A BRANCH OF THE LIGHT AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION PROMOTING RECREATIONAL AVIATION IN THE SOUTHWEST www.devonstrut.co.uk DEVON STRUT NEWS – September 2011 Co-ordinator’s Comments by Steve Robson August has been a jam packed, bumper month of events that has kept all our helpers and committee fully occupied and everyone is in need of a bit of a break. Humm I’ve got an idea, let’s go flying! As I write this, we can look forward to Henstridge and Bodmin Ladies’ Day over the August Bank Holiday weekend [please check the Henstridge website for no-fly times re the BBMF display – Ed] and in September we can look forward to the LAA Rally at Sywell, Watchford Farm, Belle Vue, plus a few others – some rest! So what happened in the glorious month, apart from more than our fair share of unsettled weather? It started in July with the Fly-in/Fly out to the Scillies. The event was fully booked but due to the weather only 19 aircraft made it (50% is a pretty good turnout) with 6 of those getting stranded for an extra day or so on the island, but that’s another story! Thanks to Nigel, Neil and all those on St Mary’s who helped to organise this event and we hope it will become a regular feature on our calendar. Saturday 6th August was our usual fly-in at Treborough, thanks to Mark Weatherlake and his family, with a total of 24 aircraft visiting. For once, the wind was light and more or less down the runway and despite the forecast of heavy showers, these never really posed a problem. Quite a few visitors wanted to use Treborough as a staging post before flying on to Lundy Island for the 10th Annual Lundy Fly-in on Sunday 7th August. With the forecast of a trough of low pressure due over the area in the middle of the afternoon, Pete White had the difficult call to cancel the event. As it turned out it was a good decision! The 13 -14th August was the weekend of our showcase rally at Dunkeswell. Firstly, I must say a massive “thank you” to all those who have helped on the ground. There so many people to thank, I couldn’t possibly do it without leaving some off the list. Without your help and support it is clear that the rally wouldn’t have been a success. Thanks also go to the Devon and Somerset Microlight Club and the South West Airfields Heritage Trust. Both organisations did sterling work in support of our rally, in some cases a difficult and thankless but nonetheless vital job – thanks lads and lasses! We must also include all those who supported the event, not least Brendan Procter and the staff at Dunkeswell (Nicola and Curt now hold the ‘world speed record for fast response’ in the fire engine when the alarm was sounded. Some say that they are so quick they can get to the scene before incident happens. Having seen them I wouldn’t disagree!). [They also scored near top marks in the CAA’s league table of fire staff response inspections – Ed]. As usual everything was in pristine condition on the airfield and this was noticed by many of the visitors. Thanks also have to go to all the traders and exhibitors who came to display their wares; again too many to mention but you all made a major contribution to the event. Sadly, we were dogged by the weather on the Saturday with only 26 a/c flying and just half a dozen or so camping over. The highlight of the day was the flypast of the RNHF Swordfish. The few of us who were able to make it to the evening entertainment were not disappointed, with Strut member Chris Willis and his band ‘Jazz Fine Whines’. Sunday was a much brighter day with quite a few road visitors as well as 109 aircraft flying in. We also had some military and vintage vehicles attend to add a bit of interest and diversity; thanks to all those who attended and hope to see you again next year. An added bonus was the arrival of the D&C Police Helicopter that instantly attracted a large and interested crowd. Thanks to Pete and Adrian for being able to spare some time for us. Amongst the stands there was a representation from the Cornish based charity ‘Shelter Box’ who provide a complete shelter with all the ‘hardware’ you need in a large plastic box. The cherry on the cake was of course the flypast of the BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane which made several low passes over the airfield – wonderful sights and sounds, making a perfect finale to the day. The following weekend 20th -21st August saw the Vintage Wings and Wheels event at Smeatharpe organised by the South West Airfields Heritage Trust. Once again the weather played a trick and it did not clear until about 14.00 on the Saturday, but 12 hardy souls managed to make it in and by 15.00 the sky was bright blue, what a contrast! Sunday started off dull and grey with all the crud that was following on behind the front in the channel but by 11.00 things livened up and a total of 45 aircraft flew in and out safely. Once again thanks to all those who helped [photos from Dunkeswell and Smeatharpe in the October newsletter – Ed]. On a more serious note, I’m sure everyone is aware of the much-publicised proposals to close Plymouth City Airport at the end of this year. The writing has been “on the wall” for some time as the commercial air traffic business has suffered from the financial recession. However, if you would like to join the campaign to save Plymouth Airport for General Aviation, please see the note from Tug Wilson in the Aeroletters section of this newsletter and respond by writing to Plymouth City Council with your support for the GA interests. As part of its review of systems and processes, the LAA is drafting charters for Struts, aircraft builders and inspectors, that will define and clarify the relationships between the Association and its constituent members, e.g. what is expected by way of benefits from being an LAA Strut and the concomitant responsibilities. The draft ‘Club Charter’ sets out the details of the agreement between the LAA and Struts or ‘Clubs’ as they are generically now known and is downloadable as a Word document from the Devon Strut website homepage www.devonstrut.co.uk . This is a very important document and I would urge you to read it and should you have any comments, please me know by 16th September so that we can make any representations to the LAA at the next National Council meeting. Fly safely, Steve ______________________________________________________________________________________ Gliding Evening, Wednesday 27th July 2011 Eleven Strut members enjoyed a gliding evening at North Hill on Wednesday 27th July, courtesy of the Devon and Somerset Gliding Club. The club provided a crew of ground helpers and instructors to give passenger flights in the ASK21 and DG505 two seat gliders. The weather was calm and devoid of lift, of either thermic or ridge variety, so the flights were just winch launches to about 1,100 feet followed by a pleasant float around the circuit. However, David Millin did persuade instructor Andy Mugleston, fresh from his recent aerobatics course, to perform four consecutive loops off the top of the launch and finish with a chandelle on to final for a downwind hangar landing! 2 Steve Pooley in DG505 David Millin landing the K13 Peter Tidy with Andy Mugleston Derek Boyce’s online album is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/16090262@N06/sets/72157627399968208 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Members’ Profile: Dave Linney Current day job: Retired pilot. Special skills: Staying flying while avoiding gardening and decorating. Past career: RAF 1967–1985. FRADU pilot at RNAS Yeovilton 1985–95. FR Aviation Falcon 20 pilot 1995– 2007. Why Aviation? Gosh….is there anything else?! First Flight: As a pax on a Jersey Airlines DH Heron from the grass at Croydon Airport 1954. As a pilot, in an Aircoupe at Biggin Hill on a Flying th Scholarship PPL course, 13 July 1965. How long in the Devon Strut? 10 years…ish? Number of aircraft types and hours flown: About 10 to 15 types. Total 3 hours 11,800 of which Harrier 2,650, Hunter 2,700, Falcon 4,400, Canberra 700, Hawk 460, Piston types: 500 ish, plus odds and sods. Favourite and worst types flown (and why)? : Favourite…Harrier, there can surely be no need to ask why !! Worst…. Any tin Cessna or most helicopters…..Yawn, pretty boring after the first few minutes. Best Aviation Moment and Flight: Well two stick in my mind, both flypasts that I have led: a pair of Falcons low level over London for Sir Michael Cobhams Memorial Service at St Clement Danes and leading three SE5As, a Sopwith Pup and Sopwith Triplane over Brighton for Henry Allinghams funeral. In both cases, the weather played an “interesting” part. Of course the first Harrier solo was pretty special also! Any Aviation Heroes and why?: Sir Alan Cobham, not only a WW1 pilot who survived, but a noted record breaking flyer and the one person who did more for aviation in this country than any person before or since. Favourite author / recommended book : Paul Brickhill - “Reach for the Sky”. Yes, Douglas Bader could be rude and arrogant but he had amazing courage and determination.