REPRESENTING SPORT & RECREATIONAL AVIATION IN THE SOUTHWEST www.devonstrut.co.uk

DEVON STRUT NEWS, MAY 2007.

Welcome to the Devon Strut: Co-ordinator’s Comments by Pete White

The month is rushing by with probably the best flying weather an April has given us for many a year. Why have I chosen now to do permit work and jobs on our ‘Ivor the wings’? (Luckily I have the loan of another Aeronca, which has enabled me to enjoy this un-seasonable spate of glorious weather). Other members of SWAG and I, like strut members all over the region, are busily preparing their mounts for the forthcoming flying season.

Our first Strut fly-in of the year is at Plymouth, Roborough on Sunday 29th April, and is being hosted by John Kempton and Steve Leach. Last week I sat in at the last planning meeting for this event with John, Steve, Peter Gristwood and the airport team at Plymouth. These guys have worked hard and will be presenting an excellent show with interesting visitors promised, backed by a selection of military and classic vehicles on display. Entrance for both aerial and road visitors will be by donation to the St Luke’s Hospice appeal. Food, drinks and PFA accessories and clothing will be for sale on the day and if this weather holds it should be a record turn out. Don’t forget to check our web site for aerodrome details and PPR please.

Our next event, which is shared with the Aeronca Club of GB, is a fly-in at Bodmin and this takes place on Saturday 5th May. This ideally suited grass airfield is a popular venue for travellers from afar and boasts a fine eating house, admirably looked after by food technicians, Michelle and Helen. The local balloon company Aerosaurus will be there giving flights from about 1800. Some of us will be camping over for Sunday’s PFA event, the Fly a Teacher and Pupil (FaTaP) day (See below for details).

Tuesday May 8th will see a local PFA vintage flypast, organised by the Harrowbeer Interest Group, for the unveiling of 2 information boards at Harrowbeer aerodrome. This is another important local connection where we can work together, linking like-minded people.

The weekend of 12 & 13th May is the national PFA Young Aviators’ weekend and although down here in the West Country we have opted to do our own thing with the Bodmin FaTaP event and another at Dunkeswell on 29th September, I know some of our Strut will be active taking young people aloft this weekend.

Although not a Strut event, the Great Vintage Flying Weekend (G-VFWE) to be held over the weekend of 18 to 20th May is by far one of my favourite fly-ins. This year it returns to that superb military venue of Hullavington and being the largest vintage/classic event of its type in Europe it is not to be missed by any enthusiasts of old aircraft. Sadly, Neville Duke, a regular visitor to the G-VFWE will be missed this year having passed away recently. Some years back I was having lunch with Neville and his wife Gwen and I asked him how he had managed to keep flying all those years and he gave me some advice, which I have always remembered. “However low the funds are always keep flying, even the odd half hour every now and again because if you break the habit it is very unlikely you will return to flying again”. I have stuck by this over the years, seeing many people give up and the main reason I have been able to keep up the continuity is by being a member of the PFA which has kept my flying affordable.

As you can see from the calendar, our committee and members of the Strut are still beavering away at their jobs ensuring that we all have a superb season ahead of us. We welcome back Mike Mold after his holiday in New Zealand and look forward to hearing about ex pat Strut members that he visited over there.

Our meeting on April 12th, the last before the flying begins, was an experiment and instead of the usual format of hosting a guest speaker, Strut members were invited to bring along aviation related film clips or photos that were shown on the screen using all our fancy Strut equipment. It gave an excellent opportunity for members to stand up and chat about their photos and share experiences with one another. In fact we all thoroughly enjoyed it and time did not allow us to see all the clips that were available. We will repeat the exercise again but some one had better restrain Jim Gale from bringing along his non-aviation related library! 1

Next month I will be chatting about the forthcoming Scout Aerocamp at Belle Vue over the weekend of June 8th to 10th but until then support your Strut and turn up, to not only visit the venue but offer to lend a hand, if only for an hour. Remember it’s your Strut too so come along and have some fun.

Pete White ______

RIP Sqn Ldr Neville Duke

Sqn Ldr Neville Duke DSO, OBE, DFC, AFC died on Saturday, aged 85. He was taken ill while flying with his wife, landed safely at Popham, and collapsed as he got out of the aircraft. He passed away in hospital during the evening.

Neville Duke joined the in 1940 at the age of 18 as an AC2 pilot-under- training. After learning to fly at No. 13 Elementary Flying Training School, White Waltham, he received his wings in February 1941. Newly commissioned, he converted to the Spitfire at No.58 OTU, Grangemouth, and joined No. 92 Fighter Squadron at Biggin Hill in 1941, his first "Kill" being a Messerschmitt Bf109 over Dunkirk. He was then sent to the Middle East for what was to be a six weeks' detachment, but which, in the end, lasted to near the end of the War.

Flying Spitfires, Tomahawks and Kittyhawks on Nos. 112 and 92 Squadrons in the Western Desert and commanding No. 145 Squadron in Italy, he became the top scoring Allied pilot in the theatre, credited with the destruction of 28 enemy aircraft confirmed, 3 probably destroyed, plus 5 damaged. In these three years, he was awarded the DSO and the DFC with two bars. At the end of the War, he was 23 years old.

In 1945, he was posted to Hawkers as an RAF test pilot, graduated from No 4 ETPS course in 1946 and then joined the RAF High Speed Flight, which gained the world speed record in 1946 in a Meteor 4. He completed two years as a Squadron Leader at A&AEE Boscombe Down, being awarded an AFC in 1948, before being invited to become a civilian test pilot with , then at Langley.

There, he test flew production Furies and Tempests and also the first Hawker jet aircraft, the prototype P1040. During this period he established world records on Fury delivery flights to the Pakistan and Egyptian Air Forces - from London to Rome (1949), London to Karachi (1949), and London to Cairo (1950).

He was the owner of a Hawker Tomtit, now in the , which he flew regularly at air displays. He also joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, becoming Commanding Officer of No 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron at Biggin Hill, equipped with Spitfire Mk 22s and later Meteor 4s and having Winston Churchill as its Honorary Air Commodore.

He held the post of Chief Test Pilot at Hawkers from 1951 to 1956. His name will always be linked with the test flying of 's P1067, which became the Hunter. He flew its first flight on 20 July 1951 from Boscombe Down in WB188 (becoming, almost certainly, the first pilot to wear a Bonedome in a British aircraft) and led the test flying programme of the RAF's first aircraft capable of exceeding the speed of sound. In it, he planted the first sonic boom for all to hear across Southern England in a shallow dive from 30,000ft on 24 June 1952. The following year, again in WB188, this time modified with addition of reheat, he set a low altitude world speed record of 727.6mph, averaged over three runs, flying a course off the South Coast near Tangmere on 7 September 1953.

Neville Duke was awarded the OBE in 1953 and the next year was the recipient of the Gold Medal of the Royal Aero Club and the Segrave Trophy. Additionally, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Danish Aero Club in 1953, two De La Vaux FAI Medals in 1954, and a Queen's Commendation in 1955. In 2002, he was recipient of the Air League's Geoffrey Quill Medal. 2

His books including Sound Barrier, Test Pilot and The Crowded Sky, brought home to his readers the realities of test flying at a time when flight approaching the speed of sound was an unknown quantity and literally a Sound Barrier.

The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators awarded Sqn Ldr Duke the 'Guild Award of Honour' in 2002. The Guild Award of Honour is awarded on rare occasions to individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation. His was a unique and incomparable record as a RAF fighter pilot and he made an outstanding contribution to British aviation in the investigation of high-speed flight and the development of the Hunter. ______

Circling the Patch: News from Members and Airfields Around the Strut.

Belle Vue Great disquiet is being expressed by the aviation community at the news that the Devon Air Ambulance is being (or has been) persuaded to move from Belle Vue to Eaglescott.

Halwell Luke Roberts’ VW-powered Jodel D9 is now firing with its Leburg Electronic Ignition. (see photo of the smart installation of the accessory plate with coils and voltage regulator and wiring block)

Eggesford “Hidden in the hills of Devon there’s a magical airfield that’s home to one of the finest and most important collections of British aircraft still flying”. So starts an article entitled “Devon’s Aviation Secret” in the April issue Devon Life, and describes Eggesford with a selected history of some of the Auster collection and quotes from Nigel Skinner and Richard Webber.

North Hill Ian Mitchell’s new hangar at North Hill for his Rotax Falke was progressing well in late March. The shed has sufficient height to also accommodate Ian’s Fournier RF4D in the roof. Further updates to follow.

Plymouth John Kempton has sold his Aeronca Chief and has bought Bolkow 207 D-EHQ from John Bally at Lane Farm, Wales. To say John is delighted with his new steed is an understatement! Photo by Derek Boyce

______3 Welcome to New Members

Andy Williams, Farringdon, Exeter.Rans S6116 G-BYBR Paul Isherwood, Wells, Somerset. Melville Gale, Dalton, Devon. Emeraude G-BKFR (share) Nigel Hatton, Churston, Brixham. Maule M7 N882JH (share) Richard Scanlon, Woodbury, Exeter. Europa Mono G-CEIW & Emeraude G-BKFR (share) Ian Abraham, Dunkeswell. Quantum G-MZMG Richard Wainwright, Sidmouth. ______

Letter from NZ: Logan’s Fly-in, Parakai. by Jonathan Pote

Logan’s Fly-in, the major event of the Northland microlight Club, was held at Parakai Airfield on 17th February 2007. This was its second year at this newly re-opened 840m strip on the southern shores of the Kaipara, the largest natural harbour in the southern hemisphere. Last year a most un-seasonal radiation fog had blanketed the strip until noon, but this year the weather was perfect, a cloudless, gin clear sky locally, a few cumuli over the ridge to the east, upper 20’s C, with a light breeze at 45 degrees to the strip.

About seventy aircraft flew in, mostly Light Sport Aircraft. These are legally microlights with all the useful reductions in costs, restrictions and medical requirements that follow, but many types are very sophisticated, with composite airframes, sophisticated avionics, retractable undercarriage and are fast, using about 15 litres an hour. The current weight limit is 544 kg, but it is hoped this will be 600 kg soon. The club has some 40 members and aircraft scattered around the tip of North Island. Logan started his annual fly-in at his private strip nearby some years ago, but conveniently the move to Parakai, a crushed limestone runway previously used by a parachute club, allows many more aircraft to attend. There were also a few Cessna 172’s and lone Nanchang CJ6 2130248 ‘01’ plus a Russian registered Sukhoi Su 29 RA 3358K which gave a brief aerobatic display as it left.

One interesting trade stand offered a 9 - 12 metre span metal clad galvanised steel hangar costing about £3,000 for a kit. As a ‘temporary’ structure standing on earth or crushed stone, no planning permission is needed. The Terrier 200 standing within showed the local sense of humour – the identity SOD (‘ZK’ only rarely precedes the trigraph) had ‘off’ appended, presumably aimed at the NZ CAA!

Alpi had a trade stand, showing their Pioneer 200 and 300, the latter with a retractable undercarriage. Demo flights were available, two Falcos who arrived in close formation boosting their stand.

Nearby was a sight for sore British eyes – a ‘seed bed’ of 10 new hangar sites, each marked only by a numbered stick. A very sophisticated gyrocopter, a Gyrate Eagle was offering trial flights for $NZ80, and dual instruction for $NZ180 (about £70) an hour. Very tempting…..

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The Teeny 2 looked a little unsophisticated, but on take off, maintained a remarkable 40 degree climb in a light breeze. The Zenair 701 Skyjeep ZAR, with full span slots, drooping ailerons and doughnut tyres seemed ideal for that short, boggy strip, but the one my wife Lynette drooled over (so did I!) was a Sea Rey amphibian. With all those idyllic islands off the east coast nearby, it seemed the ideal fun machine.

Although it is an old design, I have never before seen a Cri-cri, which arrived by road. Neither had anyone else, judging by the crowd around it. It performed commendably in the air, with a not small pilot, but I gather needs a twin rating despite the close thrust lines (not in the UK – Ed), and is a handful to fly. It is no longer in production for those reasons.

As the northern summer approaches, have a look at http://www.parakaiairfield.co.nz, and http://homepage.paradise.net.nz/skypilot, the Northern Microlight Club site. ______

Build-a-Plane 2 The X-Air Hawk kit was delivered to Tim Gilmour-White on 3rd April & a website is being created to share progress. Watch this space. ______

FaTaP day at Bodmin - another PFA / CFC intitiative.

Sunday 6th May 2007 will witness another joint first for the Strut and the Cornwall Flying Club, when a Fly a Teacher and Pupil day (FaTaP) takes place at Bodmin airfield. This Devon Strut led event involves pupils and teachers from Poltair School at St Austell and Bodmin College. Managing the event will be Strut Co- ordinator and CFC member, Pete White who has visited each school to present the details of the day to the staff who will in turn select the lucky pupils and teachers.

The day starts with the selected 24 pupils and 12 teachers being briefed on safety and aerodrome etiquette before being split into teams of 6. Then, in turn, the parties will receive talks from Bodmin based flying 5 instructors and PFA members on various aeronautical topics. A tour of the hangars and the control tower will also be on the agenda but the highlight of the day will be a local flight in a light aircraft.

Besides the obvious ‘building of bridges’ with the local community, this event will give the participants an insight into aviation at our level and could influence their choice of career prospects. On the more practical side, parts of the school curriculum can be tied to the day’s experience and enhance those related subjects.

If members of the Strut who have not already volunteered, wish to assist on the day, either in the air or on the ground, please contact Pete on 01752-406660 or 07774-017704 or [email protected] for a briefing on the requirements and criteria needed for flying on these type of educational days. ______

AEROLETTERS

Dear all There has been a lot of email traffic over the past few days about recent changes to the ANO. There is considerable anger and frustration over new requirements as laid down in the ANO amendment which, like Mode S, have been imposed despite objections from PFA etc. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2007/20070274.htm

The key points to note are: ELT - all aircraft flying over water more than 10 minutes from a suitable landing area (i.e. the brown bits) must carry an approved ELT from 15th March. At our safety evening, we had a demonstration from McMurdo of the FastFind PLB. I certainly gained the impression that they had the CAA's blessing but it now appears that the CAA considers there is no portable equipment that is currently approved for this use. This implies that flights to France except using the Dover route would fall foul of this regulation. Further, there is some debate over the time the locator signal is actually received (up to 90 minutes) before SAR are deployed.

A number of correspondents are already stating that one you are in the oggin, then you fall under maritime regulations, so the CAA requirement is of no consequence. In any event buying from a nautical supplier is much cheaper than buying from an aviation stockist.

Lifejackets - when flying over water all crew/passengers must wear lifejackets equipped with a whistle and a survival light. Some existing jackets (such as mine) don't have the light!!

Fire extinguishers - should be carried in each enclosed compartment. etc etc etc

I'll be keeping an eye open on this, as the situation is developing as I write. What we are not getting though, is clarity from the CAA. Their view seems to be that the measures are as a result of an RIA and are now the law. Regards, Peter Gristwood ______

Response from Reg McComish: With mode S, locator beacons, heavier and bulkier lifejackets, strobes, generators to power everything, and there's bound to be an upcoming requirement for a totally enclosed 4 person life raft with whistle and light together with a 400 decibel foghorn in case you ditch under fog and a full cardiac arrest defibrilator with a six person first aid kit with a portable generator (diesel of course 'cos you can't carry volatile fuels other than in (approved) aircraft storage tanks and underwater breathing apparatus in case the life raft doesn't inflate and a sea anchor dan-buoy (flashing amber 10 secs) to warn surface vessels of your wreck (now the property of HM keeper of wrecks) we: a. won't be able to find room in the cab for ourselves b. won't have the useable load to carry fuel any more c. won't need insurance d. will never again be bothered by ANO's and the like!

6 (The CAA people are embarrassed that they, in effect, have been promoting the McMurdo Fastfind and others by encouraging their purchase at CAA safety evenings, blissfully unaware that these items need but have no aeronautical approval!!

CAA has stated that no one will be prosecuted for non ELT carriage if they carry one of these. They may issue a general exemption in due course in acknowledgement that PLB's are actually much more useful than a fixed ELT, as they don't sink with the aircraft, but stay with the crew! And in any case once you're out of the aircraft, and in the water, you might as well have fallen overboard from a boat! The PLB doesn't care!

The latest update from the CAA on the Mode S situation, which indicates a second round of consultation based on mode S being phased in through current transponder-required CAS, followed by class D airspace, has been posted at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/810/RIA%20Apr%2007%20update.pdf ) ______

Charity Flights Page 26 of the March issue of GASIL has an article regarding charity flights which is worth a closer look. You will see that at first glance, the message is about the raised age of pilots undertaking such flights from 60 to 65 years, but a closer look reveals some interesting facts with which some of us may not be fully conversant. There is a link in the article leading to the relevant sections of the AIP which deals with ‘charity’ flights and this makes it very clear that a flight in aid of charity for which any payment is made in support of charity would be illegal if carried out in any ‘permit’ aeroplane! Such flights may only be conducted in C of A category aircraft.

A simple ‘for instance’ would be the case where a local radio station calls for donors of interesting prizes in aid of charity. Amongst the respondents may be a club or individual who offers a flight around the local area and a bidder wins it. The payment is made either before or after the event direct to the radio station who announces the lucky ‘winner’. Everything OK so far! BUT the moment that the chocks are pulled the flight becomes illegal if it is made in a glider/microlight or permit aircraft! Even if all the other criteria are met. It makes me shudder a bit because I’ve unwittingly done it more than once! Oh yes, it also states that charity flights may be carried out without a passenger whereupon the criteria reduces somewhat! Sounds a little whacky but it is actually pointing out that sponsored charity Land’s End to John O’Groats solo is also out!

The article worried me because I wondered whether any other flights may be affected such as the Scout aero camp, young Eagles or Fly a Teacher/Pupil but delving deeper it transpires that, because no payment is made in any sense to charity we are clear to final on that score. The AIP invites anyone who may be considering donating a flight to a worthy cause to check the status of the proposed flight with the CAA direct and to that end the relevant contact numbers are supplied therein, I won’t repeat them. Hope this may be of interest to anyone like me who ‘’was only trying to help, Your Honour!’’ – regards, Reg McComish ______

Mission Accomplished: The engaging memoir of a Czech fighter pilot flying for Britain in World War Two, by Frank Mares (with foreword by Lord Tebbit of Chingford).

Appalled at the German occupation of his homeland in 1939, Frank Mares was determined to assist his country in their battle for freedom in the only way he could – as a fighter pilot. Unable to do so from Czechoslovakia he began his mission, navigating his way through Poland to France, through manned borders, guarded stations and hostile territory, in order to assist the offensive against their common enemy. Armed with fake identities, evading arrest and faced with uncertainties and frustrations at every turn, his journey was one of courage and fortitude.

Narrowly avoiding a five-year enlistment in the foreign legion, Frank eventually made it into the French Air Force and finally, following the withdrawal of France from the war, joined 601 Squadron with the British RAF. Patriotic and determined, he was involved in numerous dogfights and had many engagements with the enemy, flying Hurricanes, of which he was particularly fond. In all of the battles that he fought in the skies with German Luftwaffe pilots, he was never shot down. In 1942 he was decorated with the DFM and Czech War Cross. 7

Despite incident and injury Frank persevered, always driven by love for his country and for the planes he flew. He remained in England after the war and, now retired, lives in the West Country near the old RAF Harrowbeer airfield at Yelverton, Devon.

Publication: May 2007, Price: £20.00, pp 256 with 16pp b/w photos, ISBN 1 904943 82 9 ISBN-13 978 1904943 82 2 ______

FOR SALE

• Jabiru X-Air G-HITM for sale. 2 seat 450kg m/l based at Culdrose. 457 hrs TT, Permit to March 08, ICOM A3e radio & Lynx headsets, Both partners buying new a/c. £9,500 Contact John Cockfield 01736-793073 or 07773-693016.

• Kitfox Mk2 G-FOXX Rotax 532, permit till August. Will renew for new owner if required. £10,450.00 o.n.o. Contact Mike King 01297-680360 (or 01297-24159 evenings) [email protected]

• Lynx Avionics Micro System items for sale. Velcro mount PTT Switch (x2) £20.00 each; Switching Adaptor for Solo Operation £3.00; Headset Lead Splitter £30.00. Contact Bryan Harper Tel / Fax 01837-810562 [email protected]

• Yak 52 G-ETHI - 3 shares for sale at £11,000 each, Registered in `89, approx 430hrs left on the engine, long range tanks and is a nice little runner! Annual due in July, hangared at Eaglescott but would consider move to Dunkeswell. Jonathan Thrush 01271-861457

• ASI – PZL make 0-200 kts in one and 3/4 turns. Expanded scale 0 to 90 kts. £60. Also ASI-UMA make 21/4" diam 40-180mph (makes a good standby for a digital set up). £50 Contact: Stuart Chambers 01364-642475, 07941-277064 e-mail: pastypants at tiscali.co.uk

• Aeronca 11AC Chief G-IVOR. Fancy some real flying? Genuine and reluctant sale of share in side by side 2-seat, Bodmin-based 1946 vintage taildragger. £29 / hr wet and £35 / month, Share £2,750 to include tailwheel conversion training (worth ca £700). Contact Pete White on 01752-406660 / 07774 017704 or Steve Waddy 07789-712873 for further details.

• Yak 18T HA-YAV - Annual to 8/07. 120kts, four seats, 50 litres/hr and aerobatic. TAF:1682:25 TE:624:45 TTP:130:00. New magnetos, tyres, fuel pump and compressor. Based at Dunkeswell for winter. Newly finished leather interior and westernized panel including Skymap, 2 x comm and Garmin mode C. Cover, towbars (hand and car) and spare Air cylinders included. £48,000 ovno. As featured twice in "FLYER" magazine adventure articles. Martin Robinson [email protected]

• Jodel Group at Plymouth. Shares available in a group forming at Plymouth with a Jodel D120 Paris- Nice. Cruises at 85 knots, 6 hours endurance, 120 litre tank, useful load of 570 lbs, i.e. full fuel and two people with weight for baggage. A joy to fly with superb visibility both on the ground and in the air. Based on four people the group shares @ £3,500, £56 per month & £27/hr wet. Richard Walker 01752 407411 [email protected]

• Aviation magazines. A large collection of magazines including FlyPast, Aeroplane Monthly, PF, Aero Collector, Air Britain Archive, Air Britain Aeromilitaria, Air Britain Digest and Air Britain Aircraft Files. (detailed histories of the Whitley, Washington, Typhoon, Stirling, Lancaster, Halifax). Contact Pete White 01752-406660 [email protected]

• Continental Cylinders (x3) C90 or O-200 std size, as new, £450 each. Les Dray 01395-513031

• Fuji FA200-160 This aircraft is great fun. It has four seats, is aerobatic to +6/-3g and can even be flown with the canopy back. Don't be put off by it not being a Piper or a Cessna! Most parts are standard American, the engine is a Lycoming and there are no 'lifed' airframe parts. The engine has done circa 550 hours since being zero timed and the airframe 5600 hours. It is fitted with a Bendix King KLX-135a 8 GPS/COM, Bendix King KX-170B NAV/COM and Bendix King KT-76A mode C transponder. This aircraft is ideal for the pilot who wants to do a little bit of everything. Asking £25,500 ono. Contact Steve Cole 01395-578999 or mobile 07841-889112.

• Hi, I am having a clear out of instruments left over from building my Titch and from refitting my Emeraude. Email me for individual photos and info. I am also saving to get a Garmin 296 so my faithful Garmin GPS III Pilot and my Acer N35 PDA which has a built in GPS and road nav software with memory map software and a CAA chart are both for sale. Open to offers. Regards Keith Wingate 01548 857513 [email protected]

Beware Scams at thehangar.com John Kempton has received three scam emails from people saying they wished to purchase his Aeronca Chief. It appeared they were picking his ad from thehangar.com and possibly originated from Africa. John has reported this to the police. ______

Strut Fly-Ins, 2007

DATE LOCATION HOST / TELEPHONE ORGANISER APRIL 29 Plymouth (PPR - see Briefing Plymouth A/P 01752 515341 Info below) Steve Leach 01752-785452 John Kempton 01548-842057

MAY 5 Bodmin Pete White 01752-406660, 01208- 821419 6 Bodmin Fly-a-Teacher / YA Pete White 01752-406660

JUNE 8/9/10 Belle Vue Aerocamp Strut Team 01805-623113, 01363- 773767, 01752-406660 16 Scillies Fly-Out Jim Gale 01363-773767 17 Lands End (TBC) Lands End Flying 01736-788944 Club (Pete White) 01752-406660 24 Halwell Rod Ethrington / Keith Wingate 01548-857513 30/1 PFA SW Regional Rally – Dave Silsbury 01752-690358 Dunkeswell (Only by Pre- http://www.devonstrut.co.uk/ Registration via Strut web link ) pages/newarticles/Dunks%2 0PreReg%20Form.pdf

JULY 7/8 Farway Common Terry Case 01395-597535 15 Lundy Pete White 01752-406660 29 Branscombe Air Day Joe Thomas 01297-680259

AUG 5 Treborough Mark Weatherlake 01984-641179 18/19 Farway Common Terry Case 01395-597535

SEPT 8 Belle Vue Don Easterbrook / 01805-623113 Jim Gale 01363-773767 9 Watchford Farm Brian Anning 01823-601268 29 Dunkeswell Young Aviators Strut Team tba

N.B. Preparation for the Plymouth Fly-In has received enthusiastic support from all involved. Landings will be free but donations will be requested for the St Luke’s Hospice. We must stress that the event is strictly PPR. All prospective attendees must read and comply with the ATC requirements outlined in the briefing notes accessible via links on the Homepage and Events page of the Strut website and below. ______

9 May Free Landings Pilot: Chilton Park, Donegal, Full Sutton, Gigha Island, Great Oakley, Oaksey Park. Flyer: Beccles, Fishburn, Donegal, Draycott. Today’s Pilot: Brimpton, Old Sarum, Panshanger, Campbeltown. ______

The Champ is back! (from Alan Crutcher) Flight International, 17-23 April 2007, reported: "The Champ is back in action. American Champion has restarted production of the 7EC Champ single-engined turboprop ..." (It's actually powered by an O-200!) So I sent FI the following email: Dear Sir / Madam, I was delighted to read in FI, 17-23 April, that American Champion is producing a turboprop-powered Champ. The 65hp engine in my 1946 Chief (the side-by-side version of the Champ) is getting tired. Please could you tell me if a turboprop Chief is also planned? Alan Crutcher, Cardiff.

And received the following response: Dear Mr Crutcher, Many thanks for your recent query regarding American Champion. We are not aware of any plans by the company to offer a turboprop Chief but we would suggest you contact American Champion directly for a definitive answer. (!!!) They can be contacted on: Tel: +1 262 534 6315 email aca- [email protected] Best regards, Kate Sarsfield, Business and General Aviation Editor, Flight International ______

th PLYMOUTH CITY AIRPORT FLY-IN BRIEF: 29 April 07, 10:00 – 16:30 (In aid of St Luke’s Hospice) Introduction Plymouth City Airport welcomes pilots of the Devon Strut and their guests for the second Plymouth Fly-in. It is anticipated that the event will be free to all participants, as happened last year, but a donation is requested from visiting pilots to go to St Luke’s Hospice.

Plymouth City Airport is a public licensed aerodrome, with numerous scheduled aircraft movements and is strictly PPR. As movements will need to be arranged to avoid any possible conflict with scheduled commercial traffic, the organisers have agreed that all pilots must call Plymouth ATC on 01752 515341 for an airfield briefing and to be allocated an arrival slot before getting airborne.

The airport will be operating a ‘slot’ system for arrivals and departures, although these times may need to vary depending on weather and traffic conditions. However, the airport managers ask that aircraft are requested to arrive as close to the specified time as possible.

In the event that an aircraft subsequently misses its slot, it may be asked to hold off at a suitable location until the aircraft can be fitted in. Owing to scheduled movements, arrivals and departures between 13.00 and 14.00 will be limited.

Aircraft formations will be not be accepted into the circuit. Any formations inbound to the airfields must operate as single units before calling Plymouth Approach for arrival instructions.

Non-radio Aircraft The Airport is not able to accept non-radio aircraft to this event. In event of radio failure en-route to Plymouth the pilot should divert to another airfield able to accept non-radio traffic. Pilots should plan their flight with a suitable diversion airfield in mind.

ATC Procedures Plymouth ATC will provide a full Aerodrome and Approach Control Service to participants on the day, but there will be a number of other airport users, including scheduled flights, operating on the day.

It would therefore be appreciated if all aircraft could cooperate and maintain radio discipline – ie to listen on the R/T before making a call, read-back and follow instructions and not to make unnecessary calls. This is in the interests of the safety of all aircraft and allows ATC to expedite traffic.

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Ground Handling It is anticipated that aircraft will be parked on the grass area to the north side of runway 06/24 - as last year. Visiting aircraft will marshalled by Strut members to the parking area, and pilots are asked to obey all instructions from Strut officials. We will be using the Safetycom frequency (135.475) to handle ground operations.

Pilots are to book in at the Strut control tent.

It is not anticipated that pedestrians will need to move from the grass area. No-one will be permitted to cross the 06/24 runway to the main terminal unless escorted by Strut officials.

Pedestrian and car access for Devon Strut members arriving by road will be through the access gate on the Tavistock Road (see maps below).

Cars are to be parked as close to the hedge as possible and drivers are reminded to take care to keep clear of aircraft and pedestrians.

Departures Detailed instructions and local rules will be available at the Strut Control Point and pilots are asked to follow these instructions, in particular, the noise abatement rules for the airport.

To fit into the normal scheduled traffic and to smooth the flow of aircraft, the Strut will be administering departure slot times. On booking in, pilots will be asked to indicate the approximate time of their departure and we ask that you try to adhere to these times, where possible.

Strut officials will be responsible for the initial start-up and taxy instructions. No aircraft is to leave the parking area until handed over to Plymouth ATC by the Strut officials.

Aircraft departing the event will be marshalled on to the runway in groups of 3 aircraft at a time, with the slowest aircraft at the rear. All aircraft must use the full length of the runway.

Fuel Refuelling is only permitted at the airport pumps to the west of the airport apron. If you require fuel, please ensure that you refuel on arrival. Payment for fuel will be by cash or credit/debit card. Fuel cards are not acceptable.

For any further information please contact: Steve Leach 01752-785452 or John Kempton 01548-842057

Directions to Plymouth Airport From Plymouth and the A38

Follow the signs to Tavistock and Plymouth Airport. At the Derriford Roundabout, do not turn towards the Airport, but continue towards Tavistock along Tavistock Road.

Approximately ¾ mile from the Derriford Roundabout, take the small turning on the right and bear round to the right for about 30 yards.

Take the narrow grass track between the houses and you will arrive on the airfield. Follow the signs to the right and park carefully as close to the hedge as possible.

11 PLYMOUTH CITY AIRPORT WEBSITE

EGHD 502522N 0040621W PLYMOUTH 476ft AMSL 3.5nm NNE of Plymouth c/s Plymouth. APP 133.55. TWR 118.15 NDB ‘PY’ 396.5 (on A/D) ILS/DME Rwy 31(306oM) I-PLY 109.50. 3.5o GP

Rwy Dim(m) Surface TORA(m) LDA(m) Lighting 06/24 817x26 Asphalt 06-680 06-680 Thr Rwy APAPI 3.75o 24-740 24-708 Thr Rwy PAPI 4o 13/31 1161x30 Asphalt 13-1109 13-1027 Thr Rwy APAPI 3.75o 31-1102 31-1045 App Thr Rwy PAPI 3.5o Operating hours: Winter: 0630-2230 Summer: 0530-2130 (all times UTC) Landing Fees: Private Weight(kgs) Fee VAT Total 0-499 £5.00 £0.87 £5.87 500-999 £7.50 £0.31 £8.81 1000-1499 £15.50 £2.71 £18.21 1500-1999 £26.00 £4.55 £30.55 2000-2499 £36.50 £6.39 £42.89

Over 3000Kgs £ 21.50 per tonne (or part thereof) plus £3.76 VAT

Out of hours charges, parking charges and passenger departure taxes apply

Customs: Mon-Fri 0930-1630, outside these hours,(including Sat and Sun) prior notice required by 1600 on previous day.

Hangarage: Limited Maintenance: Available Both by arrangement with GAMA Support Services Ltd, tel: 01752 794794

Remarks: The aerodrome is PPR to all aircraft except scheduled and locally based aircraft by telephone to ATC, 01752 515341. Operated by Plymouth City Airport Ltd. Non-radio aircraft not accepted.

Restaurant: Refreshments available in the terminal.

Transportation: Taxis and car hire available in the terminal. Nearest railway station is Plymouth, 3.5 sm.

Fuel: Jet A-1,100LL. Telephone: 01752 515341

For further information: The full UK AIP entry for Plymouth City Airport (and all other UK airports) is available on the UK Aeronautical Information Service website at www.ais.org.uk. (Registration is required, which is free to all users but may take a little time).

Apart from the AIP entries for aerodromes, there is also a great deal of other useful information for pilots, particularly in the publications section. The AIS site is regularly updated and always has the latest amendments of all documents.

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