PETER JACKSON – Pictured Tony Machin
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E E CLUB AND AIRPORT NEWS BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT SOCIAL CLUB LTD In Ass. with BigginHillReunited.co.uk ISSUE No. 93 1st November 2012 www.bigginhillclub.co.uk AIRFIELD PERSONALITIES: he recalls were, John George, always on a tractor cutting the David Quirk, and David St Ledger grass on the inactive grass runway. on Aeronca 7FC Champion Tri Travelers one of which (G-ARAP) is still flying some 48 years on. These were the halcyon days of Biggin Hill Airfield. Peter also recalls that he had two other Instructors Dr Ian Dalziel and Peter remembers John Willis, one PETER JACKSON – pictured Tony Machin. of the earlier controllers in the above disguised as an articulate, tower, whom he describes as eloquent civilian has been flying It seems like he had more ‘super slick’ the ‘business’ at the since 1964 whence he first came to instructors than the club had time. Biggin Hill, stumbling upon aircraft. (He would end up owning Flairavia Flying Club in the more aircraft than the club ever process and the many pilots that had). frequented the tiny compact bar run by David Porter (standing room He finally did his GFT with the only) most nights listening to Trini renowned Trevor Prytherch. A Lopez music which blared out until school teacher, and author of some somewhere around 0300 hrs They aviation text books for the Private all drove home in those days after Pilot. these sessions of joviality – drink drive laws hadn’t been invented. It was around this period that Sir Robin Phillips appeared on the airfield in his Rolls Royce. “He was my hero in those far off Robin eventually worked in the old days”. JW also provided disco tower (adjacent to 29/11 runway) music for the home party, cool The original Flairavia Bar was along with Janet Hoare who would man, cool. situated in this small block next to scold you if you did anything the hangar. Interior measurements wrong. (tremble, tremble). Later on Peter joined up with were about 18ft x 6ft for George Adams, an old Biggin Hill’ customers, but who cared.? This In amongst all this activity, Peter ite South London Aero Club would be the beginning of his remembers Sue Saggers was member, a real character at this flying career, his early Instructors time in their evolution of flying Surrey & Kent in those days had with SLAC’s Cherokee G-ATRU. several aircraft. The Aircoupes being mainly used for Air Cadet flying training, Tiger Moths, Chipmunks, Cessna 150’s made up the remainder of their fleet. They also had a Link Trainer for During this interview with the Instrument Training, normal if the correct approach editor, Peter recalled how we flew speed was adhered to: parallel circuits on all runways (see Peter recalls attending a college at A bit cramped with the central October issue, page 1, column 1) Blackfen with four other Students control column. Care had to be an essential part of circuit flying, to further enhance their flying exercised locking the canopy which taught well, never forgotten. theory toward their PPL written hinged backwards. One also had to exams armed with their ex be careful climbing into this This technique will prove a Wartime Dalton Flight Computers, aircraft which had a very small salvation in Peters life later on in learning about ground speed, drift, single step, hardly wide enough for this article with a serious engine true airspeed, the 1:60 Rule. the average foot. A slip could failure (read on). bring tears to your eyes, if you They all completed their theory slipped and straddled the edge of Back to reality, Peter tells of followed by the standard cross the narrow fuselage, far worse than taking a 4 seat Piper Tri Pacer country of the day, Biggin – slipping off the saddle of your 160HP G-ARET (pictured below) Stapleford – Ipswich - Biggin bicycle onto the crossbar. to Gatwick occasionally when the completing their individual GFT’s landing fee was about 17s /6p for a gaining their PPL’s. Later on Peter was checked out in a light aircraft and then heading for Tiger Moth (a real tail dragger) the staff canteen (pilots welcome) Soon after Peter decided he would operated by the late Tim (Oily) for a cup of tea costing 5p or less progress toward an Instrument Doyle of West Essex Flying Club and then flying back to Biggin. Rating and started using S&K’s who had appeared mysteriously Link Trainer to gain experience overnight like a ‘Geni’ from a with instrument flying. bottle. He seemed to arrive complete with a small clubhouse He decided to join the Eric and aircraft. Thurston flight school at Stapleford Tawney aerodrome in Essex which Tim operated a fleet of Condor conducted training for the much aircraft built by Rollason Aircraft Doing this today would devour any valued Instrument Rating flying at Croydon under licence. astute business man of his spoils, their Piper Apache aircraft. let alone obtaining a clearance to even enter their Control Zone. Finally, taking his IR test with a CAFU examiner in a Piper Apache The GAT (General Aviation at a deserted airfield called Terminal) facility has long since Stansted passing all 4 stages in one Most Condors of the day were gone and all privileges associated day. Stansted in those days was a painted a simple yellow colour all with it have gone too. CAA airfield which ran for 24 / 7 it over, not the best looking but easy was ideal for night training etc; as to fly. He remembers Surrey & Kent with there almost no other aircraft their Aircoupes which sounded like operating. Today it is holiday a tin can being dropped when they departure terminal with hundreds landed. of flights. David Porter (Flairavia) imported a couple of Bolkow Juniors 208’s whilst Peters association with the with the club continued – these little honeys were considered to be Venturing on with this new found The old Surrey & Kent bar visible a little hot on the approach, but aviation career Peter said he was (centre) in the background a much handled correctly were quite sold a Piper Arrow by Ralph Scott larger watering hole. of Express Aviation saying, “I only went to look at it”. It was a good aeroplane and he had a lot of fun with it. 1971 Capt George Dobson arrived Flashback of memory, Peter recalls how Roy Saunders in the old The Navajo was followed by a Flairavia days was the life and soul Cessna 425 with PT6 turbine of a party, always the centre of engines in 1987. attraction. Makes you wonder if he had any time left for flying with all these different aircraft. 1987 Peter moved to live in joining King Air flying club as Guernsey following the sale of his This image was sketched in 1972 their IR Simulator Instructor. He estate agent business to Halifax by Graham Webb and it took the was an ex British Eagle Captain Building Society. editor another 32 years to obtain flying Viscount and Britannia this treasured copy, such was aircraft. 1992 saw Peter back in the UK and Graham’s protective nature of his he would buy yet another aircraft, a artistic skill Peter describes how George was Stampe, which he operated out of unimpressed by pilots trying to get Redhill. He joined the Stampe their IMC or Instrument Rating Club and would fly to Antwerp and how disgusted he was with once a year for their annual rallye their attempts. Mumbling aloud. whereupon, all entrants were entertained until most were unable He says we all learned from these to stand. They would be woken in outbursts, George not only taught the morning for an early breakfast Roy Saunders (pig) was a character us respect, he improved our ability followed by a briefing of how they larger than life. Roy possessed a to fly by instruments, becoming would all form up and fly in repertoire of jokes and mimicry mellowed with time and a true Icon formation above Antwerp. Most that was never ending. at Biggin Hill, a lovely man. hadn’t flown in formation before and had no knowledge of the other Back to our current Personality Peter’s next aircraft would be a pilot’s abilities. flying a military jet an L29 Delfin, Beech Baron 55, in which he flew with Ted Girdler ex RAF Red around Europe with friends. Arrow who ran a flying school at Manston, East Kent. Whilst enjoying this aircraft he He sold this aircraft and the new would eventually swop it for a Piper Navajo, which had a couple owner crashed it within 3 months. more seats. His next aircraft would be a Peter then bought a share in Rockwell Commander. 114B This restaurant was previously the was Joe Baleika and hailed from ‘Chapla’ is now the ‘Tulsi’. Czechoslovakia as I recall. He was reputed to be the very first pilot on The Head Chef has been in the record to have gone through the kitchen covering these fabulous sound barrier in a piston-engined eating houses for 29 years, and we aircraft. I got the full story from the have been coming here 11 years London Transport Sports Club which says something for the high magazine. It went something like another military jet the L39 quality of the food and the friendly this… Albatross. Peter was checked out in expert service and pleasant décor. Joe was a Spitfire pilot during this aircraft by an ex RAF Harrier the Battle of Britain, and one day Pilot who taught him the ‘the LDH serial continues…….