Spring Is in the Air !

April 2015 http://www.taysideflyingclub.co.uk/ Spring is in the Air ! You have control…. Drew Dudgeon P a g e 2 The tayside flyer Everyone is more than welcome to attend the Tayside Open Evening on Thursday 16th April at 6pm. Everyone attending will have the opportunity to visit the Dundee Control tower, have a flight in the Sim and land at Malaga Airport or fly over the Eifel tower. The Tayside Instructors will be on hand to show you around or answer any questions should you wish to gain a Pilots License. They will also show you around the premises & a look inside the entire Tayside fleet of aircraft, including the Tecnam twin prop ( latest edition to the fleet). Definitely a night not to be missed. More information on the forums section of TaysideFlyingClub.co.uk P a g e 3 The tayside flyer Hi Flyers - Spring is in the Air, quite literally ! As I write this article, its the middle of March and the snow is falling heavily and Gale force winds dominate the Scottish weather forecasts. Despite the Spring weather, I’m glad to say that all is not doom and gloom: The nights are getting longer, which means you can grab a flight during the week in the evening time; there’s plenty of events at Tayside to keep you occupied; Lots of Fly-outs planned which you’d be most welcome to attend & there’s a fantastic opportunity to visit the Dundee Control Tower / Fly a Jet in the Tayside Sim / see around the premises and inside the aircraft. Best of all its Free ! CLUB MEMBERSHIP NOW DUE FOR 2015 P a g e 4 The tayside flyer Who is up for a Fly-out ? Fife are having their annual Easter Egg fly-in over the Easter weekend, its always good to see our Fife cousins and have a natter when were there too. Highland Aero club have invited us to their Fly-in /BBQ at Easter airfield & Buchan Aero club have invited us to their fly-in at Longside. Details are in this Flyer. More Summer Fly-outs will be posted on the Notice-board and Forums section, so be sure to drop in for a look & respond if you are interested ( please state whether your a Pilot of Passenger) The question I get asked most at the flying club is, “ I didn’t know there were fly-outs” or “I thought the Fly-outs were only for Tayside flying club members” The simple answer to the above is, All Fly-outs are advertised on the notice-board / all events are advertised in the Flyer and on the Forums section of Taysideflyingclub.co.uk If you are learning to fly at Tayside Aviation - then you are automatically a member of Tayside Flying club ! Everyone is most welcome to attend all Flying activities at Tayside, whether it be Fly-outs, Talk nights, Tower visits or Airshows. Three Important things to remember: 1. Annual Flying club Membership fee is due. This fee is for Club membership & Insurance to fly Tayside aircraft. The fee remains the same whether you join in January or July 2. Airside Pass Must be worn at all times - you can renew or ask for a new pass from Berna- dette ( Ops Manager ) - normal fee’s apply. 3. Remember to read & sign the Operations Manual. This is compulsory for all members of the flying club to do Before they Fly any Tayside aircraft. P a g e 5 The tayside flyer The Tayside Flying club AGM in February was well attended and a new Committee was selected and sworn in for official duties ! Lots of ideas was generated and an eager enthusiasm from new committee members will ensure a varied calendar of events for all to enjoy. A happy couple about to embark on a flight around Angus The recent Night Flying course was well attended and very positive feedback from all who took to the night sky. Its definitely a different experience, where you need to be 100% focused on everything you do. I completed the course and was absolutely thrilled at the experience. There’s so much you take for granted when you fly during daylight, but night time requires a different feel as there’s a certain edge to flying the circuit or landing with the aircraft panel lights switched off ! Some say that you need to use ‘the Force’, others say you need to have the skills of a Jedi Knight. But one things for sure, it sharpens your skills, makes you a more appreciative pilot and is a million miles of fun. The next course starts in October / November 2015 and I cant rate it highly enough - make sure you get your name down for the course nearer the time. P a g e 6 The tayside flyer There’s a Countdown story later in the Flyer and I’m sure you’ll be amazed at the celebrity guests that Tayside attract ! Read on..... We hope to see a decent attendance at the Open evening on Thursday 16th April at 6pm. This is your chance to see inside the Dundee tower and ask the kind ladies and gentlemen any burning questions you have about ATC ? You will also have the chance to fly in the Sim, or see inside the Tecnam or any other aircraft in the fleet. It will soon be BBQ season, so I’m arranging a Flying club BBq for all to enjoy for free ( the moneys coming out of club funds ) . If you have a flair for frying Burgers, pork chops and the like then I will need your help on the day. Please let me know by e-mail if your services are free so i can assign you to cooking duties ! Throughout the Summer months there’s a good chance that you might see the ‘Herons Formation team’ putting their aircraft through a host of manoeuvres in the skies around Dundee. If you do, give them a large wave as they appreciate all forms of praise, and its good for their morale as they are all budding Red Arrows at heart ! The Flying club would like to offer our sincere condolences to the families of Margaret Ann & David Rous, who tragically lost their lives on 4th April. David based his Cherokee aircraft at Dundee & many club members may have saw them take off for Tiree that morning. Unfortunately radar contact was lost and the aircraft was later found by mountain rescue teams in the area of Glen Kinglass near Loch Etive. We are all very deeply saddened by this news and offer our respects..... safe and Happy Landings in 2015. You have control…. Drew Dudgeon - Chairman Tayside Flying Club P a g e 7 The tayside flyer Over a century of Aviation history ended at Leuchars on Tuesday 31st March 2015. A poignant and militarily precise ceremony marked the end of 95 years of the RAF at the base. A flight of RAF and army personnel was led on to parade by the RAF Leuchars Pipes and Drums, led by Pipe Major Ian Hughes and Drum Major Alastair Pether. Several hundred invited VIP guests and around a dozen members of the public in a separate enclosure braved a bitter wind and the occasional sleet shower as the parade formed. As senior officers took their positions, the pipe band played Hielan’ Laddie. At noon precisely, a flypast of two Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth flew from east to west. A single whistle blast then signalled reviewing officers and parade commanders to take the salute as the RAF Ensign was carefully lowered and folded away. Saluting ceased on a double whistle blast as the army flag was raised. The pipe band then played Scotland the Brave as personnel again saluted. The ceremonial handing over of the keys followed, and with that RAF Leuchars was no more. “ taken form the Courier” P a g e 8 The tayside flyer The base will be re-named “Leuchars Station” and will become home to a variety of military units. In recognition of this historic occasion the Forces Philatelic Bureau will be publishing a special commemorative cover. The cover carries a stunning aerial photograph of Leuchars taken by Drew Dudgeon superimposed with the Station crest and the cap badges of the four main military units that will occupy the site. A Scottish regional definitive stamp has been cancelled by the unique BFPS 3183 special handstamp. The cover comes complete with an A4 double-sided insert in full colour giving the base's history. Both are presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir of the handover. Versions of the cover include a standard priced at £6 and a signed limited edition priced at £12. Wg Cdr Neville Clayton RAF, Station Commander, RAF Leuchars and Lt Col Ben Cattermole MBE. Commanding Officer, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards will jointly sign a limited edition of covers. You can also order these covers using the Shop on webpage http://www.bfps.org.uk/ or via mail order by sending a cheque made out to BFPS CIC and sending it to BFPS, The Old Post Office, Links Place, Elie, Fife, KY9 It was a pleasure to allow them to use my photo. Furthermore the picture of Leuchars will always be associated with that historic event. I’m touched, proud & honoured they used my photo ! Drew Dudgeon. P a g e 9 The tayside flyer Once upon a time, a young chap from Montrose called Mark Cuthill decided the life of an accountant wasn't adding up & decided that his office would be better located in the skies.

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