasedon theiryearsofexperience.

Bythe23rdJuneeverythingwasready.Neil Williams,whohadmadecarefulpreparationsand studiesoftheexpectedflightcharacteristicswas strappedinthepilot'sseatreadytostartup.For PhillipMann,theLysander'sownerandfounderof thewholeproject,itwasadaythatwouldseehis wholeplanofsavingandpreservingarareand

historicwarbirdcometofruition.Unfortunatelydue tobusinesscommittmentshecouldnotbepresent. ForJoeAustin,themaninchargeofvintageaircraft restorationatP.P.S,itwastheculminationofyears ofhardwork,havingrebuiltthemachinevirtually frompiecesofscrap.Itwasadayhewillnever forget.Thebigradialenginestartedwithoutahitch andNeilWilliamstaxiedoutonthelargespatted undercarriagewiththeuniqueinternallysprung wheels.Aftercompletinghispre-flightcheckshe movedintopositionfortake-off.Theexcitementon thegroundwasintenseasNeilliftedtheLysander smoothlyairbourneat3p.m.andalleyeswereonthe aircraftashegentlytestedherhandling characteristicsbeforereturningtothecircuit.Fifteen minuteslatertheLysanderappearedontheapproach asNeilbroughtherinforanexquisitelysmooth touchdown.ArelaxedandhappyNeilWilliams steppeddownfromthetallcockpitafterthe shutdowncheckswerecompleted.

"Noproblems"hesmiledatJoeandtheywentoff todiscussthefuturetesttightprogrammetogether.

VintageClubNewsbriefs

Despiteunfavourableweathersixaircraftattended ColinMason'sfly-inonJuly17thathisMarshHill FarmairstripnearAylesbury.Morethanforty membersarrivedbyroad(itreallywasthatsortof day)andmarvelledatthehardworkthatColinand hispartnershadputintobuildtheirairstripand hangar.Moredetailsofthisexcitinglocationina futureissue...

...Severalmemberswereactuallyairsickwhile firmlyseatedonthegroundduringarecentpreview ofacineramafilmofthevintageaircraftclubcalled 'FreeasaBird',filmedatFinmere.Theflyingscenes wereflownbychairmanTonyHaroldintheTiger MothG-ANFMwiththemulticamerasetup mountedonthefuselage...

...AtthetimeofgoingtopressJoePalletandthe restofthecommitteearehardatworkonthefinal arrangementsfortheV.A.C.JubileeSummerCamp whichthisyearwillincludemoreactivitiesforthe youngermembersofthefamilythanhitherto... Alsoahome-madewinetastingcompetitionforthe oldermembers(Aftertheiraircrafthavebeenputto bed!).

VINTAGE AIRCRAFTmagazine

INitslatest(October-December)issueVintageAircraft looksattheSwissTransportMuseum,Lucerne;Tony Haig-ThomasairtestshisPussMoth;RoyNerourebuilds hisKlemmL25-IandDavidBradley-Watsonrecallshis experienceswhenhelearnttoflyonGipsyMothswiththe Norfolk&NorwichAeroClubatMousehold.

WealsofeaturetheAntiqueAirplaneAssociation's PotomacAntiqueAeroSquadron,lookatthelatestnews andunravelthetangledhistoryofMikeRussell'snewlyacquiredMartinMonoplane,G-AFYY.

Perfectreadingmaterialforawintryafternoon.

Price60pincludingp.&p.from VINTAGEAIRCRAFTMAGAZINE

TheWestlandLysander

137OnslowGardens,SouthWoodford,LondonEl8INA England ANNUALSUBSCRIPTIONS:£

JoeAustin(left)andNeilWilliamsdiscuss technicaldetailsfollowingthefirsttestflight.Note theuniqueinternallysprungwheelsoftheLysander.

Photo.TonyTaylor

BRIENNE-LE-CHATEAU

30thRassemblementDuR.S.A.

ReportbyJohnWhitingandDavidBuckle

DuetoamoistslowmoNingairstreamovermostof Francewhichproducedlowcloud,rainandpoor visibility,the30thR.S.A.rallywasnotaswell attendedastheorganisershadhoped.AlareeBritish contingent,aftertryingforseveraldaystogetdown toBrienne,werereturninatoEnglandjustasthe writersweresettingoffonthefirstlegofatouring holidayinFrance,andhopefully,Switzerland. That'sanotherstorythough.

TheMetmanatLeTouquetwasnotvery optimisticabouttheweather,butitdidimprove sufficientlytoallowasmallnumberofLesAnglaisto makeitforthelastcoupleofdaysoftherally.Our intrepidChairmanDavidBryant,aftersittingin Calaisforseveraldays,arrivedatBriennevia Belgium,minustailskidbutotherwiseintact.His CurrieWotwasimmediatelyengulfedbyalarge crowdofFrenchmen,whodescendoneachvisiting aircraftandinspectitintheminutestdetail.

TheFrencharegreatenthusiastsandinventorsand therewereseveralintriguingmachinesonview,some ofwhichareshownintheaccompanyingpictures. RightatthebackoftheGyroClubhangar,among manyinterestingexhibits,was"Pulsar"afoamand glassclothdesignbasedontheN.A.S.A."lifting body".

Wedon'tknowhowtodescribethe"MotoDelta" whichisacrossbetweenahangglideranda gyroplane,buttheworkmanshipwasmeticulousand obviouslyalotofdesignworkhadpreceededthe actualconstructionwhichisnotyetcomplete.

OneintrepidFrenchaviatormadetwoflights acrossthefieldwithhischainsawpoweredhang

Brienneisthehomeofagyroclubandaboutfifteengyroswereonshow,thisoneisaBensen-MarguionRM-02 withare-designedrudder.ThisgyrohasbeenflyingforquiteafewyearsandgaveaveryspiriteddisplQvat Lavalacoupleofyearsback.

Photo:RonMoulton

ThediminutiveCri-CriMC-10isavailableinkit formfromWilliams-Flugzenge,89Augsburv21, Staffelsee-Str6,WestGermany,butwethinkthe PEAengineeringbossmayhavefitsifoneappearsin England.Stillitcouldbeacheapwayofgettingtwin rating.

Photo:DavidBuckle

TheMotoDeltaisapoweredhanggliderwithu Rogallowing,fibre-glassbodyandasmallengineon theback.Thedesignisnowofferedinkitformand hasappearedatthelasttwoParisAirshows.

F-PYEE,averyslickretractable gearSirocco.NewTempetes andSiroccosarestillappearing inFrance,thisoneillustrated beingoneofthebestseenfor Years.

gliderinextremelywindyandturbulentconditions andreceivedawellearnedroundofapplauseashe landedsafelyeachtime.

Theeveningfree-for-allonthelastdaylooked ratheralarmingfromthegroundandweallstoodin positionwhichwouldenableustorunclearofany fallingdebrisfrommid-aircollisions.Fortunately, everyoneletoffsteamwithoutmishap,despite aircraftflyinginopposinadirectionswhileothersdid aerobaticsinthemiddleofthem.

Justtoaddtotheexcitement,aCessnaCitation joinedintheactwithahighspeedrunrightthrough thethickofit.

What'stheverdict?Fromthelittlebitwesawof therally.itisveryinterestingandenjoyableaffair withplentytoseeandtalkabout.Perhaps,itcould beimprovedbytheprovisionofatentwithchairs etc.,whereforeignvisitorscouldsnatchabrief respitefromtheproceedingsanddotheirnightplanninginpeace.

OBITUARY-GEORGESBERAUD

GeorgesBeraudwhopassedawayfollowinga longillnessbornewithgreatcouragewillalways berememberedbythoseprivilegedtohaveknown himasoneofthetrulygreatmenofaviation.That heshouldhavedirectedhisabilitiesandinterests tothepromotionofamateuraircraftandtheir flyingbyyoungpeoplehasbeenofgreaterbenefit notonlytoushereintheUnitedKingdombutthe wideWorld.

GeorgeswastheauthorofthesimplifiedFrench airworthinessschemeforamateurbuiltaircraft whichenabledtheFrenchRSAmovementtomake suchstridesafterthedecimationofFrench aviationduringWorldWar11.WhiletheJodel team,TheDruinesandPielsofthisworld producedtheirinspiredaircraftsowasthe administrativestructurebuiltuponsound principlesbyGeorgesandwhichallowedthe spiritedFrenchamateurssomuchfreedombased onbothcommonsenseandthedignityofthe individual,bothqualitiesalwaysapparentin anythingthatGeorgeseverdid.ThattheFrench havehadalightaviationindustryduringthelast twentyyearscanbetraceddirectlytothisman,a

towerofstrength,amanofincisivelogic,anda negotiatorofinfiniteskillandpatience.

AsPresidentoftheReseauduSportdel'Air GeorgesBeraudwasamanwhoinspiredothersby hisexample.Hewasequallyathomeinhis workshopdrivinggimppins,flyinghisbeloved Jodelthe"SylvainBadez",ormakingtherunning indealingwithhigherpolicywiththebureaucracy, buthavinglittletimeforthecommitteesand ponderousproceduresofthelatter.

Itwasindeedtragicthatthisgentlemaninthe truestsenseoftheword,shouldhaveatthe momentofhisretirementasarespected businessmanandinternationaljurist,fallenvictim toaseverestrokeashesteppedfromhis aircraftsurroundedbyyoungpilotsduringan aerialtourofhisbelovedFrance.

ThesubsequentfewyearswereFate'sscant recognitionofhisworkandworth;lightenedonly byhisinnerthoughtsasamanwhoknewthathe haddonewellbyhisfellowsandthathehadthe constantstrengthofthecompanionshipofhis wife.

Photo:AlanDunn

JeanClaud'soriginaldesign "REKCUB"ispowered bya1500ccPorscheengine.

Photo:AlanDunn

PastP.F.A.Chairman:HaroldBest-Devereux.

.tlbsProjects zN

1384—John Kinchhaswrittentoexplainthefactson thisproject.

G-BADCisnow justaboutcompleteandhalfway throughherpaintjob,allinspectionstageshavebeen signedup,exceptfuelflowandCofGinspections. Alasourinspectorhasbeencalledtowarmerclimates sowearenowinspectorless,andifyouhaveever triedtogetaninspectorinthispartoftheworldyou willappreciatetheproblemsinvolved,soifanyone wantsashortholidayinthegayNorththengiveusa shout.IfaninspectorcanbefoundthenG-BADC willflythisyearandalsomakeSywell'78..Nowthat allthehardworkofG-BADCisjustaboutcomplete IcanturnmyattentionbacktoG-BETA,usingD.D. asafullsizesetofplansitwillmaketheconstruction timeofT.A.abitshorterknowingtheshortcutsthat canbetaken.SeeyouatSywell'78(withDC).

"InNovemberof1975IjoinedtheP.F.A.and askedifIcouldberegisteredasanaircraft constructorbuildingaBeta.Iwasthengivenmy constructorsnumberandaftertheplansarrivedfrom RollasonsIstartedbuildingthefirstBeta,allflying controlsplusthefinhavebeencompleted.Ithensent offtotheC.A.A.fortheregistrationandaskedifit waspossibletogetG-BETAandwastoldifIwantedit thenitwouldcostme£1000butifIwaswillingto waitthatitwouldbereservedforme.Sonotbeinga manthatcansplash£1000aroundforaregistration, Ihaditreserved,andthishasnowpaidoffasInow haveG-BETAformyfirstBETAaircraft,most appropriateforthetype.ThenatSywell'76we foundoutthroughthegrapevinethatapartbuilt BetawaslayinginTornStorey'sgarageatSussex,so wefollowedthisupandpaidavisittoToms WorkshopandpurchasedthebitsfromTomStorey andSteveThompson.Theyneededthespaceforthe MewGullandtheirCassutt.Wethentrailereditup toInvergordontomyworkshop,andworkwas startedonit,G-BADCbeingtheregistrationandGBETAwasshelvedfortheLimebeing".

byIANBURNETT

1406. MikeCattontellsusthattheMorrisMonoGAWGZwassoldtoAlanNewnhaminMay,butwas severlydamagedatWeston-Super-MareonAlan's firstflightinitwhentheenginefailed.We understandthedamagewillprobablymeanawrite off.MeanwhileAlan'sownMonoprojectwithc/n PFA/1416continuesasasoloventure.

1551—D. L.WebsterhasinformedusthathisFRED G-BBBWisnowmoreorlessreadyfor final inspection.Thecolourisoverallyellowwithblack registrationletters.Thepowerunitisa1500ccV.W. andJohnWhitinghopestocarryoutthefirstflight fromBagbyinthenearfuture.

1579 FortherecordtheVP-1G-BAFHreceivedits firstCofAon23.3.77,anduptothetimeofit's accidentwasbasedatWroughton.

7221 FrancisMorriskindlyletushaveaprogress reportonhisVP-2G-BEIEwhichheisbuildingin Armagh,NorthernIreland.BySeptemberthe fuselagewascompleteandinspected,thewingshad alsobeeninspectedandwerereadyforcovering,as hadthetailassemblyu/candfibreglassmouldings. Majorworkremainingincludedconversionofthe powerplantfrom1600ccto1834cc.Allgoingwell theaircraftshouldappearatSywell78,wherewe lookforwardtoseeingit.

7222 BycoincidenceGeorgeAdamswrotetous recentlyregardinghisVP-2projectG-BEHXwhich heisalsobuildinginNorthernIreland.Sincethe picturewastakenthewingshavebeencovered,and GeorgeestimatesaF/Fearlyinsummer1978-looks likewehavearaceonourhands!Georgeasks anyonebuildingaVP-2togetintouchwithhimashe hasconstructedsomefemalefibreglassmoulds suitableforproducingcastings.Hisaddressis41 FarloughRd.,Dungannon,Co.Tyrone, BT714DU.

GeorgeAdamsVP-2G-BEHX

17-10029MikeCattontellsusthathehas abandonedhisPazmanyPL-4Aprojectand[heplans havebeensoldtoTeriyShortofStoke-onTrent.

29-10141RichardYate'sFREDG-BDSAwassold toBrendaParkeron2.8.77.

74-10207Registeredon26.7.77toMessrsM.F. Sharples,G.T.ThornhillandJ.CottleofSt.Anneson-Sea,Lancs.,wastheRutanVari-ezeprojectwith verysuitableregistrationG-BEZE.

48-10217TaylorMonoplaneG-BEYWwas registeredtoR.J.SmytheofHuddersfieldon 22.7.77withhisownc/nofRJS100.Accordingto ourrecordstheprojectnumber48shouldbea Turbulent—justanerrorperhaps,orwastherealsoa TurbprojectinadditiontotheMono?

74-10225.R.J.JonesofBerkhampsteadregistered hisVari-ezeprojectasG-BEZYon26.7.77-another veryaptsetofletters!

OTHERPROJECTS

(;-ARBPNipper.SoldtoJ.BerryofLiverpoolon 4.7.77.

G-BEYBFlycatcherReplica.RegisteredtoJohn FairleyofStockbridgeon11.7.77with c/nWA/3. ThiswasoriginallystartedwiththelateMaurice RobinsonatBlackbushe,andthec/nwouldsuggest continuedbuildingbytheBellamysatSt. Just,apparentlyfromoriginaldrawings,and poweredbyaPrattandWitneyrngine.

G-BEYNEvansVP-2. RegisteredtoC.D.Denham ofLivingstone,Lothian1.8.77c/nV2/3I67.

G-BEZWSpriteRegisteredtoT.S.andH.Wilkins ofMarlowwithc/n113.Wewonderifthishasany connectionwiiththemachinecurrentlyproceedingat Booker(butalsothoughttobetheerstwhile 'prototype'aircraftG-AXUZ).

Incidently,aswearecertaintheabovetwo projectshaveconstructorsnumbersaswellasth quotedplansnumbers,thismaybeasuitabletimeto remindyouthatyourPFAprojectnumbershouldbe quotedtotheCAAontheRegistrationapplication inadditiontoanymanufacturer/designero personalc/n's.

STOPPRESS

TheMJ7two-thirdsMustang,builtbyBillWilks,P.F.A. ExecutiveCommitteeMember,flewonSaturday,151h Octoberthisyear,beingthefirstMustangtwo-thirds replicatohaveflowninEurope.Thepilotforthefirst FlightwasR.A.F.testpilotBrianSkillicorn.A.E.C.,who carriedouttheinitialnighttestsforP.F.A.Engineering BuilderBillWilkswaswellsatisfied,notonlytoobtain P.E.A.clearanceforthis'largerthanusuallmachine,but alsotohandoverhispersonal'baby'tosuchexaltedtem pilotexperience.Weunderstandthatallinitialtestswent well,andthatamorecomplextestflightprogrammeis beingworkedup. PopularFlying,November-December

NewProjects

62-10273EvansVP-1.P.R.Pykett,Ridgeways, BroadRoad,Monxton,Nr.Andover,Hampshire.

29-10274Fred.P.Valentine,7EdinburghClose, Ickenham,Middlesex,UBIO8RA.

29-10275Fred.T.Thorpe,41ChandosStreet, Coventry,Works.,CU24HR.

78-10276Hilborne-Hill.J.Hill,8LowerPark, PutneyHill,London,SW15.

62-10277EvansVP-1.R.Atkinson,TreeTops, Kilgort-na-League,Ballinamallard,Co.Fermanagh, N.Ireland.

15-10278Sonerai.R.A.Gardiner,23Lawmarnock Crescent,BridaeofWeir,Renfrewshire.

55-10279TaylorMonoplane.R.J.Smyth,25 OrchardRoad,Kirkheaton,Huddersfield,W. Yorkshire,HD5OEJ.

55-10280TaylorMonoplane.A.Brooks,70 AucklandWay,Stockton-on-Tees,Cleveland.

65-10281Vari-Viggen. G.D.Morris,76Arthur Street,Kenilworth,Warks.

29-10282Fred.G.D.Smith,14Fourfields, Catrine,Ayrshire.

62-10283EvansVP-1.D.F.Gibson,7Bramcote Lane,Chilwell,Notts.

74-10284Varieze.R.A.Fairclough,42Harvest BankRoad,WestWickham,Kent.

74-10285Varieze.W.F.&P.J.Henderson,41 StockensGreen,Knebworth,Herts.

74-10286Varieze.C.J.Francis,167Dunvant Road,Killay,Swansea,Glamorgan.

62-10287EvansVP-1.A.E.Morris,4 BroornsquiresRoad,Bagshot,Surrey.

24-10288Zenith.M.D.Creer,22DownsPark Crescent,Filing,Totton,Southampton,SO44GN.

01-10289Cavalier.J.R.lbell,52SandyLane, Parkmill,Swansea,5A32ER.

74-10290Varieze.S.Stride,69LudlowRoad,The Poplars,Kidderminster,Worcs.

58-10291CurrieWol.J.Roberts,TheFirs,355 StationRoad,Dorridge,

09-10292PittsSpecial.T.Sanderson,Dorchester Farmhouse,87LongAcre,Bingham,Notts.

54-10293JodelD9.K.Barlow,3RiverView,Lead Mills,Mold,Clwyd.

58-10294CurrieWol.B.P.Mason,6GarthEnd, Collingham,Weatherby,W.Yorkshire.

60-10295TaylorTitch.D.R.Bray,2Rostherne Road,Wilmslow,Cheshire.

29-10296Fred.J.H.Jones,TheBartonCottage, CharltonAdam,Soherton,Somerset.

79-10297Ganagobie.K.Burtt,81StudleyAvenue, Holbury,Southampton.

17-10298P.L.4.W.R.Bolton,123MainStreet, NorthSunderlandSeaHouses,Northumberland.

63-10299EvansVP-2.H.P.Latham,Westerby, Houghton,NearStockbridge.Hants.

Thisphoto of D.BurdensMinicabPFA1819wastakenatGransdenbyStuartMacConnacher.

OSHKOSH 1977

Asaneventontheaviationcalendar,itisthe largest,withoutdispute,andasonewhohasbeen somethreetimesinthelastsixyears,itisalsoan eventwhereoneismadetofeelathome,andwhere examplesofpracticallyeveryhomebuiltaeroplane flyinginNorthAmericacanbeseen.

Thisyear,throughthegenerosityofgoodfriend andWarbirdownerElmerWardofSantaAna, California,Imadethetriptotheconventionthelong way,viaLosAngeles.Iarrivedintimetohelp preparetheaircraftfortheflightacrosstheU.S.A., some1800milestoOshkosh,Wisconsin,from Chino.Elmer'sP-51DMustang"Mano'War", paintedinthe1944coloursofthe4th.Fighter Group,basedthenatDebdeninEssex,andhis Cessna185assupport'plane,wereduetomaketheir annualtrek,withmyselfjoiningthepartyand experiencingsomeofthemostunforgetableflyingof mylife.AlsogoingfromChinowasFrankSanders, inwhosehangertheMustangiskept,hiswifeRuth andsonsDennisandBrian,FrankandRuthflying intheHawkerSeaFury,whichhasanadditionalseat fittedjustbehindthepilotandenclosedundera largerthanstandardcanopy.DennisandBrianwere toflytheirBeechT.34(Mentor),incompanywith theCessna185,whilsttheSeaFurymadeonlyone stoponit'shighspeeddashacrosscountry.

WithCalifornia'shazecoveringpreventingaVFR departureinthemornings,ouraimwasforthe MustangtoleaveintheearlyeveningofFriday29th, July,flownbyElmer,withhisbrotherHowardin therearseatandmyself,BillMuzala,andHoward's sonGary,todepartintheearlyafternoonin companywiththeT.34.Thus,with[heMustang's2 to1speedadvantage,weshouldhavereachedGrand Junction,Colorado,bydusk.Bill,whoisChiefPilot attheParachuteCenteratSkylarkAirfield,Elsinore, flyingHowardDGA'sandDC3s,andwasaformer crewmanontheRB-51Griffonpoweredracing Mustang,hadtosetaboutreplacingafaulty hydraulicaccumulatoron"Mano'War"duringthe Fridayafternoon,afterbeingnoticedwhenwegave theaeroplaneabaththenightbefore.Dennisand BrianSandersweredelayedalso,sincetheywere committedtofinishingtheinstallationofnewsmoke generatorsontheirfather'sSeaFury.Whenatlastit appearedthatallwasready,onemagnetoonthe185

by StuartMacConnacher

wentunserviceable,so,withthepointsre-cleaned andtheenginechecked,itwas8.30intheevening andnearlydark.Elmerdecidedtoabortforthenight sincetheMustangwasnotIFRequipped,andmakea dawntake-offnextmorning.Wehowever,optedfor anightflightoutoftheSanBernardineValleyacross themountainsanddeserttoLasVagas,sincethe weatherforecastwasgood.Ourflightplanfiled,we tookoff,passingthroughthesmokecausedbythe vastforestfireonthehillsaboveCorona,where, becauseitwasonlytenmilessouthoftheairport,we hadagrandstandseatallafternoonwatchingthe convertedDC.6,FlyingFortressandnumerous TrackersandC-119'sflyingoverheadtobombthe firewithBorate.

ThisfirstleginlooseformationwiththeT.34took oneandahalfhourstotouchdownontherunwayat LasVagasNorthAirport,whichwasilluminatedbut unmannedexceptforasecurityguard.Asonewould expectinNevada,itwasnecessarytopassthrougha guardofhonouroffruitmachinestoreachthedoor leadingoutofthesmallterminalbuilding.Witha Motelontheairport,wetieddownouraircraftand carriedourkittothetworooms,whichresultedin Gary,beingtheyoungest,havingtosleeponthe floor.Nextmorning,aftereatingabreakfastof syrup,pancakesandchocolatemilkintheAirport Cafe,wetookoffforGrandJunctionat8a.m., sometwohoursbehindscheduleduetoBill forgettingtowindupthealarmclockweborrowed fromtheMotel!

Forthissection1joinedDennisSandersin[heT. 34,takingaturnatthecontrolsofwhatmustbea desirablecombinationofex-militaryaeroplaneand thereforea"Warbird",andalsohavingthe advantagesofusingcurrentlyavailableparts.This partofourroutetookusoversomeofthemost spectacularsceneryintheU.S.A.,includingthe Zion,BryceandCanyonlandsNationalparks.With theU.S.A.liberallysprinkledwithVOR's,we trackedbetweenthemkeepingatFLIO.TheVOR's beingspacedabout100milesapart,thenavigation wasrelativelysimple,thoughbelowwasnotidealfor forcedlandings,beingmountainordesertwithonly

P5I-MustangMan`O'WaratNorthPlatteonthewayhomefromOshkosh.

occasionalsignsofsettlements.Thetotaltimefor thissectionbeing3hours15minutes,withboth aircraftcruisingat110kts.

Onceintheair,outofLasVaaas,wegaveacallon apre-arrangedfrequencyandfoundthatElmerin theMustanghadmadeanearlystartoutofChino, andheovertookussoonafterwards.Wecontinued toconversewithoneanotherformostofthetrip, therebeingnogoodreasontotalktoanyground stationenroute.Thiswemadestandardpractice throughoutthetrip,onlytalkingtogroundstations whenwewantedinformation,andthatwasnormally whencomingintoland.

AtGrandJunctionwerefuelledandhadlunch.As always,theMustanggotprideofplaceontheramp, andtheT.34andthe185hadtobeparkedwiththe hundredorsoothertied-downaircraftinthegeneral parkinglot.FortherestofthewayItooktheback seat(wherethereartankwaswhenthemachinewas built)intheMustang,actingasnavigatorand graduallygoingnumbbecauseoftheparachute bucklesandseatpan.Withanairfieldelevationof 5,000ft,densityaltitudeisanimportantfactorin onesflying.Nointer-sectiontake-offshere,even with10,000ft.ofrunway.Becauseofthealtitudeitis nowonderthatmanyofthelocalaeroplanesare turbocharged,includingevenoneDenverbased hombuiltSteenSkyboltwemetatNorthPlatte, Nebraska,onourreturn.Thetowerrequestedalow approach,soweobligedbydoingapassat30ft. downtherunwayat400m.p.h.indicatedpullingup ina5gpull-upatmidfieldtoclimboutontrackto Denver.WithDenverVORdifficulttopickupinthe Rockies,wemapreadafteiwelosttheGrand JunctionVOR.WithmostU.S.Airfieldsbeingone

hardrunway,thepracticeofpaintingtheairfield namealongthemidpointoftherunwayinfullwidth letterswasfoundtobeveryuseful.TheMustang cruisesatabout220m.p.h.ataveryeconomical powersettingwhich,whenbackatChino,weworked outasgivingusafuelconsumptionof42U.S. gals/hour,orapproximately6miles/gallonbetter thansomecamperstrailers!

ThetripovertheRockiestookusoverpeaksof 11,000ft.a.m.s.l.and,withoutoxygen,Ibeganto feeltheeffectsofoxygenstarvation.1latermanaged tocopewiththealtitudebyhyperventilating(fast deepbreathing)whichhelpsmakeuptheoxygen inthebloodstream.Evenso,Elmerreducedour cruisealtitudetoFL7onceoverDenverandclearof theRockies.Whilstthishelpedme,thehigher temperatureattheloweraltitudegraduallyallowed theradiostocookandgoout.ThesingleCollins valveVORwentfirst,andthe360channelvalve communicationstransceiverwasreducedinrangeto afewmiles.Thelocationofthesetsoverthebelly radiatordidnothelp,sothelastpartofthisleg fromAkron,Colorado,throughNorthPlatteto Norfolk,Nebraska,wascarriedoutbymapreading. The561milestoNorfolktaking2hours20minutes. NorfolkistypicalofmostU.S.Airportsinhaving notowerwhilststillhandlingregularairlinetraffic, sinceit'smovementsperannumdonotjustifythe F.A.A.buildingone.

Afterrefuelling,wedecidedtotakeoffnon-radio andclimbto10,000ft.beforeswitchingonbut,just incase,1carriedaroadmapatlas.Onceataltitude, theradioswereswitchedonandworkedperfectly; fortherestofthetripwemadesureneverto overworkthematlowaltitude.

GerryBulterworthsflScaleWestlandWhirlwindispoweredby11600ccV.W.Engines.

ThisStardusterTooownedbyRogerRourkewasthe1977GrandChampionCustomBuilt. PopularHying,November-December,197713

LloydButler'sMidgetMustangwasthe1975GrandChampion)

TheremainingpartofthejourneytoOshkosh,via FortDodge,waseneventful.WewereroutedtoFond duLac,some20milestotheSouth,tojointhe Warbirdslandingprocedure,thusseparatingusfrom theotherincomingtraffic.Wetaxiedinat6.00p.m. tofindFrankandRuthintheSeaFuryalreadyon theramp.ItwasmidnightbeforetheT-34and Cessna185landedaftercompletingelevenflying hoursduringtheday.Theyhadalsohadradio troubleswhichrequiredtheCessna185toberepaired beforeourreturn,andtheT-34discoveredthatithas anenduranceoffourandahalfhours,havinglanded atNorfolkwithonlyfourgallonsusableleftonit's legfromGrandJunction.

WefinallycheckedinattheUniversityDormsin theearlyhours;theyfortunatelymanthedesk twentyfourhoursaday.StavingattheUniversityin downtownOshkoshisperhapsthecheapestandmost convenientlocationforallforeignvisitors.The pricesperdayfor1977were$7.50forasingleroom, or$5.50eachforasharedroom,allroomsbeingtwo studentstudy/bedrooms,andthepriceincludes towel,soap,sheetsandapillow.Noblanketsare provided,andIhaveneverneededonesincekeeping coolisthegreaterproblem.Breakfastisavailable eachmorning,andfor$2isgoodvalueduetothe vastquantityoffoodserved.TogettotheAirport, specialbusesareruneveryfortyfiveminutesatacost of50cpertrip.Thisyearthedormsbecamefully bookedforthefirsttime,withall2,000roomstaken, andnootheraccommodationwasavailableforsome 40miles.Sothosewishingtovisitnextyearhad betterbookbeforeMarch1978.

Withupwardsof300,000visitorstothe8day convention,findingpeopleisdifficult,butby bookingintotheInternationalVisitorsTentand leavinganoteonthe"buddyboard"otherscanat leastfindyou.Noticesannouncing"FredAviation" appearedeverywhere,asdidateeshirtwith"Eric Clutton"insideit.

Thesalesexhibitsandfleamarketwouldmakeall homebuildersthinktheywereinparadise,andthose priceswereforthemostpartcheaperthaninthe U.K.ItisaswellthatmysuitcasewasnotX-rayed onthewayhome,sincethetwo30inchlengthsof 4130streamlinedsteeltubeitcontainedcouldwell havebeenmistakenforashotgun.Asitwas,Iwas20 lbsoverweight,ladenwithcatalogues,gascolators, rodends,compassesetc.Mindfuloftheweighttobe loadedintheCessnaforthereturnjourneyI purchasedmostofmyhardwareinCalifornia,but somesuperbargainsweretobefoundatOshkosh.

ImanagedtohaveachatwithJackCox,theeditor of SportAviation, togivehimanupdateonour activitiesatSywell.HiswifeGolda,whohasthemost beautifulSouthernaccent,keptmefedonadietof dailypressreleaseslistingallthepreviousdays registeredaircraftvisitors,andthelatestmind

bogglingstatistics.Thetallyofaircraftontheground numbersupto5,000atanyonetime,givingone's camerasplentyofworkandone'sfeetalotof exercise.Thisyear'sconventionhadtheworst weathereverencounteredatOshkosh;itrained frequently.EvenwithsixdaysatmydisposalInever gottoattendmanyoftheworkshopsandforums whicharesuchavaluablesourceofinformation.

Theairshowhadnosurprises,theE.A.A.'sRyan "SpiritofSt.Louis"beingaregularperformer.This year,aslast,theWarbirdsputontwospectacularset piecedemonstrationswhichwererecreationsto "TwelveO'clockHigh"and"Tora,Tora,Tora". ThelatterinvolvedawholesquadronoffakeZeros basedonHarvardairframesbuiltforthefilmofthe samename.FrankSandersdidhisSeaFury demonstration,usingtwowingtipmountedsmoke generatorsofhisowndesigntocarvepatternsinthe sky.Thisproducessomeveryinterestingeffectsand showsthevorticescreatedatthewingtips.Frank verykindlytookmewithhimduringhistestflight afterrefittingthegeneratorswhichwereremovedfor theflightfromChino.

Apartfromtheusualhighqualityoftheaircraft finish,certaintrendswerenoticeable.TheBD-5was notveryapparent,thoughtheBD-4wastherein numbers.Perhapsthemostnotableincreasewasthe numbersofZeniths.ChrisHeinzturnedupwiththe newTri-Z,a2plus2version,andhiscompany Zenairisactivelypromotingallthedesignswhich, beingsimplerthanmostotherallmetalaircraft,are beingappreciatedinincreasingnumbers.Bert Rutan'sVari-EZEwasstillgatheringthecrowds,and thisyearatleastthreeotherplansbuiltexamples wereinattendance.Thefuselagemountedairbrake reducedthelongfloatsonoticeableontheprototype in1975.

KenRandbroughtaKR-3onatrailer. ComparisonwiththePereiraOsprey2was unavoidablewiththeircloseproximityontheflight line.TheKR-3beingasmallerdesignusinga Revmaster2100Dengine.TheKR-2nowsporteda turbochargedRevmasterengine,thefirstV.W.based enginethatI had seenwithaturbocharger.The Revmaster2100ccengine,incidentally,hassome interestingfeaturesandincorporatesmanycustom builtparts.TheyarebasedatChino,soIhadan opportunitytoseetheirsetupandwatchthembench runanenginethathadbeeninforoverhaulafter runningforsome1,000hours.

Notanawardwinner,butamostinteresting exhibit,wasatwinV.W.poweredsingleseater, basedontheWestlandWhirlwind(thetwinengined fighter).Ofallmetalconstruction,itdidnotfly becauseitwasbroughtinonatrailerlessoneouter wingpanel,butIwasassuredthatitdidfly,and photoswerehandedontoprovethepoint.

HotnewsatOshkoshwastheF.A.A.'sdecision nottoregulatethegrowingnumbersofmotorised

hanggliders.Thecriteriaforhavingnocertification is,ifyoufootlaunchyouarenotanaeroplane.The problemofenginecontrolisdifficultwhenyouneed bothhandstoholdandadjustaltitude.'The favouredmethodistoadjusttheenginesoithasone throttlesetting—flatout—andthenswitchoffthe ignition,usingaswitchconsistingofmetalplates clippedtotheupperandlowersetsofyourteeth!The principleverysimilartotheblipswitchfittedtothe SopwithPupandotherrotaryenginepowered aircraft.

Theantique/classicareaboastedoneformer Sywellvisitor,G-AFGK,theMilesWhitneyStraight flowninbyHaroldBest-DevereuxfromHalifax, NovaScotia,whereitwasshippedtofrom Liverpool.

Tome,OshkoshisakindofMecca,whichhaving oncevisitedonecannotwaittogetback.itiseven

moreenjoyablewhenonegetsinvitedto go with friendswhoflyintotheirnationalrally.ToElmer andtherestoftheWardfamily,BillMuzadaandthe Sanders,mysincerethanksforagreatvacation.

GoingtoOshkoshnextyear?Book accommodationwiththeUniversitybeforeMarch 1978.Send$5deposit(theBankwillarrangeadollar draft),withdetailsofyourname,address,whether singleorsharedaccommdationrequired,andyour arrivalanddeparturedatesto:

DeptofHousing, Attn.1978EAA, UniversityofWisconsin—Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin54901, U.S.A.

WhenyoubookinattheInternationalTentgive mylovetoNancy!

ThissmartcanopiedEvansVP-1ispoweredbya1600ccV.W.

PazmanyPL-4poweredbyaContinentalA-65.

ThisHeinzZenithwasbuiltattheOshkoshRally1976injust8days,nowthere'sathoughtforSywell1978.

PARISAIRSHOW

Reportfrom IANBURNETT

Tomostofusintheultralightandhomebuilding world,the"Salond'AeronautiqueduBourget"is yetanother extravaganzaofthelatestin internationalhardware.Thatitcertainlyis,butthis year'sshowatLeBourget(the32nd)providedoneof thebestdisplaysofourkindofaeroplaneeverseen onthissideoftheAtlantic.Morethananythingelse itprovedjusthowdynamictheFrenchlightaircraft industryiscomparedwithourown.

Prideofplaceintheenormousstaticpark,asfar asIwasconcerned,wastheexhibitionofover20 French-designedhomebuilts—nestlingappropriately underthenoseofConcorde001(whichisnowsadlya museumpiece).Asifthiswasn'tenough,ourFrench equivalent,theR.S.A.,hadmountedahangar displaywhereanenthusiasticteamwereactually buildinganaeroplaneduringthe10-dayperiodofthe Show.ThiswasametalPottierP.70,theoriginal intentionbeingtoactuallyflythemachineonthelast Sunday—intheeventtimebeatthemalthoughbythe lastdayitwasstructurallycomplete.Quiteafeatin anycase!Alsodisplayedinthe"buildingarea"were aPielCR750fuselageframe,andaPiperJ-3Cin militaryscheme,togetherwithaman-powered aeroplane,theHurelAviette—distinctlyreminiscent oftheHatfieldPuffinandotherUKattemptsatthe Kramerprize.Backtothestaticareaoutside,and surpriseoftheearlypartoftheShowwasthe appearanceofthefirstEuropeanRutanVari-Eze. AppropriatelyregisteredD-EEEZ,theall-white aircrafthasbeenbuiltinamatterofmonthsbyP. KraussandJ.ElzenbeckatEsseninWestGermany. Poweredbyan0-200Aithasaspanof6.80 metres,wingareaof6.25sq.metres.Weightsare, empty290kgs.andallup500kgs.,andholds54kgs. offuel.whileitsfieldperformancemaybe consideredbysometobemarginal,its"inflight" figuresmakestartlingreading—ithasarangeof1400 kms.atablockcruiseof335kph.Oftheother homebuiltsdisplayedtherewere3Zeniths,abrand

newunregisteredPottierP.70S,Calve!PielF-PTXL, anewPielCP.80F-PYBH,twoGyros,andmost interestingofallthediminutiveColombanMC.11B Cri-CriF-WYEA.1amfullofadmirationforthe originalityofdesignandqualityofworkbutwould hesitateattrustingmyselftothemotivepoweroftwo "chain-saws"!

InadditiontotheRSAexhibits,therewasof coursemuchtolookat—toomuchalasinsucha shorttime,asoneortwomachinesexhibitedbythe manufacturerswereworthyofadetailedinspection. Greatestsurpriseofallwasthetraileredappearance ofaDykeDeltaontheAvionsPierreRobinexhibit. ThiscarriedthetitlesRobinDykeDeltaJD2M,and enquiriesrevealedithadalreadyflown,havingbeen constructedbyaRobinemployeeatDijon.Pierre Robinsaysthatpossibleseriesmanufactureis envisagedifflighttestsaresuccessful.Alreadyin productionisthecompany'snewgenerationof

OneofthetwoAutogyrosattheAirShow.

ThefirstRutanVari-EzetobeflowninEuropeD-EEEZ.Colourschemeisoverallwhitewithredtrim.

Photo:AlanDunn

singles;ofwhichprototypeR-I180F-WVKUwas displayed.Fournierarealsoturningoutmoreand moreoftheirRF-6nowadays,andanexamplewas shownalongsidetheprototypeRF-9F-WARF,and theSportaviabuiltversionD-ENNIwhichhasa tricycleconfiguration.FromtheSOCATAstable thereweresuchunusualspecimensasaRallyein camouflagewithCOINunderwingstores,an agriculturalversionwithtail-wheelu/c,andaPolish registeredexample,wherethetypeisgoinginto productionwithFranklinengines.Othersofinterest includedtheBede/MicroturboBD-5JF-WZAV, whichappearedatFarnboroughlastyear,and severalglidersofwhichacouplewerehome-built.

Inadditiontothemainshow,theFrench"Musee del'Air"nowhasapermanentexhibitionsiteatLe Bourget,havingmovedmostofitsexhibitsfromthe famousBalloonHangaratChalaisMeudon.The collectioncontainsanabsolutelyfascinatingarrayof

NOTES!!!!

WATCHTHOSEPLACARDS

historicaeroplanes,toonumeroustomention in detail—sufficetosaythatatLeBourgetareseveral ofthoselovelypre-warFrench"pioneer" aeroplanes—amongstwhichisanHM14Pou-duDel.Notyetondisplayaresuchgemsasthe prototypeJodelD.9BebeF-PEPF—andseveralwellknownFrenchlightair-craft—wellworthalookat anytime!

AsIhavesaid,LeBourgethasalwaysbeenthe world'spremieraviationexhibition—allthemoreso becausetheFrenchhavechosentoputonashow whichincludesthecompleteaviationscene—from hang-gliderstotheBoeingAWACS.Itisperhapsfor thisreasonthattheFrenchindustry(especiallyinthe lightaviationfield),isinsuchahealthystate.One cannothelpfeelingthatFarnboroughwouldbejust thatbitmorecompletewithaPFA participation—howaboutitin1978,SBAC?

FROMP.F.A.ENGINEERING

Manyownersarefailingtomountplacardsinthe cockpitsoftheiraircraftasspecifiedintheC.ofA. FailuretodothisrenderstheC.ofA.invalidandso youshouldcheckthattherequirementsoftheC.of A.arecompliedwith.Remember,ondualcontrol aircraftthatbothbothcockpitsmustbeplacarded.

RADIOINSTALLATIONS

Haveyougotaradioinstallationcertificatefor youraircraft?Itisnecessarytohaveaninstallation approvalcertificateaswellasaPostOfficeradio licence.Failuretohavetheinstallationcertificate mayrenderthelicenceinvalid.ManyP.F.A.aircraft haveradioinstallationswhichhbeeninstalledby specialistradioorganisationswhonormallycoverthe approvaloftheinstallationaspartoftheirservice, butifyouinstalltheradioyourself,thenyoushould followtheproceduresetoutintheP.F.A.

Handbook.*Aninterestingpointoftenaskedatthe P.F.A.Officeconcernsportableradios.Iftheseare usedinaircraftaproperstowagemustbeprovided fortheset.Obviouslyaportableradiofloatingabout thecockpitinbumpyweatherorinacrashcondition canbedangerousifnotproperlystowed.

*P.F.A.Handbook.bisreereacdthat[hisisnowoutorprint. Itisbeingup-datedanditishopeditwillbereadybeforenext season.

LOGBOOKS

Anewtypeoflogbookmoresuitedtolight aircraftisnowavailable.PublishedbytheC.A.A. PopularFlying,November-December,1977

(andalsoavailablethroughtheP.F.A.Officeat £4.50inc.p.&p.)thelogbookconsistsofaloose leavefolderwhichcanholdseparatelogbooksfor airframe,engine,andpropeller.Thusforatwin enginedaircraftwithVPprops,thefolderwill containfivesections—twoenginesections,two propellersections,andoneairframesection.Thelog booksareagreatimprovementovertheoldtypesand containspecialsectionsformandatorymodsetc. whichshouldmakethedocumentofmuchmore valueasadatabankabouttheparticularaircraftto whichitrefers.

PIPERJ3CCUBOWNERS UPPERTORSORESTRAINT

ThePFAhasjustreceivedformalnoticefromthe CAAgrantingexemptionforPiperJ2,J3C-65and L4Haircraft,fromParagraph5ScaleA(iii)(b)(aa) ofSchedule5totheAirNavigationOrder1976.

Thismeansthataircraftofthistypeseriesneednot befittedwithuppertorsoseatrestraint.ThePFA has,overthepastmonths,submittedthecasethat becauseofthelayoutoftheaircraft,thefittingofa fullharnesswouldimpedetheexitfromtherearseat oftheaircraftduetothecommonexitfromboth seats.Aformalnoticehasbeensenttoallmembers whoowntheseaircraft.

Photo:AlanDunn

SOLENTSTRUT

AttheJunemeetingslidesbroughtalongbyAlan NewnhamandAlanStonewereshown.These comprisedscenesshotatBigginHill,Sywell,and otherstakenontherecenttriptoTorbay,whenstrut membersvisitedtheFleetAirArmMuseumthere. SeveralcolourprintstakenbyDonEaves,servedto remindmembersofthatgloriousHenstridgefly-in weekend.Donwasgoodenoughtoleavetheseatthe meetingforeveryonetolookthrough.

JohnMcKenziebroughalongareplicaofaVickers machinegunthathemade.Thiswasmuchadmired bythosepresent.

Ofinteresttoyouphotographertypes,isBob Lowe'smodification.Hehascutaholeinthebottom ofhisfuselage,notforuseonlongtrips,butfora smallclockworkcamerathathehasmountedin ordertotryabitofphotographicreconnaissance. BobrecentlyshotsomefilmatSywellandshould havehaditprocessedbythetimethisisinprint.

SYWELLSTRUT

JimBenfieldandBernardMilesareproposingto formastrutintheNorthamptonarea.Thisistobe knownasSywellStrut.Itwillpossiblyencompassa flyinggrouponcethingsgetunderway.Anymember intheareawhoisinterested,orwouldliketojoin, shouldcontactBernardMilesat14,St.Crispin Road,EarlsBarton,Northampton.'phone Northampton810604.

JimBenfieldwillalreadybeknowntomany membersforthissterlingworkasAccomodation OfficeratsuccessiveSywellralliesorganisedbythe Association.

SOUTHERNSTRUT

AttheJulymeeting,PeterWoodmangaveatalk ontherebuildingofhisAusterandincludeda practicaldemonstrationoffabriccovering.Peter alsoshowedhissound/cinefilmsofSywellandthe Shorehamrallywhichfilledaveryenjoyableevening.

ShorehamAirport'AirDay',inwhichmembersof theSouthernStrutparticipatedonSunday26th.June wasanothersuccessfuleventinthesoutherncalendar whichwehopewillberepeatednextyear.Aflypast incorporatingtwoJodels,aComperSwift,Piper Cub,andIsaacsSpitfirewasperformedbymembers oftheSouthernStrut,whileonstaticdisplay,werea pairofSoneraiwingstogetherwithpartofthe fuselage,sharingattentionwithDanBarker'sTaylor Mono.

Anotablefirstpublicappearance,wasthatofa poweredhang-glider.Itwasseentotake-offin abouttenpacesandperformedwithremarkable agilitybothup-windanddownwindinafairlystiff breeze.ThepowerunitwasaMcCulloch92cc.chain sawengine.Noprizewasclaimedbyit'spilotwho wasbelievedtohavegonetogroundinanticipation ofscreamsfromtheC.A.A.

Atanearlierevent,abottleofScotchWhisky, donatedbyBenGunn,theAirportManager,was awardedtothepilotofaconventionalhang-glider whotookofffromDitchlingBeacon(813ft.)and flewthe8nm.journeytoShoreham.Heightsof 3,000ft.wereattainedduringtheflight,whichended withanorderlyarrivalontheairfield.

byJIMWILLS

NeilWilliamsattendedonthe'AirDay'.givinga verypolishedperformanceinAdrianSwire's SpitfireF.MK.9(MH434).Althoughseveral airworthySpitfiresremain,'434isbelievedtobethe soleremainingexamplethatisfullyaerobatic.

Othervisitorstothe'Air-Day'weretwoNorth AmericanHarvardsandtheL.D.A.1Canardpusher ofDavidLockspeiser.Aremarkabledemonstration ofBalloonPowerwaswitnessedasaballoonenjoying atetheredflight,proceededtotowit'sanchor,a FordTransitvan,intoaditch,muchtothealarmof it's driver.Fortunatelynodamagewasdone.

ASaroSkeeterhelicopterwasbrought alongby Maj.MikeSomerton-Raynerwhopurchasedthis machine(ex.W.D.)for£75.(whowouldcareto estimateC.ofA.costs?).

Sunday4th.Septemberturnedouttobe avery enjoyabledayforallwhoparticipatedin theCoffee fly-inatMauriceandJoan White's'strip at Chiddingfold,andlateratGoodwoodairfield. AircraftthatlandedatChiddingfold were aSipa, anAuster5,aJ3Cub,twoJodel112'sandaD. 1050.PatHolmesarrivedinherR.F.4,andaftera lowpasstoexaminethesurface,decidedtoremain airborne.Thoseonthegroundgotthe message, and withthetimeshortlybefore12.30 hrs., the threeJodelsandtheAustertookoffandformedup in Vic formationwithPatHolmesandflewoffto Goodwoodtolinkupwithotherstrutmembersand StrutGuests,theHazelmereMotorCycleClub.

AirCmdre.ChrisPaulconductedtheH.M.C.C. membersonatouroftheaircraft,describing each one andansweringquestions.

Atabout15.30 hrs. the spot landingtookplace. eachcompetitorbeingallowed threeattempts at landingonthemarker.

ThecompetitionwasjugedbyLesDrayandMike Harrington,theresultswerelst.DougMann (Auster),withone spoton,oneplus lOyds.,andone missed,2nd.PatHolmes(RF4),onespoton,and twomissed.ThecupswerepresentedbyChrisPaul.

ThebestvintagecupwasawardedtoBillBeverly withhis1943J3Cubcomplete with several.303 bulletholesinsubstantiation.

Cateringwasbycourtesy ofLaurieandJane Mansfieldwhoprovidedmemberswith Chicken and Chips.Theymade averywellorganisedand splendid effort.Asafinale,MauriceWhitetook severalpeopleflying,mainlyH.M.C.C.typesto roundoffa most enjoyableday.Sincerethanksare duetoLesDray,whoorganisedthingswiththe GoodwoodManagementandarranged50 reductiononlanding fees paidbymembers.

WESTMIDLANDSTRUT

Toquotefrom arecent newsletter:'Readersmay havereadthereportinP.F. (July/August 77)that membersarenowusingR.A.F.Cosfordasaflying base.Thisisofcoursequiteuntrue,andarosefroma series ofunfortunateerrorsintheminutesofthe AprilmeetingoftheP.F.A.National Council fromwhicheditorialcopy appearedinthe magazine. Thereportwas fullydiscussedattheJulymeetingof theNationalCouncil.Asomewhatembarrassed discussionfollowed,furthertowhichitishopedthat noonewillbetemptedto lobintoCosfordonthe strengthofthereport.'CosfordisanR.A.F.base

andoperatesaccordingtoM.O.D.(Air)regulations. TheseapplytomostR.A.F.Establishments,andin shortmeanthattheciviluseisprohibitedexceptin thecaseofemergency.Violationoftheseregulations canberegardedascomparabletobeingcaught robbingtheBankofEngland,ornearlysoandwith penaltiestosuit.

StrutMembers,RalphGreenfieldandColin Apennyhelped,withothers,tomanthebriefing telephoneat Sywellon2nd,and 3rd.July.Perhaps someofthemostvaluableandconsistentaidduring thewholeperiod,camefromPeterGrant.Anew memberofthestrut,Peternotonlyhelpedwiththe briefingservice,butalsowithaccommodationand transportproblems.PeterisanexecutivewithJ.C.B. theearthmovingequipmentmanufacturers.Whileon thesubjectofhelpatSywellyourscribewouldliketo thankfellowLondonFireman,BobBertram,of theNorthKentStrut,forhisconstanthelpin maintainingsafetystandardsandfirecoverthroughouttherally.ThesethanksarealsoextendedtoKeith Palmer,alsoofNorthKentStrut,andhiscolleague JohnHutchingsthroughwhomfireextinguishers wereprovided.

POPHAMAIRSTRIP

Popham'sowner,JimEspin, hasrecentlyreceived aletterfromtheSecretaryofStateforthe EnvironmentinforminghimthattheArticle 4 notice willnotbeconfirmed.Consequently,fromthe1st August,Jim'sstripisbackinuse.Atpresenttimeuse isrestrictedto28daysintheyear.Jimstillawaitsa decisionontheoriginalplanninginquiry,sointhe meantimefly-in'swillbeheldeverysecondSundayin themonth.

ANDOVERSTRUT

AndoverStrut,whenlastheardofthroughaSolent Strutnewsletter,hadsuspendedtheirmonthly meetingsatThruxtonAerodromebecauseofclosure oftheclubroomthere.Withtheabsenceoffurther NewslettersduringthePophamcrisis,Andoverwas thoughtbythewritertohave'folded'.Howwrong canonebe?AnAndoverStrutNewsletterhasjust beenplacedonthewriter'sdesk!TheNewsletter(no. 51/52)informsmembersthat,atthetimeofthe A.G.M.theThruxtonclubroomwasstillclosed. BecauseofthismembersJohnandMaureenHall kindlyallowedthemeetingtobeheldattheirhome. Thefutureofthestrutwasdiscussedatlength.With noothernominationsforStrutCo-ordinator,Jim Espinagreedtocontinueforthepresent.Maureen Hallvolunteeredto take onthejobofTreasurer. TherewerenonominationsforLejobofNational CouncilRepresentative.Strti:Aembershipwas raisedtoaminimumof£1.50.TiStrutmeetsonthe firstTuesdayinthemonthat8.00p.m.andthe meetinglocationcanbeobtainedfromJimEspin, whoseaddressis:'Bi-wings'ChapelSt.,North Waltham,Hants.,'phoneDummer423.

AUSTERRALLYATPOPHAM

Thewettestday forsometimeonSunday13th. August,couldnotdampenthespiritof thosewho arrivedatPopham.Thisrallywas thefirsttobeheld theresince'freedom'wasrestored.Bacon,Eggs,and Sausagearejustassuperbwhatevertheweather, whenpreparedbythePophamCateringTeam.Ian Hammondwon aspecialawardfor arrivinginhis Austerduringaparticularlyheavyshower.Two AustersfromLeeonSolent,turnedbackowingto theverypoorvisiblity.TheMillerTrophywas

PopularFlying,November-December,1977

awarded toTed Gouldfor hisimmaculateAusterGAHCR.Atotal oftenaircraftflewinbut becauseof the weather,therewerenocompetitions.Alanand JimStonewouldliketothankeveryonewhohelped tomakethis anenjoyableandsuccessful event despite theweather.TheOrganiser'sthanksmustgo toJimandAlanforalltheir effortsandHomeBrew, andtoFrankNuthallfortheBarB.Q.

NORTHEASTERNSTRUT

TheparticipationofNorthEasternStrut Members,intheTeesideAirGalaonAugust13th& 14thwastheoutcomeofaninvitationfromTeeside AirportDirectorC.K.ColeD.F.C.NineaircraftintheHomebuiltandSpecialCategory participatedinanorganisedfly-past,while,on the publicaddresssystem,anexcellent'plug'forthe P.F.A.wasgivenbythecommentator,SimonAmes, fromnotespreparedbytheStrut Secretary,George Taylor.

Ontheground,theseaircraft,togetherwiththe V.P.1ofTerryBoyes,plustwoEmeraudesfrom Sunderland,formedthestaticdisplay.Aftertheflypast,BarrySmith,winnerof2nd.prizeinthe aerobaticcompetition,gaveathreeminutesolo aerobaticdisplayinhisNipperG-ARBG!

Inaspecialsupplementtothelocaleveningpaper severaloftheStrut'saircraftwerefeatured.Those takingpartwere:

RidkvKendal'sCavalier,oneofthevisitorsat Teeside.

Tocompletethestory,thefollowingletterwas receivedby the StrutSecretary:

'Pleaseconveytoyourmembersof theNorth EastStrutoftheP.F.A.mypersonalthanksfor appearinginourAirCalathisyear.Youcontributed inalargewaytothesuccessofthe show.

Kindestregards, Yourssincerely, J.

Henderson.

AssistantAirportDirectorOperations.

HALFPENNYGREENBANKHOLIDAYAIR SHOW

OrganisedbyBigginHillbased AirfieldDisplays Ltd.,TheHalfpennyGreenShowcomprisedonthe

Sunday,FormulaOneairracingandontheMonday, aBi-planeFly-inandAirshow.

Theshowrantotimethroughoutwithatotalof27 displayslotsonMonday.TheP.F.A.wasnot officiallyrepresentedalthoughHaroldJones displayedhisPazmanytogoodeffect.TheTiger Clubturnedoutinforcetogiveseveraldisplays includingtheformationflightofTurbulents.

Therewereseveralacrobaticslotsinwhichaircraft suchastheBA4,CAPIO.Stampe,Tiger,Stephens AkroandChipmunkperformed.Anumberof historicmilitaryaircraftwerepresent.Theseincluded thefamousB17FlyingFortress,Flavardduo, Swordfish,Seafury,andtheincredibleFieseler Storchwhichdisplayedit'sSTOLability.

Anunusualfinale,wasaslowrunbytheSeaFury withflapsloweredandhangingonit'sprop,with fourTurbulentsandaChipmunkinformation. Someideaofthedifficultyofthisfeatcanbegauged bythethefactthattheSeaFurystallsatexactlyfive knotsbelowthemaximumstraightandlevelspeed oftheTurbulent!

TheRedArrowswereinattendanceandgavetheir usualhighlypolishedperformancewhichisacrowd pullerwhereeverairshowsareheld.Ontheother handthenoisefromthemissomethingyoueitherlike ordislike,sorryfolks,butyourwritercomesintothe lattercategory.

NEWSTRUTAWARD

AtSywellthisyear,ourChairmanDavidFaulkner Bryant,announcedanewtrophytobeawarded annuallytothebeststrut.

ThefirstpresentationtobeawardedatSywell78, willtakeintoaccountthefollowing:

AttendanceatNationalCouncilMeetings. Efficiencywithcorrespondance,returns,and informationtoheadofficeonStrutNewsand Activities.

Regularityofstrutmeetings.

Strut'sownralliesandsimilaractivities.

DegreetowhichstrutsupportsP.F.A.asa whole,includinghelpatSywell.

ANOPENLETTERTOSTRUTS

Manyreadersmayhavenoticedthatmostnews itemscomefromthesamefewStrutsineachedition ofthemagazine.Fewreadersshouldneedtoask why;whendidyoulastinformyourstrutnewsletter Editorofprogressonyourproject?Whendidyour strutlastproduceanewsletter?Iftheanswertothe lastquestionislastmonth,thenit'sEditoris remindedofthenecessitytosendatleasttwocopies totheofficeandonetothemagazine'sStrutNews Editorwhoseaddresswillbeprovidedonrequestby theOfficeManager.

AStrutbyreferencetoguidelinespreviouslyset outbyourChairman,isexpectedtobeasupporting partofourP.F.A.organisation.Ithasanobligation tokeeptheOfficeinformedofoccurences,progress ofmembersprojects,andanyeventinwhichthe Strut'sMembersparticipate.

AstrutthathasbeenproducingaNewsletter regularlyforaperiodoftwelvemonthsmayapplyto theAssociationtobeconsideredforagrantof£25to offsetthecostofproducingthese.Thegrant,if allowedwillbegivenona'onceandforallbasis'.

Clearlytheguidelinesreferredtoarenotbeing adheredtobymanystruts,orrathertheirCoordinators.Manystrutshavemadeverylittleeffort sinceaskingforofficialrecognitionasastrut.In futuretherefore,Strutsfromwhomno communicationshavebeenreceivedforSixMonths ormorewillnotbelistedasActiveStruts.Alistof activestrutswillbepublishedinaforthcomingissue ofthemagazine.

Bytakingthisstep,MembersseekingaStrutto whichtobelong,willbeassuredofclosertieswith ourAssociationthroughthatStrut'selected Officials,oneofwhomregularlyattendsmeetingsof theNationalCouncil(heldforthepurposeof keepingStrutOfficialsuptodateonLegislative, Engineering,Air-Safety,andPolicymatters)and whoshouldbeabletoansweramember'squeryor,if thisisnotpossible,todiscussthematteratameeting oftheNationalCouncil,whereananswerwould normallybeforthcoming.

VOLKSWAGEN

AIRCRAFTENGINEPLANS forAmateurConstructors

(askforNormanPocock)

Quotationswithoutobligation

Ourpersonalandcomprehensiveserviceisalso availabletomeetmostotherindividualorcommercialinsuranceneeds.

Establishedaver50years

30sq.ft.ofdrawingsandal5.000-wordmanual providedesignsandinformationenablingonetoconvert anyV.W.engineupto1600cc.Fullyapprovedfor amateur-builtaircraft,theseplansarc&Toyedwithlifetimefreeadviceforonly£9.50postpaid.

DonaldG.Peacock, ParadiseCottage,Kempsford,Fairford,Glos. Tel.Kempsford246

PILOTNAVIGATIONINVERYSMALL AEROPLANES

Asonewholearnttoflybeforethedaysofradio andelectronicaids,Ihavealwayspreferredtomapreadmywayaroundthecountry;andevenwhenI havetheaidsavailableIonlyturnthemonwhenitis absolutelyessentialtogoontoinstruments.

IsufferfromaninbredmistrustofblackboxesOr anythingelectrical,engenderedbyalife-timeof workingwithelectricalengineers.Theycanspend monthsoryearsdesigning,checkinganderecting hugeinstallations;butwhenthemomentcomesto pulltheswitchandseteverythinginmotion,the looksofamazementthatinvariablyappearupon theirfaceswhenthethingworks,Ifinddeeplydisturbing.Isupposethatmostyoungpilotstodayare broughtuponV.O.R.,D.M.E.,RadioCompasses andalltheothernew-fangledgadgetryandthismust bewhy,attworecentrallies,youngmenhavelooked attheverymodestarrayofinstrumentsinmynonradiohome-built,andhaveaskedhowonearthI foundmywaytotherally.Itwouldseemtherefore thatafewwordsonhowIdoitwouldnotcome amiss.

Thethreebasicinstrumentsofpilotnavigationare thecompass,theAirSpeedIndicatorandthewatch. Startbyswingingyourcompass.Thisisnotdifficult; indeeditcannotbe,ortheR.A.F.wouldnothave requiredpilotstodoit.Itwasnotapopularchore andwastraditionallyperformedbythesprog—the latestjoinedpilot.Onceuponatime,bydintof pullingeverystringIcouldlaymyhandsupon,I succeededinwanglingapostingtowhatwas acknowledgedasthebestsquadronintheR.A.F. WhatIhadnotbargainedforwasthefactthat becauseitwassoveryprofessionalandanincredibly happyoutfit,wedidnotlosepilotsoraircrafton operations;andwhenpilotswerenearingtheendofa tourtheyinvariablyappliedforanotherone.This leftmeswinginganaverageoftwocompassesaday lotthebestpartoftwomonths.Bytheendofthat timeIcouldswingaSpitfireintenminutesflat.

Therearethreecoefficientsthateffectthecompass andmustbecorrectedfor.CoefficientAarisesfrom misalignmentofthecompassintheaircraft.lf,atthe endoftheswing,youfindaconstanterrorofthe samesignonallthepoints,thisisCoefficientAand isremovedbylooseningthefixingscrews,turningthe compasstherequiredamount,andre-tighteningthe screws.CoefficientsBandCareslightlymore abstruseandarecausedbyfixedmagneticmaterialin theaircraft—theengine,theroll-overbaretc. CoefficientBcoversdeviationsonEastandWest headingsandCoefficientCdealswiththoseNorth andSouthheadings.

Theoldstandardcorrectorboxeshadtheholeforthe correctorkeyinthefore-and-aftplaneforcoefficient B;andintheathwartshipsplaneforCoefficientC. Werememberedthemby'B'forBritishforeandaft 'C'forChineseathwartships.Mypresentcompass, anE2A,hasbothholesforeandaftandlabelledB andC.SomeAirMinistryboffinmusthave discoveredthattherumourwasquitewithout foundation.Possiblyacaseof"personal reconaissanceisneverwasted"—FieldService PocketBookVol.1,Chapter1.Asyouareunlikely tohaveaccesstoaconcretecompassbase,youwill havetomakedowithalandingcompass.Ihaveno ideawhyitiscalledthis;theNavycallsithandbearingcompassbutanArmyprismaticmarching compasswilldojustaswell.

PopularFlying,November-December,1977

by IvorFixe

Firstemptyyourpocketsofallmagneticmaterial keys,penknifeetc;andifyouhaveasteelbuckleon yourbelt,removethebeltandkeepyourtrousersup withyourtie.Wheeltheaircraftouttoalevelsite, wellawayfromhangarsorothersteelbuiltbuildings, andpointitNorth.Checkthiswiththelanding compassbystandingaboutthirtyfeetbehinditand sightingdownthecentrelineoftheaircraft.Notethe aircraftcompassreading.Nowturntheaircraftto pointEastbythelandingcompassandagainnotethe aircraftcompassreading.Doremembertoleavethe landingcompasswellawaywheneveryougotocheck thereadingoftheaircraftcompassoryouwillget somefunnyresults.NowturntheaircraftontoSouth andthisiswhereyoustartwork.Notethecompass reading.Nowletusassumethatwhentheaircraft washeadingNorththecompassread006andnow thatitisheadingSouthitreads184.Youhave recordeddeviationsofplus6andplus4sothatthe algebraicdifferencebetweenSouthandNorthisplus 2.Dividethisby2andyouhavefoundthat coefficientCequals1.Putyourcorrectorkeyinthe holemarkedCandgentlytwistituntilthecompass reads183.

NowturntheaircraftontoWest.Letussuppose thatitwasheadingEastitread098andonWestit reads260sothatyouhaverecordeddeviationsof plus8andminus10.Thealgebraicdifferenceof theseisplus18,(Come,come,surelyyouhavenot forgottenthebusinessofchangethesignofthe bottomlineandadd?).Dividethisby2andyou havefoundthecoefficientBequalto9,soinsertthe keyintheholemarkedBandgentlyturnittillthe compassreads269.Nowyouhavedoneallthebrain workanditdidn'thurtatall.Didit?Nowallthat remainstobedoneistodoacheckswing,calculate andtakecoefficientAifyoumust,andpreparethe deviationcard.Puttheaircraftoneachofthe cardinalandquadrantalheadings,notingthe compassreadinganddeviationoneach,andyour work-sheetshouldlooklikethis:—

Course(NI) Compass DeviationCoe ien fie-Residual

Iknowatleastfourwaysofpresentingadeviation card.Onlyrememberthatyouhaveverylittleroom tospareonyourinstrumentpanelwhereitwillhave togo.Myownmeasure2"xandfitsintoaperspax holder.Forthisswingitwouldreadasunder:—

WriteitoutneatlyandclearlyinIndianinkona i pieceofstiffcard.Keepacopynyour"nay-bag" forusewhenmakingoutyourflightplan.Oneswing willprobablylastforawholeseason,butdocheck yourcompassfromtimetotime;byflyingyour aircraftonknownbearingsbetweenpointsthatyou havemarkedonyourmap,justtoseeifthecompass readswhatyouthinkitshould.Remember,too,that electricalstormsorevenlargecumulusclouds,can upsetanaircraft'spermanentmagnetismtoan alarmingextent,sothatacheckswingisadvisable afteranysuchphenomenon.Irememberaglorious springdayintheEasternMediterranean,flying betweenranksoftoweringcumuliandwatchingmy compassneedleswingingtopointtoeachcloudin turnasIpasseditby.Afteraquarterofanhourof thismycompasswasuseless,andIhadtocarryonby guessingtheprecessiononmygyrodirection indicatorandresettingiteverytwentyminutesorso untilIgothome.Thatparticularaircrafthadtobe swungeverydayforafortnightuntilitsettleddown again.

AlmostasimportantasthecompassistheAir SpeedIndicator.NearlyallA.S.I.'ssufferfrom positionerrorsandonecannotacceptthemattheir facevalue.Minereads66knotsforatrueairspeedof 72knots.SocalibrateyourA.S.I.Pickacoupleof easilyidentifiablefeaturesabout20milesaparton themap.Chooseareasonablyquietdayandmakeat leastfourrunsbetweenthem,twoeachway,timing eachrun.Itisimportanttomakeasteadyheightand airspeedatcruisingrevs.Averagethetimesandso obtainyourtrueairspeedatcruisingrevs.Itpaysto havethebestwatchyoucanpossiblyafford;witha fullsweepsecondhandandalarge,clean,easilyread face.Youwillnotneedthedateasyouarenotlikely toflyintotomorrow.Istrapmineonmywrist outsidemyoverallcuff,withthewatchontheinside ofmywrist.ThusIdonothavetowavemyarm aroundinordertoreaditinaveryconfinedcockpit.

Wearenowreadytostartnavigating,andmostof itmustbedoneonthegroundbeforeeverwetake off.Therearetwomapsingeneraluse;the1:250,000 scaleandthe1:500,000.Icarryandmarkupboth mapsbutprefertousethe1:250,000asithasmuch moredetail.Thisispurelyapersonalpreferenceand IhaveagoodfriendwhotravelswidelyinaCurrie Wotandusesonlythe1:500,000fortheveryreason thatithaslessdetailtoconfusehim.Thereisalotin thisargumentbutIstillpreferthe1:250,000scale. You.willneedaplasticscalerulewithstatuteand nauticalmilestoboththesescales,andaDouglas protractor.Foroursortofflyingyouwillnotneeda DaltonComputer.BecauseofTerminalControl Areas,MilitaryAirTrafficZones,Dangerareasetc youwillseldombeabletoflydirectlytoyour destination,sostudyyourmapsandpickouteasily

ENJOYTHESKY

TheStoryofaHomebuiltAeroplane

identifiableturningpoints.Ifindthatairfields, evenlongdisusedones,areamongthebestairmarks. Largetownsareeasilyidentifiedbutasoneshould trytoavoidoverflyingthem,itisnoteasytogeta precisetimecheckfromarecognisablespotwithin them,suchasarailwayshuntingyard.Onmylast triptoSywellIturnedonBookerandWing.Icould havegonedirectlyfromBookertoSywellbut,by deviatingslightlytoWing,Igotanintermediatetime checkanditsetmeupforanothercheckwheremy trackcrossedtheM1atadistinctivepoint.

Drawyourtracklinesonthemapanduseagood thickcolouredpencil,whichcanbeeasilyreadinthe air.Calculatehowfaryouwillflyinfiveminutesat cruisingspeed,inmycaseitissixnauticalmiles,and markoffyourtracklinesinfiveminuteintervals restartingateachturningpoint.Nowfromyour startingpointandfromeachturningpoint,draw linesatfivedegreesandtendegreesoneithersideof yourtrack.Theseareyourdriftlinesandtheyshould bedrawnlighterthanthetracklinesandpreferably inadifferentcoloursothatthereisnoriskof confusion.

LikemostofusIflyfromafarmstripwhichhas notelephoneandisfortyminutesdrivefrommy home.Thismeansthataforecastwindishopelessly outofdatebythetimeIgetairborne.Thesloweryou flythemoredoesthewindaffectyou,andthisisour biggestproblemsinceveryfewofusflyatallquickly. Ihaveneverreposedagreatdealoftrustinthe forecastwind,evenwhenIcouldgetone,andhave alwayspreferredtofindthewindeffectformyselfin theair.ThePsalmistknewathingortwowhenhe sangoftheinconstancyofthewindthat"Bloweth whereitlisteth".Iamnotsuggestingthatyoushould flya"threedriftwind"oranythingcomplexlike that;wejustestimatedriftfromourdriftlinesand correctforit.Andsowhenmakingoutourflight planonthegroundwetakenoaccountofthewindat thisstage.Youwillneedaknee-padpreferablywitha blockofprintedformsonit.The"Airtour"knee padandflightlogwilldoverywellbutyoucaneasily makeupyourown.Forastartlookalongyourtrack linesandpickoutanyhighgroundorobstructions, suchasradiomastsnearyourtrack,whoseheightis givenonthemap.Makeaguessatthepressure differencebetweenyourbaseandthehighestground orobstructionthatyouhavelocatedusingthelatest synopticchart—failinganythingbettertheoneinthe morningpaperwilldo—andallowthirtyfeetper millibar.Ifyouarenotsurewhichwaytoapplyit addittotheheightofthehighestgroundor obstruction.Addfivehundredfeettothisresultand thisisyoursafetyheight.Writethisatthetopofyour form.Notealsotheheightofyourbaseandofyour destinationairfield,andwhensettingyouraltimeter beforetakeoffsetittoyourbaseheightandyouwill haveagoodenoughapproximationtotheQ.N.E., whichyouwillneedtoavoidflyingintoairv,ays insteadofunderthem,anddon'tforgettonote heightsunderairwaysinyourlog.

Studyyourmapcarefullyandpickoutall unmistakableair-marks.Sizeabletownsofcnurse, butnotvillagesastheyareoftentooindeterminate fromtheair.MotorwaysarefinebutAroadsare oftenindistinguishablefromBorCroadsRivers, Canals,lakesandgravelpitsshowupwell,iftheyare bigenoughtobemarkedonthe1:250,000scalemap. Railways,providedtheyarestillthere,andrailover roadorrailoverriverbridgesarefairlyeasily discerned.Airfieldsarethebestairmarksofthemall. Withallthisyoushouldhaveenoughinformationto writeupyourlogandasanexampleofmyown workingIappendacopyofmylasttriptoSywell.On

take-offtrytorestrainyourselffromwheelingonto coursewhilestillclimbingoutfrombase.Wealldoit butitissloppyflying,andwestartwithanin-built errorof.acoupleofmiles.Climbtoyourstageor safetyheight,andsetcourserightoverthemiddleof yourbaseandnotethetimeinyourlog.Flyasteady courseatcruisingrevsandconstantheight;andafter fiveminutesestimateyourdriftfromyouractual position,relativetothefiveminutepositionmarked onyourtrackline,usingthedriftlinesasaguide.Let ussayitissixdegreestoportofyourdesired position.Altercourse12degreestostarboardand thisshouldputyoubackonthetrackatthenextfive minuteposition,whereyouwillaltercoursesix degreestoportandthencontinueonyouroriginal compasscourseplussixdegrees.Youhavenotfound thewind,onlytheeffectofthewindonyourcourse; butunlessyouareflyingtomaximumendurancethe actualwindstrengthanddirectionwillonlybeof academicinterest.

Ourcockpitsaretoosmallanddraughtyforusto domorethanreadthemaps,notethetimesinthelog anddothesimplestofmentalarithmetic.Itisof primeimportancetogetadriftfiveminutesafter eachturningpointandcorrectforit,andsolongas youdothis,youshouldstaymoreorlessontrackfor therestoftheleg.Don'tworryifyourairmarkfails tocomeupontime;itjustmeansthatyouhavea headwindcomponent,butdonotethetimesatwhich youpasseachmarkandcomparethemwiththestill airtimesthatyouhavecalculatedontheground. Andremembertoreadfromthemaptotheground; nevertrytoreadfromthcgroundtothemap—that wayliespanic.Thereisnoroominourcockpitsto openoutamapandsoonehastofolditsothatitis onlynecessarytoturnthemapover.Theproblem ariseswhenonerunsoffonemapontoanother.Iget overitbystuffingbothmapsbacktobackintoa clearplasticenvelope.Oncetryingtohandletwo mapsatoncewhilereturningfromBigginHillvia Shoreham,oneofthemblewoutofthecockpitandis probablystuckinahedgefivemilesNorthof Petersfield.Rememberthecompassissubjectto turningandaccelerationerrors;so,whenmakinga turn,pickthedistantpointwhichyouestitnatetobe approximatelyonyournewcottrse,maketheturn ontoitandwaitforthecompasstosettledown beforemakingminorco-rectionstotheproper course.Neverchasethecompassoryouwillfinish upgoingincircles.

Oursortofflyingisapt rci beaspur-of-themomentactivity.It'sanicedaywithanhourorsoto sparewerunouttothestripjusttoseethatthe treasureisallright.Arrivedtherwemightaswell runtheenginetocirculatetheoilc,bit,andbeforewe realisewhatishappeningweairborneandten minuteslaterwearelost.Yourwelllaughindulgentlyandsayitcouldneverhap,toyou.Maybe, butithashappenedtoine.SoIspendtheoddhalf hoursinmystudyduringthewinterevenings, plottingmywaymoundthecountry,makingout specimenlogs,andIcarryacardinmycreditcard holderofstillaircoursesandtimeforevery conceivableturningpointwithintenminutesflying ofbase.Icouldrambleonindefinitelyforexample abouttheuseofmotorways,riversandrailwaysas positionlinesbutthesearedodgesthatyoucanwork outforyourself.Iwouldnotsuggestthatanyone shouldslavishlyfollowmymethod,butIonlysayit worksforrne.Inmyexperiencepeoplegenerallyget thebestresultsfromformsandsystemsthatthey havedreamtupforthemselves,atleasttheyhave thoughtaboutitandunderstandwhattheyaredoing.

Ifyouwanttogointothesubjectingreaterdetail, PopularFlying,November-December,1977

andIhopethishaswhettedyourappetitetodoso, thebestbookeverwrittenonAirNavigationis A.P1234—theR.A.F.'soldmanual,andgetthe oldestcopyyoucanfindinthesecondhand bookshops.Mycopyisdated1941buttheearlier editionsincludedanexcellentsectionon Meteorology.Justrememberthatwehaveneitherthe timenorthespaceinourcockpitstodoanypaper workthatcouldhavebeendoneontheground.1still getlostifIneglectanypartofthedrill.Ithappened justtheotherdayonlytenmilesfromhomeandI didn'thalffeelfoolish.

OFFSET TINSNIPS

Aguillotineinyourtoolbox.

Noneedtospreadtheinetaltomake room,foryourhand—wholesheetcan becutthroughwithoutdistortion.

WingRibscanbecutstraightout withnotrnmningnecessaryas 170 warping01.themetaltakesplace.

2MODELS

No.4003upto20Gsteelexcellentfor aluminium.Fixedstop. Fullyinclusiveprice£9.60.

No.4007suitableforsteelworkincludingstainless,adjustablestop.

Fullyinclusiveprice£13.10.

C.W.O.please—

NipperKits&ComponentsLimited, 1RidgewayDrive, Bromley,Kent.BR15DG.

STRATHALLENAEROPLANECOLLECTION

StrathallenAirfieldisnottheeasiestplacetofind bycar.Itis3milesfromAuchteraderontheB8062. Thesceneryisgreatbutlookoutforthelittlesigns directingyoutotheairfield.Carparkingisno problemandtheentrancefeeis50pperperson.

Thefirsthangarisaworkshopsonotresspassing please,withthefirstexhibitsparkedjustbeyond. TheseareaFireflyAS6awaitingrestorationand givingsomeideaofthescaleofthetasksundertaken here,anAvengerTBM3W2(withsolittleclearance betweentheradomeandthegroundthatlanding mustbeaproblem,)aVampireTraineranda Sycamorehelicopter.Thesefourarenexttothe newlyconstructedexhibitionhanger.

Thisiswelllaidoutandaffordsacloselookatall theaircraftonview,thefirstofwhichisaSpitfire T19fuselageinthezincchromatestageofrestoration.NextisaSpitfireFRXIVEfuselagecomplete withGriffonengine,aDH84Dragon1fuselage,a FairyBattlefuselage,abeautifulDH94Moth Minor,aB.A.Swallow2,aDH80APussMoth fuselage,aShortScion1fuselageandanabsolutely superbDH85LeopardMothingleamingmaroon andgold.Alloftheincompleteaircraftwill,intheir turn,befullyrestoredtoflyingcondition,aswillthe LysanderIIIwhichcomesnext.Thelastremaining MilesMonarchishere,theReidandSigristRS4 Desford,FokkerSI1Instructor,MilesM14A Magisterwhichisthelatestaircraftinthecollection toattainflyingstatus,DH82ATigerMoth,Hawker HurricaneIIB,Harvard1111,PercivalProvostTI,a T6DTexan,andPercivalP40PrenticeT1.

NorthAmericanAT-6DG-AZJD

TheMilesMISPrototypeisnarkedunderthewing ofanAvroLancasterMk.XG-BCOH,whichwas ferriedoverfromCanadaabouttwoyearsagoand wasthelastLancasterusedoperationallyinthe world.ThencomesaDH89ADomminieI, LockheedHudsonIV,DH98Mosquito1135anda FairchildBolingbroke(BristolBlenheimtoyou)IVT. This,atthemoment,consistsoffuselage, undercarriage,tailplane,innerwingsectionsand enginenacellesinzincchromate.Alsoherearea MilesM38Messenger2A,aG.A.CygnetIIandan AvroAnson19/2,lessouterwingpanelswiththe fuselagecoveringremovedshowingtheconstruction. OutsidearetheAvroShackletonT4andaDH106 Comet2Rsansengines.Thiswillberestoredto passengerconfigurationasperBOACandthepublic willbeabletowalkthroughtheaircraftwhenthe

byJ.T.ROBSON

workiscompleted.AlsoondisplayareaNapierLion engine,aRollsRoyceDerwent(exMeteorT7),DTI GyronwhichflewintheshortSperrinandaBristol Hercules264(exVarsity).

Twowartimerelicsarealsointhecollection,a JunkersJumo211enginefromaHeinkelIIIwhich wasrecoveredfromtheMorayFirthin1975,anda propfromaBlenheimwhichwasshotdownintothe seaoffNorwayon24thApril1941.

TheGeneralManageroftheStrathallen Collection,Mr.Tucker,isconfidentthatalltheaircraftondisplaywilleventuallyfly.Infacttheowner, SirWilliamRobertsrefusestobuyanyaircraftwhich arenotcapableofbeingrestoredtoflyingcondition. TheexceptionsbeingtheDHComet,theVampire TrainerandtheSycamore,thisbeingoneoftheconditionsofsale.Manyoftheexhibits,ofcourse,are alreadyairworthy.Mr.Tuckerwaskindenoughto showmetheworkshopinwhichaDHHornetMoth iscurrentlybeingrestored,Ialsosawthemagnificent workbeingputintooneortheBristolMercury enginesfromtheBlenheim(sorryBollingbroke). Becauseofthestaggeringamountofworktobedone (oneoftheengineersestimates15years),theprimary aimisinitialpreservationtoarresttheeffectsof indifferentstorage,buteventuallyalloftheaircraft willbefinishedintheoriginalpaintschemesasfirst commissioned.

TheStrathallenCollectionisfortunateinhavinga workingrelationshipwiththeR.A.F.,theR.N., ShuttleworthandtheScottishAircraftPreservation Society,whoarecurrentlyrenovatingtheLancasters gunturrets.Sevenengineersareemployedbutmost oftheirtimeisoccupiedservicingotherpeoples aircraftandlookingaftertheParachutingplanes.

StrathallenAirfieldboastsgrassrunway10/28 l006m.andwillwelcomevisitingaircraft(nonradio, strictlyP.P.0.)RadioFreq.123.5butnotalways mannedsopleasephonefirst.Landingfeesare£1for singles1:2fortwins,50%discountforcashand waivedifyouuplift20gallsormoreofthe100L whichisavailable.Thesnackbarisverymoderately priced,whichmakesapleasantchangethesedays, andyoucanbuymodelsandsouvenirsattheshop. Reasonablypricedaccommodationisavailablein Auchieraderoryoucanbringyourgolfclubsand stayatGlenEagleswhichisjustdowntheroad.

Obviouslyagreatdealofmoneyisrequiredtorun anoperationofthissort,forexampletheproposed newcarparkandtheBalconyRestaurantinthe exhibitionhangarwilltakesomefinancing,so whynothelpthingsalongbyvisitingthissuperb collectionofaircraftwhicharenotjuststuckina museumforustogawpatbutwhichactuallyfly.

AvroLancasterMk.X.G-BCOH.

LockheedHudsonIV.A16-199.

AviationHistoricalQuiz

WiththeoncomingofWinter,wethoughtyou'dlikea littlequiztokeepyouoccupiedduringthelongernights. Allthesequestionscame'outofourheads'andwewould notdreamofaskingyou•questionthatwe,ourselves,did notknowtheanswertowithoutconsultingbooks.The prizeforthefirstsetofcorrectanswersreceivedBYPOST atthePFAOffice,isayear'sfreemembership.Thenext fiverunners-upwillseetheirnameinprint.So,sharpen yourpencils,thosewhoarewellreadaviation-wise,will havenotrouble.

AlcockandBrownwerefirstacrosstheAtlanticin1919 intheVickersVimy.Youknewthat?Welltellusthemake andmodelsofengines.

AmyJohnsonwasthefirstwomantofly England/Australia.ShediditinD.H.MothG—AAAH. Whatnamedidshegiveit?

AmyJohnsonwaslostintheearlyforties.What'plane wassheflying?

CharlesLindbergwasfirstsoloflieracrosstheAtlantic in1927,flyingtheSpiritofSt.Louis.Whatwasthename oftheengineerwhoworkedonthismachineandthen wentontoemulatehisidol'sachievementafewyear's later?

PrincessLowensteintookofffromRAFUpavononan Atlanticattempt.Whatwasthenameofherpilot?Anyone knowtheAdjutantofthefieldatthetime?

TheWifeoftheAmericanPublisher,GeoreePutnam, waslostoverthePacificin1937.(a)whowasshe?(b)who washernavigator?(c)whichwastheIslandofher destination?(d)whatwasthemakeandmodelofher aircraft?

DuringMontgomery'soffensiveatElAlamein,what wasthenameoftheCommanderoftheAmericanAir Forceinsupport?

WhatwasthenameoftheBritishbomberpilotwho wasanobserverinanAmericanaircraftthatdroppedan atomicbombonJapanin1945?

BillLankester,attemptingtobefirsttofly England/Australia,tookapassengerwithhim.Whatwas thenameofthepassenger?

BillLankesterwaseventuallyovertakenbyBert Hinkler.Whatwas(a)Bert'snationality.(b)his aeroplane?

(II)JimMollisonatonetimeownedaPussMothand undertookseveralrecordattemptsinit.Whatdidhename it?

In1934theMacRobertsonTrophyAirRacetook placebetweenEnglandandAustralia.Youallknowthat, itwaswonbyScottandBlackinCometG-ACSS,butwhat wastheaircraftnamed?

Intheaboverace,JimMollisonandAmyJohnson alsocompetedinanotherComet.Whatwasthatone named?

Again,intheaboveevent,thesecondhomewasa KLMDC2,pilotedbywhom?

Mostofourgreataircraftenterprisestookthenameof theirfounder/Designer,egt—Sopwith,HandleyPage,De HavillandandA.V.Roe.Who,then,werethefoundersof (a)Supermarineand(b)BritishandColonial,subsequently knownasBristol.

Finals.

AsEditors,weareoftenasked,justhowmuchisa certainhomebuiltworth?Now,asEditors,wedon't knowwhyweareexpectedtoknow the answertothis onebut,ontheotherhand,whodoes?Ontakinga longthink,thenperhapsweareinmorecontactthan mostofyou,withothers,whopassontheir experiences,solet'stalkaboutit.Onallsideswe aretoldthatahomebuiltonthelinesofTurbulent, VP1orTaylorMonoisgoingtocostyouto-day slightlyinexcessof£1,000formaterialsaloneand fromthenonyouarelefttoscroungearoundfor itemswhichmayincreaseordecreasethisfigurea little.Theareasofingenuityofpurchaseascribeto suchthingsasmndercarriageandwheels,

WestlandAircrafthaveanotherCompanyassociated withthem,dealingsolelyinengines.Whatistheirname?

Whobuiltthe'Cathedral'?

Whatwasthenameoftheairtrafficcontrollerwho wontheJohnPlayerAwardfor1976?

Whowasthedesignerofthe'FlyingFlea'(correct spellingonly)

WhichwasthefirstseviceaircraftoftheRAFtohave arectractableundercarriage?

WhichwasthefirstBritishBombertousegeodetic construction?

(22)1ntwowords,whatisgeodeticconstruction?

Therewasoneairport,builtinthe1930's,whichwas designedtoputpassengersbeforeaircraft.Itissaidthat thiswasthebeginningofthepresentairportlay-out.Can younametheairport?

Duringthetwentiesandthirties,acertainairline CaptainformedaservicerortheHighlandsandIslandsof Scotland.FollowingNationalisationinthepost-war years,thelinewashandedovertoBEA.Tellus(a)the principalaircraftheoperated(b)themachinestheywere replacedwithand(c)thenameofthecaptainthat inauguratedthisline?

DuringtheBerlinAir-LiftofthelateForties,there wasonePilotwhowassaidtohavetakenoffwithall controllocksonandproceededtocarryoutacircuitby movinghiscrewaroundthe'planetobalanceitaroundii's axisandsubsequentlylandedinthisway.NamethatPilot.

Lt.LeafeRobinsonwonaVCinthefirstWorldWar fortakingofffromSuttonsFarminEssexandshooting down,forthefirsttime,azeppelin.SuttonsFarmwasa prime11groupairfieldduringtheSecondWorldWar. Whatwasit'sname?

ThePopularFlyingAssociationhas,asoneof's majorawards,thePresident'sJoystick.Thisisanactual joystick,butfromwhichaircraftdiditcomc?Type, please.

ThereisavillageinScotlandatwhichearlyattempts toflywerecarriedout.1909wasoneoftheyears,butwho wasthedesigner?

DowninSussex,thefirstGliderattemptsweremade atacertainHill.NamethatHill.

WhowasOfficerCommandingtheRoyalAirForce, CentralFlyingSchool,from1954to1956?(Notavery goodPFAquestion,this,butjustthinkandhaveastab).

FrancisChichesterwasthefirsttoflyfromAustralia toNewZealandandtodosoheprovedasystemof navigationneverbeforeusedinanaeroplane.Hewas provedcorrectinhistheoryofnavigationand,duringthe SecondWorldWar,wasalectureronthisaspecttothe RoyalAirForce.Whatwashisformofnavigation?

Thereisanoftrepeated,muchpublicised,pictureof NevilleChamberlain,standingonanaircraft'ssteps, wavingapieceofpaperandproclaiming'peaceinour time'.ThiswasfollowingtheMunichcrisisin1938and, thequestionis,whatwastheaircraft?

There'sallthequestions,youshouldhaveallthe answers.Evenifyouhaven't,andwedonotgetasetof correctones,we'llawardtheprizetothehighestscore,so getmoving!

instruments,seatharness,rightdowntothatstainless steelnameplatewhichall(?)arerequiredtodisplay.

So,havinglookedatthebuildingcosts,howabout theregistration,thefirst(doublecharge)ofCofA fee,allthelittleincidentalcostsinvolvedingetting themachineintoflyingcondition.Atthispoint,what wouldbeafairforcedsellingprice?Wearegoingto guessat£1,500plusorminus£250,dependingon howgoodtheworkmanshipandfinalfinishis.On theotherhand,takingamoreintricatedesign,the CurrieWot,weunderstandfromacurrent constructor, who haspurchasedallhismaterialsthis srandisalreadyonthewaytothe25stage,a totalcostwillexceed£2,000byquiteamargin.It seems,then,that£3,000forawellconstructedWot wouldbeagoodbuy.

•..Finals

Lordhelpus,then,whenasecondhandVarieze comesonthemarket,astheonlyconstructorthatwe havetalkedtohasalreadyspentover£4,000on materialsandchemicalsanditfiguresasoneofthe mostexpensivehome-builtsyetconstructed.When youreckonthatthiscanonlybeoperatedoutofa Farnboroughtyperunway,itseemsthatoverheads mightbeabithigh!

Anotherquestionoftenasked'isafactorybuilt aircraft(sayaJodel,NipperorTurb)worthmoreor lessthanahome-built'?Adifficultonethis,as despitetheargumentsaboutthehome-man's attentiontodetail,asopposedtotheworkshop man'swatchingtheclock,thestandardsof inspectionshouldbethesame.No,wethinkitis bettertolookattheaeroplane'shistorySINCEitwas built.Factorybuiltmachinestendtohavebeenmade forClubuse,whereasthetruehome-manhasnursed hisalongthrougheveryflyinghour,caredthrough everylandingandloveditthrougheverywinter. That,perhaps,isthedifference,althoughthereare obviouslyexceptionstoeveryrule,evenPFAone's!

Continuingonthesubjectofcostsofflying—if wemay—weaskedafewlocalStrutMembersto comeupwithacostingofoperatingtheirown machineoverthepastyearatpresentoverheads.Two ofthemdidworkitallout,asithappensonsimilar Jodelaircraft,althoughthefirsthasa65h.p.against thesecondone's90h.p.engine.Thefigureswentlike this:Member(a)with65horsesupfront, accomplished100hours(abouttwicethePPL Ownersaverage),kepthisaircraftonalocalfarm stripforwhichhepays£10perMonth,hadabitof unusualmaintenancethisyearinvolvingremovinga coupleofheads,butalldonebyhimselfanda voluntaryPFAInspector.Hismaininterestseemsto beaerialtouringandvisitingeveryPFARallygoing intheSouth,plusalotofweekendvisitstoother airfields.

Member(b),ontheotherhand,hangarshimselfat Shoreham,costinghimabout£30perMonth.Also doesallhisownworkandaverages50flyinghours peryear.Heisalittlelessventurousthanmember(a) andconfineshisflightstoeitherlocal,orvisiting PFARallies,includingSywell,ofcourse.Whathasit cost them?Youmaywellask.Twoveryenthusiastic PFAandLocalStrutMembers,they,butitcost Member(a)£12.50perhourfor100hoursthisyear. AndMember(b)£15.50perhourfor50hoursflown. Rathersurprising,doyouthink?Well,Member(a)at theprivatestripagreesthatmostofhiscostswere incurredinlandingfeesatvisitedairfieldsand, incidently,havingtolandawayeveryweekendto takeonfuel.Member(b)agrees.howeverthathe couldhavecutcostsconsiderably,hadhehad alternativeprivatestriphangaragbutwonderswhat itwouldhavecostincarpetrolandusageinvisiting theaircraftthemanytimesperweekendhedoes,just 'titivating'.Whichallgoestoshowthatoneman's meatisanotherman'spoison.

+ Anothersubjectwewouldliketomentionis revivalofthesquadrons.Asearlierreaderswill know,HeadOfficeencouragedbuildersofspecific typestogettogethertoexchangeideasand experiencesastheywentalongwiththeirproject.You mayrememberthatMikeVaiseywonacupatSywell thisyear,forhisorganisationoftheLutonMinor squadron.WeseemtorememberthatDavidBuckle wasrunningtheCavalierSquadronandJohn DunfordtheVPISquadron.Followingaletterinthe lastissue,wenowhaveavolunteertoruntheCurry WotSquadron.

PopularFlying,November-December,1977

Wehappentoknow,fromabitof'inside' information,thatPFAEngineeringwouldbe delightedtoseeanextensionofthesquadronsystem tocoverfarmoretypesandtoseetheexistingones re-vitalised.ForEngineering,itmakesitsimplerto communicatemodsandtocheckonprogress,solet's havesomevolunteerstocommandtheother'type' squadrons.IhappentoknowthatJohnDunfordwill behappytohandoverhisVP1Commandtoany otheradvancedbuilder.(JohnisaveryactiveoldhandontheExecutiveCommittee,andhasmany othertasks.)Perhaps,asHeadOfficeisnow preparinganew'active'Strutlist,wecanaskthemto haveanewSquadronlistintheSpring.

ThePFAHandbookhasbeenoutofprintfor severalmonthsnow.ItwasintroducedbyStuart McKaytoappearatthePlaneShowof1973,andhas longbeenrecognisedasthePFAConstructor'sBible, althoughheadquartershavealwaysbeenawareof certainshortcomings.TheHandbook,therefore, havingrunout,wehavenotattemptedtore-printas itwas,butaredoingathoroughup-date,withmuch additionalinformation,whichwehopetomake availabletomembersinthelatespring.Sowatchthe Magazineforanannouncement.

Onanothersubject,OurPresidentisworkingona historyofSywellAerodromesinceit'sinceptionand isanxioustohearfromanyofourreaderswhomay havetrainedthereintheR.A.F.orflownfromthere intheearlyFifties.Itseemsthatthereisalackof historicaldocumentationinthepost-waryearsand hewouldbegladtohaveyourhelp.JustWriteto PFAOffice,Markingyourletter'President'.-He'll getit.

Someonealsotoldus,theotherday,thatthese madvintagemenaregoingsofarastoremovethe anti-spinstrakesfromTigerMothstomakethem looklikethegenuine1930'smachine.Theadviceis, fromhighup,ifyouwanttolooklikea1930'sPilot (splat)don'tmakeamessonour1970'sairfield!In otherwords,it'sjustnoton,chaps.Andwhilst talkingaboutTigerMoths,youareallawareofour affinitytotheMothClub,supportingusastheydoat Sywell.Theirlatestissueof Enterprise, theMoth Magazine,pinchesallofourideasinhavinga 'jubilee'frontCover,inwhichweledtheaviation world.However,wewouldliketoreportthatStuart hasnoworganisedabulkbuyingscheme,inwhich MothOwnersthroughouttheWorldcanhavea readysupplyofsuchthingsassparkingplugs throughtotyres.WelldoneStu!TheMoralis—if you'reamothman-seeMcKay.(andifyoudon't know,it's16ThatchersDrive,Maidenhead,Berks.)

Sonowwecometotheendofour'Finals'column andtheendofanotheryear.Agreatyearithasbeen forthePFA,agreatoneforthemanyRalliesthatwe and OUf membershaveheldand,aboveall,agreat yearforyourvoluntaryMagazineEditorswhohave managedtoputmembersthoughtsintoprint,keepit allinperspectiveand,wehope,keepyouall informed. For,surely,thatshouldbeourobject,to disseminateinformation,tokeepyouallaheadwith PFAnewsandtomakesurethatthose'outinthe sticks'getasmuchsayasthoselivinginthemore populousareas.

Afterthisyear,therewillbe,inevitably,nextyear. AndsoyouwillallbethinkingaboutNewYear's Resolutionsandherewecanhelpyou.Justsayto yourself:WhatcanIwriteforthe PopularFlying Magazine,Magazine,Magazine—CheerioFolks. L.C.M.

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

Semi-displaypercolumninch£500. Lineage(minimumthreelines)perline alp.Discounts:seriesofthree5%). Seriesofsix 10%. Agencies10%.

FREE!

MembersarenowentitledtoFourFree Adverts.peryear,subjecttobeingofnon-businessnature andtospacebeingavailable. QuoteMembershipNo.

For£1-50wewillincludeaphoto ofAeroplanesforSale.

ThePFAdoesnotnecessarily guaranteeorendorseanyproduct offeredthroughouradvertising.

Members'attentionisparticularly drawntobuiltand partly-builtAircraft. Theyshouldsatisfythemselves thatthemachinehasbeenclearedto P.F.A.standardsiftheysubsequently intendtooperateitthroughthe PF.A.Airworthinessfacilities.

PLANS!PLANS!PLANS!

AEROMODELLERPLANSSERYICFis

Worldrenownedforitsvastrangeof subjects.Flyingmodelsofalltypes plustheuniquescaledrawingsseries whichincludesmanyP.F.A./E.A.A. subjects. e.g.CDRRILWOT,ISAACS FURY&SRIITIRE,PITTSS2A,TILORP T18, TAILWINDeIC. Sendforlatest AeromodellingPlansHandbookNo. 1 price30p-H10ppost.

Model&AlliedPublications

PlansService,P.O.Box35

HemelHempstead HertsHP1IEE

FULLRANGEINSTRUMENTS—t&s horizons,ch.t.kits.o/petc.,Gipsyengine parts,exchangescheme,Chipmunkparts, noVAT.DavidGoddard,8BerkleyClose, StrawberryHill,TW2556.Tel.01-8941048(1/F).

MAGAZINEwanted.—January1939copy of PopularFlying tocompleteset.£2paid forgoodcopy.Box101,P.E.A.Office.

FREDBUILDERS. Beuptodate.Send S.A.E.forfreelistofcorrectionstodrawings.EricChinon,92NewlandsStreet, Shelton,Stoke-on-Trent.Staffordshire.

CHANGEOFADDRESS.Wouldall friendsoldandnew,pleasenotemynew address:DonPeacock,ParadiseCottage, Kcmpsford,Fairford,Glos.TelKempsford246.

DESPERATE forgoodpairofSR4mags. AnythingelseVW/VP1?WHY?writesoon toAlanGrieves,43HenleazeAvenue, Bristol,BS94EU.

MINICABplanscompleteunused£20. MikeCreer,22DownsParkCrescent, Totton,Southampton orTel. Andover (0264)61345daytime.

S.T.O.L.Performanceon1500VWandup.Foldingandroadable—onown wheelsortrailer.Easytofly.Cheaptobuild.Longestsinglecomponent12'9" long.Plansconsistof26highly-detailedsheetsplusriggingnotes,construction notesandmaterialslists.

PerSet—£15

InformationPack—£1

ERICCLUTTON,92NEWLANDSSTREET,SHELTON STOKE-ON-TRENT,STAFFORDSHIRE,ENGLAND.

BACKNUMBERS of POPULARFLYING 30peachinc.p.&a. Vol.17No's1,3,4,6

Vol.18No's1,2,3,4,5,6

Vol.19No's4,5,6

Thereareveryfewofsomeissues sopleasestate alteranthes. also

1973&1975SYWELLREVIEWS 40peachinc.p.&p.

FROM— THEP.F.A.OFFICE

PLANS:

EVANSVP-1

Simplybuilt—VWpowered.Onlyone verticalandonehorizontaltailempennage_Onepiecebentupaluminiumgear. Simple3-bulkhead,woodfuselagewithno metalfittingsorclothcover.Noengine mount.Simplewing,plankspars,ribsstack-sawedfromd'ply.EvansVP1 roadtowswithouttrailer,andstoreseasily ingarage_ForPlanandBrochureprices secP.F.A.officeadvertisement,

TAYLORMONOPANE

APracticalguidetodesign constructionandrepairofALL typesofwoodenpropellers[2.50 inc.p.p.

ERICCLUTTON

92NewlandsStreet, Stoke-on-Trent, ST42RF, ENGLAND.

FORSALEFuryandWotbuildersAGS 690/Bshacklesat50peach+ p/p.to PFA Membersonly.Mr.M.H.Turner,48 ChesterWay,Kennington,London,SDI.

Thepopularsingle-place,lowwing,all woodmodel.30to60h.p.100m.p.h., with1300VWengine.Span21',length15'. Brochure,35pplus10p.p.&p.;Plans, £12,plus50p.p.&p.:Construction photos.From:Mrs.J.Taylor,25ChesterfieldCrescent,LeighonSea.Essex.

TAYLORTITCH

Asupersingle-place,lowwing,acrobatic tourer/race,.Simpletobuildwood constructionfor40to95h.p.engines. Superbplansforthissuperbaeroplane includefullsizeribsheets,material listandnumerousadvisorynotes.Span 18'9";Length16'1-1".Brochure,45pplus 10pp.&p.;Plans,£16,plus50pp.&p.; Constructionphotos.From:Mrs.J. Taylor,25ChesterfieldCrescent,Leighon Sea,Essex.

Popular Flying, November-December,2977

AIRMEDHEADSETS£25.Flying Helmets£10.Electricintercomforaircraft £301Adaptorleadsforhelmets.Otheritems onrequestB.F.G.,23KingAlfredClose, Stevning,Sussex.0903-812119.

FORSALE.Ardent401230hpserialNo. F1-14exLutonMinorG-ASMLonlylogged 43flyinghours£40.Benteowners workshopmanual1200to1500 cc 1954— 1967£2.50Newpistonsfor30hp131.50. Tel.St.Tudy713evenings.

WANTED.Fred—senddetailstoJohn Farrant,StJosephsRoad,Mallow,Co. Cork,Irelandorphone056-21358after6 p.m.weekdays.

MS885'SuperRalIse'forsale_145hp,4 seals,NARCOI2ANav/Com, C ofA (SpecialCat.)tillOctober,1977,appos550 hrsSMOILBasedAndrewsfield.£4,000. one(noVAT).Tel.D.Bedford,Sudhury (07873)73202,

WANTED.Jodel,Emeraudeorsimilar touringaircraft.AlsoAcrobatic,oneor twoseatertypes,Nipper,Fournier,etc. Anycondition.Pleasephone017222513. OrwritetoD.Beubelbeiss,77RegentsPark Road,LondonNWI,allrepliesanswered.

NXANTED.SprocketfromContinentalC90 fordrivingagenerator.Tel.K.Stacy, cigh(0942)676406_

KINGKV95radioforsale.360Channel VHFingoodorderwhenremosedtomake wayforNorco12.Bestofferover£150 secures.Tel.D,Bedford,Sudbury(078731 73202.

AIRPICTORIAL.Complete1951-1976 (afters.JohnIsaacs,cvoPI-AOffice. Shoreham-by-Sea.WestSussex.

BESTPERFORMANCE.Propellersfor VW,Continental.Lydoming,Aeronca, engines.Specifications[oreach applicationRingBrianMillsforpriceand deliserson022-026-2951.

WANTED.Turbulentcanopyscreenand fitting.K.Barlow,3RiverView,Lead Mills,Mold,Clwyd,N.Wales, PIPERCOLT.PA22-108G-ARKMCofA expired27/9/76,lastflew26/9/76, airframehours5682.Lycoming0-235-CI hoursrun448,needsrecover.Turnandslip D/GWOOONO,DasidEastwood, Pennyfields,RectoryRoad,Middleton, Saxmundhatn,Suffolk,IP173NW.

SIROCCO.ForSale,woodworkalmost complete,fueltankandradioE350.Terry Duhig,Flat9,62OakshawRoad,Paisley. lel.041-887-8435.

FORSALE.BeckerClass2360VHFCOM set19000.Pete,273FoxhillRoad, Carlton,Nottingham.

BREAKING—CAVALIER.Lackofcash andinterestleadtobreakingthis908/o completeproject.Allpartsavailable"As is"egConverted02900,Rollasonmount, fullpanel,radio/VOR,wingwith professional),builtspar,UCwithwheels anddiscbrakes,batteryetc,etc.Wouldsell asbasketease_TelephoneKett01-731-2392 (evenings)orAndy(Hitchin)57502.

FORSALL.Cavalierplansunused00. Ribblanks£10.DonPeacocksVW conversiondrawingsanddata[6NJ. Crowe,36CutlersPlace,Colehill, Wimhorne,Dorset.Tel.Wimborne(0202) 886545.

HOME-BUILTJODELDII.1968CIAWMDonly330hrsusedon(1.90.14.1-7 NewColA.Nohugs,£2200minimalann twistingPilotsseatDC3?withfullharness offers_DonLord0273.558888.

WANTEDPARTCOMPLETEPROJECT ORPARTS:Pitts,Skybolt,Aerosponor similar,mustbefullyacrobatic,also requiredSiamconewcrankcaseassembly. BarrySmith,8BlenheimTerrace, Scarborough,YorkshireYO127HForTeL 0642242451businesshours.

SHARESOFFEREDINJodel112based SouthOxfordshire.DetailsfromD. Walling,27ChurchStreet,Wootton, Bassett,Swindon,Wiltshire.

WANTEDNipperAircraftMk.IIorIIIor similarsizedlightaircraft.Mustbe complete.Tcl.Millport(Scotland)309or 707orwrIteto0Stark,Ashgrove, Millport,IsleofCumbrae,Scotland.

WANTEDWINGSANDANYOTHER PARTSFORPractaviaSpriteAlsocarb, exhaust,starterforLycoming02903.Tel. J.Secula,01-650-7705,

PAIROFBENDIXSF4RN8magnetos withharnessandgearwheelscompleteTO suitCominentalA65-8,orC75,85&90. £40ono.Tel.J.E.Hobbs,Bembridge 3219.

NYVINGLASSFIBREDOUBLE INSULATEDWIRE(19/006)Spper metre,Stainlesstuhoffcutsl,.O/DI70 9-10inchpiecesLIeach.Wantedrev counterrorLycomin20-290D.Tel. Sheffield53091.

WANTED C90 orsimilar,lowhours preferredbutanythingconsidered.1 Miller,,CroakhamFarm,Yarcombe, Honiton,Devon.Te.UpOttery206.

JODELD120Paris-Nice,based Bickrnarsh,newfabricandtwoyearCof A,700hrs.plusextensionremainingon C90,freehangaragelandingfeesoneyear, halfshare81600.AermronInchannel radio£50.PA.Howell,Biekmarsh Airfield,Bidford-on-Avon, Worcestershire.Tel,Bidford-on-Avon2606 (home)or021-643-5203(office).

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