Allpricesaresubjecttochangewithoutnoticeduetoincreasesinpriceandcurrencyfluctuations.
CASHWITHORDERPLEASE POPULARFLYINGASSOCIATION
TheviewsexpressedinPOPULARPLYINGarethoseofthe contributorsandnotnecessarilythoseoftheP.F.AThe Publishersretaintherightwrefuseorwithdrawadvertisementsat theirdiscretionanddonotaccepthabilityfordelayinpublication orJarclericalorprinter'serrorsalthougheverycareistakento avoidmiciakes.
President:
A/CMDRE. G.JC. PAUL [LTC., M.A., C.Eng.,E.R.Ae.S.
Chairman: F.FAULKNERBRYANT
froourer:
L.SHAW, D.Ae.,C.Fng„ M.R.Ae.S.,
EngineeringOfficer: I.V.WAiKER,C.Eng..E.R.Ae.S.
CommitteeSheathers:
JOHNDUNEORD
TONYFARREL TONIHARM1)
ERNIEHORSEAL1
MIKEJOSEPH
Al1KNOWIES.0.13F. AURIINIANSI!FLU
SIIingI MACCONNAI-HER
1ESRICHARD3ON
MIKEVA1SEY 13111W11KS
.11'313\11i s
Founded1946
IndividualmembersInp:f:750p.a.
Thefaundingandrepresenionvebodyill theUnitedKingdomofamateur constructorsandoperatorsofultra-light andgroupoperatedaircraft_
(c)P.E.A.(ULAIR)Ltd
CovraCOMMENr--
MikeBeachandhisScaleSE-SA, winneroftheAirSquadronTrophyat Sywellthisyear.
PopularFlying,September-October,1978
Bythetime mostoryoureadthistheleavesonthetreeswillbechangingtotheirautumn colours.Theholidayandrallyseasonwillbedrawingtoacloseandthebestpartofanother flyingyearwil/soonbeover.Ithasbeenaratherindifferentsummer,eventheSywell weatherwasnotuptoourusualstandard,yetinspiteofthese"Littlelocaldifficulties" we hadamostsatisfyingseason.StartingwithourfirstTrainingWeekend,followedbya nuinberofgoodrallies,P.E.A.participationinoutsideeventsandourownrallyatSywell itselfhasallbeen,asusual,agreatsuccess.Sywell,hasliveduptoitsreputationasthe largestairrallyinEurope,andIthinkitfairtosaythe"BestOne".However,I,likemany ofyouhaveenjoyedthisseasonsflyingincludingvisitstoralliesinothercountriesbutin enjoyingthesememoriesweshouldspareathoughtfortherestoftheorganisation,which existstosupportallthoseactivitiesandpermitsustheprivilegeofflyingourHomebuiltand Vintageaircraftonsomanyhappyoccasions.
TheP.E.A.hasgrownsteadilyoverrecentyearsandfollowingtheopeningofour ShorehamH.Q.withfulltimestaff,itsmembershipsandstaturehasincreased.Inaddition theAssociationhasbecomefinanciallystableandthisisveryimportant.Thisgrowthand generalimprovementwastheresultofdecisionsmadewhenacrossroadsinP.F.A.affairs wasreachedsomefiveorsixyearsago.Thesedecisionspointedthewaytousbecoming more"Professional"inordertoremainanamateurorganisation.Thispolicyhaspaidoff inbettergeneraladministrationwhichhasproducedgrowthandabetterstandardofservice whichinturnincreasesthenumberof"Longstanding"members.Growthitself,however, bringsmoreproblemsanddemandsonan"Amateur"organisationsuchasoursandagain wefindourselvesatacrossroadsinourhistory.Ibelieve1978willprovetohavebeenan importantyearinPEAandwemustbecarefultosettherightcoursetosteerforthefuture. TheseadditionaldemandsmadeonourAssociationbythetypeofgrowthwehave experiencedhavetobemet,otherwisedecaysetsinandIamsurethatnoseriousminded memberwouldliketoreturntothedayswhentheP.E.A.couldscarelypayitsway,hadno permanentstafftodealwithourneedsandhadlittleornostatusintheeyesofthe atohot-dies.
Sohowdowekeepourmovementstrong!RecentCouncilmeetingsandtheA.G.M.at Sywellhaveindicatedthatyourequireimprovedengineeringfacilitiestocopewiththe growthinnewprojects(afterallaeroplanebuildingisthemainpurposeofourexistance), closeticswiththeVintageside(especiallyonanengineeringbasis)andmoretraining weekends.MoreP.F.A.publicationsandintheforeseeablefuturealargerandmore permanentheadquartersofourownareallhighonthelistofpriorities.Allofthis,together withwhatwealreadyhave,meansthatweshallrequiremorepermanentstaffwhichhasto bepaidfor.TheA.G.M.immediatelyrecognisedthefactthatourmembershipfeesat17.50 foraU.K.Memberwereinadequate,havingremainedatthislevelforanumberofyearsin themidstofroaringinflation,hadnowtobeincreased.WhatdidsurprisetheCommittee, andalmostembarrasstheTreasurer,wasthathavingaskedforanincreasetoLIDper annumthelargestbodyofopiniongaveitsblessingtoanincreaseto£12,thissumbeing consideredrighttopromotecurrentneedsandtoprovidesomethingforthefuture.After theCommitteecarriedoutafurtherfullanddetailedexaminationofallthebudget forecastshowever,itisnowproposedtohandlethisincreaseinmemberssubscriptionsin twostagesStageOnewillbetoincreasethisfeeto.E10asfromthe1stJanuary,1979and thetimingoftheSecondStagewillbeconsideredinthelightofthe1978-79performance andaccounts.Inthisway,theCommitteewhilstendeavouringtokeepcostsdownandgive goodservice,willretainthefinancialflexibilityaffordedbythevotesoftheA.GM.and alsoensurethatwecanprovidetheenlargedservicesrequiredfromastablefinancial platform.
InviewofthevasteffortputintotheP.E.A.andallitstandsfor,bysomanydedicated flyingenthusiastsIthinkthatEH)perannumisgreatvalue.Don'tyou!
D.FAULKNERBRYANT, ChairmanButshedidflyonNovember7th,1976.Thiswas 19yearsafterconstructionbegan.
Constructionon2DruineTurbi'sbeganmid1957. OnebytheU.L.A.A.inPerthandonebythe UniversitySquadronalsoinPerth.AthirdTurbiwas startedbyR.A.Flottmanin1962inAlbany.All threewerebeingbuiltfromplansredrawnby Universitystudent,DavidHarris,whoundertook thistaskaspartofathesis.
TheoriginalplanswereinFrench.Unfortunately theredrawnplanshadonly2dimensionsinsome areasandweretocausemanyheadachestoeveryone whobecameinvolvedwiththeproject.Alsoadding tothefutureproblemsweresomeomissions alreadyintheoriginalplans.Provisionalapproval wasgivenbyD.C.A.onconditionthatamendments weretobecarriedoutanddrawingssubmittedas theyarose.
TheAlbanyTurbiwasprogressingfairlywellwhen itwasdestroyedbyfire.Theengine,aGypsyMinor waswebelievetheonlythingsalvagable.Itisthought tobethespareenginethatManisnowassembling. TheenginecurrentlyfittedtoVH-CPDcamefrom theR.A.A.F.whereapprenticesuseditforpractice. Wealsobelievethatthespareenginewasoriginally fittedtoaMilesGemini.Therearealso1wooden and2FairyReedpropellersbelongingtotheproject.
Agroupofenthusiasts,someofwhombelongedto a"TigerGroup",begantheU.L.A.A.projectat MaylandsAerodrome.TheyworkedontheTurbi whentheywerenotflyingtheirgroupownedTiger Mothintheclubrooms/workshopandthework progressedatareasonablepace.Remainsof secondhandAusterswereacquiredandincluded manyfittings,sparsandotherpartsofthewings. Somesparmaterialandsomefittingshavebeen usedintheexistingTurbi.
WorkcontinuedatMaylandsformanyyearsuntil MaylandsAerodromecloseddowninfavourofthe existingPerthInternationalAirport.Aircraftwere permittedtodepartbuttheywerenotpermittedto basethereagain.Workstopped!Thebasicfuselage andbasicwingassemblieswereinexistenceatthat time.Thestructureremainedtherefor2-3years.
Anothergroupwasformedtocompletethe aircraftandthewingwastransportedtoDoug Graham'sgaragesome2-3milesawayasthecrow flies.ThenDoug,ColClements,MaxHorscraftand FredMoggmadequiteabitofprogressonthewing whilethefuselageremainedatMaylands.Enthusiasm wanedoncemoreandworkgroundtoahalt."She'll neverfly",theysaid"Notso",saidsomeoneelse. Enthusiasmreachedanewhighanditwasdecidedin 1968tore-activatetheprojectoncemore.Premisesin HardyRoad,BelmontwereloanedbySteveMustica andfeverishactivitybeganagain.
Thefirstproblemwastransportingthewings, fuselageandmaterials.Thefuselagewasmoved easilyonatraileraswerethematerials.Whatdowe doabouttheveryfragilewing?"Couldwalkit there",someonesaid,"It'sonly4miles".Itwas
done.Downsidestreets,alongGreatEastern Highway,evenajauntcrosscountrythroughsome paddockswasincludedonabrightwarmSaturday afternoon.
ConstructionbeganagainwithCharlieUrwinas ProjectCo-ordinator,DougMuirtoinspectthe completedaircraft,BobRevilltolookafterthe engineinstallationandoutstandingdrawings,Man MathertodonecessaryweldingandDougGrahamto supervisethewoodwork.Workwascarriedoutone nightaweekwhich,ifIremembercorrectly,was Thursday.Progresswasslowbutsteadyandalready problemswiththeplanswereveryevidentandcaused severaldelaysfindingsolutions.Aftertwoyears Steveneededtheuseofhisveryadequatebrickand asbestosshedandtheTurbiwasforcedtomove again.
Gosnellswasthedestination,toa truckdriver/beekeeper'sshedownedbyKenGray. Againrentfree,Kenaskedcouldwedoanything abouthisdamagedwoodencaravanandwewere happytofixitforhim.Therewasanulterior motive—wewantedthespacethatthecaravanwas takingup.Incidentally,Ken,althoughsympathetic tothecause,wasnotandisstillnotamember.Ken alsotransportedthestructureandmaterialsforusin oneloadoveradistanceof15miles.
So,newpremises,increasedenthusiasmandwe gotdowntoworkagainforanothercoupleofyears. Theprojectwasfinancedbythosewhocouldand woulddonate$1.00aweektowardsit.Thisscheme workedwellandprovidedtheneedsofthattime.
ThursdaynightsandSaturdayafternoonssaw moreprogress,theleadingedgeplywasformedand gluedandthecontrolsurfacescovered.Theirfirst reallymajorproblemwiththeplanswasdiscovered. Acontrolpulleytobefittedonthebottomofthe fuselagenecessitatedcuttingthrough4ofthespar! Thiscouldnotbeandwasaccordinglymodified.
Forthefirsttime,theTurbiwasfullyassembled withtheenginefitted,thetailbeinghelddownby sandbags.Somehowthesecameadriftandbefore horrifiedeyestheTurbitippednosedown,whilefor aheartstoppingmomentitlookedasthoughthefin wouldsmashontherooftrusses.Thenitmissed, muchreliefallround.Sowecontinued.Timepassed, enthusiasmwanedagainandtheysaid,"She'llnever fly".
MeanwhiletheU.L.A.A.hadbeenworkingona hangaronHalSutton'spropertyatMandurah.Hal hadagrassairstripandsaidwecouldbuildpremises there,sowedid.WhentheTurbiwentintoabeyance again,itwasdecidedtomoveitdowntoMandurah whereitwashopeditcouldbefinished.Thismove againwasbycourtesyofKenGrey.
Shortlyafterthis,anotherU.L.A.A.group,with JohnEdgelyasProjectCo-ordinator,tackledthe Turbiagain.However,itwastoofartogoto MandurahforJohn,sotheTurbihadtobebrought backtoPerth.Infact,itwenttoadisusedfowlhouse inMaddington,whichhadtobeextended.The projectcontinuedforonlyashortwhileastheshed wasdifficulttofindandratherisolated.Soonce again"She'llneverfly",wassaid—thistimeit lookedasthough"They"weregoingtoberight.
InJuly1970,whenJohnresignedasProjectCoordinator,theredidn'tseemtobemuchlefttodo comparedwithwhathadalreadybeendone.John listedfurtherworkasfollows:—
Cuttingandsplicingofcontrolcables. Manufactureandfitenginecontrols. Fitfueltank.
Overhaulandfitinstruments
Electricalbonding.
0 Fitfrontturtledeckandunderside fuselagerearofthewing.
Fabric
h) Testrunengine.
Timepassed,asitdoes,andthequestion frequentlyaskedwas,"Whatarewegoingtodowith theTurbi?"Therewasvirtuallynoenthusiasmleft. Memberswhohadspentmanyhoursworkingonthe Turbihadnowstartedtheirownprojectsandsothe aircraftstayedinthefowlhouseandgathereddust.
TheninNovember1970,itwasdecidedtoofferthe aircraftandremainingmaterialtoBobRevill.The understandingwasthatBobwouldhaveto substantiallyfinishitwithin12months.Bob acceptedandtheTurbiwastaken100milesto Cunderinonaglidertrailer.Bobworkedonitinhis sparetimeandsomeprogresswasmadeoverthenext year.
ItwasthenmovedtoKellerberrinwhenBob startedRevillAviationServices.Bynowitwasa muchtravelledaeroplane.Verylittlemorewas accomplishedonitbyBobashisbusinessbecame verybusyandasweallmusteat,thismustcomefirst. Well,ifBobcouldn'tsurmounttheproblems,noone could.Thistimeitreallylookedasthough"She wouldneverfly"andwasstoredintheroofofthe hangar.WallyThompsonagreedtoleaveitthere temporarilywhenhetookoverBob'sbusiness.
MoretimewentbyandachapbythenameofAlan Mitchell,anewmemberatthetime,heardofthe aircraftanddecidedtoinvestigate.Incompanywith GrahamSwannell,theyflewtoKellerberrin.Alan madeanofferof$1000.00fortheTurbiandasthe moneywasneededforthedevelopmentofSerpentine Field,theofferwasverytimelyandtheTurbibecame Alan'sItisAlan'sstoryfromhere:
Aboutmidyear1974IbecameamemberofUltra LightGroupofWesternAustraliaandatameeting notlongafterbecameawareofthepartlyconstructed DruineTurbithenlyingincompleteatKellerberrin some108milesaway.
Thedesigninterestedmeandthefactthatitwould entaillessworkthanbeginningsomethingnew.After allIamanoldieandwasnotkeenonstarting something1maynotbeabletocomplete.Atripto Kellerberrinsettledtheissueandbycoincidencea D.O.T.aircraftarrivedsoonafterbearingBillScott, aninstigatorofthewholeproject.IhadmetBill whileservingintheR.A.A.F.aswewereboth groundengineers.Billconvincedmeofthesoundness oftheprojectandpromisedsupportfromhis departmenttoseeitfinished.
AfternegotiationswiththeUltraLightGroupI purchasedtheaircraftfor$1000.00andwithsome assistancehadittruckedtomyhomeinWoodlands, Perth.Initially,itwascrammedintothegarageuntil someglassworkwasdoneontheverandah.HereI placedthewing,givingmetwoworkareasasIwas abletofitthefuselagewithadummyundercarriage andpushitintothedriveforworkindaylighthours.
Howtobegin?Istudiedtheplans,thendecidedto proofloadthewingtobesatisfiedwithitsstrength.A framewasmadetosupporttheupturnedwing enablingloadedsandbagstobeplacedalongthe spar.Thetestprovedsatisfactory.Iwouldnot adviseanyoneelsetodolikewiseassuchatestshould becarriedoutunderdepartmentsupervision.
Thewingthenrequiredthefittingofaileron pulleys,cablesandfittingofinternalpitottubes.It
wasinverygoodconditionandIgavethewooda coupleofcoatsofurethanevarnishbeforeinspection oriortocovering.InspectionpanelsfromaBlanik Gliderwerefitted.Thesewerethepressreleasetype andmakedailyinspectionsveryeasy.
Thecoveringwith"A"grademercerizedcotton wasaninterestingandsatisfyingjobespeciallyasthe wrinklescameoutwiththesecondcoatofclear Butyratedope.
Itackledthetailplanenext.Thestabiliserrequired coveringwithfabricandsomehingesreplacingas foulingoccurredatthelimitsofmovement.
Alotoftimewasspentontheinstrumentpanel whichwaschangedseveraltimes.Ihadatfirst decidedtofitanelectronictachometerbecausethe bendinthecablefortheconventionaltypeappeared tobetoogreat.Idecidedagainsttheelectric tachometerinfavourofanautomobiletachometer withalightcablewhichtookbendseasier.Iwasable tomakethebendlessseverebyreplacingthefitting closertothefueltank.Thetachometeritselfwasnot placedonthepanelbutontheleftsidecoaming adjacenttothepanelandgivingthecableastraight runbeyondthefirewall.Theoilpressureand temperaturelineswerelikewiseplacedontheright handsideforthesamereason.Onthepanelitselfare conventionalinstruments,airspeed,altimeter,bank andturn(venturidriven)andcompass.Theignition switch(keyoperated)isontheleftcoaming.No instrumentsasyetarefittedtothefrontpanel.
AsthefrontsetappearedtobefartoolowI remadethissome4incheshigherandfittedthe A.S.H.radiotoacutoutintherighthandsideofthe seat.Thecockpitisfairlyroomyandthisdoesnot presentaproblem.Jackplugfittingsarealsofittedto theseatasistheswitchandcircuitbreaker.Fittings forthepassengerarefittedtothefrontcockpit.The radioaerie]isaslopingPiperonefittedtothetopof theluggagelocker.Theseatcushionswerecutfrom foamafirmergradebeingusedfortheseatandasoft backrest.Thesewerecoveredwithgoodqualitywool fabricandheldtotheseatandbackrestbystripsof velcrofastener.Thefuelgaugeissimpleandnovel.A verticalinchdiameterstainlesstubeisslottedalong itslengthandfittedtothecapwhichscrewsinthe tank.Tothisisfittedthecorkfloatfittedtoathinner stainlesstubefittedwithasightmarker.Semi circularinchwashersaresolderedtopositionsup thetubeatgallonintervals.Thetankholds14 gallons.
Thesedeserveamentionasalotoftimewasspent onthem.Thefrontcowlwaspatternedfroman originalGypsyMinorcowlandmadeoffibreglass. GoodfriendCharlieUrwinofUniversalPlasticsdid thisafterIhadputtiedupandsmoothedthebattered pattern.Firstafemalemouldhadtobemade,alsoin fibreglass.SoifanyhomebuilderisusingaCirrusor GypsyMinorengineinahomebuilt,theyknow wheretogetafrontcowl.Whencompletedtheedges ofthecowlweretrimmedandfittedwithastripof 18gaugesoftaluminiumwhichwaspoprivettedwith countersunkrivets.Tothiswasputtiedsometwo packurethanerubberwhichhadgoodbondagetothe metal.Ichosethisinsteadofflatcottonbraidedstrap becauseofthevaryingthicknessofthefibreglass. Shapedsteelplatesholdthecowltotheenginemount atthreepointsoneachsideassistedbyspacers.The bottomcowlwasmadefirstandrequiredovalholes cuttinginittoallowtheendoftheoiltankto protrude.Laterthesewerecoveredwithshaped aluminiumbubbles.thetopcowlisfittedwithhinged sidecowls,allbeingheldtothefirewallandother cowlsbysmallfasteners. (tobecontinued)
DaffodiltimeatFinmere.
OurSpringrallywasacompletesuccessthanksto aspellofclearweatherandanewtypeofflying activitydesignedspecificallyforthevintageAircraft Clubtoinvolveasmanypilots,aircraft,passengers andgroundsupportmembersaspossible.Calledthe 'timedcircuitcompetition'itrequiresthepilotinthe firstplacetostateinminutesandsecondsjusthow longitwilltaketoflytwocompletecircuitsfrom unstickonthefirsttake-offtotouchdownonthe secondlanding.Withaclearcircuitthepilotcanfly asfastorslowasisfeasiblebutonceonfinal approachmustnotcircleordog-legtolosetime. Naturallythecompetitioninvolvesalotofground crewmembers.Atthecontrolpointateamof 'officials'arebusywithAldislamps,binoculars, stop-watchesetc.,andtheexuberancethatbuildsup attheedgeoftherunwayhastobeseentobe believed.
WinnerthisyearwasMauriceBrettinhisD.H. ThruxtonJackerooG-AOIRwithatimegivenof 8.00minutes.Firstcircuittimewas4mM.24secs. followedbyasecondcircuitof3min.37secs.to makeafantastictotalof8.01—onlyonesecond outsidehisstatedtime.Secondplacewentto AnthonyBullenwith2secondsandthirdtoHarry Rumblewith6seconds.Thatreallyisaccurate flying—andifyoudon'tbelieveus,tryitsometime.
Acooleasterlybreezeblewthroughoutthedayand aftertheprizegiving(daffodilsandchocs.),club membersretiredtotheopenairbarbecuekitchenfor pipinghothamburgersandsausages—another
beautifullyplannedandsuccessfuloperationbythe FinmereteamleadbyBillKnapton,JoePallett,and DennisWillett.
VintageNewsbriefs.
A wellattendedA.G.M.washeldattheR.A.F. MuseuminApril.TheJohnEdwardsprizewentto DavidElphickforhiscontributiontoourglossy magazine'VintageNews',the'OP'cupwas presentedtoBobandChrisStewartforattending moreflyingmeetingsbyairthananyothermembers. TheJohnBlakeRoseBowlwenttoDennisWilletin appreciationofhishardworkatFinmere.Lastly,the M.0.ThompsonmemorialtrophywenttoAlan Clewleyforwinningthespotlandingcompetition 1977.
SocialsecretaryArthurMasonandpartnerWilly Barrattarebuildinga1932designedPietenpolAir Camper.TheyhavetakenovertheprojectfromL. Leesley(P.F.A.1514)andhopetocompletewithin twoyears.Thistandemtwoseaterparasoloriginated intheUnitedStatesandwasbuiltaroundaFordA typeautomobileengine.Thesebeingnolonger available,aCorvairpowerunitisaprobable substitute.
TheVintagePhotographiccompetitionfor1978was wonbyPaulBusseywithadelightfulstudyincolour ofaTigerMothatdusk.RunnerupwasBobElliot withanotherTigeron[heapproachtoland.Peter Harris,thegeneroussponsoroftheCompetition presentedtheprizes.
Thecomfortableairtaxi.
Fewcandoubtthefactthatairmanshipreachedits mostdemandingstageduringthewaryearswhen civilianpilotsoftheA.T.A.wererequiredtoflyall typesofserviceaircrafttoanywhereintheU.K.(and latertothecontinent),sometimesinmostappalling weatherconditions.Withpilot'snotebooksalways tohand,themenandwomenoftheA.T.Awere preparedforanyjob.FromaSpitfiretoSouthendto aShortStirlingtoSwinderbyitwasallinadayswork andrequiredafirst-classback-upofairtaxi positioningflightscarefullyorganisedtominimiseon groundwaitingtime.Oftheseveraltypesthatwere usedforthesetaxidutiestheAmericanFairchildF24 Arguswasperhapsthemostcomfortableasits interiorresembledtheplushopulanceofaCadillac automobile.Includingthepilotitwouldaccommodatefour,plusalltheirbulkyseattypeparchutes, mapcases,helmetsandsometimestheirknitting.(A sensiblewaytopassthetimewhilstwaitingforthe Argustoarrive).
ThehighwingF24becameafamiliarsightwithits tubbyfuselageandwidedanglingindercarriage.It endeareditselftoallofthosewhoflewitanditwas sadlymissed,when,aftertheWarwasoverit suddenlydisappearedfromtheflyingscene.Being suchanidealmachineforthecivilianbusinessmanit obviouslyposedathreattothere-emergingcivil aviationindustry.Withalmostindecenthasteallthe FairchildswerebundledoutoftheU.K.to destinationsabroad.SomeweresoldoffinMorocco fortheequivalentof£100each.Nonereceiveda BritishC.ofA.untilmuchlateralthoughthey becameverypopularintherestofEurope.
Oneofthefirsttoreturntotheseshoreswasthe WarnerScarabradialpoweredF24WG-AIZEowned andoperatedbyRoyMillsandthe M.P.M. groupat Elstreeaerodromeduringthesixties.Royandother membersofthegroupwerefoundermembersofthe VintageAircraftClubasweknowittodayandthe silverandblueArguswasafamiliarsightatallofthe vintagemeetings.Whileopencockpitpilotswould stepdownfromtheirmachineswipingtearsfrom theirfrozeneyelasheswithshiveringhands,Royand MargaretMillswouldstepoutoftheFairchildasif emergingfromacomfortablywarmRollsRoyce, followedbytheirtwoyoungsters.ThenRoywould reachintothebackofthecockpitforthepicnic hamper!
Recentlytherehasbeenaresurgenceofinterestin theseaircraftsincetheappearanceatSywellseveral yearsgoofPaulSkogstad'sRangerpoweredDECA1:romWestGermany.TwoF24-46Amachines with''00h.p.Rangerinlineengineshavebeen importedfromBelgiumfollowingmanyyearsofuse onthecontinent.Oneofthese,G-BCBL,hasjust beenoverhauledbyCliffLovellatWalkeridgeFarm, nearNewbury.Ithasbeenrestoredtoitsformer R.A.F.camouflageschemeaswasoriginallypainted whenitenteredserviceforthe A.T.A. intheSpring of1941.Verylittleworkhasbeenrequiredtosatisfy thestringentairworthinessrequirementsofthe C.A.A.andthisspeakshighlyofthewelldesigned 'builttolast'Fairchildairframe.Followingthetest flying,CliffLovellwasenthusiasticaboutitsstable handlingqualitiesandhewasechoingopinions expressedmanyyearsago,whenduringthebustleof wartimeflying,theappearanceofthefamiliarArgus meantapeacefulridebacktobase.
Waitingforitstestflightonthegrasshilltopat WalkeridgeFarmwithhazysunshineslowlyclearing themorningmists,onecouldnothelpbutimagine howevocativethatArguswouldbetoallthosepilots whoservedwiththeA.T.Aduringthoseturbulent daysnearlyfortyyearsago.
FairchildF-24ArgusG-BCBL(AliasHB751)inwartimeairtaxicoloursoftheA.T.A.Notethelargedoorand roomyinterior. Photo.AlanChalkley PaulSkogstad'sArgusalSywellImitation,theysay,isthesincerestformof flattery.Bethatasitmay,therecanbenodoubtthat itisagreatfiliptoanownerwhenanaeromodeller buildsaflyingscalemodelofhisaircraftcorrectin everylastdetail.Italsocreatesaverywarmbond betweenthepilotownerandmodeller.Theeventof Radiocontrolhaspermittedaeromodellersto produceexactlyscaledmodelaircraftwithoutfearof damagearisingfromproblemsofinstability.Infact thehandlingcharacteristicsofthefullsizeaircraft arenearlyalwayspassedontothemodelandprovide amostinterestingtopicofdiscussion.
Problemscanarisefortheaeromodellerwhen,due todistanceorlackofopportunityheisnotabletosee theaircraftpersonallyandisthereforeprevented frommakingdetailednotesandphotographs. "Aeromodeller"serviceplansareextremely good—buttheydon'tprovidethelittledetailswhich winsomanypointsincompetitions,soitisvitalthat theaeromodellerobtainssomeclose-upcolour picturesofthecockpit,enginecowlingsanddecal decorations.Thistaskisbestachievedbytheowner loadinghiscamerawithcolourfilmexposingthe wholerollonclose-ups,preferablyincludingatape measureinthescenetoprovideascalereference.Itis alwayshelpful,whenpostingtheexposedfilmtothe aeromodellertoincludesomepiecesofdopedfabric orevenafewflakesofpaintsothatanaccurate colourmatchcanbemadeforthemodel.
Itisagreatthrilltoseethefinishedmodelora seriesofphotographsofit.Yourvintageaircraft prideandjoyonwhichyouyourselflavishedso manyhoursofhardworkonoverhaulingand recovering,comesaliveinamachinethatmaybeonly onesixthofitssize.Thecolourschemethathad takenyousomanyhoursofmaskingandelbow greaseisreproducedperfectly.Itisamoving experience.Makenomistakeaboutit—nexttothe thrillofactuallyowningandflyingabeautifulold aeroplaneisbeingoneofthoseclevercraftsmen—An aeromodeller.
ALeopardForLessThanThreeQuid
Thedriftonthefinalapproachwasalarming. Therewasnodoubtthatthewind,whichperversely blewrightacrosstheonlylandingrunatMartlesham HeathhadincreasedappreciablysincetheTake-Off onehourearlier.JohnParkeswasreturningafter completionoftheannualCofAairtestinhislovely DH85LeopardMoth,G-ACMN,fromaflight whichhadgonewithoutahitchuptillthismoment.
NowJohnParkesisnostrangertocrosswind conditionsorthehandlingqualitiesoftheslender highwingLeopardMothhavingflownthemsincethe midthirtieswhenhewasayoungpilotwiththe famous601'CityofLondon'squadron.Johnlovesa challengeandG-ACMN,withitssilverandblue colourschemeisafamiliarsightatvintageclub meetingsinallsortsofweather.
Withaconfidenteye,heapproachedtheflareand heldoff,exchangingdriftforawingdowninto wind—butthecrosswindwasstrongerthanhe anticipatedsoheovershotandcamearoundfor anotherattempt,armedwiththeknowledgethata certainamountofsheltercouldbeobtainedfromthe largeclumpsofgorsebusheswhichlinedtheupwind edge,furtheralongtheshortrunway.Grittinghis teeth,forcrosswindconditionsheldnofearforhim, heapproachedagainthistimeintheperfectposition toobtainmaximumshelterfromthestumpygorse bushes.Wingdown,driftoff,hetoucheddown perfectly,andfoughtgallantlytokeeptheLeopard Mothstraight,usingtheancientbendixbrakesto assisttherudder.Butthewindhaddifferentideas. Blowingmischievouslybetweenthegorse,itgusted aroundG-ACMNandmadedirectionalcontrol impossible,swingingtheaircraftdangerouslycloseto theedgeofthestubbyrunway.
Therewasnothinglefttodobutopenupand overshoot.The130h.p.GypsyMajorresponded magnificentlyandafterarathertensehopskipand jumptheLeopardwasbackintheairagain,still buffetedbytheviolent,gusts—butsafe!JohnParkes whistledasighofreliefandheadedfornearby IpswichAirportwherehelandedeasilyontheinto windrunway.
Ofcoursehehadtopayalandingfee,anditiswell knownthatlandingfeeshaverisenenormouslyover thepastfewyears—buthewashappytopay£2.16 fortheprivilege.Afterallthingsconsideredthe LeopardMothwasnowsafeandashepattedher cowlinghereflected Hefeltasthoughhehad boughtabrandnewD.H.LeopardMothforunder hreequid!
WhichistherealPMerCub?
RichardGibbsofDianella,WestAustraliabuilt thisscalemodelofAlanChalkley'sblueandcream J-3CubfromphotographstakenbyCarlButlerand AlanChalkley.Themodelwonthescaleeventprize intheAustralianNationals.Canyouspotwhichone iswhich?
Photos:RichardGibbs andTonyHall-Willis GiveforthosewhoGave_
Idealreadingmaterialforloversofold aeroplanes.Nowestablishedasthe leadingmagazineinitsfield.
VintageAircraftbringsyouAirTests, MuseumReports,WorkshopReports, andmanyotherfeatures;notforgetting ourhistoricalarticlesinthe'Golden Age'series.
Samplecopies50p+10pP&P from VINTAGEAIRCRAFTMAGAZINE 137 OnslowGardens,SouthWoodford,LondonEARINA England
Avintagesummer
Blazingsunanddryweatherattractedmany campingmemberstotheVintageAircraftClub meetingheldatBostonaerodromeduringtheearly summerbankholiday.Threedaysoflethargicheat didnotpreventMauriceBrettandRogerBrickell fromkeepingupaconstantflowofpassengerflights inthewelllovedThruxtonJackarooG-AOIR,while vintagefoundermemberErnieLingardwasintop formwiththeTipsyTrainerG-AFVN,recently restoredfollowingacompletere-build.Fortyone memberssatdowntothebanquetheldattheBoston AeroClubontheSaturdayeveningandthiswas followedbyamarathonfilmshowofvintage activitieswhichwentonuntil2a.m.Thesuccessof thismeetingwasagreattributetoErnieandDavid Lingardwhohadspentmanyweeksorganisingthe wholeprogramme.
Evenmorenostalgic,fromanineteenthirties aspect,wasthe'VintageDay'heldatFinmerein June,when25vintagecarsand20vintageaircraft wereonparade.Aviciousthunderstormpunctuated
Photo.—StuartHowe theserenityoftheafternoonandallmemberswere soonengagedinhangingonthewingtipsduring,the briefbutsquallyinterlude.Topprizeforoursurface boundcolleagueswenttoAndrewHoddywithan immaculate1934AustinSevenwhilefirstaircraft prizewenttoJohnHammondandhisLutonMinor G-ATFW.
Date Event Place
OctoberSpotlandingcompetitionOldWarden 1st Aerodrome
NovemberV.A.C.WinterSocial 25th Evening T.B.N. DetailsfromRally Secretary:— DavidHarper,Stockholt Farm,Akeley, Buckingham,Bucks.
G.L.1aircraftbirchply0.8mmto5mm. Fabric2weightsforsupportedandunsupportedareas. DopeTauteningandcolouretc. Jointingcompoundforwood/metal.
Spruce,DouglasFir,WhitePine,Ash,gradeA.
A.S.I.V.S.I.compassesetc.,etc.
S.514andS.510steelsheetandT45tubes. Controlcablemadeuptoorder.
V.P.1.StrutTubes,UndercarriageStock.
Cavalierplansandallrawmaterialtobuild. Fibreglassandresin,releaseagent,pigmentetc.
Sends.a.e.forpricelist DONCASTERAIRFIELD,SOUTHYORKS.0302-57695,-61713
OrganisersoftheBostonmeeting TrainerbasedatBoston.Notethe
ErnieLingard(Left)andsonDavidwiththesleeksilver,whiteandblueTipsy originalvintageaircraftgroupfoundermemberbadgeontherudder.
Thedaysofbuildingyourairframefor£100are over,soalittleinvestmentinmachinetoolsisgood valuecomparedwiththetotalcostoftheprojectand youshouldbeabletosellthemforwhatyougavefor thematleastwhenyouarefinished.Asmall bandsawisinvaluable,andcanbeboughtforabout £70new:This,togetherwiththediscsanderarethe twomostusefulmachinetoolsforwoodenaircraft constructionwork.
Thetimesavedonmakingwingribsbysanding cap-striptocorrectdimensionsandshapeisworth theoutlayalone.Withthetablefixedat903tothe sandingsurfaceonthefrontofthedisc,perfect matingsurfacesareguaranteed,especiallywherethe surfaceneedingtrimmingisendgrain.Itispossible todoatewlightjobswithmetalsusingthesander, butit'smainuseiswithwood.
Youcanuseyourelectricdrillforthispurpose, thoughthediscmustberigid(rubberdiscsarenot good),butthisonlytiesupanotherusefultool. Thoseofuswhoareusingoneofthesedevicesfindit isinconstantuse,soitisbesttoforgetusingyour drillandbuildaseparatesander.
Materials
Onehpsinglephaseelectricmotor.Thesizecan varybutamotormuchsmallerwillnotbeman enough.(Mineisagaragepetrolpumpmotorwith built-inswitch;ishpandduetoflame-proof constructionweighsalot!)Forobviousreasonsa totallyenclosedmotorispreferablewithallthewood dustabout.Theopentypemotorusedinwashing machinesetc.isacheapsourceofmotorbutwill
havetobestrippedandcleanedoccasionallytokeep runningeffectivelyandsafely,sincewooddustis verycombustable.Itisalsobettertohaveamotor withasingleoutputshaft,ifnot,makeupaguardto keeptheunusedendoftheshaftenclosedandsafe.
Thedisc,tobeusefulmustbe8"toindiameter. Therearevariousmeansoffabricatingthedisc,the simplestofwhichistotakealightalloypulleyofthe requireddiameterandmachinetheouteredgeflat. Unfortunatelythisisnotalwayspossible,sincemost modernpulleysareproducedwithholesinthemto saveweightandmaterial.Ifonlyasmallerpulleycan beobtainedthenbolttoitadiscof F duralorrply toproducetherequireddiameter.Forastrutproject itshouldbepossibletogettogetherenoughpeople andproducearoughblankofthedesiredsizefirstin woodthentakeittoyourlocaljobbingfoundryand haveabatchcastinLM4lightalloyfairlycheaply. Securethedisctothemotorshaftusingakeyand grubscrew.
Thetableitselfshouldbeatleast8inchesdeepto provideastableworkingsurface.
Theswitchshouldbeofatleast5ampsswitching capacityandmountedbetweentheoperatorandthe disc.Theplugshouldhavea5ampfuseorelsea separatefuseintheline.
Warning
Thisdiscsanderasdescribeddoesnotcomplywith the'HealthandSafetyatWorkAct'whichfora homemadedeviceforusebyit'sbuilderinhisown workshopisnotrequired.Obviouslyguardsanda motorstarterwithano-voltfeaturearedesirablebut innormaluseitshouldnotbeconsidereda dangerousmachine.
PersonalPlaneServicesTigerMothTrophy DerekLeatherland G-A0EG
CornwallTrophyfortheYoungestPilotat Sywell AntonvanDoevern,Cessna172PH-WAI
PFACupfortheOldestPilot AlfKnowles LutonDuetG-AYTT
MostMeritoriousFlighttoSywell SteffanEkstron JodelD.11SE-XDA
5.AirSquadronTrophyforthebesthomebuilt MikeBeach SE-5aRepG-BDWJ
DerekBurden MinicabG-BDGB
DonGibson EvansVP-1G-BFHK
6.BenjaminCupforthebestoriginalDesign Jean-ClaudeGuex RekcubHB-YAZ
7.JohnRandallTrophyforBestVintageAircraft
TomStorey MewGullG-AEXF
CliffAnnis HornetMothG-ADKK
TedGardner VagabondG-BDVB
8.PilotTrophyforConcoursd'Elegance
I. CliffAnnis HornetMothG-ADKK
RichardYates AusterG-AJEI
JohnGreenlandPiperCubHB-OCH
MostMeritoriousArrivalnotbyair BillBeelan,CycledfromHolland.
BestGroupAircraft
FersfieldFlyinggroup,VP-1 G-BCTT
De11MothClubTrophyfortheBestMoth
CliffAnnis HornetMothG-ADKK
BillWoodhamsTrophyforNavigation
PresentedtoDavidMassey
BestArticlein'PopularFlying' PresentedtoRobertLowe
FaulknerBryantStrutShield
PresentedtotheNorthEastStrut
Inthe"Post-Sywellrundown"itwasgoodtosee somenewcomersinspiteoftheinclementconditions. InthiscategorywemustmentiontheMonoGBDNG,VP-1G-BFHX,BillPenaluna'smassiveSkyboltG-BFHM,andMikeBeach'slovelySE5A replicaG-BDWJ.Ratherthanabriefmentionhere, howaboutmoredetailsgentlemen!
835.Itisalwaysgoodtoseealongtermproject comeneartofruition,andthisisjustsuchaone.I.J. SmithofUttoxeterStaffsregisteredhisLutonMinor projectasG-BIJSon18.5.78ItalsohasthePhoenix plansnumberPAL/1348.
1588.MikeClarkkindlysentusashortprogress reportonhisIsaacsFuryG-BEER,seeninthe accompanyingphotoerectedoutsideGlosair's facilityatHum.ByJunethetailplane,elevators,fin andrudderhadallbeencovered,andthewheelswere wellunderway.Mikesaysthatprogressisslowbut steady,andinanswertoeveryonewhoaskswhenit willflyreplieswithveryapthonesty"whenitis finished"!!Headdsthatbeingluckyenoughtobe completingitinanaviationenvironment,perhaps thiswillbeanaddedencouragementforthemachine toflywhencomplete!(PerhapsseeyouatSywellinit nextyear,Mike,insteadofaRockwell?).
7025.WehearviathegrapevinethatG.McDill's VP-1G-BEKMisrapidlytakingshapeatPeatInn Farm,FifeinapseudoUS-Armycolourscheme—perhapswemayseeJohnPennyissuinga challengeinduecourse!Incidentallyalsoresidentat thesamelocationistheNipperG-AVXDwhichwas registeredtoJ.M.Murrieon2.5.78.
74-10209.PeterCalvertreportsthatBrianYates hasnowdroppedoutofthisVari-Ezeproject,andhe isstillhardatworkwiththeothergroupmember JohnO'Hara.Thecanardwings,finsandcontrol
surfacesarecomplete,withthefuselageandsparbox wellunderway.Mostoftheothernecessarypartsare closeathandincludingan0-200engine.John O'HaraflewaVari-EzebuiltandownedbyLee HerrononarecenttriptotheStatesandreports performanceandhandlingasadvertised.
15-10107.P.R.CozensofAboyneregisteredhis SoneraiIIasG-CCOZon31.5.78,withthe mysteriousprojectnumber0197—acorruptionofthe correctprojectnumberperhaps?
29-10267.VisitorstoSywellwillhaveseenJohn MillerworkingonhisFREDprojectinthemarquee. AtthetimeoftherallyJohnhadcompletedabout halfoftheribs,rudderandafewmetalparts. Althoughhehasnoactualtargetdatehehopesto havetheprojectfinishedinthreeyears.Hetoldme thathiswifehopessoto.
29-10327.PeterWilliamsonregisteredhisFREDas G-MANXon31.5.78—thefactthatPeternowlives ontheIsleofManwillexplaintheappropriate letters!Interestinglytheprojectisofficiallylistedasa Clutton-SherryFREDSeries2—PerhapsEric Cluttoncanexplainthechangeofdesignation?
(IncidentallyweallhopethatG-ASZYwillsoon recoverfromitsundignifiedexcursionintostage, screenandradio..!)BacktotheIsleofMan,and observantreaderswillrememberPeterasthebuilder ofthatveryniceTurbulent5Y-AKC,whichheflew atMagadiinKenyaafewyearsback.PerhapsPeter wouldcaretofillinitshistoryforus?
55-10330.EricBailey'sTaylorMonoplanerecently registeredG-BFRFwasstartedinAprilofthisyear. Tailplane,elevatorandrudderarenowcomplete. Woodforthewingsisnowathandasisa1500cc V.W.engine.
29-10338.R.Coxhasacquiredtheprize registrationforhisFREDproject—namelyG-FRED. BuildingistakingplaceinLeeds.
38-10352.AnotherclevermanipulationoflettersinJ.
Thomas'AndreassonBA-4Bprojectwhichbecame G-YPSYon7.6.78.Incidentallythenearnessofthis project(Darlington)leadsonetowonderifthereis anyconnectionwiththeHornetAviationaeroplanes lastheardofintheSherburn-in-Elmetarea?
Oneortwointerestingprojectstomentionthis time—prideofplaceistakenbyJohnIsaacsnew creation—theIsaacsSpecialG-BJOI,whichhe registeredwithc/n3on28.4.78.JudgingbyJohn's previoustrackrecordwecanawaitthefinished articlewithmorethanpassinginterest!Otheraircraft notifiedincludeanotherVari-EzeG-IPSI(alotofthe Romanyvarietyaroundatthemoment!)whichis beingconstructedbyR.A.FaircloughofWest Wickham,andPhilipMeeson'sPittsS-1DG-LOOP. Asithasthec/n850wepresumethisisa commercially-manufacturedmachine.Nippersthat havechangedhandsrecentlyincludeG-ARFVwhich wasregisteredtoR.J.Kershawlatelastyear,andthe Redhill-basedG-AVTCwhichisnowco-ownedby Messrs.Wright,Brewer,Batley,Hinkleyand MacLennan.Incidentallywehearattimeofwriting thatitwasunderrepairfollowinganaccident—we hopeitrecoverssoon.Apartfromcongratulatingthe GyrofraternityfortheirsuperbturnoutatSywell,we mustmentiontheGyro-flightHornetG-MIKEwhich wasregisteredtoMikeGouldringofNewtonAbbot on15.5.78.LookingattheaeroplaneatSywellit lookedasthoughitwasarebuildofaprevious example—doesMikeknowitspreviousidentity?
Finallyasatailpiece,aswellasarecentvisittoSouth Africa(ofwhichmorenexttime)thewriterrecently "discovered"aLutonMinorregisteredbeforethe lastWarinIndia—VT-ALKwasregisteredtoA.H. HendersonatAjmer,Indiaon13.4.39.andwas officiallyremovedfromtheIndianRegisterinMarch 1943.Doesanyoneknowwhathappenedtoit?
TheStoryofaHomebuiltAeroplane by ROBERTLOWE El00inc.p.&p. fromtheP.F.AOffice
FORMETAL,WOODEtGRPAIRCRAFT
SONERAIIICANOPIES,COWLINGSEtFOLDED SPARS. WINGKITSMADETOORDER.
CAPACITYFORMACHININGEtFOLDING— UPTO8ft.LONG.
MATERIALSAVAILABLEINANYSIZEAND QUANTITY.
TRYOURUNIQUESKINFASTENERHIRESCHEME
WRITELISTINGYOUREXACTREOUIREMEN7S
SWALESSAILPLANES
AIRCRAFTMANUFACTURERS LONGSTREET,THIRSK lpphone THIRSK10845)23096
Thislongline-upofDruineTurbulentsseenatRedhillincludestheonebuiltby P.F.A.'spastchairmanFrankParker.
NewProjects
15-10341Sonerai.M.S.Jillet,OfficersMess, R.A.F.Marham,Norfolk.
63-10342EvansVP-2.D.J.Keam,TruroSchool, TrIITO
62-10343EvansVP-1.D.Beaumont,91ParkHill Driye,Rhodesway,Bradford.
15-10344Sonerai.J.A.Lowe,40BrookSt.,Wall Heath,WestMidlands.
55-10345TaylorMonoplane.C.Oliver,Old GrammarSchool,ChurchStreet,Croscombe,Wells, Somerset.
29-10346FRED.JohnBunyanSchool(R.V. Joyce)MileRoad,Bedford.
56-10347Minicab.L.Tattersal,3WaldenRoad, Blackburn.
29-10348FRED.R.Cousins,2DeweyRoad, Dagenham,Essex.
62-10349EvansVP-1.W.Jones,4KnightonDrive, SuttonColdfield,W.Midlands.
11-10350IsaacsFury.P.A.Fawkes,27Milford Close,Allesley,Coventry.
38-10351BA-4B.A.Brown,20LowGarthRoad, Sherburn-in-Elmet,Yorks
38-10352BA-4B.T.Thomas,41WestfieldDrive, Hurworth,Darlington.
15-10353Sonerai.K.D.Riley,ModelFarm,Kemp Row,Aldenham.Watford.Herts.
29-10354FRED.L.P.Durrant,18KnowleRoad, BudleighSalterton,Devon.
63-10355EvansVP-2.D.J.Keam,TruroSchool, Truro.
47-10356Aircamper.H.Cox19ChurchRoad, WinterbourneDown,Bristol.
1740357PazmanyPL-4.P.Lloyd,Greentiles, MiddletonLane,Hutton,Rudby,Yarm,N.Yorks.
82-10358FokkerD.8.M.Jackson
83-10359PlumbBiplane.B.Plumb,205Embons Way,HemelHemstead,Herts.
05-10360Sprite.Flt/Lt.B.Nelson,228(Phantom) OCURAFConingsby,Lincs.
63-10361EvansVP-2B.P.Irish,DeerPark, Chacewater,Truro,Cornwall.
43-10362ColibriMB-2.P.Russell,67Windsor Road,CarltoninLindrick,NearWorksop,Notts.
55-10363TaylorMonoplane.A.S.Nixon,68 HesledenAvenue,Acklam,Middlesborough, Cleveland.
69-10364PazmanyPL-2.R.G.F.Swanton, Westwoods,Lockridge,Marlborough,Wilts.
60-10365TaylorTitch.G.A.Morgan,25Sutton CourtRoad,Hillingdon,Middlesex.
15-10366Sonerai.R.W.Gordon,19Coleridge Drive,Baxendon,Accrington,Lancs.
48-10367Turbulent.B.A.Lucking,16Camfield, WelwynGardenCity,Herts.
55-10368TaylorMonoplane.M.H.Creighton Sims,"TheLaurels",MitchelTroyCommon,Nr. Monmouth.Gwent.
26-10369FREDB.J.Miles,14St.CrispinRoad, EarlsBarton,Northampton.
55-10370TaylorMonoplane.D.V.Reeves, b PacksaddleWay,Frome,Somerset.
28-10371TeenieTwo.P.N.HaighSlatePitts Farm,Holthead,Slaithwaite,Huddersfield.
"Clearedtofinals",saidthe"advisory" controller,somystudentturnedontobaselegina tandemhigh-wingaircraft.Halfwaythroughthe turn,hereactedwithsurpriseandItookcontrol, turningright,justintimetoseeaD.H.COMET takingavoidingactionwhereourwingobscuredmy visionintheturn.
Itwasaverynearmissandsubsequent investigationprovedthattheComethadbeenclearly notifiedtotheadvisoryserviceofawellknown aerodrome,butdetailswerenot'advised'tothosein thecircuit.TheAirmissWorkingGroupfounda 'breakdownincommunications'toberesponsible, meaningthehumankind.
ArisingoutofitwasadefinitionofAirTraffic Control:-"ApersonappointedbytheAuthorityor byanyotherpersonmaintaininganaerodromeor placetogiveinstructionsoradviceorboth instructionsandadvicebymeansofradiosignalsto aircraftintheinterestofsafetyand'AirTraffic ControlService'shallbeconstructedaccordingly".
Thiswasqualifiedbyastatementthatonlya Controllerhadtheauthoritytoissuea CLEARANCE,whereasanadvisoryservicecould issueonlyadviceorinformation.Therewasnosuch thingasan"AdvisoryControlService",meaning thatyoumayeitherhavecontrolandadviceorjust theadvice,accordingtowhethertheservicewas licencedandrequiredbytheCAAornot.
Atthesameaerodrome,ratherlater,theinto-wind runwaywasclear,butmystudent,thistimeflyinga Jodel,wastoldtouseanalternative,witharather strongcross-windcomponent.Thereasongivenwas amarketattheoppositeendoftheinto-wind runway.ItookcontrolandIwasasked,whenon finalstothealternative,TOLANDSHORTonit, duetoaCARRALLYatitsoppositeend,aswellas themarket!
Fortunately,thewinddropped,asforecastandmy studentwentonasolocross-country,briefedtouse theinto-windrunwayonhisreturn.However,the windstrengthand,thesameconditionsasearlier applied.Irequestedtheuseoftheinto-windrunway, butwastoldthatitwasNOTAVAILABLE.AsAir Lawwillconfirm,norunwaymayberefusedfor safetyreasonsandIpressedmypoint,sothestudent lardedsafely.InvestigationbyCAASouthern Divisionsestablishedthataninto-windrunway wouldnotbewith-heldwhererequested,butthefinal wordfromtheaerodromewas"Ifyoucan'taccepta cross-wind,DON'TFLY"Thismeantthatthe operationofthegroup'sAuster,Jodeletc.wasmade impossiblefortrainingonsomanyoccasionsasto indicateoperationstobetransferredelsewhereor ceased.
Itiscertainlydifficulttofind'elsewhere',andeven ifanairstripisfound,trainingisusuallyruledoutby licencingdifficulties.
Theunderlyingthemeisthattheold-timer, tailwheel,non-radioetc.trainingaeroplaneis becominglesswelcomeinaworldwherelittle understandingofitslimitationsexistsanditprobably doesnotproducemuchrevenue,anyway.
Asifthiswerenotenough,theprivatesectorof airfieldsemployspersonswhogiveinformationand instructionsfrequentlywheretheyarenotpermitted to,overradio,butincertaindangerouscases,donot givealltheinformationwhichthepilotneeds.
Sincethereisnorequirementforthis,theyarenot
boundtoENSUREsafety,thereforeaserious weaknessexists.Thepilotcanonlyknowwhattype ofserviceheisfacedwithonexaminationoftheAir Pilot,asitisoftenimpossibletotellfromthesound ofit!Ifyouhaveanaccident,itisnotgoodtosay `Butthecontrollersaid....',unlessyouareSURE thatheWASacontroller.
Unfortunately,politicalpressurecouldandoften isusedtoremoveunwelcomeaeroplanesandpeople whodonotfitintothedesiredsystem,regardlessof whattheAirPilothadtosayanditcanbeterribly uneconomictoflywhenthesignsarethatyouareno longerwelcome.Tryitsometime!
Thereisaninterestingcaseofanairfieldnear London,wheretheaerodromerules,published, specificallystatethatradioISNOTtobeusedunless requestedbytheAirTrafficService,wheninthe circuit.TheserulesarebeingexaminedbytheCAA, butatthisstageitisclearthatthisisasteptoofarin theotherdirection.Whatisreallywantedisaclear lookoutANDintelligentuseofradiowherethisadds tosafety.ThataerodromedoesnothaveAirTraffic CONTROL.
Atthataerodrome,andothers,thereisagrowing tendencyforcertainformsoflightcommercial operationtoleadtoNON-standardjoining procedures,suchasstraight-inwithoutwarning,a quickwhizzintobaselegetc.,whichputsafast aeroplanestraightintoanorderlycircuit,quite unannouncedonmanyoccasions.
IhavefrequentlybeenOVERTAKENonfinalsby thisclassofaircraft,ononeoccasion UNDERNEATHandthecaptainlaterhadthe temeritytosaythatdespitenothavingjoinedthe circuitATALL,hehadtherightofway.Itappears thathewasinthehabitoftakingoffonpleasure flights,leavingthecircuitdirectlyahead,flyinga squarepatternoutsidethecircuitandeitherjoining onbaselegormakingastraight-inapproachWITH NORADIOSTATEMENTofhisintentions whatever.Hesaid:—"Seeandbeseen".Thisisall verywell,butyoureallycannotexpectthestudentto befacedwithfrequentsituationslikethis.
Behindthistypeofproblemisundoubtedlycost, asIhavefoundthelightcommercialaircraft notoriouslyreluctanttojointhecircuitproperlyorto overshoot.Ononeoccasion,thishasbeenstatedto me,e.g."Doyouknowhowmuchitcoststohang aboutwhileyourlittleaeroplanefumblesaboutin frontofme"etc.
Ofcourse,atproperlycontrolledairfields,this doesnothappen,butwhereeveryoneCANbealaw untohimself,therearethosewhoWILL.
Quitetheworstcaseonthataerodromewasseen whenatrainingaircraftturnedfinal,andannounced itsposition.Acommercialtwinwasseentojoinwell behindit,fromtheoppositedirection,farenough outforthistobeentirelyobscuredfromthetraining aircraft.
Igavearadiowarningtothetrainingaircraft, frommypositionjoiningthecircuitfrom2000' AGL,directlyabove.Thetrainingaircraft acknowledgedthewarning,BUTSODIDTHE COMMERCIALAIRCRAFT,indicatingthatthe captainHADbeenkeepingalisteningwatch,BUT HADNOTMADEKNOWNhisintentions.Inany case,heovertookthetrainingaircraftandlandedin frontofit,causingittoovershoot!
Thisisallverybadnewsindeed,butthisdoesnot meanthatALLlightcommercialoperatorsindulgein
RussianRoulette,justthebadapplesamongstthem. them.
Sinceitisasmallworldweflyin,theysoon becomeknownandwatchedoutfor,among instructors,butwhatofthestudent?Hehasevery right,whenbeingsentforhisfirstsolo,NOTtobe placedinacomplex,hazardoussituation,forwhich hemaybeunprepared,despitethemostcareful briefing,accordingtotherules.
Hehasplentytodo,anyway,withoutsomefool addingtohisrisks,forwhateverreasonsof expediency,shortofanactualemergencylandingetc.
Thefactremainsthattheuncontrolled,private aerodromeremainsthecategorywithTHE HIGHESTRISKFACTOR,whereeveryonedoes notfeelinclinedtopracticeAIRMANSHIP,and thereisagrowingevidenceofanincreaseinthose whodoNOT.
Next,ourJodeldoescircuitsonawell-known grassairfield,whichhasinthesignalsareaasignthat alternativerunwaysmightbeused.After30mins.the aircraftislinedup,acheckismadeofthealternative approaches,oneofwhichisobscuredcompletelyby thesunandatake-offcommenced.
Duringtake-off,thestudent,onthelefthandside, reactstoaTHINGonhisleft.Itakecontrolandsee, effectivelyobscuredbymystudent,atwinengined aircraft,apparentlyjustlanded,closingwithmeat approx30degrees.Fortunately,wearejustairborne, soasplit-....turngetsusoutoftrouble....just!
Later,thefollowingcametolight:Thecaptainof thetwinmadehisintentionsclearbyradio.The 'Advisory'controllergaveusaninstructiontohold whilethetwinlandedonanalternativerunway.Iwas notawareofwhetheritjoinedthecircuitinawayto beobvioustootheraircraft,but,althoughIwasable togivenoreplytoanyofthisradioinformation,it wasASSUMEDthatIhadhearditandthecaptain landedhistwinwhiletherewasstillariskthatthe Jodelwouldattemptatake-offonthenotified runway.
Thisbeingestablished,itwasstatedthatour lookoutwasnotgoodenough,weshouldhavebeen awarethatheavieraircraftwouldusethealternative runway,andthenon-radioaircraftwasamenace,in anycase.Ifeltthatifeveryonestucktotherules,as tnanyyearsago,theydid,thenon-radioaircraft couldbeaccommodatedsafely,buttheconclusions tothisare,thatinthemodernage,moreisbeing ASSUMEDandlessCONSIDERED,withthebias awayfrompureairmanship.Theaircraftwhichdoes nothaveradioisnotconsideredaccordingtoits knownlimitationsandtheworldpressesonaround it,withpotentialdangersbuiltintothesituation.
Lastly,abeautifullyrebuiltTigerMothwastobe deliveredtoanotherwell-knownairfiteld.Iarrived overhead,notingthatacross-windexistedonthe 'runway'inuse.
Isay'runway'because,onagrassfield,thiswasa seriesofmarkerconstructions,placedthereforthe apparentpurposeofprovidinganobstructionforthe studenttocollidewithontake-offorlanding,inhis earlyattempts!Withagrassairfieldtherereallyisno NEEDtorigidlyenforce'runways',isthere? A simple'T'atthecommencementtotheACTUAL windconditionsismorerealistic.However,Imade
anapproach,decidingthata'wheeler'wasdefinitely calledfor.Itprovedthatwhenonground,awing wouldstillliftinthecross-wind,soanovershootwas commenced.
ThealternativerunwaylandingDIRECTLYINTO WIND,butonasideoftheairfieldusedbygliders, wasselectedforLandingandmakingcertainthat therewasnoactualglideractivity,Ilandedthere.A vehiclecameout,asmystudentgotouttoholdthe wingandwewereadmonished,onthefield,forhavinglandedontheglider'sside.Afullexplanationof thereasonsforthisproducedthesurprisingcomment that"Everyoneelsewasmanagingwiththecrosswind",despitethefactthattheywerenotflying TigerMoths!Also,weshouldhavelanded ELSEWHERE.Nowthereisnothinglikethatto makeyoufeelunwelcome,isthere?
WhatiscalledforisaGREATER UNDERSTANDINGoftheaeroplane'slimitations, especiallyonthepartofaerodromeoperatorsand staff.Toomanyvaluableaeroplanesarebeing brokenduetopressuretoaccepttheunacceptable situationandthisisdangerous.Nowonderthereare somanygroupsetc.retrenchingthemselveson obscurefarmairstrips,withmuchlessadequate facilitiesandsafetymarginsthanexistsonmost aerodromes.
Therefore,aFinalCryFromtheHeart:
"PleasetrytoavoidDIVIDINGflyingupinto campsof'forandanti'thisandthat.Understand aeroplanelimitationsandifyoudon'tknowthem, FINDOUT.NEVERbullythestudent,especiallyif heisflyinganaeroplanewithlimitations,which wouldbecomedangerousinmarginalconditions.BE FLEXIBLEaboutuseofrunways,asyoucanbe assuredthestudentwillbebriefedtokeepagood lookout.NEVERuseradioinexcessoftheauthority attachedtoit,NEVERassumeatransmissionhas beennotedunlessacknowledgedandevenifa CLEARANCEisgiven,WATCHOUTFORNo.I! Nowlet'salliustlivelonger,shallwe?
30sq.ft.of&toying:tinda15,000-tsordmanual prosidedesignsantiinfoimiltionenablingonetoconvert anyV.W.engineupto1600ces.Fullyapprosedfor amateurbuiltaircraft,theseplansareoffereduithlifelimeFreeadviceforonlyr19•50postpaid.
Photos byStuartMacConacher
ThefirstDutch
lcus builtbyC.P.Dukman
Havingmasteredtheartofaeroplane'driving' someyearsago(doesoneever?),Ilookedtomore improvementinaeroplanesthantheusualhangar flyingandtalltales.Timeandmoneydidnotpermit metheluxuryofsearchingoutnewdistance destinationstowhichIcouldfly.1realisedacertain ennuiwassettingin.
Soinsteadof'hangarflying'inthepilot'slounge,I driftedtotherepairshopatthelocalairportand watchedasplaneswerebeingrecoveredandrepaired. ConstructioninterestedmeasmuchasflyingandasI cametolearnmoreandheardofE.A.A.,Ifeltthat thiswastherealdirectionofenduringchallengefor me.Nooffencemeanttothoseextraordinarypilots whocangothrough100milesof0-0weatherandhit therunwayhead-on,firsttime,everytime.That proficiencyescapesmeandIenvyandrespecttheir perfection.
Ilikemanyoftheoldthingsinthisworld,yet recogrnsetheconviemence.andcornfortofmuchthat isnew.The'new'worldofflyingis,forme, enhancedinthe'old'offundamentalpanel,thebasic aeroplane.AsIwatchedeachplanebeingrepaired, myinterestinthemkeptgoingmoretotheolder types.Iwasbroughtbacktotheearlytwenties— interest-wisethatis—whenIfirstencounteredthe E.A.A.HavingbeenamodelbuilderofW.W.I pursuitplanes,anavidreaderof`G-8andHisBattle Aces'andsatwide-eyedviewingmotionpictureslike 'Hell'sAngels','TheEagle&TheHawk','Dawn Patrol',etc.,IknewthenthatIwantedtobuildafull sizeWorldWarIaeroplane.Istartedimmediately anddreamedofflyinginayearortwo.Well,that wasin1965andnow,twelveyearslater,Iamwriting anarticleonthedifficultiesofbuildingareplica fuselageofanSE5a.Ican'ttellyouhowtobuildthe rest,Ihaven'tdoneityet!
WhyanSE5a?Because:
1Ididnotknowhowtoweld,soIthoughtthesteeltubedFokkerDVIIwasmoredifficultthanthe woodframedSE5a.
2Originalmotorswerereadilyavailableand,atthe time,relativelyinexpensive.Six-cylinderMercedes wereneitheravailablenorinexpensive.
3ThepronounceddihedraloftheSE5aassured stability.
4ItistheonlyplaneofW.W.I(that1knowof)with in-flighttailplaneadjustmentfortrim.
5Itcouldout-driveaFokkerandnotcomeapart (thoughIneverintendtoprovethispremise).
6ItsharedwiththeFokkerDVIIthebestreasonof alltobuildareplica.Itwas,andis,agoodlookingaeroplane.
HadIknowntheinordinatelengthoftimeitwould taketomakethecountlessfittingsinanSE5a fuselage(overeightdozeninthe lowerforwardhalf alone)Iwouldhavedevotedone-thirdtheamountof timetothefuselageofaDVIIandbecomeanexpert aircraftwelderinthebargain.Ifyou'regoingtobuild atruereplicaofanSE5a—DOTHEFUSELAGE FIRST.Ifyoucangetthrough that, therestisasnap ...Ithink???AtthetimeIwasbuildingtheforward lowerhalfofthefuselage(thepartwiththe8dozen fittings),Iwasalsoworkingtwojobs,refurbishinga
largecolonialhouse,andrebuildingatwostorey 20'—30'barn-hangar-workshop.Hence,Ispent approximately5-6yearsonthelowerforward sectionalone.YetfromMarch'75toApril'76,I finishedtherearhalfofthefuselage,thetailplane adjustinggearandhousing,addedtheturtledeck; made,fitted,andinstalledtheadaptedinstruments totheinstrumentpanel,completedthecarlins (skeletal'ribs')forthecockpitarea,andalignedthe fuselagefromtheenginemounttotailpost.That'sa prettygoodcomparativeideaoftheworkinvolvedin theforwardsectionofthefuselageascomparedto therearhalf.
Likeeveryoneelse,Ienjoyassemblingpartsand 'building'theaeroplane.Idon'tlikethedrudgeryof Hacksawingandhammeringpiecesintoshape.But, likeChristmasdinner,daysarespentinthe preparatorydrudgery,andtheassembly,like Christmasdinnerisoverinanhour.Now,atthis point,I'mgladI'hung-in-there'ButIwouldnot wanttodo_itagain.Ifyouwanttoplay,youcanbuild tailskids,fins,rudders,andevenwings.lf,however, youcan'tseeitthroughwiththefuselageyou've spentagreatdealoftime,howeverenjoyable, makingthingsthatwon'tgetyouintotheair.
Asallrestorersandbuildersknow,onemustview his(orher!)projectasaseriesoflittlejobs,eachone achallengeandaccomplishmentinitself.Toview eachpartonlyasaminisculepartofthewholewould probablymakemanyofusgiveupatthemagnitude ofourundertaking.
ButitisinthisareathatIstumbledandwas obligedtomakeaverybasicdecision.WasIgoingto manufacture theplaneIwantedtobuildorwasI goingto assemble it?Thelawrequiresthatwe constructatleast51%oftheaeroplane.Itreadily recognisesthatweneednotcastourownengine parts,ormakealtimeters,wheels,controlcableor 'draw'hightensileflyingwires.Yet,thewantingto flymyowncreationimpatientlypushesmetosublet certainjobs,asthelawallows,soastofinishthis ratherextraordinaryprojectsooner.Contravening this'wanting'istheknowledgethatIcouldthenno longersay'Ibuilttheentireaeroplane'.Noone expectsthehomebuildertodesignandmanufacture hisownengine,wheels,instruments,radios,etc.,but wings,fuselages,landinggearsandthelikeare supposedtobewithintherealmofourabilities.Itis thedifferencebetweensaying,'Ihadtheaeroplane built',or`Ibuilttheaeroplane',thelatterposition beingdiminishedbythatpercentageoftheaeroplane onehashadbutelsewhere.Ihavediminishedmyown projectsomesmallpercentagebyhavingthegastank builtbyanotherbecauseIdon'twanttomakeitof fibreglassandIdonothavethemachinerytoform,in metal,therequiredsmoothcurvesandfoldsofan SE5atank.Trying,howeverfaultily,toholdtothe totalposition,hasundoubtedlycausedmyprojectto extendintoyears.Ifyouwillpermityourselfto acceptthehelpandskillsofothersyoucouldgetan exactreplicaSE5aprojectdownto2-4years.Each homebuildermustdecideforhimselfwherehewill drawthelineshortofthe51%.Noonecandecidefor him.Norcanonefaulthimforthepositionhetakes sinceahomebuiltaeroplane,evenattheminimurn 51%,makeshimanunusualandaccomplished person.
SomeinstrumentsarevintageAmericanandare shroudedand/orbezeledtoresembleBritishpieces. thetachometer,altimeter,handpump,andcompass areoriginals;theairspeedindicatorisAmerican antique.1couldnotfindpetrolorairselectorvalves soIwasobligedtomakethem.Whilesomephotos availableshowanothercompassofBritish manufacture,therearepicturesinCrossand Cockade,AeroPublishers,Inc.,etc.,showingthe typeIhaveinstalledinuseduringW.W.IinSE5a's. Thepaneliscompletebutforthereversedbubble (notBall)typeinclinometerwhichIhaveyettomake.
I'vetriedtobeashistoricallyaccurateas possible—tocreateamuseumpiece—butIamnota totalpurist.Iwon'tusecastoroilintheengine—(too expensive),covertheaeroplanewith cotton—(doesn'tlast),usemildsteelforfittingsand 'hammertheboltendsoverasshown'—(toorisky).
NeithershallIcarrytheLewisorVickersgunswhenI fly,forsafetysakeandanti-theftifIcomedown unexpectedlyamdmustleavetheplane.Irealisethat suchchangesreducethevalueofanexhibitina museumbecausesomeminorconstruction techniquesarenot'thewayitwas'.Ontheother hand,toseeaWorldWarIaeroplanethat'actually flew'withintheyearsoftheviewer'slifetimehasan offsettingadvantagethatIfeeloutweighsminor technicalerrors.
TheNumber5348isanaccuratenumberfor220 H.P.FrenchgearedHispano-SuizapoweredSE5a's. ThislotofSE'swasbuiltbyMartinsydeinWoking. HereIagaintookanotherliberty.Thebackcoverof AeroPublishersshowsMartinsydeanameplateon thepanelofanSE5abutsinceMartinsydediddesign andbuildtheirownaircraft,Ithoughtsomeone mightsay,'Oh,it'saMartinsyde'.Forthisreason, thenameplatereads'RoyalAircraftEstab., Farnborough,Hants,EnglandSer.No.N5348'. While'N'isnotacorrectletterforSE5a'sitappears to.beenvoguewiththeFAA;infactthey'requite stickyandinsistentaboutourusingit.Nieuport builder,'doluckout.
Iaminthebusinessofrepairingautomobile radiatorsandmanufactureone-of-a-kindspeciality itemsforaeroplanesandautos.Itonlyfollowsthen thatIshallmanufacturemyownSE5a radiator—unlesssomeoneouttherehasoneinhiship pocketthathe'sforgottenallabout!Thatproject shouldbeveryinterestingand,I'mafraid,lengthy andexpensive.
Donotthinkofareplicaasacheapwaytogetinto th-air;itmostcertainlyisnot!Aconventional homebuiltdesignmaybecheaperthanacommercial typeaircraft(anditmaynot!)butitcertainly givesthebuilderthatextrasenseofprideand accomplishmentthatdoesnotcomefromastorebouehtairplane.Replicas,however,havethe additionalfinancialcurseofrequiringrebuiltantique motors,theoutrightmanufactureofpartsnolonger available,andthecollectionofhistoricaland/or authenticitemswherepossible.Thelatterisgreatfun butcanbeexpensive.
Withthatinmind,IplantomakethisSE5a representativeofthe type ratherthanfollowone particularaircraft.Itwillprobablybemarkedwith thewhitebandofthe56thSquadron,RAF.Though nothistoricallycorrect,butintheinterestof memorialhistoryonesideofthecockpitwillbe letteredwiththenameMajorJamesThomasBvford McCudden:perhapsnotthehighest—scoringBritish acehutcertainlyoneofthemostsensitive,mature, andphilosophical.Ontheothersidewillbelettered Lt.GeorgeA.Vaughn,Jr.,formerlyofthe84th Squadron,RAF,whoisthethird-rankingAmerican aceofW.W.I.Iamhappytosaythatheisaliveand wellonStatenIsland,NewYork,arealgentleman andapleasuretomeet.Bothweregreatpilotsof SE5a's.
Howmuchlonger?Well,therearewings,tail surfaces,radiator,oilandgastanks,centresection withwaterandgastanksintheleadingedge,flooring andcontrolsinthecockpitarea,cowlingsand baffles—Golly,I'mafraidtoestimate.Fiveyearsif I'mlucky.Onthewhole,I'mgladIselectedtheSE5a butequallyhappythatwhat'sbehindmeisdone.I couldnothavecomeeventhisfarwithoutthe constant encouragementofmanyfriendswhourged meonwhenmanytimesIwantedtogiveup.Notthe leastoftheseare,ofcourse.Wg.CMDR.N.H.F. Unwin(RAFRet'd)andCol.GeorgeA.Vaughan (USAS,Ret'd).
NeilsSE-5aFuselageintheworkshop
Itwouldappearthatmostofyourstartingtroubles stemfromthefactthatyouaretreatingwhatisan ordinarycarengineasifitwasaMerlinengine installedinaSpitfire.
Thesoonerpeoplerealisethatthisengineshould betreatedexactlythesameasacarenginethebetter, thenmoreoftheirtimewillbespentflyingthan starting.
Turnonfuel,primefuelpumpifleftmorethan 24hours.
Closethrottle,pulloutchoke. SwitchonbothMagnetos. Proceedtoswingasthoughexpectingittostart oneveryswing.
Whenenginestartsgraduallypushinchokeuntil enginerunssmoothly.
Thisoperationcanbespeededupbyputtinga trickleofthrottleonafterenginestarts.
Thesestartingproceduresapplymostlytothe ArdemenginefittedwiththeZenith32KLPIO Carburettor,butcanbeadaptedforany conversionsthathavechokecontrol.Themain thingtoavoidisprimingtheenginebypumpingfuel inwithexcessiveuseofthethrottle.
Allowenginetoidleforafewmoments,then throttlerightbackandswitchoffignition—turnoff fuel.
DONOTbetemptedtouseTigerMothstopping procedure—i.e.openthrottleandswitchoff.
Ifeelsurethatifyouusethis"gen"andadaptit foryourengineyouwillcertainlygetmoreflyingin. Rememberthatifyouweretotrythestarting procedurethatyouhavebeenusingatpresenton yourcar,youwouldnotgetfar.
F.R.Hounslow, Yourshelpfully, GeneralManager/ChiefInspector. RollasonAircraftEnginesLtd.
AfterreadingMagnusMagdropMay/June78,I wasponderingonhisstartingproblemandthinking ifanyonewaspreparedtospendtwohoursswinging aprop.hemaydobettertoremovehisV.W.engine andreplaceitwitharubberbungee,butbewareafter twohourspropwindingapilotmaynothavethe reservesofphysicalstrenghrequiredtoholdthestick forwardsufficientlytocompensateforthechangein C.ofG.Havingreachedsomegreatheight,inavery shortspaceoftime,therewillbeashortpause—. Suddenlythepilotexperiencesasinkingfeeling accompaniedbythespectreofcloudschasingpast himfrombehind.Once,graspingthesituation,our heroquickasaflash, thinksitwas ezefor Rutan. So byrotatinghisbodythrough180*hecannowsee whereheisgoing.Unfortunatelyhavingletgoofthe rudderitsnapssmartlytoonesidethereupon disintegrating,thepiecesgivingastingingblowtothe head.Thesituationhavingstabaliseditselfsomewhat heisallsetforawheelbarrowlandingintoafieldfull ofsheep.
Nowtobeserious.
ThinkingontheproblemMagnushaswithhis magnetos,evenwhentheyareinapeakstateof tune,theamountofelectricalenergythatcanbe
generatedbyamagnetoturningatpropswingisonly asmallfractionofthatwhichisproducedunder normalrunningconditions;andallthetimeweare assumingthatthepointsareinperfectcontition, absolutelycleanandwiththecorrectgapsetting.
Themanufacturersanswertotheproblemwasa mechanicalimpulsedevice,whichisveryeffectivein producingthesparkenergy,andalsohasthe advantageinthatitgivesthesparkataretarded timingpositionforstarting.
Atractortypemagnetohasanimpulsedevicethat isdesignedtobedrivenbyafibrecouplingwhich allowsforasmalldegreeofshaftcentre misalignmentbetweenthemagnetoandthedrive; andalsototallyremovesanysideloadscreatedby thismisalignmentfrominterferingwiththe functioningoftheimpulsedevice.Tofixasprocket directlytotheimpulsedeviceisjustnoton.Those whohavedonesosoonfindthemselvesinthatfore mentioned'fieldfullofsheep'.
Onecouldfitthesprockettoashortshaft mountedinit'sownbearingsandthenusethefibre couplingtocouplethemagnetoasthemakers intended,butitdoescomplicatethingsrather.Thatis whynodoubtMagnushasnoimpulseonhisV.W.at present.
Forthosenotwishingtogetinvolvedwiththese mechanicalcomplications,Ibelievetherecouldbe anothersolution,althoughithasitsimperfectionsI amsureitwouldsaveMagnusfromhistwohour crankingsession,andtheoverdevelopedrightarm muscles.
Whatwehavetodoistointroducemoreenergy intothemagneto,ifnotmechanically,wecoulddoit electricallythatisbytheuseofanoutsideelectrical source.OnconsideringthisItookamagnetofroman enginetoexperimentwith.Itwassoonevidentthata goodfatsparkcouldbeobtainedwiththeuseofa battery.Thereisonesnagthough.Amagnetothatis drivenatcrankshaftspeedgeneratesit'senergy alternatelyinoppositephase,thereforewhenwe applyaD.0supplywecreatean'upwind"down wind'situation,thatitistosaywegetastrongspark followedbyaweaksparkfollowedbyastrongspark andsoon.Howweaktheweaksparkisdependsin therelationshipbetweenthestrengthofthebattery inducedenergy.Themagnetousedforthetestshada coilD.C.resistanceof1ohm.Withtheuseof2volts (2amps)andturningthemagnetoatasimulated propswingspeedorless,thestrongsparkwasgood buttheweaksparkwaspoortononexistent,whichis aboutwhatwecanexpectallthetimewhenMagnus isfindingoutwhathisrightarmisfor.Sothisfarwe havesomeimprovement.
Nowwhenweincreasethebatteryto4volts(4 amps)thestrongsparkisverygoodandtheweak sparkisquitegood.Oncetheengineisrunning howeverthingsmayagaingoawrybecauseatsome rotationspeedthetwoforceswillbalance,andwe loseourweakspark,butatleastwehavegotthe enginestarted,atwhichtimetheothermagnetois workingnormallykeepingtheenginealive.
Oncestartedweinstantlyunplugourbatteryand thenwehavetwomagnetosworkingnormally.
Mythoughtsthenprogressedtoanelectronic devicethatwouldnothavetheproblemsasIhave describedabovebutthisbecameevenmore complicatedandwouldtakemuchtimeandsome moneytodevelop.Itwouldstillhavetheneedfora batteryunitalthoughalittlesmaller.
PleaserememberthatthevoltagesIquotedrelate tothemagnetothatIwasexperimentingwith. Anothertypeofmagnetomaywellbedifferent althoughtheprinciplesarethesame.
Yoursfaithfully, EarlTrollope
ImustadmitthatinthetimethatIhavebeen interestedinGyro-planesIhaveneverseena reallybadlyconstructedone—butIhaveseenoneor twothathavecomeprettyclose.Perhapsthereally badonesnevergetcompleted,andwouldnevergeta "permittofly"anyway.Butwhataboutthefellows whodon'tbotherwithapermituntiltheyseeifit works,andwhataboutthosegliders.
TheGyro-glideralthoughnotcoveredbycurrent C.A.A.regulations,astheyapplytopowered machinesandfixedwingaircraftisstillaflying machineandcommonsensesaysitshouldbeasairworthyasanyaircraft.Thisassumesofcoursethat theGyro-Gliderstaysattatchedtothecar,letgoof theropeanditbecomesasaircraft.Anyaircraftin theBritishIslesneedstheappropriate"paperwork" beforeitcanbelegallyflown.
AsourhomebuiltGyro-planeusuallystartsasa Gyro-gliderandonlyatalaterdateassumesapower plantofitsown,itisessential,therefore,thatthe correctaircraftengineeringtechniquesandmaterials areusedfromthestart;commentssuchas"Iwillput thatrightbeforeIputtheengineon",justwon't do—thatishowthingsgetoverlooked.Veryfew peoplerealisethattheselectionofmaterialsfor Rotarywingaircraftisfarmorecriticalthanforany othervehicle,includingfixedwingaircraft.Thisis becausestructualvibrationsgeneratedbytherotor canleadtofatiguefailures.Todeviatehowever slightlyfromtheprescribedstrength,elasticity, sectionandmasscanbedangerous.Noticeitisnot strengthalone,othermechanicalpropertiesare equallyimportant,andmaybebeyondtheaverage amateurbuildersknowledgetotamperwith,without takingaseriousrisk.
Aluminiumanditsalloysarenotoriouslydifficult materialswithwhichtowork—itsveryeasytodrill andreamaholeoversizewithcorrectlygrounddrills andreamers—evenassumingthatonehasthe knowledgeofengineeringtechniquesandthe necessaryskillwithtoolstofabricateallthe parts—orguidancefromsomeonewhohas,itisstill easytofalldownintheassemblystages.TheCivil AircraftInspectionProcedures,(that'stheAircraft Engineersbible)takesjustshortofafullpagewith threedrawingsandtabletodescribehow.tofitsplit pins,thereisalittlemoretoitthanjustpushingapin throughaholeandbendingitover.
ThereisonlyonewaytobuildaGyro-planeand forthatmatteranyaircraftandthatisthecorrect way.Muchmoreattentionispaidtodetailinaircraft thanincommercialengineering,andeventhoughall aircraftmustbeinspected,theonusisstillonthe buildertomakeitairworthy.
Withinourstrutwehavethetechnicalexpertiseof ErnestSimmondswhoiswillingtoadviseonany technicalmatter,andanengineeringinstructorwho willhelpanyonegetthosebasictechniquesright. Accidentsdonothappentheyarecaused.IntheGyro field,itwouldappearmoreby"piloterror"than constructionfailures,butthatdoesn'tmeanitcan't happen.
Flightsafetyisaboutthepreventionofaccidents, notputtingthingsrightafterwards,andthatbitof scratchedplateandtheoddblackmildsteelbothmay beokayontheground,but12monthslaterand 1000ftintheairisnoplaceortimetofindoutthatit won'tdo!
PopularFlying,September-October,1978
IhavelookedatmanydesignsforGyrosoverthe pastfewyears,andtheonlyone,Ifeel,thatthehome builderstandsanychancewithistheBensenB8(and Ihavesomereservationsabouteventhisone),butit canbebuiltwithhandtoolsandanaccuratebench drill,providingonestickstotheplans!(IgorBenson spentagreatdealoftimeandmoneydevelopingthis machineandtheaveragehomebuilderisnotgoingto improveonitsdesign).Withcareandbyusing approvedmaterialitispossibletobuildagood airworthymachine,lesstheRotorBladesandGimbel Head.TheGimbelHeadisajobforaskilled engineerwithaccesstomachineshopfacilities,(and thatisnottheagriculturalfitterdowntheroadwho happenstohavealathe).
Rightfromthestartoftheprojectourhome constructedmachinesshouldbebuilttoairworthinessstandards,butthesestandardsarehigh,butnot outofreach;butweallknowthisintheNorthern Gyro-planeStrutdon'twe?
Ifanyonehasanyproblemsonbuildingor maintenancetechniques,orforthatmatter,any problems(relatingtoGyrosofcourse)pleasegiveme aring.IfIdon'tknowtheanswer—andIprobably won't,Icanfindoutorputyouintouchwith someonewhodoes,that'swhataP.F.A.Strutisall about,helpingeachothertohelpourselves.
Finally,itmaybeinterestingtonotethatinalist ofatotalof35reportedgyro-copteraccidents recordedbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofTransportationfromApril1971toNovember1972only8 wereduetoimpropermaintenance,theotherswere PILOTERROR!!!
Idonot,personallyliketotrytoproveapointby statisticsasthecompilercanoftenbendthemtohis ownpointofview(i.e.If10%(approx)ofallmotor accidentsarecausedbydriverswhohavebeen drinking90%mustbecausedbysoberones—soif onehasapintortwobeforedrivingthereisless chanceofhavinganaccident).Alljokingapartthere isacaseforaco-ordinatedflyingtraining programmeforwouldbegyro-pilots,andthisshould beoneofourpriorities.
ThePercivalMewGullisarguablyoneofthethree mosthistoricBritishracingaeroplanes.Thegreatest mustsurelybetheSupermarineS6B,outrightwinner forBritainoftheSchneiderTrophy,andnow preservedintheScienceMuseumatSouth Kensington.SecondismostprobablytheDe HavillandD.I-I.88CometRacer"Grosvenor House",longdistancerecordbreakerofthe1930s, whichisbeingrebuilttoflyingconditionbythe ShuttleworthTrustatOldWarden.Intothirdplace manypilotswouldvotethediminutiveMewGull G-AEXF,designedandbuiltbyEdgarPercival, modifiedandracedbyAlexHenshaw,whichwonthe King'sCupin1938and1955andwhichstillholdsthe soloLondontoCapetownandreturnrecordforany classofaeroplane,whichitestablishedin1939.
TheprototypeE.1MewGull,G-ACND,madeits firstflightinMarch1934.Designedandbuiltby PercivalAircraftandflownbyCaptainEdgar Percivalhimself,thelittlemonoplanewasusedto testanewwingsectionandwasthefirstBritishcivil aircrafttoexceed200m.p.h.InOctober1934this prototypewaswrittenoffandanimprovedMew Gull,designatedE.2,wasbuiltatGravesendandwas giventhesameregistrationletters,G-ACND.
Poweredbya6-cylinderRegnierengineof180hp turningaRatierelectrically-operatedvariablepitch propeller,thenewG-ACNDwonitsfirstrace,the CoupeArmandEstersinFrance,flownbyGuyde Chateaubrun.DuringtheMichelinTrophycompetitionof1935,however,whileonthereturn flightfromBordeauxtoParis,GuydeChateaubrun becamelostinfogovermountainouscountryand baledoutofhisaircraft.HelandedsafelybutGACNDwasdestroyed.
ThethirdMewGull,anotherE.2,registeredGAEKL,wasbuiltin1936andwasscratchaircraftin alltheracesduringtheyear,enteredbytheDukeof KentandflownbyEdgarPercival.
ThreeMewGullswereenteredfortheill-fated SchlesingerairracefromPortsmouthto Johannesburg,allofthemfirmfavouritesforthe £4,000firstprize.G-AEKL,named"Miss Liverpool"wastobeflownbyTomCampbellBlack,buthewastragicallykilledintheaircraft whenaHawkerHarttaxiedintohimatSpeke aerodrome,wherehehadbeendemonstratingthe Gulltohissponsors.Twoaircrafttookoffbearing SouthAfricanregistrations:thewhiteandgoldZSAHM,named"TheGoldenCity",flownbySouth AfricanaviationpioneerMajorA.M.Miller,and theredandgoldZS-AHO,named"Baragwanath", andflownbyCaptainStanleyHaIse,chiefflying InstructoroftheJohannesburgLightPlaneClub. AlastairMillerwithdrewfromtheraceatBelgrade afterfuelproblemscausedhimtomakeaforced landing,butStanleyHaIsestreakeddownthe AfricanContinent,farout-strippingtherestofthe field.Illfrompetrolfumesandbackpainshearrived overSalisburyinthefadinglightofduskand, confusedbythesmokefromAfricanbushfiresanda recentlyconstructedreservoir,hemissedthe aerodromeandwasforcedtomakeaprecautionary landingontheAfricanveldt.Touchingdown perfectly,thelittleGullhitanant-hillandwastotally destroyed,andHaIsebadlyinjured.
ZS-AHMreturnedtoEngland,whereitwas registeredG-AEXF,andin1937wasacquiredbya
byMartinBarraclaughyoungEnglishpilot,AlexHenshaw.Duringthat summerHenshawinG-AEXF,CharlesGardnerin G-AEKL,andEdgarPercival,imperturbableinhis trilbyhatandinthelastandfastestMewGull,GAFAA,werethescratchpilotsatalltheairraces aroundBritain,overhaulingtherestofthefieldat nearly4milesaminute.Thiswasastartling performanceforalightaircraft,exceedingthespeed oftheRAF'sbiplanefighters,stillinsquadron service.EventheproductionSpitfireoftheday,with 1050horsepowerandmaximumboost,wasonly making280mphatsealevel,whereEdgarPercival's G-AFAAtouched264mph—anoutstanding performanceononly210horsepower!
Havingbeenovertakeninthe1937King'sCupby CharlesGardner,whowontheraceinG-AEKLat 233.7mph,HenshawwithJackCrossofEssexAero, spentthewinterof1937/38modifyingG-AEXF. TheireffortswererewardedwhenHenshawwonthe 1938King'sCupatthehighesteverspeedof236.25 mph,arecordwhichwasonlybrokenin1967byaP51Mustangfighter.
Withhiseyesfirmlysetonalongdistancerecord, HenshawhadtheaircraftfurthermodifiedbyCross duringthewinterof1938/39forwhatwastobeone ofthegreatestlightaircraftflightsofalltime—his Capedash.Hewasdeterminedtobeattherecordset upinNovember1937bytheall-conqueringD.II. CometG—ACSS;whichFl.Off.CloustonandBetty KirbyGreenflewtoCapeTownandbackwithan outwardtimeof45hoursand2minutes,followedby ahomewardflightof57hoursand23minutes,giving anoverallroundtimeof5days17hoursand28 minutes.Betweenthe5thand9thFebruary,1939, HenshawshatteredthisrecordbyflyingtheoverloadedlittleMewGulldowntoCapeTownin39 hours25minutes,andthen,afterrestingforonly27 hours,flyinghomeagainin39hoursand36minutes, givingatotalroundtimeof4days10hoursand16 minutes.Thisremarkablesolorecordhasneverbeen broken.
WithWorldWar II loomingonthehorizon,the eraoflightaircraftrecord-breakingcametoanend, andG-AEXFwassoldtoFrance,remainingatLyons throughoutthewar,successfullyhiddenfromthe Germans.G-AEKLwasdestroyedbybombingat LympneandshortlyafterthewarG-AFAAwas inexplicablyburntbyfiremenatLutonwhousedthe aircraftforafire-fightingdemonstration!
Itwasonlyin1950thatG-AEXFwasrediscoveredandflownbacktoBritainbyHugh Scrope,whereitwassuccessfullyracedduringthe 1950's,againwinningtheKing'sCupin1955ata speedof213.5mph,flownbyPeterClifford.During thisperiod,theaircraft'simmaculatelines,already heavilyalteredbyHenshaw,graduallydeteriorated astherequirementsforbetterforwardvision producedasuccessionofunsightlycanopies;an unspattedMagisterundercarriageprovidedthefinal indignity.
Stillracingoffthebackmark,however,thislast littleMewwasfinallyforce-landedinAugust1965, whentheengineblewupduringaracepractice.The
15.3.34. PrototypeE.1MewGull,G-ACND,first flownbyEdgarPercivalatGravesend(Napier JavelinlAengineandfixedpitchpropeller).
13.7.34. G-ACNDenteredandflowninKing'sCup byEdgarPercival.Speed191m.p.h.
October1934. G-ACNDwrittenoff.
1935. G-ACNDre-designedandrebuiltasE.2Mew Gull.
20.7.35. G-ACNDwonCoupeArmandeEstersin France,enteredandflownbyLeComteGuyde Chateaubrun.Speed188m.p.h.(Regnier180h.p. engineandRatiervariablepitchpropeller.)
6&7.9.35. G-ACNDenteredinKing'sCupby DukeofKent,flownbyEdgarPercival(GypsySix Engineandfixedpitchpropeller).Placed6th.Speed 208.91mph.
21.9.35. G-ACNDwonHeston-Cardiffrace, enteredandflownbyEdgarPercival.Speed218mph (GypsySixEngineandfixedpitchpropeller).
October1935. G-ACNDcrashedanddestroyedin FranceafterGuydeChateaubrunbaledoutinfog. 10/11.7.36. ThirdMewGull,G-AEKL,enteredin King'sCupbyDukeofKent,flownbyEdgar Percival.(GypsySixandfixedpitchpropeller). Placed4th.Speed206.12mph.
29.9.36. TwoMewGullstookoffinthe Schlesinger-sponsoredPortsmouth-Johannesburg AirRace.ZS-AHM(subsequentlyre-registeredGAEXF),enteredbyMr.LenOatesandflownby MajorAlistairMiller,retiredatBelgradewithfuel flowproblems.ZS-AHO(temporarilyG-AEMO) enteredandflownbyCaptainStanleyHaIse,was destroyedinaprecautionarylandingnearSalisbury whencomfortablyinthelead.(G-AEKLwastobe flownintheracebyTomCampbell-Blackbuthe wastragicallykilledinataxyingaccidentwhen demonstratingtheaircrafttohissponsorsat Liverpoolon19.9.36.).(Allthreeaircraftwere equippedwithGypsySixenginesandDeHaviland V-Ppropellers).
October1936. ZS-AHMsoldtoBillHumblewho re-soldtheaircrafttoAlexHenshawon25.4.37.ReregisteredG-AEXF!
October1936. G-AEKLwontheNewcastleRace, enteredandflownbyCharlesGardner.Speed221 mph(GypsySix II andV-Ppropeller).
31.7.37. G-AEXFwontheFolkestoneTrophy, enteredanclflownbyAlexHenshaw.Speed210mph. (GypsySix I andfixedpitchpropeller).
PopularFlying,September-October,1978
airframepassedthroughthehandsofvarious "aircraftpreservationsocieties",untilbarely recognisable,withthewingssawnoffandina progressivestateofdeterioration,theremainswere purchasedbyMartinBarracloughandTomStoreyin 1972.
OverthenextsixyearsTomStoreypainstakingly rebuilttheMewtoEdgarPercival'soriginaldesign(it wouldhavebeenimpracticaltouseAlexHenshaw's record-breakingconfiguration),anditflewagainon 16thApril,1978.
AsTerenceBoughtonwroteinhisbook"The StoryoftheBritishLightAeroplane",-"Forthose whoareabletofindaestheticpleasurein aeroplanes-whosedesignisindeedaformofthreedimensionalsculpturesubjecttothestringentrules imposedbyfunctionyetallowingwidescopefor individualexpression-theslenderlittleMewGullof thelate1930's,seeninitsnaturalelementagainsta bluesummersky,mustrankhighinanylistof beautifulman-madeobjects".
10/11.9.37. G-AEKLwonKing'sCupatspeedof 233.7m.p.h.,enteredandflownbyCharlesGardner GypsySixIIandV-Ppropeller).G-AEXFentered andflownbyAlexHenshaw.Retired.G-AFAA enteredandflownbyEdgarPercival.Place3rd. Speed234m.p.h.(GypsySixandV-Ppropeller). Highestpre-warrecordedspeedinKing'sCup).
4.6.38. G-AEXFenteredandflowninHatfieldI.O.M.race.Place2nd.Speed247m.p.h.
2.7.38. G-AEXFwonKing'sCupatspeedof 236.25m.p.h.,enteredandflownbyAlexHenshaw. (GypsySixRandV-Ppropeller).G-AEKLentered andflownbyGilesGuthrie.Place2nd.Speed220.5 m.p.h.(GypsySixIIandV-Ppropeller).G-AFAA enteredandflownbyEdgarPercival.Place6th. Speed234m.p.h.(GypsySixandV-Ppropeller).
5.2.39to9.2.39. G-AEXFflownbyAlexHenshaw fromGravesendtoCapetownandreturnin4days10 hoursand16minutes,establishingLondon-CapeLondonoutwardandroundtriprecords,and winningBritanniaTrophyfor1939.(GypsySix II and C.S.U.propeller).
23.7.39. G-AEXFsoldtoVictorVermoreland deliveredtoFrancebyAlexHenshaw.
June1940. G-AEKLdestroyedbyenemybombing atLympne.
1946. G-AFAAdestroyedatLutoninfirefighting practice.
2.7.50. G-AEXFpurchasedandflownbackto EnglandbyHughScrope.
20.8.55. G-AEXFwonKing'sCupandSBACcup, enteredbyFredDunkerleyandflownbyPeter Clifford.Speed213.5m.p.h.(GypsyQueenIIand C.S.propeller).
14.7.57. G-AEXFwonNortonGriffithsTrophy, enteredbyFredDunkerleyandflownbyPeter Clifford.Speed200.75m.p.h.(GypsyQueen IIand C.S. propeller).
12.7.58. G-AEXFwonAirLeagueChallenge TrophyenteredbyFredDunkerleyandflownby PeterClifford.Speed202.66m.p.h.(GypsyQueenII andC.S.propeller).
6.8.65. G-AEXFforce-landedbyErnieCrabtree whilepracticingforthenationalAirRaces.Aircraft subsequentlydismantled.
January1972. RemainsofG-AEXFpurchasedby TomStoreyandMartinBarracloughforreconstruction.
16.4.78. Re-constructedG-AEXFmadefirstflight, flownbyBrianSmith.
Havingagreedtoputpentopaperinpursuitofthe "cause";perhapsforstarters,someofyoumaybe interestedinmyownhome-buildingactivities.
Myintroductiontohome-buildingcametwoyears agothrougha"smallAd".Ijoinedagroupcentred aroundtheHestonStrut.Asgroupsgo,thisone provedtobesomewhatdifferent,inthatitsaims wentastepfurtherthanjustaircraftconstruction. ThegroupideawasthebrainchildofMikeBeach. ThosewhowentuptoSywelllastyearnodoubtsaw his,4sizeSE5aonitstrailer.Thisprojectledhimto pursuetheideaofformingagrouptoperpetuatethe originaldesignideas,constructionmethodsandskills oftheearlyaeroplaneconstructions.Bygroup standards,wewerelarge,andnoteveryone'sideaof theidealsizeforhome-building.However,frompast experience,itswasthoughtthatthesizeofthegroup wouldnaturallydiminishuntilwewerewiththetrue enthusiasts.Thisisinfactwhathashappened—we nownumber12.
Fromtheouts,S,MikeBeachhadaprettyfirm ideaastohoweverythingwastobeorganised. Firstly,weneededasubject.Thiswasquicklysolved bydecidingontheVICKERSGUNBUS.Twofactors wereprominentintheselection:(1)wehadaccessto theoriginalplans(albeitcopies)and(2)the constructionmethodswerefairlysimple.
Asmentionedpreviouslyweaimedtobuildby adheringtotheoriginalmethodsandthisnaturally includedmaterials.Sofar,thishasbeensuccessful; however,—wewillnowhavetofitamodernengine andsolvealltheinherentproblems.
ThegroupwasorganisedintoWorkingParties, eachtakingoneortwodetaildrawingsandthe necessaryrawmaterialsfortheitemtobebuiltat home,or,asnowseemstohappen,illicitlyatone's placeofworki.e.Hawker—Siddeley,British AirwaysandDanair!!Forfirst15months,allthe workconsistedofmakinghundredsofsmallitems, suchaspulleyblocks,strutends,footrestbrackets andmanysmallwoodenpieces.Havingworkedto theoriginaldetaileddrawings,weareconvincedthat thefirstGunbuswasbuilt—thentheplanswere drawnup!Whenworkingonpulley-blocks,Ifound
ByAlanLovejoymyselfmeasuringanglesofafractionofaminute. After2years,wehavereachedtheendofthishighly intensivesideofthe'plane.Wearenowinthesubassemblystage.Thisincludestherudder,undercarriagelegs,Lewisgunscarfmountingandstruts. Themajorassemblywillstartwhenwefindaspare hangarfloorarea.Anyonewhoknowsofafew squarefeet,pleaseletmeknow.Wehaveoneortwo ironsinthatparticularfire,butnothingsettled.
Theoriginalswerebuiltbysweatingtunesmro multi-brackets.Thisisoneofourmoredifficult problems—notthesweating,butthemeasurement andmanufacturingoftubestobejoinedfrom differentanglesanddirections.Itisguaranteedtotax themostpatientofhome-builders.
Asregardsthemodernengine,wepursuedvarious knownlocationsasfarapartasFinlandand Switzerlandforasuitableradial,namely,aScarab. However,thelateDougBianchiwasalsoonthe prowlforjustsuchanitemforLeisureSport's SopwithTriplane.Hehadnojoyeither!Amodern engineposessuchproblemsascoolingand crankshafttorques,duetoitbeinginapusher configuration.ALeRhoneturnedfairlyslowlyand drovealargeprop,producingabout60knots.A Continentalwouldoperatetwiceasfastwithasmall prop,butwouldrequiremorecoolingthan50-60 knotscanprovide.Anyideas?I'dbemostinterested totalkengineswithanyonewhohasafewsnippits thatmighthelp.Soasnottodeviatetoofarfromthe originalaims,anyonewhoknowsthewhereaboutsof earlyflightinstruments,pleasewhisperinmy direction!Wehopetoflyin3or4yearstime,on presentprogress.Butcompletingthisresume,couldI putoutonemorefeeler?Wingstruts,etc.havetobe hand-madeatpresent.Togaintheaccuracyrequired, eachwouldtakeover40man-hours.Tothisend,we arelookingfortheuseofaspindlingmachine,as usedinthefurnitureindustry.Thisisnota concessiontothe1970's,asthesemachineshavebeen inuseforyears!
ReprintedfromAndoverStrutNewsletter
HavingfinallycompletedmyNipperfromakitof crashedpartsandconverteda1600ccVW,Iwould liketopassonafewVWhintsacquiredintheprocess andsuggestthatitmightbepossibletoaddaregular featuretothemagazine,entitledasabovetowhich membersmightcontributeasaresultoftheir expertiseandexperience.Ithasbeenmyexperience ofVWconversionsthatatremendouswealthofhints andtipsarescatteredaroundVWgarages,Struts, etc.fromwhichfewofusbenefitfully.Ifafew memberscouldbepersuadedtocontributeanything fromaslittleasagoodbrandoflOmmpluguptothe excellentarticlebyMikeJosephsomemonthsagoon theVW/Stamoconversionthenthemagazinewould provideoverthemonthsaveryvaluablesourceof information.Furthermoreanysuggestionswouldbe opentocommentbyperhapsP.F.A.Engineeringor otherreadersprovidingasafegaurdagainstthemore dubiousschemes.
PerhapsImightstarttheballrollingwithashort listofitemswhichIdiscoveredduringmyown conversionandhopethatothermemberswilltakeit fromhere:
The32PHN-1Carburettor
Afterremovaloftheelectricchokethetwoholes connectingtotheenginesideofthethrottleandthe carbintakeshouldbeblockedbydrillingrxIdeep andpeeninginshortlengthsof r ali.weldingrodior similar.Arrangingmanualoperationofthechoke presentsaprobleminthelimitedspaceavailable;and havingdoneitIfoundthatIneveruseditforstarting. Itdoespresentaslighthazardbecauseoperation intheairstopstheenginesoIamabouttoremove thechokebutterflycompletely.Starting,incidentally fromcold,requiresliberaluseoftheaccelerator pump—abouthalfadozenshotsinthethrottle.
Theidlingjetisofverysmallboreandifblocked theenginewillapparentlyonlyrunsmoothlyfrom aboutthrottleupwards.Thisproblemcanbe eliminatedbyreplacingitwiththesamesizejetas fittedtoHillmanImpcarbswhichincorporatesafine filter.
FuelPipes
Smith'scartype'Petroflex'ischeapandofgood qualityandcomesinarangeoflengthsfromabout5" to 22 fromgoodmotoraccessoryshops.Thehose clipsareabitagriculturalbutanexcellentsafefitting canbemadeontoarpipebysolderinganolive(as usedinCalorgascompressionfittings)aboutaninch ortwofromtheendofthepipe;whenitwillbefound thatthe'Petroflex'canslideovertheolivemakinga verygoodjointwhichwillbequitesecureevenifthe clipfallsoff.Incidentallydon'tfallintothetrapof endingupwithinverted'LPbendsinthesystem owingtotheriskofvapourlock.
Valves
ThestandardVWvalvesare,Iunderstand, manufacturedbyweldingtheheadtothestemand theyappearto'unweld'regularlyat100,000miles withrapiddemolitionofhalftheengine.Anumber ofVWtuningestablishmentssupplyreplacement valvesforexhaustsforgedinonepieceandusedby theracingfraternityat7,000rpmand110hpper 1500cc.Theseareasoundinvestmentandinfact minewereafewpencecheaperthanVWparts.
Crankcases
Ifausedengineisobtaineditshouldbeverycarefullycheckedafterstrippingwiththefollowing pointsinmind:
CentreMainBearing. Iftheengineisatallworn thecentremainbearinghousingwillshowaridgein thecentre,andifthisissufficienttofeelwithafinger nailthenitisprobablethat'hammering'hasoccurred duetowornmainsandtheonlysolutionisline boringandfittingofoversizeO.D.mainsavailable fromVWbutaratherexpensiveoperation.
Cracks. Therearcylinderstudstendtopullthe crankcaseapartandifovertightenedoroverheated cancausecracksinthisareaparticularlyatthemain bearingwebs.
DipStickHole.Ifa flatengine(Variant,etc.)is usedadipstickholeneedstobedrilled.Thisrequires considerableaccuracytoavoidbreakingoutthrough thecrancasefrontface.Itcanbestbedoneby makingupanextended5/16"drillbybrazingintoa lengthofsteeltubingandfixingaguideontheoil fillercapmountingboltswhichcanbecarefullylined upandbolteddownbeforedrilling,centreingonthe cast-inbossforthedipstickandliningupinboth planes.Ifthisisdonewithoutdisasteralengthof 5/16'O.D.cartypehydraulicpipecanbepressedin andsealedwithtoctite'.
OilTemperatureGauge
Ontheflatengineasteelflangeshouldbemadeup tofittheopeningoriginallyusedfortheoilfillerpipe onthefrontfaceofthecrankcasesumpandafitting (obtainablefromaSmith'saccessorystockist)brazed intotaketheSmith'stypecapillarybulb.
Magnetos
Whenusingtheconventionalchaindriveand LucasSR4magsthefittingofanimpulseunit appearstobeariskypropositionastheunitis designedforend-driveandthesideloadingofachain drivedoesn'tagreewithit.Thishasresultedina numberoffailureswherethemag.shafthassheared underfatigueloading;fortunatelyinmostcases insidethedrive-endbearingbutthepossibilityexists ofasprocketcomingadriftwithacompletelossof ignition.Iamatpresentworkingonaschemeusing toothedbeltsandaseparatedrivetoeachmag.and willcommentfurtheronthiswhenitissuccessfully runningandapproved.Onefurtherpointonmags; understandthatsomeaircraftmagshaveplaindriveendbearingsandtheseappearnottobecapableof anyreasonablesortoflifewithachaindrivedueto sideloading.
ExhaustPipes
Theproblemwhenmakingupexhaustsystemshas alwaysbeentherequirementforaverytightradius bendoffthefrontportcylindertocleartheprop.My solutionwastousestandardcopperplumbing fittingsand28mmpipewithanelbowbrazedintoa steelflangeandthecopperpipebentupona plumbersbendingmachineandbrazedintothe elbows.Thisisaverylightweightinstallationand splendidlycheap—onlyproblemisfindingapaintto stayonthepipes—andthenoise!
PropBalancing
DuetotherelativelyhighrpmusedwithaVW, propbalancingisverycriticalinobtainingasmooth engineandawellworthwhileexercise.Imadeupa pairofknifeedgesusing20gali.stripsinawooden frameandmountedtheproponasteeltubeaxle carefullylevellingthewholethinginbothaxles.On checkingthenewpropitneededabout1squareinch ofmaskingtapeononetiptobalanceandthiswas sufficientimbalancetohavecausedamost unpleasantvibrationthroughouttherpmrange. Subsequentcorrectingbysprayingpolyurethane varnishonthelightbladewassufficienttoremoveall vibrationandresultinabeautifullysmoothengine forthecostofaday'swork.
AttheInternationalP.F.A.Rallyheldrecently atSywell,theHeartofEnglandStrutmembersput onademonstrationofribbuilding,mainlytocapture theinterestandimaginationofmembersofthe public.Othermembersofthestrutassistedwiththe generalrunningoftheeventbygivingahandwhere everitwasneeded.AnotherprojecttheStruthasin handistoproducefortheAssociation'sExhibition Stand,aVWengineconvertedtoaircraftstandard andsectionedtoshowtheworkingparts.
DuringJune,theStrut'smembersvisitedthe BitteswellfactoryofBritishAerospaceandsaw thingsattheotherendofthescale,extraheavy, rdtherthanultralight.Anexcellenttourofthe factoryinthecompanyofextremelycompetent guideswasfollowedbyageneroushelpingofteaand cakesandachancetorestthewearyfeet.
Ifanyonewouldcaretolayawageronthe HucknallRallyweather,ithasforthesixthyearbeen againstasuccessfulevent.
Thedaystartedwithhazeandpoorvisibility preventingmanyfromattending.Telephonecalls fromLiverpoolandGloucesterapologisedforsome ofourabsentfriends.Nevertheless,24aircraftmade thetrip.
TheguestfortheeventandtheSpeakeratthe StrutmeetingthefollowingeveningwasCommander CharlesLamb,D.S.O.,D.S.C.,R.N.,authorof "WarinaStringbag".Hearrivedbyair,collected fromMiddleWallop,bykindpermissionofthe C.O.flowninaTriPacerbyStrutmemberDavid Asher.TheeventwasjointlyoreanisedbvtheEast MidlandsStrutandtheRolls-RoyceMerlinFlying Club,hostsattheHucknallairfield.Thecatering wasorganiseclbySandraandKenBaylissandTerry Lugg.
ThecompetitionswereforbestHomebuilt,Best Vintage,MostMeritoriousFlightandanew innovation,the"GreasyLanding"Award.Inthe pastwehavehadaSpotLanding,FlourBombing andNavexcompetitions,butpilotsseemedtoshy offthistype.ConsequentlytheGreasyLanding competitionwasintroduced.Thisisofcoursea completelynonriskevent,andgivespilotschanceto showtheirprecisionlandings.
Eachentrantmadetwolandingsandweremarked onbothlandings,theaggregatescoremakingthe result.Theruleswere,glideapproachfrom500feet, noflapsorairbrakes,nopowerandweregiven reducedmarksforpower,flapsusedandawingup orbounceontouchdown.
ThetrophieswereuniquetoHucknall.Thesewere RB211turbineblades,polishedandmountedona stainlessdiscwhichitselfwasmountedonapolished figuredEnglishOakplinth,withastainlesssteel engravedplaqueonthefrontface.Thesehandsome awardswereproducedbyTerryLugg.
DonCashmoreandStewartJacksonwerethe judges,andtheConcoursAwardwassuspendedas thunderstormssentmostofourvisitorsscudding theirwayhometobeattheweather.
Theorganiserwouldliketothankallthosewho supportedoureventandthehelperswhomadethe daygowell.Itwasnoticedthatthesamefaceswere inthetoileterectiongangasinthepastyears.
Theawardwinnerswereasfollows: BestHomebuiltAircraft— KenSword, MidgetMustang
G-AWIR, BestVintageAircraft—B. Holland, P6uer VagabondCub—G-BCVB,GreasyLandingAward —J.Penny,V.P.1G-AYXW, MostMeritorious Flight—D. Asher,,PiperTri-PacerG-ARDS. LeicesterEast—MiddleWallop—LeicesterEast— Hucknall.PlannedarrivaltimetoATAwasexact.
G-ATFD JodelDR1050 H.Fawcett CastleDonington
G-AWFW JodelDI17 F.H.Greenwell WestHartlepool
G-ARKK PA22Colt P. A. HohnstoneTollerton
G-AZHO JodelDR1050 A.011ey Sibson
G-AYSG CessnaF172K Cooper Coventry
G-AYUC CessnaF.I50L R.C.Ashford Nertherthorpe
G-AYXW EvansV.P.1 J.Penny Doncaster
G-ARDS PA22Carribean D.V.Asher LeicesterEast
G-AWIR MidgetMustang KenSword LeicesterEast
G-BCVB PAI7VagabondCub B.Holland Oxford
G-BBEA LutonMinor Earle Fenland
G-AWLZ FournierRF40 R.Goodwin Windwick
G-AZTW CessnaF.I77AG Clarke LeicesterEast
G-ATXF GY80Horizon Horsfall Blackpool
G-A1XA TayloreraftPlusD P.Anderson Cranwell
G-ACIVW Auster5 B.Marriott Cranwell
G-AZEE M5.880bRallyeClub P.Clements SouthSearle
G-AVGA P424Comanche260 Mumford CastleDonington
G-AXIF B121Pup M.Delahaye CastleDonington
G-AXNS B121Pup D.Bonsai! Netherthorpe
G-ATZ1 lodelDR250 Gray Stow
G-AZSG PA28Cherokee180 Sumner Netherthorpe
G-AX1.11 Auster11Autocrat Lee Sibson
G-AXPM B121Pup100 Harrison CastleDoningion
Whilenotactuallybiddingforrecords,theNorth EasternStrutinformusthatattheirAprilmeetingno lessthan54peoplewereinattendanceandlistenedto thereportoftheAprilNationalCouncilmeeting, givenbytheirrepresentativeLesRichardson.
Severalmembersofthestrutcommented favourablyontherecentcourse,aonedayevent, heldfortheirbenefit.Thecourse,entitled"An IntroductiontoMetalAircraftConstruction"was heldonSaturday15thAprilatSwalesAircraftin Thirsk.CourseTutorswereGerryKempandSyd Craggs.
Membersworkedinpairs,theobjectbeingtomakea shortelementofa'Petrel'wing—thetypebeingbuilt bySyd.
Importancewasstressedofavoidingscratches, deburringholesandsmoothingedgestoprevent developmentofcracksinthemetal.Methodsof flangingwerepractisedusingformblocks,noseribs madeandpoprivetedtoamock12"portionoffront spar.
Thoseattendingworkedalmostsolidlyfrom9 a.m.to5p.m.;onlystoppingforonehourfor lunch,nostopsforteabreaks—workcontinuingwith amuginonehandandtoolsintheother.
Membersfoundthecoursebothinterestingand enjoyable.Tasksweremainlysimplerequiringonly careandaccuracy.Attheveryleasttheparticipants gainedsomeknowledge,basedonexperience,of whatcouldbeinvolvedinbuildingametalaeroplane.
TheP.F.A.SouthEasternRally,organisedandrun jointlybymembersoftheSouthern,Redhill,and NorthKentStrut,washeldatShorehamairporton SpringBankHolidayMonday,29thMay.
TheeventwasgracedwithSywelltypesunshine andlighteasterlywinds;membersbegantoarriveby roadandairfrom09.45onwardsandby15.00hrs52 visitingaircrafthadbeenbookedin.Acommentary onsomeofthemoreinterestingtypesofaircraftthat arrived,togetherwithadescriptionofour Associationanditsworks,wasgivenoverthepublic addresssystembytheAssociationsOutsideEvents DisplayOrganiserStuartMacConnacher;thisresulted inmanyenquiriesformembershiptogetherwith severalpaidupnewmembersbeingreceivedatthe officialstand.
Assistancewithaircraftmarshallingwasgivenby membersofNorthKentStrutandinparticularby 'Pip&DorothyPiper,bothStrutmembers,wholed theirSquadronofA.T.C.cadets.Theseyounglads, whorarelygetanopportunitytoparticipateinthis typeofevent,putupacreditableperformanceat shortnotice.
PrizeswereawardedtoTonyFrancis(Fury2)for BestHomebuilt,toRogerBaileytheownerofa beautifullyrestoredDeHavilandPussMothforBest VintageAircraft,toMessrsWhiteandScottthe NickeydeBruynetrophyfornavigation,andfor landingnearesttothesealedtimeofarrivalthesum of£5waswonbythepilotoftheblackGardanSuper Cabcompletewithretractableu/c.Prizeswere presentedtothewinnersbyJohnPothecarythe originatorofourWingsScheme.
Left:ShorehamfromtheAirwiththerallyaircraftinthebottom halfTop:HaroldJonesPazmanyPL-IwinneroftheAir SquadronTrophyin1977.Above:ThisnewVP-IG-BBPKwas builtbyPeterKelseyandisbasedonastripinSurrey.Below: WinnerofthesealedtimeofarrivalprizeGardanGY-301Super CabG-BEIS.Bottom:RogerBaileywontheVintageprizewithhis PussMothG-ABLS.
TheStrut'sMaymeetinghadanattendanceof16, partlyduetoamisprintofthemeetingdateinthe Strutsnewsletter;apitythis,becausethethemeof thepreviousmeeting(memberswork,displayedwith accompanyinglectures)wascontinued.TheStrut Co-ordinator(thewriter)broughtalonghisCorvair directdriveengineconversionandassociatedparts thataredestinedtoonedayadornthefrontendof hisPietenpolAircamperandgavemembersanhour longtalkonittogetherwithhisexperiencesrelatedto Corvairsduring10yearsofroaduse.NB.Thewriter isatpresentengagedontheconstructionofarather expensivehangarinhisgardenandwouldprefernot toengageincorrespondencerelatingtotheCorvair atthistime.Moreinformationwillbeavailableafter futureperformancetestsarecompletedandwhen theseinturnhavesatisfiedtherequirementsofthe AssociationsEngineeringExecutive.
InterestintheNorthernGyro-planeStrutstill appearstobegrowing.Theynowhave14members, recentlyafurtherninegyroenthusiasts,spreadover theNorthofEnglandhavebeencontacted.
TheStrutsflyingseason,nowinfullswing,isheld eachweekendatMelbournefield(weather permitting).Interestedfolkandthoseofyou planningtoattend,shouldringHenryBeeversat Pocklington(07592)3315toconfirmactivity.The "AtHome"weekendatMelbourne,Yorks,heldon the13th&14thMay,provedyetagainhighly successful.
Althoughtheinitialobjectoftheexercisewastobe 'AtHome'totheGrangeFlyingGroupfrom SproatleynearHull,Gyro-maniacametothefore, andMelbournebuzzedwithGyroactivityfrom SaturdaymorninguntilSundayevening.Thethanks ofallwhoattented,mustgototheladies,who willinglystaffedtherefreshmentcaravanand providedsandwichesandhotdrinkstomembersand visitingguests.
OurP.F.A.RallyatSywellwouldnotbepossible withoutthehelpofmanyorganisationsandStruts thatregularlycontributetoitssuccess,severalStruts andtheirmembersexhibiteditemsbothatindoor andoutdoorstaticsitesandwereal•.vaysreadyto answermembersquestions.
TolistStrutsbynameissurelytomissone,sowe begforgivenessinadvance,justincase.Ourthanks thereforegoto:Redhill,Heston&Hansworth, Wessex,Herts,Southern,Solent,Andover,Sywell, Bedfordshire,NorthKent,andWestMidlandsStruts fortheirassistance.
MembersoftheseStrutswerepresentboth beforeandaftertheeventandassisted,amongother things,toerectandafterwardsdismantle:lighting, fences,stands,fireprecautions,communicationsand duringtherallygaveassistancewithmarshalling, accommodation,andtransportation.
Ourspecialthanksmustgotoourguestfrom U.S.A.ProfessorEdgarLesher,(wellknownto manyforhisTealrecordbreakingaircraft)whonot onlyaddressedusduringtheprizegivingbutwas seenpriorto,andaftertheevent,happilyassisting otherswiththenitty-grittychoresthatmanychoose toescape.AverybigTHANK-YOU,fromallofus.
Toourregularcyclistvisitor,Wim(Bill)BeeIan fromHolland,mustgoourthanksforhisassistance. Billarrivedoneweekinadvanceandstayeduntilone weekafterSywell.Hewasoftentobeseenbusily drivingthespankingnewtractorandtrailer, borrowedfromalocalfarm,andloadedwithfencing andthelike.
PeoplelikethismakeSywellwhatitisandwhat lastminutearrivalshavetoexpect.
MikeWebsterisanxioustocontactP.F.A. memberslivingintheWorcesterandSevernValley areawithaviewtotheformationofaStrutinthat area—possiblybasedonWorcester.Wouldthose interestedkindlycontacthimat91ArundelDrive, Battenhall,WorcesterWR52HU.Telephone Worcester354174.
Sywell'78isnowpastbutdespitethewind,rain andlowcloudthatprevailedatintervalsthroughout, itisclearthatthisisTHERALLYnottobemissed. Thiswasevidentwithaircraftattendingnumbering inthe500's;moreinformationonthiswillbefound inthesupplementandelsewhere.
Thewinnersofthisyear'sStrutAward'Empty, presentedtotheAssociationbyDavidFaulkner Bryant,aretheNorthEasternStrutwhoalsotake homewiththemachequefor£100donatedtoStrut fundsfortheirexcellentrallies,theireffortsin promotingtheaimsoftheAssociation,unfailing attendanceatmeetingsoftheNationalCounciland theirpromptnesswithcorrespondence.
Ourpersonalandcomprehensiveserviceisalso availabletomeetmostotherindividualorcommercialinsuranceneeds.
SixoftheGyrocoptersonshowduringtheNorthern Gyro-PlaneStrutmeetingatMelbourne.Well,IsupposeIcan'treallystartthiscolumn withoutareferencetoourRallyatSywell.Asfaras theExecCommitteewereconcerned,perhapsitwas allimportantthattheP.F.A.Treasureremergedon Mondaymorning,frombehindhisusualcamouflage ofpapers,tobeheardcrying'we'vemadeit—we've madeit',referringofcoursetothefactthatwehad sufferedourworstdefeatyetbytheweather,buthad stillcomeupsmilingonthecashside.We,onthe organisationalendhavealwaysdreadedtheimageof LaurieShaw'sheadappearingupthroughtheslush ofawaterloggedrunway,proclaiming'everyonego home—we'rebroke'.Nowweknowitcan'thappen andLauriecangdawayandhavehisnightmares somewhereelse.
Finally,ontheSywellside,wewereinterestedto hearaninformedcriticmentionofthenumberof visitingaeroplaneswhosecockpitswerestuffedwith maps,guides,Pooleysandsoon,alltuckeddown behindthehandiestbitofcontrolrunorotherlikely elbow-edgepieceofrestingplace,neartohand. What,saidourCritic,happensifthese'fairweather sailors'hitabitofturbulence.DoesPooleyNEVER getbetweentherudderbars,doesnotthelogNever swimaboutthevitalactionbits?Aninteresting thought,perhaps,itneverhappenstoyou,but,a cockpitgazerofahundredorsoparkedarrivals thoughtaboutit,so,perhapssoshouldyou.
4-
YouwillhavereadourreportlastAutumn,on howoneofoureditorialstaffbravedtheunknown jungletotheNorthoftheNorthCircularRoadand actuallyvisitedthenativesoftheNorthWestStrutat theirsupportingeventattheBlackpoolAirPageant. Boldened(weliketothink)byourepicjourney,we nowhearthatP.F.A.'sheadofEngineeringhasbeen seenonavisittothatlocality,havingalookatas manyprojectsastimeallowedandenjoyingthe hospitalitylaidonbyourfriendsinthoseNorthern parts.WeunderstandthatJohnwasasimpressedas wereweatthatdegreeofactivityandenthusiasmthat is'allhappening'upthere.
Onthe'activityandenthusiasm'aspect,readers mayrecallPatriciaHolmesarticleinthelast Magazine,whereshementionsthewelcomeshewas given,onherwaytoScotland,atSunderland,inthe NorthEasternStrutterritory.Sherecentlyenlarged onthisatatalkshegaveataStrutmeetingandit reallydoesseemthatthoseofourMembersupnorth seemtohaveabiggervitalspark,somewhere,that haswornabitthinintheSoutherncamp.
4-
Therehasrecentlybeensomedebatecarriedon throughthecorrespondencecolumnsof Flight magazine,onthenecessitytocontinuetoteachspin recoveryintheP.P.L.syllabus.Theargumentbeing that,sincetheonlymoderntrainingaircraftavailable aremostdifficulttospin,aP.P.L.holderisunlikely evertofindhimselfinthatsituation.ThisIpresume, isontheassumptionthat,apartfromthefewwhogo ontoattainaC.P.L.,theonlyaircrafttheP.P.L. willbeflyinginthefuturewillbeoftheCessna, Piperandsimilarvarieties.Thisseemsamost PopularFlying,September-October,1978
unhealthyattitudetotake.Itjustsohappensthat thereareanumberofusintheP.F.A.whoarepretty certainthatwithintenyearstherewillbefew P.P.L.'saroundwhocanAFFORDtoflysuch machines!No,aswesaidinaneditorialearlierthis year,therearegoingtobemoreandmoreofus turningtothelittlemachinestofly,airframesand engineswhichareperfectlysafe,butwhichrequirea competentlytrainedpilotinthehotseat.
Afterallthepublicityandhardworkputintothe newCertificationproceduresintroducedbythe C.A.A.lastApriltheC.A.A.organisationappeared unabletocopewiththesituationwhichafterallwas oftheirownmaking.Delaysofuptothreemonths wereexperiencedbysomeofourmembersandallof thisdelaymustlieatthedooroftheC.A.A.
WhenthenewPermitstoFlywereissuedtheywere temporarydocumentsasnoonehadarrangedtoget thenewformsprinted!Someofthesetemporary documentsappearedwithastringofunwarranted restrictionswrittenintothetermsofthePermittoFly whichmusthavealarmedmembersasmuchasitdid us!Tosuggestthatasingleseataircraftshouldnotbe flowwithmorethantwopersonsreallyleftusina stateofbewilderment.
Howeverallisnowundercontrolasaresultof manyvisitsandmuchletterwritingtotheC.A.A.we havenowgotthewordingreducedtoamoresensible levelthoughdiscussionsarestillcontinuing.Ifany memberhasreadtheirPermitandgivenupindisgust holdonastherearetemporarydocumentsanyway. Thefinalpaperswillbesatisfactory—wewillseethat theyare,butyourExecutiveCommitteehasbeen burningthemidnightoilonthisoneandwill continuetodoso,untilthematterisputright.
P.F.A.Engineering.
POPULARFLYINGispublishedin Januaryandthereafterinalternate months.Alladvertisementstobesent to:AdvertisementManager,Popular FlyingAssociation,TerminalBuilding, ShorehamAirport,Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.
Semi-displaypercolumninch£5.00. Lineage(minimumthreelines)perline 50p.Discounts:seriesofthree5%. Seriesofsix10%.Agencies10%.
MembersarenowentitledtoFourFree Adverts.peryear,subjecttobeingofnon-businessnature andtospacebeingavailable. QuoteMembershipNo.
For£1.50wewillincludeaphoto ofAeroplanesforSale.
ThePFAdoesnotnecessarily guaranteeorendorseanyproduct offeredthroughouradvertising.
Members'attentionisparticularly drawntobuiltandpartly-builtAircraft.Theyshouldsatisfythemselves thatthemachinehasbeenclearedto P.F.A.standardsiftheysubsequently intendtooperateitthroughthc PF.A.Airworthinessfacilities.
PLANS!PLANS!PLANS!
AEROMODELLERPLANSSERVICEis Worldrenownedforitsvastrangeof subjects.Flyingmodelsofalltypes plustheuniquescaledrawingsseries whichincludesmanyP.F.A./E.A.A. subjects,e.g.CURRIEWOE,ISAACS FURY&SPITFIRE,PFITS52A,THORP TI8,TAILWINDetc.Sendforlatest AeramodellingPlansHandbookNo. I price50p+15ppost.
Model&AlliedPublications
PlansService,P.O.Box35
HemelHempstead HertsHP1IEE
WANTEDClothorleatherflyinghelme withworkingelectricsforuseinTige Moth.DaveWiseTel:01-850-6490 (evenings),
WANTED.EnginemanualforStarmo I400Aengine.W.J.Emery.Tel.:Chew Magna2679.
WANTED.Undercarriage,wheelsetc. forVP1project.A.MorrisTel:Bagshot 74314
FORSALE.StrombergNA-53; Carburettor,JettedforC.90£50o.n.o.B. Pybus,43CarbonAve,SheltonLock, Derby,Tel:Derby701524.
JODEL 112 inverygoodorder.Fulldetails fromDavidWalling,20AldsworthClose, Fairford,Glos.Tel:0285-712506
WANTED.Shapedalloyundercarriage forVP-Iormaterialtomake.N. Townsend,12RosamondAve.,Shipton Gorge,Bridport,Dorset.
JODELD112G-AWVZ.Hangaredand cosseted 6 yearsbypresentowner. RedopedAugust'75,Airframe1982hrs, Enginehours707plusextension,Special catCOFA9months,Ash360 Radio. £3000, withoutradio£2800o.n.o.D.Elmer 34BakerStreet,PottersBar,Herts.Tel: PottersBar52937.
WANTED. ColourslidesofSteenSkybolt C-BEHM,detailsioEricSawyer.Tel.:01599-5827.
S.T.O.L.Performanceon1500VWandup.Foldingandroadable—onown wheelsortrailer.Easytofly.Cheapto build.Longestsinglecomponent12'9" long. Plansconsist of26 highly-detailedsheetsplusriggingnotes,construction notesandmaterialslists.
PerSet—£15
InformationPack—£1
ERICCLUTTON,92NEWLANDSSTREET,SHELTON STOKE-ON-TRENT,STAFFORDSHIRE,ENGLAND.
FORSALERadioNarcoMKII.360PLANS: channelplusintercom.Unusedsince overhaul,installationpackageandbattery pack1550asnewTel:Ashtead74600 (Evenings)
FORSALE. Jodel1051Ambassadeurbuilt 1963.Totaltime1366hrs.3yr.C.ofA untilApril1981.Potez4Eengine1061hrs. used.Pricetoincludespareengine£3500. CanbeseenatHorshamSussexor ShorehamAirport.Forfurtherdetails ContactJohnStanbridge,Horsham3535.
FORSALEAuster AutocratNoseCowl £25,24voltstarter£35.Oneroll63"x75. Ceconite£35.Cheltenham27765or36770.
FORSALE Variezetintedcanopy.Wehave asparecanopy asB.Yateshasreturnedto Australia£90.P.Calvert.Tel.01-668-6422 (Home)or01-764-8001(Office).
FORSALENewspinnerblank toy dia., 10ihigh.16gaugespunaluminium. Attractiveshape.£10postpaid.Picture availableonrequest.Woverhampton 754754evenings.
BODMINAVIATIONLIMITED foryour CofArenewals,checks,maintenanceand repairsuponalllightsinglesandtwins. Labourrate£4.00perhour,nounlicensed engineersemployed.Goodstocksof secondhandsparesforRallyeClubsand Tripacers.DamagedA/Cpurchasedfor reducingtospares.WEEKENDCHECKS ASPECIALITY...FlyintoBodminFriday evening,spendtheweekendinCornwall andreturntoyourbaseon Sundayevening orMondaymorningwithCheckIor2 completed.Accomodationandcarhirecan bearranged.PhoneCardinham255for quotation.
WANTED.2 seatpermitaircraft. Immediatedecisioncashwaiting.G.Lewis Tel:051-648-4929(N/D)
WANTEDShareinlightorultra-light aircraft.WestMidlandsarea.Tel: Brownhills5454
ADVERTISER wishestoassistorpartne, currentbuilding projectorjoinsmallgroup alreadyflying.G.Winterbourne10 MitchleyHill,Sanderstead,Surrey.Tel:01657-4178or01-204-8256(Office)
VWPROPELLERHorden-RichmondDia 4.75'Pitch245'swopforcoarserpitch preferablysmallerdia.C.Piper.Tel: Harpenden63872.
FORSALE. Turbulent,Built1970,1200cc. 300hourspermitvalidtoJune1979.Tel.. Brodie309.
Simplybuilt—VWpowered.Onlyone verticalandonehorizontaltailempennage.Onepiecebentupaluminiumgear. Simple3-bulkhead,woodfuselagewithno metalfittings orclothcover.Noengine mount.Simplewing,plankspars,ribsstack-sawedfrom.4"ply.EvansVP-I roadtowswithouttrailer,andstoreseasily ingarage.ForPlanandBrochureprices seeP.F.A.officeadvertisement.
Thepopularsingle-place,lowwing,all woodmodel.30to60h.p.100m.p.h., with1300VWengine.Span21',length15. Brochure,70p,Plans £16,Construction photos£2,S.A.E.withenquiriesplease. Mrs.J.Taylor,25ChesterfieldCrescent, Leighon Sea,Essex.
TAYLORT1TCH
Asupersingle-place,lowwing,acrobatic tourer/racer.Simpletobuildwood constructionfor40to95h.p.engines. Superbplansforthissuperbaeroplane includefull size ribsheets,material listandnumerousadvisorynotes.Span 9";Length16W. Brochure,70p,Plans £20,Constructionphotos£2,S.A.E.with enquiriesplease. From:Mrs.J.Taylor,25 ChesterfieldCrescent, LeighonSea, Essex.
APracticalguidetodesign constructionandrepairofALL typesofwoodenpropellersE250 Incpo
ERICCLUTTON
92NewlandsStreet, Stoke-on-Trent, ST42RF. ENGLAND.
BRANDNEW1600c.c.VOLKSWAGEN ENGINES.Importedforgyrocopters fouryearsago,nowsurplustorequirement. Inmakers'packingcasesat£270orwith Scintillamagnetofittedat£300.Alsoone brandnewultralightweightaircooled WANKELROTARYenginewithdynamo andstarter.20h.p.ay6000r.p.m.With handbookandsparesinoriginalcase,£375. CashoncollectionfromTragoMills, Liskeard,Cornwall.Phone:Dobwalls584 (N/D)
VVANTED.Turn&SlipIndicator,compass &artificialhorizonAlsoStickandPedals (Dual)tosuitMinicab/Cavalier.Phone Leigh(0942)676406.
A.N.HardwareA.G.S.Hardware ControlCablerand3/32.Nicopress Fittings.4130SteelTubeIx•035,rx •035.Popularsize—largestock.Other sitesavailable—Sometoorder.
55I4SteelSheet.
ButyrateDopeClear.ButyrateThinners FabricGrade"A"quality. WheelsandTyres.
FlightInstruments.EngineInstruments.
U.K.Agentsfor"WESTACH"
V.W.AeroEngineConversion. Fullengineormodificationkits. Machining:Crankcasefor0/sBarrels, cylinderHeadsforo/sBarrelsanddual sparkplugs
LYSTERAVIATIONLIMITED
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EXHAUST&SILENCER,fits0-200or C90,suitableforJodelorEmeraudenew £50.Tel:Ashtead74600(Evenings).
WANTED.I3D-5instrumentpackage.Tel.: Ashford74600(Evenings).
FORSALE.Outrightorsharesforgroup operationStinson108-3VoyagerStation Wagon.165h.p.Franklin(90Hrs. S.C.M.O.H.)Adelightfulaircraftinall respects.750lb.Payloadwithfull(50U.S. Gallons)TanksasequippedNarcoEscort, AT5OaTransponderandE.L.T.Recent SpecialCat.C.ofA.Currentlybasedat Carlisle£4,250.Outrightorsharesforupto sixpeople.CommanderC.RHeaton, CadgillHouse,Canohbie,Dumfrieshirc e Dn(als114OYE.orTel.:05414-247(Week-
WHEELSwithhydraulicdiscbrakes,tyres andrubes420x150(as600x63)including dualrudderpedals(withtoebrakes)and mastercylinders,allitemsusedbutingood condition.SuitCavalierorsimilar,lot£75. BuyerCollects.Tel.:B.Lee,Malvern62677 (Evenings).
FOR SALE.Thrce(8'x4'x n sheets(4ply) BS1088marineplywoodwithmanufacturersnote.Lotf30.BuyerCollects. Tel.:B.Lee,Malvern62677Evenings).
JODEL11120—FORSALEEngineonly 150hoursSCOH.Fullpanel,360VHF, NarcoNavII VOR,Beacon,C.ofA.to May1979,£3,150.C.ParkerTel.:0604890512Evenings.
AIRCRAFTENGINES,spares,propellers, wings,controlsurfaces,instruments, carburettors,evencompleteaircranof Champ,Luseombetype,with C. ofA.,or suitableforrebuild.Iwilllocateandship directatmutuallyagreedprice.D. Williams,RR*I.Elginburg,Ontario. KOHIMO,Canada.
WANTED.Propellersuitablefor Lycorning0-235(Colt)alsobrakeunitsfor PiperCub,ContactD.Morgan,5Staplers Reach,Rowner,Gosport.Hains.
WANTED.UnusedsetofEvansVP-2 plansV.Willcocks.28CherryHill. Rostrcvol,Co.Down.Tel.:Rostrcvor754.
CONSTRUCTIONandrepairsrorUltra LightandHoinebtnItaircraft.Jigs,tanks, sheetmetalassemblies,metalfittings,tube cutling,woodstructures,spars,ribs,etc. APPro‘edmaterials,F.R.C.Angel. Works,SchoolRoad.NewtonAbbot, Devon.Tel.:5361or3533.
WANTED.Micronoranyenginesuitable for'CurrieWot'.AnyconditionRingJack Roberts.Knowle77228_
FORSAI.ET45,TOO,5514.S510,Sheet& Tube,Tape.Dope.Manuals,Spares.Send SAEfordetailedpricelist.S.J.Ball,258 BurtonRoad,Overseal,BurtononIrent.
PIPERJ3c-65Cub.Groupjustgetting organisedlookingfor2or3moremembers. ContactD.Stubbs,132Foxcote, Wokingham,Berks.
FORSALE. Unusualplansetfor'Wendt Traveller'tandem2scat,allwood,low wing,30ftspan,wingsdetachalfuselage £15.Somemetalfittings.Tel:B.Lee Malvern62677(Evenings).
WANTEDBYENTHUSIAST.Miles GeminiorMessengerinanyreasonable conditionforpreservation(non-flying) ContactPeterCambell,HighAcre,East Stour,Gillinaham.DorsetTel:074785-261
FOR SALEHalfcompletedTurbulent Project;Fuselagewithwindscreenandrollbar;Tailplane,elevator,rudderandsome ribs.Allsigneduptodate£135.Tel.: (Ealing)01-997-8681(WIT).
WWIILeatherFlyingHelmetcomplete withwiring,neverwornandstillinsealed box.£38.0-200.ACrankshaftgearpartno. 35016codesA,B,E,G,£20Wantedignition harnessfor0-200A&Lordtypeengine mountsC.Repik,WhithillLodge,Exeter Road,NewtonAbbot,DevonTQI26PP
WANTED.Pairofmagssuitablefor 1600ccVW.conversion.Alsomounting plateanddrives.J.Goodfellow.Tcl:0502722809.
TITCFIBUIIDERrequiresreasonably pricedgoodiesandleftoverstostart project.DetailstoG.J.Winder.12 HawthorneAve.,Flashy,YorkY03KIT. Tel:(0904)760943.
WANTED.Unusedsetofdrawingsand instructionsforVP.I.Iwouldliketo contactanyotherVP.1buildersinthe Oxfordarea.BillRose,WoodperryRoad, Beckley,Oxford.'Tel:StantonSt.John 376.
WANTED.LucasS.R.4Magneto's.any conversionpartsforVW1600,asshownon DonPeackocksdrawing;alsoR.P.M.to sok,andlowairspeedindicator,oil pressure,cylindertemp.MikeTurner,48 ChesterWay,Kennington,London,SEII_
SHAREWANTEDinanyultralight grouporformofcheaperflying.—WO hoursplusPl.PPL.Preferenceforaround theHer(fordshirearea,TricycleorTaildragger.Pleasephonest.Albans31359 anytime.
FORSALE.EredPlans£9,Turbulentplans 115,VP2plans£20streamlinedlobefor VP£30,MetalForVP2Undercarriage£10. A.\Vitt.Tel:Newark0636-892938
CHESHIRESTRIP,AshHouseFarm Airstrip.Co-Ordinates2°34'W.53°10'. 600mlong,Runways020'-200'.Openat alltimeswhenwindsockdisplayed.Always Welcome.Tel:LittleBudworth226.
WANTEDTaylorMonoplanepartbuiltor abandonedprojectplusanypartsusefulfor thesame.AllLettersanswered.Gordon Beaumont,62HartingronTerrace,Lidjet Green,Bradford,YorkshireTel;78605.
JODELII7A.C90with1050hourstorun £2,950ono.2-103PitmasionRoad, Birmingham11289PW.Tel.:021-745-6298_
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