Vintage and Classic Spring-2019 Issue 65
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Vintage & Classic The Journal of the Vintage Aircraft Club V A C www.vintageaircraftclub.org.uk | Issue 65 | Spring 2019 The VAC Committee VAC Honorary President - D F Ogilvy OBE FRAeS VAC Committee Chair Anne Hughes 01280 847014 email [email protected] Vice Chair and Secretary Steve Slater 01494 786382 email [email protected] Treasurer Peter Wright 07966 451763 email [email protected] Membership Secretary Stephanie Giles 01789 470061 email [email protected] Events Anne Hughes as above Magazine Editor Tim Badham email [email protected] Safety Officer Trevor Jarvis email [email protected] Trophy Steward Rob Stobo 01993 891226 email [email protected] Webmaster Mark Fotherby In this issue David Bremner tells us more about the email [email protected] incredible Bristol Scout. Meanwhile, we caught him hitching a lift, while trying not to drop a bombshell! Merchandise Cathy Silk email [email protected] New member ● Paul Gower from Billericay General Data Protection Regulation In accordance with the new EU directive concerning Contents Data Protection, the VAC committee has put together Notes from the Chair 4 the VAC policy and set up a sub-committee to ensure all updates are made at regular intervals. VAC Events 4 Rare breeds ‘rescuer’ 6 Aim of the VAC Welcome to Breighton Aerodrome: Yorkshire’s only home of vintage and classic aeroplanes 12 The aim of the Vintage Aircraft Club is to provide a Pure nostalgia! 14 focal body for owners, pilots and enthusiasts of vintage and classic aircraft by arranging fly-ins and Bristol Scout 1264 (Part 2) 18 other events for the benefit of its members. The Book Review: Bristol Scout 1265 – rebuilding Vintage Aircraft Club is a member club of the Light grandad’s aircraft 21 Aircraft Association and supports the General Around the World at 80! 21 Aviation Awareness Council, GASCo and the 50 years on – a Bulldog celebration 22 Transport Trust. Book Review: Scottish Aviation Bulldog – Trainer for the World 23 Disclaimer New bank account details 23 “Vintage and Classic” is the quarterly journal of the Dates for the Diary 2019 24 Vintage Aircraft Club and as such is a privately produced magazine. The views contained within its pages do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the Vintage Aircraft Club. The magazine is free to members, but £5.00 when purchased separately. Cover photo: VAC Award-winner Mark Miller displays Dragon Rapide G-AGJG which he and his father restored. Tim Badham P AGE 2 V INTAGE & CLASSIC | ISSUE 65 | SPRING 2019 From the Editor estoring and maintaining Jane Jarvis vintage aircraft in Rairworthy condition is an expensive and very demanding exercise. Some projects, however, are more demanding than others and become labours of love. Prime examples appear in this issue. The cover picture depicts the immaculate Dragon Rapide which was the subject of a thorough restoration, which took Mark and David Miller decades at Duxford. The Bristol Scout rebuilt by David Bremner and his colleagues took some fourteen years from concept to completion. The Train-powered Chilton G-AFSV restored by Roy Nerou will soon fly after decades of research and work. These projects haven’t been conducted by professional full-time restorers but by highly Editor Tim Badham (left) with Arthur Williams skilled and dedicated owners. I was amazed when told that I had memories of those Finmere days. I recently interviewed Roy and been awarded the Tony Harold was astounded to discover that I am eager for ‘Vintage & Classic’ Memorial Picture for my work in over the last fifty years he has to thrive and so encourage pilots developing a new style and owned and worked upon no less and restorers to please get in direction for this magazine. Thank than thirteen vintage and classic touch with stories about their you all for that kind gesture. Having aeroplanes. I was delighted that aeroplanes and experiences, so known Tony it is wonderful to be he agreed to share his story they can be included in future custodian of his painting of Tiger which appears in this issue, as it issues. I Moth G-ANFM which he often flew. gives an insight into what true Tim Badham It brings back many happy dedication can achieve. [email protected] Annual Awards 2019 Tim Badham full report on the Club’s The awards dinner in full swing John Blake Rosebowl – Tom annual dinner and awards Kinnaird A event, held in April at John Edwards Trophy – Pete Shuttleworth House, will appear White in the next issue. To whet the Liz Inwood Trophy – Paul appetite, here are details of the Shenton awards which were presented by Pietenpol Prop – Francis the guest speaker TV-presenter Donaldson Arthur Williams. Tony Harold Memorial Picture Allen Clewley Trophy – David – Tim Badham Phillips Wright VAC Group Trophy – The Sywell Denis Fry Cup – Trevor Jarvis George Davidson Cup – Mark Messenger Trust Desmond Penrose Silver Miller VAC Photography Shield – Jane Salver – Steve Slater Graham England Trophy – Alfie Jarvis Ernie Lingard Trophy – Peter Badminton V INTAGE & CLASSIC | ISSUE 65 | SPRING 2019 P AGE 3 Notes from the Chair hat would we do calendar which many of you have Aero-Expo. These give us a great without you?! Our on your walls. Thank you to all opportunity to make new friends Wannual Dinner and who helped with providing photos and contacts who have an interest Awards Evening certainly focuses and I am pleased to report we are in vintage aircraft, and I would the mind as we have difficult sold out! Our main celebratory encourage you to come along and choices to make, in advance of the event will be at Breighton at the volunteer to spend an hour or so evening, voting on who should end of June and we look forward on the stand. I promise you it is receive awards. Apart from the to seeing you in Yorkshire! fun! There are some amazing dedicated hard work of I have attempted to produce a stories out there that passers- by committee members, there are so diary of events where there is are happy to share. many members who contribute to something for everyone as the We are compiling a list of aircraft the Vintage Aircraft Club and social opportunities for members owned by club members and the support our events. The to meet up are really important diversity of your aircraft, both cherished vintage aircraft you for us all. Almost all our fly-ins are flying and under restoration, is bring to our fly-ins deserve their supported by ground events so nothing short of stunning. When own round of applause! that a chance to get together is we have completed the list, we There are others too who provide not totally weather-dependent. If will make it available for your articles and photos for the you could host a VAC event at information and interest. magazine; archive materials and your airfield, please let us know. Thank you for being part of the memories of the old Finmere It is important for the club to have club! I look forward to seeing you days. Some of you bring poetry to a high profile within the light at our events and hearing from our Poetry Evening and some a aviation community and to that you through the e-Newsletter cheery handshake and end you will see articles about the from time to time. Please share encouraging words. To me this club on a regular basis in the your thoughts and ideas with us epitomises the very special and aviation press. We also have an and help us make the VAC work unique club to which we are all open invitation to speak on for you. privileged to belong. Wycombe Sound! This year we Happy landings! With a view to highlighting our will have an information stand at Anne Hughes 55th Birthday we produced a VAC the Safety Day at Duxford and at VAC Events Aviation Poetry Anne Hughes Evening “Whizzing through the azure blue In an aeroplane, say you, Must of sports the nicest be; So it is, but then, you see, The only part that can give you pain Is the return to earth again.” Not all our poetry is serious! This WW1 poem by ‘Theta’ is just one from a variety of poetry and prose we enjoyed at White Waltham in January. We were privileged to have Steve Milne, producer of the film ‘Spitfire’ as one of our readers and Steve finished the evening with a moving reading of John Gillespie Magee’s well-known poem ‘High introduced us to some nail-biting Philip Whiteman read a selection of Flight’ which is the subject of his prose from Lord Kilbracken’s prose and poems for us, some from next film. Andrew Smith ‘Bring back my Stringbag’ and the VAC archive. We were fortunate P AGE 4 V INTAGE & CLASSIC | ISSUE 65 | SPRING 2019 Anne Hughes Anne Hughes Anne Hughes Enjoying lunch at Sywell Intriguing exhibits at Henlow Stuart MacConnacher Some members arrived in classic style Colin Hales (right) joins Jim and Dot Aerial Adventures across the World From the mountain ranges of South Island, New Zealand, to the sight of light aircraft racing in China and then to the story of KR2 negotiating flights across Russia, the packed room at LAA HQ was almost dizzy with the adventures of our aviators across the globe. Thanks to Alina Sweitochowska in having an enthusiastic audience fascinating talk on Avro Canada. and Pete Kerr for sharing amazing who were only too pleased to be The whole day proved to be an photos of the panorama of New involved in the evening by taking a excellent social occasion for the Zealand.