JULY 2017 Issue 4 The Newsletter of the UK Section of IFFR

The Rotating Beacon

The main ingredients of a breath taking fly-in

Enjoy our reports inside from around UK, Europe and USA Help us make you’re membership to IFFR awesome. There still are some fly-ins to attend, What about helping us to make your flying a brilliant experience? Take our survey on page 21. You provide the transport, we provide the refreshments and the sights!

In this Issue

Letter from the Chairman New members survey Turweston Trip 30 second up date International Fly-In’s Diary of events Flyer of the year Award 2016 My favourite city Contents

Letter from the chairman 3 Flyer of the year 20

Turweston trip 5 Iffr clothing 21

Ist international fly in of 2017 8 Member questionnaire 21

Oostende 10 Continental co-ordination 22

Membership information 14 IFFR Atlanta flyout 24

Membership application form 15 30 Second up date 26

My favourite city 16 Diary of events 27 Chester report 18 Contact details 28 “A letter from the David centre, with our top table guests at the Christmas Chairmanlunch ”

This is my first letter as Chairman and Turweston, my first as Chairman, was what a time I have had so far. I want very well represented and a great to begin by saying thank you to all opportunity for me to meet members the members of the current committee & guests. (See report). The visit to for their support and encouragement Conington was on a beautiful day and they have given to me and also for it was very nice to see three planes from the work that many of them are doing the Isle of Wight. Angus kindly offered to complete this year’s programme. to route via Skegness to pick me up We have had two video conference as G-GCAT was unavailable that day. meetings facilitated by Ian Kerr First time for me in a Robin with the which has I think helped with the communication process, particularly excellent visibility and to use a stick after for me as I like to see who I am in so long ( my first plane was a Rallye). conversation with! This visit gave me the opportunity to present the IFFR “Flyer of the Year” This calendar year we have had mixed award to Tony Flinn which was much Regards to the February edition of the RB I would like to attribute copyright of the flying weather, but have managed deserved (See report). Christmas lunch pictures: Front Cover, page 4,5 7 lower and 9 - Rodney Spokes, two fly-ins, namely Turweston and remaining Christmas lunch photos - Tony Erskine. Peterborough Conington. The visit to IFFR member Rodney Spokes joined me in G-GCAT for the trip to Germany for

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 3 2 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 the German/Austrian section meeting those attending Chester. I am delighted Photo Rodney Spokes at Schwabisch Hall. A good turnout that our world President Svend and his from the UK section with excellent wife will be with us and at the time of fellowship despite a few comments writing along with 40 attendees. We are about Brexit(!) which was to be going to have a great time. I also hope expected. It was nice to meet up with that many of you will attend the AGM the UK flyers mid-way for an overnight on the Sunday morning. I will ensure we stay. The weather closed in for the have a tight agenda and look forward return trip and fortunately there was a to contributions from our membership. small window for some of us flying VFR I want us to have some further UK fly to eventually depart and return to UK ins from August onwards, and would (see report of visit). welcome offers to organise them. I am I also flew to the Benelux meeting hopeful we can have the Caernarfon in Ostend at the end of May taking visit along with at least a couple of a friend with me who has since said others. I am pleased that we will be he would like to become a friend of represented at most of the forthcoming IFFR. We had excellent fellowship, a section visits abroad, Jashu and I will wonderful turnout from UK and the be at Lausanne, and I am intending to weather was excellent. (See report). fly to Aix en Provence. At the end of the year we will once again be having For future trips abroad, Angus has our Christmas luncheon at the Royal Air agreed to act as co-ordinator of Force Club in London, a very special information to UK flyers. This will enable event. Information to follow. us to know who is planning to go, is there a spare seat, to look at routes, I am looking forward to meeting as Turweston trip to be able to consider a stopover many of you as is possible during my destination when required. Therefore term of office over the next two years we need to inform Angus if we are going to attend an IFFR meeting The first fly-in of 2017 was well attended, abroad. Many thanks to Angus. “ Chris O’Connell reports on the event read on.. ” Early on I also asked Angus to resurrect the UK IFFR clothing facility which he has A total of 21 Rotarians and friends of restoration or repair. kindly done. attended the March meeting of IFFR. The A nearly completed Hurricane was Well our next big event is Chester 14/16 weather was bright in the South although pride of exhibits. Plain to see was the July to which Jashu & I are looking with a Southerly airflow, Turweston had a fuel tank just forward of the windscreen; tricky crosswind with the grass runway forward to being at and hopefully perhaps the only design fault of the out of action. flying in to Hawarden. Many many fighter which won the Battle of Britain. thanks to Martin for picking up on the Some 8 aircraft attended with the furthest Peter Jude was welcomed as the new organising of this event and to Ian who prize going to Past World President BEST WISHES AND SAFE FLYING Chairman and all crews returned safely. unfortunately is unable to attend, but James Alexander from Cark who left in has helped me in matters concerning Peter Jude challenging conditions. 3 crews attended Chris O’Connell by car. The new tower boasted an MANY THANKS CHRIS FOR YOUR REPORT impressive panoramic restaurant. After Tony. lunch, we were treated to a hangar tour seeing old and new aircraft in the process

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 4 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 5 Ron Wright Carrying out an ‘A’ Check. Lunch time with James Alexander Photo by Rodney Spokes explaining how a JCB works.

Group tour of the new Turweston ATC New Control Tower. tower. Photo by Rodney Spokes. Photo by Chris O’Connell

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 7 6 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 Enjoying the sunshine Left Rodney started some two or so weeks before a hill top town about 25 miles away. Spokes Peter Jude and James Alexander. when a barrage of emails went around Langenberg Castle is home to the Photo Angus Clark. - where do we do customs? are we German Royal family, who are of having a ‘halfway’ stop-over? and course relations of our own Royal family where is the best value hotel, closest to who last visited in 1965. There were the airport!! many interesting photos of the visit. So it’s Sedan Douzy LFSJ, two hours out Most interesting to the ladies was a from Blighty and about an hour from our portrait of a family member who had had IFFR weekend destination. After the usual 24 children, and lived until she was 86! afternoon drinks, followed by dinner and We had lunch at Unterregensbach, more drinks we say ‘that’s enough’. another historic village, where we Friday tasted the local “champagne” made Not wonderful weather initially, with from pears. low cloud which was no good for Sunday the VFR pilots. .We arrived at EDTY In the morning, we enjoyed a beautiful Schwabisch Hall about 12.00 and were walk through the park along the river, swiftly transferred to our hotel, situated up the hill to visit the Groscomburg in the centre of this most beautiful monastery. It was built in the 1700s and Black Forest Town about 50K north of has a baroque cathedral at the top. Stuttgart. Champagne was flowing as There were wonderful views over the we arrived, as we greeted friends old town. We were all ready for an ice- and new in the hotel lounge. cream once we came down the hill. Team Leader Peter Jude and 10 other We had a guided tour of the impressive hardy Brits were welcomed by about Wurth art gallery in the early evening. 40 German/ Austrian Section Members, The exhibition was called Water Clouds plus WP Svend and Carina Anderssen. and Wind. After lunch, the ‘English’ speakers The day ended with a formal dinner in gathered on the left and the locals the hotel, with the usual sales spiels by on the right for a two-hour guided each country for their fly-ins. Peter Jude Ist International fly in walking tour through this most made his ‘maiden speech’; we all spectacular hilltop town. In mediaeval decided that He was a natural leader. times, it became wealthy through Monday salt extraction from brine springs; but of 2017 today is famous for Wurth machine Up early and optimistically to the tool manufacturing. It is also the HQ airport. The weather looked rather IFFR TRIP TO Schwabisch Hall GERMANY for a massive German based Building bad…cloud, rain, headwinds, icing above 3,500 feet. 27-30 April read on.. Society, and home to many family “ ” owned engineering dynasties. Some of us got away, some then Dinner in the local brewery by the turned back and stayed another night, James and Catharine Alexander kick on the fuel bowser was flat. Hurry hurry river was typical German fantastic some made it back to the White Cliffs. started the International fly in season and -position the car so the jump leads can hospitality. too much to eat and yes, A great start to the year send us their report connect to the pump. 230 litres later we had to have those extra beers! THANK YOU, CATHARINE, FOR A Thursday and the car now safely parked in the Saturday BRILLIANT REPORT. It was 7.00 am when we arrived at the hangar, we blasted off to Calais. Today we had a coach trip through Ed. The 2017 Flying Season had started. It airfield, only to discover that the battery beautiful countryside to Langenburg,

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 9 8 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 Enjoying a beer. Museum of the Sea- a history of tourism of the whole exhibition was when Left Tollef Myrvang-Jensen since its inception to the present day. George persuaded Angus to remove C: Rolf Mikkelson R: Bob Fields The building housing the museum was his shirt and join the bathing belles to Photo Peter Jude. originally the Post Office as is listed, as peels of laughter from the audience. is the hotel next door. The Post Office I unfortunately missed this but in the itself was on the ground floor and the photo, he looked almost like one of Postmaster lived upstairs. Inside there them! (editor comment. The photo has were pictures and models depicting not surfaced yet!)Images on display Oostende’s tourism from its early days, recorded the cottages built among including a picture of Leopold !! and the dunes, which are now replaced his walking stick, as he was involved in by beautiful apartments together with tourism from the beginning. The modes hotels they fill the seafront. of transport were originally horse drawn On display were buckets, spades and carriages, then trams (still in use today) seaside toys over the years together followed by trains and finally cars. with past times souvenirs, including the We all sat in a model of a tram and old fashion floor camera with plates watch a video of a tram travelling and a wind-up nickelodeon. along the coastline from France to Back on the coach we travelled to the Germany. A sea hospital build for sick hotel via the airport and could relax children from Brussels was burned down until dinner in a private room at the during the occupation in the first world hotel. The Thermae Palace Hotel was war and never rebuilt. Amazingly in originally built as a thermal institute the early days of tourism, people drank behind the colonnades, and in1993 it the sea water because they thought became a luxurious hotel in Art Deco it was good for them. The best part style. It suffered badly in the second

Our very own Kate Adie was parachuted in to Belgium to “OOSTENDE give us this report 26TH – 28TH MAY 2017 Ostend- my first trip to this city which and 20 minutes slightly longer than ” is always exciting. We met George and expected due to a nasty headwind. Caroline at Henlow promptly at 9am on a Our landing was quite eventful as we beautiful sunny morning. After refuelling were given priority over a 737. Arrival and the usual checks the five of us at the terminal building was lengthy as boarded the aircraft- George and Caroline, each bag and case was opened and Ron and I and Mrs Ping who had difficulty inspected. Finally, we arrived for lunch with the seat belt! Mrs Ping was really and met old and new friends. Relax time. photo by Augus Clark Angus’ guest from Florida- a golf club! After lunch, the coach took us to Our flight to Oostende took 1 hour Middlekerke where we visited the

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 11 10 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 world war and after several renovations German murals by Heinrich Otto Pieper it was finally restored in the ‘90’s to its a German soldier. present condition. After the war, it served as a museum Saturday morning, another beautiful and then a children’s playground sunny day and after a leisurely breakfast before falling into decay. In 1995, it we boarded a coach to Fort Napoleon- became into the care of the Flemish en-route we passed the Atlantic wall built Heritage Association and following a by the Germans and used in both the 5-year restoration programme it was first and second world wars to protect open to the public in April 2000!! Oostende and keep the British and It is amazing that one of the most France out- this wall has been preserved interesting sights to me and others were and turned into an open-air museum. the stone men on their knees, naked Unfortunately, there was insufficient time with hands behinds their backs, but for us to explore the museum, but along when I asked a guide the significance? its perimeter the bunkers and cannons Contemporary art, was the reply- I was could easily be seen. most disappointed!! We finally arrived at Fort Napoleon after The views from the roof were incredible, a tortuous coach journey where our and we rewarded by a flotilla of tall ships driver had to take a diversion through sailing out of the harbour in full sail. We crowds enjoying the sunshine, the were taken into many rooms and inner ships in the harbour, and many stalls court yard with walls 2.6 metres thick. offering many different types of colourful Napoleon visited the fort five times, Alisma & Angus Clark with Joyce merchandise and mouth-watering food. which held up to 500 men on occasions. Norfolk and Egide We entered the 19th century polygonal After our tour, we had a delightful lunch fort which had recently been restored in a very modern bistro and returned the Icelandic waters. The Amandine ladies. Various other Presidents gave and the modern additions had been to the coach to take a short ferry ride made its last trip in 1995, and is the their thanks including Peter Jude who very sympathetically built. Our tour to view the Amandine and Mercator last Icelandic trawler to come from headed the 19-strong contingent from guide advised us that France had ships on the other side. Unfortunately, Oostende. We could see how hard life the UK. The dinner closed with a gift to occupied the Austrian Netherlands we had to wait 45 minutes for the was on board. The vessel usually sailed pilots and presented the hotel organiser (roughly modern Belgian) during ferry because of the passenger with 8 men caught cod, haddock, ling, with a floral bouquet. 1792/3 around the time of the French demand. During our wait, a helicopter pollack and others. All good things come to an end, and Revolutionary Wars. entertained by flying very low over After a good rest, back at the hotel next morning we said our goodbyes and During the war of the Fifth Coalition, the water in front of us and letting a we assembled for the Gala Dinner- boarded the coach for the airport. Again, Napoleon expected a British assault man down a rope to hover over the ladies looking glamorous and the men with delays at the customs we took off at from the sea on the Port of Oostende, water and return to the helicopter. handsome in their black ties. After an 11.15 and landed at Henlow after a very and the fort was constructed in the Finally, we landed on the correct side enjoyable dinner Egide introduced pleasant flight. A quick pub lunch with sand dunes, close to the mouth of the of the harbour and after a short walk the new Benelux President Huub van Caroline and George ended our great harbour in 1811. The British attack never some of us boarded the Amandine, an Hent, who introduced Luciana, his wife. weekend in Oostende with many happy materialised, the fort was used for troop Icelandic fishing trawler now a museum. Following a floral tribute to Mia ( Egide’s memories of another IFFR Trip. accommodation and an arsenal until She made her first trip in 1962 and fished wife) he thanked Natalie and Arie for the end of the French occupation in the waters around the south of Iceland Joyce M. Norfolk their contribution. 1814 when it as abandoned. During in the summer and the channel and 17.6.2017 The World president Svend Anderson World War One, the fort was used the North Sea in the winter. At first a JOYCE THANK YOU FOR A GREAT REPORT thanked Egide and Benelux for a to accommodate the German lucrative business but things got harder Ed. headquarters and decorated by when fishing got more restrictive in great event, and gave a toast to the

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 13 12 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians is for all Rotarians who are MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM interested in General Aviation. First (badge) Name: Last Name: Each year the UK Section holds a series of one-day events ideal for Private Pilots hiring Club aircraft as well as those who have their own or shared aircraft. But Spouse or Partner: Mobile: those arriving by road are equally welcome – you do not need to be a pilot Home phone: Business phone to join, just a Rotarian interested in aviation. Home address: Membership of The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians gives: Postcode • Regular contact with others who share your interests - Rotary and Aviation • The opportunity to take part with other members in visits at home and abroad, Email: to Air shows, Museums, Rallies, Reunions and other aviation events Rotary Club: District: Classification: • A distinctive IFFR pin badge acknowledged by Rotary International Nearest Airfield: Pilots licence (if any): • A Newsletter telling of past and forthcoming events in Britain and in the rest of the World Who gave you this form?: I apply for Membership of IFFR (UK) Limited and will support its activities to the best of my ability. I agree to abide by the rules & regulations set out in the Reach for the Sky. Don’t fly in circles ! Join our organisation memorandum and articles of association of the company from time to time and and enjoy regular fly-ins, gain valuable flying experience, in the event that the company was to become insolvent on a winding up I agree “ Meet lots of other pilots always ready to help out with to pay a sum not exceeding £1 towards the company’s liabilities. I agree to my details being published for Rotary and IFFR purposes in the IFFR directories. I have planning or sharing trip. completed the Bank Standing Order (below) and confirm that I am a member ” (active or honorary) of the Rotary Club named above. To: Bank PLC Sort code . . - . . - . . Account name Account number Full address of bank Postcode Please pay Lloyds TSB PLC, 177 High Street Orpington BR6 0LJ (30-96-31) for the Credit of IFFR (UK) Ltd account number 3114670, the sum of £25.00 (twenty-five pounds) and debit my account accordingly, now and on 1 January in each subsequent year until cancelled by me in writing. Please ensure that you quote the reference* when making payment.

Signature Date * Reference will be inserted by IFFR Send by post to Rodney Spokes, Membership Secretary, IFFR UK, 1 The Spinney, Thurnby, Leicester LE7 9QS. Telephone 0116 241 5895.

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 15 14 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 The local delicacy is the Staffordshire Oatcake, not to be confused with the Scottish variety, it is about 20cm in diameter and 3mm thick and is light brown in colour. it can be eaten rolled into a tube or flat with a savoury or sweet topping and contributes to the local economy by being exported to ex-patriots all over the world. If not consumed within a few days, it may be used to repair shoes or even holes Neil in the road. The aeronautical industry My Favourite City has not used it since the invention of Smith carbon fibre..

Catching up with Neil Smith, we twist his My favourite city is Stoke on Trent, which arm to give us an insight to his favourite may surprise anyone who has visited the City Stoke of Trent. The Potties hold area in the last 10 years, as it appears some very special memories for the very run down with the pottery industry editor. In a past life, the family had in sad decline. a shop who sold lots of pottery. Our Stoke on Trent There are many reasons to like the place, Thanks Neil, for a brilliant report, We, (well I) didn’t know about her famous Sons buying trips to Stoke, are legendary. but here are three of the most important:- and we love Robbie William as well ! Ed

Charles Strasser our past IFFR World President came to live in Stoke on Trent at the age of 11 as a refugee from Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia, and after attending Technical School, set up a very successful photographic business in the area. His contribution to the Stoke economy, Reginald Mitchell, the Rotary, and aviation designer of the Spitfire was has no equal, no born in the area at a place doubt helped by the called Butt Lane, just inside consumption of many the Stoke on Trent postal Staffordshire . region of Staffordshire where it borders .

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 17 16 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 are original! The line served the local European location. Examples of this slate mines until their decline, where the include the 1960 Danger Man episode tourist traffic took over. “View from the Villa” starring Patrick The route followed some beautiful McGoogan, the story titled welsh country side and eventually into “The Masque of Mandragora” set in Porthmadog Harbour. Just in time for Renaissance Italy, and an episode of lunch. The original station platform, Citizen Smith in which the eponymous (which would not look out of place for hero visits Rimini. In 2002 some scenes the remake of the Railway Children), Is were filmed there for the final episode a very popular destination for tourists of the TV series Cold Feet. the trains run east west and north We arrived back at the hotel with time Our second visit of the day was to or a well-earned rest before departing to Porthmeridon, a colourful village Chester Town Hall for our banquet meal. created and designed by Sir Clough The evening was a celebration of Williams-Ellis. all things great in IFFR, Fantastic surroundings, superb food, great speeches by our Chairman Peter Jude and World President Svend. The wine Chester Fly-in team - Enjoying a drink before dinner flowed, and the conversation filled the great hall from the moment we walked through the medieval oak doors. We were honoured to see so many other Portmeirion Gardens sections represented from Germany, “Chester report Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden. Our AGM on the Sunday morning was ” The village of Portmeirion has been well attended and World President a source of inspiration for writers and Svend spoke about the convention In good weather forty members and guests We dined at the hotel on the Friday television producers. Noël Coward fly around next year in Buffalo New attended the Chester Fly-in, arriving at night, enjoying the warm sunny evening wrote Blithe Spirit while staying in the . Please think about attending Hawarden EGNR in some nine aircraft. We chatting and drinking on the veranda Upper Fountain suite at Portmeirion. In all flying is VFR and the fuel and aircraft were well look after by ATC and the ground before dinning in the Grosvenor Suite. 1956 the village was visited by architect hire is very cheap. staff at their excellent facilities which is Frank Lloyd Wright, and other famous Saturday started early, after breakfast home of Airbus Industries. visitors have included Gregory Peck, One of the main topics of the meeting in the Roman Villa themed restaurant, Ingrid Bergman and Paul McCartney. was: Are we providing what our Buffet lunch was served before the we boarded the coach with Eddie Musician Jools Holland visited whilst membership want? Please reply to our coach left for Chester, its Roman as our driver who took us along the filming for the TV music show The Tube, straw poll with the bulletin so we can walls enclosing the city invited us to beautiful scenic route to Ffestiniog, (a and was so impressed that he has had give members value for money. look around in brilliant sunshine. After town renowned for Welsh Slate) . He his studio and other buildings at his a walking tour we boarded the bus explained on the way all the interesting With the meeting drawing to a close at home in Blackheath built to a design for the hotel. land marks including the Fairy Glen. 10am it was time to depart. A big thank heavily inspired by Portmeirion. you to Martin Wellings for organising a The Grosvenor Pulford hotel was very Our trip was to include travelling on the Television series and films have shot fantastic full weekend. well appointed, and gets its name from Ffestiniog railway which was the world exterior scenes at Portmeirion, often a famous near neighbour Earl Grosvenor, 1st old narrow gauge line. Opened in REPORT BY TONY ERSKINE depicting the village as an exotic The Duke of Westminster one of the 1865 some 150 years ago and many of riches landowners in the land, with a the present carriages and steam trains portfolio including Mayfair in London.

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 19 18 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 IFFR clothing

In May I contacted all members of the would like these to become available UK Section advising them that a range again could you drop me an email of clothing bearing the IFFR logo was at [email protected]? If the available. There was a good response and demand is sufficient then I will put by the time the closing date came some 40 something together. individual items had been ordered. Tony receiving his Flyer of the ANGUS CLARK Year award for Peter Jude. All the items are embroidered to Photo Feroz Wadia. special order. No stock is held of any of these so in the words of any self respecting market trader – “Once they 2016 are gone, they’re gone!” There are no plans to repeat this Flyer of the year offering in the near future. However I have been asked if there was a AWARD chance of repeating the embroidered Pilot Shirts that sold some 4 years ago. Award 2016 That will very much depend on the potential demand for them. If you It was a beautiful day for flying with 5 a challenge. Only joking as we all know planes arriving with 7 members & one that being safe is key to our flying. guest in attendance. Angus kindly agreed Apart from this trip being a get to route via (sunny) Skegness to pick me together, the main purpose was to up. He commented on the well cared for present our “IFFR Flyer of the Year” To all members who dont grass airfield & on the picturesque views award to Rotarian and IFFR member over the North Sea. He was surprised at how many static caravans cover the Tony Flinn who had flown in from usually attend our flyins. surrounding area (most in all of Europe). Sandtoft. It was a pleasurable task for me to make this presentation to Tony We had a pleasant trip at 3000’ with RAF Please take our straw poll so we can provide you with the best flying experience. who has taken on and dealt with major Coningsby as usual providing a good Just email your answer to the following questions to [email protected]. life changing challenges and now has LARS service. You can add any comments or suggestions to your email. flying alongside sailing for a hobby. Three planes came in from the Isle of All answers will be treated in confidence. Just answer Yes or No to each question: Wight all arriving by 12:00. Conington We all congratulated Tony and look is a small but well used airfield with forward to seeing him at future IFFR 1. I don't have use of an 5. I have little experience of a licensed 800m hard runway. They events. aircraft flying abroad have training facilities for PPL, IMC After a pleasant lunch and good 2. I cannot attend mid week 6. I would be willing to fly & aerobatic courses. There is a small fellowship we all departed for our meetings with someone else restaurant and drinks available all day. various bases. A pleasant day was 3. I cannot attend weekend 7. The one day flyins are too On arrival the wind was variable and had by all and thanks to Conington for meetings far from my airfield. gave occasion for one of our members being so accommodating to us. (who shall be nameless) to go around PETER JUDE - CHAIRMAN 4. The weekend flyins are too 8. I would welcome the idea as 800 m hard was apparently a bit of expensive. of a new member mentor

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 21 20 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 that goes with such flights. Another Looking ahead there are meetings in To get all you ducks in order you important benefit of co-ordination is the August and September in Turku, Finland; need a great coordinator. opportunity to put those who may wish to Lausanne, Switzerland; San Marino; and Post convention fly about participate, but who do not have access Aix-en-Provence, France. Details of all of Atlanta 2017. a to an aircraft, in touch with those who these are on the IFFR.org website. Could might have seat available. Don’t be anyone who is thinking about attending hesitant about registering an interest. any of these meetings, and who has not already done so, please get in touch At the end of May many of us enjoyed with me at [email protected]? the Benelux Section meeting in Ostend. Participation in the Continental meetings There we had an exceptionally really does open up another dimension to strong representation with 19 from the the membership of our Fellowship. UK attending. It was particularly good to see some new faces. ANGUS CLARK

Continental co-ordination!

In May Peter Jude asked me to co-ordinate stop there could be link up at the same the participation of members of the UK location. This could facilitate refuelling, Section in Continental European Section’s hotel selection etc. The exchange meetings. of local knowledge, based on past Individuals would still be responsible for experiences, could be a most valuable. registering themselves and making any By doing this we would hope that those associated hotel bookings. They are, who have limited or no experience however, asked to inform me of their of flying In Continental Europe might plans. That will allow me to let all those be encouraged to take the plunge, are going to a particular event know although not literally! They would do it in who else is going. Planned routes could the knowledge that there will be others be exchanged. Where these might with more experience to help them in, entail a stop on the way or an overnight both, the formal and informal planning

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 23 22 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 the Magdalena horse farm. Every horse everywhere who live out the history of has its own hanging basket of flowers the time. to look at outside its stall, and there Was it flying into Mannassas airport for is a “honeymoon suite” to help with our visit to Washington DC. breeding new generations of winners. Back to history in the afternoon at a Our pilots had to take an online test on Shaker village, which was both beautiful the joining instructions for the airport; if and fascinating. The Shakers originated you get it wrong, you will be forced down in Manchester, and were a breakaway by two F16s. Sadly everyone got it right! from the Quakers. (We tend to Next day we went to Washington in 90 remember them for their elegant degrees of humid heat. This did not dim chairs). There is now only one left alive in our interest in seeing all the sights. We Left to Right James Alexander, Catrina the world! Their belief in celibacy – even walked up the Mall from the Lincoln Anderssen Catharine Alexander and Svend in marriage – made it difficult to keep Anderssen on the Atlanta Fly around. memorial all the way to the Capitol the numbers up. Next we took an hour’s Photo Svend C Building, enjoying much to see on the paddlesteamer riverboat ride along way. I was seriously tempted to dive a peaceful limestone gorge covered into one of the fountains it was so hot. in beautiful woodland. The day ended IFFR ATLANTA FLYOUT with a Shaker style dinner in a beautiful We watched the police stop the traffic Shaker building. to allow a cavalcade of motor bikes, limousines and police cars to drive into Was it our longest and most eventful JUNE 12 -23RD 2017 11 Days of flying Maybe it was the Cirrus distribution the White House. Was Trump the VIP flight next day to Charlotteville, around the southern United States, centre in Knoxville Tennessee, where in the car with a flag fluttering from Virginia? This involved dodging the sharing a plane with our World amazingly the pilot of a new jet Cirrus its bonnet? The police wouldn’t tell weather at various heights; the clouds President Svend and his wife Carina. said “hello James”… he had given us. Then we popped into a couple miraculously clearing just when Trip organised by Dale Read of him an IFR checkout earlier this year in of Smithsonian museums; all free and required… Hearing our fellow pilots on Knoxville. Denham. No free samples sadly…. quite mind blowing. the radio is a thrill special to IFFR trips.. What was the most enjoyable part of the Could it be Lexington, Kentucky where So – thank you all the organisers for 2017 flyout? Was it our visit next day to Monticello, we took in a quick Air museum at the such a great trip. James and I were the the home of the third president of the Was it the IFFR dinner on the 47th airport before arriving at our wonderful only Brits flying: it was good to have United States Thomas Jefferson ? (1743 floor of a an Art deco sky scraper in hotel? And enjoyed mint juleps and Rodney and Pam Spokes join us for half to 1826) He wrote the declaration of downtown Atlanta, where we caught fried green tomatoes? There was time of the trip, by car. up with many flying friends made in to draw breath here, as this was our Independence as well as designing his America over the many years of fly- base for the next three days. Day 1 own house. Svend was the only European Pilot, unless we count Peter Wenk who has a outs there.. included the historic Buffalo Trace He was an advocate of freedom, but Norwegian wife. Was it the thrill of setting off with Svend distillery, which is one of the few which kept 200 slaves and only freed 5 when and Carina in our rented Cessna survived the years of prohibition. he died…and also had 5 children with This report only gives a brief outline 182 – with a coveted glass cockpit? Followed that evening by a thrilling visit one of his slaves after the loss of his wife of the trip – but enough to make you Listening to the US traffic controllers, to a Rodeo, complete with bucking of 10 years in childbirth. realise that if you want a local’s insight broncos and huge bulls, and the into the USA, they are not to be missed. and enjoying their stylish, free airports, Was it our next dose of History, at mostly with enormously long runways? children chasing calves with ribbons on their tails. Health and Safety here is not Williamsburg, the capital of the Virginia CATHERINE ALEXANDER Was it a tour of Chattanooga in colony from 1699 to 1780? This is a living a consideration! Day2 was horse day PS Washington was the highlight for us! torrential rain, and our first encounter - The Keeneland Race track, which museum which gave an insight into with the civil war battlefields and had a Royal box in the stand built for the lives of the early settlers. One could cemeteries? 670,00 people were killed the queen’s visit in 1988 - followed by spend days there as there are actors between 1861-1865.

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 25 24 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 second Diary of Events up date 30 Date Event Contact Details Wednesday Fly-in Caernarfon Contact [email protected] Checking your Prop….. by corrosion, stone nicks, ground 23rd August strikes etc., an additional unintended “This is a common question among stress concentration is imposed and 10th/13th Scandinavian Sec www.iffr.org/events/iffr-scandinavian- pilots and in fact, there is no such thing August meeting Fly-in fly-in-finland the margin of safety may not be as an OK nick or dent in the propeller. Finland adequate. 17th/20th Switzerland Meeting www.iffr.org/events/iffr-meeting-laus- Advisory circular AC-20-37E Aircraft According to the CAA all nicks are August Fly-in Lausanne anne-switzerland-2017 Propeller Maintenance is the guidance potential crack starters. This small scale provided by the FAA for maintenance damage tends to concentrate stress in technicians and it says in part... the affected area and eventually, this 1st/4th Sept Italian Sec meeting www.San Marino http://iffr.org/ Fly-in events/2017-italin-section-san-marino A propeller is one of the most highly high stress area may develop a crack. stressed components on an aircraft. As the crack propagates, the stress 7th/10th Sept French Sec meeting – www.Aix en Provence http://iffr. During normal operation, 10 to 25 tons becomes increasingly concentrated, Fly in org/events/french-meeting-aix-en- provence of centrifugal force is pulling the blades increasing the crack growth. This from the hub while the blades are growing crack can result in blade 13th/15th Oct Australian Fly in www.Tasmania http://iffr.org/ bending and flexing due to thrust and failure. events/2017-australia-tasmanien torque loads. A properly maintained 20th/22th Oct New Zealand Fly in www.iffr.org/events/new-zealand- What this means to us as pilots is that propeller is designed to perform West Port westport any nicks, dents, gouges or cracks normally under these loads, but when are cause for a more thorough TBA RNAS Yeovilton Fly -in propeller components are damaged inspection by an aircraft mechanic. In many cases, this damage can be repaired quite easily if it is minor, but you must get the propeller inspected and/or repaired prior to flight. Flying the plane with even minor propeller damage can start that crack that could cause failure on a subsequent flight. So preflight that prop like your life depends on it because it very well could.”

Please take our fly-in survey on page 21 www.iffr.org.uk 27 26 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017 The International Fellowship of Fly-ing Membership Secretary: Rotarians (UK Section) Rodney Spokes ([email protected]) 1 The Spin-ney, Thurnby. Chairman: Peter Jude Leicester, LE7 9QS [email protected] Tel. 0116 241 5895

Company Secretary/ Treasurer: Bulletin Editor: Tony Erskine John Bowden [email protected] [email protected] Tel. 01892 862531

PPL’s WANTED If you enjoy this magazine, why not join our fellowship. Full membership is open to all Rotarians.

Not a Rotarian? You can become a friend of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians and enjoy the fly-ins Organised events are held throughout the flying season and valuable help is on hand from members if it’s your first time anywhere

Just visit our web site for more information www.iffr.org.uk We are looking forward to meeting you.

Disclaimer: The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians is a group of Rotarians dedicated to promoting aviation as an opportunity for fellowship and service. This Fellowship operates in accordance with Rotary International policy, but is not an agency of, or controlled by Rotary International.

28 The Rotating Beacon JULY 2017