September 2014

ALLGOODCOMPANY

HowthefriendshipandcamaraderieoffellowLAAtersisa hugelyenjoyablepartofbeingamemberofthisassociation, plusareminderofthewonderfulvarietyofaircraft stillflyingunderitsguidance

TheSeptembereditorialisoftenastrangeonetowritebecause themagazineusuallycomesoutjustaftertheRally.butIwriteita fewdaysbeforetheeventactuallystarts.It'sasortoflimboland becausenotonlyamIheavilyinvolvedwiththeRallyteam,andasyoucan imaginethingsreallystarttorampupaboutnow,butIamalsoexcitedby theprospectofbeingattheevent.Whenyoureadthisitwillallbeoverof course,IhopeyouattendedandIhopeyouhadagreattime;I'venever hadadudoneyet,mainlybecausewhatevertheweatherandwhatever turnsup,I'msuretomeetupwitholdfriendswhosebanter,conversation andcompanyIknowIwillenjoy.CamaraderieisabigpartofwhattheLAA isallabout.Ofcoursewewanttobeabletobuild,restore,appreciateand flyaircraftbutitisthepeoplewemeetandthefriendswemakealongthe waythattrulyaddvaluetoourlives,

OurChairman'schatatthestartofthemagazineisalittlelongerthis monthbecauseRogerhasoutlinedhowtheRedTapeChallengeand thesubsequentformationoftheCAA'sGAUnitmayimpactontheLAA's operations.Therearesomeexcitinginitiativesunderwaythathavethe potentialtobringnewopportunitiestous,inparticulartrainingonPermit aircraft,whichtakesusbacktotheveryrootsoftheUltraLightAircraft Association'sactivitiesnearly70yearsago.Flyinggroups,andgenuine

THETEAM

Patron: HRHPrinceMichaelofKent,KCVO, FRAeS

President: SirJohnAllison

Chairman: RogerHopkinson

CEO: PhilipHall

ChiefEngineer: FrancisDonaldson, BTechCEngERAeS

ChiefInspector: KenCraigie

flyingclubs.havethepotentialtoreducetheoftenprollibitivecostof learningtofly.andthathastobegoodnewsforGA.It'sallalongway downthetrackofcourse,butthebuildingblocksareupfordiscussion, andthathastobeagoodstart.

CIAcoverfeaturethismonthisFoxMothG-ACEJ,awonderfuloldlady inher81styear.Howfortunatewearetoseesuchaircraftstillgracing Meskiesratherthanlockedupasstaticdisplaysinamuseum.Francis DonaldsonrelatesthestoryofdeHavilland's1930senclosedcabintourer, andmemberEdwinShackletonrecallsaseasidepleasureflightheand hiswifetookinthisveryaircraftinBlackpoolmorethan60yearsago Oshkoshenjoyedanincreaseinvisitingaircraftthis yearbuttheFrenchRSARallysufferedduetoapoor weatherforecastandarrivalsweredown.Wehave reportsfrombothevents,plusanotherUpdateonthe Night/IFRprojectfromteamleaderPeterPengilly.And howaboutwargamesintheChannelinaFalcon202 LAAmemberCarolineRhodesfliessuchsortiesasher dayjobbutenjoysaCriCri,anAusterandaTwisteron herdaysoff.Enjoytheread! Flysafely,Brian.

Engineeringemail: engineenng@laauk.com

COMMERCIAL

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OfficeManager: PennySherpe

HeadOffice: TurwestonAerodrome

NrBrackley,NorthantsNN1357D

Tel: 01280846786

LIGHTAVIATIONMAGAZINE

Editor: BrianHope

60QueenboroughRoad Sheerness. KentMEI23BZ

Tel: 01795662508

Email: BFJJodel@talktalknel

BrianHope EDITOR Wendel@falktalknet

6NEWS

BritishKR2honouredatOshkosh,LAA AGMvenuechange,SSDRsailplane licencesandrestrictedairspacenews9LETTERS

Theturn-backdilemmaandmemoriesof DickieBird,thedesigneroftheAgricola

10 PROJECTNEW

ProjectupdatesincludeaBristelland anRV-8,aswellasnewprojectsand projectsclearedtofly

14 PROJECTNEWSSPECIAL

PaulWinter'sRV-8wasduetotakethree yearstocomplete-nineyearsandnine monthslateritwasfinallyreadytofly

16RSARALLY2014

Theturn-outmightnothavebeengreatto thisgenerallypopularfly-in,butthatohsoFrenchambianceisirresistible

20 THETALEOFATAIL

ThefascinatingstoryofthefirstVVWI aircrafttolandinFrance-ordidit?

26 D - MOTOR

Couldthisdelightfullittleenginedevelop intoaworthyrivaltotheRotax912

32 FUGHTTEST:FOXMOTH

FrancisDonaldsonsamplesthedelights ofabygoneageatthecontrolsofa beautifullyrestored80-year-old deHavillandDH83FoxMoth

42 OSHKOSH

NigelHitchmanreportsbackonwhat wasahugelysuccessfulyearatthe world'sbiggestGAfly-inatOshkosh

48 SAFETYSPOT

MalcolmMcBridecastshisexperteye overarealmixed-bagofincidents includingaforcedlanding,adoorripped offinflightandanuncarriagefailure

55 LANDINGVOUCHERS

Savemoneyandvisitsomewherenew

54 WHERETOGO

Therearestillplentyofgreataviation eventstovisitaroundthecountry

56 LAASHOP

Books,charts,clothingandmore

58 IRISHLANDINGS

Achancetospreadyourwingsalittle furtherwithfreelandingsinIreland

59 CLASSIFIEDS

Bargainsgaloreinabuyers'market

62 THETUESDAYWAR

NeilWilsongoesto'war'withLAA'er CarolineRhodesandhercolleagues, andrevelsintheexperienceofflying intobattleinaFalcon

66 CEOTHOUGHTS

Philconsiderstherulesforlearningto flyonaPermitaircraftandalsoenjoysa returntohisflyingrootsinaglider

SittingtowritethisChatIreflecton

whathassofarbeenagoodyear forusaviators.Thoughweather regrettablypreventedmyplannedvisit toIreland,generallythingshavebeen goodwithplentyofflyingeventsandthe sunshinetoenjoythem.

WearecurrentlyworkingtowardstheRally, whichhopefullywillbeagreatmemorybythe timeyoureadthis.Then,afterafewsorties elsewhere,wemovetowardstheAssociation's AGMatthebeginningofNovember,an importanteventinourcalendar.Ihopethat morethanthe'usualsmallnumber'willattend whatisafterall,anessentialpartofthe democraticprocess.

Ihavejustreturnedfrommyannualvisitto theRSARallyinVichy(seepage16).always agreateventtovisitandonethatIhave regularlyattendedsinceEpinalin1999,inmy thenshinynewhomebuilt.Sadlyattendance couldhavebeenbetterbutsouthernFrance hassufferedratherlessthansatisfactory weatherthisyearandapoorforecastkept manyaway.Nevertheless,it'sgoodtomeet oldfriendsandshareexperienceswithTAAlikecommunitiesinothercountries,bothin Europeandbeyond;itgivesperspectiveon ourhobbyandreiteratesjusthowpreciousit istousall.

LaterthisyearIwillbeattendingthe EFLEVA(theEuropeanFederationofLight, ExperimentalandVintageAircraft)conference wheretherewillberepresentativesfromabout 15countries.Whilsttheprimedriveofthe Federationistoprogressthoseall-important flyingprivileges,theeventisalsoverymuch oneoffellowship,thesharingofourcommon interestandtheexchangingofideasand informationastohowweeach'dothings'.

CHANGEISAFOOT

Ihavewrittenfrequentlyinthiscolumnon regulatorychangeandadvocacy,andreaders willdoubtlesshavenoted(understandably cautiouslyperhaps)theoptimisticcomments thatpositivechangeispromisedbothin EuropeandtheUK.Ihopethatbynow eventhemosthardenedcynicmustbe startingtorealisethatthereissubstance behindthepromises.Alreadywehavehad announcementsofsuchasderegulated single-seatmicrolightsupto300kgmtow andamorerealisticapprovalprocessfor handheldradios.

Therearemoreimportantquestions. howeverWhat'sinitforus?Howwillitchange theLAA?Willtherebearevitalisationof SportsandRecreationalAviationandGA? Andperhaps,what'sthecatch?Well,atour lastLAAboardmeetingwediscussedthose questionsandmore.Hereiswhatwesee.

IntheUK,theRedTapeChallenge(RTC) resultedinalistofabout100itemstobe progressedbytheCAA,whosecommitment toproportionateregulation,deregulationand maximisingdelegationisoutlinedinCAP1123. Ithasfollowedthatupwiththefocused GAUnitandaconsultation(CAP1188)on futurepolicytoensureimplementationofthat promisedproportionality.Announcementsofa steadystreamofinitiativeshavefollowed. IntheEUEASAcontinuestoprogresswhat itcallstheGARoadmap,whichhassimilar objectivestothoseoftheRTC,although progressissomewhatslower.Importantly, however,thereisnowaproposaltoreview theBasicRegulationwhichisthelegalbasis

CHAIRMAN'SCHAT

Agoodsummerforflying,whilstbehindthescenespositivechangelooksset

forSportsandRecreationalAviation.

ByRogerHopkinson

onwhichEASAwascreatedandsetsoutthe constraintswithinwhrchithastooperate.In particular4istheBasicRegulationwhich defineswhichaircraftareregulatednationally intheoftquotedAnnexII,microlights,vintage aircraft,amateurbuthsetc.lhepotentialto changeAnnexIIisvitallyimportantforthe LAA,andlikeEUorganisationsItisperhaps possiblethattheamateurbuilddefinition couldbechangedfrom51% budtbyan amateur..withoutanycommercialobjective' tosomethinglessonerous,likeapartial tactory-builtaircraftalongthelinesofthe ARTF(AlmostReadytoFly)conceptinthe modellrngcommunity.Thatwouldcertainly helpreinvigoratelightaircraftmanufacture. becausewhilstrecognisingthatsomevftll alwayswishtocreateaircraftfromthedrawing hoardup,intoday'ssocialandperhapsless mechanicallycompetentenvironment.ARTF mightofferaverypracticalroutetoaircraft ownership.

ThedefinitionofHistoricAircrafttoocould beimproved.CurrentlybasedonaFixed date,changetoarollingdatewouldtreeup moreaircraftastimewenton,surelyamore sensibleapproach.Thiswouldalignwiththe UKCAAcommitmenttomoveaircraftfroma NationalCofAtoaNationalPermittoFlyand helpresolvetheproblemofaircrafttrappedin 3nEASAorNationalCofAwhenengagement bythetypecertificateholderispoor,orthey aresimplynotsupportingtheaircraftSuch aircrafthavea'naturalhome'inorganisations liketheLAAwheretheyhavebeenshownto operatesafelyinamaintenanceenvironment thatunderstandstheirproblemsandhasthe wherewithaltosolvethem.

AnotheropportunityfromanEASABasic RegulationchangeistheresolutionofDesign andProductionAuthorisauonApprovals (DoAandPoA).Thisisthe'requirement'that currentlypreventstheexistenceofaUSstyle LightSpodAircraft(LSA)categoryinEurope andawholenewclassofaircraft,indeedit

wasIhemajorstumblingblocklhatprevented theEASAApprovalofCessna'sSkycatcherTo putthatintoperspective,atleast12countries aroundtheworldhaveadoptedtheUSLSA rulesandwhatmightbestbedescribedas aWonICAOapprovedworldwidestandard' ThisissomethingLAAandEFLEVAhave beenchasingalmostfromtheestablishment ofEASAshameontheEUforrestrictingthat developmentwhichhasbeensosuccessful elsewhere.

WHAT'SINITFORTHELA/0

OnthedomesticfronttheLAAhassubmitted formalrequeststordelegationfromCAAto allowdirectissueofPermitstoFly.direct issueofNIPPLs(andperhapsotherlicences). theadditionofYAKsandNanchangstothe Permittreetand,importantly,the:abilitytotrain ahinitioonLAAPermitloFIyaircraft(which onceexistedhereanddoeselsewhereinthe EU)Wearealsoseekingbienniallicence sign-offbyLAAcoaches(somethingwedid beforeEASAconfusedmatters!).IheNight! IFRtrialsareunderwayandweexpectresults bytheendoftheyearWearealsoseeking therelaxationtosimplyhavingaDVLAcar licencetortheNPPLasopposedtoaMedical Declaration(thisbeingamajorgoalforus andafeatureoftheUSLightSportLicorice. plusitequatestothemove(thoughye:to heacnieved)intheUSforadrivinglicence

beDgsufficientforupto180hpaircraft)The CAAhasalsoprogressedtheethanolin mogassissuebydelegatingthedecisionto associations,andourEngineeringteamare consideringnowbesttotackIethis.

GrantShapps.CabinetMinisterwrthout Portfolio,whohasensuredthisnewregulatory attitudehasGovernmentdriveandsupport, attendedaGApartnership/consultative meetingatCAArecently.togetherwithGA sectorrepresentatives.Folfowingthatmeeting newrotetoallmembersofthatgroup,his wordsbearrepeating.

Muchofsafetyregulationcomeswithbest intentions,howeverinanactivelysuchasflying wICchfaherentlycarriesalevelofrisk,100% safelywillneverbeachievedWeneedalways tobalanceThebenefitsofgreatersafetywith theburdenregulationbrings.Wneroregulatory cherventtonsareeitherdeliveringnegligibleor nosafetybenefitlleymustberemovedThe defaultshouldalwaysbeforaderegulatory approachunlessthereisclearevidenceto thecontraryIbisnotonlyreinforcespersonal freedoms,butwdlencourageiturovabonand boostThepotentialtorjobsandgrowthinour economy

Hisletterclosesbysaying: youhaveworkedhardtogetustowhere wearetodayandRobertGoodwhl (Aviation Minister) andIhaveaimedtosetupasystem whichlistenstotheconcernsofstakeholders andaddressesthem.Ourgoalistomake GAinTheUKthebestinthevasrld-Iwould onlyaskthatyoumakestherhos(ofthe deregulatoryappet teoflNsGovernmentto helpusachieveOhs,itmayneveragacibeon the(ablehiourlifetime.

Yes,therearesomerealopportunitieshere andwiththatsortofsupportitwillbeacrying shame4theyaresotachieved.It:snolonger atimeforcynicism.itisatimeforbelief, supportand,vitally,actionbyusalltokeep themomentumgoingandpushwhereand whennecessarytomakeithappen.

TheRtHon GrantShapps MP

BRITISHKR2HONOUREDATOSHKOSH

Longertermmembersmayrecalltheintrepid taleofaKR2flyingfromtheUKtoAustralia in2001.Onhisreturn,builderandpilotColin Halesintendedtoembarkonaround-theworldflightbutahostofissuesmeantthat flighthadtobeputonhold-untilnow.Colin setofffromhishomeairfieldofShenington on22Junebound,initially,forOshkosh-via theusualnorthernroutethroughtheFaroe Islands,Iceland.GreenlandandCanada.En routehedidacircumnavigationofIceland. astorywehopetorelateinafutureissue. Afterthat.however.Cohndescribesasan almostcomical42-dayordeal,withmany

highsandlowsbeingthwartedbyweather andbureaucracy,aleisurelyflightturnedinto araceagainsttimetoattendtheshowat all.Hearrivedfiveminutesbeforethefield closedfortheairshowonthesecondtolast day.2August.

AsheheadedfortheHomebuilt Campingarea,wordhadalreadygotout abouthisjourneyovertheNorthAtlantic andnosoonersaidthandone,theKR2 wasturnedaroundandescortedtopark nexttothefamedOshkoshBrownArch, whereaircraftthathavemadeepicjourneys arecelebrated.

Commentingonhisjourney.Colin explainedthathehadbeendetainedbyUS borderCustomsandImmigrationduetoan errorontheirpart,andthenhadtoflythe last300mileswithanoverheatingengine duetoafailedandbypassedoilcooler.

CohnhasnowleftOshkoshandis headingforaKR2gatheringinChino, California.Healsointendstakinginthe Renoairraces.

Colin'sjourneycanbefollowedat Kr2worldtourblogspot.cauk oryoucan befriendhimonFacebook,searchfor'Krii worldtour'orgoto tinyuri.com/o3rw8eu

LAAAGMVENUECHANGE

TheAnnualGeneralMeetingofLight AircraftAssociationLimitedwillbeheld onSaturday1NovemberatTheCirrus Suite,SywellAerodrome,Northantsnotat TurwestonAerodromeaspreviouslynoted intheAugustissueof LightAviation. The programmeforthedayisasfollows: 1030-1100:Tea/Coffee 1100-1130:AGM

1130-1145:ServiceAwards 1145-1215:Reports 1214-1245:OpenForum

Nominationsforelectionorre-electiontothe Boardclosedon1September. NoticesofMotionConcerningamendments totheArticlesofAssociationmustbe submittedtotheLAAofficebySaturday 11Octoberandmustbesignedbythe

ProposerandaSeconder,bothotwhom mustbebeneficialshareholders. Aproxyvotingformwillbeprintedon thereverseofthewhiteaddresscover sheetthatcomeswiththeOctober magazineforthosewishingtovotebut whoareunabletoattend.Proxyforms mustbesubmittedatleast48hoursprior totheAGM.Furtherdetailsareavailableon theLAAWebsite wwwiaa.uk.com

WORLDDIRECTORY OFLIGHTAVIATION

The2014/2015,268pageeditionofthe WorldDirectoryofLightAviation(WDLA) is nowavailablefromtheLAAShop,price28 inclP&RTheDirectorylists,withimages, descriptionsandtechnicaldata,over1,000 aircraft:ultralights,microlights,LSA,gyrocopter. ultralighthelicopters,certifiedaircraft,kitplanes, trikes,ultralightandcertifiedglidersandmotorgliders,instruments,engines,propellersand accessories.Alsoincludedareaddressesof manufacturers,importers,associations,schools andmuchmore.

RESTRICTED AIRSPACE FORNATO SUMMIT

TheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganisation(NATO) SummitwillbeheldatNewport,Gwentbetween 3-5September2014.AnumberofHeadsofState andseniormembersofgovernmentsaredueto attend.Therefore,aspartoftheoverarchingsecurity operation,theSecretaryofStateforTransporthas decidedthatitisnecessarytointroduceRestriction ofFlyingRegulationsunderArticle161oftheAir NavigationOrder2009.

Thechartaboveshowsthetwoareasofrestricted airspace.andthedatesandtimesduringwhichthey willbeactive.UnauthorisedflightintothisRestricted AirspaceisFORBIDDEN.Deviationfromtherulesfor entrywillresultinINTERCEPTION.Fulldetailscan befoundinAeronauticalInformationCircular(AIC) M081/2014whichcanbeaccessedfromtheNEWS sectionoftheLAAwebsite wwwlaa.uk.com

REDUCEDADMISSION TOTHEFLYINGSHOW

TheFlyingShowreturnstoitsformerhomeat TheInternationalCentre.TelfordonNovember 22/23.LAAmemberscansavemoneybybooking theirticketsinadvance,26insteadoftheon-thedoorpriceof212.50.Membersmustenterthe codeTAA780honthebottomoftheticketpage byclicking'Enterpromotionalcode*.Onthenext screenthey will beaskedfortheirdetailsandLAA membershipnumber.Paymentcanbemadewith debitorcreditcardsandofcoursePaypal.This thenallowscurrentLAAmemberstopurchaseat thereducedprice.Alldiscountsapplytoadvance ticketsonly,nodiscountsareavailableontheday. wwwtheflyingshow.co.uk

Therearenowsingle-seat.poweredsailplanes availablethatarewithintheUKdefinitionofa Self-LaunchingMotorGlider(SLMC)andthat arealsowithinthedefinitionofasingle-seat rnicrolightaeroplane.TheCAAhasthereforeissued clarificationofwhichlicencesarevalidtoflysuch aircraft.Theyare: Anylicencethalisvalidforamicrolight

aeroplanethatisregisteredintheUK. AnyUKnationallicencewithavalidSLMG rating.

AnyPart-FCLl..ighl AircraftPilotLicence (Sailplanes)(TAPL(S))orSailplanePilotLicence (SPT)thatincludes'self'asalaunching method. Thefull CAAexplanationcanbefoundinthe NEWSsectionoftheLAAwebsite wwwlea.ukcom

Te". 371)14 012ic.-1AAGAWI

LAACLASSRATINGINSTRUCTORSEMINAR

TheLightAircraftAssociationonceagain welcomesinstructorstoitsannualLAA ClassRatingInstructorseminaron20 Septemberat /him/Aston Aninvitationis extendedtoanyClassRatingInstructor toattendAnannualevent,theseminar isprovidedasanopooruknayforLAA coachesandCRIsheretreshandupdate theirknowledgethroughpresentations onthelalrestchangesinlegJslationand instructionaltechniqueThisistheonly seminarofitskindintheUKtobeaimeo attheCassRatingInskuctor,arolewhich

GROPPOTRAILIDRO

GroppohasrecentlyflownafloatequippedversionofitspopularTrail, marketedintheUKbySpriteAviation,and youcanseethe!dminactionat www. spriteaviation.cauk

GrahamSmith,ofSprite,isalsoworking withWeslakeAviationtore-engineaTrail withtheWeslakeDieselaspartofthe flighttestingofthisexcitingnewengine.

wasintroducedunder JAR -FCL andis settocontinueunderEASA.TheCRI isextensivelyusedbytheLA,Awithall coachesholdingeitheranEASAClass RatingInstructororFlightInstructor certificate.

Afeeof675ispayablebynon-LAA coachestoattendtheone-dayseminar. whichincludestea,coffeeandalight lunch.Placesarelimitedsoplease ContactPennyatLAAHQon01280846 786tobookaplace.Furtherdetailsaro availableentheLAAwebsite

CONSULTATIONONCHANGETOEASA BASICREGULATION—PLEASEHELP

InRoger'sChairman'sChathereferredto themportanceoranEASAconsultation onchangestotheBasicRegulation.That consultationisA-NBA-201:1-12European Commissionpoicyinitiativeonaviation safetyandaoossibierevisionofRegulation (LC)No216/2008andcanbefound at easa.europa.nu/systemililesidhi/ANPA96202014-12.0df

ItisfafrlytechnicalandLTAwillbe resboricingthroughandwithbothEH.EVA andEuropeAirSports.

However,thereisasecond,related consultationfromtheEuropean Commissionwhichseekspubliccomment onhowaviationsafetyshouidheregulated withjntheEU.vveverymuchurge

POSSIBLEAIRFIELDPROTECTIONINITIATIVE

InarecentinterviewwithFlightTraining news.GrantShappsMPisreportedas commentingthatasignificantaiRield-related initiativeMIshortlytobeannouncedbythe government.Itplanstoconsiderwhether astrategicnetworkofGeneralAviation airfieldsisnowrequiredinordertoprotect jobs,trainingandgrowthinthesectorforthe longterm.

Theproposedannouncementwillformpart ofthegovernment'sresponsetotheGeneral AviationChallengePanelReport,which waspublishedatAeroExpoinJune.The panelpointedoutthatthelackofastrategic overviewofairfieldsmeantthatlicensed aerodromesareclosingatanalarming rate-puttingthisentirejob-creatingsector underthreat.Thereport'sauthorscalledon governmentrrknisterstorespond.

Speakinginadvanceofthegovernment's responsetotheChallengePanelthis Autumn,MrShappssaid,'Thereisalreadya DepartmentforTransporttenderingprocess underwayinordertoestablishthefullscale ofthecontributionmadebyGeneralAviation tooureconomy.Wewillthencarryoutan evaluationoftheneedforastrategicnetwork ofGeneralAviationairfieldsinorderto supportmorejobsandgrowthintheUK.' Thiscommitmentisamajorstep forwardbecausecurrentlythesurvivalof GAairfieldshasbeendowntothewhim oflocalplanning.Thegovernment's considerationofamorestrategicnationwide viewofthenetworkofairfieldscouldresult inadditionalplanningrestraintsimposed throughtheall-importantNationalPlanning PolicyFramework,

memberstorespondtothisconsultation, mindfulthatourobjectiveistosupport asensibleandproportionateregulatory regimeandthatwebelieveSportsand Recreationalaviationisbestservedby nationalregulationthroaohassociations. Naturallymuchofthequestionnaire relatestohighercommercialactivity however,withinthatweneedtoensure wenavethereaulatoryregimethatbest servesus.

Itisapubliconlineconsultation(although youcandownloadapdfofthequestions shouldyouwish)andcanbefoundvia thenewssectionortheLAAwebske ww(vtan.uh. com

Theconsultationcloses15September.

Sourcingpartsandcomparinge whatisavailablecanbea complicatedbusinessbut AdamsAviationhasrecently75 accesstoitsuniquelibraryof madeitaloteasierbyallowing .74rS AvIP o+ videos,cataloguesanddatafromthe world'spremiermanufacturersofpadsand accessories.Thelibraryamountstoover 3.200pages. Toaccessresource-clickonthe 'CapabilitiesandCatalogues'button onAdamsAviation'swebsiteat www. adamsaviation.com andselectanyoneof thecomprehensiverangeofmanufacturers thatAdamsAviationrepresents.Undereach brandthereisapdfdocumentand/ora YouTubelinkthatwillrevealmoreaboutthat particularcompany'sservicesandproducts.

LETTERS Theturn-backdilemma

The articlebyDavidJoyce catchilyentitled-StallSpinCouldYouBeTheNextStatistic'in yourJuneissuegotmyattention. Iwasparticularlyinterestedinthe assertionthatapilotwishingto turn360°withminimumheightloss shoulddosowith45°bankasnear thestallaspossible.Thisiscounter towhatyouwouldbetoldifyou askedtheusualpunditsatyour localflyingclub!

Havingdebatedthissameissue withotherpilots.Iembarkedona seriesofexperimentswarmyRV-e with SOMe interesingcanclusrons. Collectingreproducieleresihts around3,000-2000Fwiththeengine aridleandatmedurnaircraftweight inveSedsome40ciente-descents atbankanglestram15'to60.the resultsorwhichIaveragedleget reasonablyconsistentIrguresLower airspeed.higherbankcaseswere limitedatcoursebythestall.and descentsnearerthestallconditionI didathigheraltrtudes.Allturnswet madetotheright,astheleftwing dropsatthestall

Theresultsshamthatfarmy aircraftthereis Rn optimumbank angleofaroundesatdthe lowertheairspeedthebettes ThisconnrmswhatDavidsaysin Hsarticle,forthisarcraft:others shouldtryitfarothertypesto seewhetheritisageneralresult However,apilotsuddenlysuffering anenginefailurenearthegmund wouldnotbeadvisedtoembark enasteepturnontheedgeatthe stall!Ifound.asshowninthepraps below,thereislittlepenaltyinusing asalerairspeed,thebestglide speed(71krinlascase!orhigher UponEFATOonastraight-ost departurewhetheritispossible toturnbackrotherunway (contrary.ofcourse.rowhat wewerealltaught)depends interaliaonwhethertheclimb raleuptotnelalurepointhas exceededtheahnimumdescent rate(approximately720fomtor myHV-6Ibymoretitanenoughlo compensatefortnelossintheturn, whichinthiscasewouldbeatleast 450ft.Ifthereisnoexcess,there isnosafeturn-backaltitude.Ialso suspectwindhasaconsiderable eftectontLHsandintendto investigatefurther.

Wenowknowhowtominimise theturnloss-farthisaircrafttypeanditisatittlea:tensing. PeterGorman

DesignerDickieBirdatthe controlsofaAgricola

Agricolamemories

Itwaswithoreatexcitementrhat IreceivedtheJune2014,ssue of Lioh(Avothssi featuringthear restofthePosterAgricolaham mygoodfriendDavidBer.gerwho isthesonan-lawofthelategreat ailcratt designerDrckreBirdI owned andoperated:heAgricola forIFyearsdingarshowsano toodress,ngdisplaysaswellas usingitforprivatetransport bill everftuallyupgradedtoaCessna 185'Mil&mySanityfoundaliftle morecomfortable'

Ihadtheimmensepleasureto meetDicker:andhiswifeJeanontwo occasionseliceonavisittotheUK andaganwhenweIostedavisitto NZDrekrethornsrgItlyeripyedhis re-accatplancewiththeAgricola andIfle*himtoAucklandtobe InterviewedbyJohnKinganconic ay:attarphotographerandeditor heteinNZ

Dickiealsospentaninteresting hourorsorummagingthrough thevastquantityofsparesIhad housedinalargeimplementsned onourproperty.Hewasverykeen fortheAgrioclatoreturntotheUK. Dicke.hadalreadybeentoNZ anacoupleofoccasionsinthe earlydays.Firstlytoascertainthe environmenttheaircraftwouldbe operatinginandtheconsequent designrequirements.andthen latertoseetheaircraftoperating andspeaktothemajoroperator oftheAgrcolawhohapperledto bemylathesClaudeStephenson Claudewasadevoutdisciple attheAgricola.somuchso heboughtaltthesparesfrom Beagle(Austen)andproceededto assembletheaircraftinNZAlits peakClauqe'scompanyoperated fourAgricolas Ihavebeenwartingmanyyears torthismomentousoccasionasI soldtheAgricolaplusallspares nexistencetoCliffBaker(Davis:Is dad)in2001Theaircraft.ZK-BXO. wasplacedinone40ftcontainer andthelargequantityofspaces irranother.

IvisitedCarrFarmin2012, believingthatperhapstheAgricola maynevertlyagainbutwasvery impressedwiththeprogressthat DavidIladmadeandhisassurance thatitwoulddetrintelybeflyingagain FrancisftAirTestreportwas verycomprehensiveandwell presented.Havingbeeninvolved withtheAgricolaforsuchalong periodIhavejustafewpoints otinterest

1Thepowerplantwasoriginally a240hpContinentalhutdueto acoupleofAgricola'stailingto getairborneoffstrips.Claude upgradedtheenginetoa 260hp.Thissmallincreasein horsepowerdramaticallyimproved performanceThe300hpengine wouldhavebeenevenbetterbur wasnotavailableatthetime.

2InthereportFrancisnotes howeasyitistolandtheAgricola. Oneoflireearlypilotsnotedthis tacttoDickieBirdinconversation. believingitwashisgreatpiloting skillstowhichDickiereplied"Ah buryouseeIdesignedtheAdricola tostallinthethree-pointattitudeft 3Francisbeliefthatflyingthe Agricolatourafterhourcontour fryinglowlevetwouldbeprettyhard workcouldnotbefurtherfromthe truthDickie'sdesignwasverymuch wtththepilotitlmind.Hydraulic flapsandhopperverysensitive trim(asFrancisnoted),ahuge alsqalaileronandlargerudder andelevatorsAllenginecontrols. hopper,flaps,trimwheel.parkbrake are ill averticallinewherethepilot's lefthandrests.Ailofthesecontrols requireonlysmallmovements ofthehand.Comparedtothe contemporaryaircraftotthetime,this wasaveryrelaxingaircrafttofly 4.Thenoiselevelandlackof cockpitsound-proofupwaspart oftheLandrover-Upedesign.but thiswasnegatedtoagreatextent withcrash-helmetsandlaternoise absorbingearmuffsAsyouwillsee inpicturesoftheAgricolaatwork. theyhadaugmentationpipeswith considerablylongerexhaustpipes thantheaircraftFrancistestflew. Myheartycongratulationste CiiffandDavidBakerfortheir achievementinpreservingthe legacyofthisremarkableaircraft, whichplayedadominantrolein aerialtopdressinginthesouthern WairarapaandWellington provincesfor30years. JohnStephenson, Whitianga,NewZealand e ellzo•oe.eal'abo

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Projectstoinspireotherstobuildtheirownaeroplane

CompiledbyDanielFrancis

nceagainthankyoutoallwhohavecontributedthis monthwithnewsoftheirprojects.Igreatlyenjoy readingtheindividualaccountsofyourbuilds. especiallywhenyoureffortshavefinallycometofruitionwith thatapprehensivebutexcitingfirstflight.Inthisissuethere's anaccountofacompletedfinishedRV-8projectfromPatrick Peal,plusthecontinuingbuildofthefirstUKtaildragger versionofaBristellNG5byNigelStokes.Asalwaysthestories arenotonlyveryentertaining,explaininghowtheprojectweaves inandoutoftheireverydaylives,butarealsofilledwithusefuladvicefor thenovicebuilder.

AlthoughIamfascinatedwithalltypesofaircraft,ofparticular interesttomearethereplicasofvintageaircraft,especiallyfromthe

FirstWorldWarperiod.Theseprojectscansometimesbe overshadowedbytoday'snewerandsleekerdesignsbut, especiallywithcommemorationsforthestartofMeconflict lastmonth,theyhavebecomemuchmorerelevanttousall. Ifyouhaveaprojectofthistype.Iwouldverymuchliketo hearyourstory.

ProjectNewsisalwaysinneedformorebuildingstories. Pleasedon'thesitatetosendtheoddpictureorreportofa significantstageyouhavereached.Ifyou'vealreadybeenin touchwithyourstory,pleasekeepmeandyourfellowmembersup todatewithprogress.Whetheryou'vejuststartedorareaddingthe finishingtouches,infactwhateverstageyou'reat,pleasegetintouch withProjectNewsat projectnews@laa-archive.org.uk

BEINGBUILTBYNIGELSTOKES

ITMIGHTseemanobviousquestionbut,whydidnoonetellmethere wouldbesomuchtobuildingakitplane?Shelooksfarworsenow thanwhenshewasfirstdeliveredtotheworkshop!Thenshewas tidyinsideandthenewpaintworkshone.Nowshe'scoveredinold blanketsforprotectionagainstaccidental'keying'andtheinterioris fullofwireendspokingoutofholesandtemporarytie-wrapsholding bitstogether.

I'vediscoveredthatIneedadifferentlengthofboltorstyleofnutfor virtuallyeveryjobandseemtospendmoretimeontheinternetordering bitsthanIdobuilding.Ifondlythought,inmynaivety,thatIcouldorder everythingupatonce,takedeliveryandcommenceacontinuousbuild butInowfindthatIstartonejobandhavetoabandonitforlackof somethingvital.IntheolddaysImighthaveusedanear-enoughbolt, nut,washerorwhatever,butnowI'mdisciplinedonlytohaveexactlythe

BUILTBYPATRICKPEAL

correctpartIfIdon'tIknowmyinspectorwilleatmealiveHavingsaid allthat,l'rnreallyenjoyingtheprocessandambeginningtoseesome successfromallmylabours.

Thereisnostep-by-stepmanualandthemainpubkcationsentout bytheimporter,FarrySayah.isacollectionofphotographsfromthe CzechoslovakianmanufacturerandfromFarry'sownbuildofaRotaxcoweredtricycleversion.Thetextualinformationisverysparseindeed.

Ian'sBristellis thefirsttailwheelequippedversionin theUK.Italsouses thesix-cylinder Jabiruratherthan the'standardfit' Rotax912S.

Asaresult,thelayoutandtheorderofconstructionisleftprettymuch tothebuilder.andI'vespentmuchtimetryingtovisualisetherouteof variouspipes,wiresandcomponentsinanattemptnottoputsomething inonlytofindoutlaterthatitobstructssomethingelsethatIhavetoadd inthesamelocationIndiscussionwithothersIamfindingthatthisis quitenormal.

I'vehungtheengine,whichisamajorpsychologicalstepfonNardasit nowlooksmorelikeanaeroplane.WhenIopened;heboxinwhichthe enginearriveditwasupsidedown..well,itisaJabirufromAustralia... andthefirstchallengewasgettingitoutofthecrate,thenuptheright wayandintoapositiontobeliftedusinganenginehoist.Having accomplishedthat,thenextjobwastofindasuitablerouteforthetwo liftingropes.DuringthemanoeuvreIdidn'twantanyoftheropesto presson.bendorotherwisedistortanythingontheengine.Thiswould havebeeneasywithabasicblockbutthisenginecomescomplete withpiping,wiring,carburettorandancillianesallinplace,anditnever ceasestoamazemehowSod'sLawdictatesthatihemostvulnerable bitsarejustwheretheropeneedstogoAnyself-respectingsailor wouldhaveshudderedatmyknotsbuttheyheld

Anyway.afterafruitlesscoupleofhoursattemptingtomanhandle itintoplace,aswiftphonecalltoLarrysoonputusright.Ihadbeen followingtheinstructionsintheJabirumanual(nolprovidedbyFarry) andtheywerewrongtFollowingFerry'sadvicewehadthelittlebeauty oninafewminutes.

I'musingthefirstpersonpluraloccasionallyas,althoughI'mbuilding thismachinemyself,I'mhavingahugeamountofencouragementfrom mygoodchumFrankBond,inwhosegarageI'mworking.Heisalso onhandtoaddanotherpairofhandswhenneededandanothermind onaproblem.aswellasahugeamountofpracticalbasicengineering advice.

Thatenginethingwasabigvisualstepforwardbutmostofthejobs arenotsoimpressivetoanyonlookerastheydon'tmakethemachine lookanybetter:infactIheymostlymakeituntidier.OnceI'vecompleted thewiringandpipework,itcanallbebundledtogetherandwrapped tidily,andthatwillbeanothervisuallypleasingstepforward.

Thewingsandtailplanearestoredatanotherlocationbutare substantiallycompletesothebulkoftheworkinvolvesthefuselage Completionisstillaverylongwayoffbutdefinitelyachievable.My answertoanybody'snaturalquestionof"WhenwillitLefinished?'is "Whenitiscomplete"

So,forthetimebeing,Iturnupmostdaysforasixorseven-hourday andplaywithwires,pipes,aluminiumandelectronics.It'sagreatlife andI'msecretlylovingit!

PROJECTNEWS

APPROPRIATELYREGISTERED.NorfolkbasedG-NRFKflewforthe

firsttimeon15July.Thetwoowners,PatrickPealandChrisHarpertell theirstory.

Afteradecadeofdreaming,discussing,debarring.drgingoutrivets anddesigninginstrumentpanels,paintschemesandelectricalsysIems, G-NRFKblastedofffromDerbyforitsmaidenflightonTuesday15 JulyinthecapableandexperiencedhandsetPaulJones,Apparently sheflewjustaswellaswecouldhavewished.straightandtrue,with theVan'ssupplied10-360andHartzellconstant-speedpropprovIding exhilaratingperformance.PaulandChriscompletediheflighttest schedule in lessthanthreeweeks-withnomajordramastoreport.

Theinstrument/electricalfitofaSkyanewwithtransponderand autopilot.VerticalPowerVPXSportandTrigradiogivesusallthe capabilityandinformationwecouldpossiblywishfor,andthensome Wemayaddasecondmovingmapdisplayatsomepoint.

ThecolourschemewiththeCrossofStOmerandelliptical'swooshes' onwingsandhorizontalstabiliserreflectsChris'sformerRAFlitewith 41SquadronandPatrick'sconnectionwitlithesilverandredairracing Spitfire(alsoa41Squadronaircraft)atHistoricFlying.Wemaybe biasedbutwethinkitdoeslookrathergood.

HugethankslcengineerNeilFrance,testpilotPaulJones.Derby airportownerMartinJonesandhisteam,acesupptierDanBrodieat HarryMendelssohn,AbbyatFlightlineInteriors.theLAAEngineering teamandmanyothersincludingourtolerantandsupportivewivesand tarrilies.

ADVICETOOTHERS

BuildtoVan'splans.makecontactwithotherbuilders,usetheforums andhelplines(therereallyisnosuchthingasadumbquestionexcept theoneyoushouldhaveaskedbutdidn't)andofcourse,measure twice,cutonce.Oh,andpickanengineerwhoknowstheaircrafttypeinvaluable!Itwasachallenoefindingasupplierofswitchdearweliked. andfindingtheconfidenceandthetools(thanksGlennWaters)tobuild anelectricalsystemthatworkedfirsttime Wouldwebuildanotherone?Onlyitwehavekik

ThepanelfeaturesaDynonSkyViewandautopilot

(photo:PalrickPeal)

PAULWINTERS' VAN'SRV-8G-XRVB

ByNeilFrancis PFA303-14190

july28sawRV-8G-XRVBtaketothe

skiesforthefirsttimeinthehandsofits builderPaulWinters.Theprojecthas takenPaulnineyearsandninemonthsto complete,somewhatlongerthanthethree yearshisresearchsuggestedbutlite,asever, meantthatprioritiessometimeshadtochange andtheprojecttakeabackseat.Paultakesup thestory:

WhyanRV-8?Hpreviouslypart-owneda ChipmunkandanRV-4,andamcompletely soldoncentrelineseatingforaerobaticsand thefantasticvisibilityitgivesinalldirections. Asecondseattosharetheexperiencewas alsoamust.

Anaircraftdesianedtocarrytwolarge adults,withbags,butalsoabletofly sequentialaerobaticswithoutheightloss fittedmyfantasy.Thetwobaggageholds enableeasiercontrolofCofG.andanall metalconstructionallowsoccasionaloutside parking.Beingaclosetmechanical.electrical andavionicsengineerandhamradio enthusiast.akitaircraftalsoseemedanideal harmonisationofmyinterests.

Thefirstdecisionwasflat-packorquickbuild.Formethebuildingisabigpartof thetunsoflatpackwaschosenItisalso considerablycheaper,especiallywhen shippingisfactoredintotheequationItalso potentiallyallowsforeasiercustomisation, suchasthefittingoffloptubesinthefuel tanks.whichisidealtoraerobatics.

Afewsecondsfromthefirstlanding, whatwouldabloodpressuremonitor bereading?

Researchsuggesteditwouldtakeabout threeyearsbasedononefullweekendday plustwoeveningsperweek.Withalocal airlinejobandnochildren,thatseemed achievablesotheempennagekitwas acquiredinDecember2004.

HowmuchspacewouldIneed?Likemost buildersIlookedatthesizeofthewings andfuselagetodeterminemyworkshop's suitabilitybutfailedtofullyappreciate theenormousquantityofpartsthathave tobestored.Mydouble-widthoarage appearedadequateatfirstbutsoonbecame overwhelmed,soasecondgardenshedwas built.Unpackingandstoringthemassof partsrequiresahighdegreeoforganisation -anareaIunderestimated.Simplyplacing unpackeditemsonmygarageshelvesmeant therewassoonsomuchstuffstowedthatI struggledtofindthings.Istronglyrecommend somesortoflabellingsystemsoyoucanmark theinventorywithshelflocations.Also,Van's isincrediblycunningatpackingyouritems: Ispentthebestpadofadaylookingforthe rearstickonlytofinditinsidethefrontstick!

Theairframeandwingswerecompleted afteracoupleofyears.However,it'struewhat theysay,whenitstartstolooklikeanaircraft

youareprobablyonlyabouthalfway.Timeto decideonapanel.TheDynonD180seemed idealgiventhephenomenalamountof informationcontainedinitsAS(approximately) sizedunit.AKingKX125Nav/Comwas sourcedafterflyingbehindoneandloving thein-builtOBS,althoughthat,ofcourse, subsequentlyhadtoberemovedthanksto 8.33channelspacingnowbeingrequiredthanksEASA.Themoral,getyouravionicsas lateaspossible!

Whenitwastimetosourceanengine,the littleboyinmesaid,"Getthebiggest,most powerfulallowed.'Theresultwasthata second-handex-Bulldog10-360A1136200bhp Lycomingwasacquired.Isubsequently becameawareoftheSuperior10-360which scornedtobetakingovertheworld,offeringa lighterweight,moremoderntechnologyand potentialunleadedmogascapabilityetc.The LycomingwassoldandaE6kdepositpaidto theUKSuperiorimporter.Asuitably-tailored firewallforwardkitwasorderedfromVan's butunfortunatelytheSuperiorimporterwent intoadministrationThiswasaworryingtime butluckilyI'dpaidbycreditcardandwas reimbursedinfull.TheAmericansupplierof Superiorenginesofferedtosupplymedirect afterpaymentofadepositbutittoowentinto administration.Asheepishsecondcallto thecreditcardcompanysawmereimbursed yetagain.Moral,useacreditcardforlarge purchaseswherepossible!

Anotherex-Bulldogenginecamemyway, so I boughtit.Butmyfirewallforwardkitwas tailoredfortheSuperior.Withthehelpof Van'sandsomelatenighthead-scratching!I workedoutwhichpartswerecommon,which couldbesoldandwhichneededto bebought.

Mid-build,theairlinejobmovedand requiredcommuting,twochildrensoon followedandtheprojectedthreeyearbuild stretchedconsiderably.By2011,sevenyears in,itlookedlikeanaeroplanebutneeded painting.Beingthetypewholikestodo everythingmysell,Ibefriendedsomelocalcar paintersandlearnedtherudimentaryskills required.Thisisanenormousundertaking andtookalotlongerthananticipated.It hadtobeasimpleschemebutIwantedit tobedifferentGlossgreywaschosento mimicmilitaryaircraftwithstencilgraphics.A Marmiteschemeperhaps,but I likeit.

In2012!adummyhnalassemblytook placeinmybackgardenandinAugust2013 itwasdismantledandmovedtoBiciford airfield.1figuredamonthorsowouldsee itreassembledandreadytofly.Justalittle optimistic,notleastbecausetheenginehad toberemovedforahealthcheck.having beenidleformanyyears.Ithendiscovered myHartzellprop,stillnewinitsbox.required aserviceaswell,havingbeeninstorageforin excessoftwoyears.Afterre-fillingtheengine Ithendiscoveredthe(14)hosesrequired removalforpressuretesting.ThankstoCFSat Coventryforhelpingmeoutthere.

InJuly2014Iwasrunningoutofexcuses nottofly.ShouldIapplyforpermissiontofly itmyself?Whatexperienceisrequired?Well, thankstoalifetimeworkingioranairlineIhave afatlogbook(that'smostlybeenspenteating orreadingthenewspaper).Ihave,however, scratchedthesurfaceofthetest-flyingworld byconductingCofArenewalandpost maintenancetestflightsonboth largeairlinersandSEPaircraft.The LAAsaidyesandeverythingfellinto placeon28thJuly.

Excitedlyturningthefuselagethe rightwayuptofindyou'vebuilta canoe!PaulinhisRV-8.

Fueltankleaktest,willtheballoonstillbe inflatedinthemorning?Thankfullyitwas.

THEFIRSTFLIGHT

TheLAAwantstoseeaformal14-pageflight testformcompletedbutnotuntilafive-hour shakedownperiodhasbeenflown.Little isprescribedforthisperiodsavefor15 landingsandatwo-hourenduranceflight. Talkingtoothersandreadingamultitudeof articles!Ipreparedthefirstflighttestcard. Thisincludedashortflightcommencingwith aflaplesstake-off(noneedtoworryabout over-speedingtheflaps),afocusontheprop RPMasthetinepitchstopandgovernormay needadjustment,aclimbto3,000ftwatching theengineparametersclosely,followedbyan assessmentoflowspeedhandlingwithtwo stalls,withandwithoutfHp,verifyingtheASIS accuracyandchosenapproachspeeds. Thereismuchwrittenaboutlandingthe-8 andhowdifferentitistothe-7and-4,with somesuggestingawheelerisbest,especially withaforwardCofGasIhad,whenallegedly itmaynotbepossibletoachieveathree-point altitude.Idecidedtoattemptathree-point landingbutregardlessofsuccess,Iwould touchandgo.Ihadnoproblem

Agardenornamentwithadifference.First bigrigofwingsandfuselage.

gettingthetaildownaridasecondthreepointerataslightlyreducedspeedworked tooSolandingnumeerthreewouldbea wheelerthatworkedwellwithmuchless tendencythanthe-7or-4havelogoflying againIdidfinditsurprisinglytrickytokeep straightasthespeeddecayedthough

THESNAGS

AfterparkingIdiscoveredthetwotailwheel chainshadbroken.probablybecausethey weretootight.Anextralinkhassincebeen insertedandsofartheyareworkingfine withmuchimprovedcontrolduringthe landingroll.Shedidappeartowanttoroll right,soweappliedtheVar8sheavywingfix i.e.averyslightsqueezeoftheleftaileron trailingedge.Thishassinceprovedtobe amazinglyeffective.

Therewasalsoanannoyingcontinuous toneinmyheadset,whichstartedmid-way throughtheflightandpersistedthroughout. Ifoundthisodd.asIhadmadeapointof turningoffalltheDynon'saudiblewarnings. Thisturnedouttobeanerroneousstall warningiiromtheDynonandwasfixedon thesecondflightbycalibratingtheexcellent angle-of-attacksystem.

Myemotionsafterthefirstflightwere ofgreatdelightofcourse.Iwasalittle disappointedatthesnagsbutmostofallI wasrelievedThesecondflight,havingfixed thesnagsandbeingmorefamiliarwiththe aircraft,wasprobablythemostenjoyable.The restoftheshakedownflyingwasabreezeand thetestflightitselfwentverywell.Climbingat 110kt(wellinexcessofVy)forcooling,she achieved1,700fpminitiallyand1,300fpmon average.That'satmaxweightandISA+10. Ferhapsthatbigenginewasworththeweight afterall,althoughtheemptyweighthascome outat533kg.Thatmeanstwomid-weight adultscanload a 20kghagandfullfuelbut aerobaticswillbeseverelylimited. Thanksmustgotomyinspector,Steve RollsofBidfordEngineering,fornot beingtoounkindaboutmywork(we don'tmentionwirelockingpropbolts), amultitudeoffamilyandfriends,and especiallymyfather-in-lawDon,always keentodropeverythingatamoment's noticetodriveforanhourandhelpmeset afewrivets.

T hisyear'sRSA(FrenchHomebuilt)

RallywasagainheldatVichy incentralFrance,inmid-July. Unfortunatelytheweatherforecasts leadinguptotheeventwerenot good,indicatingthatgettingtheremightbe problematicandcertainlythehomeward journeyontheSundaywouldbedifficult.Sadly thatmeantanumberofpotentialUKvisitors decidedtogiveitamiss,asdidmanyFrench pilots,meaningonlyaround250arrivals (halfthatoflastyear)wererecorded,most ofwhomarrivedontheSaturday.Worse, withtheexpectedbadweatherovermuch ofFrancefortheSunday.therewerefewer than40aircraftremainingintheaircraftpark bySaturdayeveningaspilotsbeatahasty retreatforhome.Thismusthavebeenabitter disappointmentfortheRSA.whichhasbeen puttinginalotofeffontoestablishtherally's permanenceatVichyandraiseitsprofile.

ItravelleddownwithfriendGarySmithin hisRV-9onFridayandwehadatroublebeerun,roufingviaTroyesforCustomsand steppingforourusualovernightatoneof ourfavouritewateringholes,Avahon,about threequartersofanhournorthofVichy.The weatherwasveryhot,illiadbeenfil0T,on theapronatFroyes.andtherewerehoperts ofpeoplefaintinginIhestreefisAnearly morningdeparturesawustouchingdownat therallybyaround10,00Deal

Afteranabsolutedelugeonthe Saturdaynighttheweathertooka realturnforthebetteratVichyon Sundayandtheweatherradarshowed theworstoitherainuptheeastern andwesternstdesatDecountry, withthemiddleclear.Andsoitiurnad out,withusroutingpastTroyesand SoissonseastofParisandnotrunning intotheweatheruntilabouttenmiles fromAmiens,afterwehoeturnedwest. Welandedatthedesertedairfieldand crossedtheroadtoaMcDonald'swhere wecoulduseitsfreeWi-Fitokeeptrack oftheweather-netexactlyhautecuisine builtwastreeingitdownoutside.Byearly eveningtheworstwasover,therainradar imageswerereasonable,SouthenWsmeter wasgoodandphonecallsconfirmedKent wasintheclear,sowefiledaflight planonlineandheadedforhorne

(Right) It'squiteraretoseeSpanish homebuiltssothiscolourfulRV-7built byAlfonsoHernandezwasarealtreat. Theweatherinthesouthwasparticularly stormy,somuchsothatDynAero,now basedinPaudownbythePyrenees,did notmakeittotheshow,soAlfonsomay wellhaveflownupearlierintheweek.

(Leff)Despite thelowturnout,theeventstillthrewupsome interestingaircraftandintheexpandedexhibitionarea,twoin particularcaughtmyeye.ThefirstIreportedonlastyear,the HKW-aerowhichrepresentsacategoryofaircraftthatIfindquite intriguing-low-poweredtwo-seatersdesignedtoemulatethe efficiency/economyconceptofMichelColomban'ssingle-seat Luciole.TheLucioleweighsinatlessthan100kgyetliftsitsown weightandwillcruiseat100mphforfourhours,sippingaround fivelitresperhourofmogas.Thechallengeofcreatingatwo-seat equivalenthasbeenslowindeliverybutifitisgoingtohappen anywhere,IthinkitwillinFrance.Therumourmillsuggeststhat Colombanhimselfisworkingonatwo-seatdesign,butIhave heardnothingsubstantive.

Followersofsuchultra-lightdesignswillrecallthatlastyearthe 11KWwasdebutedasaconcept,ratherthanaphysicalaircraft. Poweredbythesame627ccBriggs&StrattonVanguardV-twin asLuciole,onlytunedandwithabeltreductiondrivetoreputedly produce40hpasopposedtoLuciole'sverymildlytuned(from 23hp)25hpdirectdriveoutput,itlooksaninterestingcandidate. Itsappearancethisyearwasalso,sadly,not'inthemeterbut againasposterimages,thedesignercommentingthatwiththe prototypebeingonlyaboutsixweeksfromfirstflight,andthe complexitiesofarrangingsuitabletransport,theychosenotto bringit.

Itdoes,however,havesomeratherunique,dareIsuggestquirky, featuresandIcannothelpfeelingthatperhapstherehasbeen

unnecessaryover-complicationofwhatinessenceneedstobea simple,verylightstructureifitistoperformwellonlessthanhalf thepoweroftoday'stypical450kgmicrolightsandVLAs. Certainlynewtomeisthewingstructure,whichfeaturesa fullspancarbonfibre'I'beamsparthatisthreadedthroughthe fuselageasanindividualcomponent,withthewingpanelsthen slippingontoitandbeingpinnedataroundeach'smid-span,plus attherearsparroot/fuselagejunctions.LargeFowlerflapsare fitted,arelativerarityonlightaircraftletaloneinthemicrolight category,butwithawingarealessthanthatofcontemporary machinesnodoubtnecessarytobringdownthestallspeedtothe required35ktmaximumpermitted.

Asecondunusualfeatureisthatthefuselagebulkheads,fourin total,areofplywood,thealuminiumskinsattachingtothemvia angleextrusionsattachedtotheply.Theupshotofthesediverse constructionmethodsisthattheyalmostcertainlycontribute towhatsomemightconsideradisappointingprojectedempty weightof250-260kg,whichisonly10-20kgshyofatypical80or 100hp912poweredthree-axis450kgmicrolight.Theperformance targets,however,areimpressive-4.2litresoffueltocover100km (67mpg),182kmh(113mph)cruisespeedandarangeof950km (590sm)...andallon40hp.Itwillbeinterestingtoseehowit measuresuponceflighttestingcommences Initialplansaretoselltheaircraftasaready-to-flymachinewitha targetpriceofC42,000plusVAT. www.hkw-aerafr

RSARALLY2014

ItwasabitmuckypastAbbevilleandout tothecoastbutbyacoupleofmilesout intotheChannelitrapidlyimprovedand wesoonhada4.000ftceilingalltheway backtosunnyFarthingCorner. Doyourselfafavourandplantogo totheRSARallynextyearItreallyisa uniqueeventandif.asIexpect,Vichy remainsthevenue,itisalovelyspatown withahistorythatconsiderablypre-dates itsWWIIconnotations:parksandbeautiful buildingsaboundAndifyoufancya stopoverenrouteIrecommendSemuren Auxois,AvallonorChartres.alldelightful oldtownsthatarewithineasywalking distanceoftheirairfieldsandwellwortha visitintheirownright.Bonvolt

(Above)The prettylittleSensationisatwo-seat,all-metaldesignbuiltinFrancebythe aeronauticalengineeringcompanyESPACE.ItwasdesignedbyformerAirbusengineer JoseVergesasa450kgmicrolightwhichcruisesat130mphonan80hp912UL.Price around€65,000. www.espace-sa.fr

(Below)Another minimalistmachinethathasbeen15yearsin developmentisBernardGeffray'sSpratt103,forwhichasetof plansisavailable(€100).Thisreallyisabasicmachinethateasily fallsintotheUKSSDRcategoryandcanbebuiltforrelatively lowcost.The'fuselage'isbuiltfromweldedstainlesssteeland ismorereminiscentofaflexwingthanathree-axismachine—but theSpratt103isn'tthree-axiseither,itiswhatintheUSiscalled acontrolwingdesign.Thewingsmoveindependentlyforroll control,althoughtheyalsohaveadegreeoffreemovementwhich allowsthemtoabsorbgustloads.Theyworktogetherforpitch when,withpower,theycontrolclimbanddescent.Thereisnoyaw (rudder)controlorpedals,thecontrolyokesteersthenosewheel forgroundoperationsinconjunctionwiththerollcontrol.

Thewingsuseasimpleladdersparbuiltfromaluminiumbox sectiontube,andfoamribs.CoveringisamatrixofKraftpaper, glassclothandDacronencasedwithpolyesterresin.Asimilar systemisusedonthefixedV-tailsurfaces.Commercialgrade materialsareusedthroughout.

(Above)Sticking withthelightweighttheme,atwo-seaterthatpays almostcult-likehomagetotheRutanmantraof 'ifyouthrowitup intheairanditcomesdownagainthenitistooheavy' isThierry Pujolle'sAgrion.Atfirstsightitlooksabitlikeamicrolightversion ofaBreezybutoncloseinspectionyoucanseethatthetubular fuselageisactuallymadefromcarbonfibretubesandnot4130 steel.Someoftheattentiontodetailinsavingweighthastobe seentobebelieved;exquisitelymadecarbonandaluminiumparts abound.ThewingusescarbontubesparsandKlegecellfoamribs withacarbonleading-edge,allfabriccoveredwithOratex.Kitfox (Junkers)styleflaperonsarefittedandthewingswingsthrough 900torunalongthesameaxisasthefuselagefortransport. Theengineisa28hpsingle-cylinderAirmax220M,more commonlyusedonparamotors,andalthoughthatsounds ridiculouslysmallforatwo-seater,itdoesbegintomakesense whenyouconsidertheemptyweightofthismachineisjust78kg andmaximumallupweightis290kg, 10kg lessthatourSSDRlimit forsingle-seatmicrolights!

TheaircraftfirstflewattheendofMaythisyearbutitisonly thefirststeptowardsThierry'sgoalofatwo-seat,side-by-side amphibianwhichwillweighinat210kgempty,haveausefulload of240kgandamaximumcruiseof225kph(140mph)ona65hp Rotaxtwo-stroke.TheAgrionwasbuilttoprovetheconstruction conceptbutThierry,whowontheJeanPottierTrophyforBest Prototype,didsayhemayconsidermakingplansavailable. wwwulminimalistsitew.com

EnginechoiceissuggestedasaHondaV-twinGX670industrial unitof22hporaconvertedCitroen2CVmotor,althoughaslong asthepowerplantislessthan45kganddeliversatleast75kgof thrustitwillfitthebill.Theexampleseenattheshowisanearly, andnotyetfinished,customerexamplewhichdiffersfromthe prototypeinthatithasanicelystyledcompositeenclosedcockpit. www.spratt103.com

(Left)While homebuilthelicoptersremainararityRotorwayhas stoodthetestoftime,theoriginalcompanybeingstartedin Arizona1961byBJSchramm,withitslatestmachine,theTalon, todaybeingproducedinSouthAfrica.TheKompressCharlie CH-7shownisanItaliankittwo-seattandemmachinethathas alsobeenaroundforawhile,120ishhavingbeenproducedto date.Theseatingisreminiscentofaflex-wing,whereyouneed tobeonespeciallyfriendlytermswithyourpassenger,butthe companyalsohasaside-by-sidedesign,theCH-77Ranabot.The -7cancruiseforthreehoursat100mph,withthefueltankbeing removabletoaidrefuellingatoff-airfieldlocations. www.ch-7helicoptercom HeliLightULMisatrainingschoolthatusestheCH-7andis basedanhour'sdriveeastofParisatChateau-Thierry. www.helilightulmcom

AR6201VHFCom833kHzE1295 BXP6401class2xpndr £1695 BXP6401class!epnd£2065

8E6400encoder E199

1721ModeStransponder£1395 1722ModeStransponder£1560 1131ModeSrranspondezE1575

TY91VHFCom833kHz E1295

FIM51childheadset f89

Peltor8006GAheadsetE199

PeltorHelicopterheadset £225

DavidClarkH1030 £199

DavidClarkH10-13.4 £229

DavidClarkHI0-13H E249

DavidClarkH10-60 £259

NEWDavidClarkPro%MC£416

SennheiserHME110 £204

SennheiserHMEC250 £315

SennheiserHMEC26BK E499

SennheiserS1passive £266

Sennheiser51noiseguard£542

Sennheiser51DigitalANAE724

7ZTomnCoordinator f530 7000C.31VenicalSpeedInd E450 M1190GummiClock f165

A20GAtwinplug £667

A20GAtwirplugvalseteoth£737

A20Helicopterw/biuetoothE737

A20Lemoinstalledversion£667

A20Lermaviiihmeioarh £737

Installedwilingharness E30

M1NGDA 6H030vacuums10112011 E375 GH025electrichorizon14volfE850 613031DGvacuum E375 60023gBelectric( £850 13C2AVerticalSpeedIndicatorE129 BZW4BTar11Coordinator£295 BG3EAltimeter20000'3soonerf250 EI615AS20160knots E119 BK13AASI20-100knots E119 ForotnerASIeaseseeallfWensite MCO22VerticalcaidcompassE149

Paneldock1RA500E99

PaneldockARA795£149

PaneldockGPS695f149

Paneldock296/495£75 iPadkneedock £99 Icom

IC-ARESporispk £208

IC-A6EPropark£308

IC-A24E&rods.E275

IC-A24EPropack„£375

IC-A110 £625 Westockalullrange 01loomAccessories

IC-A6EandIC-A24Etransceivers nowhave833kHzchannelspacing Receivers IntekARUN £58 loomIC-R6

Raftwithcanopy E1099 flakwithequipment £1299 HMSurvivorSlimlinelifejacket withwhistleandlight £65 2PersonRafts Raft £699 Raftwithcanopy £799 4PersonRafts Raftwithcanopyf899 Raftwithstdequipment£999 Raftwithdeluxeequip£1495

IMC/IFR/ NIGHT: THEAPPROVAL PROCESS

ByPeterPengilly,LeaderofthePermit

IFRWorkingGroup

T heIMC/IFR/Nightapprovalprocess isnowwellunderwayforthefirstfew aircraft,withaclearanceforthefirst twointothetrialphaseanticipatedvery soon.Thistypeofendeavouralways hasafewsurpriseshiddeninthedetailandthis onehasbeennoexception!Wethinkwearewell onthewaytosolvingalloftheproblemsthathave beenidentified,butI'mnotgoingtoclaimsuccess untilwehaveapprovedsolutionsforeachofthe aircraft.Therehasbeenmuchtolearnabouthow theapprovalprocessshouldbestructuredand thedetailswillbereviewedinthenextfewmonths beforepublishingaTechnicalLeaflet(TL)later intheyear.Thisarticleprovidesanoutlineofthe processandexplainssomeofthebackground behindit.

It'sworthsayingattheoutsetthatuntilthe trialphaseiscomplete,andtheprocessTL andacompanionTechnicalStandardsTL arepublished.LAAHQwillnotbeaccepting applicationsforanyIMC/IFRornight clearances.Theaimistoreachthatstageas quicklyaspossible,butthisisasignificant stepfor[heAssociationandthearrangements arebeingreviewedverycarefully.

Intheearlydaysofamateurbuiltaircraft intheUK,[heCAArecognisedthevaluein allowingaircrafttoflythatcouldnotdemonstrate compliancewiththefullweightofBOARsection K,asitwasthen(andEASACS23asitis today),andcreatedthePermittoFly.Because manyPermitaircraftcouldnotdemonstrate compliancewithaninternationallyrecognised certii'cationcode,certainoperational restrictionswereimposed,includinglimiting theflightstodaytimeandVFRonly.Thiswas entirelyreasonableasthetypicalaeroplanes involvedwereverymuchrecreationaltypes. CAApublicationCAP733providesafull description.TheANO,part3article23(5), alsoslatesthatanaircraftwithaPermittoFly

mayonlybeflownbydayandinaccordance withtheVisualFlightRulesunlesstheprior permissionoftneCAAhasbeenobtained. Settingouttoobtainsuchpermissionwas notatasktobeundertakenlightly.Whenthis projectstartedasignificantamountoftimewas takentoensurethattheCAAwouldindeedbe preparedtoissuesuchapermission.Much oftheprojecthasbeenaboutdeterminingthe criteriathatmustbemetbeforepermission maybegranted.

ThereweresomeareaswheretheLAAand theCAAwereverymuchonthesamelines. Forexample,weagreedthatthereshouldbe nochangetotheANC)andonlytheminimum alleviationfromANOrequirementswherethere wasnoalternative.Wealsoagreedthatthereis nosuchthingas'IFFIlite'meaningthateither youcomplywithIFRoryouarelimitedtoVFR; VMC.TheLAAhadnointentionofseeking approvalforflightinknownairframeicing conditions,andtheCAAindicatedthatitwould beveryreluctanttoconsidersucharequest! TheLAAteamfeltstronglythatifPermit aircraftwerenotallowedtouseuncertified instruments,theprojectwouldnotbeworth pursuing.However,theCAAhasrequiredthat theLAAacceptanyuncertifiedinstrument installedasfitforpurpose.Thisisasignificant topicand will becoveredindepthinaTLand afuturearticle.Onerurtherblanketlimitation thatislikelytobeappliedisthatanyPermit aircraftoperatingin!MCoratnightwillbe prohibitedfromoperatinginareasofknownor forecastthunderstormactivity.

From[heoutsettheprojecthasbeenabout enablingqualifiedandexperiencedpilotsto operatetheirappropriately-equippedaircraft inasafemanner.Accidentstatisticsshowthat around2590oflightaircraftfatalaccidents involveadverseweatherorcontrolledflight intoterrain:amajorcontributingfactorHthatin

almosteverycasethepilothadnoinstrument qualification,althoughmanyoftheaircraft wereadequatelyequippedtoflyinIMC.Ifwe canencouragesomeofyoureading[histo achieveaninstrumentqualificationandthus reducethesefatalaccidents,thenwewillhave takenasmallsteptomakingflyingsafer.Atthe sametimeIMCapprovalwillenablethosetvho enjoytouringtoexperiencelesswhiteknuckle. weatherrelated'moments'.aswellasenabling ouraircrafttobeusedinthewaydescribedby PaulSherryinthelastissue.

So[he$64.000questionsare-whatstandard doesmyaeroplanehavetomeetandhowisan approvalobtained?Thestandardstobemet willbedescribedinafuturearticle:thisarticleis abouttheprocessforIMC/IFRornightapproval Therearethreepartstotheapproval: theaircrafttypemustbeassessed;the individualaircraftmustbeevaluated;and LAAEngineeringmustissueanapproval. Thiscanbebrokendownintoaneightstage processwhichhasbeendesignedtokeepany potentiallyexpensiveactivitiesuntillateonin theprogressionwhenasuccessfuloutcome isconsideredmorelikely.Therefore,ifthereis somedoubtoverthetype'ssuitability,thereis noneedtofitfullIMC/IFRinstrumentationuntil thetypehasbeenassessedanddemonstrated tobesuitable.Physicalaircraftassessments, whichmayinvolvespecificallyqualified people,areonlyrequiredoncetheaircrafthas beenassessedaslikelytomeetthecriteria. Theprocessremainsunderdevelopment throughoutthetrialphaseoftheproject.but whileweanticipatethedetailsmaychange,the basicstructureisreasonablymature(seethe boxonpage51)

THEAPPLICATIONPROCESS

Foreachindividualaircraft,theownerwillbe requiredtoshowthattheirindividualaircraft's

systemsandchoseninstrumentationfitare suitableforIMC/IER/nightoperation.Theonus throughouttheapplicationprocesswillbeon aircraftownertoprovidethoroughand acc LIrateinforniation

SUITABLEAIRCRAFTTYPES

ItwillbecleartllotnotallLAAtypesare suitabiefornightorIMC/IFRflight.While imagesofLutonMinorsstreaminginto Heathrowmaybesomewhatfanciful.many typeswillmeetthenecessaryrequirements Eachtypewillbeassessedbeforebeing approved.Atthesamelime,factory-built. ex-certifiedaircrafttransferringtothePermit fleet•illhaveautomaticallylost1heirapproval toayatnightandunder1FR,althoughmostcn thesetypeshavealreadydemonstratedtheir sunability.

LAAEngineeringhasassessedallofthe LAAlleelbasedordesignstrength,stability, performance,wing-loadingandpowerplant type.andtheaircraftintheliczbeloware likelytobesuitablecandidatestorIMC/IMR1 nightapproval.Ifyourfavouriteaircraftis norincluded.tnenthatdoesno:meanitis definitelyunsuitableItmaystillbeacandidate buttoeapprovalprocessislikelytobemore convoluted.Initiallyapplicationswillbelimited totneaircrafttypesbelow.

LAAPermitaircrafttypesconsidered suitableforIMCAFR/Nightoperation

BeagleA109duster05

Bulldog120/124/12b

CEADR315

CozyMkIV

DeHavillandaircraft

DruineCondor

Europa.XS&LibertyXL-2

FalcoF81

GlasairIk,II.&IIS(RG,FT&tOt

COMMENTS

CarriedoutbyLAAEngineering,theinitial lististhetablebelowleft

Forhomebuiltstypesyettobeassesseda 'First-of-Type'testflightwillberequired.

Thischecklistprovidestheinformationto showtheaircraftcomplieswiththerequired standards.

Toassesstheperformanceofthe installedpitot-staticsystemandradios.This isthesamecheckasrequiredofcertified aircrafteveryyear.

LAAEngineeringwillappointan assessortoevaluatethedataprovidedand makearecommendationonthesuitabilityof theaircraft.

Anaircraftevaluationwillberequired.The depth(groundorflight),andtheevaluator,will bedecidedasaresultoftheassessmentin Stage5.

Ifappropriateaseparatenightflying evaluafionmayberequired.

LAAEngineeringwillconsiderallof theevidenceprovidedanddetermineifan approvalcanbeissued.

Glastar

HarmonRocketII

JodelD140,D150/A,DR1050/1

Lancair320

Linnet2

Long-Ez&Varieze

MCR-01Club

PielCP301,CP3015,CP328SuperEmeraude SAH1

ScintexCP1310,1315,301

TecnamP2002Sierra,P92-EAEcho VansRV-4,6/6A",7/7A'',8/8A,9/9A, WassmerWA51,52

ofkitprovidingalluringpresentationsofdata. However,asthesayinggoes,allthatglitters isnotgold.ForFRoperafions,particularly inIMC,itisimportantthatthechosen instrumentationprovidesaccurateandreliable informationthatissuitablypresented.TheLAA isintheprocessofidentifyingbrandsand modelsofnon-certifiedflightinstrumentation wheresatisfactoryevidenceexistsofaccuracy andreliability,andthiswillbepublishedand regularlyupdated.Alaterarticlewillgointo greaterdetailinthisareabutforsimplicitythe 10messageis:

Thesetypesarebeingclearedaspartofthe PermitIFRprojectinitialtestphase.

AIRCRAFTASSESSMENT

Onceitisestablishedthattheaircrafttype issuitableforapproval,theownermay proceedwithanapplicationbycompleting the'PermitIFRChecklist'.Themodification statusoftheaircraftiskeyatthispoint.The aircrafttypewillhavebeenassessedbased onthemanufacturer'sdesign;ifsignificant modificationshavebeenembodied,adetailed assessmentorfurthertestflighttoassessthe impactofthesemodificationsmayberequired Theownerwillhavetoconsiderthe equipmentfittedtotheaircraft.Todoso willrequirefamiliaritywiththeconstruction oftheaircraftanditssystems,particularly theinstrumentsandtheirpowersystem(s). Itisrecognisedthatawiderangeof instrumentationisavailable,withmanypieces

TheANOspecifiestheequipmentrequired tobefittedtoaccessvariousclassificationsof airspace;thisprojectdoesnotchangethese requirements.

Aircraftinstrumentation(e.g.fuelgauges, engineinstrumentsetc.)doesnotneedtobe certified.

Flightinstrumentation(e.g.artificialhorizon, DI,ASIetc)doesnotnecessarilyneedtobe certifiedbutcarefulattentionmustbepaidto powersystemsandfailuremodes.Wherean EFISisused,theLAAwillassessandaccept eachdeviceindividually.Theownerwillbe responsibleforprovidingtherequireddatato enableassessment.

Alltransmittingequipment(e.g.radios, transponders,etc)mustbecertified,butthe installationcanbeinspectedbyanLAAinspector andapprovedbyLAAEngineeringatHQ.

Theownershouldcompletethenecessary post-installationandgroundequipmenttests, aswellasevaluationsofthesystemdesign andnightlighting.

The'PermitIFRChecklist'listsallofthe informationrequiredtobeprovidedtosupport anapplication.Thischecklistwillbematured throughoutthetrialphaseoftheproject,so willnotbeavailableuntillatethisyearorearly next.Theownerwillcertifythateachitemof informafionprovidedisaccurateandthatthe checklistprovidesacompletepictureofthe aircraft.Aninspectorwillberequiredto confirmthattheinformationprovidedinthe checklistisaccurate.Aspartofthechecklist apitot-staticcheckanda'radioannual'willbe required.Thesearethesamechecksthatare requiredofcertifiedaircrafteachyearandgo somewaytoconfirmingtheperformanceofthe installedsystems.

Oncealloftherequireddatahasbeen collected.itwillbeprovidedtoanassessor appointedbyLAAEngineering.Itisintended tosetupregionalcentresofIMCexpertise toassistinthisprocess.Aspartofthis assessmentitislikelythatanaircraftground and/orflightevaluationwillberequired.The paperworkassessmentwilldeterminethe scopeofthisevaluation.Anyflightevaluation willbecarriedoutwithintheexisting authorisedPermitflightenvelope,sono specificPermittoTestwillberequiredunless theaircrafthasbeenmodifiedinamanner requiringapprovalfromLAAHQ.Ifanight lightingevaluationisrequired,itwillrequirea flightoutsidethelimitsofthecurrentPermit,so

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ANOTEOFCAUTION

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CONTINUEDAIRWORTHINESS r*1111tCrlaPICOandPerMil

Thereisnoguaranteethatanaircraft HO:LIIIEV.elltSFR-;,pprc.ved type.evenif it isincludedintheinitialLAA sonev.Thalmoleinvolv,,j assessmentlist,willbeapprovedforINIC/IFFTViarift),Day 1/99-t•,5rellecistheHcrs:ased nightflight. o'nplc.vitytrier-,..-.ystenisandtheirgreater (.-JperE.a.or..,11piry,R,Ges rnaintenanccAtl rt‘Tho icraircrat:will Le iricludec ;f.r.r.LAAccliinclInnIL 2 19,whichdrThnesthe FIR ri!Tr.cHaly Arnu:3Iar...I1hit3eyi:a!tyC11,;c]...,:..Itislikely th.zdvvi,1Lsacid-Dona:checki,.required 6,idtner.eIsHi: MeIAAwebsitethatwillform mak.):p..ypesuit:LHWic ;at, [H.:.bluePc•rnioRenewal fernm../..9dlirlistV.-[n irirmLA/VP/VR-1ati-achPle-Nal.datiou bvvirtu.]:I fl';:111C11 rkek,',it::three-yea, hislo- ;is•-foundnDt150IT,yiyuisdiredUidEr Lsingar,prricgiatefeft!test (ftic avonuseIto07.,11 H.r.u.npnii-in: appended111,the frcirnscr,Ich cnecvlIst n-:r,illwithLiiisua; litS nidyho r000 cost Ic.LI101:1,115i

MODIFICATIONS

tie LAA GCMS:Ci ar T. IL, ru-,1,,urpo..itati.inOrelectrical turIMDIFH/N,4 DayVEIlaricraldetailed alvs,sPic Orswii

notb6-possibleforIMO/IFRiNightaircraft

AnycHinav31widhavetcbebasedGoL SHITply onthea:rframeandpowerplantbut alsotneinsuumentationpowersupplysyslem an,1ma'wiatoryequipmentinsta[ledat point COIapplicationOncetheaircraft's rev[sedoperatinglirnitaionsa!F:issueothe Liwr''Ormustthnkcarefultyifhewshestorevise ar:ypariciIhemandatoryequipment

Anychangeswitbecarefulyevaluated befori.:theapprovalwIllfieextendedtothe newcont.duratHyiTheDayVEPlimitatro--.will havebeenremovedoasedorheinforma:ron suppuedntheay.:viersoriginalIMC/IER/Night applycakmandhewillhave Y>showthatany sLbseguentmodif,calrondoesnotadve,sely !mpactthatapproval.

OPERATION

Lastly,afewwordsaboutIFRoperation Ail-oughmowdeLarledarticleswilltollow onsprcificaspects,itmaynehelotulfor prospectiveIFRitppicantstoretlectonthe eventualoperationoftheiraircraftriIMP uncerIFRoralnightTheprivilegeIo app-yecertain,ndivKfualLAAPermit aircrafttorIMPorNghtoperationshouldnot betakenforgranlodTheLAOhasalready spentoversevenyearsandhundreds et voluntersrmantoursachievIngtismilestone It../-inifldc):::gallingtohavealloftrialeffort thiQatenedorunderminedIIisineveryone's interc-stL:thatLlkLAAPermitJENarroraRare builequipped,maintainedandoperatedto ttioh,gneststandards

rietmt ., -

ByBrianHopeandBrianLyford.PhotosNeilWilson

T heRotax912recentlycelebrated25 yearsinproductionand50.000units built,aformidableandwelldeserved achievement.Ithighlightsthefact thatthisenginehasestablished itselfasthepredominantchoiceinthemicrolight. LSAandVLAsectors—byacountrymile!Variety thoughisthespiceoflifeandfortunatelythere areanumberofpretenderstotheRotaxthrone. DavidandGoliaththeymaybebutthelikes ofJabiruandULPowerarecarvingouttheir ownnichemarketsandnow,aftertenyearsof development,BelgiancompanyD-Motorisready touptheanteandmovefromabit-partplayer intothatexclusiveleague.

ANUNLIKELYBEGINNING theD.Motorcameaboutasarosultat aat;helicoptermanufacturerrequiringa

(Rtght)Theinlet manifoldwiththrottlebody andinjectors.Fuelinjectiondoes awaywiththerequirementforcarb heatandtheECUtakescareof themixture.

(Left)The six-cylinder D-Motorwasshownat AEROFriedrichshafenin 2013butwasnotrununtil laterintheyear.Itisgiving 125hpat3.000prmandis developmentflyingina COAXtwo-seathelicopter andaXairHawk.

(Matophoto)The German-madeBOTSpeed CruiserofferseitherRotax912orD-Motor powerasafactoryfit.BrianLyfordfound theoverallperformanceoftheD-Motorto beimpressiveandconsiderstheengineto beanexcellentalternativetothe912.

suitableenginetopowerusproductsThe MosquitoAUcrattConpanywasestablished ,nDiksmuideBelgiumin1994todesignann producealluldalighthelicopter,withthefast extampretheMOBprolotypebe-ngcompleted inMay1996andpoweredbyatibnptwostrokeEiBtax562Itundertookaround25hours oftestingoverthefollowingyeat.alterwhiRh itwasdecreedtoswitchtoJabru2200powet andre-designatethetypeasthe1480

AvarietyotupgHicic.s,Naa[nejeDi:he .jar,irL.including.eplacing'atmagneth ignitionandcaneureddiwdselectronicallyeontrolledionitionarhifuBlinjectnbut eventually,in2002seek:ngyetmodepetNer thecompanydvetslopestitscwnenginebased ontheJaltaru1hisoH,thoMaiwadoM26. wasratceiat126hpencl,whentiehelicopter sideofthebusinessBidedithecarnethe 95hpltbower BrothersStetadnandPateMasscheletri theMaze:R.0orelit-topic.andtbety126enginebutdecidedhi9401to gotheirownwayanddevelopaicy:eligtrie oftheirownSs.\BahStetaan.Martsand FreddyDeschrevtA,theyestatalisnesiMassehi MotorstedeveloptheMasscli105Thegual wasacompact.Itghtweigntpowerad producing105hp

OLd

D-MOTOR

Theengine'scompactnesswasachieved byusingaside-valveconfiguration,thus eliminatingthewidthrequiredtoaccommodate overheadrockersand/orcamshafts.The majordifference,however,fromcontemporary engineswasthatitwasfullyliquid-cooled (theRotax912onlyhasliquid-cooledcylinder heads)andtherewasnotacoolingfintobe seen.ItwasearmarkedforusebyFrench companyLHAviation,whichwaslookingfora suitablepowerplantforitsLH-10Eclipsehigh performancepushertwo-seaterbutIsuspect itwasdeemedunsuitableduetoitnotmaking sufficientpower.UltimatelytheLH-10adopted the100hpRotax912ULS,with120hpand 160hpVijaoptions(Frenchaeroconversionsof fourcylinderSuzukimotorcycleengines).

MasschilaunchedtheengineatAERO Friedrichshafenin2005andatthattimeit hadaveryover-squareboreof103.6mmand strokeof74mmforacapacityof2,500cc andwasratedat80hpat2,850rpm.Itused aBingcarburettorforfuelling,featuredtwin DCIignition,andmajorcomponentslikethe crankcaseandcylinderblocksweremachined frombillet.Itcertainlymetthecompact criteria,being15.1in(382mm)wideanddeep. and24in(608mm)long(a912ULis22.7in wide.17indeepand22inlong),anditwas commendablylightat48kgdry.

Itcertainlyraisedeyebrowstoobybeinga sidevalve,aconfigurationthathadlongsince beendiscarded intheautomotiveindustry, butthecompanyarguedthatforthepower requirementsofalow-revving,high-capacity, directdriveaeroengine.overheadvalve technologywasunnecessary.

ThecompanyhadaconnectionwithRandKar,theFrenchXairagentsfromearlyonand theengine'searlyflightexperiencewasgained inanXairmicrolightandanXairHanuman, whatweintheUKcalltheXairHawk.

D - MOTORISBORN

In2008anewowner,M&M,tookoverthe project,retainingtheservicesofFreddy Deschrevel,anddevelopmentcontinued.Fuel injectionandelectronicignitionreplacedthe

carburettorandDCIsystems,andcrankcase andcylinderblockproductionmovedto sandcasting.In2010BelgianGovernment fundingwasreceivedtodevelopasix-cylinder versionoftheengineandthecompanywas reconstitutedasD-Motor,withtheMasschi105 becomingtheD-MotorLF26.

Rand-Karwasstillintheframeandagain hadtheengineinstalledinanXairmicrolight andaHanuman,withUKXairagent,Gordon Salter,installingtheengineinaHawk.An initialbatchoftenengineswasofferedtobeta buyersforaroundElOKfortestpurposes,on theunderstandingthattheywouldreceive updatedreplacementunitsshouldchangesin specificationberequired.

InAugust2011thefirstOEM(original equipmentmanirfacturegagreementwas signedwithGermanaircraftmanufacturer BOTAircraft,whichofferedtheengineasan optiontotheRotax912initsSpeedCruiser 07.Workalsocommencedonthe120hp six-cylinderversionoftheengine,theL39,but thiswasheldupwhenthecompanydecided toincorporateimprovementslearnedfromthat engineintothefourcylinderunit.Thestroke wasincreasedfrom74mmto80mmwhich uppedthecapacityto2,700cc.andbetter accesswasprovidedtothenowindividually adjustabletappets.Thisworkentailedthe productionofnewcrankcasesandcylinder blocks,whichwereintroducedinmid2012Workhasalsobeenongoingtowards improvingtheECUunit.TheLF26isnowrated at88.8hpcontinuousat2,800rpmand91.8hp maxat3.000rpm,andithasaninstalledweight withliquidsof60kgwhich,thecompany claims,is15kglighterthantheRelax912.

InearlyAugustGordonSalteroffered Light Aviation theopportunitytoflyaFrenchregisteredBOT(atypenotavailableintheUK) withthedefinitiveversionoftheLF26engine, andPioneer200ownerBrianLyfordkindly agreedtoflytheaircraftandcomparethe engine'scharacteristicstohisaircraft'sRotax 912ULIdeally,ofcourse,wewouldliketo haveflownapairofidenticalaircraft,savefor theengineinstallations,butnotwithstanding

thefactthatthisisnotcurrentlypossible,Brian Lyfordhadsomeinterestingthoughtsonthe D-Motor'sperformance.I'lllethimcontinue:

FLYINGTHE6D'

IhavebeenawareoftheD-Motorforsome timebecauseGordon'scompany,theWessex LightAeroplaneCoLtd,isbaseddownin thesouthwest,asamt,WhenBrianHope askedmeifIwouldliketotakeacloserlook Iwasbothdelightedandapprehensive, particularlyasIhavewrittenverylittleforpublic consumptiontodateandIconsidermyselfstill toberelativelynewtoaviation.Ihavean80hp Rotax912ULinmyPioneer200MinwhichI haveclockedup200hoursplusinthelast coupleofyears,soIwillbecomparingthe Dwiththat.Afterall,theRotaxistheindustry benchmarkandtheDistargetingthat engine'smarket,

Ilookedattwoengineinstallations.thatin Gordon'sXairHawkandtheoneintheBOT SpeedCruiserSC07.whichhehadonloan fromthefactory.TheHawkiswellknownin theUK,ofcourse,buttheSCO7isnotasitis notaUKapprovedtype.Introducedin2009 byGermanmanufacturerBOTAircraft,itisan allcompositedesignnottoodissimilartothe FlightDesignCTwithitstadpolelookofalarge cockpitandrapidlyreducingrearfuselage. Likesomanyaircraftofitstype,itisproduced astheexamplewhichIflew,the472.5kg microlight,orasa600kgUS-styleLSA.

IwasimpressedwithboththeHawkand BOTinstallations,theylookedveryneat, unclutteredandtidy.Iverymuchlike thesimplicityoftheengineandancillary equipment,andtheKISS(KeepItSimple Stupid)principleiscertainlytheorderofthe day.TheoneexceptionisthetwinECUs.I'm notreallyconvincedthattwoarenecessary buttheyareconsiderablylesscomplexthan thoseeven in asmallcar(nowherenearthe numberofsensorsandfunctions)andare reasonablycompact.

Theenginedoesn'tcomefittedwitheither wateroroilthermostats,whichhavetobefitted externallyifrequired,andIthinktheyare.The

oiltankdoeshaveasightglassasstandard though.anicetouch(1:kethe912theDisdry skimped).

Fromamaintenanceperspective,pretty mucheverythingisaccessibleoncethe cowlingsareremoved.Alltheservicepartsare automotiveandthereforemulti-sourcedand inexpensive,althoughcareneedstobetaken astherecentissueswithJabiruianitionparts haveshown.I'dhavetogivetheD-Motoreight outoftenforaccessibility.Lisarevelationin simplicityandmaintenancefriendliness.

Noisetsanaircraftissuewhetherwelikeit ornotanddespitetheDbeingabig(ish)bore directdriveengine,themanufacturerhas takentheresponsibilityofsilencingseriously andontheBOThasprovidednicelymade stainlesssteeltwointoonesilencersoneach sideoftheengineOtherarrangementscanbe madeavailable:Ihaveseenasinglesilence, arrangementacrossthelowerrearofthe engineonadisplayinthepast.

Witnessingbothaircraftlandandtake-off, Iwasimpressedwiththelownoiselevel, especiallywhentheBOTpassedwithin50mof meandwasannouncedonlybythewhistleof thewingsIthoughttheenginehadbeencut formybenefitbutno,itrevveduptobacktrackandeventhenwascomparabletoawell muffledRelax

IonlyflewtheBOTasithasthelatest iterationoftheengine.Thisis•herethings getinterestingandthefundamental differencesshowupbetweentheDandthe 912.Iwilldigressalittle.Surreofyoumay. likeme,haveaninterestinmotorbikeswhere aHarleyDavidsonV-twinisathump,thump. thumper,whilstaKawasakiorothersporty Japanesefour-cylindermachineisahighrevvinghowlerofabike:evenifyoudon'tride youwillhaveheardthem.Theyalltakethe specificenergyfromthefuelandconvertit toforwardmotionwithprettymuchthesame result,soyoupayyourmoneyandmakeyour choice,astheysay.

What'sthatgottodowithaeroplanes?Well, thesamerulesapplyreally:afasterrevving engine,likethe912.willmakerathermore

thantwobangstotheonebangoftheslower revvingD.albeittheyaresmallerbangsand, asreciprocatingmechanismscannotbe perfectlyrotationallybalancedoveracomplete speedrange,therearediscernibledifferences betweentheD'svibrationcharacteristicsand thoseofthe912.Thelatterismoreasenseof buzziness.whilsttheformerisadiscernible thump,thump,thump.especiallywhenathigh powerinaclimb,whichwillremainreassuring tosomeAndasfortheactualclimbrate, theBOTmanaged700to750fprntwo-up, comparedtomyPioneer'sfullyloaded880fpm atitslastannualBearinmindthoughThat theBOTisaheavierandpossiblyadraggier machinethantheP200.

Cruiseoperationwasfine.theengineis smoothandnonoisierinsidetheaircraftthan aRola>:butwiththeadvantageofsingle throttleoperation-nocarbheatisrequired becauseofthefuelinjection.Toallintentsand purposesthisisundoubtedlyagoodengine,a sensibleconceptandawell-executeddesign: itcertainlymeetstheoperationaldemandsof today'stypicalowneroftheclassolaircraft thataretherealmofitandthe912.Itscost tooiscompetitive,fallingbetweentheolder (traditional?)VWtechnologyoftheSauerand the'modern'Jabiru2200.andlowercapacity buthigherrevvinggearedPotax.Thecurrent priceis£10,500plus£180deliveryexcluding vat.andthatincludeseverythingbutthewater radiatorandhoses,itemswhichvarytoo widelybetweendifferentaircrafttomake themuniversal.

Sparespricestooshouldbecompetitiveasa numberoftheinternalcomponentspistons, valvesetc,aresourcedfromtheautomotive industryratherthanbeingpurposemade.

MORETHANAGOODENGINE

Theproblemsanynewenginehasof establishingitselfaremanyandultimatelyit comesdowntomorethanitbeingawellengineeredproductatacompetitiveprice. Factoryanddistributorback-upisakeyissue, notjustintheavailabilityofsparesoutinterms ofinstallationsolutionsTheD-Moterwebsite

suggeststhisissomethingthedevelopers areactivelyengagedin,whilethefactthat theenginefitsstraightontoaTabirnengine mountisaplusintermsofretrofittabilityand mountdesign.

Thenthereisthequestionoflongevity:1irstly oftheunititself,TBO(timebetweenoverhaul) isreliantonservicehistoryandearlybuyers kyillalwaysbetakingabitofastepinto theunknown:secondly,withregardsisthe manufacturehwillitstillbearoundinfiveorken years'timewhentheengineIbuytodaymay needmajorcomponents?

CertainlyastheMasschi105andlatterlythe L26,thispowerunithashadsomeextensive testinganddevelopmentovertenyears.It issimpleandrobust.andthereisnothing tosuggestthatthecurrentfactory-FROof 1,500hoursisnotperfectlyreasonable.or indeedthatintheliahlofexperienceItwillnot beextended.AndearlierthisyearD-Motor signedamajorpartnershipdealwithaChinese companywhich,thecompanysays.willenable ittoofferextendedwarrantyonitsproducts andexpandintotheAsianmarket.Thisit hopes,willbe,anotherincentiveforaircraft manufacturerstooffertheengineasanoption becauseundoubtedlyOEMisthefastestroad togrowth.

Theultimatequestion,wouldIbuyone withmymoney?IfIwerestartingagain.yes Iprobablywould.Iwishallinvolvedinthis projectalltheverybestforthefuture,the designalonedeservesit,

ANDTHENTHEREWERESIX

InJune2013thecompany'sfirstsix-cylinder engineranforthefirsttimeatthefactory anddevelopmentcontinues.Itiscurrently producing125hpandflighttestinghas startedonanAerotecCOAX2Dtwo-seailight helicopterinGermany,onwhichithas runover140hours,andanXairHawkin Belgium,whichhasnowrecordedaround 25hours.Twofurtherinstallationsarebeing prepared,inaBOTSpeedCruiseranda secondCOAXhelicopter. wwwd-meturea/wwwxainokcorn

Withoutspecialistadvicepilotscan oftenfaceexpensivepremium loadingswhenapplyingforlifecover. Wecanusuallysecurestandardrates withnoaviationexclusions.

Apagefromtherecordsofmember EdwinShackletonshows'CJonthe beachatSouthportinJune1953,when heandwifeIrenetookaflight.Thepilot wasthelegendaryNormanGireaux.

tsharesalmostidenticalwings,tailsurfaces andengineinstallationtodeHavilland's previousmarque.thefamiliartwo-seatopen cockpitDH82/82aTigerMothtrainer.To comeupwiththeFoxMoth.deHavillands ineffectonlyhadtodesignanewslightly longerandtatterfuselageandamorerobust, brake-equippedundercarriagetocarrythe heaviergroundloads.DHaficionadoswill alsorecognisethereducedwingsweepback toputthecentreofliftintherightplace comparedtothecentreofgravity,less staggerallowingtheFox'swingstofoldas intheearlierDH60series,[heuseofsteel tuberatherthanwoodeninterplanestruts andaPussMoth-liketailwheelratherthanthe Tiger'stailskid

Thestory(perhapsapocryphal)goesthat theFoxMothwasoriginallyconceivedby deHavilland'sChiefDesigner,ArthurHagg whoseweektimewasspentlivingand workingnearHatfield,butasakeenamateur sailorhelikedtospendweekendsonhis boatonthecoast.Commutingbyair,ifit werepossible.wouldsavealotoftimebutto takethefamilyandaweekend'sclobberhe'd needamuchbiggercabinspacethanany otherlightaircraftoffered.TheFoxMoth's configuration.withitsbiplaneform,central enclosedcabinandopencockpittotherear, wasfamiliartoFlagg,whohaddesignedthe DH61GiantMothof1928.a500hp,7,0001b,

eight-seaterofthesamelayoutInconjuring uptheFoxMothHaggessentiallywaveda magicwandovertheTigerMothtoturnitinto aminiversionofthe'61

COMMERCIALSUCCESS

PerhapstoHagg'ssurprise,although conceivedtofulfilauniquepersonal requirementonceinproductiontheFox Mothprovedacommercialsuccessthrough itscombinationofcheapinitialprice andlowrunningcosts,andanalready well-developedworldwidesparesand supportorganisation.Liftingthreeorfour passengers,ortheequivalentweightin freight,plusthepilotoutofashortstrip onjust120hp(withtheoriginalGipsyIII engine-morepowerfulGipsyMajorsupto 145bhpwereadoptedlater)wasastgnificant technicalachievement,theFoxMothbeing oneofthefewtypesthatcancarrymorethan itsownemptyweightinpayload

Atthoughunpretentiousincomparisonwith thedevelopmentsincivilairlinersintheUSA atthetime,theeconomicsoftheFoxMoth allowedoperatorstomakeasmallprofit withoutgovernmentsubsidy,andbuilding onthissuccessthelittlewooden,singleengineFoxMothinspiredthelaterandvery successfultwin-enginedDragonandDragon Rapideasthenextlogicalstep.

DoHavillandwentontobuildahundred

examplesoftheFoxMothpre-war(two oftheminAustralia),halfofwhichwere exported,performingthesortofrolewhere todayyoumightseeaCessna185or Caravan.SomeearlyFoxMothsperformed notablefeats:G-ABUTwasflowntofirst placeinthe1932King'sCupAirRaceatan averageof124mph,flownbyWallyHope (whosesonwastobecomeaPFAmember inthe1990sandsetaboutdesigninghis ownPFAaircraft-sadlyitwasneverbuilt). In1934JohnGriersonleftRochester,Kent, inaFoxMothfittedwithfloats,andflewto Ottawa,viaIceland.GreenlandandNew York,whichalsoinvolvedmakingthefirst eversoloflightacrosstheGreenlandicecap. Itsaysmuchfortheutilityofthedesign thatpost-war.intheabsenceofanything bettertotakeitsplaceforCanadian'bush flying'use,theFoxMothwasputbackinto productronbydeHavillandCanada,where afurther52werebuiltsportingsliding canopiesforthepilotandabiggerpairof cabindoorstohelploadthemultiplicityof differentstoresthatwereitsdailystockin trade.Emphasisingitsversatility.Canadian FoxMothswerealsoexportedtoIndia. PakistanandSouthernRhodesia. Followingthewithdrawalofthetype certificatesforthewholeMothrangein March2012,theFoxMothisthesedays wereabletobetransferredtoanLAA

PermittoFly.Ifyoufancyyourownprivate air-taxi,bewarnedthey'rehardlyeasyto comebyhowever,becausethesedaysonly twoexamplesoftheFoxMothremain currentlyairworthyontheUKregister, althoughthreeotherregisteredexamples m.ayyetemergefromworkshopstograceour skiesinthefuture.

AirworthyG-AOJHisapost-warCanadian builtDH83Cmodel,whichhasbeen operatingintheUKformanyyearsandthese dayssportsatastefuldarkgreenandsilver colourscheme.Dependingontheoccasionit mayormaynotbeseensportingitsteardrop canopy,butifnotthenagiveawayofits trans-Atlanticoriginisitsuseofanelevator trimtab,thesameastheCanadianDH82C versionoftheTigerMoth,ratherthanthe Hatfield-stylepilot-adjustableelevatorbias springinthecockpit.G-A0JHwasoneofthe Pakistan-registeredmachines(previouslyAPADO).ItarrivedintheUKon24September 1955afteranepicflightfromKarachito startanewbarnstorminglifewithowner JohnLeweryjoyridingatseasidetownsall overthecountryincludingBournemouth. Southport,Liverpool,BlackpoolandPFA's oldhomeatShoreham

Thesubjectofthismonth'sfeature. however,isG-ACEJ,builtatHatfieldin1933 andregisteredinitiallytotheScottishMotor TractionCoLtdatTurnhouse.Twoyearslater

theaircraftcamesouthandwasregistered totheNorfolkandNorwichAeroClubat Mousehold,thereaftertoBrooklandsfora periodinstorage.In1936shewasregistered totheGiroAviationCompanyatSouthport. namednotafteranyrotary-wingaspirations butafterveteranproprietor/joyriderpilot NormanGiraux.whohadfirststarted 'working'Southportbeachinthetwenties withawarsurplusDH6.

Whenthesecondworldwarbrokeout. eightFoxMothswereimpressedandused bytheATAandotherorganisationsas communicationsandferrymachines.EJ somehowmanagedtoavoidimpressment andwasstoredduringthewaryears. resuminglifepost-warwithGiroAviation whereitcontinuedgiving'fivebobaflip' ridesfromthesandsofSouthportbeach, alongwithanotherFoxMothG-ACCB.Sadly 'CBditchedoffthebeachinJune1956,after whichEJsoldieredonalonerightupuntil 1966'CBwaseventuallyrebuilttoflyagain intheeighties.

Between1966and1972'EJwasowned byNormanJonesandwastheflagshipof theTigerClubfleetatRedhill,beforebeing soldtoTonyHaig-ThomastojoinTony's significantcollectionofvintagedeHavilland typesatthattime.In1982italmostcameto acatastrophicendwhenavisitingBeech MusketeercrashedintoitwhiletheFox

Thespartaninteriorisreminiscentof oneofthoseminiaturesteamrailway carriages—cosyforthree,tightforfour, hencethesingle-seatupfrontin'EJ

Easydoesit!Findingthatfootholdtakes practiceasyoudisembark.Extracting yourrightlegfromthispositionisn't easyeither

wasmindingitsownbusinessparkedat OldWarden.TheFoxwasburntout.Asa woodandfabricaircraft.notsurprisingly therewaslittleleftofitbutfortunately,ace vintageaircraftrestorerBenCooperrescued thesorryremainsandtookthemtohis Hungerfordworkswhere,alongwithwife JanandthetinyworkforceoftheNewbury AeroplaneCompany.theaircraftwaslovingly rebuiltandrestoredtothesilverandblue coloursofitsfirsthomewiththeScottish MotorTractionCo.

Icametoflytheaeroplanethankstothe generosityofhercurrentowner,StuartBeaty, whokeeps'EJalongwithhisTigerMothand Cessna180aloneofseveralairstripshe operatesinNorthamptonshire,andaroseout ofachancediscussionaboutdeHavilland aircraftingeneralandbiplaneMothsin particularHavingafairnumberofhours onopencockpitbiplaneMoths,andhaving alwaysbeenintriguedbytheirenclosed air-taxiderivative,thechancetocomparethe characteristicsofoneofjusttwoFoxMoths currentlyflyingintheUKwasaveryspecial treatindeed.

WalkinguptotheFoxMoth,sheseems noticeablybiggerthanyourstandardTiger Moth,especiallyroundthefrontend.The noseislonger,sothefrontextendsfurther abovetheground.andthedeeperfuselage meansthefamiliarinvertedGipsyMajor

E,ng-ne,encasediiiNoailooklike•faltee versionofp.tandEirelUrgerMozn seemsaboutaroothigherthanyoureused ;o.snyowoyelineisunalevelWiflithevaivo •oversratherIhantheoarburencif.

Movingroundthelovelydidmaonine.The vr:ngsandtailsurfacesarecleat;pretty muchidenticaltotheTigerMoth.apartFrom thechangeetothewingrootstoAllow-1Dr wingfciic.iiirj.UndoingIttlepopper-rora,ned leatherstrapsallowst'ie.11edpinsthotgo thrciughthefront.nicerfining•;,.1:0bevithdrawn byhand.reledsingthewingssomeycan sw;nghackabouttheHa;•sparktingsrememberingfirsttotjthetuoular;Iffystoo wftclrsuppurtstheweightoftheupporwing ruotwhenit.'sdisconnecler:fromthGcHnire sochion.Aiapush.Foldingouidunfoldingthe gongscaohedonesingie-hiFInded,grahoing holdofthEiw;l'eseecureystcptOe w:nch.;fromswincHft;-_fi:paoklino:::theirown worghtonce[hepine.00-2wilhdrawn.hutWs easierwithahe.perHi:-.hewinglip.especially theveOsany,:vindtosueakoi.Swabohroroo 00U:alchesITH•ingstoOnefuselago sideswhenfoldeci.Thuaileronoor,trooables andpar:loc.:Irak:Hbesrouteoutviatherear sparh:ngefitnngso;Hrenotcfisturhedby noloh.:IL:ling aindneednoSpecil attention.AilHs][--.pureDHOO. InL”....t.hoes.1theupperwingrootswo.,Tho:

matchthegreaterwidthoftheFoxMoth's fusel:ige.carryirigthefueltank.Ag.assOodiedmecOanicalfuelgaugejutsout(rum bottomofiheas,on0-lehighwingPuss Mot],ratherMarthe'tigerMor.htypewhich spnutsoutontop.Raterquaintly.instead of:outingthehistreedpipefrom!hebottom ofthecti:ntrosc:clioetanktothefLiselagehy way orthecabanestrorts.Hkeheropencockpitforebears,theFoxMotn'sfoodpipe takesadirociroutethroughopL,:nairfromA teE.slantingpurposely1,orwardtowardthe firp.waH.supporlsoc ya,3peciarbracep!ece andslapbangintilepitoLslineofrhe deorgoorapparentlyuncaringoftheextra dragcauF,edibyOlisteature.Sim)larlythe remereconirotfor:-.hei-_-,n/offcock;s simplicrosknell.betngcnexposedpuct-pel Bowdencablescavingdownthroult!Hie airflowtotheHriergejus!behihdthefo9nt ofthewndsoreenaftnerentr:iiceHer. Incontrast.afussyarrangementot heicranksandrodsroi.:,ngdownaiongs:cie TheNowcabanesirul Ho;liovinganUponfrontLa:kph-.thoreO, no needtorthenigtrarung-odge IHthecenuesectionItoTuIhepHa:or b2s nive,whichsooulumake-thoForMotns netrosecuonwoo<betteraerodynamically. althoughtt-HreaareSrcoripleofsmallvte fordback.

ThemftnfeatureoftheFoxMothio. ofonurso:.theeryjosedcabinfuselage. EscheofIng:liesteelrubecOlisrrLicLCJII;:,1The, tgerMoth.ArthurHaggdesignedtneFox's fuselageinwoodwnichseems.siorprising inviewofiheworkadayrrnagekot[Hsmodel butperhapsrofrectstheLEic.:thatverygreat sate-snumbersweren'tinit-allyanocEpaled thatwouldjurldytheextrainvestment.ArprH, level0-H*fuselageisavprybast;struc:ure mthalowcomponentcoupi.Oeingasimple fiat-sicledbexwirhacurvedHywoodtop decking.Heh-notatapparentsirnHicily nowever.[hero'saguilecomplesshape whonyoudometoiookalitcloseup.lhe colbin.with1..sfrgooNngedduorsedhei H.designedtocarryuptofourpassengsfs sittingfaciripeachotherirIwotransverse benchseFEts.Itbulgesout-lorwardcifthe 1-Act'sopencoo;<pittooruvidethowidth neededtosealieus;ide-byside.whilethe babble-likeCE;D:Hdou:rsandartneroSHeWindoWnarearoangedhog:veinaci-erieFent extra*KhhalshOulriel

ThenoSelaPersinagaintoIne vvioch:jouolesasthe:frontinternalbalklico thecal3in.SOcabinoiicthisdeciciedly stingyft)rIwoal!.hefrontseatposter.Not suroniongthenthat'L.)hasbeenliriedwith oatsinc;!oseal..Edthefrontrather thantfmsbencflS(-?al.MakingteC.tuirrMLIC. HcoonlyricLtipnforthria.['a:herthanaco..ioh

'11"11S.yh.)Elon'0

IHe.IeRHE:, TREPIDATION

LtHIOrErilpichatlorbasalIS,.cihoroputut'ICJ.]113'-msomears:idryanscanolmol.) loroulhounLjscIaqs1gismiclaverysolad prohlemnlookings.stih.irete sne[nalausughrrosealsIV:Cul-LC:El :011Lis ulluviaiedbylhe5.-rytral.'msassommicesIcunt coolparnoussitrams115rimunc,ISonsalTaUS CPS..74 1119111:I1.1iLS

hasobeeninclinedassothehourssuarpick:No...is:stun.whereIrn01uswithLeogrand claladyhuslslvflinalni11,1,W;("-: obasushowssnoon susshosairso111011101oiulos.orloosMutI'S Skinliess.arldracyuurprHstame Coc.,:pr.hyMothslaindasma.andMa:Me asomplelsOdittehentrosshsolcolsupsol.

sdriold:slaic:Issoma.mashhldealIdlosasurmiliormOhasaddleslsurfaceng pylon.oathsorociCOUTTCS!SkinSlyMI.Pocarswasclohasy'). neesled.with Cll:nismc;arasard•Auss •cilltereraluarsues.1110:a:1mqMesum:Asahoortrs,1 lsosattssunlike11%/OltnuonalMut. Poolcumm•sonolawoolensenlreschool@ luccishrundsofasmuo-s Stepp:Ciglip1.010gD-shapod soh-maUsesl1111minaruddimusuOnihe slipmorlomlalorallvbyID0110101001IGGISp10010001InMeluselagesale.yOu hasocks.,1lheroastiehallwhichatsamoiloyeeassuutly.La11usllosHsi[halalesootsoclsrmr.IssofartoMe;snoodllacinlelevelmosislraihlassitheourrsal OnsIgothumaradiusmockscarry[-Kuno,-ear01thecalsamssoulstotturnlomakeMsAh-tyueUslmmassessallorbiasprioll lrimout.whilstustrenti-.:hereMs.CHiuni...C1 nfrilIC.500:0,11,shasamocuakiLooseloverassurnhlyMushlooksslraglut ofHuss1-1surossMull.As Magrifol:1secolacl0sellersurungerlonllorTom.ThewincscreentraMictSeOrimiSOn troselyres.Sashandlevertsunload

tothecalte-operatedBendixbrakesviaa somewnatdevilishmechanicalcontrivance whichlurksbehind(andsconnectedto) therudderbar.Aswelasretardation,this arrangementisintendedtoconferautomatic differentialbrakingforeaseofsteering, theeffectivenessofbothfunctionsbeing governedbytheamountthepilotpullsthe handlever.Asmallpawlallowsthehand levertobeIockeoinanyposition,toeither actasaparkingbrake,ortobesetpartlyon beforelandingto'livenup'theeffectiveness ofthedifferentialbraking

StalingtheGipsyMajorusslightilymore ofachallengethanusualbecauseofthe propellerbeingalmostouiofreach:or swingingBecauseofthis,theFoxisswung left-handedandfromapositionstanding behindthepropratherthaninfrontas normal,otherwisethebottomarcofthe blade'ssweepwouldbeoncomfortabiyclose tothesw:nger'sknees.EventhoughIstand atjustoversixtoot,whenstartingEJfor Stuart'sdeparturelaterIfoundthattoreach highenoughseemedtomeanstandingon tip-toe-farbumideal,althoughatleast whentheenginefirestneslipsiteamtends toblowyoubackandoutofthewayofthe spinningblades

Icouldtellfromtheweathercordittonsthat taxying:heFoxwasgoingtobesomething ofatrial.lottherewasamoderatebreeze

LowingupTurwestorts27-idealfortaking offandlandingbutmoaningIwascommitted toaiongdownwinatax;togetfromthe aprontothethreshold.Taildraggerpilotswill appreciatethatwhentaxyingdownwindthe winotendstocancelouttheslipstreamover theruddersoyoulackwhatboatingpeople callsteerageway.Giventheneedtobeep withintheconfinesotanarrowtaxiwayand toavoidtheaforementionedobstacles,in thesecircumstancesyouhavetwochoices. youcangoataslowwalkngpace.hardly incontrolbutabletostopinafewfeetif you(Hoyourselfpointingthewrongway. Oncestopped,youcanusequickburstsof poweragainstfullrudderandbrakeand cautiouslyloweredelevatorstoblowthetail roundtowhereyouwanth,beforemoving onagain.OF,alternativelpforthebrave. oncefamiliarwiththeaircraftyoucantrundle alongathigherspeed,usingenoughthrottle tokeeptheairflowgoingtherigntwayover your:udderandkeeping you reasonablyin control,hod:knowingthatifyoushould'lose itatsuchspeedyouhavetotakeaccept whatevercomes,asthestoppingdistance willatmostcertainlyputyouintheboon:es. DesoltehavingMeidoubtfulluxtryof theFox'sBendixbrakes,asanewcomer to;hetypeInaturallyoetedtor(he cautiousapproachsowemadeourway to:herunway'sendbywayofbothverges

ofthetaxiwayinaseriesoftentative trundiespausesandoellowingsfromthe exhaustAlthougnveafeelingsomeof thecontributingdecibelsmayhavebeen RHguffawsofourcamerashippilotand cameramanwhowerefollowingclosebehind enjoyingthes.ghtofmylumberingprogress, myhelmetedheaddartinginandoutoftne cockpittoseewhereIwasgoingIquickly foundthatyes,it'struethattheviewthrough thewindowinthedashboardcanbeuseful whentaxiingandnotheBendixbraises didn'tseemparticulanygoodwnenbeing usedinthesecircumstances

Iwasverymuchreminoedofoneofmy firsthyinglessonswhenmyinstructor advisedthatwiths:triiarBendrobrakesin theAuster"Ifyoufindyourestruggling toturnonewaydoa270ntheopposite direction,'notmuchhelporanarrow taxiwaybutareminderthatbrakesofthis vntagearenot*hattheyaretocayandtheir resultsateeverunpredictable,especially whenmostneeded!

Withverysoneecnecksdoneandlined 00 andreadytogowithtonosea:lastpointed oackintowindhwas a relfetafterth.strialby-taxyingtoopenthethrottlewideandsee whattneFoxwas:kenthealThisnaturally involvedrelyingontheperipheralview duringthefirstpartofthetake-ollrunbutfelt preitymuchnormalonce:helaIhadcome

upandthewhale'snosesankbelowthe distanthorizon.Lightlyloadedwithjustme onboard,shefloatedoffthegroundmuch likeanyotherMoth.andIquicklyfound myselfenjoyingtheslightlyelevatedseating positionand,consciousoftheupholstered seatsandpolishedwoodtrimbelow,and the135horsespullingseemingtyway,way outinfronLthesensationwasverymuchof trundlingintotneskyinchargeofabiplanewingedHansomcab.

Duringtheclimboutat65moh,theGipsy Majorpullingweltat2,100rbm,itwas immediatelyobviousthatdifectionatstability oftheFoxMothwasneutral-thenose wouldgowhereveryouputitonthehorizon usingtherudderpedals,withlittleorno forcefeedbackthroughtherudderbar,and needingapositivefootdisplacementtoput thenosebackwhereitbelonged'straight ahead'andcentralisetheerrantslipbubble. Ataltitude,takingmyfeetoffthepedalshad theFoxyawingoffofitsownaccordineither direction,needingincreasingamountsof counteractingailerontomaintainasteady heading,acharacfensticseentoasmaller degreeintheTigerMoth.Whereasthe Tiger,properlytrimmed,onlyshowsfeet-oft directionalinstabilityunderfullpowerclimb conditions,theFoxwasthatwayinoltned whetheratcruisingspeedorinapoweroftdescent-indicativeoftbeFox'slonger

A C5J

fuselagehavinooreatersideareaforward ofthecentreofgravityandsoalesser weather-cockingtendency.ClearlytheFox wouldnotpassthenormaltestforautomatic recoveryfromasidesliptypemanoeuvre. inthatreleasingtherudderbarinasideslip wouldseethenoserisingtowardsthehigh wingratherthanslidingdownhillinsympathy withthebank

LATERALSTABILITY

Bothinpitchandroll,theFoxMothtell absolutelythesameasastandardMothto me,inotherwordsstronglylateraltystable, heavyandponderousinrollbutmoderatety light,responsivebutbarelystableinpitch Attemptingtorollintoandoutofsleep turns,andtoswitchfromahigh-rateturn inonedirectiontotheotheremphasised theless-than-perfectlateral-directional characteristics,theenhancedco-ordination neededtokeeptheslipbubblecentred takingawhiletocrack.

Oncemastered.theFoxMothwas manoeuvrableenoughtoplease,and seemiedhappytoholdcloseformation andpreenhersenalongsidethecamera shipinwhateverattitudesourgesticulating cameramanindicated.Shecruisedhappily atspeedsuplo90mph,alittlemoreata push.butwashappiestpotterinoat80. thispilotenjoyingtothefullthesightofthe

countrysideslidingbeneaththosetautlycovered,slightlyback-sweptsilverwings andthewarmsummerairrushingpastthe cone-shapedwindscreen.Howmuchbetter theviewfromuphereintheopenairthanin theplushcabinbelow!

Belyingitsfive-seatspecification.Ibis surelyisflyingatitsmostbasicwithjust astick,rudder,andthrottle-theflight instrumentsscarcereferredtobecausethe Fox.likeallMoths,tellsyouexactlywhatil's doingatalltimes.Stall?wemust?says theFoxSlowingsteadilyastheslickcomes back,back,backintoyourstomach.theFox hangsontothepointwherethestickhas becomelifelessunderyourhand.theraging airflowoverthewindscreenquietenedtoa merebreezeSheeventuallydropshernose straightandtrue,despitetheabsenceofthe Tiger'sautomaticslats."Slats?"akstheFox Moth.'Whoneedsslats?'

Photostaken.andafterafewminutes gettinotoknowthisladyof80years,alltoo soonitwastimetocomeintolandThiswas tobetheacidtest-bargingaboutinthesky wasallverywellbutwhatwouldItbelike tryingtosettheFoxbackontheground? Wouldtheairfieldanditsbeckoningrunway allbeswallowedup.thetouchdownablind leapoffaith?Youcanhardlylandwithyour headinthecockpitlookingthroughthehole inthedashboard,surely?

AIRTEST

Ineedn'thaveworried.Sittingupastall asIcouldinthebucketseatandturning analat65mph.Ifoundthatbydoingasteep glideapproachIcouldlustaboutkeepthe thresholdinviewabovethesilverdoped, curvedcabintop.A'lastlook-speedof 55mphfeelsaboutrightatthisweight. Throttlefullyclosednowaswefloatedover theairfieldboundaryandnowflatteningout ingroundeffect,therunwayimmediately aheaddisappearingasthenosecameup Peripheralvisionwasstillperfectlyadequate toplacethewheelsaccuratelyontheground inwhatseemedtocomenaturallyasa

tail-lowwheeler.Theruddernicelyeffective asvieslow,stickcominggraduallyforward toholdthattailup.Thetailwheeleventually sinkstothegroundatperhaps25or30mph -slowenoughformostetourenergytobe dissipated-atwhichpointallforwardviewis blottedoutandwearebackinwhale-riding modeforthefewdozenyardsittakestoroll toahaltDownandstopped.

FearsnowdispelledIcouldn'tresist anotherquickcircuittocelebrate,this timesetting'EJdownoffacurvinoglide approach.ThisseemedtosuittheFoxMoth evenbetter,avoidinganyneedforhead-

craningandallowingabetterlookoutfor other,fastertrafficslidingunderneathunder powerinthemodernway,perhapsfocussed toohardontherunwayaheadtonoticethe agedsilverbiplaneslantingdownoverhead. TaxyingbacktoawaitingStuart.Ifeltgreat senseofoccasionandprideinflyingthislovely oldmachine,andinexperiencingaglimpse intoanotherageofflight.Trulythishadbeena uniquewaytore-livetheexcitementofthose livebobago'ridesthatmusthavebeen thebarnstormiingaerialbaptismtorsomany youngstersduringtheirseasideholidays.Long mayshecontinuetoinspire!

veryrobusttube8fabricairframeIL_ wingfoistinginunder5min 85-901.1cruisseRotas91218 111261;54henduranceatavg14lehour 500kgMALJW265kgusefulload LAA ka aircraftwithextensivefactory assistancetoreduceassemblytime

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Glasairisenteringthe LSAmarketwiththe I Merlin,asmallerversion ofitslongestablished Sportsman.Poweredby theRotax912iS,itcruises ataround100ktandhasa usefulloadof530Ib.Price, readytoflyandwitha singleDynonSkyView, around$150K.

N7DWDHC-1ChipmunkwasoriginallydeliveredtotheRAFasWG427in 1951,thensoldassurplusin1955,endingupinAustraliaasVH-BSOwhere itwaslaterconvertedtoasingle-seatglidertugandcropduster.Importedto theUSAin1974,itwasconvertedtoSuperChipmunkstatuswithaLycoming 0-540andwasforsometimeinthe90sanairshowperformer.Acquiredby MarkMeredith,ithasbeenonacompleterestorationfrom2009untilearlier thisyear,makingitsfirstflighton21May.

TheuniqueSeaBreezy,oneof13Breezys celebratingthetype's50thanniversary, withtenofthemtakingpartinafly-byon Wednesdayafternoon.

Builtin1933asanimprovedversionoftheoriginalwoodenfuselageVega, madefamousbyWileyPost'sroundtheworldflightandAmeliaEarharts flightacrosstheAtlantic,thisDL-1BVegaisoneofninemetalfuselage examplesbuilt.Itwasrestoredduring64-68byAAAmembersbutwas wreckedinOklahomain1983.SoldtoJohnMagoffinwithabrokenwingand inaverypoorcondition,theVegawasrestoredbyRickBarteratMarana, nearTucsonandpaintedtorepresentoneoftheVIC-12soperatedbythe ArmyAirCorps,Johnmakingitsfirstpostrestorationflighton17Dec2013.

ThereisalwaysanicecollectionofHowardsatOshkoshandthisyearTim Weston'snewlyrestoredDGA-15PNC63597setthestandard.Followinga seven-yearrestoration,itwassuperbandveryauthentic,justasitwould havecomeoutofthefactory.ItcollectedtheReserveGrandChampion Antiqueawardinayearwhentherewasalotofcompetition.

TheCorbenBabyAcewasoriginallydesignedin1928andsoldasplansandabasickitin1929,becomingoneofthefirstplanssets tobeputonsaleandhelpingtostartthehomebuiltmovement.Morefamouslyperhaps,EAAfounderPaulPobereznybuiltamodified BabyAcein1955anditwasfeaturedonthefrontofMechanixIllustratedmagazine,whichcontainedathree-partarticleonhowtobuild it,includingtheplans,anothercatalystforthemodernhomebuiltaircrafteraandhelpingtoincreaseitspopularitytremendously.This particularaircraftwasstartedbyPaulinearly2011andbuiltwithvolunteerhelpers.AfterPaul'sdeathlastyearitwasfinishedbyoneof thosevolunteers,KurtMehreandanotherteamofhelpersinWarsaw,Wisconsin.Itsfirstflightwason17July,withthetesthoursflown offinthenextweeksoitcouldflyintoOshkoshontheMondaymorningoftheshow.ItispaintedexactlyastheoriginalexamplePaul builtin1955.

GrandChampionkitbuiltwasN11LL,abeautiful LancairLegacybuiltbyWilliamFord.

N752XTwasthefirstdual controlFaireyGannet12. andflewin1954.Itwas rebuiltasaT5byFairey, registeredG-APY0and usedtotrainIndonesian NavypilotsfromWhite Waltham.In1965itbecame XT752andoperatedatLeeon Solent.BrawdyandLossiemouthbeforeretiringin1978.

TheAmjetcollectioninMinnesotareturnedittoflyingconditionin1996 anditwasboughtbyShannanHendricks.EnroutetovisittheUK.ithad technicalproblemsinGooseBay,andafurtherrestorationculminatedina firstflighton9Aug2013.Itwasundoubtedlyoneofthestarsoftheshow. TheownersstillhopetobringheronavisittotheUKinthefuture.

N233E6/VT-AKKisoneofthreeBeechEl7BStaggerwings deliveredin1938toIndianNationalAirways,latertobecome IndianAirlines.ItremainedinserviceuntilafterWWIIbut wasthenstoredinDelhiforthenext30-plusyears,initially inatechnicalschoolbutthenoutside.Itwasrescuedand broughtbacktotheUSAin1978where,after20yearsofslow progress,itwasboughtbyJimParishwhohadJohnRiceof BigSkyStearmansrebuildit.Itmadeitsfirstpostwarflight onSept162007butunfortunately,lessthanayearlater,itwas badlydamagedinalandingaccidentwhenitwentoveronto itsback.ItwaslatersoldtoDavidSmithfromnearMinneapolis whorebuiltitagainanddeservedlywontheAntiqueBronze AgeChampionaward.

Inmy30yearsofgoingtoOshkoshtherehasneverbeenaFairchild71inattendancebut thisyearthereweretwo,both1929models!NC9727wasforalongtimeownedbythe AntiqueAirplaneAssociationatBlakesburg,butwassoldtoJohnCournoyerfromCreve CouernearStLouiswhohaditrestoredtoitsoriginalPanAmcolours.Almostayearago GaryCoonansdecidedtobuyitandhasbeentakingitaroundthefly-inseversince. Thesecond,NC9708(pictured),wasformanyyearsintheGeneFrankcollectionin CadwellIdahobutwassoldafterhisdeathtoMarlinHorst,whohascompletelyrestored ittobetterthanoriginalcondition.ItdeservedlywonGrandChampionAntique.

TheLockheed12Awasdesignedasasmaller,six-passenger versionoftheLockheed10Electraairliner,poweredbythesame Pratt&WhitneytwinWasp450hpengines.Itsfirstflightwasin June1936andproductioncontinueduntil1941with130built, mostgoingtoprivateindividualsastheexecutivejetsoftheir day.Itisestimatedthataround12airworthyLockheed12As existtodayandLesWhittlesey,ownerofNC18906whichwas OshkoshGrandChampionAntiquein2006,decidedtotrytoget asmanytogetheratonetimeatOshkoshaspossible.Hehad greatsuccessgettingseventojointheparade,fiveofwhich hadpreviouslybeenOshkoshGrandChampionAntiquesand twomakingtheirfirstappearanceattheevent.

Trulyawesomeisanover-usedexpressionbuttheGeeBeeQEDreplicagenuinelywarrantstheexpression.TheoriginalQEDwasbuilt in1934fortheMacRobertsonAirRacefromMildenhallUKtoMelbourneAustralia,whichwaswonbythedeHavillandCometG-ACSS, nowintheShuttleworthCollection.TheGeeBeewasflownbyJackieCochranbutonlygotasfarasBucharest,Romania.Poweredby a675hpPratt&WhitneyHornet,itwasamassivetwo-seater,muchlargerthanthefamousR-1racer.TheQEDhadanunsuccessful racecareerintheUSandwassoldtoMexicowhereFranciscoSarabiasetseveralrecordsinit,butwaseventuallykilledinitinacrash intothePotomacriverinWashingtonDC.However,theaircraftwasn'tbadlydamagedandwastakenbacktoMexicowhereithasbeen restoredandisondisplayintheMuseoFranciscoSarabia,CiudadLerdo,oneofonlytwooriginalGeeBeesstillinexistence. ThisreplicawasbuiltbythelateJimMossandfriendsnearSeattle,andfeaturesamuchlargerengine,a1,425hpWrightR-1820.First flightwasinSeptember2013,takingoffat85-90kt,landingat95ktandapparentlyexhibitinggoodhandling,whichisataddswiththe marqueshistoricreputationofbeingsomethingofahandful.

SAFETY SPOT FORCEDLANDINGS

With MalcolmMcBride&

AirworthinessEngineer

DEPARTINGDOORS

Whilewefocusonthecausesoftheforcedlandings,it'salsoimportantto learnfromhowthepilotsconcerneddealtwiththesituations

H elloagainand,ofcourse,welcome

toSafetySpot.I'mtakingnotethat I'vejuststartedtoseecondensation onthecarwindowfirstthinginthe morningso,sadly,myunbroken summerofusingthebiketocometowork lookslikeitmightcometoanendsoon;well, I'vegotsomemaintenanceworktodoonher inanyevent(nothingtoohorrific,justnew sprocketsandchain).Hatsofftoagreatsummer though.Hiphiphooray!Fingerscrossedforthe approachingwinter!

Actually.thefactthatwe'vehadagoodrun ofsummerweatherhasbeenveryhelpfulwhen itcomestotransportingmetomydeskhereat LAP,HQeverymorning.Iliveinwhatusedto beavillage,butnowfeelsmorelikeaservice stoponamotorway.nearOxford.Everywayyou looktherearenewhousingdevelopmentsgoing

Here'sapicturetakenbyafriendof Jonathanonanotherflightshowingthe field(strip)thatendedupbeingusedas alandingsitewhentheenginestarted tomisbehaveonhisSuperCubonthe waybackfromatriptotheIsleofWight. Youcanseethatlandingsitesareabit thinonthegroundinthisareaandgood judgementisrequiredtopulloffasafe landing. (Photo:JonathanMorton)

up...newhousingmeansnewaccessroads, newaccessroadsmeannewtrafficJunctions which,andIexpectyoucanseewhereI'mgoing meanmoretrafficdelaysinthemornings.Hence mysadnessathavingtousefourwheelsasthe inherentlackofagilitycandoublemyJourney

timetoworkand,perhapsasimportantly,is nothinglikeasmuchfun.PerhapsIshouldget someheatedglovesandJustbravetheweather? Icanhearmyinnervoiceloudlycomment,asI writethislastsuggestion,"Don'tbesosilly,boy'. Myinnervoice,bytheway,stillthinksIhaven't grownfacialhairyetwhich,whenyouthinkabout ftisquiteaniceattribute...atleastinaninner voice!

Anyway.lensgetstartedwiththismonth's fare,timemarchesonandtheEditor,Brian Hope.islookingforcopythisevening!Here's astorywherethein-flightenginefailurewas handledabsolutelyfantasticallybythepilot, LAA'erJonathanMorton.Becausehekepthis headandrememberedthegoldenruleinsuch circumstances:FlytheAircraftFirst.Theaircraft waslandedwithoutascratchinwhatcouldbe describedashostileterritory.Intrigued?Readon

WhiteWalthamflyer,Jonathan Morton,lookingpleasedwithhimselfafter pullingoffagoodemergencylandingintoadifficultfield.Infact, thestripwaspartofthelivefiringrangesaroundSandhurst,and Jonathanandhispassengerfoundthemselvesstuckinsidea barbedwireperimeterfence,butcommentedthatboththeMPs andtheSurreycivvieswereverykindandunderstanding.The aircraftwaslaterde-riggedandtraileredbacktobasebyroad. (Photo:JonathanMorton)

PiperPAI8SuperCub— In-flightEngineFailure

Wheneverwegetareportthatoneofouraircraft hasbeeninvolvedinan-event'our(wellnormafly, my)firs1:askistocheckupontheaeroplane's history,espec(allyitstimeinthePENTAA,wnfch arefullydetailedinourrecords.-1hismayseem ratherwasteful:-Isn'toneCubJustlikeanother? Well,asanTAAeryouwillknowthatthere'sno suchthingasa-series'type;11theTAAPermit systemOursystemtreatseachaircraftasan individual,hencetheneedbraquickswot amongsttherecords ThisPA18-95SuperCubisactuallyquite anunusualaircraft.LaterSuperCubsarefitted withbiggerenginesandhavetlaps.andhave notgenerallybeenallowedtotransteronto theLAAsystemSurelythismachineshould hedesignatedanL-18C(L.asJonathanlater pointedout,standingforLiaison..inotherwords afriflibrydesignator,whichwouldexplainwhy ithadn'tbeenforceddowntheCotAmute).I delvedalittledeeperanddiscoveredthatthis. nowgroup-ownedaircraftwasfirs:admittedonto theLAAfleetin1985.Theaircraftwasat:toady builtin1953asatrainerfortheItalianAirForce. withoutHaps.prettymuchtotheearliest1949 SuperCubspecwiththesmallerContinentalC90 engineDiggingfurtherIdiscoveredthatthere werequiteafewaircraftbuiltfortheUSmilitary inthisconfigurationApparently,thisparticular examplewenttoItalyaspartofaNATOinitiative Whilstthissortofbackground[naybe important,inthiscase,asthisaircrafthad experiencedanunexplainedenginestoppage. themainreasonfordelvingintothehistorywas thatIwaslookingforsomekindofmaintenance Idstoryfortheengine.TheLAAoperatesmany enginesthatcouldbedescribedasrunning inthe-autumnoftheylivedbutwetryhardto ensurethatthisisnotallowedtoimpactontheir reliability-teeideaisnottoletoldengines continueinserviceuntiltheyfail.butratherto takewhateveractionsareneededtokeepthem ingoodshape.HenceTsallthemoreimponanf tofindoutwhat'sactuallygonewrongwhen onefails,notlusttodim-lustasanoldengine that'sgivenuptheghost.Naturally,evenwhen everycheckpossibleismade,weoccasionally stillgetfailuresdue.frankly.tooldage.bansthe increasednskwealltakewhenoperatingvintage equipment.However,usually[here'ssomeother causalfactorattheheartofthematterarida lessontobepassedon.

niure2-4ExplodedVI..efTtiomterxSA-33AInestCanu-rnos

Carburettorsareessentiallydevicesformixingfuelwithairinthecorrectproportions toensurecompletecombustioninthecylinderduringthefiringstroke.Ihopethatyou canseefromthisexplodedviewofaStrombergcarburettorthatthis,onthesurface quitesimplejob,takesquiteafewcomponentstoachieve.Thefirstpartofthemetering processisverymuchaffectedbythefuellevelinthecarburettor'sinternalstoreof fuel,thefloatchamber(bottomofthediagram).Youcanseethecomponentsthatkeep thefuellevelcorrectinthischamber.Item52isthefloatwhichsitsontopofthefuel, openingandclosingthevalve(54)againstitsseat(55).Thevalveseatisfirstsetinits correctpositionusingshimsthen,whencorrect,theseatistorqueddownandthenwirelocked.Itwasfound,duringthelaterinvestigation,thattheoverhaulingengineerhadn't wire-lockedtheseatintoplaceandvibrationhadcausedittocomeundone,blockingoff thefuelsupply. (Illustration.StombergPartsManual)

Forfairlyobviousreasons,Tsmportantto establishamechanicalhistorybeforeworking upafuturemaintenanceplan.Sometimes,w(th arefaftoperatingonaPermittoFlyanengine's historycanberatherhard(eventothepointof beingimpossible)topindown,especiallyits pre-PEA/LAAhistory!Notinthiscasehowever forinterestingly.thisSuperCub(orwhateverwe decidetocall3!)turnedouttobestilloperating withthesameengineithadwhenfirstimported. Anoteinourdatabasesuggeststhatthispower unitmayhavebeena1965replacementpresumablywhilststillinserviceinItaly. Bypiecingtogetherlogbookentriesand worksheets.thisenginelookslikeithas completedsomethingliketwo-and-a-half thousandhours.Weknowthattheenginewas rebuilt(noteIhaven'tJsedthewordoverhauled) in1995becauseofareportedlowoilpressure. 700hoursago.whichwouldhavetidilycoincided withtheC-90'sTBOof1,800hours-sotarso goodSubsequently.ithashadanewtop-end (pistonsandcylinders)fitted350hourslater.The onlyothermahtenanceactivibrecordedisthat theSdombergcarburettorwasprofessionally overhauledin2011aspartofJonathansongoing programmedmaintenanceplan.Thisyearthe

magnetosaregoingtotherepairshop. Confused?OK,metootosomeextent,butI hopethatyougetthesamefeehngasIdiewhen lookingthroughthemaintenancerecordthatthis aircraftisbeingwellcaredforinheroldageand. partbypart.componentsarebeingkeptina goodcondition.Sowhatwentwrong?

Jonabanexplainedthathe'sgrownpartral totakinglunchinabeach-siderestaurantat SandownontheIsleorWight,whichgoesby theappropriatenameof Strollers, Actually,I knowthisratherlaidbackestablishmentrather wellbut,personally,preferthepubhalfwayup thehill(overlookingthepier),Ithinkit'scalled -Flanagans'-asmuchasyoucaneatand reasonableprices!

Anyway.thoseofyouwhotraveloccasionally clowntotheislandwillknowthatairspaceissues canpushyououttowardstheeastsomewhat: Jonathanexplabedthathepreferstogovia Farnborough-ifyouknowthearea.Sandhurst. Crowthorne,thatsortofzoneJonathan's passengerwasfellowpilotand,forthatmatter. groupmember,KeyMorgan.Anywayaftera pleasantlunchat Strollers, JonathanandKevin headedforhomeinveryniceweather.Clearance throughbeFarnboroughzonewasrequested

Thissketchshowingthegeneralarrangementofthegullwingdoorsasfittedtothe Europa.Notethattherearetwoshootboltguides,oneatthefrontandoneatthe back.Afterclosing,it'seasytoseewhetherthefrontpinhasenteredtheguidebut therearguidesitsbehindthepilot'sshouldersandismoredifficulttosee.Because thedoorisactuallyquitestiff,pushingonitduringthenormal'Hatchesand Harnesses'pre-take-offchecksareclearlynotareliablewayofdeterminingwhether therearpinhasengagedinitsmatchingrecessornot.

(Image:EuropaManual)

IfyouarearegularfollowerofSafetySpotyouwillknowthatwe'veseenEuropa doorsfailbefore.Thispictureshowstherelativelycomplexmechanisminvolved inpushingthelockingpins(shootbolts)intotheirguides.Becauseintheevent describedinthetextthepilotwassurehehadshutthedoorfully,atfirstwethought thatthewearinthemechanismmightbepreventingtheboltsfromgoingfullyhome.

(Image:EuropaManual)

anddulygiven,2,000ftviaCrowthorne.Jonathan explainedthattheywerejustpassingover Broadrnoorhospitalwhentheenginequietlydied. "ThefirstthingthatInoticedwaswhentheengine lostpower,"explainedJonathan."Ithoughtthat Kevinhadpulledthepowerbackand,after askingwhyhewoulddosuchathing.Irealised thatKevinwasthinkingthesamethingofme. Atthisstage,wewerecomingdownquitegently but,lookingaround,landingsiteswereverythin onthegroundfiNevertheless,asitturnedout, hemadeasoundchoiceandagoodlanding wasmade.

Hostileterritory?Takealookatthepictureon page48ThetrackformedpartofaMinistryof Defencelive-roundtrainingground.Asitturned outtheMPs,whosoonarrivedonthescene, wereanunderstandingbunchand,well,itdisird taketoolongtogetietoutofjankers!Ilestof course.Jonathan'smatetookapictureofhis landingsiteafewdayslater

Onethingthat'sworthpassingonwasthatit wasonlyaftertheimmediateprioritieshadbeen dealtwiththatJonathanputoutaMayday.In otherwords,theaircraftwasfirstsetupatbest speed.winddirectionestablished,alanding siteidentifiedandamentalimageofthecircuit formedandunderstood.Whenhedidcal(up.the controlleracknowledgedtheMaydayandthen advisedJonathonthatBlackbusheaerodrome was4nmeastoftheircurrentposition.Jonathan explainedthatheassimilatedtheinformationbut foundthissuggestionabitofdistraction.'You can'thelpfeelanaggingdoubtthatthismight beabetteroption.comingfrom'authority!.so tospeak.ThefactthatIdidn'thaveahopeof reachingBlackbusheand,moreimportantly,I'd alreadycommittedtomyplan,meantthatIjust ignoredthisadvice."

Moredistractingstill,whilstonthebaseleg totheforcedlanding,thecontrollersuggested contactingLondonon121.5andsquawking 7770,Idon'tneedtosaythatthisdirectionwas notcompliedwitheither:beingverymuchthe momentforaviatingandnavigatingratherthan communicating.astheoldmantragoes

WelldonetoJonathantorgeftinghismachine downsafelyinanemergency.Toreiterate,inan enginefailuresituation,firstflytheaircraftThen.n you'vegotkme.trytofindoutwhat'sgonewrong -thepassengermaysimplyhaveinadvertently knockedthethrottleclosedorsnutthefuelonioff valvewithhisknee.Ifthere'sstillplentyoftime. aMaydaycall'sagoodideaasthiswillstartthe processofgettingtheemergencyservicestoyou quicklyafteryou'rePackontheground.Firstot allthough,concentrateongettingyouraircraft downsafely

Oh,andwhatcausedtheenginestoppage? Well,Imentionedearlierthat,aspartof Jonathan'songoingmaintenanceplanthe carburettorhadbeensentofftoaCAAapproved workshopabout200hoursprevioustothe stoppage.TheLAAInspector,AlanTurney.who's knownthisaircrafttormanyyears,soonrealised thattheenginehadstoppedbecauseitwasn't geftinganyfuel.Thecarburettorwasremoved andthefaultwassoondiscovered.Whenitwas overhauled,thepersonwhore-assembledit clearlydidn'twire-lockaninternalcomponent so,afteracoupleofhundredflyinghoursof continuousvibration,itunwound(probably quitequickryonceItbecameloose),essentially shuttingoffthefuelsupplyandstoppingme engineTherecouldhaveteennosignot thisexternallysoboththeaircraft'sday-to-day managementandtheageohitsenginewere exonerated.

Shootholt

EuRrol

f.r52_5-Jo Kb

EuropaXS-DoorTornoffInFlight Doyouevergelthatlopingo'deLavuirgasort ofGroundhogDa/thing?'Milrrro5rt.tooKingat tlietitleolttiischapterinSafetySpot-butno, we'renotregLrrgRatingobcopythlsisanold piob.cm:hat'scomehacgtohaunt U5 IexpectMalyou'veroticedthatIvebeen prigningthe'forst,FlytheAircraftrulepmtlynard itlateIdonmakeanyapekmigestortheobvious repetion'youdon'tneedtoheastabs-true:1to ACP< anttHal 100 IllAnypeopleare MII hurtby rlet gthisruleso,atleast '11 ocokLsa rnanirathatstillreedspressinghomeLePslace ititsno:goodforanyotup:whenneopler4cohurt aLcraftaccidentsa ulincidentsWhenhamble thingshappensthouggtltoyIHelyitablyco .sc:notrtesImportanTthatweesLahlrs:iwhatp gon,wrungandpossible.a'lritemanymagory, behmdit Acerdentsarpatm-lostaltayscaused byacombinationofcedeoten,elated happenings.Happenstanceityou'ReButtimi yorrlookbeerrromecurtainte.

SamethingsynurandusurniLtlungabout IIagar:isAnfildTobetooweakan.:1Rslarlum hascausodogracc,derilwellonceidennhedit canhereplacedoasyAccIdentscaug,ed nup-anngsbothindmdualaridsysten-lic arearil:Nimesmaredifficult,both:oiderilifyand onceidentifred,lcdisseminatethesotip.ons WhatdoImeanby-individuarandsysemio 'encgs,aridthyshoulditheciffinutttordpptity thehumanfactorsinvolvcdinanincident?Surely Matshimabeeasy?Wellscmg;imesniseasyto esoablishtheindividualfailingtoofasttooslow, notencagllitits-orthatbutreaimprovements rosatetycomefrornestablishingthesysTernic ssuplurkinglorepeatthemetaphor.[Deign°me curtainWhytoofastorslPw,orthytinsorrttat wasntdoneproperly?Isthereaso,iasimple ogstagehythepilotor COLIldrttoosomerningto dowith:heir.miningorpost-trainingsupe,vsion \ThataboLptllpaircraftitsell2Isthereasrhtle inherentfaultwithahtItsowhywasn'titplcked-up uurirrgingaltes/Ing?AMTiothinkabout! FaltertodayIreceivedanemailtramachapin Ilaytnod 1.15I lostIllsbestfriendinanulpalight acordcmtNaturallyhewasye'yupsetandwas looking,quitcunderstandably,to:rareasonfor histossHE:explainedthat'Herotheylusttreat theseaccidentslikeaminorcarcrasn,nobody seemsinterestedtheleasonswhyI'velost myfriendandihatjustdoesnseemricrhLlee reasontarhisernaloratleastthequestion embeddedwithinirwastoHOoutwhatwed

IthasbeenshownthattheEuropaisquite astableaircraftwiththedoorsremoved, sotherealissuewhenthetypelosesa dooristhesecondarydamagethatmight becausedbyitwhenitleavestheairframe and,ofcourse,thepotentialdamage tolifeandpropertyontheground.In thiscase,thedoorhitthetailplaneand severelycompromisedtheflyingsurface's structuralintegrity.Thedamagetotheskin canbeclearlyseenbuttherelateddamage tothepitchcontrolmechanismwasn't founduntildisassembly.

(Photo:StephenTucker)

tee01kundersirrea,citc..imstancesIwas peasedtoIsmabletotellIlirnthatv..yalways[rear, aircrarmop:et-Lcannaccidertsverysenous:y, andHatwealwaystrytoestablishC911seITHr yleVyHrlyestahl.shingcausetealrelatives andinellOScanhoperocomemterms*10the eventandthatonangescanbemacehopefully anytaytopreventrepeatmishaps thy:examplewhercdoorcanleofIinfliql °he'sanopportunitytolookal SAITICt0; tint factorsinvolvedinMeforegrournandperhaps moreintucestinglyacouple CI thesuctlerather Fnectralpackgroundrssues

Sowhathappened'WeI,theaircraftwasa:. arepairslaticilhavingscrnemaintenancedone r(-1thepropel;pr.Iorsorrereasontnevariably pitchpropellerwashurting'(wpieLlnsetleat elI appropriateRPM)andthereason'orthis wasprovingditficjlttoideOthy.Asitturnedout alterarsonsofmechan:calchangesthefedi. wasLackedtoanover-excitablefeedbacK response. III theEpotricalcotILI-alterbutcrythe timethetatit;waseventuallytoindthearromgs Cellifical.ecitValmityhadrunout,sc.aPermr renewalinspectiorwascocessarybeforcthe aircraftcolnldfly.Ihe.owner.•whicWasfairlynew totrit/typeaskecthecompanywhodIcxec rtnr:rpellerfaultreyouttheheithttye/wal work,th‘ohitdulydidIhear-orattwasnyory goodconditronandotterRettllegwignd HICCILIC tuchockthatteepropellerwasworgegOK,the. aircraftwasmadereadyforaciler*High'.bothr,o checkthepropandmrtheannualrenewa Tiroengineer/inspectorinvolvedtan experiencedLAAEcithoughnutparricnniarry experiencedwithEuropaapc2aftdecidedtlialee peodcdamoreEmoonencedpilottocarryprntthe

Thispicture,showingtherearshootbolt guide,showsclearlyfromthewitness/ wearmarkleftbehindthatwhenthe aircrafttookofftherearshootboltwasn't engaged.Thefactthatthedoorwasn't closedproperlywouldn'tnecessarilybe noticedbythecrewuntiltheairspeed passedacriticalpoint,inthiscase.110kt. (Photo:StephenTucker)

eheckflightWhrLF.smorebecauseofmsurance 'mit:MonsonthearroragacypilotOirtu'nthan theuwnerwork'havetobeaQughtiedFlying InstructorPDFI)

Asyoucurlpmbablykna.w,especiallyifyeu aremeowrtenotarLAAPermitaircrafttucarry (DixachecktlightpinaoLAAmaolyneyorI miefaI anthlinLIMCI10PnousP1andalleast10hours nntypeforverysmilartype) \No thinkpia;hype lamganlyIsIn-porta:IIgthesechecks

TheuFlridolchosenhadnomaexperience withtheEuropebutgadthousandsofhoursles; HyingexpelmispeonaIn‘igerangeoflightar,c1ett ofalltypes.soIhrschapsindrodualexporenom, wouldritho.questioneuespecianytutJeosibly hackedupbytheengineeLalsoaqualified actingOscheeklightobserverScwha:onearth co..rlogowrong°

Wrih'egalboxestiokcd,teeriled(crew tookofftoflytheLAAscheduleAllwasgoing weLlownwhilstf.lyingatabout1Pokitheport rtrtorrippeditselfrD-1w»Iwoesarodisappeared rearwardsNaturallythecheckflightWas abargiorredandtheappraltreturnedhometora precailtio!rarybarroPHAftyrtheIIicidertbaththe plotandinAu.;tts'eryenwereadamarLney trod ct lecke/IthatthedoorswerEClosedhefore depaPiyeaidthoobserverwhosedoorhad departedaddedthat'HereWasPO [lappingOr draughttosuggesrthatthedoorhadnotbeen properlyclosed

ThisiswhereclejayrnOtIllOSofcourse andwhy.ypefamiliarityissoimportant Hoguierreaders(and.ofcourseEmopaowners) willknowthat1MI nanlybecausetodtt.auta spatealdoorsfailinginHighttherewas d SalctySpotdedcamdtothesuotecr(See SEPTEMBER201-1LIGHTAVIATION51

SAFETYSPOT

March2013).CertainlyIsveryeasytothink theEuropadoorisclosedwithouttherearshootbolthavinggonehomeand,asmanywillknow. aquickpushonthedoorwon'testablishwhether thishashappenedornot.Asyoucanseefrom thephotos,thiscrewmayhavebeenverylucky. Thedepartngdoorhitthetailplane,causing substantialdamage.Machhasaddedimpetus totheonuoingsearchforasolutiontothisreoccurringissue.Ithasalsoopenedupanother discussionpoint:why,intheviewofaninsurance company,shouldaminimumquafficatjontofly anaircraft,ifyou'renottheowner,beaflying instructor'srating?Surelyexperienceontypeis moreimportant?

PietenpolAirCamperUndercarriageFailure

Ireceivedatelephonecallfromoneofour colleaguesattheAirAccidentInvestigationBranch askingifweknewanybingaboutanincident involvingaPietenpolAirCamperatGrantield.I checkedmydatabaseandexplainedthatwehad receivednotificationfromthemthattherehadbeen anaccidentinvolvingalandinggearcollapsea coupleofdaysbefore,andthatI'dspokentothe pilotbrieflytomakesurehe,andasitturnedout,his passengerwereOK.Wewerewaitingforthepilotto sendusafewpicturesandhadn'tdonemuchmore thanthisatthatstage.Iknewthatthepilot,TAA'er SqdLdrNeilConstantine,hadsecuredtheaircraft backtothehangarandIwaslookingfolavardto receivinghisreport.

Theinvestigatoraskedtilat.Mienwehave moredetails,couldwepassthemover'Assoon as".Iagreedtodothis,ofcourse,andasked

AfterthelastPietenpolrodendfailure,ThePietenpol ClubissuedaServiceBulletinadvisingownersto replaceanyin-servicerodendswithastrongertype ofrodendswithoutnipples,whichwasachange endorsedbyLAA.Atthetime,itwasthoughtthatthe holeforthegreasenipplewascreatingastressraiser whichwasleadingtofailure.It'slikelythatthiswas thecasebut,nowwe'vehadafailureofanon-grease nippledbearing,albeitoneofquestionablequality,LAA Engineeringislookingatrequiringfitmentofstronger bearingsaltogetherandtheintroductionofa componentlife.

Interestingly,inthisrecentfailure,thesafetystrapmod (infoavailablefromthePietenpolclub)wouldn'thave helpedastheundercarriagefoldedinwardswhenitfailed. Thestraponlypreventscollapseinanoutwarddirection. (Diagram:PietnepolClub)

whytheextraconcern"Well.'heexplained, "youwon'tknowthisyet.butearliertodaywe hadareportofanotherPietenpollosingits undercarriage,notsofarawayfromyou.No, nobodyinjured.fortunately-butareweseeing apattern?"

IdecidedtogiveNeilanothercallandpush theincidentuptheprioritylist.

Asitturnsout,theonlycommonfeature betweentheNvoincidentswasthename Igetenpol.sothepressurebranswersdropped quitequicklyWeprobablyweren'tseeingthe firstinarushoffailures.Thefirstincidentinvolved acollapseoftheCub-typeweldedsteeltube undercarriageduringanormaltouch-and-go, thesecondresultedinthefailureofagate differentone-offwooden-leggedundercarriage wherethelandinghadn'tbeenquitesocontrolled. We'restillinthemiddleoftheinvestigationintothe secondevent,whichwe'lldiscussinthenext

Itisabsolutelyessentialwhenapartfails inanenginethatallthe'remains'arefound beforetheengineisputbackintoservice. Alanfoundpartofthebrokenvalveinthe inductionair-box-itmusthavepassed backwardsthroughtheinductionsystem, justdon'taskmehow!

(Photo:MalcolmMcBride)

Haveyouseenthispicturebefore?Iknowthatyouwon't havedonebecausethispictureshowingafailedPietenpol undercarriageishotoffthepress.Thelasttimearodendfailed onaPietenpol,backin2010,wefeaturedaverysimilarshot.You knowwhattheysay,'Whatgoesaround,comesaround'. (Photo:NellConstantine)

Thisrodendbearinghasfailedintension,asyoucannodoubt see.Weknowfromtheaircraft'smaintenancerecordsthat therodendwasreplacedin2010afterasimilarfailureduring taxying.Atthetimeofreplacementtheaircrafthadaccumulated 162hours.Thisreplacementrodendfailedat230hoursso,by deduction,wecanassumethatithasbeeninserviceforjust68 hours.Thecurrentownerhaslogged57hoursand209landings. We'renotsureofthenumberoflandingsbeforethis.Wedonote, however,thatthisAuroraMM6bearingisnotapartdesigned forheavydutyoperationandtheHeimheavydutybearingsare showingbetterservice. (Photo:MalcolmMcBride)

Here'sacloserviewoftheAurorarodend'sthreadedpart,that's thesectionthatscrewsintotheactualstrut.Ihopethatyoucan seethatthisbearinghasbeenwearingwithinthestrut-notethe flatsonthethreadsAllundercarriagesworkveryhardfortheir living,hadthesebearingsbeenremovedduringthelast25hours, itislikelythattheywouldhavebeenreplacedbecauseofthis obviouswear. (Photo:MalcolmMcBride)

3afetySpoloccec,hethereareguitea•ewsafely IhscrsistoScan.

nefirstinodentisrathermohestraightfonNard Neilexplaned:

-Mypalalsoanexperiencedtaddraggerpita andlwereenujuyinqa fliofitingnodweather aroundthelocalareaA'torabout20ninueswe decidedtoflyafewtryich-ana-goiandirigs.IthinK weddnrieabouiIIweemaybefour anyway, Jusi aswetoyicheddown!risc3cedratherfell somethingge;totheundercarriage aWed full pcswerandconvertedtnelandirminiioanother ;orlon-and-esLook.ngoverthns1arooardside ftwasclearthattherewd•chmethingwrongas 'heundercarnagelegwahswingingaboutin Thebreeze

Icartse.memberyearsagoa tyrc bursting onceonataildradgerIwasflyingand rememherthohorriblescena;rosmymindwas coricoctrig hnmyfinalaOpreac'iiustl have

beensrYlarlyscamNeilcontinued. lAiehadplentyoftimetcmakeaplanFirst. weson:as-teaThe:owerTyletthemknowthe problemthenwAccordedtogoforadead slicklandingshwerehearsed our ,faria.sroles thepilotinthefrontcockpitlandedtheaircraft andtheoneintnerearlookedafterthevalves andswitches"

AsItturnedoutthetwo-marteamlahoedthe aircraftwi9iout inc,cloolandveryhaledamage. agnodjobverywetdono Youcarttovewwhat fairedintheattacnedpystures,andyes.meve seer:thistyposhSacurebefore.backnWY() SufficetosaythatLAAEnginoesqgwill shortly be issuingfrirteradvssetoPieteneolownersabout tireosp3stionandreplacementresprements or[Fe kidg.rid bearingsused in11115 of undercarriage

AS1well toe eveningbeckonsInocyng to geloutonayewassreimorrow.FanWinds

Whenthevalvebroke,itsremainsvirtuallydestroyed everythingintheirpath;here'sapictureshowingoneofthe sparkingplugs.Whenremovedtheygavethefirstindication wheretheproblemlay,theonlyotherexternalsignwasa completelossofcompression.

(Photo:MalcolmMcBride)

C(Left) Thispicture showssomeofthe pistonintheoil filterscreen.

(Photo:Malcolm McBride)

(Right) Asitturnedout,Adrianwasabletosourceanotherengine,infact,whilstIwas onmylunchtimewalkyesterday,Iwatchedhimtake-offandcautiouslyflyacircuit. Everythinglooked(andsounded)fine,andIsawhimdepartafterfinalenginechecks laterintheafternoon.Thispictureshowsoneoftheexhaustvalvesfromoneoftheother cylindersoftheduffengine.Theareashowniswheremostvalvefailuresactuallyoccur, thisisbecauseifstheareathattakesthemostpunishment.Notethetransitionfrom asmoothsurface,underthemushroomedhead,toapittedsurfaceintheshank.This enginehadcompletedabout650hoursafteranLAArebuild,buttherecordsweren't conciseenoughtoworkouthowoldthevalveswere. (Photo.MalcolmMcBride)

(Above) LAA'erAdrianLineswasflying hisAeronca7ACbacktoLeicesteraftera greatdayoutatPophamwhen,ashewas passingbetweenFinmereandTurweston hisenginelostmostofitspower.Given thechoiceoflandingspotsheoptedfor Turweston.WelldonetoAdrianforgetting hislovelyaircraftbackontheground safely.Here'stheengineasitwasremoved fromtheairframeunderthewatchfuleye ofLAAinspector,AlanTurney.Iexpectthat youcanseewhat'shappened... yes,anexhaustvalvehasfailed. Becausethedetritusfromthisfailure wassentaroundtheengine,mostofthe compressionwaslostintheremaining cylinders,hencethevirtuallycomplete lossofpower.

(Photo-MalcolmMcBride)

WHERE

Fewereventsnowastheseasonstartstodrawtoacloseso

makethemostoftheopportunitytogetoutandabout-let's hopeforanIndiansummer!SandownontheIsleofWightis alwaysagreatdestinationandon6-7SeptithostsSpamfield,the popularmicrolightfly-in(pre-registrationrequired).Bournemouth ishostingaGABonusDayon28SeptwhenitcostsjustE5

TO GO

forthelandingfee.Youmustpre-bookaslotat bookaslotO bournemouthairportcorn ThankstoDavidWiseandtheRAeCfortheuseoftheir extensiveeventslistingat events.royalaeroclub.org whereyou willfindlinkstomanyoftheseevents. Enjoyyourdaysout!

5-7 Cosby. LeicsFoxlandsFarm VictoryShow

6-7 Portrush NorthernIrelandSea FrontAirShow (incRedArrows7)

6-7 Prestwick ScottishAirShow

6-7 NorthCoates AutumnFly-in 01472388850 Perth RRRAHandicapAir Races

6-7 Sandown SparnfieldMicrolight Fly-in

Pophamci:

SuttonMeadows MicrolightClub Fly-in

7 OldSarum VintageSundayFly-in 01722322525

Bodmin CornwallACArnhem AnnivFly-in01752406660

7 OldWarden ShuttleworthPageant AirShow01767627927

7 Rochester PrecisionFlying Competition

Seething CharityAirDay (PPR)

7 Sturgate LinesACAutumnFly-in 01427838305

to- IBigginHill BusinessAviation EuropeTrade-show

II Jersey. StAubyrrsBayBattleof BritainSeaFrontAirShow II Guernsey. StPeterPortBattleof BritainSeaFrontAirSnow

12-14 Goodwood MotorRacingRevival

2-14 OldWarden ShuttleworthSteam& CountryFayre01767627927

3 Barton LancsAeroClubAutumn &BBO

13-1 Duxford IWMDuxford AirShow

3-4 Sherburn BAeAAerobatic Competrtion

13-11 Otherton. StaffsACSummer MicrolightFly-in

Popham SolentAviationSocFly-in 01256397733

Panshanger NLFCAerobaticsDay 01707391791

SuttonMeadows CambsMC MicrolightFlynn

70 LowerUpham'r

70 OldBuckenham OldBuckVillage HangarDance

20 OldWarden ShuttleworthEveningAirShow 01767627927

ThecockpitofShippingandAirlines'beautiful1929TravelAir120,G-AAOK,oneofthe starsoftherecentVAC50thAnniversaryfly-inatPopham

20-21 Southport SouthportAir Show

21 Breighton HelicopterFly-in 01757289065

27-28 Sywell ClassicPistons&Props Show

27-28 Alderney RRRAHandicapAir Races

27-28 Elvington BAeAAerobatic Competition

27-28 OldBuckenham Balloon Festival

27-28 OldWarden Shuttleworth AemmodelShow 01767627927

28 Coningsby BBMF/Lincolnshire% LancasterAssocMembers Event

28 Bournemouth GABonusDay bookaslot@ boornemouthairport.corn

4Bompton!:

OldBuckenham MilitaryRevival Show

OldSarum VintageSundayFly-in 01722322525

5OldWardenShuttleworthEndof SeasonAirShow01767627927

I 2 Popham EndofSeasonFly-in 01256397733

18 Rougham Fly-in

18-19 Northrepps EndofSeason Fly-in(PPR)07886264992/ 07771800406

19Fenland FACAutumnFly-in

23 Yeovilton FAAMuseumCobham HallReserveOpenDay 01935840565

25 Yeovilton FAAMuseumModel Show 01935840565

16 Frel;;1r11'RIif Sywell

22721Tehord:

LAAFREE LANDINGSFORSEPTEMBER2014

Thismonth'sfreelandingvouchersarearecourtesyofChiltonPark,Fenland, NetherthorpeandRoserrow.Pleasetakethevoucherswithyouandhandtheminwhen youbookin.OurthankstotheairfieldoperatorsfortheirgeneroussupportoftheLAA.

AFRIENDLYGRASS airfield.Userunway04/22unlesstoldotherwise.SetamongstthelovelyChilterns.notfarfromWallingford.although primarilyamicrolightsite,itisalsosuitableforlightaircraft.JoinonthepermanentdeadsidetotheEastofADat1.0004anddescendto circuitheight.Nofuelavailable.LocatedwithintheRAFBensonMATZ,therecanbebusyhelicopteractivityduringtheweek,CallBenson 120.90andthenChilternRadioon134,025.Theremaybenoreply-somakeblindcalls.PPRpleaseonabovenumber. wwwchiltern.aero

ANEWAIRFIELD offeringLAAmembersafreelandingthisyearisPenland.whichhastwograssrunwaysPPRpleaseasADisinalowflyingmilitaryarea.Runway08/26mayseemhigherwhenonapproach,sobecarefulAvoidflyingoverHolbeachSt.JohnsAvgasandJet Alareavailablefromaself-servicecreditcardterminal.Licensedrestaurantisopenalweekendsandlimitedtimesduringtheweek(dotry thehome-madecakesbakedbyKatie). wwwleniandairfield.co.uk

ANOTHERAERODROMEOFFERING LAAmembersanewfreelandingsvenue.HomeoftheSheffieldAeroClub,theairfieldoffersan excellentrestaurantrunbyPaulMitchellandisopenTuesdaytoSunday.Twograssrunways.PPRpleaseandaskforadviceifyouhavenot flownherebefore.LocatedunderDoncaster/SheffieldCTAAvoidlocalvillages.Avgasbyarrangement. www.sheffieldaeroclub.net FREELANDING FORSEPTEMBER2014_

PARTOFTHE lovelycomplexThePointatPolzeath,thegrassrunwayislocatednexttothegolfcourse.Thecomplexhasgolf,tennis,a healthclub,restaurant,andvariouscottagesandapartmentsforholidaysandshortbreaks.Withinwalkingdistanceofthesea,there'sloads toseeanddo,includingsurfingandlovelywalks.PPRisimportantasalandingslotneedstobebooked.Youcancampunderthewing (hotshowersareofferedinthecharge),soseeingCornwallonabudgetispossible.Phonethefriendlystafffordetails.Nofuelonsite.Use Safetycom135.475andNewquayison133,400.Remembertopackyourtrunksandbucketsandspades. wwwthepointatpolzeath.co.uk

AirfoilSelection(War'anj

DesignoftheAeroplane(Stinton)

EngineertoWin(SHIU

£25

£80

£22

EvansLightplaneDesigner'sHandbook£30

FlyingonYourOwnWings:AComplete GuidetoUnderstandingLightAirplane Design(Heintz) £30

IntroductiontoAircraftDesign(I-(Jar£39

LandingGearDesignforLightAircraft, Vol1(Pazmany)

SPORTPLAHt COHSTRUCTiory

£58

LightAirplaneDesign(Pazmany) £48

LessonsLearnedinAircraftDesign (Roskam) £75

Low-PowerLaminarNCDesignrStrogiv)£45

Low- PowerLaminarA/CStructures£45

Low-PowerLaminarNCTechnologies£45

NewScienceofStrongMaterials(Gordon)£12

StressWithoutTears(RHiciT:s) £28

Structures,orWhyThingsDon't FallDown(Gordon) £13

SimplifiedAircraftDesignfor

AircraftWeightandBalance AircraftWelding(EAA)

ANC5:StrengthofNCElements

ANC18:DesignofWoodNCStructures

ANC19:WoodNCInspectionsand Fabrication

BuildingMetalAirplanes:Materials, Tools&Techniques(Englert)

BuildingMetal lanes

NC43:AcceptableMethods, Techniques&Practices:NCAirplane Maintenance&Repair

AirplaneMaintenance&Repair AviationMechanicHandbook StandardAircraftHandbook(Rothmeier)

ChoosingYourHomebuilt,3rdedition (Armstrong) £21

EAASheetMetalBuildingBasics(Fournrer)£35

HowtoPaintYourOwnAircraft(Alexander)£20

KitAirplaneConstruction,3rdedition (VVFInitaial

AirborneAnimals&CockpitCompanions AircraftEngineer APilot'sPerspectiveiCFhoul)

VISITIRELAND

FreelandingsforSeptembertohelpyou alongtheway

YoumaywellrecallafeaturewedidonflyinginIrelandinourJuneissuewhenwe offeredfourfreelandingvouchers.WesaidthenwewouldrepeattheofferinSeptember, anidealtimeoftheyeartovisittheemeraldisle.Dublin'sWestonAirportisincludedthis time,andEnniskillenisnotbutwithbothDublinandBelfastavailable,plusSligointhe beautifulnorthwestwhatmoredoyouneedtotemptyouacrosstheIrishSeaforalate seasonbreak?

SITUATEDONLYEIGHTmilesWestofDublincitycentre,theairportoffersawarmwelcometoLAAandGAtypeaircraft.Theairportis locatedinsideDublinCTR,sopleasecheckitswebsitefordetails.AvgasandJETAlareavailable,andthereisgoodrestaurantsituatedon site.PPRisrequiredplease.There'ssomuchtoseeanddoinDublin,includingthefamouscollege,aGuinnesstour,TempleBar,bustours andmusicinmanyclubsandbars.See www.vIsitdublin.com formoreinformation.Strictairfieldoperatinghours08.00-Sunset wwwwestonairportie

FREELANDING FORSEPTEMBER2014

NEWCASTLE, NEARDUBLIN '00353862394417

PLACEDSOUTHOFDublin,rightnexttothecoastandneartheWicklowmountains,Newcastlemakesagoodplacetostartorfinishyour Irishvisit.Withavgasavailable,lowparkingrates,maintenanceandchecksifrequired,thisisagoodbasefortouringtheSouthEastofEire andDublin.PPRisrequiredplease.Taxisandcarhirecanbearrangedinadvance.There'sacaféonsite,washroomandshowerfacilities andabriefingroom.TheairfieldManager(JohnNugent)hasmadeanoffertoLAAmembersthatthisvoucherisvalidforayear-sotimeto planavisitifyoucan'tvisitinSeptember. wwweincje

FREELANDING FORSEPTEMBER2014

NEWTOWNARDSAIRPORT 02891813327

AGREATAIRFIELDtouseforarrivalintoNorthernIsland.visitingNewtownardstownitselfortheCityofBelfast.ThelatterhastheTitanic ExperiencewherethehistoryoftheshipandWhiteStarLinecanbeseen.Thecityoffersmanyhotelsandgoodshopping(seeJunearticle formoredetails).TheairfieldisoperatedbyTheUlsterFlyingClubwhereAvgasandJETAlareavailable.TheairfieldalsohastheCloud9 restaurantwhichoffersagoodchoiceoffood.Afriendlywelcomewillbehad,astheyalwayslovetoseeaviatorscrossingtheIrishSea. A/GRadiois128.300withBelfastCity117.20andIOM112.20. www.ulsterflyingcluh.com

FREELANDING FORSEPTEMBER2014

SLIGOAIRFIELD 00353719168461

AWONDERFULLOCATIONtovisit.Positionedonthecoast,flyingintoSligooffersfantasticviewsandphotographicopportunities.Afriendly welcomeisguaranteed.astheairportmanagementandlocalflyersareverykeenforUKbasedpilotstovisitandtourthearea.Irelandcan lookitsbestduringthistimeofyear.TheGuinnesstastesbetteroverthereaswell.Agreatareaforwalks,fishingandgolf.Radio122.10. wwwsligoairport.com

G-BTFJPA15 PiperVagabond,1948.Airframelessthan1600hours.engineContinental90HP.320hourssincebuilttozeroby Deltairin2002.ProfessionallyfittedwithLX ElectronicsTrigandBeckerradioandMode StransponderNewtyres.sealedstruts. Ceconitecovered.Garmin296GPS.For thelastfouryearstheaircrafthasbeenhangaredatRochesterandmaintainedbyEagleEngineeringandwillbesoldwithanew permit.Ithasasingle45litretankandburns 15lphat80kts.Goodshortheldcapability.Ifsaniceaeroplane.economicandfun tofly.I'mlookingforoffersaround£22.000 orpossiblepartexchangeforinterestingaircraft.Phone07812028636oremail barrymccready@hotmail.co.uk

G-BSWGPA-17 PiperVagabond.OriginallyPA15.1947airframe7990hrsA65Engine52hrssincefactorylimitsrebuildwhich includedcrankregrind.bearings,newcamshaftandfollowers.Exchangedcylinders. pistonsandnewrings.Partsengineeredby IsenburgEng.SouthendAirport.Airturbine alternator.PanelincludesHorizon.Turnand slip.Alt.ROC.ASIandStd.engineInstruments.loomIC-A200corn.FullAircraftprovenancefromUSmanufacture.Aircrafttotally rebuilt2001toWagabondPA17Drawings. Ceconitecovered.Excellentshortfieldperformeron500x5wheels.Cruise90mph. Dualcontrols.Highlysuitableforgroup ownershipandtailwheelinstruction.Always hangaredonprivateairfieldnearBurystEdmunds(availableforcontinuation.)Really hastobeseen.OffersstartingatE18.000. PeterSturgeon.LAAInspector375.Mobile 07771896136emailpetersturgeon8@ btinternet.corn

PIONEER300. £52.500.Registered2007. airframe/engine320hrs.CSprop215hrs, newcontroller2011.Skymap111c,Dynon DMAEFIS,Beckerandtransponder.Part leatherinterior.Pioneercover,always hangared.PermittoJuly2015.Ownedby formerRAFVRinstructornoaccidents! £52,500.Mobile07932163216.email philburton40@gmailcom

PIETENPOLAIRCAMPER G-VALS. El1,750.PermittoMay2015.16hourson zeroengineandairframeNewprojectforcesreluctantsale.Pleasenotimewasters. John07801850452.

RANSS6-116. Rotax912andairframe697 hrs.GoodpanelwithvacuumAlandDI.two MicroavionicsANRheadsets.loomA3radio. Hydraulicbrakes,aerodynamictrim,covers goodcondition(sixyearsold),fullhangarcovers.Excellentconditionexceptslightwindscreencraze(serviceable).Superflyerwith PermittoMay2015.LocatedBreiddennear Welshpool.Et6,250ono.Tel:01244671417. JABIRUSPL-450 GroupA.Full-lengthrudder,roofwindow.spats.electriccarbheat.full wintercovers.Airframe450hrs.PermitJune 2015.AH.TC.VSI,ASI.altimeter.fuelflow meter.CHT.Bendix/Kingradio.transponder. HangaredNorfolk.Affordablefun-14Itr/hr cruise90kts.£19.500.Tel:07889184429. EUROPACLASSIC. Monowheel.80hp Rota..14.5ItsMogas/Hr@100Kts.Longrangetank-flyforsixhours.Verycomfortablewithsheepskinseatcovers.Permituntil Aug2015.Includesfullyenclosedtrailerwith manytoolsandaids.Youwon'tfindabefter one!07801018263.

RAREOPPORTUNITY. JodelG-AYLL DR1050(SN11)ForSale£25000orhalf share£12000.PermituntilNovember2014. LeeonSolent.Alwayshangared.TTAF 2861/TTE120(0STOH).Wingsrecovered 1997NewProp2003(notduedamage). NarcoVHF/VOR/ILS.NarcoTransponder ModeC.4placeintercom.VenturiT/S+AH. ElectricT/S.4.5gall/hr£25.000orE12500 forhalfshare,monthlyproratashareofhangarageandcosts.ChrisJoly,chrisjoly@ btinternet.com.+447930539585.

Ern 1;atk=

RALLYECLUB, 1971.TTAFonly1788,engine200SMOHJune2009.RegG-AZKE. Newpaintsummer2010,interiorpartially reupholsteredSept2013.NewARC.Engine/canopycover,VHF/VOR/TXP.Perhaps thesmartestofitskindinUK!Groupsplittingup.basedSouthend,E19500ono,Tel. John07931-993752.emailjohn.headlam@ googlemail.com

GROB109BEI-HCS. 1986.H1908.engine 495.prop58Beckeravionics,radio.VOR. ModeC.PanelmountedSkyforce3GPS. Canopy,enginecover.Alwayshangared. rigged.CofAtoAug2015.€45,000.Contact ogair@wicko.com.Tel:00353872698287. RUTANLONGEZ. HAF350.Lycoming0235-L2C.PermitJune2015.Seewww.afors. comadvertnumber18510fordetailsand pictures.OffersPhone01563540510.

SEPTEMBER201II LIGHTAVIATION59

TURBULENTG-AWMRE7,500.VWEngine.1641ccwithSlickimpulse.Engine85 hrssincenew.Airframe840hrs.Permitto April2015.Newprojectforcesveryreluctant sale.John07801850452.

REALITYESCAPADE.Wingfolder.taildragger.2008.Pricereduced.GroupA.Permit Nov2014.UL2601engine.DynonD10.Mode S.Bestkitbuilt-LAAmagOct2008.Nodamage.629.995.Tel:07931552052.

EUROSTAREV97A.Oneownerfromnew 2010.Carefullybuilt(tomicrolightweightso potentiallyre-registerableasarnicrolight) andmaintained.325hours.PermittoMay 2015.Alwayshangared.E42.750.Phone 01225862101.

N.P.P.L

MicrolitetoSSEPPiston(aircraft)

Threedays-Fixedprice

*Day1-Groundschooladexam(aircrafttechnical)

*Day2-Flighttraining(differences)includingflight safetybreifingsinPiperPAPP

*Day3-Flighttest(NFTOFT)

VhIFRTAVAILABLEIFREQUIRED

DerekDavidson-Mobile07831517428(Md.eves)

EmailIlyderek@hotmail.co.uk (BOURNEMOUTH)

VHFRTLICENCE

Allthetrainingyouneed.theoryandpracticalor eitherIncludesexamandlest Toairtrafficcontrolthebadgeyouwearastohow aoodyouareasapilotisyourIRT yousounda****theywdiasumeyouare Itmaynotbefairbutit'showit/s I Phonemeforachat DerekDavidson,Henstridge,Somerset Mobile07831517428(mncl.evenings)._ Emailflyderek@hotmail.co.uk in•K1,•,

HereIam(AGAIN) PPLGroundExams

Areyoutryingtopassbywatching television(er,sorry,CDROMs)?

AsICrii,j'VorsOrry ROMeum' ,,i, eyesMilMI

na'ndr an,sn'nvan.."'eO'"rk

Threedecadesa wecher/ebanbnw TelephoneDerekDavidson.7am-B30arr evenings.07831517429(mobile/ Ern.yllyclerekrholmailecsuk WIVIItcambraicovers.com

MGIAvinnies AS

SpecialAviationServices Tel 0116288b6A3MuO0756:192942 www.specialaviationservices.co.uk skiDOD(vs

RotaxAircraftEngineMaintenance EXPERIENCEDBUILDER. Pilot,LAAInspectorforwood,metalandcompositeaircraft.Offershisservicesforrepairwork,recoveringandspraying.Finishingoffprojects. assistancewithkitsandinsurancework. building,inspectionandPermitrenewals Alsoaweighingserviceusingthelatestcomputerpadsforthemostaccurateweightpossible!ForfurtherdetailscontactMikeHanley -Tel:01872560771.Mobile:07703731628, E-mailmwhflyby@btinternet.com

AppointeddealerfortheUK(covering Europe)fortheTitanT51Mustang 07780705924 www.morcasmustang.ro.uk

sporty'sacademy,inc.

TrainintheU.S.--StudentVisasAvailable Acreluatednromnig•Experkucedtiuhlustumors Sotomoddmtraining•rciall•FAAonoccoufur PeweelosicimentandCommercialissngie&multi) PHI ;Indastrfical exThninusonsite•Cincinnatimelra nroa sportysacademy.com

p

WANTED RV7AorRV9Abiginjectedengine.lowhoursandcomprehensivepanel preferred,allinasnewcondition.Noaircraft tosellandcanmakeimmediatedecisionand payment.Richard07887652350. WANTED. AnyorallTurbulentpartsforrebuildofclassicaircraft.Airframeorengine parts.Cashpaidandpromptcollection. PhoneMark07754018471.

WANTED.0-200engineinfirstclassorder togointoJodelD150.Musthavelobeon camshaftforfuelpump.Pleasephone07778 355089oremail:locksgarage6ebtinternet.com NEEDTOCLEAROUT? GoodhomeofferedtoalloldEAA/PFAetc.magazines, aviationbooksandespeciallyaircraftplans. Happytocoverpostagecosts.PleasecontactCraigon07726104788.

WANTED.ChristenFuelManagementSystemorpartswantedforJungmannrebuild project.AlsowindscreensoranyotherJungmannparts.WhatHaveYou?Ian077644 64474or01253868203tylex.polystyrenei02 Latinternet.com

:OMEGAPROPELLERS\.)

OMEGAPROPELLERS arebeautifullylaminated AshandMahoganyprops,clearcoatedwith4oz fibreglassforstrength,twopartpolyurethaneclear withanepoxyUrethaneprotectivetapeonthe leadingedge.Classicpropswithlatestdesignand atcompetitiveprices.15yearsmakingpropsin NewZealand:enquirestobillurizardico.nz

LYCOMING0-320-133G.TTsinceLycomingOverhaul:616.5(23/09/04).Carb/mags/ mount/plugsincluded-newwithengine. StoredsinceMarch2006.Alllogsavailable. Engineisboxedupandreadytogo.GBP 5000ono.Contact-dagr1@me.com

CONTINENTAL0-200camshaft.TT400 hours.Bulldogcanopies,screens,engine mounts,wheels,brakes,starters.alternators.PlusnewBulldogpartsincludingcompletenoseleg,wingtips,seats,controlcolumnsandgripsandPTTswitches.Hartzell propstarterringgear.backplateandspinner.Brakemastercylinders,overhauled mainshockabsorberunits,tailplanes.pilot heads12vand28v,engineinstruments etc.Phone02380693207or07881541172. Emailbulldogaviation@hotmail.co.uk

LYCOMING0-320A2B(E3D)forsale.Recentcompleterebuildto160hp.Zerotime. LAAPermitissyed24/3/14.£poa.wtmnco@ blinternet.com

VAN'SRV10KIT.Empennage90%finished.Wingsskinned.Tailcone90%.Fuselagewellunderway.StrippedLycoming540 FlB5engine,40hoursfromnew,approved forusebyLAA.Includeslandinglightsand strobes.Trioservo.electrictrim.Locatedin York.£40,000ono.

RV12FUSELAGEcarefullybuilttofirewall. Wings,empennagecompletedandsigned off.Alsoincludesupholstery,carpets.wheel fairings.Moreinformation01737771242. EUROPAMONOPROJECT.Fuselage. wings.tailplanecompletedandpainted. TTAF0hours!Allnewconventionalinstruments.Bendix/Kingradioandintercom. Chooseengineandwireuptofly.Offersinvited.rondavandlPgmail.com

STEENSKYBOLT1990built.180hp.fixed pitchprop.'N'reg.Dismantled.£13.250. Tel01797280056,07736234503or garyoguynn@btinternet.com

JODELD18PROJECTIIIhealthforcessale, almosteverythingtocompleteincluding:Engine2LVW(New),prop,U/C,controls,canopy,instruments,fueltanksandcoveringmaterial.Sparcomplete+allwingcomponents pre-formed.fuselage.tailplane,ailerons, rudderreadyforcovering.Opentoreasonableoffers.Tel:BobGould.MiltonKeynes: 01908270704.Email:bobgould@sky.com

QUARTERSHAREinMCR-0113anbii, HangaredCambridge.TTAF/EC500hrs. Goodavailability.Wingsreskinnedincarbonfibre.PermittoMay2015.Excellent economical120kttourer.£11,000.Phone 07710292140.

CESSNA1201/8SHARE.BasedRedhill, 1946,C90engine.Goodcondition,wings recovered2012.Sharecost£1400.monthly£56,hourly£55wet.Goodavailability. ContactDaveCollins07432521543.

REDHILLBASEDL18CPiperCub.One sixthshareavailableinfriendlygroup.Well maintainedandexcellentavailability.£45/ hourwet.Telephone01342317530forlull details.£3.000.

AA5GROUP.Gamston,Only1/6sharesso greatavailabilityinfour-seattourerA/F2100 hours,Lycoming0-320150hpwithonly300 hourssinceTBO.NOWFORTHEFIRST TIME-nonequityshares£50p/hand£120 p/month.25hoursupfront=£1250toflyoff over12months.Details:www.gbcpn.co.uk Tel:07976802107.

NEWGROUPformingatLymmDamAirfield, Manchester,wherethecostsarereasonable. TheaircraftisaJodelDR100A.permit 2+2 in excellentconditionandnewpermit.Tel:Robin01829732334oremailrobinmoore902@ btinternet.com

BULLDOGWINDSCREENS,newoldstock. DeliveryCanBeArranged.Tel:07881541172. BEAGLEBASSETTSPARES.Largequantityofnew,oldstockairframepartstobesold asalot.Probablyhalfaton.Allboxedand unopened.07881541172or02380693207. C120SEATS,metalwings&completetail. Clevelandwheelsanddiscs6.00-6mod40113x.C85/C90-12enginemount,needsone replacementtube.Offers.01773769040. BREAKINGAEROAT-3.Neverflown.All partsnewandavailable.912ULS,tyres. instruments,radio.transponder,TPASetc. Buildingneededandheartattackforcesremoval.Callortextforlist/prices07808506 931(TS102NA).

TIGERMOTH.Nosedoverlanding.CofAto Jan15,beautifulcondition(exceptfordamage).Radio,Transponder,alternator,large screen(originalincluded),longrangefuel, GM1C900hrs.Easybuthighlabourrepair. Offersiro£25.000.Midlands.07799035868 orlangair@cockthorpe.wanadoo.co.uk LUTONMINOR.Foldingwings.Notflownfor manyyears.willrequirethoroughinspection andworkbeforefurtherflight.Alwayskept inowntrailer.£1000.Emailivan.smithl@ virgianet PIELSAPHIR.Completeairframe,controls, fueltanksinstalled.Noengine.u/c,canopy. Allworksignedoff.Furtherdetails07764 940877daytime,01494837205evenings. Offers.

JODEL1050AMBASSADEUR.1/8share. BasedPopham.100hpContinental,100kt cruise,fivehourendurancaModeS.Superbvisibility.Wellrungroup.£3000.£55per month,£45perhour.CallPhil07785244663 oremailPhHlowndes125@gmail.com VAN'SRV-6.Onesixthshare.Based Gloucester.G-GDRV.£80month,£75hr/ wet.Friendlygroup,greatavailability.Lycoming160hp.Autopilot.TrigModeS,Skymap GPS,Airframe1400hrs,engine1120hrs. Noworkdue.£7.495.westerhuis@hotmail. corn07960459183.

ZENITHCH250(andhangar).BasedHinton intheHedges.Increasingourmembershipso three1/5sharesavailable.25.000,£70month, £45perhourwet.Tel:John01280702294.

NeilWilsonvisitsLAAmember

CarolineRhodes,whoflies Falcon20jetsforCobham AviationServices(CAS)basedat Bournemouth,whileinherspare timeshepilotsavarietyofLAAtypesfrom Henstridge,includingaSilenceTwister,an AusterJ-1AandaColombanCri-Cri AsaresultoftheFalklandswarof1982, theRoyalNavydetectedagapinitstraining andalackofawarenessofihethreatposed bybothairandground-launchedmissiles againstNavyships.Acontracttoflysimulated attacksagainstNavyshipswasawarded toBournemouth-basedCobhamAviation Services(formerlyknownasFRAviationLtd) tohelpprovidethisvaluableunderstanding andtraining

Tounderstandhowthisserviceisprovided,I wasinvitedtovisitCAS'sHQatBournemouth AirportinDorset,tolookaroundtheirfacilities andtoflywiththeminapracticeexercise knownas'TheTuesdayWar'.

Onarrival,youimmediatelyseeonthe corridorwallsthehistoryofthecompany, datingbacktoSirAlanCobham.Thereare photographsshowingthemanhimselfblazina newflyingroutesaroundwhatwasthenthe BritishEmpire.andindeedbeyond.There isevenapictureshowlnghimlandingon theRiverThamesatWestminsterBridgein 1926.onhiswaytoBuckinghamPalacetohe knightedlaterthatday.Laterinhiscareer,in 1934.hewasinstrumentalintheinventionof inflightrefuellingsystems.initiallydeveloped atFordAerodromeinSussex.

ByNeilWilson

Thesedaysthecompanyhasaircraftbased atBournemouthandDurhamTeesValley Airports,fromwhereitoftendeploysaircraft andcrewalioverEurope.visitingthelikesof SicilyandCretefortarget-towingandattack simulation.ThecompanyFalcon20shave alsobeenonexercisestovariousNATO airfields.theMiddleEastandasfarafield asMalaysia.

Theexerciseplannedonthedayofmyinsit wastoflythreeDassaultFalcon20aircraft accompaniedbytwoBAESystemsHawks againstfivewarshipsthatwereintheEnglish Channel.somemilesoffPlymouthSound Weweretoattackthesewarshipsusingthe podscarriedunderourwingstojamthe shipsradarsandtosimulatetheelectronic emissionsassociatedwiththelaunchof sea-skimmingmissiles.TheHawkswould joinuslaterintheexerciseandwouldfly tuckedunderourwingsuntil'launched'by ustosimulatetheprofileofasea-skimming missile.Oncelaunched,theHawkswouldfly attowlevelacrossthesea,whiletheships' gunsandmissilesystemswouldlauncha simulateddefence.Onceoneattackhad finished,anobserveronboardtheshipmay instructsomeofthecrew(includingofficers oreventheCaptain)tosimulatehavingbeen killedorinjured,requiringtheremainingcrew memberstodealwiththesecondmissile attackwithdepletednumbers. It makesfor quitearealisticwarsoenane.

Iwasintroducedtothestaffwhoplanthe exercises,whichcanbequitecomplex, cmordinalingaircraft,crews,warshipsas

wellasotherresourcesfromthearmedforces. Planningalsotakesintoaccountnolarns, weightandbalanceoftheindividualaircraft andwhichelectronicpodsaretobedeployed witheachaircraftforaparticularexercise.My touralsoincludedtheengineenngdepartment whichisresponsibleforpreparingtheaircraft earmarkedforaparticularsortieDepending ontheparticularexercise,manydifferent typesofelectronicwarfarepadsarecarried underneaththeFalcon

Onthedayofmyvisitourparticular aircrafthadfourpods.sotheengineers loadedthesewhilealsofuellingtheaircraft, takingintoconsiderationtheexpected durationorthesortieandtheweightofthe aircraft.Themarepodscarried,theheavier theaeroplanebecomes,whichofcourse meansmoredragandextrafuel.Thedeep maintenancehangar,whereenginechances andairframeworkarecarriedout,isalso basedatBournemouth.

Whilewalkingamendthecompany buildings,wevisitedonehangarwhich providesthetargettowingfacility.Here managerJohnMitchellexplainedthata varietyoftargetscanbedeployedfrom beneaththeFalcon'swings.typicallytrailing from10,000ftto30,000ftbehindtheaircraq. dependinguponwhichtargetsarebeingused andwhichweaponsystemsareengaging them.Oneofthetargetsissimilarinshapeto Tomanawkcruisenussile,againstwhtchRN shipsprovetheirmissileandgunsystems.It hasitsownradio-altimeterwhichenablesthe targettoflyaslowas2Eftabovethesea.The

(Right)Caroline in herAuster,which sheshareswithher husbandKen.They alsoflyaTwister whichtheybuilt themselves.

(Left)Close upview ofAmberoneaswe flyinformationto theexercisearea. Noteunderwing podsthatenable theaircrafttobe equippedfora rangeofdifferent exercises.

(Right)Pretending tobeamissile, thenavalships doingalltheycan toavoidbeinghit. Thisroleisusually playedbyRAF Hawksbutonthe daycrosswinds keptthem grounded.

Falconsalsotowbannertargetsfor az-to-airfiringbyRAFTyphoonand Tornadoaircraft

Wewereduetotake-offforour exerciseat13.55,beforewhich afullbriefingwasgiven.The weatherforecastwasgoodalthough occasionalCBswereexpectedinthe exercisearea.

WeweretobeledbyAmberOne. pilotedbyCaptainSteveWells,whowas flyingwithcrewmemberLesSim,alsoanLAA member,whopilotsaStreakShadowfrom OldSartIminhissparetimeIwouldfollow inAmberTwowithCaroline.whowouldflyin formationwiththeleadaircrafttotheexercise areaand'attack'fiveNavywarships,which includedoneoitheRoyalNavy'sbrandnew warshipsHMSDefender,aType45destroyer, alongsidetwoType23frigates,Argyleand Northumberland.theRoyalFleetAuxiliary (RFA)shipOrangeleafandtheBelgianNavy frigateLeopold.AmberThree,beingflownby yetanotherLAAmember.StephenTomlinson. whofliesanRV-6outofBournemouth,would followus,andattackalittlelater.

Wehadearlierlearntthateventhebest laidplanscangoawry.astheHawkshad cancelledowingtothecrosswindbeingtoo highforthemtolandbackattheirbaseat RNASCuldroseinCornwall.Thismeantthat wewouldnowtaketheplaceoftheHawk missile'andbelaunchedourselvesagainst thefleet.Althoughalittledisappointingfor methataHawkwouldn'tbeinformationwith us,butthiswasmorethanmadeupbythe

factthatwewouldnowbesimulatingthree attacksasthe'nkssile',twofromthesea,and onefromohtheland,somorelow,level,highspeedflying!

'Armed'andfuelledup.wemadeourway totheFalcon.startedupandtookch.We flewoutfromBournemouthovertheNeedles. pastSwanageandoutovertheLymeRegis coast,makingourwaywesttotheexercise area.WeformedupunderAmberOne's wing,withourElectronicWarfareOfficer, NickDukes,sittingintherearoftheaircraft alreadystartingto;amtheships'radarswith theFalcon'son-boardradarjammingpods, hopefullybeputtingthemohourscent.Iwas sittinginthejumpseatbetweenCaroline, whowasintheCaptain'sseatonmyleft,and FirstOfficerRyanHarrisonmyright,whowas flyingtheaircraftforthefirsthalfofthesortie Whatavantagepoint!IcouldseeAmber Oneinformationonlyafewyardsaway,the instrumentationwhichshowedhowlongtorun toourtarget,andtoourright.thecoastline withSeaton,ExeterandPlymouthinview. Whileenroute,SteveinAmberOnecalledfor variousformationchangestogiveuspractise

inlowlevelformationkeepingand manoeuvring.

Wewerenowflyingintothewar zoneunderthecontrolofPlymouth Military,sowegotintopositionfor battle.WemovedclosertoAmber One'sleftwing,crankedupour speedandwere'launched'horna distanceofabout30milesfromthe targetships:wewereonourwayandnow behavinoasanair-launchedmissile.We letdownto25011abovethewaves,flying at350knotslookingforourtarget-HMS NorthumberlandAheadinthedistancewe couldseetheships,allleavinglargewakes astheytriedtotakeavoidingaction.Wewere nowgettingsprayandsaltonthewindscreen aswegotclosertoourtargetandtherewas arealimpressionofspeedbecauseofthe proximityoftheseaandtheships.Inour headphoneswecouldevenoccasionallyhear theships'crewsshoutingastheybarkedout orders.WeroarpasttheRFAstripOrangeleaf, whichstandsoutfromtheotherwarships becauseofItssize,andpassdirectlyover Northumberland,whichisatguiteanangle inthewaterasshetriestoavoidtheattack. RyanpullsuptheFalconafterourattack,and wethenturnEast,andheadbacktowards Portland,lookingforAmberOne,whichhas beenloiteringintheareaduringourattack. Atthispointtherolesarereversedand AmberOneisnowgoingtoattacktheships. Weformuptogetherandlaunchhimthistime, thesecond'missile'isonitswaytoattack HMSArgyle.

Earlydays,Carolinestartedher flyingcareeringliders.

THETUESDAYWAR

Itisnowourturntokeepoutoftheway.so weflyoverandaroundtheTorbayareaat about3,000ft,andasluckwouldhaveit.the cloudspartandthesuncomesoutsoInip backtotherearoftheaircrafttolookout,and takepicturesoftheDartmouthestuaryandthe famousNavalCollege,Torquayandthelocal areaDevonissuchalovelycountytoflyover. Wethengetreadyforourlastattackwhen wewillpretendtobealand-basedmissile attackingtheshipsWegetintopositronatthe prescribedtimesomewherenearPlymouth andstartourattackrun,andthistimewith

Carolineflyingtheaircraft.Weagainletdown tolowlevel,pickupspeedandheadtowards theships.allofwhicharenownicelyspaced outandCarolinedecideswecanflyoverand attackthemall.This,aswiththefirstattack, isallmanualflying,soCarolinecranksover thesticktotherightaswepullaroundand flyovertheBelgianfrigateLeopold.hard leftandwearegoingoverHMSDefender andthenstraightoutoverRFAOrangeLeaf againbeforewespotArgyle,soahardright turnandwemakeanattackwithlotsofnoise rightoverthem,astheyveeronewayand

anothertryingtoescapetheattack.Imust saythatthisisallveryexciting,beingatlow level,attackingshipsinajetnotsomething IthoughtIwouldeverhavetheopportunitylo beinvolvedwith.allrealBoy'sOwnstuff.

TheTuesdayWarisnowoversowemake ourwaybacktoBournemouth,wherethe Falcon20quicklyslowsdownwhentheflaps arelowered.Anicesmoothlandingbymy Captaingetsusbackatbaseforawelcome cupofteaWedebrieftheattackswiththe crewfromAmberOne,whichhadreturned aheadus.Allseemstohavegonewell-I liketothinkwewon-butwhatevertheresult today,thisisavaluabletrainingservice providedbytheteamatCobhamPLC,not onlytoourownServicesbutalsoforeign airforcesandnavies,thereforeprovidinga valuableassettotheUKandherAllies.

IwouldliketothankeveryoneatCobham PLC,includingDirectorofFlightOperations, SpikeJepsonwhogavepermissionformy visit,SteveWellsandCarolinefororganising mytourandflight.

LAAmemberCarolineRhodeshasflown manydifferenttypesinhercareer,Shebegan herflyingwiththeOxfordGlidingClub, gainingsome500hoursonvarioustypes ofgliderShegainedherPPLandflewasa pilot'sassistantonaCitationbusinessjet.and afterseveralyearsofinstructingonsingles andtwinsatOxfordAirport,shewasaccepted byCobham(thenFRAviationLtd)andhas flowntheFalcon20forthemsince1998 Carolinewasalsoonlythesecondwomanto gainalicencetoflyanAutogyrointheUK,an RAF2000,whichshesharedwithherhusband Ken(alsoanLAAmember)-whohimselfflew Phantoms,HuntersandHawksfortheRAF Itwastheautogyrothatsheusedtoflyinto theirweddingatSherborneCastle(makesa changefromavintageRolls-Royce!).Shenow hasover11,000hoursintotal,including28in aBAESystems'Hawk.

SheandKennowownandflyaJ1-AAuster, aCri-CriandaSilenceTwisterwhichthey builttogether.

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CEOTHOUGHTS MAKINGLIFEEASIER

Irecentlywentonalittletripdownmemory

lanewhen,forthefirsttimeinabout18 years,Ifoundmyselfstrappedintothe frontofatwo-seatK13glideratWeston-onthe-Green.Ihadquiteforgottenjusthow impressivetheinitialaccelerationofawinch launchcanbeandafewsecondslaterIwas levellingoffat1,500ft.Iwasluckyenough toget20minutesaloftbeforethegods conspiredtobringoursoaringtoanend (obviouslyitwasnothingtodowithmy rustytechnique)andalltoosoonIwas turningontofinal.

Imadeareasonablejobofthelandingandthe cftibwereclearlyrelievedthattheywouldbeable tousetheglideraganMythanksgotoLSIand Neilformakingitpossible,toMartinforbeing braveenoughtositinthebackandfoallthe membersoftheOxfordGlidingClubtormaking ussowelcome.Andsotowork.

TheNight/IFIRprojectstartedas 2 tentative enquirytotheCAAandasyouwillhaveno doubtseenfromtherecentarticlesandnews

ByPhilipHall

itemsherein LightAviation, theprojectis finallyreachingfruitionafterseveralyearsof work.Thereisdefinitelyanewandpositive attitudefloatingaroundthecorridorsofthe CAAthesedaysandIaminvolvedintwo otherexcitingnewinitiativesthathavealready gotofftoagoodstart.

Formanyyearstherulesregardingteaming toflyonaPermitaircrafthavebeenabitof amixedbag,miredinminortechnicalities. Therearecurrentlycomplicatedrulesabout whopaysforwhat,howthestudentisrelated totheaircraftowner,iftheaircraftistype approvedortypeaccepted,andifinstruction isforcontinuationtrainingorforgettinga licenceinthefirstplace.Therehavebeen severalgeneralexemptionsissuedand thereisevenanAICwithaflowcharttohelp theaveragepilottrytomakesenseofthe regulations.soitislittlewonderthatmanyof /heflyingschoolsareconfusedaboutwhat islegalandwhatisnotThegoodnewsis thatwehaveworkedwiththeGAUnitatthe

CAAtocreateaworkinggrouptoreviewand proposesimplificationofthecurrentrulesand regulations.Iamgenuinelyhopefulwewillbe abletoreturntothedaysofpilotsbeingable tolearntoflyongroup-ownedaircraft. WithallrherecentEASAdrivenchanges topilotlicensing,itiseasytoforgetthat therearestillasignificantnumberofpilots applyingforandusingtheNPPL,andthat thelicenceisheretostayforyearstocome. Anothernewly-createdworkinggrouphas beensetuptoreviewthecurrentmedical requirementstortheNPPL,particularlyin lightoftheintroductionoftheLightSport categoryintheUSA.whereJustholdinga drivinglicencereplacestheneedtoholda medicalcertificate.

Itisearlydaysforbothoftheseprojects andtheiroutcomesarefarfromclear.yet Iamhopefulwewillsucceedinmaking bothlearningandcontinuingtoflythatlittle bitmoreaccessibletomorepeopleinthe yearstocome.