OCTOBER 2013 N o . 2 0 1
THEGUILDOFAIRPILOTSANDAIRNAVIGATORS Guild Diary October 2013 2 Pilot Aptitude Assessment RAF Cranwell 10 6th General Purposes and Finance Committee Meeting Cobham House 15 4th Education and Training Committee Meeting Cobham House 22 Environment Committee Meeting Cobham House 23 Trophies and Awards Banquet Guildhall 26 Flyer Show Sofitel, Heathrow 29 Benevolent Fund Board of Trustees Meeting Cobham House THE GUILD OF AIR PILOTS AND November 2013 AIR NAVIGATORS 5 4th Technical and Air Safety Committee Meeting Cobham House 8 Silent Change Guildhall PATRON: 9 Lord Mayor's Show His Royal Highness 11 Lord Mayor's Banquet Guildhall The Prince Philip 14 7th General Purposes and Finance Committee Meeting Cobham House Duke of Edinburgh KG KT 14 4th Court Meeting Cutlers' Hall 14 Scholarships Presentation Cutlers' Hall GRAND MASTER: 28 Pilot Apptitude Tests RAF Cranwell His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew Duke of York KG GCVO December 2013 3 5th Education and Training Committee Meeting Cobham House MASTER: 5 New Members' Briefing Cobham House His Honour 13 8th General Purposes and Finance Committee Meeting Cobham House Judge T Owen 13 Guild Carol Service St Michael's Cornhill 13 Christmas Supper The Counting House 20 Guild Closes CLERK: Paul J Tacon BA FCIS January 2014 6 Guild Opens The Guild, founded in 1929, is a Livery 14 5th Technical and Air Safety Committee Meeting Cobham House Company of the City of London. 15 Trophy and Awards Committee Meeting Cobham House (Letters Patent 1956) 21 Benevolent Fund Board of Trustees AGM RAF Club PUBLISHED BY: 22 Environment Committee Meeting Cobham House The Guild of Air Pilots and Air 23 9th General Purposes and Finance Committee Meeting Cobham House Navigators, Cobham House, 9 Warwick 23 5th Court Meeting Cutlers' Hall Court, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5DJ. 23 Court Election Dinner Cutlers' Hall EDITOR: Group Captain T Eeles BA FRAeS February 2014 EMAIL: [email protected] 11 6th Education and Training Committee Meeting Cobham House 13 10th General Purposes and Finance Committee Meeting Cobham House FUNCTION PHOTOGRAPHY: Gerald Sharp Photography View images and order prints on-line. GUILD VISITS PROGRAMME TELEPHONE: 020 8599 5070 Please see the Flyers accompanying this and previous editions of Guild EMAIL: [email protected] News or contact Liveryman David Curgenven at [email protected]. WEBSITE: www.sharpphoto.co.uk These flyers can also be downloaded from the Guild website. PRINTED BY: Printed Solutions Ltd 01494 478870
Except where specifically stated, none of the material in this issue is to be taken as expressing the opinion of the Court of the Guild.
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: The copy deadline for the December 2013 edition of Guild News is 1 November 2013 and should be sent to: The Editor, Cover photo:A Pitts Special, photographed at rest on the ground during an Guild News, Cobham House, 9 Warwick Aerobatic Competition at Headcorn in 2012. Photograph courtesy Liveryman Court, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5DJ. Paul Smiddy, who recently attended a CAA conference on the use of Class G airspace. His report, on page11, will be of great interest to all GA pilots TELEPHONE: 020 7404 4032 FAX NO: 020 7404 4035 EMAIL: [email protected] 2 WEBSITE: www.gapan.org In this edition of Guild News
Page 4 News Round Up Page 6 The Master’s Message The Master Visits North America
Page 13 Guild of Aviation Artists Exhibition Page 14 North American Region - Giant Concrete Arrows Page 15 Guild Gliding Scholarship Page 9 Trophies and Awards Page 16 Sir Sefton Branker’s Private 2012 - 2013 Pilots Scholarship 2013 Page 10 Gazette Page 17 From the Desk of the Director of Aviation Affairs Page 11 CAA Airspace Conference Page 18 Bertie Vigrass - from Page 12 Moth Magnificence Swordfish to Attacker at Woburn
3 Ability and age are no barrier to participation as the courses are set to accommodate a wide range of experience so all Guild members are welcome to take part, as are guests - for whom there is a special prize - and non- racing supporters are particularly welcome. A reduced fee is payable for supporters to cover the off-slope entertainment. A team is a minimum of 3, maximum of 4 with the top 3 times counting towards the team trophy. There is no maximum number of teams a Company may enter. If this whets your appetite for something to GUILD LUNCHEON CLUB AND TYMMS do to support the Guild during the winter LECTURE. The third 2013 meeting of the months please contact Caroline Gough- Guild Luncheon Club took place at the RAF Cooper at [email protected] as she Club on 26th September, when Guild will be co-ordinating the Guild's entry. members and their guests gathered to be Entrants will be responsible for their own entertained after Luncheon by Roger Annett, travel and accommodation arrangements but author of the recently published book the organisers do have an appointed travel 'Borneo Boys' which describes the story of agent who can organise this if you prefer. helicopter pilots in action during the Indonesian Confrontation of 1962 -1966. BOMBER COMMAND CLASP AWARD. Roger Annett served with the RAF from 1959- On 19th March Livery-man John Cox DFC 1967 and has written on campaigns in was presented with the Bomber Command Borneo, Burma, and Afghanistan. Clasp by Prime Minister David Cameron at This highly popular event was followed in No.10 Downing Street. the evening by the annual Sir Frederick That day the Prime Tymms Lecture, given by Group Captain Minister presented the Dominic Toriati, RAF Chinook Force very first awards, newly Commander, the subject being 'The Chinook minted, to some Arctic Force on Operations, A Commander's Convoy survivors in the Perspective'. Thus the day was very much a morning and to twenty CAPTAIN JIM LOVELL USN IS TO BE day for rotary wing operations. four Bomber Command PRESENTED WITH GUILD AWARD OF survivors in the afternoon. Many HONOUR. James Arthur (Jim) Lovell USN, INTER LIVERY SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS. The congratulations to Liveryman John Cox. who headed the crew of Apollo 13 to safety Inter Livery Ski Championships is a great after an in-space explosion will receive the social occasion, held over two days in GUILD VISIT TO DUXFORD FLYING Guild's premier award, joining aircrew across January in the Portes du Soleil resort of LEGENDS. Some thirty Guild members the whole spectrum of aviation at the annual Morzine. The past four Championships have gathered at Duxford on Friday 12 July, in Trophy and Awards Banquet in the Guildhall seen over 400 Liverymen and Freemen from glorious weather, to watch arrivals and on 23rd October. over 40 Livery Companies vie in friendly practice display routines for the Flying Captain Lovell initially served as a US Navy rivalry through Slalom and Giant Slalom Legends Air Display which took place over night fighter pilot and test pilot before being courses for team and individual titles. the following two days. Past Master Cliff accepted as an astronaut for the Gemini It is three years since the Guild entered a Spink, Liveryman John Romain and Upper programme. He flew as pilot on Gemini 7 in team but this year liveryman Caroline Freeman David Ratcliffe all flew a variety of 1965 and was launched again as Command Gough-Cooper upheld Guild honour by warbirds during the display. The Editor, after Pilot on Gemini 12. He is the only man to regaining the position of Ladies' Champion helping prepare the marquee, gave have flown to the Moon twice, but not and next year a new trophy for the best conducted tours of the Imperial War landed on it. He orbitted the Moon in Apollo ladies' team is there to be raced for. So for all Museum's Buccaneer, which features in his 8, helping pave the way for Neil Armstrong's skiing ladies out there and up for a challenge, log book. Other Guild members present on first steps and as Commander of Apollo 13 the gauntlet is down! duty as members of the Flying Control his coolness under pressure gave us the In addition there are prizes for the fastest Committee included Past Master Rick immortal phrase known the world over, overall team, the fastest Court team, the Peacock-Edwards and Upper Freeman Alan “Houston, we have a problem”. fastest team with 200 years' skiing Lockwood. The Apollo 13 spacecraft had lifted off on experience (age is positively encouraged!) April 11th 1970 to land Captain Lovell and and the Actuaries Handicap Cup as well as A Hurricane taxis out for a pre Air Show prizes for individual performance for ladies, practice at Duxford Fred Haise on the Moon, with Jack Swigert to Masters and in the men's young, mid and pilot the service module. An oxygen tank veteran age groups. explosion two days later crippled the The event will take place in Morzine on spacecraft 200,000 miles away from earth, 24th/25th January 2014. The format is a threatening to maroon the three men in parallel slalom on the Friday evening under space, far beyond the help of any human floodlights followed by a Giant Slalom on agency. Lovell and his crew, improvising Saturday morning with the Championship under conditions of extreme hardship and dinner and prizes on Saturday evening. The pressure, brought Apollo 13 home safely, entry fee is yet to be confirmed but will be in with Captain Lovell adjusting course by the order of £125, which includes both races, manually firing the lunar module's thrusters vin chaud during the slalom racing, an après and engine, using his watch for timing. ski reception after the Friday evening race, A complete list of all Trophy and Awards the Saturday evening dinner plus a donation recipients is on page 9 of this issue. to the Lord Mayor's Appeal. 4 The Catalina at Oban The Catalina attracted much local interest
THE ROUND BRITAIN CATALINA AT OBAN. The crew examine the damaged landing gear Freeman Jeff Boyling and the Catalina flying boat arrived on schedule at Oban on Thursday 22nd August, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the attempt by Harry Hawker to circumnavigate Great Britain in a Sopwith Waterplane. There was great local interest in the aircraft, which unfortunately went unserviceable after a local flight on Friday 23rd when a bolt in the starboard landing gear sheared. This required an engineer to travel from Duxford to Oban, bringing a replacement bolt and the inevitable paperwork, to rectify the fault. This meant driving for 10 hours on crowded roads on a Friday afternoon prior to a Bank Holiday - not a welcome prospect ! Nevertheless the fault was fixed and the aircraft departed onwards next day on schedule. A magnificent effort by all concerned. The Editor hopes to have a description of the whole expedition in a future edition of Guild News.
WARTIME SURVIVORS FROM SPITFIRE TO recovery of the Dornier 17 from the DORNIER. A farewell tribute to the elegant Goodwin Sands from one of the RAF VC-10 after 50 years of service and news of Museum team the embryonic Indian Air Force Vintage • Sqn Ldr 'Cat' Thompson will recall both Flight form the programme for the 2013 HAA the civilian and RAF service history of Symposium at the RAF Museum, Hendon Saturday 16th November 2013. perhaps Britain's most beautiful airliner, the VC-10. With first-hand knowledge on The Historic Aircraft Association hosts an the subject matter Cat will provide a Annual Symposium for aviation enthusiasts, fascinating insight in to the operation of engineers and pilots to meet and to learn this classic aircraft in its final - 50th - year from display pilots, restorers and fellow of flying. enthusiasts. The Symposium has become noted for its • Mike Edwards will provide an insight into spectacular line-up of speakers. These have the embryonic Indian Air Force Vintage included John Moffat, the last survivor of the Flight and how it has come together in Swordfish pilots to attack Bismarck, Tony today's aviation world. Mike has been Wg Cdr Kenneth Wallis MBE Iveson, former Battle of Britain pilot and instrumental in assisting the Indian Air subsequently with 617 Squadron; Captain Force in establishing their Vintage Flight, 16th April 1916 – 1st September 2013 Eric "Winkle" Brown, perhaps Britain's selecting the aircraft and pursuing their Wg Cdr Kenneth Wallis MBE, DEng (hc), CEng, greatest living aviator and last year Martin restoration, some to flying condition. FRAeS, FSETP, PhD (hc), RAF (Ret'd); the man Withers, the current Vulcan display pilot and • One of the event's main sponsors, Cranfield who created and flew the gyrocopters used in of course the Captain of the Vulcan that Aerospace, will present a kaleidoscope of the James Bond movie “You Only Live Twice” completed the famed 'Black Buck' raid on the Falklands. images from their hangars in the 50s and in addition to a distinguished Royal Air Force 60s - some truly historic aircraft many of This year's line-up of speakers at the Historic and engineering career, sadly passed away on which have survived to grace our skies Aircraft Association Annual Symposium at today. Sunday 1st September. He was in his 97th year. the RAF Museum, Hendon on Saturday 16th Last year he received the Guild Award of November is no exception and continues this • There will be a tribute to the late Ken Honour, one of the world’s premier accolades, long tradition. Wallis, who was to have been the headline from the Guild in acknowledgment of an The confirmed programme; speaker for this year's Symposium. extraordinary life in aviation. • Sqn Ldr Dunc Mason and Chief Technician Tickets for this fascinating day of rich Paul Blackah of the Battle of Britain aviation insight and history, cost only £20 for Speaking in tribute, The Master said: “Wg Cdr Memorial Flight will provide an account of HAA members or £25 for non-members. Wallis will be remembered for his ingenuity, the restoration and return to flight of the For more information go to the HAA energy and perseverance over a lifelong aircraft that has most recently joined the website www.haa-uk.aero or email our involvement in aviation, and for his charming Flight, Spitfire LFXV TE311 Membership Secretary, Wendy Hinchcliffe personality.” • A first hand report on the successful [email protected] 5 The Master’s Message HIS HONOUR JUDGE T W OWEN
units, airlines and manufacturers as well as n my June Message, I reported that, in the principal aviation organisations in both accordance with the unanimous wish of countries. Ithe Court, I had written to the Lord Mayor Maria and I were accompanied throughout by inviting the Court of Aldermen to support our David Jurkowski, Chairman of the Region, Petition to the Privy Council for a Royal who not only kept me on schedule with Charter in the name 'The Honourable military precision but was also a delightful Company of Air Pilots'. travelling companion and, with his wife I am now very pleased to tell you that on the Susan, a charming host at their lakeside 10th September 2013 the Court of Aldermen home near Ottawa. standards and processes for the benefit of the agreed to support our Petition. This visit was productive as well as enjoyable industry worldwide and to contribute to the I won't tempt fate by presuming that our and would not have been the success it formulation of ICAO provisions. Petition will be successful but we are proved to be but for advance planning by The Court has already approved taking up cautiously optimistic. As you are aware, Her David with the assistance of John Burley and ICAO's suggestion and I have asked the DAA Majesty graciously approved a proposal made Jonathan Dugdale in Canada, and Kent to liaise with the Chairman of our Education jointly by our Patron and Grand Master that Johnson assisted by John Cox and Bill Pinney & Training Committee to form a working we should become an Honourable Company in the United States. group specifically to contribute to this and, in anticipation of our Petition, Her David has writen a report about the primary initiative. That leads me to a request: Majesty's view has been conveyed to the aspects of the visit, but there has since been Whether or not you currently serve on one of Clerk to the Privy Council. a development which I am very pleased to our technical committees, please consider If we are successful, we shall hold a special disclose. volunteering to help. banquet in February or March to celebrate One of the topics I discussed with Mr • Please don't be deterred by not being able such a great honour being bestowed upon us. Raymond Benjamin, Secretary General of to attend meetings in London. In this Our Regional Committees are one of the ICAO, was the potential for the Guild's electronic age, much can be achieved by strengths of the Guild and, in August, I had expertise to be utilised. Since that meeting, I email. the pleasure of visiting our North America have received a letter from the Chief of • Please don't leave it to others to volunteer. Region, beginning in the Pacific Northwest ICAO's Flight Operations Section suggesting The Guild needs your expertise. and ending in Washington DC two weeks that the Guild should participate in the newly later. formed International Pilot Training If you would like to discuss this or any other Consortium. topic, I welcome hearing from you. My role I was delighted to have the opportunity to as Master is to serve you. meet many of our members, to promote the The objective of the IPTC is to work together name and fame of the Guild, and to discuss a as an aviation community to develop My very best wishes, wherever in the world wide range of current aviation issues with international agreement on a common set of you may be reading this message. commercial and military pilots, affiliated pilot training, instruction and evaluation The Master Visits North America LIVERYMAN DAVID JURKOWSKI
Accompanied by David Jurkowski, BOEING is Honour Judge Owen covered a Chairman of the Region, the Master Starting in Seattle, the Master visited the lot of territory during his two week connected with military, commercial and Boeing Everett Factory where he presented visit to the North America Region business aviation operators and just about the Master's North American Trophy 2012, H all the top aviation regulatory and safety starting in the Pacific Northwest, through awarded by the IPM to Boeing's Training seven destinations across Canada, and focused bodies in North America. Systems and Government Services division ending up in Washington DC. The Master made significant inroads with for its meritorious contribution to aircrew each of the regulatory bodies he met: and aviation maintenance training Master and Boeing test pilot Paul Newton Transport Canada, Transportation Safety worldwide. Board of Canada, Canadian Business He was hosted by GAPAN member and Aviation Association and, notably, ICAO in Boeing Test Pilot Paul Newton and enjoyed a Canada; and the FAA, National VIP tour of the largest building in the world Transportation Safety Board, Flight Safety by volume - home to the 747, 767, 777 and Foundation and National Business Aviation 787 Dreamliner production lines. Association in the United States. He met many Region members and took the VANCOUVER opportunity to encourage prospective members to join - including recruiting Lt- The Master's introduction to British Gen Yvan Blondin, Commander of the Royal Columbia began at a favorite haunt of pilots, Canadian Air Force! the Flying Beaver Grill adjacent to Vancouver International, where we And, not surprisingly, he managed to do discussed the next two weeks' busy some flying - logging an hour at the controls schedule - with regular pauses while we of a Sea King helicopter with some watched seaplanes arriving and departing on additional time in the right seats of a Cessna the Fraser River. 172, a Turbo Otter on floats and a Citation.
6 The next day, the Master presented an Our flights to and from Vancouver Island, Affiliation Certificate to 443 Maritime courtesy of Liveryman Peter Evans, Helicopter Squadron RCAF at their home President of Harbour Air Seaplanes, allowed base on Vancouver Island. the Master to experience the right seat of a DHC-3 Turbine Single Otter on floats, although this time as an observer. The Master discussed flight safety and training matters and the work of the Guild with Peter and Harbour Air pilots. The Cumberbatch Trophy, awarded last year in recognition of HA's outstanding contribution to air safety, was proudly displayed at their Flying Conair's Citation terminal in Vancouver Harbour. An invitation to make a keynote speech at A visit to Liveryman Barry Marsden's Conair Abbotsford Aerospace Defence & Security Group, the largest air tanker operator in the Expo gave the Master a further opportunity world, gave the Master an opportunity to to promote the Guild, during which he learn about aerial firefighting. Conair uses announced the 2013 Prince Philip Helicopter Presentation to Lt Col Stephen Maude, some 55 aircraft of various types to fight Rescue Award to the crew of 103 Search and Commanding Officer forest fires including the Convair 580, Conair Rescue Squadron RCAF. After observing a low level training sortie Firecat, Douglas DC-6 and Lockheed Electra Taking a rare 'afternoon off', the Master from the rear door of a CH-124 Sea King and is in the process of converting the Avro went mountain flying with Liveryman helicopter, the Master was invited to log an RJ85, a derivative of the BAe-146, for Jonathan Dugdale in Canada's Cascade hour at the controls under the supervision of airtanker operations. Mountains. Major Barry Leonard - culminating in an With other dignitaries, the Master took part approach to a hover over a confined area in the opening ceremony of the Abbotsford helipad - before returning to base where he International Airshow, after which the spoke to the assembled Squadron about the Master and his Lady spent the day with work of the Guild. members of the NA Region and met the Many thanks to Maj Leonard, Capt Joshua RCAF Snowbirds Demonstration Team, an Cleary (Co-Pilot) and Sgt Mark Douglas Affiliated Unit, who gave a magnificent (Acoustic Sensor Operator) for giving us display. such an interesting and enjoyable flight. Testing the RJ85 water-drop
Sea King (Top to Bottom) Low level over the After a tour of Conair's home base at beautiful Gulf Islands Abbotsford Airport, we flew to Kamloops in BC's interior to visit the Provincial Air The Master and Liveryman David Jurkowski Tanker Centre, an impressive and efficient The Master at the controls military-like command and control centre with excellent situational awareness of what's happening across the Canada and US fire season scene.
Lt Col Christopher England, Snowbirds CO
TORONTO The Master was hosted in Toronto by Ed Davidson, Porter Airlines Vice President Flight Operations and a member of the North America Executive Committee. Currently Ray Horton (Ops Director), the Master and flying Bombardier Q400 aircraft, Porter Liverymen John Burley and David Jurkowski continues to expand and has ordered up to 30 of the new Bombardier CS-100 aircraft which will reach well into the southern US from its Billy Bishop City Airport located on an island in Toronto Harbour.
OTTAWA The Master had productive meetings with Martin Eley, Director-General Civil Aviation, Transport Canada and with the Transportation Safety Board in Ottawa. Mr Convair 580 airtanker and Aero Commander Eley welcomed any submissions GAPAN 690 'bird-dog' at Kamloops might wish to make in relation to flight safety. Having enjoyed the luxury of Conair's The TSB provided three Board members, the Citation on the outbound flight, the lure of Chief Operating Officer, Director of the Air an available right seat proved too tempting Investigations Branch and 12 Air for the Master who joined Chief Pilot Investigators to meet the Master. A very Andrew Robertson for the return flight. interesting discussion concluded in
7 agreement that, despite the many benefits of safety benefits in harmonising global were in need of urgent resolution: the increasing automation, it is vital that flight standards in several spheres of aviation. She growing imbalance between increasingly crews maintain their hands-on visual and agreed with the Master that the inevitable reliable technologies and human proficiency, instrument flying proficiency so that they integration of manned and unmanned flight the efficacy of current pilot training have the experience and confidence to deal in the relatively near future provides just programs, and the inevitable insertion of with unusual situations. such an opportunity. The FAA welcomed any Unmanned Aerial Systems into unsegregated A meeting with Stephen Quick, Director- papers GAPAN might wish to submit on that airspace. General of the Canadian Aviation and Space and other issues. On the first point, it is apparent that excessive Museum, resulted in a generous offer for reliance on highly reliable but complex GAPAN to use the museum's facilities for aircraft systems, coupled with significantly meetings/conferences in Ottawa. decreased opportunity for hands on flying has precipitated a number of fatal accidents. MONTREAL While pilots in some countries cut their teeth on military or bush flying, for example, such The Master had a very productive meeting at opportunities to hand fly and develop ICAO with Raymond Benjamin, Secretary- airmanship skills simply do not exist for the General, who was accompanied by Vincent large majority of budding commercial pilots Galotti (Deputy Director, Safety in many parts of the world. Exacerbating this Standardisation) and Mitchell Fox (Chief, situation, the policies of many commercial Flight Operations Section). operators preclude hand flying and instead, The Secretary-General invited the Master to mandate autopilot flight immediately after tell him about the role of the Guild. He was takeoff through almost all of the remaining interested to learn of its expertise and its flight. international dimensions. Discussion of The Master meeting with Deborah Hersman of This worrying situation flows directly into the various flight safety issues concluded in an the NTSB second point on how best to train pilots and invitation to submit papers on flight safety Deborah Hersman was appointed to the to mandate more hands on flying in the matters and a suggestion that the Guild might board of the NTSB by President Bush in 2004 commercial aviation realm. Seized with this play a role in the newly formed International and made Chairman by President Obama in problem, ICAO, Transport Canada, the FAA Pilot Training Consortium. (Editor's Note: 2009. She is currently 'Acting Chairman', and FSF are contemplating enduring policies The Guild has since received a formal pending widely expected U.S. Senate supporting training solutions to overcome invitation from ICAO. See Master's Message.) confirmation of the President's nomination this growing problem. A corollary to the pilot The Master toured Bombardier's Montreal for her third term as Chairman. training problem is the looming shortage of factory and presented the Master's North U.S. commercial aviation system is pilots worldwide. Not only must new ways American Award for its leadership in global experiencing an unprecedented level of safety be found to train pilots on current systems, Safety Management Systems at a ceremony but Ms Hersman is not complacent. She but also, pilot training capacity must be held at its Montreal headquarters. shared concerns expressed by the Master increased in an effort to compensate to the about the risks as well as the benefits of degree possible the pilot community over the increased automation, the reduced near and medium term. opportunity for hand-flying, the need for pilot Finally, the UAS world is rapidly growing and training to adapt accordingly, pilot fatigue, moving towards their integration into and fire risks. unsegregated airspace around the world. Captain Kevin Hiatt, President and CEO of Such issues as unmanned vehicle “pilot” the FSF and Douglas Carr, V-P Safety, qualification, situational awareness, system Security & Operations of the NBAA both reliability, establishing common policies welcomed a closer liaison with GAPAN. across national regulatory regimes and a host The Master and his Lady met several of other prickly matters are in need of swift, members over an enjoyable dinner in agreed resolution. Washington which gave him an opportunity The Master's whirlwind tour of the North to hear their views about the direction the American region resulted in excellent Region should take to increase GAPAN's exposure to the merits of the Guild as an influence in North America. impressive and relevant repository of He concluded his visit with a personal guided expertise in aviation matters and highly useful discussions with some of the world's Bombardier Presentation tour of the National Air & Space Museum's most prominent regulatory bodies. To this Francois Caza (V-P Engineering and Chief Udvar-Hazy Center, courtesy of Liveryman end, all bodies were at one in agreeing the Engineer), the Master, Stephen Orr Bill Pinney who is a volunteer docent at the need to keep in close contact with the Guild (V-P Quality and Safety) office, Center. on safety of flight issues. Hélène Gagnon (V-P Public Affairs) In addition to raising the profile and mission of the GAPAN amongst all offices visited, the Master discussed such multifarious subjects WASHINGTON, DC as upset recovery training, the prohibitive In Washington, we were joined by Liverymen cost of training, variations in legal punitive John Cox (NA Executive Committee) and Bill measures for those convicted of flashing Pinney. We met with the FAA, the National cockpits with handheld laser pointing Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Flight devices, controlled flight into terrain and in- Safety Foundation (FSF) and National flight and post-crash fires. Business Aviation Association (NBAA). Of particular note, a clear and common Julie Oettinger, Administrator for Policy and understanding of a number of evolving issues International Affairs at the FAA, shares were evident, the three top priorities of which GAPAN's view that there are clear flight
8 Trophies and Awards 2012-2013
The John Landymore Trophy The Cumberbatch Trophy he following are the awards Awarded to the outstanding candidate of Awarded to an individual, a team, group approved by the Court of the Guild that year for a Guild PPL Scholarship. for 2012 - 2013. The recipients will or organisation for an outstanding T contribution to air safety, whether by the be formally presented with their awards at the Guild's Trophies and Awards Banquet FLIGHT OPERATIONS development of techniques contributing to to be held at Guildhall, London, on The Sir Barnes Wallis Medal safer flight, by improvements in ground Wednesday 23rd October. Awarded in recognition of an exceptional equipment and services or by and innovative contribution to aviation. improvements in aircraft and component design. LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION TO THE Mr Nicholas Lappos AEROSPACE INDUSTRY Not Awarded The Guild Award of Honour The Grand Master's Medal Awarded to an individual who has made Awarded to a pilot under the age of 30 for FOR OUTSTANDING COURAGE OR an outstanding lifetime contribution to outstanding achievement and endeavour DEVOTION TO DUTY IN THE AIR aviation. in any field of flying activity. The Grand Master's Commendation Captain Jim Lovell USN Not awarded Awarded at the discretion of the Grand Master for an act of valour or outstanding FLIGHT TEST The Master's Commendation services in the air. The Derry and Richards Memorial Medal Awarded at the discretion of the Master for Not Awarded Awarded to a test pilot who has made an commendable achievement in any sector outstanding contribution in advancing the of aviation. art and science of aviation. The British Helicopter Team The Hugh Gordon-Burge Peter Wilson, BAe Systems Memorial Award The Brackley Memorial Trophy Awarded to a member or members of a TRAINING Awarded to an individual, a complete crew whose outstanding behaviour and action contributed to the saving of their The Sir Alan Cobham Memorial Award aircraft crew, or an organisation, for an act or acts of outstanding flying skill, which aircraft or passengers. Awarded to the most meritorious student have contributed to the operational pilot graduating from a college or school Lieutenant Bryan Peterson USN development of air transport or transport of civil or military aviation and nominated aircraft or new techniques in air transport by the Principal or Commanding Officer. flying. The Prince Philip Helicopter Particular consideration will be given to Rescue Award the candidate's progress during the Not Awarded course, including qualities of character, Awarded to an individual member of a leadership, involvement in sport, The Johnston Memorial Trophy helicopter crew, a complete crew or the crews of multiple helicopters, for an act of recreation and voluntary service, in Awarded to an individual, a complete addition to flying and academic aircraft crew, or an organisation, for an outstanding courage or devotion to duty in achievement. outstanding performance of airmanship, the course of land or sea Search and Ms Myriam Gardeazabal., for the operation of airborne systems or Rescue operations. Graduate, Flight Training Europe for the development of air navigation 103 Squadron SAR RCAF Rescue 912 techniques and equipment. The CFS Guild Trophy Squadron Leader Simon Mellor, RAF The Guild Award for Gallantry A periodic award to an individual, group Awarded to an individual, or crew of an or organisation that, in the opinion of the The Guild Sword of Honour aircraft, in any field of aviation for an Court of the Guild and with the Awarded for an outstanding contribution outstanding act of gallantry. It is intended endorsement of the Central Flying School, to any sector of General Aviation (all has made an outstanding contribution elements of Civil Aviation other than Air that this should be awarded on rare toward the achievement of excellence in Transport), whether in the air or on the occasions for any act considered worthy of the delivery of military flying training or ground. the award as soon as the facts of the event instructional standards. Mr Peter Moxham are clear. Awarded at the discretion of the RAF Search and Rescue Training Unit Master and on the advice of the Trophies and Awards Committee. SAFETY AND SURVIVAL Not Awarded The Pike Trophy The Sir James Martin Award Awarded to an individual who has made Awarded to an individual, a group, team an outstanding contribution to the or organisation, which has made an GUILD ONLY maintenance of high standards of civil outstanding, original and practical The Guild Award of Merit flying instruction and safety, taking into contribution leading to the safer operation account working conditions and of aircraft or the survival of aircrew or Awarded for meritorious service to the opportunities. passengers. Guild. Mr Andy Dunstan, CAE Oxford Not Awarded Not Awarded
9 REGIONAL AWARDS The Jean Batten Memorial Award THE MASTER'S AWARDS The Grand Master's Australian Medal Awarded in memory of the late Liveryman The Master's Medal Awarded to an individual, a group or Miss Jean Batten, to recognise an Awarded to any person in aviation, at any organisation involved in any branch of outstanding individual contribution to time, for an act or other achievement in aviation in the Australian Region or to New Zealand aviation. Australian nationals abroad, who or which aviation considered worthy of the Medal, Mr Lewis John Jenkins has made a meritorious contribution to as soon as the facts of the event are clear. any aviation activity, either by displaying This is intended to be an immediate technical excellence or by the development AVIATION MEDIA award, made at the discretion of the of a procedure or operational technique of Master and on the advice of the Trophies an outstanding nature. The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators Award for Aviation and Awards Committee. Emergency Management Queensland Lieutenant Commander Helicopter Rescue Journalism. Awarded to an individual journalist, Vincent Jansen USCG The Australian Bi-Centennial Award publication or organisation for an Sergeant Rachael Robinson RAF outstanding contribution to the promotion Awarded as an ongoing commemoration of the Australian Bi-Centenary, to recognise or public awareness of aviation in general an outstanding individual contribution to or of any important aspect of aviation Australian aviation. activity. Mr Chris Sperou Mr Pat Malone
Gazette APPROVED BY THE COURT ON 12 SEPTEMBER 2013
ADMISSIONS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COURT DECEASED As Upper Freeman 12 September 2013 Ian CORNELL
Captain Michael Richard CRAFT Frederick GAZE (AUS) REGRADE Captain Brian John CROFT (NA) Robert FULTON To Livery John Patrick DURNAN Esq Gordon MACRAE (AUS) Adriano CORVIZZI Captain Adrian Francis IRWIN BSc(Eng) Peter TURNER Peter SWAIN Geoffrey Alan LEDGER BAvn DSC AM (AUS) Basil Hugh VRACAS Colonel Michael James MIXON USAF (retd) RESIGNATIONS (NA) To Upper Freeman Sonny BLINKINSOP (NA) Guy Donald STORY Esq Benjamin Steven Dewey CHAPMAN Michael BRUCE Captain David John TRIBE Matthew CASH To Freeman Daniel John BURMAN Michael DARKE As Freeman Iain James ELLIOT John EAGLES Richard Jeremy James BROWN Esq BA MBCS Susan Mary INGLE Alan FOSTER David Anthony JELLY Esq Luke Bradley ROBERTS Brian HANNAN (AUS) Alexander Juri KIRICZENKO (AUS) Daniel Michael TYE Michael HARWOOD Christopher Peter SPEROU Esq (AUS) William Andrew James WILLIS Walter JOHANSON (AUS) Paul TRETHEWEY Esq AFM John McCORMICK (AUS) John TRIBE Esq BSc(Eng) REINSTATEMENT To Upper Freeman Paul Anthony TYRRELL Esq BA (AUS) Brian MILTON Captain Charles Edward COOK Dominic PEARSON
As Associate Robert Clive RICKWOOD ACCEPTANCE OF NOMINATED ADMISSION Gerard STREET (AUS) Paul Alfred James HURST Esq Freeman James SHRAGER Esq BA(Hons) MA ACA Leslie KNIGHT (NA) John WAGSTAFF Benjamin James WARD Esq BA(Hons) John SESSIONS (NA) Catherine WOODS
10 CAA Airspace Conference LIVERYMAN PAUL SMIDDY
direct line of comms between the top levels of But to possibly the most contentious ack in mid-July the CAA hosted a Government and the cockpit of a Typhoon on presentation - Rob Legg, ex RN Sea King pilot, conference at the RAeS to bring CAP!); the final tally was only 13 is now a training captain at Easyjet, and together all interested parties to infringements. He then gave a very useful talked of his airline's interaction with Class G. B taste of how the RAF's usage of British discuss the future of Class G airspace as part (Flybe, a more intensive user of Class G, had of its Future Airspace Strategy (FAS). It was airspace will evolve. The RAF's hours flown pulled out at the last minute). EZY now led by the Chief Executive, Andrew Haines, in UK airspace annually have declined from operates from 20 European bases, but most of and its Director of Safety and Airspace 58,000 at the beginning of the Millennium to its operations outside CAS are in the UK. It Regulation, Mark Swann. The CAA is to be less than 30,000 in 2012; despite the largely has five UK bases which lack the protection of applauded for its initiative creating this budget-enforced shift to synthetic training a control zone: Inverness, Southend, forum, and indeed for rationalising those (with an ultimate intended 50/50 split), the Newquay, Belfast and Newcastle. The first parts of its empire that deal with GA into post Afghanistan era will see UK hours flown three, and the enroute section between the what is now called the Safety & Airspace bounce back by 1,000 or more. He pointed last two, offer “an increased risk of airborne Regulation Group (SARG). out that although the Typhoon spends less conflict”. than 5% of its time in the main GA Now I am well aware that the issue of Class G playground of under 2,000' (and Lightning II He reported that his pilots live in a “bubble” - airspace polarises opinion (like few others) will similarly ascend to the flight levels as a known traffic environment, inside CAS - between the various constituencies that soon as possible), many other types do - and they like their bubbles. Further, the compose the Guild's membership. I make no underlining that the oil worker rescue in cockpits of Easyjet's A319 and A320 fleet are apologies for reporting on proceedings from a Libya was effected by C130s at low level. not designed for the see & avoid flying personal perspective, that of a GA Similarly Army rotary assets will also spend necessary in Class G; pilots tend to interact practitioner. more time in the UK amongst the trees. with their Flight Management Systems rather than looking outside. Moreover (and this is First up was Air Marshal Sir John Allison - If there was an omission in his presentation, my personal view) many of the young pilots with a logbook that includes all significant it was that Atha completely side-stepped the now on the flight decks of low cost airlines fast jets in the RAF stable up to his retirement issue of the use of RPAS (Remotely Piloted Air have not had years of GA experience, as in 1999, and plenty of warbirds and permit Systems) in open airspace, saying it was “a aircraft since then, he is extremely well civil lead in the UK” ! Given that the current might have been the case a decade ago. They qualified to give an informed view. A CAS is such an enthusiastic proponent of have come through fast track training at a vociferous and very knowledgeable RPAS, this seemed a strange stance. FTO, and spent a lot of time in sims. They feel proponent of the GA lobby, he pointed out uneasy in class G. Finally he reinforced that the RAF was ever that GA contributes £1.4bn to the national sensitive to the risk of mid-air collisions He stressed how Easyjet evaluates the safety economy. He highlighted that, within the (unsurprisingly given the recent record). He case for potential new routes. Here a broad church that is GA, business aviation is confirmed that the Tornado fleet will have a dichotomy was exposed by one questioner: if little affected by the proposed changes, whilst TCAS system by Autumn 2014, and the Easyjet has concluded that say operations microlighters for example, will on the other improvement of the technology of other fleets from Southend would be safe (in Class G), hand potentially suffer a lot - “what hope has is in hand. Alongside this, regional airspace why is it now lobbying for Class D? Southend non-commercial aviation got against such working groups have been established to appeared to be an understandable vested interests?” He sits on FASOG (the CAA improve an understanding of the RAF's touchstone for the audience's grievances. sub-group working on the Class G re-design), neighbours' behaviours. From another viewpoint, “why are the low and has been arguing vehemently that cost airlines operating in see-and-avoid clothing the changes in a safety reason is Martin Robinson, the CEO of AOPA UK was another speaker. Although he did say “Class G airspace if they can't see and avoid?” It unrealistic, since GA operates to different (i.e. seemed that Easyjet would fully support any lower) levels of acceptable risk than does is synonymous with GA's rights and freedom to fly”, he seemed happy to require GA pilots measures that created a totally transponding Commercial Air Transport. Allison is a traffic environment in its area of operations. pragmatist, and is therefore depressed about to be forced to acquire additional technology in order to enjoy it. “The regulatory process the way in which the lighter end of GA is One glimmer of light emerged from the may take five years, so by the time new being side-lined by the CAA's moves. He has extensive Q&A sessions: NATS is investigating equipment is certified, technology will have set himself against the presumption behind the development (and subsidy) of a moved on. So let's be more innovative in FAS/NATMAC group that it should seek lightweight portable ADS-B transceiver. developing future solutions.” This might have “manageable impacts on non-commercial My overall impression from the conference confirmed an impression that AOPA is most aviation”. This “just shows the arrogance, self- was that GA will struggle to influence the aligned with that section of GA which flies confidence, the mindset, the feeling of CAA against the weightier interests of CAT. Cirrus types on IFR trips around Europe. He invulnerability that lies with the vested What continually escapes the CAA is that espoused iPads for aviation use, and interests that assisted in the writing of those every incremental layer of regulation, every advocated more GPS approaches and the use words.” change (which is almost invariably inimical of EGNOS. FASOG had talked about reducing Class G to to GA) reduces safety. The simple reason is Craig Spence, of IAOPA, gave a snappy US “safari parks” for GA. Whilst GA pilots might that it all adds costs for the private pilot. Rare presentation, describing the comparatively brush off the inference that they are uncaged is the man that has an infinite budget for his Elysian fields in which he works. He aviation. Every regulatory change has to be animals, they will revolt against the highlighted that the FAA is taking a much suggestion that Class G should not be paid for from his relatively inflexible budget - more pragmatic approach to GPS approaches, so he flies less. He is less current when he contiguous around our island! “GA must have for example, than is the case in Europe. He flies - which means he is less safe. a continuous area, not just isolated pockets.” also made the audience envious in stressing AVM Stu Atha offered the military perspective how in the US, planning is always made to In Class G the lighter end of GA looks with a polished presentation. Firstly he ensure GA has appropriate access to larger destined to suffer the most. Sir John Allison patted himself on the back regarding the airports. He pointed out that over- concluded that we are in “a fight for survival success of the Olympics exclusion zone classification of airspace merely ends with here with little room for compromise”. He (where he pointed out there was an unusually controller overload. wins my vote! 11 Moth Magnificence at Woburn DE HAVILLAND MOTH CLUB INTERNATIONAL MOTH RALLY LIVERYMAN STEPHEN SLATER Netherlands, which despite the vagaries of lustery winds and the threat of rain air turbulence maintained an impeccable showers didn’t deter arrivals by formation of a Piper Cub and two Tiger either road or air, as the de Havilland Moths. The team’s title was actually a B misnomer, as the display was led by a lady Moth Club’s return to Woburn Abbey and Park proved a success with pilots and public pilot; Dr. Kirsten Schugard, pre-war Rover 12 chassis, winning the alike. The 28th International Moth Rally Light relief was added by a new twist to Bonhams Trophy for the motor car best attracted visitors from as far afield as the “Captain Neville’s” Flying Circus, who summing up the “Spirit of the Event”. The United States, Canada, Australia and New celebrated England’s victory in the Ashes award was received from Henrietta, Duchess Zealand, as well as Belgium, France, tournament by staging a cricket match on of Bedford by Sharon Langford of Harwell in Germany, Netherlands, Iceland, Switzerland, Woburn’s grass runway, with the balls being Oxfordshire, whose father bought the car from its first owner in 1959. Scotland and Wales. bowled from low-flying aircraft, to brave Visitors from closer to home ensured a full batsmen Mark Stasiuk and Joe Wright! The equivalent Bonhams Trophy for aircraft spectator area on Sunday, when some of the was won by the 1930 de Havilland Racing Earlier in the day, a little piece of history was 80-plus assembled vintage and classic aircraft Moth G-AAXG, owned by Simon Kidston, made when Henry Russell, Marquess of gave a spirited air show, culminating with the which had been flown into the event from its ever-popular “Tiger 9” display team, Tavistock, son of the event’s hosts the Duke base in Norfolk by New Zealand lady pilot assembling nine Tiger Moths in close and Duchess of Bedford, made a flight as Jan Chisum. passenger in a Tiger Moth. He became the formation. The “Flying Duchess Trophy”, the de fifth generation of the family to fly in a de In addition to types celebrating 100 years of Havilland Moth Club’s premier Concours Havilland aircraft, a precedent first set by the de Havilland aircraft designs and guest d’Elegance Award, was won by Tiger Moth G- Flying Duchess, Mary, Duchess of Bedford in displays including Peter Holloway’s Fieseler AIXJ, owned by father and son, David and 1928. Storch and the sole surviving Miles Hawk Duncan Green from Pulborough in Sussex. Speed Six, Kings Cup air racer, a new In addition to the aircraft, over a hundred addition to the programme was the “Flying vintage and classic cars attended, with the Dutchmen” from Seppe in the southern unique “Reavell Special Rover” based on a
A general view of the A Tiger Moth bowls a Moth gathering ball in the cricket match
The well known Tiger Moth 9 aircraft formation in action 12 Guild of Aviation Artists Exhibition BAE Systems Aviation Painting of the Year LIVERYMAN DR.JOHN MCADAM “Repatriation” by Christopher Draper
he Guild of Aviation Artists held their Annual Exhibition from 22nd to 28th TJuly at their usual venue, the Mall Galleries, located in the Mall just inside Admiralty Arch. As it transpired, their chosen first day was the Met Office recorded 'Hottest Day of the Year', as I presented myself in my woollen suit [My summer suits don't seem to fit these days] and Guild Tie. A medical doctor present duly announced that the President had agreed that “Gentlemen may remove their ties”, in the name of heat exhaustion. Being the stoic and stupid boy that I am I declined, but did remove my woollen jacket to expose my bright red braces, which were standing sentry like either side of my Guild tie.. An estimated 400+ aviation art connoisseurs joined me on this special opening day and as we admired and marvelled at the works of art, we were well served by charming young ladies with tray after tray bearing wines, Chipmunks. Sir John then approached the swan, '1930s Luxurious Lifestyle' by John water and soft drinks for our consumption lectern and regaled us with tales of his flying Peter Cutts, AGAvA. Phantom fighters as well as his association and relief. It was recorded that 446 aviation Down on the ground I was emotionally with the Shuttleworth Collection before paintings were hung by 140 exhibiting artists. moved by Graham Turner's 'Into the Hands Interestingly, painting No: 446, entitled declaring the Annual Exhibition open. This of Fate', showing the crew of a 59 Squadron “Amelia's First Air Show”, depicting a DH final subject was particularly appropriate to RE8 dressing for a bitterly cold flight over the Moth with Vintage Bentley, was an historic their Guild, as it was where they had held painting by Edmund Miller FGAvA, exhibited their AGM earlier this year and where they WW1 trench lines. at the invitation of the Chairman. plan to hold it in 2014. To paraphrase There were a further 444 paintings for me to Unfortunately this was one of only four Wordsworth, I then “Wandered lonely as a enjoy and the Mall Galleries was hosting the works of art 'Not for Sale.' cloud” viewing painting after painting of Guild of Aviation Artists Exhibition for a Mr Graham Cooke, MBE, GAvA, The aircraft from 'String-bag to Concorde,' totally further week. I would heartily recommend engrossed. I spoke briefly with Guild of Chairman of the Guild of Aviation Artists, all art lovers and especially all members of Aviation Artists' Patron, Air Chief Marshal Sir gave a warm welcome to all the specially the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators to invited guests and thanked all the sponsors Glenn Torpy, on the exhibition. I asked him visit this Art Exhibition next year and for their continued generosity. He also if he had a favourite this year and he agreed hopefully enjoy the visit as much as I thanked the many helpers for their hard work with me that the standard was so high it was and dedication in preparing the venue and difficult to make a judgment - he had so very certainly did. hanging all the 446 works of aviation art. Mr many favourites. All my life I have observed The Guild of Aviation Artists hold their Michael Turner, FGAvA, The Guild President, the birds in the sky and tried to identify and annual exhibition in the Mall Galleries every then introduced Air Chief Marshal Sir John compare each species with their man made year in late July and I can heartily counterpart - aircraft. This came very much Allison, KCB,CBE, RAF (Rtd), who would recommend our members to visit and enjoy, open the Exhibition and gave a short resume to mind when I gazed on paintings no's: 125 just as I do. Additional information on the of Sir John's flying career and reminisced on & 105: both of Sunderland Flying Boats, the their friendship over the years, illustrated former circling over RAF Seletar, Singapore, Guild of Aviation Artists can be freely with amusing personal anecdotes, including by David Ellwood GAvA just like a large obtained by E-mail at [email protected] or the time he himself was learning to fly seagull and the latter of nature's own white visiting their Website: www.gava.org.uk. FlyPast Fellows Award for Excellence “RAF Seletar 1946” Paintings reproduced by kind “Valley Hawks” by Wilf Hardy by David Ellwood permission of Guild of Aviation Artists
13 REGIONS NORTH AMERICA REGION Giant Concrete Arrows That Point Across America UPPER FREEMAN ALAN LOCKWOOD
night flying was just about impossible. The New York, and by 1929 it spanned the very so often, usually in the vast US Postal Service solved the problem with continent uninterrupted, the envy of postal deserts of the USA's southwest, a the world's first ground-based civilian systems worldwide. hiker or backpacker will run across navigation system, a series of lit beacons that Radio and radar are, of course, infinitely less E would extend from New York to San something puzzling: a large concrete arrow, cool than a concrete Yellow Brick Road from as much as seventy feet in length, sitting in Francisco. Every 10 miles pilots would pass a sea to shining sea, but I think we all know the middle of scrub-covered nowhere. What bright yellow concrete arrow. Each arrow how this story ends. New advances in are these giant arrows ? Some kind of would be surmounted by a 51 foot steel tower communication and navigation technology surveying mark ? Landing beacons for flying and lit by a million-candlepower rotating made the big arrows obsolete, and the saucers ? Earth's turn signals ? beacon. A generator shed at the tail of each Commerce Department decommissioned the No, it's the Transcontinental Air Mail Route. arrow powered the beacon. Now mail could beacons in the 1940s. The steel towers were On August 20th, 1920, the United States get from the Atlantic to the Pacific not in a torn down and went to the war effort. opened its first coast-to-coast airmail delivery matter of weeks, but in just 30 hours or so. But the hundreds of arrows remain. Their route, just 60 years after the Pony Express Even the dumbest of air mail pilots, it seems, yellow paint is gone, their concrete cracks a closed up shop. There were no good aviation could follow a series of bright yellow arrows little more with every winter frost, and no- charts in those days, let alone any electronic straight out of a Tex Avery cartoon. By 1924, one crosses their path much, except for nav aids, so pilots had to eyeball their way just a year after Congress funded it, the line coyotes and tumbleweeds. But they're out across the country using landmarks - a skill of giant concrete markers stretched from there. now hardly ever used by aviators. This meant Rock Springs, Wyoming to Cleveland, Ohio. that flying in bad weather was difficult, and The next summer, it reached all the way to
14 Guild Gliding Scholarship (London Gliding Club) HELEN COONEY
glider KEJ. Over the 5 days we brought the perfect launching the glider using the winch. am delighted to report I have completed gliders out of the hangar, cleaned them and It all happens very quickly and maximum my scholarship at the London Gliding towed them to the airfield. The days began concentration is required but it was Club, Dunstable Downs and I am writing with 3 winch launches in the morning, where exhilarating and I enjoyed every second. On I I practiced my handling and coordination of the 4th and 5th day I was launching the to you in order to thank you for awarding me the scholarship and to provide a report of the the glider using the elevators, ailerons and glider without any help from the instructor fantastic opportunity that you and GAPAN rudder to control the direction of the glider. which greatly improved my confidence and have given me. Over the first couple of days my coordination therefore my gliding ability. Another The week was extremely exciting for me as I skills greatly improved however my highlight of the week had to be flying managed to launch every day, totalling 24 instructor was surprised when on day two I inverted! My instructor took control and launches in the week using both aerotows did a spectacular aerobatic left turn by pure looped the glider into the inverted position and the winch. The instructor was excellent accident! During the morning launches I did whereby we flew upside down! The and due to his patience and clear teaching a small amount of thermal soaring, gliding experience was fantastic and has fuelled my methods I was able to launch, fly and land over the nearby towns of Leighton Buzzard passion for flying and gliding further. the glider with relative ease. In addition to and Dunstable. However in the afternoon the The members at the London Gliding Club this, by day 3 I was thermal soaring and thermals were much more prominent the were very welcoming and friendly and spinning which was a fantastic experience. glider was able to thermal at higher knots supported and advised me throughout the Due to the opportunities the scholarship has therefore I was able to glide further and scholarship which was a great help in given me I am now well on the way to gliding higher which allowed me to see more of the improving my gliding technique. solo. beautiful surrounding countryside, increase I was extremely lucky in the 5 days that I my skills in thermal soaring and coordination I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the London took my scholarship as the weather was and to explore the feel of the glider in sink Gliding Club and I am very pleased with how perfect. Warm weather, brilliant sunshine and in thermals. In addition I learnt how to much I have learnt. I will continue to glide and a few cumulus clouds provided thermals fly the glider efficiently in order to achieve and go solo as this scholarship has brought throughout every day. I was amazed at the the maximum distance and height. me very close to achieving this. I have really visibility, especially on day 1 as while gliding One of the main highlights of the week for caught the 'bug' for gliding. Thank you once back to the airfield my instructor and I could me was the winch launching. The power at again for awarding me this scholarship and see London's skyline over 40 miles away! which the glider is pulled into the air is for giving me the opportunity to experience Jordan Goodwin and I were taught by the phenomenal! Over the week I did 19 winch so much in the 5 days; I am very grateful. same instructor Ryan Berry using the ASK21 launches and during this time I was able to
A selection of phots taken by Helen at the London Gliding Club
15 Sir Sefton Branker Private Pilot’s Licence Scholarship 2013 JAMES JOHNSTON
I found that by immersing myself into the The scholarship has given me so much more eing awarded the 2013 Sir Sefton course, I was able to retain a considerable than a PPL; it has given me the opportunity Branker PPL Scholarship has amount of information from previous flights. to meet many like-minded people at varying Bcertainly been a life changing This coupled with being able to reference stages of their flying careers who all share a experience. The opportunity to spend eight aspects of the written exams, which I was common interest of flying, all of whom have weeks of the summer, in an aviation specific taking in conjunction with the flying course, been able to offer me a valuable insight into environment, flying nearly everyday is one all made for a very successful and efficient the world of aviation. that does not come around all that often! learning environment. A few weeks after As my PPL course has come to an end, I now I was absolutely delighted when I got the starting the course, it was time for my look forward to commencing a BSc Air email congratulating me on being awarded instructor to jump out leaving me to eagerly Transport Management degree at one of the coveted PPL scholarships that head out on my first solo, probably the most Loughborough University, where there are GAPAN offer; it definitely took a while to memorable experience of any pilot. sink in! I was placed with the Cotswold Aero plenty of opportunities to get involved with Every flight was designed to build on my Club at Gloucestershire Airport to undertake aviation through numerous flying related previous experiences but each time pushing my training. With three runways, full Air clubs and societies. me a little further. Following my first solo Traffic Control and the fact that the airport is I'd like to take this opportunity to thank was out of circuit operations which led to the busiest general aviation airport in the everyone at the Cotswold Aero Club for their solo airfield rejoins, followed by landaways, United Kingdom, all led to a challenging but expertise in flying training, general which were complemented by solo very rewarding flying experience. The club encouragement and supportiveness. And itself has the prestigious honour of being one landaways and with all the ground school finally, I am extremely grateful and proud of the oldest flying clubs in the United exams passed and my Qualifying Cross that GAPAN awarded me this scholarship as Kingdom and is a very professional Country completed, I found myself gaining it has been the first step towards my operation, with excellent instructors and a embarking on my skills test. Fortunately fleet of modern, well-equipped Robin everything went very smoothly and I am ambition of becoming a commercial airline aircraft. I hope to remain affiliated with the now the proud owner of a Private Pilot's pilot. club in years to come. License.
16 From the desk of the Director of Aviation Affairs LIVERYMAN JOHN TURNER
DAA Activities SKYbrary Trial Since last issue I have met with Andrew SKYbrary www.skybrary.aero/index.php/ Brooke of the Air League, attended an Main_Page is an electronic repository of Industry Round Table session at Department safety knowledge related to air traffic for Transport (DfT) on changes proposed to management and aviation safety in general. the EASA Basic Regulations and Single It is also a portal, a common entry point, that European Sky Phase 2+, collated and enables users to access the safety data made updated the Master on topics that currently available on the websites of various aviation concern our technical committees prior to his organisations - regulators, service providers, tour of North America, attended a PR Group industry. SKYbrary was initiated by and an E&TC meeting and held a new EUROCONTROL in partnership with ICAO, meeting with all the Technical Committee the Flight Safety Foundation, the UK Flight Chairmen. Background activities have Safety Committee, the European Strategic included preparation for the above, cameo Safety Initiative and International Federation has been asked to consider the viability of coordination for future meetings, some of Airworthiness with the aim of developing generating a package to provide mentoring riveting background reading in preparation a comprehensive source of aviation safety and CV guidance to Guild members who are for the DfT Round Table and reviews of CAA, information and making it available to users finding it difficult to secure airline EASA and Airport Commission consultations. worldwide. I recommend a visit to their employment despite having gained the The DfT Round Table was perhaps most website. required commercial qualifications. The notable for BA's request that future The Guild is currently involved in a trial as a meeting were aware that many pilots in this regulations should provide for airlines to be provider of review/commentary for up to 6 position eventually gave up looking for a compensated financially for poor airport or SKYbrary articles each month. At the career in aviation altogether and went on to air navigation services performance, which is beginning of September SKYbrary provided seek alternative careers. This is clearly a perhaps a sign of the times. It also revealed me with 6 documents for the Guild to review difficult area where it would be impossible to a plan to drop 'Safety' from the EASA title, and these were allocated and distributed to find a one-size-fits-all solution and any making it the EAA in line with 'normal' EU the reviewers the same day. Currently, there advice would be dependent on age, stage of nomenclature and uncannily similar their US are only 13 volunteers (including me) from training/career, and target market for counterpart's title. I'm sure that the general amongst the 1300+ UK membership willing employment. Our experience when media will make much of the removal of to carry out reviews. As each document must providing advice at flight training events that Safety from the EU aviation regulator's title in be reviewed by 3 different people, the advice given to individuals varied greatly. due course. volunteers have a been allocated 1 or 2 The topic will continue at the next meeting. Unfortunately, time has not permitted me to papers and asked to complete their reviews in The Instructors Sub-committee continues to analyse the relative flood (100+) of time for me to consolidated responses (or work on a suite of model flying lesson plans responses to my survey sent out to all resolve differences of opinion) prior to up to 'first solo'. These should be completed members and repeated in the last edition of sending a response to SKYbrary by the end of by April 2014, in time to be launched at the Guild News. Time permitting, I hope to have the month. Guild coordination and next Senior Instructors Forum. this available by the next Court. In contrast, correspondence will be primarily by email. Environment Committee the Technical Chairmen Meeting proved so The benefits to SKYbrary are self-evident. With the August stand down, the useful that all asked it be held annually in Assuming the trial is a success, SKYbrary will Environment Committee has not met since future. It provided a chance for the chairmen annotate all documents peer reviewed by last Court. In advance of the next meeting to discuss the structure, terms of reference, Guild members as “Peer Reviewed by The scheduled for October, a smaller gathering is areas of coverage and outputs of our Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators” which planned in September to examine specific technical committees away from the will immediately advertise our standing to a topics for the Committee to address in the pressures of actually running a meeting. We broad section of the aviation community future, with the aim of identifying topics that were also able to examine where we worked throughout the world. Clearly, having more either are likely to be in the public eye or, well and where we did not with the aim of reviewers would help to spread the workload through our promotion, would benefit the investigating where and how we could be and make a successful outcome to the initial cause of the aviation industry. more effective in future, which I'm sure will 6 month trial more likely; volunteers from the be the topic of future News articles. UK and the Regions with backgrounds in all Technical & Air Safety Committee (TASC) Following the August stand down, TASC In July, I offered our assistance to the UK sectors of aviation are welcome and at meets on 10 September when Mark Airports Commission, pointing out that no present we are particularly short of those Greenfield of Ultimate High will present on one on the Commission or its Panel of Expert with knowledge and experience of large Advisors had experience of operating aircraft operations, handling and the controversial topic of Upset Training. commercial aircraft or knowledge of safety of aerodynamics. If you would like to be Other topics will include GPS vulnerability to flight issues. The Commission has now included in the Guild review panel, please jamming, threats from space weather and responded, saying that they rely on the CAA contact the DAA: [email protected] laser attacks and RA2. New business will for such matters when it is necessary. The Education & Training Committee (E&TC) include the Asiana B777 accident and, more Guild's 'Short and Medium Term' input to the E&TC met in July. Cameos included a look at generally, crew response to (and knowledge Commission was reported on the the thought processes and planning behind of) flight deck alerts. Understanding the Commission's website. Some of you may the first flight of Nimrod MRA4 and an fundamentals behind Loss of Control In-flight have noticed that our 'Long Term' input is insight into the facts then available on the (LOC-I) and, perhaps more importantly, the not referenced on their website, despite being circumstances of the Asiana Boeing 777 most effective corrective measures to reduce submitted well in advance of the deadline; I accident and an over-view of 777 AP/AT the likelihood of LOC-I in all types of aviation am investigating this with the Commission's moding which showed that at least one mode will continue to be at the forefront of this administration! did not provided low speed protection. E&TC committee's work. 17 Bertie Vigrass - From Swordfish to Attacker AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER IN NAVAL AVIATION - FIGHTING THE FRENCH IN ONE OF THE WAR'S “HIDDEN” COMBINED OPERATIONS LIVERYMAN PAUL SMIDDY the Hams Hall power station by its resident 2 years young - and still involved in towering cloud, and fly from it on a pre- Naval Aviation! Commander Bertie determined course to the airfield. 9Vigrass OBE VRD , and Liveryman of After that 50 hour course, the choice for the Guild, had an illustrious career in WW2 advanced training was Luton or Canada. and beyond, in which the carrier of that Volunteering for the latter, he joined 27 other name featured large. He participated in some young naval airmen who embarked at interesting and little-known actions, retaining Liverpool with a much larger group of RAF to this day a strong interest and active students for the passage to Halifax. The involvement in flying. supervising RAF officer thought Bertie and For the last 16 years 2002 Bertie has been colleagues were part of the ship's crew, and Controller of Operations of the Naval Gliding consequently gave them no duties. All this Scholarship Course programme of the FAAOA changed when they were rumbled two days Aviation Scholarship Trust. This gives gliding out from Nova Scotia! tuition to solo standard to up to forty young They arrived at Kingston, Ontario: advanced students each year. They also have powered training, as became a pattern through the aircraft experience in light aircraft of the FAA war, was in clapped out types that had far squadron. The Senior Service, strongly from proved themselves on operations, in this supports the programme as it sustains the case the Fairey Battle, only one or two of notion of Naval Aviation in air-minded youth, which had been converted to dual control. but budget constraints prevent direct The instructors were all RAF pilots who had funding. One of Bertie's tasks is therefore to managed to survive the Battle of France. Bertie Vigrass about to fly a Sea Fury raise funds each year from corporate and Some who had been shot down were individual sponsors to enable the scheme to understandably “twitchy”. Taxiing on the first the DSC for his role at Taranto, and later the continue. flight was a challenge, since none of the DSO for other Mediterranean ops. The more course members had encountered foot brakes Two years ago Bertie had a welcome Bertie learned about the details of the Taranto before, and Bertie's instructor had forgotten invitation to RAF Cottesmore for the last mission (when he later joined the Illustrious, to brief him on them! Taranto Night dinner of the Harrier Force many of his colleagues were Taranto before its disbandment. He attended this He survived the Battle, and was rated above veterans), the more he was impressed by event with some poignancy - a lament for the average for flying and nav, the latter possibly their skills in dropping their torpedoes in a last fixed wing carrier aircraft (at least for because he had developed the art on the confined harbour, with shallow water, and some time) - and Bertie had operated one of navexs of reading the name of railway under intense enemy fire. the FAA's earliest fixed wing aircraft (the stations which were in very large letters on After two months at Crail, he moved to Swordfish). Even more appropriately, he had station roofs throughout Ontario. Arbroath to learn the dark arts of deck joined the Navy on the day of the Taranto On return to the UK, Bertie was awarded his landings and dive bombing by day and night. raid - 11 November 1940. wings and commissioned as a Sub-Lt, before Here the runways were treated as a carrier Having enlisted at the age of 19, with the firm being despatched to the Royal Naval College deck, one runway complete with wires. A objective of wanting to be a pilot, Bertie at Greenwich for 3 weeks of learning how to “deck landing control officer” aka a batsman, decided upon the Royal Navy because he hold a knife/fork/spoon, and other officer- was also on duty most of the time. believed that flying from ships at sea would like skills. The next posting was to 785 Sqn at Whilst on leave at Christmas 1941, he learned be more varied and far more interesting than Crail for operational training. Like most of his he had been posted to his first front-line flying with the RAF's Fighter or Bomber Kingston colleagues, he had been selected as operational squadron - he joined 829 NAS Command. But first a two month course at a torpedo/bomber/reconnaissance pilot. with its Swordfish at Eastleigh on his 21st HMS St Vincent (at Gosport) saw him Those who had chosen the Luton route birthday - 11 January 1942. With two other learning sailor-like skills such as Morse, mostly ended up on fighters, possibly due to Swordfish squadrons (810 & 825) which were semaphore, knots & splices, and “boat the type of training aircraft available to them also forming up it moved to Lee-on-Solent, pulling” round Pompey Harbour. Half his there (the Harvard). and Bertie spent many an hour dropping course was chopped as they did not take this He was happy with his lot, considering the torpedoes on the Stokes Bay range. phase sufficiently seriously. Bertie adopted a role of a TBR pilot more interesting. At Crail more studious approach, as he had no desire he flew Swordfish and the less popular 825 Sqn under Lt Cdr Esmonde, was to spend the rest of the war in bell bottoms. Albacore. Much of the time was spent on despatched in February 1942 to Manston to Initial flying training was at Elmdon (then a learning the difficult trade of dropping prevent the German Navy's famous “Channel grass field, now the site of Birmingham torpedoes accurately. The requirements for a Dash” - where all aircraft were lost and Airport) on Tiger Moths. He was sent solo successful torpedo drop in a Swordfish were Esmonde received a posthumous VC. 829 and after 5 hours by RAF Sergeant Jameson, after very precise: 86 kts IAS, 50' above the water, 810 flew to Macrihanish as they were about to an unseasonal run of good winter weather. in perfectly level flight with no skid; release embark on the Illustrious, which was in the Less fortunate colleagues were chopped if at 1000 yards from the target with the correct Clyde. On the way up to Scotland 829 they had not gone solo after 10 hours. It was deflection to allow for the target's speed - stopped at Tern Hill for fuel, but were halted an interesting environment: the Tigers were which could be considerable given the slow by the weather. Some of the more far-sighted non-radio, the airfield was downwind of the transit of the torpedoes. 829 pilots unclamped their bicycles from Birmingham industrial clag, and enroute for On-board cameras recorded the data on each their Swordfish's torpedo racks, and cycled to German bombers attacking the city. There drop - the resultant charts are still pasted in the mess - to the astonishment of their RAF were no useful line features in the vicinity, Bertie's logbook. The CO at 785 was Major hosts. and Bertie recalls that the trick was to locate Oliver Patch, the Royal Marine who had won Once departed from Tern Hill, the squadron
18 Swordfish lacked effective rudder trim and tempo continued for 3 days, but the land the pilot typically ended the patrol with a forces were making little headway as French very sore left leg. At least at those latitudes shore defences were good. the draughty Swordfish did not provoke Major-General Robert Sturges, of the Royal frostbite - he “cannot imagine what work on Marines, decided more drastic action was the Russian convoys was like”. required. He and Syfret hatched a plan: 50 The force arrived in theatre with precious Marines from Ramilles, the aging battleship, little intelligence, other than some aerial would transfer to the destroyer Anthony reconnaissance by the SAAF. When the which crossed Diego Suarez harbour at speed invasion started, the task was to take the to land them on the quayside at Antisiranana. harbour of Diego Suarez, and the town of As the Marines ran up the High Street firing Antisaranana at the island's northern tip. It in all directions the Swordfish of 810 dropped was known that a squadron of Vichy French parachutists (six apiece) behind the French Morane-Saulnier 406 fighters was based at lines. If you thought six paratroopers was Diego's airfield. The Marines made a beyond the capability of a Swordfish, you successful night landing on the north west would be right - they were merely boiler suits coast, but were later held up by some strong filled with sand, and attached to a parachute, French opposition. The TBR squadrons of and thence to the bomb rack! The plan Illustrious and Indomitable (recently joined worked perfectly and the French surrendered. from the Eastern Fleet) were flown off before The invasion had cost the British 105 killed dawn. and 283 wounded; the French lost 171 and All the aircraft on the first missions dropped suffered 343 casualties. A page from the log book leaflets designed to persuade the French The strategic interest of the Japs in the island forces to defect to the Allied cause “French was shown in dramatic fashion: Bertie recalls had to fly to Macrihanish and then to their naval comrades - show that the French fleet is seeing the wake of two torpedoes pass HMS carrier. Bertie's first real deck landing loomed with the country in contributing to the Indomitable (the other carrier). They had - and he had never seen an aircraft carrier in liberation of the homeland” etc. After these been fired by a Japanese two man midget his life before. There was no Observer or TAG were dropped, if the French then opened fire sub; one damaged Ramilles, the other sank a in the back cockpit who could communicate Bertie and five other craft could drop their tanker. The midget crew were captured. with the ship in the event of problems. He torpedoes. His other colleagues were carrying After Madagascar the Illustrious joined the was on his own, and completely out of touch depth charges or bombs. A little unfair, in Eastern Fleet in operations off Burma, with with anyone. Bertie's view, that the French were allowed 829 being merged into 810 to form a squadron Despite several approaches he failed to locate the opening shots. with 18 aircraft. Whilst within range of 'bats', the deck landing officer. This They flew off before dawn at 0500, Japanese fighters, 810 chose to operate only continued until all the other aircraft were approaching in battle formation, before at night - the Channel Dash episode having tucked up on board; only Bertie was aloft. He breaking for their individual attacks. Bertie demonstrated the Swordfish's vulnerability to decided that his approaches were fine, and successfully dropped his “fish” at the a fighter attack in daylight. These night ops made a decisive landing, still without having “biggest thing I could see”, but does not carried obvious other dangers. The Navy sighted the batsman. There was only slight know whether it was his that scored a hit. continued with its policy of strict radio damage to the Swordfish. Bertie remembers heavy AA fire (his logbook silence, whilst the dark ship policy added to the hazard of night recoveries. The pilots Illustrious left the Clyde with the task of laconically records that the “French threw lots of red ping pong balls about”). Two turned onto finals guided just by the protecting an invasion fleet carrying Marines phosphorescence of the wake. The batsman submarines and three ships were sunk or and soldiers to the Indian Ocean. This was was grudgingly allowed to show dim lights wrecked; several French aircraft were shot Force 141, under Rear Admiral Syfret, whose for the last 200' of the aircraft's approach. mission (Operation Ironclad) was to down, and the airfield badly damaged. The recapture Madagascar from the Vichy French. The island had strategic value in protecting Barracudas and Seafires lined up on a 'dummy deck' the Indian Ocean supply routes to the Allied Forces in North Africa; the Japanese were thought to be contemplating an invasion. The convoy took seven weeks to reach Durban: during this passage the Swordfish were involved in numerous dawn and dusk patrols anti-submarine patrols. The six Swordfish sunk two subs, but lost the three members of one crew who failed to find the ship at the end of their dusk patrol; radio contact with the carrier was impossible and crews frequently had to resort to a square search at the end of the 4-5 hour patrol to find their ship. Flying by compass alone, usually at no more than 800 feet, dead reckoning navigation had to be precise, with frequent wind checks. Bertie then realised that “we were expendable”. He reckons that night- takeoffs in a Swordfish were the most consistently terrifying aspect of his career: loaded with weapons, the gyro instruments would topple after take-off, and there was usually a complete lack of visual references. The 4-5 hour patrols were arduous - the 19 In March 1943 the Illustrious took 829 back to Scotland, where it was to re-equip with the Fairey Barracuda. (The Commander Air had informed his superiors that the squadron would not go to war in Swordfish again). The squadron was given only six weeks for the task. Bertie and colleagues had to spend a week on monoplane conversion training (on Miles Masters and Hurricanes) at Errol. They flew newly minted Barracuda IIs from Lee- on-Solent for a month. This was a step up in performance with torpedo runs done at 200 kts and 500'. But many crews of other squadrons had fatal accidents due to the type's idiosyncratic handling. The torpedo procedure was to dive at 260kts (with airspeed restrained by flaps), level off, select flaps in, but this last action took 7 seconds, which then produced a mammoth nose- down trim change. Dangerous for the uninitiated at torpedo-dropping heights. Bertie was tasked with returning to the ship two days ahead of his colleagues to do catapult and arrester wire trials with various A Barracuda lands on payloads of bombs and torpedoes. contra-rotating props, and thus without a pleasure was the Gloster Gladiator, followed Lusty then sailed to Norway in a combined swing problem. On June 15, 1953 he led the US and Royal Navy mission (Operation swiftly by the Seafire 17. However he also squadron in the Coronation Fleet Review Governor) to try to lure the Tirpitz into maintains the Seafire 17 was the most flypast, when the Queen reviewed the Fleet battle. Its next task was to escort the Queen difficult of all aircraft to operate from a at Spithead, being awarded the Coronation Mary - with Churchill on board - across the Medal for this event. carrier - before the days of the angled deck - Atlantic for his meeting with Roosevelt in because of the lack of forward vision, and its Quebec. In 1953 the Midlands Air Division was formed, and Bertie became its commanding violent swing on take off. Illustrious then returned to the Med, to take officer, promoted to the rank of Commander. part in Operation Avalanche, the invasion of These days what gives him greatest pleasure The MAD consisted of 1833, re-equipped Italy at Salerno. On one flight Bertie and is to witness a 16 year old complete a first with the Sea Fury, and new squadron, 1844, colleagues found themselves flying a patrol which operated the Firefly. Two years later solo on one of his Naval Gliding Scholarship around the Italian fleet on their way to Bertie completed a jet conversion course, as courses. From Swordfish to Attacker - Bertie surrender at Malta. In Autumn 1943 1833 was to be re-equipped with Attackers. has enjoyed quite an aviation career. Illustrious returned to the UK, and Bertie left 1844 then switched to Avengers. the ship and squadron after a period of two years. He was appointed to 769 NAS as deck Flying a tailwheel jet fighter from a grass landing instructor at Easthaven; after six airfield (albeit with steel matting) was not a months he was promoted to Lt-Cdr and given sensible long-term strategy, and 1833 moved Bertie is briefed on Sea Fury cockpit drills command of 767 another deck landing to RAF Honiley, 15 miles training squadron at Easthaven. By May away. Bertie gained a Dominie 1945, having just completed the Advanced hack to ease communication Air Strike course at the School of Naval Air between his now dispersed Warfare at St Merryn, he was given units. command of 818 - an 18 aircraft Barracuda He required his aircrew to fly 3 squadron. His task was prepare it to serve on out of every 4 weekends most a Colossus Class carrier with the Pacific Fleet. of the year, as his squadrons Whilst the squadron was on embarkation were required toi carry out leave in August 1945 the war ended. periods of continuous training every summer, either After decommissioning the squadron, Bertie embarked in an aircraft carrier returned to civilian life. But the draw of naval or in Malta, so they had to be aviation remained strong: in March 1949 up to speed. Bramcote became when defence requirements had settled a centre of excellence for down, Bertie joined 1833 RNVR squadron, reserve flying. But this came which flew Seafire 17s based at RAF to an abrupt halt after the Bramcote, near Nuneaton, by then renamed 1957 Defence Review - the HMS Gamecock. This mark of Seafire had a Sword of (Duncan) Sandys vicious swing to starboard when the throttle had fallen. Surviving officers was opened on take-off, which sometimes of the MAD still hold an took pilots perilously close to the carrier annual dinner in the Mess at superstructure. He was always conscious of Bramcote (which is now the the potential difficulty of escaping from the home of the Ghurkha Signals tight confines of the Seafire cockpit should he Regiment). or a colleague go over the side. Bertie was awarded the OBE in So the torpedo man had finally become a 1954 for services to aviation. fighter pilot! He was given command of Of the 25 types flown, the one 1833, by now equipped with Mk 47 Seafires, which gave him the greatest in April 1952. This was the version with
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