June 2009

IWRITEthisshortlybeforeheadingoffformyfirst bigtripoftheseason,toPeenemfmdeinGermany fortheendofMayBankHoliday.Withthenewflight plamiingrequirementsofAFPEx,confusionover ELTsandModeStransponders,andthepoundnowworthlittle morethantheeuro,thiscouldwellbeaninterestingtripIElllet youknowhowIgeton.

Juneseesthenumberofeventsstartingtocomethickandfast,the ScottishLAARegionalatPerthon5-6,AeroExpoon12-14,andAlt BritainatNorthWealdon 20-21, standingoutasthelargestforLAA members.WehaveanextensiveshowingatAeroExpothisyearand willbepro-activelyencouragingnewmembers.Pleasedocome alongandenjoytheshow,andlendsomesupport.

Europa,undernewownerDavidStanbridge,isworkingbardto bringthisverysuccessfulBritishdesignbacktotheforefrontofthe marketplace.Newwingstoenabletheaircrafttocomplywiththe USLSAcategory,andconclusionoftestingofthegliderwingshould certainlybemajorstepsforward.Ourairtestthismonthlsofthe factorydemonstrator,highlightingwhataversatileandrewarding aircrafttheEuropaistoown.

AlexHenshaw'sLondontoCapeTownandreturninalittleover fourdaysstoodforover70years,butinmid-Mayitwasbeatenby

SouthAfricanChatlea' Osprey0134LAàWis brixigar: therecordyetturtnengt pv7laterthisyeat.I Notassop:kkt holi thefirsthomegt sih8leleetWj todey.Thisyr designer' hisfathers beir , PePhare whieheneourag AlwaYganmter e.sting.s on atmosphereofdil5PN'ttta%yetz grandeiStaltw" Repotxt-P,

LtL CHAIRMAN'SCHAT

RogerHopkinsonwelcomesan importantResolutionfromtheEU

E: ATLAST,somegoodnewsforthosethat loveflyingandwanttoseeahealthyGA futureforourchildrentoenjoy.

TheLAA,throughtheEuropeanFederationof LightExperimentalandVintageAircraft(EFLEVA), isamemberofEuropeAirSports,anassociationof theEuropeanNationalAeroClubsandEuropean AirSportsUnions,withtheobjectiveofcoordinatingrepresentationonaviationregulatory mattersinEurope.

LAAPresidentSirJohnAllisonhasjustretired asPresidentofEuropeAirSportshavingledthem thoughalltherecentchanges.Weallowehimabig thankyouforthat.

AnotherLAAmember,formerChairmanofthe BGAandcurrentChairmanoftheRoyalAeroClub, DavidRoberts,hasbeenelectedtosucceedJohnat EuropeAirSports.

WhenEASAbegantotakeovertheregulationof aviationacrossEuropesixyearsago,anumberof bodiesmaderepresentationtoensuretheinterests ofGeneralAviationwerenotlostinthebroader CommercialAviationinterests.

Amongstthose,EuropeAirSportsledthe chargeforthespecificinterestsoftheSportsand Recreational(SERA)sector.

Amilestonewasachievedin2008withthe publicationofa'Communication'fromthe EuropeanCommissiononan"Agendafora SustainableFutureinGeneralandBusiness Aviation"whichhighlightsthenatureofGAwith

THETEAM

itssocialandeconomicbenefits,theimportance ofairspaceandinfrastructureinwhichtooperate, andthe needforproportionate,notexcessive regulation.

Aswellasbeingextensivelyinvolvedbehind thescenesinthismilestone,EuropeAirSports hasarguedforandpursuedthisCommission Communicationasoneofthemostimportant potentialresolutionsoftheEuropeanParliament, enswingitsacceptanceinthecontextofthe variousregulations.

On3February 2009, theEuropeanParliament furtherunderpinnedtheCommission'sinitiative bythevotingfortheResolutiononan"Agenda foraSustainableFutureinGeneralandBusiness Aviation."ThedebateintheEuropeanParliament itselfreceivedahugesupportwith524(87%)votes infavour.

The35clauseswithintheParliament'sResolution makeencouraging,indeedalmostexcitingreading andprovideanimportantbasisforarguingthecase forourGAfuture.Itrequiresthelegislatorsand implementerstotakenoteoftheneedtopromote GA,ensureafairdealthrough"proportionate regulation",provideaccesstoairportsandairspace capacityandgenerallyencourage,ratherthan restrictactivity.

Asever,wewillcontinuetoremainvigilant, makinglogical,balancedargumentandworkingat alllevelsacrosstheregulatoryregimes.

Roger A41

PATRON:HRHPrince Michaelof Kent,KCVO,FRAeS

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Whileeverycareistakenwith contributors'manuscriptsand photos,neither TheLightAircraft Associationnorthepublisher canacceptliabilityforlostor damagedmaterial.Theviews expressedbycontributorsdonot necessarilyreflectthoseoftheLAA

p LANSfortheSywellRevival AircraftRallyfor2009 continuetomakeexcellent progressfollowingarecent meetingatSywellbetweenthe directorsofSywellAerodrome andtheLightAircraftAssociation (LAA).

Theeventisscheduledasamajor fly-inafterthescalingbackofthe

officialLAARally,andisbeing treatedasadressrehearsalforafull LAARallyin2010.Theeventwill beonSaturday5thandSunday6th September,butaircraftarewelcome tofly-inonFriday4thandstay overnight.

TheexperiencedSywellteam invitealllightaircrafttothis prestigiousevent.TheLMwillbe

onhand,providingsupportand runningtheLAAcentre. Aviatorsandenthusiastswillbe abletoenjoythehospitality,the exhibitor'sareaandviewthehuge numberofPermitandCertified aircraftweanticipatejoiningus. Therewillbefood,abeerhangar, exhibitorsandhundreds(possibly 10005)ofaircraft.Campingis

permitted,orifyouarequickyou canbookintotheon-site54room

Therewillbeabreakfastbuffet intheAviatorrestaurant,plusa SaturdayeveningBBQevent.Gates willbelockedatmidnightforthose campingalongsidetheiraircraft. Hardandgrassrunways03/21will beavailable,althoughunlicensed forthisevent.

Entryfeeis£5perpersonbyroad, andlandingfeeE10peraircraft, includingentryforalloccupants. Kidsunder16free.

Seehistorichomebuildssuchas thisTaylorMonoplane.

ATaylorWatkinson-Dingbat, apparently.

Anonlinelandingslotsystemwill beinoperationsoyoucanbook yourlandingandseewhenyour friendsareplanningtoarrive. AvgasandMogasareavailable24 hoursonSywell'sself-servecredit

cardsystem./etAlisavailable duringlicensedhours.

Thosearrivingbycararefreeto accesstheAviatorHotelGarden freeofcharge.Entrancetickets willberequiredtoaccessthe remainderoftheaerodrome. Ticketscanbepurchasedonline orontheday.

So,comealongtothismajor latesummerevent.Campunder youraircraft,enjoythebeertent, meetfriendsoldandnewand savourtheRallyatmosphere. TheLAAteamwillbeoutinforce tosupporttheeventandwill beawardingprizesinseveral categoriesforPermitaircraft. W:www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk W:www.laa.uk.com

BrianHope,60QueenboroughRoad,Sheerness,KentME123B7. EMAIL:BEJJodel@talktak.netTEL:07949650847

TAKEATRIPTO DUNKESWELL

THELAASouth-WestRegionalRally atDunkeswett,overtheweekendof the3-5July,willbeco-hostedbythe DevonStrutandDevonandSomerset FlightTraining.

In2008,despitesomechallenging weathercondition,over200aircraft attendedtheeventwithmanypilots stayingovernight—campingorusing localB&Bsandenjoyingthesocial eveningsontheFridayandSaturday. Asexpected,therewasavarietyof aircraftpresent,spanninghomebuilt, vintage,microlightandproduction aircraft.

ThisyearwillalsobetheDevon Strut's30thanniversaryanditis expectinganevengreaternumberof visitorsandhaveover20tradersand exhibitorsalreadybookedin. TherewillagainbeaBBQon

DunkeswellAerodromeintheheartoftheDevoncountryside.

theFridayeveningforearlyfly-in arrivals,andahogroastplusasteel bandontheSaturdaynight. ExhibitswillincludetheBuild-aPlaneX'airHawk,theLAAshopand theLAAEngineeringdepartment.

REALAEROPLANECOAT20

BREIGHTONAirfieldislooking forwardtoaspectacularinvasion ofWW2Jungmannbiplanesand otherBuckeraircrafttocelebrate the75thJungmannAnniversary on11-12July,whichisalsothe 20thAnniversaryBashoftheReal AeroplaneCompany.

Theweekendwillfeatureflights oftheRealAeroCocollection, aerobatics,flourbombing,static displays,plusracingandvintage carsandbikes.Saturdayevening's HangarBashwillincludedancing to'VeraLynn'stylesingerAlex

HEADOFGA

CHRISFinneganhasbeenappointed asManagerFlightOperations Inspectorate(GeneralAviation) withintheSafetyRegulationGroup's FlightOperationsDivisionofthe CAA.HewillstartintheroleinJuly andtakesoverfromRobbMetcalfe whoretiredfromtheCMinApril. ChrishasworkedfortheCMfor thepasttwoyearsandiscurrently HeadofPolicyintheCAA'sPersonnel LicensingDepartment.Priorto joiningtheCM,hewasChief ExecutiveoftheBritishMicrolight AircraftAssociation(BMM). TheCAA'sGeneralAviation Inspectoratesectionisresponsible fortheoperationalregulationof sportingandrecreationalaviation. ThiscoverstheCAA'ssafety promotionworkincludingthesafety eveningsandGASILpublication, theregulationofairdisplaysand commercialballoonflights.

Boanas,plusaSwingband,a bring-your-ownBBQandaraffle. TheFly-Inisopentoall(PPR). WW2aircraftnotobligatorybut "Wehopeeveryoneattendingwill dontheirbest1940soutfits". Sincetheeventisnotopento thepublic,thosevisitingbycar/ onfootmustbeclubmembers. JoiningasaSocialMember enablespeopletoenjoythe attractionsoftheairfieldforthe durationoftheyear.Pleaseapply wellinadvanceformembership. W:www.realaero.com

Airfieldarrivalinformationwillbe postedontheDevonStrut'swebsite. TheStrutcontactisDaveSitsbury, T:01752690358.Comeandenjoy someDevonianhospitality! W:www.devonstrut.co.uk

THEDevonYouthBuild-a-Plane Project'SpiritofDevonYouth' (G-SPDY)tooktotheairforthe firsttimeonFriday17Aprilat Dunkeswell. TheX'airHawk,builtbyScouts andAirCadetsfromacrossDevon, madeitsmaidenflightwith X'airagentGordonSalteratthe

controls.Hiscommentswerethat itflew"exactlyonthenumbers" and"everythingbehaveditself perfectly"whichisafittingtribute tothehardworkanddedicationof allthe36youngpeoplethatmade acontributiontoitsconstruction. Headded,"Cantheyoungsters buildoneforme,please!"

>NEWS

*PEMBROKEFLYINGBOATS

THEremarkablestoryoftheRAF PembrokeDockanditsflying boatswhichbecamethelargest intheworld,willbegintobe toldlaterthisyear.Workiswell underwaytoconvertanhistoric buildinginPembrokeDockyard intotheFlyingBoatCentre,which willbetheonlyoneintheUK.

TheCentrewillincludea workshopwherepartsofaMarkI Sunderlandwillbeworkedonand displayed.ThisSunderlandsank inagalein1940andstilltiesin thewaterwayjustoffthetown.

Thereareplansbythe PembrokeDockSunderlandTrust torecovertheSunderland-one ofonlyfourleftintheworld.An engineandpropellerfromthe aircrafthavealreadybeenraised. W:www.pdst.co.uk

*JACOB'SBLOG

JACOBHinson,ourArmstrongIsaacsscholarfor2009,started hisflyingtrainingatBrooklands SchoolofFlyingatSywellon13 May.Bythetimeyoureadthis hewillbewellonhiswayto firstsoloandyoucanfollowhis progressonhisblog,whichis linkedfromthehomepageonthe LAAwebsite. Don'tknowwhatablog is?Timetofindoutthenand recapturewhatitwaslikeasyou approachedthattimewhenthere wasabigemptyspacenextto you,theaeroplanewentupmore quicklyandtherewasadistinct lackofnagontheintercom. W:www.taa.uk.com

*TAKE-OFFATBLUEWATER EUROPE'Sfirstshopping centreflightsimulatoropensat BluewaterinKenton6June.The simulatorisbasedonthecockpit ofaBoeing737-800airliner and'lands'atanyof500world airports.Pricesstartfrom£69for a20minstartersessionthrough to£199fora60minflight. W:www.ipilotme

*TURNINGUPTHEWICK USsupplycompanyWicks Aircraftisintroducingarange ofnewproductsandservices ithopeswillencouragemore youngpeople.Itisdeveloping homebuildertoolkitsandstarter kitsforcomposites,welding,or workingwithaluminium,wood orfabric. W:www.wicksaircraft.com

CAERNARFON BUILD-A-PLANE

Single-seaterLucioleisnewprojectforNorthWales youngstersbasedataworkshopontheairport

T heFireflyProjectisanew

Build-a-Planescheme, organisedandsupported bytheaviationcommunityat CaernarfonAirport.

TheaircraftwillbetheMC30 LucioledesignedbyMichel Colomban.Locatedontheairport inaworkshopkindlydonatedby theAirportoperator,RoySteptoe, theprojecthopestoencouragethe youngpeopleofNorthWatesto becomeinvolvedinamateurbuild aviation.

MILESaircraftaficionadoPeter Amoshascompletedthefirst partofahistoryoftheMiles AircraftCompany.Coveringthe

Theyoungstersarebeingtutored andmentoredbyexperienced instructorsandaviatorsfromthe LAA,CaernarfonAviationCommunity andlocalbusinesses.

TheProjectalsoaimstoassist otherLuciolebuildersbysharing knowledgeanduseofjigsand fixtures.Invitationsarebeingsent outtoothergroups,includingthe ATC,Scouts,CollegesandLocal EducationCommittees.

Volunteerinstructorsaresoughtfor constructionofwoodenairframes, years1925-1939,thisepictome, "MilesAircraftTheEarlyYears -ThestoryofE.G.Milesandhis Aeroplanes1925-1939"was launchedataspecialeventatthe MuseumofBerkshireAviation, Woodleyon2May.SixMiles aircrafttookpartinaflypast.

ThebookispublishedbyAir Britainandretailsfor£52.50.It shouldbeinstockatthePFAShop bythetimeyoureadthis.

Twofurthervolumesare planned,detailing the Company's wartimeandpost-waractivities untilitsdemiseinthe19605.

LightAviationhopestopubhsh anarticleonMilesfromPeterin thenearfuture.

aviationmetalwork,andfabrication ofcompositemouldings.They alsoneedavolunteerwithan understandingoftechnicalFrench. Theprogramalsorequiresfinancial assistance,soifyouareableto donatematerials,equipmentor moneytheywouldlovetohearfrom you.

PleasecontactBrianGowland, Projectmanager,T:01758770359, E:brian.gowland@mypostoffice. co.uk

W:www.projectfirefly.byethost9.com

THREELAAmembersreceived honoursattheRoyalAeroClub dinnerinApril.

Fromleftinphotobelow:Alan ChalkleyreceivedaBronzeMedal, AlanLovejoyaSilverMedal,HRH PrinceMichaelwhopresentedthe awards,NigetReddishwhowon theprestigiousKing'sCupAirRace in2008,andLAAChairmanRoger Hopkinson.Congratulationstoall.

PeterAmoswithhisMilesbook.

IntroducingGPSMArk695,Garmin'svisionarynewportablewith7-inch,bright, sunlight-readable800x480-pixelWVGAdisplay,UKAirwayboundaries,low andhighairwaysandsearchableVRPdatabase.ThepackageincludesmovingmapGI'S"viewfromspace"graphics,rotaryjoystickcursor,softkeyinterface, fast5Hzscreenupdatinganddatabase-driventerrainandobstaclealerting. SeethebiggerpicturewithGPSMAP695,theultimateportableMFD.

BrianHope,60QueenboroughRoad, Sheerness,KentME123BZ. E:13FModel@talktalk.netT:07949650847

Thanksforthepractice

'NormallyIwouldn'thavegottheplaneoutothehangarinconditions likethatbutattendingthecoachingdayhasboostedmyconfidence'

Crosswindonlimits,gusting18 knots,irregularboutsofmassive sinkonfinal,occasionalsquallsand 500to700ftbadweathercircuits. Notthebestdaytogoflying youmaythinkbutitwasperfect weathertopractice.

Iwasoneoftheluckyfewthat madeittoShobdononSaturday9 MayfortheLAAcoachingday.And itwaswellworththeefforttobattle the20to30knotheadwindstoget there.

Shohdonisadelightfulairfield, easytofind,helpfulclubmembers andexcellentfacilitieswithfuelfor bothyouandyouraircraft.

Ihadtheprivilegeofbeing mentoredbyPeterDavis,theLAA NationalCoachfor1.5hoursin themostuncomfortableofflying conditions.Wepracticedshortfield landingsforgrassstrips,andhe couldnothavemadeiteasier.

Ipickeduploadsoftipsandeven

foundoutaboutanuncharacteristic landinganomatyofmyownaircraft. Icamehomewithlotstothink about,practiceandimproveupon. NormallyIwouldn'thavegot theplaneoutofthehangarin conditionslikethatbutattending thecoachingdayhasboostedmy confidenceandabilitytohandle challengingconditions, MayItakethisopportunityto thanktheLAA,JonCook,Peter Davisandeveryoneinvolved. IhighlyrecommendotherLAA memberstakeadvantageofthe opportunitytobrushupontheir flyingskills;it'senjoyableandcosts nothing.Notevenalandingfee.It doesn'tgetbetterthanthat!

MichaelAshby-ArnoldG-OPRC

NextPCSDayisscheduledfor Saturday27luneatNorthampton Sywell.ContactHQfordetails—Ed

ENGINECHANGES

Ireadwithinterest,asIdowithall articlesofatechnicalnature,the articleonenginechanges.Iwould suggestthatanyonewhoisnot awareofalltheissuesmentionedin thisarticleisnotcapableofdoing anenginechangeandshouldforget aboutit.Everythingmentionedis plainengineeringsenseandhas verylittletodowithaeronautical engineering.

Asisusualwitharticlesofsuch anature,certainfactsareglossed overornotevenmentioned.

Forexample,greatemphasisis placedonthelimitedbenefitof movingtheengineclosertothe ftrewalltomovethecgbackwards inthecaseofaheavierengine hutnomentionismadeofthe significantbenefitsofadding weighttotherearoftheaircraftto re-establishthecorrectcglocation.

Thiscanbedonewitharelatively heavyitemsuchasabattery,byits relocationaftwithoutanyincrease inoverallweight.Itismucheasier tocounteractnoseheavinessthan theotherwayround.Itisalsoawell establishedfactthatwiththecgin itsforwardmostpositionwehave aninherentlymorestableaircraft.

Frombitterexperience,the hardestpartofdoinganengine changeiswritingoutasubstantial compliancereport.Proofor ultimateloadtestsshouldbe carriedoutwithapprovedloading materialssuchassandbagsand buildingblockstogetherwith dimensionsandweightsclearly illustratedinphotographs.

Thetorqueloadingsthatwe

arenowaskedtoapplytoour airframesasaresultofanEASA ruling,obviouslynotinstigated byknowledgeableengineers,are totallyludicrous.In1990asimple 3Gverticalloadwasdeemed sufficient.Notwistingrequirements were,andquiterightlyso,a requirement.Ihaveprovedby practicalteststhatthetwisting momentontheairframeequates toabout10%oftheenginetorque. Offsetfinsandenginesidethrust arerarelyarequirementwithour low-poweredaircraft.

Inconclusion,mylike-minded colleagueswithengineeringability goforit!Dowhatourmovement wasallaboutinthefirstplace. Innovate,buildonashoestring, andforgetalltheseover-priced so-calledaeroenginesandbuildor convertyourown.

Forgetthe'ifitain'tbroke,don't fixit'policy.Ifyouthinkthatyou canimproveit,thendoit.

Thisiswhatwewereallabout intheolddays—affordableflying. Whoknows,youmaycomeupwith theaffordableenginethateveryone hasbeenwaitingfor.IthinkthatI amsomewherenearthatwithmy BMWconversion,builtforunder £1,000,Wherewouldwehave beenifsomeonehadnotseen thepossibilitiesoftheVWBeetle engine?

I'lltellyouwhere—backtothe daysofthe1920sand30swhere aviationisnowheadingrapidly, onlyfortheverywealthy.Weshould belookingat£7,000all-in,not £7,000-plusjustforanengine. lohnStephenson

>OVERTHEHEDGE

ByJohnBeeswax

AIRSAFE

"WHAT,"Imutteredtomyself, "amIdoingatanAirsideSafety Briefing?"Flyingfromsimple grassairstripshasnothingin commonwiththehustleandbustleof 'proper'airfields.

SurelyIknoweverythingthatneedstobe knownaboutthesebasicgrassfieldsandtheir safetyaspects.

Howwrongcanonebe!AttendingPaul Bingham'sexcellentforumorganisedbythe localStrutandheldatCaernarfonAirport'snew HQbuilding,wasaneyeopenerforeveryone whotookpart.

Paul,whoisEasternAirways'StationManager atNewcastle,isaveteranLAEwhohasdevoted hisentireworkinglifetomakingairportaprons saferplacesforhisemployees.Withatwinkling smilehetoldus,"Therampareasofallairports areanalienenvironmentbuttheyarestillthe mostexcitingplacesintheworld."

Translatinghismanyyearsofexperience toourlightaeroplanesetting,wediscovered thatairsidesafety,whichwetendtotakefor granted,isverymuchafactorinrecreational generalaviation.

Thefirstbombshellwastheresponsibility nowthrustuponairstripowners.TheCM, followingadvicefromEurope,haspublisheda newCAP642whichspellsouttherequirement

foreachownertowriteandpublishaSafety ManagementSystem.

This'SMS'obligesanownerofanyunlicensed airstriptoreviewallsafetyproceduresthat involvetheoperationofaircraftandvehicleson thestrip,andtoensurethatallthoseusingthe fieldarebriefedaccordingly.

Thebottomlineisthattheheldowneris ultimatelyresponsibleforeachvisitingpilors safetyeventhoughheorshemaynotbe present!Thatisalitigationtimebombwhich couldpersuadesomeprudentownersto restricttheirfieldoperationentirelyfortheir ownuse.

1WhilePaulBingham'slecturewasprincipally directedatbusylicensedairfieldoperations, suchasthosehereatCaernarfonAirportand manyothersimilarhardworkingGAairfields aroundtheUK,hisAirsideSafetyadvicecould bereadacrosstoourgrassstripenvironment.

Thefirstbombshell wastheresponsibility nowthrustupon airstripowners'

Thefollowingmajorhazardstoairsidesafety areidenticaltoaIIIightaircraftmovements: REFUELLING:Possibilityofspillageandfire. Accessibilityoffireextinguishersofthecorrect typeandknowledgeoftheiruse.

PROPELLERS:Keepingvisitorsand passengersclearofstationaryorrotating propellers.Safetybriefings.

VEHICLES:Carsorfarmvehiclescominginto proximitywithmovingorstationaryaircraft.

SLIPPERYSURFACES:Muddyorwe!grass underfootwhenhandswingingpropellers.Icy patchesonconcretesurfaces.Oilysurfacesetc.

MANUALHANDLING:Damagetowingtipsand controlsurfaceswhileextricatingaircraftfrom hangars.

MOVINGAIRCRAFT:Noiseontheramp/apron areacausingconfusionandpossibleconflict withtaxiingaircraft.

ADVERSEWEATHER:Highwindscausing damagetolightaircraftthatarenotsecurely tieddownorhangared.

LOCALHAZARDS:Chocksconcealedbylong grass,hiddennits,bumpsorpotholesinheld surfaces.

PaullistedmanyotherriskssuchasFOD (ForeignObjectDamage!andtoxicliquidssuch as'Skydrol'typehydraulicfluids,buttheseare normallyassociatedwithlargerairfieldsand commerdaIaircraftHerecommendedtheuse

Above:course memberswere schooledinthe skillsofmarshalling signalswhiteStrut Treasurer,Emlyn Owen,'pilots'the borrowedaircraft tugusedtosimulate anarrivingaircraft.

Left:PaulBingham stressesthevital importanceof wearinghigh visibilityjackets duringallairside operation.This adviceappliestoall airfields,largeor small.

ofhi-vizvestsandjacketsforairsidepersonnel onallairfields-largeorsmall.

But,beingagood-heartedchap,hekeptthe bestparttilllastAftercompletinghisclassroom lecture,heissuedeachofuswithasheet ofmarshallingsignalsandbrieflytalkedus througheachhandmovementandmarshalling command.Healsostressedthatthepilot hadthefinalresponsibilitytofollowthe marshaller'ssignals-ortoignorethemifthe aircraftmightencounterahazardindoingso.

AfterourexcellentlunchintheAirport'snew BistroCafé,Paul,inconjunctionwithAirport ManagerPeterSmith,organisedanaircraft mini-tractorandalargeemptyhangar.What didtheyhaveinmind?

Onceassembledinsidewewereeach,inturn, providedwithasetofmarshallingbatsand askedtodirectthetractordrivertostop,start, turnleft,turnright,continuetonextmarshaller etc,untilPaulwassatisfiedthatwewereall proficientItwasabrilliantpieceofteaching andweallhadalotoffunwhilelearningthis newskill.

OursincerethankstoPaulBinghamforhis patiencewithusandforthekindco-operation oftheCaernarfonAirportmanagement

THEQUICKBLUEFOX

Aten-knotbreezefavouredtheshort150metre runwayandastheall-bluecoloured 422 Foxbat beganitstake-offroll,noneofthespectators hadexpectedsuchashorttake-offrun.

Anticipatingadistanceofabout8o-ionmetres inthislightwind,theyhadstoodfurtherdown andalongsidethestriptowatchthebroadwing Russiandesignliftofftheroughgrasssurface.

TheyhadgrosslymiscalculatedtheFoxbat's STOLcapability.

FlyinghisRotax912poweredFoxbat, registeredG-PHOX,JohnWebbliftedtheaircraft offtherunwayatthenormalunstickspeedand acceleratedtoasafeclimbingattitude.And allbeforepassingtheendofthisveryshort runway.

Itsperformanceamazedthewatchersand, outofcuriosity,oneofthempacedoutthe wheelmarksthatwerevisiblystillfreshinthe grass.JohnWebbhadbecomeairborneinhis Foxbatafterarunofonly42metres(Itsslotted flapsandlargehighliftwingshadgivenita legendary'FieslerStorch'likecapability.

Asaspecialistoildrillingandprospecting engineer,JohnisalsoaprolificLAAbuilderof lightaircraftinhissparetime.Todatehehas builtten-notmanyacanequalthatrecord! HisfirstwasaMitchellWingcanard1whichhe stillowns)anddatesfrompre-BMAAdays.

Thenextthreewerehangglidersashe learnedtheskillsofweight-shiftflyingbefore becominganadmirerofMikeWhittaker's three-axismicrolightdesigns.Numbers5,6Er7 wereaMW5'Sorcerer',aMW6'FatBoyFlyer' andthesmallertaildraggerMW7aircraft

Otherbuildersoftheseaircraftwillknowthat

JohnWebbhad becomeairborneinthe Foxbatafterarunof only42metres!'

theyrequireanaboveaverageknowledgeof engineeringworkshoppracticetoconstruct thevariousprecisionfuselageandengine mountfittingstotheexactdictatesofMike Whittaker'splans.Inthisrespect,JohnWebb hasnoproblems.Asanengineerworking onaworldwidebasis,hishomeworkshop atHerefordisaswellequippedasanysmall engineeringcompany.Heisalsoahighly skilledwelder.

Hebuildsaircraftquicklyandprecisely.His nextprojectsbroughthimintotherealmsofthe PFA.HebuiltanAeroDesignsPulsar,powered byatwo-strokeRotax582andthiswasfollowed byaVWpoweredplans-builtNicollierHNyoo Menestrel.

TheAeropraktAzzFoxbatkit,purchasedfrom UKAgentRayEverettatChirkAirfield,hasbeen hismostrecentprojectand,accordingtohis experienceinit,themostenjoyabletofly.

lnJohn'sopinion,theAzzFoxbatkitisthe mostcomprehensiveavailableintheUKtoday. DesignedandbuiltattheAeropraktfactory intheUkraine,thekitsnotonlycontainall theairframecomponents,instrumentsand theRotax 912 engine,butalsoincludeallthe necessarypaint/dopetofinishthejob.

John'senjoymentofflyinghisFoxbatwas obvious.Itslargecockpitwithroomfortwotall people,iswellappointedandenjoyedlarge windowareasthatgiveitsoccupantsabrilliant all-aroundview.Thenthere'sthatstunning short-fieldperformance.

Whatwasthemostdifficulttaskforhim? "GettingthewordFOXintotheregistration letters)"hequipped."Thebestthatlcould managewasPHOX"

Left:JohnWebb's A22Foxbatamazed onlookerswith itsshort-field performance capability.The Rotax912engineis ideallysuitedtoits largewingarea& slottedflaps. Below:standing nexttohis AeropraktA22 Foxbat'slargefin andrudder,John Webbindicates theaircraft's appropriate registrationletters.

ProjectNe

Lotsofaircraftclearedtoflythismonth,justintimeforasummerof flying.Firstthough,newsofasuperbclassicracerunderconstruction.

TELLUSYOURNEWS!

Thankstoallthebuildersforsendingin recordsoftheirprojectsorfirstflights, andtoLAAEngineeringforproviding

thedetailsofnewprojectsandaircraft clearedforflight.Pleaseletme 1010W how youaregettingonwithyourproject.justa photographandafewcommentswilldo!

TravelAirModelR 'Mystery Ship' BUILTATASECRETLOCATIONINSOUTHERNENGLAND

FORthoseofasinterestedinlongtime,notsurprisingsince vintagetypes,thisisoneof theoriginalaircraftcausedan themostexcitingprojectsforaabsolutesensationwhenit

Address:Nigelflitchman,8DuckEndHintonintheHedges,Nortbants1F1135Nr. E:nhitchman@blinternet.coniI.-'• T:oi28o706864(before20:00pigase)

appearedatthelygpCleveland AirRaces,winningtheThompson Trophyrace,thepinnacleevent_ Itleftthebestthemilitarycould offerinitswake.

TheModelRwasdesigned

byHerbRawdonandWalter Burnhamintotalsecrecy,starting justoneyearbeforethe1929 race,Oncetheyhadtheirdesign finalisedtheyapproachedTravel AirpresidentWalterBeechinMay

CILEARAsrTG ru,v

Quiteafewthistime,includingthefirst HornetMothonaPermittoFlyandacouple ofAustersthathaven'tflownformanyyears, continuingthegrowingpopularityofthetype nowthattheycanbeoperatedonaPermit ratherthano

TheDevonStrut'BuildPone"XairHawk isalsonowflying,asisanotherofthetype. ThereplicaJodelisahomebuilt-Rthefirst homebuilt1050completedinthiscountryI think.Theothertwofactory-builtmachines aretransferringfromCofAs.TheFalcoisan importfromtheUSA.

>G-ENSTCZAWSPORTCRUISER(338-14769)6April

LRadcliffe,25OakleighDrive,Codsall, WolverhamptonWV8rJP CSlater,41Ashpale Furlong,Loughran,MiltonKeynesMN5BEDand DPrice,16Brookside,WestonTuryille„4ylesbury HP225YA1

>G-CR2ACZAWSPORTCRUISER(738-14657)7April

ARadford37ThorpelandsDriveAllestreeDerby DE22 PX,4 (PHOTOKeithSower/Derby)

>G-CFTTVANSRV-7(323-3/44o5)7April

RandDBlain, 2 ChurchWalkCorrowdore, NewtownardsBT2221X

>G-CESAREPLICAJODELDrtio50-Mi

0 04-1375319April

TBates,GreenFarm,WrenburyFrith,Wrenbruy, NanlwichCW581-INandPThomas,TheSpinney BlockPork,WhitchurchSYis4IP

>G-GUNZVANSRV-8(303-14475)6April

REllingworth,RochfordHouse,Stoke Rochford,GranthamAlGis5EBandAThomas, rTheDrove,Collyweston,StamfordPEo3PR

>G-AIBXAUSTERsh(sisy)April

BBeeston,TrusteeofWaspELyingGroup,3B AbbeyRoad,EnfieldEN12QN Z 6-GRZA

1929andhegavethegoaheadfor production.

Theystillhadtosettleonan engine,andinitiallyselectedthe new42ohpWrightR-975radial whichwasstillundertesting,but theywerealsoofferedthenew inlineChevrolair0-6ofmaybe wohp.Thishadlesspower,but theinlineenginewouldcauseless drag,whichwasveryappealing andmoreinkeepingwiththeir initialdesign.

Adifficultdecision,butWalter Beechsolvedtheproblemby orderingtwomachines.Materials wereorderedandaworkforce selected,allofwhomweresworn

tosecrecy,theaircraftbeingbuilt intheexperimentaldepartment workshopswithfrostedwindows andsecuritysonooneknewwhat theywereupto!

Wordsoongotaroundregarding the"mysteryship"beingbuiltand thenamestuck.ByearlyAugust thefirstModelR,withtheWright engine,wasreadyto fly,making itsfirstflightontheMthwith ClarenceClarkatthecontrolsjustjoweeksafterconstruction commenced!

Itflewverywellandachieved 185mphtopspeedevenwithout theNACAenginecowling.When thecowlwaslaterinstalledtop

>G-ADNDDH8713HORNETMOTH(8on)9April

DandSWeston,18HollyRidge,Portishead, BristolBS208BP(PHOTONigelHitchman)

>G-FATESEQUOIAFALCOF8L (7r) 24April

DMottram,TrusteeofG-FateFlyingGroup, Flat2,SwanCourt,ToadLane,Blackwater, CamberleyGU17gAG

G-ADND

'DougDavisflewtheradialengined exampletovictorywithan averagespeedofjustunder195mph, beatingthemilitary'

speedwentupto225mph,20mph morethanthedesignersexpected.

TheChevrolairpoweredaircraft flewafewdayslaterandsuffered overheatingandanumberofother engineproblems.Bothaircraft thenflewtoClevelandaweeklater toparticipateintheraces.

DougDavisflewtheradial enginedexample,serialnumber

>G- CFKEX'AIRHAWK040 -147549April SRance,44ChalburyClose,PooleBM78BS

>G- SPDYX'AIRHAWK(340 - 1.4678)16April

G Gilmour-White,RidgemonslerichoStreet, ThowertonEX8813A(PHOTONigelBachman)

>G- TOWIDYNAEROMCR-oi(301-4624)16April PKnight,86ParkLone,Tamworth8783HZ

R-2001,R6141(tovictoryinthe ThompsonTrophywithan averagespeedofjustunder 195mph,notonlybeatingthe militarybutalsorecording thefastesteverspeedfora commercialaircrafttodate.

TheChevrolairengined R-2002 R6131(completedafewraces andwasthenwithdrawn.Itwas

>G- CDX1/CRICKETNEK6A(G16- 13.39)9April WSpencer,5FairfieldRoad,BlandfordForum DTn7BZ(PHOTONigelHitchman/Popham)

> G-THISYJODELDlhoso(46)24Apr11 TAllebone,TrusteeofSierraYankee FlyingGroup,TheLimes,EastonMaudit, WellingboroughNN297NR

>PROJECTNEWS

truckedbacktoWichitaandthe enginereplacedwithaWright J-6-7ofaz5hp.

Threefurtheraircraftwerebuilt, althoughnotquitetothesame configurationasmand 02, the mostfamousbeingserialnumber NR1313poweredbya465hp highlymodifiedWrightJ-6-9.In thisaircraftFrankHawkssetover zoocitytocityrecords,including 12

duringaEuropeantourin1931.

Ofthefiveaircraftbuilt,P-zom crashedatClevelandthefollowing yearandonlytheempennage survivesintheTravelAirmuseum. P-2003crashed,wasrebuiltalmost asnewandcrashedagainwith nothingsurviving.Fi-zoo5was builtforItalywhereitwassentin 1931,butnothingfurtherisknown. R-zoo4surviveshanginginthe

TheModelRbeingbuiltherein Englandhasbeenbasedonthe originalstructure,studiesofthe originalaircraftandphotos'

MuseumofScienceandIndustry inChicago.

12-zoozflewforanumber ofyears,firstwithfamous barnstormerPanchoBarnesand laterwithPaulMantzandFrank TallmanofthefamousTallMantz company,whichprovidedaircraft formovies.Itwasthenstoredin theCaliforniadesertformany years.Thisaircraftstillexistsand iscomingtotheendofasuperb restorafion,hopefullywewillsee itflyagainbeforetoolong.

TheModelRbeingbuiltherein Englandhasbeenbasedonthe originalstructure,studiesofthe originalaircraftandphotographs anddrawings.

Somesmallchangeshavebeen

madeforeaseofconstructionand itisn'tgoingtobeanexactreplica ofanyparticularoneofthefive aircraft,butperhapsitwillbe whatserialnumberR-zoo6might havelookedlike.

Asyoucanseeinthephotos,the workmanshipissuperbandthey havegotonveryquicklysince theprojectstartednotthatmany monthsago.

Welookforwardtohearing updatesontheprojectand personallyIcan'twaittoseethe 'mysteryship'roaringbyand landingatPopham.

CONTACTS

BrianGowland

E:brian.gowland@mypostoffice.co.uk

>G-PHVMVANSRV-8(303-14609)24April

VMillard,StoneStreet,IpswichIP695ZandG Howes,ElmswellRood,GreatAshfield,BurySt EdmundsLPL:3HH(PHOTOVernonMillard)

G-PHVM

>G-VIVONICOLLIERMINESTREL 2 (217-141:99) 24April

DTucker,Brookscroft,HeathRoad,Bradfield, ManningtreeGOD2UZ

>G- CFGHJABIRUJi6o(346- 14693)21April

DSargant,TheCroft,GarfieldRoad, Ludhorn,GreatYarmouthNR299QTand DRoyce,HorseFenMill,MarshWall, GreatYarmouthNR2o9PU

>G- ANIJMISTER5 (1680)24April

BWhitehead,TheDene,GreenLane, GrawboroughTN620G

>G- CETTIPIONEER300(330- 14373) 29 April MEllis,Oakwood,WieldRoad,Medstead, AltonGU3491111(PHOTOMikeEllisBrimpton)

>G- ANSMJODELDR1031(MOD)(s12) 24 April TendMBarnby,SpringCottage,Broadway Fa/Hight,HastingsTN354DA

GrassStripAviationEindether (SSDRUltralight) GETTINGTHERE!

AQUICKupdate.Theaircraft wasriggedatAstonDownand weighed,andasitstandsnowwith engine,prop,andalmostcomplete airframe,itweighsinat99.7kg. Wethereforestillhave19kgin handforcowlingsandcovering.It wasriggedagainforthePopham MicrolightShowinMay,where thepicturewastaken.Twokits havealreadybeendeliveredto customers,andareprogressing well.

Theaircraftisa79%scaleversion oftheFokkerEindeckerandaimed atthe115kgSSDRcategory.Engine optionsincludetheRotas447, MZ20IandHirthF23. W:www.grass-strip-ayiation.com

CONTACT

RobinMorton E:robin@robinmorton.flyerco.uk

CATCHINGUPSPECEAL

5 G-RVCIIVans RV-I3A(ctuin6) BuiltandflownbyChrisHarrison ThisisthefirstRV-8AflyinginEurope. PHOTOChrisHarrison/WestonZoyland

NEWPROJECTS

Onlyafewthismonth,butsomeinteresting types.ItwillbenicetoseeanIsaacsSpitfire flyingagain,withtheoriginalhavingbeenout oftheairforseveralyears.

Thesingle-seatVansRV-3isalsoafairlyrare machinewithonlytwoflyingamongstover zooRVsintheUK.

>Isaacs Spitfire(027 - 14902) NLawrence,55BeardallStreet,Hucknall, NottsNO15zpl

>CZAWSportCruiser(338- 14903) Detailswithheld

>Pitts62-E(oo9A-14904)

AAyre,23Squadron,RAFWaddington, Lincoln,LincsLAI5gNB >VansRV-3(699-14905)

AHill,OldKilnCottage,ChertseyRoad, Windlesham,SurreyGU2o6HT

CATCHINGUP

>G-BYKSLeopoldoffL6Colibri(ssg) RestoredandflownbyIanCollier. IanhasrestoredtheColibrioverthelastto yearsandrecentlymadethefirstflight,here

itisseenoverPophamduringtheMicrolight TradeFainQuiteappropriateasitwasan ultralightofitsdaywhendesignedinFrance inthe193os.(PHOTONigelHitchnian)

UN

TenyTaylorreminiscesoverhisfather'siconicdesign -oneoftheearliest'home-grown'PFAdesigns

>ONThefourthofJulythisyearit will,incredibly,be50yearssince theTaylorMonoplanefirsttookto theair,inthecapablehandsofO.V.'Titch' HolmesatWhiteWalthamaerodrome, oncetheheadquartersoftheAirTransport Auxiliary.

Perhapsnotsowellknownisthatthiswas notmyfather'sfirstaeroplanedesign,butthe smallerdevelopmentofonehehadstarted in1954Thiswasatandemtwo-seater-it beingbettertoflywithsomeonethanalone, hethought,andwascontinuedtoanearfinal designstageregardingweight,stressingand sizeofengine.

Unfortunately,itwasthenon-availability ofanythingliketherightenginethatbrought thiswould-beaeroplanetoastandstill,plus thefactthatitwouldneedtobebuiltina roommeasuringiibyi6feet,thedimensions ofourfirstfloorfrontlounge.Afterare-think hedecidedthatwitha26ftwingspan,albeit inthreepieces,itwouldprobablybetoobig tobuild,tooexpensiveanddifficulttopower properly.

Backtothedrawingboard,literally,anda muchsmaller,lighterandcheaperdesignwas produced,intheformoftheMonoweallknow today.Itwastocostnomorethanafamily salooncar,aboutEzoothen,andbesimpleto buildwithaminimumofmetalfittings,withno partlongerthan11feet

Unlikemostmen,whoareinfluencedbytheir fathers,itwasmydad'smotherwhogavehim theaeroplaneinterestfromanearlyage.She hadbeenemployedatKingstonbyTheSopwith AviationCompanyandhelpedproduce fuselagesfortheSalamanderarnongstothers. Myfatherlearnedtobuildfreeflightmodelsof Camels,SEssandotherbiplanetypessparking thedesiretobuildafullsize'model'sometime inthefuture.

AttheoutbreakofWWIIhewas17yearsofage andbecameemployedbyTheIA.Prestwich EngineCo.,involvedinthemanufactureof stationaryenginesforgeneratorsandwater pumps.Thiscompanywasalsotomanufacture anengineknownasthej-99,anopposed aircooledtwinforaeroplaneuseanditwasone ofthesethatmydadwastobolttothefrontof hisMonosome19yearslater.Hewastherefore, wellacquaintedwiththisparticularunit,and alsoitspeculiarcharacteristics.

Above:thebay windowathomegave justenoughroomto assemblethe tailsection. Right:withthe windowremovedthe fuselageistakenout withplentyof helpinghands. Mainphoto:teatime asusualastheMono takesshapein thelounge.

\ses--G4P

Thenandnow:Dad's Monoplaneassembled forthefirsttimeat WhiteWaltham,right, andlastyearatSywell.

EagertojointheRAF,inNiziohesetoffwith hisbrotherexpectingtohesnappedupand sentforimmediatetraining.Ironically,his brotherFredwasindeedsnappedupand spentthenextsixyearsworking on various maintenanceunitsservicingRolls-Royce MerlinandBristolradialenginesintheUKand theMiddleEast_Dadwastoldthathiswork aLJAPwas"fartooimportantforhimtohe released'andhejusthadtostickWthit,much tohisnustration.

BUSDRIVING

Post-war,theopportunitytolearntofly privatelywasinvestigated,butfoundtobetoo expensiveasBritainhauleditselfslowlyout ofshortagesandrationing,andhewasinany casebusyfindingsteadywork(hatenabled himtomanymymotherin1948.Alittlelaterhe reluctantlyacceptedthathecouldnolgodown theprivateflyingrouteandprobablythoughtii wasnottobe.

Orwasit?Afriendalertedhimtothefactthat TheLondonBusCo,orallpeople,hadstarteda flyingclubatFairoakswithasnuillfleetofTiger Mothsandtheirflyingrateswereabouthalf thenorm.Understandably,therequirement tobecomeaclubmemberentailedbecoming astaffmember.Interested?Youbethewas, especiallyasthetrainingtobecomeabus driverwasprovidedatnuextracost.1950saw mydadstrappedintoMerearofoneofthe TigersundertheguidanceofII.E.Bakerandhe quicklygainedhisPPL.

Atlastthingsweremovingintheright direction!ThisofcoursebringsustoWepoint ofintroductionaboveconcerningthetwo seater,thatledtotheMono.

Nowadays,withthehelpoftheLAA, multitudeofStruts,anunendinglistof materialsuppliers,alibraryofdesignbooks andadecentgarage,itispossibleforany determinedpersontodesignandbuildtheir ownaeroplane.Itwasn'tlikethatintheearly

19505though.The PEAmidEAAwere intheirinfancy, materialswere almostimpossible toget,anddesign informationwas heldmainlyby themanytatthat timeiaeroplane companiesdotted aroundthecountm.Hadmydadworkedfor say,MilesorPercivalthenhisgoalwouldhave beenmucheasiertoachieve.

G-P,Pg1 tk.

Fortunatelyhemadecontactinitiallywith CecilLatimerNeedhan-i,designeroftheLuton MajorandMinoraeroplanesandalsoalecturer inaircraftdesign.Evenbetter,MrNeedham foundtimetowriteNAMbooksonthesubject thatbroughtitwithhlreachofMosewitha goodknowledgeofmaterialsandmathematics. Mydadobtainedboth,foundmanyareashe didn'tunderstandandweldtoseetheauthor, whogavehimconsiderablehelpunravelling thestumblingpoints.

Thedesignofthetwo-seaterandhencethe MonowasthenstartedinearnesLDadhadby thenmovedontothedrawingboardatFord,in thejigandtoolingoffice.Preliminawdrawings werepreparedbyhimandboththeseandthe calculationscheckedbytheHuntingPercival DesignOffice,withsomeminoralterations beingnecessary.Latemu SLIWhiminaposition tomanbuilding,butwherewerethematerials tohefound?

DOUGBIANCHI

EnterDougBianchi,ownerofPersonalPlane ServicesatWhiteWaltham,amrmofvast experienceandpracticalknowledgeregarding aeroplanesofallsizesandtheperson,asfar asmydadwasconcerned,whowastochange everything.Thisisnotover-statingthingsasit wasDougwhogatheredmaterials,guidedmy

dadthroughgeneralconstructiontechniques andwasalwaysreadywithencouragement andpracticaladvice.Astheprojectneared completioninearlyim5p,itwasalsoDougwho obtainedaJAPfopengine,andliftedupTitch Holmestoearlyoutmostofthetestflying, assistedbyBertCoodchild.

Theonlyotherlimitationsonbuildingthe Monowerethoseimposedbytheloungewhere itwasbuilt1Thiswasonthehrstfloorandthe diagonaldimeitsionofthefrontwindowwas41t bin,sonocomponentcouldbelargerthanthat. IfanyMonoownereverwonderedwhythe wingchordis48M,nowyouknow!

Thereare SOIlle fantasticadvantagesto buildinganyaeroplaneinWefrontlounge whichareworthmentionmgasfuture buildersmaynothavethoughtofWeinand theyarecertainlynotreadilyapparentin thephotographs,First.,yourwifecannever complainthatshedoesn'tknowwhereyou are.You'llbeaboutsixfeetawayatanygiven tinle.Second,andthisistherealwinner,your 'workshop'willbewaralallyearmund,sono problemswithtrudgingouttothechillygarage orworryingaboutglueandpainttemperatures -it'sallatthetwistofthethermostaL Otherminoradvantagesarehavingsomeone to'holdthetunerend'andalsohelpclear upallthesawdustfromthecircularsawin theearlystagesofbuildingasyoureduce thattreeyouboughttomoreusefulsixes.I justcan'tunderstandwhyit'snotstandard

hornebuildingpractice!PatheNewsvisited alongwiththeBBCtoinvestigatethisstrange loungeroomcreation.

Undertheseidealconditionsthebasic woodenairframetookjusthimonthsto complete,withtheentireprojecttakingabout 2,000hours.Theremovalalsoarousedinterest, withFordcomingtotherescuebyproviding transporttotakeittoWhiteWalthamforfinal assembly.Curiously,Fordhadpreviously,but unwittingly,cometotherescuebyhelpingmy dadhavecertainpartsmadefortheMonoin themachineshop.Componentslikethespar plates,forexample,thatappearedonFord drawingsheetswith'ExperimentalFitting' writteninthetitleboxandthensubsequently returnedtothedrawingofficefor'approval'.

AtWhiteWalthamtheassemblyoftheMono tookjustunderoneweek,withengineruns, andthisiswherethatpeculiarcharacteristic oftheJ-55cametolight.Advancingthethrottle hornidletocruisepowerwasgenerally followedby,nothing,thenastrange'ping' followedbytheproperburstofpower,about threesecondsdelayinall.Hefoundfromhis daysatJAPthatitwasthebridgingjetthat providedfuelinbetweenidleandhigher powersettingsthatwasatfaultandhewas abletorectifythisquitequicklysothatthere wasnodelayinresponse.

TitchHolmes,tohiscredithadtocontend withthisforthefirstfewhoursofflyingthough andcompensatedforitcomfortably.During theexcitementoftheprevioussixyearsmy dad'slicencehadlapsedandthereforehewas unabletocarryoutthetestflying,butinany caseemployingtheservicesofTitchHolmes wasamuchwiserchoiceallround,

TESTFLYING

Thetestflyingproceededsmoothlyupto theissueofthePermittoFly,withnomajor alterationsofanynaturebeingrequired.Atthe requestofHuntingPerdval,theairframewas invertedandtestedstructurallytoalimitof 3Gtocheckforwingdeformationunderthese loads,andtoensuretherewasnoinadvertent foulingoftheaileroncables.

Thislackofalterationshasbeenaconsistent

Clockwisefromleft:the author,aged5. Mydadenjoys hisaircraft. 'fifthHolmes inthecockpit. UltimateMono? U5-builtretractable.

a

featureoftheMonoallthroughitslife,butone minormodificationcreptinduringitsearlylife andtookoverzoyearstocorrect.

Thetailplanewasinitiallysetatzerodegrees incidenceandflowninthisconfiguration withflaps.Somewherealongthelineitwas deemedtobe'longitudinallyunstable'and successivenegativeincidencewasappliedto thetailplane,upto-5o,withtheeliminationof flapsinordertocorrectthis.Monosflewlike thisfordecades,butmainlyinthiscountry only,untiloneJohnGibsonnoticedthisonan examplehecameacrossathislocalflyingclub. John,anaccomplishedglidinginstructor,had spenthislifeasaleadingaerodynamicistand expertinaircrafthandling,ontheLightning, TSR2andEurofighter,forinstance.When hediscoveredthatpilotswereflyingMonos withpronouncedforwardstickhesetabout investigatinghowthishadcomeabout.Hewas abletoprovebycalculationandtestflyingthat theoriginalzerodegreeswastherightsetting. September156osawmydadatthecontrols ofhisowndesign,amarvellousfeelingIam sure,theculminationofwhathadbeena ten-yearadventure.Surprisinglytohim,letters startedarrivingfromtheUSAandCanada expressinganinterestin'asetofplans'for thismasterpiece.Whatplans?Theletters continuedsohesetaboutproducingdrawings, enablingotherstobuildtheirownMonos,the all-woodenaeroplanebeingslightlydifferent tobuildersintheStateswiththeirmore commonplacesteeltubefuselagemodels.Only oneexamplehaseverundercuttheprototype's weightofzoolbempty,thatbeingHugh BeckamfromKansaswhosqueezedinat4o41b, soitcanbedone!

Britishbuildersalsotookupthechallenge. TheMono'simperialdimensioneddrawings androbustnatureappealedtosomemorethan theDruineTurbulent,acontemporary.TheVW 1500hasbecomethemostfittedengineover theyears,butGeoffStanleyfittedhisexample withaWalterMikron,anditstandsoutforits streamlinedlooks.

AftermydadhadflowntheMonoforjust25 hours,itwassoldin1561toMikeSlazengerfor itsconstructioncostofEmo,inordertoputa depositonathreebedroomhouseinLeigh onSea.TheMonohadmovedtoRedhillby thistimeandstayedthere,quicklybeingreenginedwiththeuniversalVWmoo.

TheMonocontinuedtogatherpopularity. TheAmericansolutiontosuitableengines wastofitthe65hpLycoming,regardlessofthe weightincrease.Concernedbythis,mydadset aboutadesignforenginesinthemohpclass, havingbeentotallybowledoverbytheanival ofthemagnificentCosmicWind,whichjoined theTigerClubatRedhillintheearly156os.His timelydesign,theTitch,camesecondtothe BetainadesigncompetitiontheClubranin 1564,withbothaeroplanesflyingin1565.

PROTOTYPESTILLFLYING

Weremydadstillalive,(hewouldhavebeen 85thisyear)tamsurehewouldbeastonished thathisprototypestillfliestoday,andthat aboutmoexampleshavebeenbuiltinEurope, theUSA.AustraliaandNewZealand.

Iampleasedthathisdesignisstillattracting youngerpilotsandbuilders,andcallstillbe builtforthepriceofafamilysalooncar,infact .E6,5oowillmorethangetyouthere.

Adviceandhelpwithhomebuildinghas neverbeenbetter,norhastheavailabilityof materialsastheadvertsintheLAAmagazine testify.Soifsomeofthekitsseemtobeabit onthehighside,andtheirbuildtimesrather optimistic,thereisalwaystheoptionof'doing ityourself',asmanyhaveoverthelasthalf century,andwillcontinuetodo.

ItwouldbeveryniceforasmanyMonosas possibletomeetattheLAAFly-inatSywellin September-oneoftheearlyPFAtypesatone oftheearlyRallyvenues!Lersmakeitadate.

Rollup,rollup fortheshow!

TheLAAwillbeoutinforceatthisyear's AeroExpo,heldover12-14June2009at WycombeAirPark.Comeandmeetus!

WITHourthemeof'Punand Affordable',theLAA'spresence atthisyear'sAeroExpoat WycombeAirParlc(Boolcer EGTB),willbeourlargestyet.

Ourshowareaof725squaremetres, 600/a largerthanlastyear,willalsoincludea separateareawiththetheme'GettingStarted', withahostofbuilddemonstrations(including propellercalving),TypeClubs,Strutsand specialistexhibitors.

Wewillbeshowcasingtherangeofsupport availabletomemberswishingtobuyor constructtheirownPermitaircraft,plusa rangeofpartlyconstructedplansandkit-build fuselagesforyoutoseethebeautifulsimplicitiy ofaircraftconstruction.A'PartMart'willbein operationthroughouttheweekendoffering everyonetheopportunitytosellorbuysurplus orunwantedaircraftbitsandpieces.

ThemainLAAMarqueewillhavesome superbexamplesofvintage,classicandstate oftheartamateur-builtaircraft,acafearea, theLAAshop,LAAPilotCoachingSchemeand more.

ComeandseewhattheLAAEducationTrust, ourcharitableorganisationsetuplastyear,is doingtoadvancetheeducationofthepublicin aviation,inparticularthedesign,construction andtheoperationofaircraft

Build-a-Plane2,whichfirstflewinApril,will beondisplayallweekend,andonSunday therewillbeaspecialpresentationforthe firstBoeing/RAeSBuild-a-PlaneChallengeto YateleySchool.

LAASEMINARS

Don'tmisstheLAA'spresentationsduring Sunday'sSeminarProgram.CEOPeLerHarvey willleadwithaninsightintothelatestnews fromEuropeandhowtheemergingregulations areaffectingus,orhowtheymightdoso,plus

ofcoursethelatestfromLAAHQ.

Intheafternoon,AndyDraperfromLAA Engineeringwilldiscusswhydesignfeatures thatachieve,orappeartoachieve,thesame purposeonvariousaircraftendupasdifferent astheysometimesdo.Includedwillbe examplesofhowdesignsolutionshaveevolved duringtheinitialdesign,flighttestorin-service experience.

Finally,MalcolmMcBridewilldiscuss airworthiness.Withover2,300aircraftin Permit,theLAAAirworthinessteamreceivea hugevolumeoffeedbackthroughouttheyear coveringtheperformanceofaircraftinthereal world.

Malcolm'sseminarwilluncoverthestories behindtheengineering'feedback'andshow justhowimportanttheneedisforvigilance inthefightagainstcorrosion,erosion,stress hardening,poormaintenanceandthe inevitablehumanfactors.

MEMBERS'BOARD

KeepaneyeoutfortheMembersBoardin themarquee,whichwillprovideupdated informationonevents,specialdiscounts negotiatedfromAeroExpoexhibitors(seebox belowanddon'tforgetyourmembershipcard!) anddemonstrations.

We'llalsohaveourveryown'CoolWall', withacrosssectionofmembers'aircraftwith photographsandtypicalrunningcosts.It's alight-heartedwayofhelpingtoshowthe relativemeritsofeachtypeandwehopeyou'll bepleasantlysurprisedatjustwhatawide rangeofaircraftareactuallyavailable.

AIRCRAFTDISPLAY

Thelistofaircraftforstaticdisplayinand aroundthemarqueecontinuestogrow.Aswe gotopressitincludestheHawkSpeed6,Vans RVio,Eurostar,SpitfireMlc26,JurcaMustang,

AusterMk6A,PietenpolAircamper,VansRV6A, VansMN,Sportcruiser,AlpiP3oo,PittsSt EindeckerSSDR,EuropaTO-gear,OneDesign andMTojgyropane.

Someofthesebeautifulaircrafthavebeen featuredin LightAviation recently.Anddon't missanumberofexhibitorsofLAAapproved kitsandLSAaircraftintheexhibitiondisplay area.

GETTINGTHERE

Accessisstraightforwardeitherbyairorroad butdon'tforgetifyouarecomingbyroadto pre-registerat twayexpftnerationdon andtake advantageofasingleE5admissionchargefor allthreedaysratherthanthegatepriceofEi5 perday.Carparkingisfree.

Ifyouplanonflyingin,it'sstrictlyPPRanda landingslotmustbebookedviatheAeroExpo website.Dopleaseuseyourslot'callsign'on firstcontactwithWycombeTower on126.5

ThelandingfeeisreducedtoEioforAero Expo,whichincludesfreeentryforpilotsand passengers.

ANDFINALLY...

WewouldliketothankChrisBrockisfor arrangingtheLAApresentation,andDavid Hanchet,MikeClews,JimMustyandtherest oftheBerkshireStrutforputtinginsucha tremendousefforttobringitalltogether.Abig thankyoutoo,toallthosewhoarebringing theiraircraft.AlIweneednowisgoodweather -let'shopetheMetOfficeisrightaboutthis beinga'BarbequeSummer'.

There'ssomethingforeveryoneatAeroExpo -don'tmiss it!

Meetold friendsinthe LAAMarquee atWycombe.

Seevarious homebuilds under construction. e 4_1,!.__:-.5-4"",..''':4--a:'''4try'1R1.!i

SUN'N FUN09

BrianHope and NigelHitchman report ononeofaviation's 'mustsee'airshows, Sun'nFunFly-inheldat Lakeland,Florida

IFyouarealightaviation enthusiasttherearetwomajor eventsyoushouldattendat leastonce-EAAAirlfenture atOshkosh,andSun'n'FuninFlorida. Despitethevagariesoftheworldeconomic climate,thesetwoeventsremainthe epitomeof'our'kindofaviation,events whereyoucanimmerseyourselffordays onendineverythingthatissowonderful aboutourchosenhobby.

Ofthetwo,Sun'nFuniseasilythemost affordableand,ifyouhavefamilywhoperhaps donotshareyourpassionforaeroplanes,the surroundingregionoffersplentyofalternative entertainmenttokeepthemamused.

TheeventrunsfromTuesdaytoSunday,and ismovedarounddatesinApriltoavoidEaster. inzoioitwillrun13-15April.

Togiveanideaofcost,thisyearmyself andthreefriendsflewwithVirginAtlantic intoOrlandoforE)318each.Wesharedavery comfortablevilla,largeenoughforeight people,for&tooeach,andcarhireworkedout ataboutE8oeach.The'basics'thereforeare aroundE500eachfortheweek(probablyless thanjusttheairfaretogettoOshkosh).

WelocatedourselvesintheOrlando/ KissimmeeareaanddrovedowntoLakeland fortheshow(about45min)becauseKissimmee ismuchbettergearedtothetouristmarket withplentyofrestaurants,accommodation andalternativeattractions(Disney,SeaWorld, UniversalStudiosetc.).Despitethefallinthe valueofthepound,youcanstilleatoutina goodrestaurantforunderEzoif,likeus,you aren'tinclinedtocook.

Aweeklyticketfortheshowis$150or $55ifyouareanEAAmember($35andS30 respectivelyforadayticket).YoucanjoinEAA atthegateandgetthereducedadmissionprice ifyouwish.

SkyCatcherdeliveriesstart 'laterthisyear.Cessnaheritage clearlyapparent.GarminG300 EFIS standard,withGTX327 (Mode C)transponder,SL4(1:. 'radioandELT. ' 11'

Onceattheshowthereissoverymuchtosee, andwhatfollowsisasnapshotofwhatcaught my,andNigelHitchman'seye,thisyear.

CONTEMPORARY

startedwithastrollaroundthemain exhibitionarea,fourlargehangarsfilledwith exhibitors,plusahugeexternalareawhere Cirrus,Piper,Cessnaandawidevarietyof kitmanufacturersandsuppliershadstatic displaysofaircraft.

Followingthelossofasecondprototype, Cessnaonlyhadamock-upofitsLightSport RSA)contender,the162Skycatcher,onits stand.TheconceptaircraftflewinOctober2006, soinLightSportterms,thegestationperiod fromdrawingboardtocustomerdeliveries (nowmootedaslate2005)hasbeenalongone. Thestaffonthestandwerebuoyanthowever, butIguessyou'dhavetobeifyouhadtaken $5KdepositsonoverL000orders.Tobefair, Cessnahasalmostcertainlyflighttestedthis

aircrafttoamuchgreaterextentthanatypical LSAmanufacturer.

Bothaccidentscameasaresultofstall/spin investigationfatCentreofGravitiesaftofthe statedenvelopeIwastold).Thecompanyhas anawfullotridingontheSkyCatcherasthe nextgenerationtrainerthatwillsellthebrand tofuturepilots,soitistakingnoshortcuts. Significantsavingsarebeingmadeby producingtheaircraftinChina,andthecurrent

TerrafugiaTransition,oneofanumberofdesigns aimedatfulfillingthecar/aircraftvehicleconcept.

'Anoft-quotedstumblingblocktothecar/plane conceptismeetingtherigorouscertification requirementsfortwodifferentvehicles'

pricetagisaround$nzg,andyouhavetosayit isawell-equippedaircraft.

Theultimatepersonaltransportofaflyingcar isadreamthathasexistedalmostaslongas theaeroplane,butithasyettoberealisedasa productionentity.MoltTayloralmostmadeit withhisAerocarinthe19505,andafterseveral decadesoflittleactivity,interestintheconcept hasbeensparkedonceagain.

TerrafugiahasrecentlyflownitsTransition alongarunway,andexpectstobeextending flighttestingimminently.Thedesignfeaturesa pusherRotas9125foraerialwork,andasmall front-mounted,front-wheeldriveenginefor theroad.Thewingsfoldupelectrically,hinging ataroundhalfspan,andremainaspartofthe vehicleduringroadoperations.Performanceis

statedasmoldcruiseand65mphontheroad, withapayloadof43olb.

Anoftenquotedstumblingblocktothe car/planeconceptismeetingtherigorous certificationrequirementsfortwodifferent vehicles,butcompanyCEOCarlDietrich commentedthatintheUSatleast,asmall manufactureronlyhastodesignthevehicleto meetroadvehiclelegislation,itisthenupto theauthoritiestodecidewhethertheychoose topurchaseanexampleandtest

TheTransitionfeaturescrumplezonesanda safetycage.Theflightapprovalofcourse,will beasanExperimental.Anticipatedpriceis El94Kanddepositsarebeingtaken!

TheRotas912hasgrowntodominatetheUS LSAandEuropeanVLAscene,almosttothe

>EVENTREPORT

pointofexclusivity,butanewBraziliandesign, theQuasarLite,featuresthe6ohpHKS7ociEas itspowerplant.Withalloywingsandcarbon/ glassfuselage,theQuasarweighsjust215kg andhasausefulloadof 2651Kg,fullfuel(56kg) leaving209kgforpassengersandbaggage. Claimedcruiseisnymphat750/afor121/hr,and maxrange960miles.

EUROPABACK

IrsgreattoseeEuropabackinthefrayand determinedtomakeanimpactontheUSLSA marketTheBritishcompanychoseSun'n Funtodebutthenewwingwhichithopeswill reducestallspeedtoorbelowtherequired45kt and,builtincarbon,willreduceemptyweight byaroundsolb.Thewingfeaturesafullspan slotanditishopedthatflighttestingwillbe abletocontinenceshortly.Seeelsewherein thisissuedetailsofthenewEuropacompany's plansforthefuture.

ThisyearmarksthecentenaryofLouis BleriorsflightacrosstheChannel,anda numberofeventsarebeingplannedover

25-26Julytomarktheoccasion.Theseinclude threecrossingsbyBleriotaircraftorreplicas, oneofwhichwillbebyPascalKremerfrom LuxembourginhisRotecradialengined fullscalereplicabuiltfromanAirdrome Aeroplaneskit-thesamecompanythat producestheEindeckerSSDRforUKagent GrassStripAviation.

Thereplicaisdimensionallyaccurate,and otherthanhavingaileronsratherthanwing warping,thewingprofileisalsoasperthe original.Pascalhadhisaircraftattheshowand itgeneratedconsiderableinterestandpicked uptheBestPlans-builtLSAaward.

Forwelloveradecade,WilliamWynnehas pioneereddevelopmentoftheGMCorvair flat-sixautomobileengineforaircraftuse,and currentlysellsplansandarangeofconversion componentsfortheengine.Anewcompany, AeroMaxAviation,hasnowarrivedonthe scenesellingcomplete,readytoinstallengines from$7,500,andhasfutureplanstoputan improvedCorvairtypeengine-newcases, crank,headsetc-intoproduction.

'It'sgreattoseeEuropabackinthefray anddeterminedtomakeanimpactonthe USLightSportAircraftmarket'

IfyouwantedfastmetalpreRV,youbuiltaThorp 118,thisexamplewinningBestPlans-built.

Aeromaxisalsocurrentlyworkingon twoversionsofanewcompositeaircraft specificallydesignedforthisloohpdirectdrive engine.TheyaretheBreeze,whichwillbean LSAandtheFalcon,withasmallerandtapered wing,willbeanExperimental.Thecompany promisestheappearanceofacompleted aircraftatOshkoshthissummer,andan airframekitpriceofjustSzoK.

Outintheaircraftparkstherewasplenty ofinterest,withtheRVsection,asalways, boastingthelargestattendanceincludingsome quitestunningexamples.TheprizeforBest Kit-builthowever,wentnottoanRVbuttoone ofitsoffspring-asplendidFtRocket BestPlans-builtwenttothatpredecessorof theFtlisifyouwantedarapidtourer,aThorp

TheAeromaxCorvairconversionfeaturesanoilBrazilianLSAcontender,theQuasarLite,featuresPascalKremerwillbeflyinghisBleriotreplica fedfrontcrankshaftsupportbearing. the60hpMKS700Eflat-twinengine. fromCalaistoDoveron25July.

M8.AnRViothatcaughtmyeyewaspaintedto looklikeaCirrus,verystylish.

Ifyou'vealwaysfanciedaPilatusPorterbut findthepricetagalittlerich,howaboutthekitbuiltCompAirin.Aneight-seaterwithaWalter 65ohpturboprop,ithasonly85hoursfrom newandwillsetyoubackjust$289K.

Notunreasonably,longdistancesareoften citedfortheproliferationoffastaircraft intheUS,butthatdoesnotmeanthat thosewithrathermorebasicmachinesare unadventurous.Sixty-fiveyearoldArtyTrost flewherRotax503poweredsingleseatDrifter allthewaydownfromSandy,Oregoninthe north-westtoSunnFuninthesouth-east, adistanceof3,6nmiles.Cruisingataround 55mph,thetriptookanunhurriedi8days,

`Sixty-flveyearoldArtyTrostflewherRotax503 poweredsingle-seatDrifterallthewayfrom Oregon,adistanceof3,611miles'

duringwhichthetwo-strokeenginedidnot missasinglebeatShemadethereturnflight aftertheshowandarrivedhomeon16May.

VINTAGEANDWARBIRD

Therewasareasonableturnoutofvintage aircraftthisyear,butfewpreWWnantiquesor stunningnewrestorations.Thejudges'choice ofGrandChampionwasjackHill's1941Waco UPE-7NC32071,asuperbrestorationwhichalso

wonawardsatOshkoshlastsummer.Another veryniceWacowasNC1658o,a1936YKS-6cabin version.

Stilllooldngbrandnew,buthavinghadits firstpostrestorationflightin2007,wasformer OshkoshGrandChampionLockheed 12NC2072. ThisaircrafthasrecentlybeenupinCanadafor thefilmingoftheAmeliaEarhartstory.Amelia disappearedoverthePacificonherroundthe worldflightinasimilarLockheedla

>EVENTREPORT

KermitWeeksbroughthisFordTrimotorover fromhisnearbyFantasyofFlightmuseumone morningwhichwasverynicetosee,theonly othertransportspresentbeingfourDC-3sanda coupleofBeech18s.

BobHedgcockboughthisfamiliarStinson SM-2andtherewereacoupleofStinson ReliantsandsomeverynicelyrestoredStinson m8s.Cessna1938werewellrepresented includingtwoconvertedto43ohpPrattand WhitneypoweranddubbedCessna196.

Thebestcabinantiqueawardthough,went toMonocoupenoSpecialNC2064.Veryfewof theseclippedwingMonocoupeswerebuilt, butagoodpercentagesurvivethankstotheir popularity,althoughmanyhavehadseveral rebuilds!

CULVERDART

Anotherrareaircraftwasthe1939DartGW,this aircraftwasoriginallydesignedbyAlMooney whenheworkedforLambertairuaftasthe MonosportG.WhenMooneyandKnightCulver formedDartManufacturingin1937theybought therightsoftheMonosportandproduceditin Columbus,Ohio.

ThecompanylaterbecameCulveraircraftand theaircrafttheCulverDartThisDartispowered GorgeousrestoredLockheed12whichhas recentlybeenfilmingtheAmeliaEarhartstory.

'Perhapsthebiggestsurprisewasseeingfour

GrummanWildcatfighters-Idon'tthinkI'veever seenfourinthesameplacebefore'

bya123hpLycoming0-290,butoriginallyit wouldhavehadaLeBlondorWarnerradial engine.

IntheWarbirdsparktrainerswereplentiful, withafewsurpriseslikeagoodcollection ofVulteeBT-13sinamongstalltheT-6sand Harvards.Highlightwasthenewlyrestored CurtissP-zroNNL43FGofJohnFallsfrom Lafayette,whichwontheBestFighteraward. Itisasuperbrestorationofanactualcombat veteranwhichsurvivedthankstoitbeingkept inatechnicalschoolbranumberofyears.

Perhapsthebiggestsurprisewasseeing fourGrummanWildcatfighters.Idon'tthink I'veeverseenfourinthesameplacebefore, althoughunfortunatelyallfourwerenever flowntogetherorparkedtogether,atleast whileIwasthere.

TheCommemorativeAirForcearenowmore visibleatEAAeventsanditwasgreattoseeits B-24Liberator(wellactuallyaLB-3otransport

Eight-seatCompAir10willcruiseat200mphand takeoffinlessthan200metres.

version)flying,andyoucouldbuyarideinit too,orarideinatwo-seatP-31.Thesewere joinedbyanoldfriendfromtheUKtheex SouthendMuseumSeaFuryWI288,whichhas nowbeensuperblyrestoredtoflyingcondition.

SPLASHINGABOUT

The"SplashIn"movedlastyearfromLake ParkertothelakeatKermitWeeks'Fantasyof Flightmuseum,amuchbetterlocationwith arampsothataircraftareabletotaxiuponto thegrass,allowingpeopletocampandstay overnightinpleasantsurroundings.

ThelakewasverybusyduringtheSplash InonThursday,witharound 70 aircraft present,fromGrummanGooseandMallards toultralightsonfloatsandeverythingelsein between.

Ofthemoreunusualtypesseenonfloatswere aLuscornbe,aCurtisWrightTravalair12anda CessnaAirrnaster.Withgrapefruitbombingand spotlandingcompetitions,theairwasalways alivewithseaplanes,plustherewassome additionalentertainmentwhenaGrumman Goosebecamestuckinthemudtryingtobeach; fortunatelytheyeventuallygotitoutwithout sustaininganydamage.

MANUFACTURERWEBSITES

CESSNA:www.cessna.com

TERRAFUGIA:www.terrafugia.com

QUASAR:www.aeroalcool.com.br

EUROPA:www.swifttg.com

AIRDROME:www.airdromeaeroplanes.com

AEROMAX:wwwseromaxaviation.com

7-sunlight-viewableLCD,operatingin horizontalorverticalmode.

NghtVision:thesafestviewfornightflights.

Themostdetailedmaps:JeppesenDatawith LowAirways,marineobjects.Morethan450 ) unlicensedairfieldsinUK!

ExchangeWaypoints.FlightPlansandTracks \ databetweenthenavigatorandGoogleEarthT"

Thankstolife-bngfreesoftwareupdates,theAvMap EKPIVcontinuesitsevolutiontoofferthelatesttop notchtechnologies.EKP-IVoffersthebiggestand brightestscreenavailableinaportableaviafionGPS: awide7"coloursunlight-viewableLCD.whichcan operateinPortraitorLandscapemode.Nowenriched withnewpowerfulyeteasy-to-usefunctons,thanksto thepracticalkeyboardandjoystick.

>NEWS: AIRSPACE: ANEVERWATCHFULEYE

TheLAAandNATSareactuallygoinginthesamedirection, workingtogethertoresolveairspaceissues

WORDSJohnBrady

WHEN

Iopenedmymagazine lastmonthIwasshocked toseemyconsultation articlepublishedundertheheadline; "NAB:HeadOnChallenge"followed byanunhelpfulcommentaboutour relationshipwithNATS.

Well,IwrotethearticlewhichI Liketothinkcoveredthegroundina reasonablybalancedandinformative waybuttheheadlinewasputinby themagazinepublishersandgot pastoureagle-eyededitorwhowas awayatSunnFun.

Youwillbepleasedtoknowthat weactuallygetonverywellwiththe peopleatNATSandallofuswantto supportsafeflyingoperations.

However,likeanylargebusiness, NATShasitsownwayofrecording andsharingdata,soitisn'talways abletogiveuswhatweaskfor andduringtheStanstedTMZ consultationthatundoubtedly stoppedusanalysingtheproposalin thewaywewanted.

WeputthattotheCAAaspart ofoursubmissionbutdirectorsat theCAAreadourmagazinetooand theheadlinewillhavedoneadeal ofdamageatatimewhenweare seekingtobecomemoreengagedon airspacematters.

TheLAAhasapolicyofengaging positivelywiththeregulator andotheraviationorganisations includingNATS,asconfrontations getusnowhere.Ifweneedto disagreewithpolicyorpracticewe willdosobutwewillalwaystrytobe balancedandconsidered.

Considerthatiftherewereto beaseriousincidentoraccident involvingaGAaircraftinfringing controlledairspace,thepublicoutcry wouldcertainlyclosedownmuch ofthesurroundingairspacewe currentlyenjoy.

Soitisclearlyinourbestinterest toachievethatproperbalancein managingsafetyrisks—andright nowairspaceinfringementsarefairly closetothetopofthesafetylist.

NORWICHAIRPORTCLASSD AIRSPACE

NorwichAirporthasreleasedits consultationonestablishingClassD airspace;youcanseethedocument byfollowingthelinkfromtheLAA website.

Class D airspaceforNorwichAirportisunderconsultation.TheLAAisformulatingaresponse—doyouhaveaview?

ThisconsultationproposesaCTRup to6000ftandasurroundingCTA from1500ftto6000ft.

AtfirstreadingNorwichseemsto haveanissuewithmilitaryaircraft ratherthanGAandglidersbutof courseClassDwouldaffectusall.

TheLAAresponseisbeing coordinatedbyalocalteamled byLAAmemberPeteBirchwho understandsNorfolkairspaceissues betterthanI.Youcangivehimyour viewsbyfollowingthelinkonthe websiteordirecttonorwichacp@laa uk.com.

Theclosingdateforresponsesto Norwichis10AugustbutIhope wewillhavemoreinformationfor youonthewebsitebytheendof JuneandintheJulyeditionofthe magazine.

ABERPORTHUAVRANGES

Alsooutthismonthistheproposal bytheWelshAssemblyGovernment forasetofdangerareasbetween AberporthandSennybridge RangeaspartofanexpandedUAV

developmentcentre.

Therearethreepossible configurationsproposed:extending thecurrentRA(T)aroundAberporth, addingoneareawithbase3000ft orFL60andtherestaboveFL100. Thesewouldonlybeactiveduring UAVoperations,andeventhenwith acrossingserviceavailable.

Theconceptisthatdangerarea sectionswouldonlybeactivated byNOTAMandthatonceaUAVhas reacheditsoperatinglevelaccess willbeprovidedatotherlevels withinthearea, Wecannotpublishchartshere atthemomentwhilstweawait copyrightapproval,butyoushould findthemonthewebsitebythetime youreadthis.

Withthelevelofactivityexpected thisdevelopmentshouldnotbea seriousproblemforLAAmembers, althoughwavesoaringfromthe BlackMountainsGlidingClubat Talgarthandcrosscountryflyingby paraglidersandhangglidersnear Aberporthmaybecurtailed.

Followthelinkfromourwebsiteto seetheproposalbutbewareitisa 5.5Mbfilebecauseofalltheglossy picturesandcharts.Wewilltryto putacut-downsummaryonthe website,justincludingtheaviation detail.PaulBirdandBrianGowland aretheteamlookingafterthis consultationwhichctoseson28July. Youcancontactthemusingthelink onthewebsiteordirectatwagacp@ laa.uk.com

Thereisofcoursemuchmoreto tellbutIwillsaveitupsoI(and you)cangoflyingbut,whenyoudo, rememberthatthoughtfulplanning andcarefulnavigationwillsaveyou infringingairspaceandpossibly endangeringyourselfandthepublic. Doyoualwaysknowwhere controlledandrestrictedairspaceis inrelationtoyourpresentposition, altitudeandtrackanddoyouhave acastironplanifthingsdon'tquite goasyouexpect?Good,thenwith mapandstopwatchtohandwecan allgoflyingsafelynowthatsummer hasarrived.

s EEUR P

IvanShawdesignedthebest-sellingEuropa twentyyearsagoandwentontocreatethe LibertyXL2.Nowthecompanyisinthehands ofanewownerandIvan'sbacktoflyoneof thelatestaircraft,aEuropaXStd-gear

>FLIGHTTEST

'Onceyougetused

tocruisingat130140kt,it'sdifficultto gobacktoamore sedate80-90kt'

Ivan'stwin-engineVariEze-a'miniStarship'.

>AFEWmonthsagoIflewaEuropa

Iwastestflyingintoalocalairfield. Uponlandingacoupleofpilots wanderedovertoenquirewhattypeof aircraftitwasandcontinuedtoaskallthe usualquestions,howfast,howfar,etc.

I wasalittlesurprisedtheyknewsolittle aboutthetype.WithmorethanT000soldinto 30countriesworldwideIthoughteveryone inaviationknewabouttheEuropaandits developmentovertheyears.

Oneofthepilotsthensaidthatintheeight yearshehadbeenflyinghehadneverread aflighttestreportontheaircraftandwasn't familiarwithwhattheaircraftwasallaboutIt wasthenthepennydropped...

IrealiseditwasnowoverzoyearssinceI startedthedesignandthatmostoftheaviation presshadruntheir'airtests'ontheEuropaat leasttenyearsago!

IntheUKwetrainaround2,500-3,000new pilotsayearsoitislittlewonderthereisa wholenewgenerationofaviatorsunfamiliar withthetype.Justthinkforamomenthowour ownAssociationhasdevelopedoverthelast 20 years!

Allthegreybeardswhohavebeenaround aviationsinceWilberandOrvillewereboys mayliketomoveontothenextarticleabout now,asIfeelprettysuretheywillhavealready heardmuchofwhat'scomingup.Butforthe newgenerationofpilotswhothoughtthe 'Europa'wassomethingtodowithacommon marketdirective,I'dliketoexplainwhatthe aircraftwas/isstillallaboutBearwithmeasI delvebackintohistorybriefly.

ALITTLEHISTORY

Twentyyearsagojustaboutallthehomebuilt designscamefromtheUSAandthesehad becomepolarisedintotwomaincamps.FirsL therewasthenew'compositerevolution' typesofferingfastglassdesignsthatblewthe doorsoff,performancewise,theirproduction certifiedcousins-theCessnasandPiperswe hadalllearnttoflyin.

BurtRutanledthisrevolutionwhenhe introducedtheVariEzein1076,ahomebuilt aircraftthatwoulddo200mph.Thiswas followedbyGlasairandLancairdesigns. Attheotherendofthespectrumwasthe 'flyforfun'PiperCublookalikesepitomised bytheKitfoxdesign.Theseaircraftoftenhad foldingwingsandcouldheoperatedoutofany

Gull•wingdoorsmakegettingintoandoutoftheEuropasimple.Notebigwindowsforgreatvisibility.

farmers'field,'thenineacresoutback'.

OtherdesignslikethemetalVansRVseries offeredall-roundperformanceandwere inexpensivetobuild.

IbuiltandflewaRutanVariEzein108c1/81 beforemodifyingthedesignintoatwin-engine 'miniStarship'!picturedabove).Whatthese aircraftdidwasspoilmeintermsofspeedand efficiency.Onceyougetusedtocruisingat130moktit'sdifficulttogobacktoamoresedate Bo-gokttypicalof,say,Cessna-152s.

MywifeJudithandIflewfromLeeds-Bradford toJerseyinourVariEzeoneday,monmin twohoursforafuelburnofjusteightgallons. Toppingthetanksoff,thejerseyfuelguy wouldn'tbelievewehadflowninfromLeeds. OX,wehadthewindupourchufterbutyou takethepoint

Theproblemwiththefastglassdesignsis theyreallyneedlonghardrunwaystooperate from,notaproblemintheUSAbutmoreso herewheremuchofourtypeofflyingisdone fromgrassfieldsorfarmstrips.

Soherewastheproblem.Iwantedthe'fast

glass'speedandefficiencybutIalsowanted tosafelyoperatefromshortroughgrassstrips withSTOLperformancealaPiperCub! SoIsatdownonedayandmadeouta 'wishlist'orsetofrequirementsformyideal affordableaircraft: Two-place,comfortableside-by-sideseating withenoughbaggagespaceforextended touring moktpluscruisespeed aoonmrange Economy.Fuelisexpensiveandwillbecome evenmoreso.Atmomphcruise,theEuropa sipsjust 9 litres12gallons)perhourofunleaded petrol Rig/de-riginlessthanfiveminutesforhome storagetosaveonhangerage Abilitytooperatefromunpreparedgrass stripsallyearround STOLperformance Whisperquiet-Idon'tthinkthatasapilotI havetherighttoannoypeopleontheground Excellentfieldofviewfromthecockpitfor safetyandpleasure

Highusefulloadwithinsafecentreofgravity limits

Excellenthandlingwithcontrolandstability thatmetcertifiedrequirements

Astrongairframestressedtocertified requirements

Goodlooks.

WhenIlookedatmylistandcompareditwith allthethenavailableaircrafttherewasn'tone thatwouldfulfilallmyrequirements.So,ifthat waswhatIwanted,thenIwouldhavetodesign andbuilditmyown!

OddlyenoughIonlyeverintendedbuilding oneaircraftbutasthedesignfirmedupseveral friendssaid,"Ifyoucanachieveallthatinone aircraftthenI'llhaveonetoo!"

EuropaAviationwasborn!

THEBIGPROBLEM

Anaircraftthatisdesignedtobefastandsuper efficientinthecruiserequiresahighwing loading;13to15lbpersqftcouldbeconsidered aminimumforaircraftwithcruisingspeeds between1oo3okt.Anylessandtheridein allbutflatcalmconditionsbecomesvery uncomfortable.Asupersmoothairframewith eitherfullyretractableorsmallfaired-inwheels andtyrestokeepdragtoaminimumwould alsoberequired.

G-RDHS /_9"

Ontheotherhandanaircraftdesignedto giveexcellentroughfieldSTOLperformance needstohavelargewheelsandtyresto handlethebumpsandalargewing,witha lowwingloading,sothattheaircraftcantake offandlandslowlyinashortdistance-likea PiperCub.Theproblemwiththisisthatonce airbornethebigwingsandwheelsproduceso muchdragthatyoucannotcruisequicklyor efficiently.

Mostaircraftdesignsfallsomewherein betweenandgivean'allroundperformance hutdonotexcelinanyfield!

So,howdoestheEuropaexcelinbothrough, shortfieldSTOLperformanceandatthesame timeefficienthighspeedcruising?

Apartfromasmoothcompositeairframewith ashapedesignedforlowdragthereweretwo majorinnovationsontheoriginalEuropa,now calledthe'Classic'.

Onewastheuseofasingleextralargetundra tyremaingearwhichcomfortablyhandles mostroughfields.Alarge'footprint'and 'diameter'giveslowrollingresistanceonsoft wetgroundallowingtheaircrafttoaccelerate quicklyfortakeoffInflightthemainwheel simplyretractsintoalargearmrestbetween thepilotandpassenger.Retractablelanding gearusuallybringswithitahighcostin

'Oncetrimmedout,take yourhandsoffthestick, sitback,relaxandwatch thecountrysideunfold'

money,weightandcomplexity-theenemies ofthedesigner.NotsowiththeEuropa.The maingearisasimpleswingingarmandthe wholeretractmechanismweighslessthan J.kg.Outriggersonthewingsalsoretractwith thegear/flapoperationtogiveasuperclean airframeforefficientoperation.

WINGDESIGN

Thesecondareaofinnovationwasthewing design.Anyairlinermusthaveawingthatis optimisedinthecruiseconfigurationbutit mustalsomeetcertainfieldrequirements.The resultisasophisticatedwingwithlowdragin thecleancruiseconfigurationwhilegivingvery highliftbyusingpowerfulflapsinthetake-off andlandingstagesofflightI'msurewehave allsatinwonderaswehaveseenthemodern airlinerwing'unfold'inflightpriortolanding! Iwantedtokeeptake-offandlandingspeeds

downtoaroundgsktwhilststillmaintaininga highwingloadingandlowdragintheouise, sowhatmyaircraftneededwasasophisticated wing.

NowitwasaboutthistimethatmyAcme bookonaircraftdesignstartedtorunoutof ideassoIdeployedthatoldadage,"ifyou don'tknowsomething,thenfindtheman[or woman]whodoes".

IwasfortunatetomeetDonDykinswhohad justretiredasTechnicalDirectorofBritish Aerospace,aftergoyearsattheforefront ofaerodynamics.DonhadbeenChief AerodynamicistontheEuropeanAirbuswing design-atthetimeacclaimedasthemost efficientintheworld!

DonjoinedtheEuropaprojecttotakecare oftheaerodynamics.Afteraclosestudyof myrequirements,hecametotheconclusion thatifwereallywantedtopushthewheelof progressforwardthenwewouldindeedneed asophisticatedwingdesignandpowerful controlstosafelyhandletheslowapproach andlandingspeeds.

Dondesignedacompletelynewnatural laminarflowwingsectionthatwouldhave verylowdraginthecruisebut,whenlinkedto a700/cispan300/0chordslottedflap,wouldgive highliftallowingslowtake-off,approachDt

„folk

IN andlandingspeeds.

Inshort,wehadamodemsophisticated wingspeciallydesignedfortheaircraftand itsmission.Theonlythingleftwastomakeit happenandIampleasedtosaytheaircrafthas metorexceededallmydesigngoals!Butmore thanthat,thewholeturnedouttobefarmore thanthesumoftheparts.Ithasbeautrfulflying qualities-arealpilot'saeroplane!

Overtheyearswecontinuallydevelopedand improvedthedesign.The'Classic'wasfollowed bythe'XS'modeltogetherwithatri-geardesign forpilotswhodidnotlikethechallengeofthe monowheeltaildragger.Wealsoproduceda setofmotor-gliderwingsthatcouldbefitted withinminutes,givingthepilottheoptionof flyingwitheitherset,asortof'twofortheprice ofonedeal'.

Bytheyear20001wasfocusingonthedesign oftheLibertyX1.2,aFAR23certifiedproduction aircraftand'BigBrother'totheEuropa.We soldtheEuropaAircraftcompanyandithas hadvariousownerssincethen,uptothe presentwhereithasbeentakenoverbyDavid Stanbridge.IbelieveDavidhasallthequalities todnvethecompanyforwardonceagain.

Heisanexperiencedaeronauticalengineer, aircraftowner,pilotandbusinessmanand, justasimportant,ishisenthusiasmtodevelop

'Poweredbya115hp Rotax914Turboengine andCS'prop,thisisthe Porscheoftherange'

theEuropawiththeadditionofanLSAmodel togetherwithotherdevelopments.Watchthis spaceastheysay.

FLYINGTHEEUROPA

Justastheproofofthepuddingisintheeating, theproofoftheaeroplaneisintheflyingsoI wasdelightedtobeaskedtoflyabeautiful tri-gearXSmodelbuiltbyRussellSpencer. Russellhasmadeabeautifuljobofboth thebuildandthefinishasthephotosshow. Hislabourshavebeenrewardedwithafine aircraft

Poweredbya115bhpRotax914Turboengine andAirmaster332electricconstant-speed three-bladepropeller,thisisthePorscheofthe range.

CentrestageonthepanelisanMGLOdyssey ENS.Thisadvancedpieceofkitgivesthepilot alltheinformationherequiresfromengineTs

andPstoflightinstrumentsandnavigation.

A44-inchwidecockpitmeantthatDavid StanbridgeandI,bothoversixfoottall, wereseatedcomfortably.Ihaveflownother homebuiltdesignsthataresocrampedyouend upaskingyourselt"Arewehavingfunyet"?

TheRotaxfiredupimmediatelyandIcouldn't helpbutthinkhowallRotaxengineshave improvedoverthelast20years;theystart betterandappeartorunmoresmoothly.

Taxyingwasstraightforwardwiththegear doingagoodjobofsmoothingoutthebumps onthegrassfield.Oncemoving,steeringcanbe carriedoutusingrudderalone,thedifferential fingerbrakesonlybeingrequiredintight corners.

Checkscompleted,it'stimetogoandwe caniedoutaformationtake-offwiththeCessna 182carneraship.Weunstuckatabout5okt andquicklyestablishedacruiseclimbatgokt, bringingthepowerbacktomaxcontinuous, flapsupandpropellertotheclimbsetting. Oncelevelled,itwastimetoformateonthe cameraship.Alowwingdesignisgoodforthis aspectofflyingandthelight,wellharmonised controlsoftheEuropamadeiteasytohold formationandmove'aroundthebox'.Theidea istopresenttheaircrafttothecameraaswe searchedforthemostinterestinglitpartsof2.

THEMANBEHINDNEWEUROPA

SwiftbossDavidStanbridgetalkstoDaveRawlings

WhatmadeyoubuyEuropa?

I'vebeenflyingsinceIwas13yearsoldand becameanAeronauticalEngineer.Iwentforall thejobinterviewswhenIgraduatedbutdidn't likewhatIwashearingsoIdisappearedintothe oilandgasindustry,poppedout20yearslater andthoughtI'dgobackintoaviation.

IonlystumbledintoEuropabyaccident.It wasquitebizarre.Backin2004whenIwasstill workinginHolland,IdecidedthatIwantedto designandbuildmyowncompositeside-by-side trainingaircraft.However,becauseofthedayjob itneverworkedout.ButwhenImovedbackto theUKthatbecamemyintention.

IwaswanderingaroundWombletonAirfield inYorkshire,lookingforamanufacturingsite fortheSwiftaircraft,andagentlemanwhowas showingmearoundmentionedthatEuropawere stillaround.Ithoughttheyhaddisappeared,soI poppedroundandonethingledtoanother.

Whatareyourfutureplans?

WehaveanLSAwinginthepipeline,andthere

aretwowingoptionswhichweneedtotest.

Thefirsthasafullleadingedgeslatandthe otheristhesameplan-formasthecurrent onebutmadeofcarbonfibreandhasvortex generatorstokeeptheflyingcharacteristicswe need.

Wealsohaveamotoglidercomingalongwhich needsonemoretestfortheLAA.Therewasa slightproblemwiththelasttest,butthathasnow beenfixedandhopefullyintwoweekswe'llhave itupandrunningagain.

Arethereanyplansforaquick-buildkit? Yes,whatwe'redoingatthemomentisgoing throughthewholedesignandseeinghowmuch morewecandoatthefactory.

Thefuselagecurrentlycomesinthreepartsthelowerhalf,upperhalfandcockpitmodule. Whatwewanttodoisgetridofthecockpit moduleandhaveithondedintothelowerhalfof thefuselagebeforeweshipitout.We'relooking atotherchangesthroughout.

We'remakinganewfactorydemonstrator

nowandwithinthataeroplanewe'rebuildingin everythingtomakeitaquickerbuildandusing thatasthe'firstone'ifyoulike.

WewillthenputitthroughtotheLAAtoseeifit stillcomplieswiththe51%rule.

Howisthecurrentflowofspareandpartsto ownersandoperators? Noprobtemwhatsoever.

Anyotherdevelopmentsatthemoment,for EuropaandSwift?

Welt,we'retookingtocertifytheaircraftwiththe CAA.EuropaisnowownedbySwiftTechnology Groupandwe'remakingthatatechnologydriven companybecausethat'swheremybackgroundis. We'redevelopingthingswithrenewableenergy andalsoworkingwiththeoilandgasindustry. Wewanttobeabitmorediversejustincase theaviationsectorgoesdownalittlebit.One ofthegoalswesetourselveswasforatypecertificatedEuropaandinfactIsenttheformsoff theEASAyesterdayforatourerandmotorglider.

'Thereisnosenseof 'feeling'forthe groundasyouenterthe finalflare'

theskyonwhatwasadullafternoon.

Oncethephotodetailwascompleted,it wasnicetosimplysetupa'nofuss'135kt cruisebacktothefield.TheEuropa'spositive stabilityprofilemeansthatoncetrimmedout, youcantakeyourhandsoffthestick,sitback, relaxandwatchthecountrysideunfold.It's areal'goplaces'aircraft,andneitherdoesit breakthebankwithitsmiserlyfuelhum.

Generalhandlingwasadelightandnormal fortype.Allthestallswerestraightforward, thepositivelongitudinalstabilityandthe stickforceper'g'givethepilotagoodinitial 'feel'throughthestickthatheisapproaching thestall.Awarninghornwassetuptosound

auktmarginbeforethestallfollowedbylight airframebuffetjustpriortoit.Allthestalls wereprogressive,gentleandbenign,withno wingdropbeyondafewdegrees.

Approachandlandingwasstraightforward, slowingdowntotheflaplimitspeedofgokt thensettingthepropellerintothe'fine'takeoffsetting.Oncetrimmedoutwithfullflaps andsetontheapproachatbokt,theaircraft exhibitsgoodstabilityeasilymaintainingits trimmedspeed.

Thefieldofviewoverthenoseonthisphase offlightastheaircrafthangsontheflaps, nosedown,isalsoexcellentandyoucansee exactlywhereyouaregoingtotouchdown. Thereisnosenseolleeling'forthegroundas youenterthefinalflare.Thetri-gearEuropais oneoftheeasiestaircrafttotake-offandland thatyouwilleverfly.

SMALLPRICESTOPAY

Theth-gearXSgivesawayaroundfiveknots tothemonowbeelinthecruise,acoupleof litresperhourinfuelburnandaslightlyless usefulloadbutthesearesmallpricestopay foranyoneunfamiliarwithtaildraggersor notneedingthesoftwaterloggedwintergrass heldadvantageofthemonowheel.

Aviationhasmovedonoverthelastzo yearsandwenowhaveaplethoraofreally superlookingaircraftpoweredbyRotax engines,mostlynowcomingfromEastern Europe.Arecentvisittothisyear'sAERO Friedrichshafenshowconfirmsthatthereare evenmoreontheway!

Howeverintermsofoverallperformance, utilityandflyingqualities,thetotalpackage, Ihavenotyetflownanaircrafttoequalthe Europa!Icanjusthearyouallsaying,"He's boundtosaythat"!AllIcansayinreturnis, "Putittothetest-goflyaEuropa".

INTHECOCKPIT

Oneofthebestthingsaboutbuildingyour ownaircraftisthatyoudecidetheequipment. BuilderRussellSpenceroptedforanMGL AvionicsOdysseyelectronicflightinformation system(EFIS)thatdominatesthepanel.This aircrafthasa115hpRotax914Turboengine andthree-btadeconstant-speedpropsoplenty ofperformance.Cockpitis44inwideand plentybigenoughfortwosix-footers.Nice upholsteryonRussell'saeroplane!

ESSENTIALINFORMATION:EUROPAXS

PERFORMANCE POWER

Maxcruise16618100hpRotax912ULS Cruise@75%135ktor115hpRotaxUL914 Stallspeed(flaps)44ktPropelleraccordingto Take-offroll152mbuilder Landingroll183m

Climb1,300ft/minPRICE Fuelbum@55%151/hrAirframekitfrom Range@55%576nm£23,132+VAT Firewallforwardkit

DIMENSIONS (separatefromabove Wingspan8.27manddependsonengine Wingarea9.485sqmchoice)£3,233+VAT Length5.843m Engine&propextra Height2.133m Baggage0.637sqmMANUFACTURER EuropaAircraft(2004) WEIGHTS&LOADSLimited Empty402kg 30DoveWay Usefulload214kgKirbyMillsIndEstate MTOW62I.4kg Kirkbymoorside Maxbaggage36kgYorkY06260R DesignloadfactorsT:01751431773 +3.8/-1.9g W:www.europaFuelcapacity681ftaircraft.com

REC RD BR KER

It's70yearssinceAlexHenshawsettherecordfrom LondontoCapeTownandback. ChalkieStobbad madeanattemptontherecordlastmonth

Informationandphotos SuppliedbyNickHamptonandSimonMurdoch

>AT

23 o4ZonThursday7May,having beendelayedforthreehoursdue tofog,Charles'ChalldeStobbart departedCapeTownInternationalAirport inhisOspreyGP4amateurbuiltaircraft,to startthechallengetoarecordthathasstood for70years,theCapeTown-London-Cape Towninasingleengineimookglightaircraft AlexHenshawsettheoriginalrecordin 1939(actuallyflyingLondon-CapeTownLondon)of4days,mhoursand16minutes totalelapsedtimeinhisgoohpPercival MewGullG-AEXF.

Chalkieplannedtoflyasimilarrouteto Henshaw,butmakeuptimebyspendingless timeonthegroundwiththreefuelstopseach wayratherthanHenshaw'sfour.Logisticssuch asarrangingfuelinplaceslikeKano,Nigeria werenotstraightforward(initiallyTamanrasset inSouthernAlgeriawasplannedasafuelstop butprovedtoodifficulttoorganise).Theone hourturnaroundswerealwaysgoingtobethe Achillesheelofthewholeplanandintheend hewouldspendabouttwohoursateachof them.

Also,unlikeinlienshaw'sdaywhenmuchof AfricawaspartoftheBritishEmpire,over-flight permissionsanddiplomaticclearancesarenow abureaucratic,timeconsumingnightmare. Chalkiecalledintheprofessionalsforthispart oftheplanning,atacostofnearlyE8,000.

Oneofthebiggestobstaclesisavoidingthe massivethunderstormsintheInternational TropicalConvergenceZone,someofwhichhave beenrecordedasreaching66,000feetinheight, UnfortunatelyChalkie'sStormscopefailedon thenorthboundleg,leavinghimtorelyonthe moontoseeandavoidthesemonsters. Thoughfast,theOspreyGP-4wasnotatall comfortableforalongdistanceflight.Theseat hadvirtuallynocushioning-anymorepadding wouldhavehadChalkie'sheadagainstthe canopy.Andwiththehugeferrytankfittedin theright-handseatitwasquiteclaustrophobic. The193hpAerosportPowerenginewith straightthroughexhaustsisalsonoisy,andto furthercomplicatethings,theergonomicsof thethrottle,propandmixturecontrolsmake themawkwardtooperate.Alsodifficultwasthe programmingoftheGarrninGPSwhichwasmi therightsideoftheaircraft,forwardoftheferry tank. Despitehavinganautopilotwithaltitude

hold,Challdehadtohandflytheaircraftatall times,theG134havingneutralstabilityandwith theCentreofGravityclosetotheaftlimit,itwas verysensitiveinpitch.Theautopilotcouldcope withrollbutwouldnotholdaltitudetowithin IFRlimits.

Thispitchsensitivityattimescausedsuchan uncomfortableridethatononelegitactually madeChalkiephysicallysick!Fatiguealso playeditspartandtowardstheendofthe northboundleg,havingbeeninthe"saddle"for wellover30hours,hefoundittookmorethan thenormalefforttomaintainclearedaltitudes.

Ontheplussidehowever,isthefactthat SouthAfricanexperimentalcategoryaircraft areallowedtoflyIFR,sonightandmoderate weatherwouldnotdelaythechallenge.

FIRSTLEG

Thefirstlegwas9hours53minutesfromCape TowntoBrazzaville,intheRepublicofCongo buthavingarrivedlaterthanplanneddueto thedelayinCapeTown,hewaspreventedfrom leavingBrazzavillebecausetheairportwas closedforthePresident'sdeparFure,addingan hourtotheturnaround.

ThesecondlegwastoKano,inNigeria,a

Chalkie,above,at SouthendAirport, halfwaythroughthe trip.Below,cramped cockpitwithextrafuel tankonrightseat.

>CAPECHALLENGE

ChalkiemeetsAlexHenshaw'sson,alsocalled Alex,atSouthendAirportduringtheflight.

flighttimeof5hr45m,followedbyAlgiersin 8hr4oni,andSouthend,UKin5hrzom.Due totheturnarounddelays,Challdearrivedat Southendatis:39ZonSaturday,overthree hoursbehindhisplannedflighttimeschedule, buthehadcompletedtheCapetoLondon sectorinatotalelapsedtimeof76hours35 minutes,threehoursfasterthanHenshaw.On arrivalhewasgreetedbyAlexHenshaw'sson, alsocalledAlex.

Henshawspent27hoursonthegroundin CapeTown,principallybecausealthoughhe couldflyatnight,hehadtotakeoffandlandin daylightastheairfieldshewasusingdidnot havenightflyingfacilities.

ChalkiewasonthegroundatSouthendfor only14hourswhilehisgroundcrew,which includedSteveNoujaim,whoisplanningan attemptontherecordlaterthisyearinaVans RV7,andfellowRVbuilderNickHampton, changedtheoil,plugsandfilterandtriedrectify theStormscopefailureandfixaradioproblem thathadoccurredovertheChannelontheway intoSouthend.Thismeanthavingtoremove thecanopy,seatandferrytanktotryandgetto theinstrumentpanel.

Thereturnjourneystartedato2:o5Zon Sundaymorning,Challdehavinghadaboutten hourssleep.Mostoftheflightwasflownator aroundicL000feetand,overFrance,hehadto copewithiceandfreezingrain.Thisresulted inhimhavingtodescend,whichofcourse reducedhistrueairspeed(typicalaverage groundspeedwasbetween-17oandsftoknots).

Therestofthetripsouthwentasplanned withmuchofthethunderstormactivitymoving awaytoopenupacorridorforhimtofly through.Unanticipatedstrongheadwindson thelongBrazzaville/CapeTownsectormeant thesupportteamhadtoarrangefuelandhelp inSpringbok,NorthernCapeProvince,asa possiblediversion.

Intheend,hewasabletomakeitalltheway, landingat14:20Z.Aswiththeoutboundleg,he hadcutthreehoursfromHenshaw'selapsed time,completingthetrip la3days15hoursand 17minutes,slashing18hoursand59minutes fromAlexHenshaw'stotalelapsedtime.

Aftertheflight,AlexHenshawcommented: "Bothmyfather'sandChalkie'sflightswere quiteextraordinary.Bothhaddifficultaircraft tofly,bothhadproblemsofonesortoranother. IthinkmyfatherwasamanofhistimeandI thinkChalldeiscertainlyamanofhistime.And donotforgetthatmyfatherwasonly26years old(whenhemadetherecordflight),Chalkieis 6oyearsold.

"Inthiscontext,toreturntoCapeTownafter onlymhourssleepoutofthe14hoursstopover, wheremyfatherhadtwogoodbreaksatGao anda27-hourturnroundatCapeTown,1think

THE TALENTED MR HENSHAW

ALEXHenshawhada remarkablecareerin aviation.Inthe1930s hecompetedinmany prestigiousairraces beforemakingthe record-settingflight. Shortlyafterthis, WWIIstartedand Henshawsignedupas atestpilotforVickers Armstrong.

InJune1940,he becameChiefTest PilotatVickers, testingbothSpitfire fightersandLancaster bombers.Itwasan essentialjob,finding flyingproblems beforetheaircraft weredeliveredto activeunits,often toinexperienced pilots.Butitwasalso dangerous-twoof Henshaw'steamwere killedtestingnew

viec

AlexHenshawchattingwithWinstonChurchillabouttheSpitfire.

aircraft.Henshaw himselfhadmany forcedlandings,and acrashbetween twohouseswhich hemiraculously survived.

Onereport estimatesHenshaw flew10%ofall SpitfiresandSeafires, testingupto20 aircraftadayinoften

foggyconditions.He alsodemonstrated theSpitfiretovisiting dignitaries,suchas WinstonChurchill. Hewastheontypilot knowntoperform abarretrollina Lancasterbomber, afeatthatwas consideredreckless andimpossibledueto theaircraft'ssizeand relativelytowspeed. AfterWWII, HenshawjoinedMiles Aircraft,flyingthe companyaircraftover remoteareasofAfrica insearchofsales, andthenreturnedto theUKtolookafter hisfamily'sfarmin Lincolnshire.Hedied in2007,leavingason, alsonamedAlex.

Challde'sflight,forendurance,farexceedsmy father's.

"lamalittlesadthatatlastsomeonehas brokenmyfather'srecordwhichhasstoodfor over70years,butithasgonetoacharming, unassuming,veryprofessionalpilot,whose courage,determination,andskillsurpassesall others.

"Ihavebeeninformedthattechnicallythe FAIwillnotrecognisetherecordasan"old one"brokenasChalkieflewitinthe"wrong" direction.Soanewonewillberegistered.As

myfatherhasthrowndownthechallenge, IunderstandthatSteveNoujaimisgoingto attempttobreakthe"oldrecord"inOctober. BestofluckSteve."

TheLAAwouldalsoliketocongratulate ChalkieStobbartonhismagnificent achievementHisflightnotonlycelebrates thesuccessfuloutcomeofthoroughplanning andhumanendeavour,butalsohighlightsthe undeniablefactthatamodernamateurbuilt aircraftiseverybitascapableasitsproduction counterpart

ral ifelege,-centartf.dethat propellerdegnitersseat c.eleveaprop diamaterp chteis fineenoughto allow

butOa andtadreasareThe ea:SuperbengnewbithisieladvdSr tee 0exeanIvadfotreepitandlaytomakeIt evenbetter.

TheengineWasoriginallydesignedto Vendaongo/erfoelWhichnecessitateda relativelylowcompressionratioof71. Asa comparison,standardcompressionratiosof

arbOttaran*ton fl hevqlunieotStylmder(cqmbnsfi on b chamberattopofpistonstroke

GathmaforairisapproximatelyupTrustmet ViN2Is usuallyknownasthecompression ratioofan engine.

Forthoseinterested.Gammaistheratio betweenCp(theSpecificHeatofairatconstant pressur0andCv(theSpecificHeatofairat

Sett UA1ille000-emiThremanieftend tfiteeitor leers

>ENGINEERING

I.

shouldyieldan8.10/0increaseinefficiency. Wedidsomeresearchandfoundthat aftermarkethighcompressionpistonsforthe 0-200thatgivecompressionratiosofupto10:1 areavailableinUSA.However,someofthese pistonsrequiremachiningoftheconnecting rodwhichwewantedtoavoid.Wewerealso waryofcommittingtoanunknownpiston assemblythatmaynotbesupportedbythe manufacturerinthefuture.

Atcompressionratiosabove8.5:1,itis generallynecessarytouselooLLAvgasto preventtheriskofdetonationandwewere keentoretaintheflexibilitytouseMogasif circumstancesmadeitnecessary.Thehigher compressionratiosinevitablyimposemore stressontheengineandduetotheincreased heatproduction,requiremorecooling.

SIMPLEAPPROACH

Insummary,wepreferredasimpleapproach andnotbeingaftereveryounceofpower, wantedtobeveryconservativeandretainfull reliability.

The0-200isadevelopmentoftheearlier C75/C85.Wefoundthat,apartfromthenumber ofvalvesprings,theC85engineusestheexactly thesamecylindersasthe0-200(eventhering setisthesame)butwithashortercrankshaft stroke.Toachievethedesiredcompression ratio,theC85piston'sgudgeonpinis positionedcuminlowerdownthepistonthan onthe0-zoo.Thereforeinstallingstandard TCMC85pistonsinan0-200willresultinthe pistontravellingo.noinfurtherupthebore,so reducingthecombustionspaceatTDC. Thishastheeffectofraisingthecompression ratio,whileleavingthecylindersweptcapacity unchanged.Thisoptionwouldhavetheadded advantagethatwewouldbeusingoriginalTCM standardparts.

Myenginedisplacementcalculations concludedthattheCRwouldrisefrom78to around8.28resultinginanapproximate5.20/0 increaseinengineefficiency.Themaximum poweroutputoftheengineshouldtherefore risetolo5hp.Amodestbutusefulincrease,but wewerepredictinggreaterthingsattake-offmoreonthatlater.

WesoughtadvicefromTCMandLAA EngineeringandsubmittedanLAA ModificationApplication(nowtermed 'Prototype'MOD 2EtMOD3forms).Afterthe customaryiterations,Franciswasbroadly convinced(actually,hewasverysupportive) thatwewereseriousandknewwhatwewere doing.

AconditionalModificationApprovalwas givensubjecttofullLAAinspectoroversight, fivehoursinitialtestflying,thenafurther25 hoursmonitoringperiodwithafullflighttest andsubmissionofasummaryreportbefore FullModapprovalcouldbegranted.The enginemodificationswereundertakenunder thewatchfuleyeofoursuitablyqualified Inspector,DonForeman.

Itisveryimportanttorealisethatevery cylinderheadcastinganditsattachmentto thecylinderisunique.Also,aircraftengines typicallyhaveprettywidepiston/cylinder clearanceswhichallowthepistontotiltslightly duringtheirtraveloverTDC,movingthemvery closetothecylinderheadandthishastobe takenintoaccount

Itwasthereforeessentialthatgreatcare wastakentoensurethatadequateclearances (o.o45-o.o5oin)existedbetweeneachpiston

andthecylinderhead.

Thecylinderswerewellhoned,bothtoaid ringbreak-inandremoveanycarbonbuildup oranysmallsteps in theareanotpreviously sweptbytherings.NewbalancedC85pistons andaccuratelygappedringswerethen installed,andtheignitiontimingretarded slightlyfrom28degBTDCto24-25degBTDCto allowforthefaster,moreefficientcombustion process.

Aftercompletingtheremainingengine assemblyandconnections,thenecessary PermitMaintenanceReleasecheckswere madeandlogbooksup-dated.Itwassoon timetofireherup.Shestartedfirsttimeand afteradjustingtheidlemixture,wefollowed theTCMrecommendationsforbreakinginan engineinstalledinanaircraft

WethentriedafullpowerstaticrpmtestThe enginereached2380-2400mm165%power)-a considerableincreasefromthe222orpm1530/0 power)wehadexperiencedpreviously.The staticrpmhadincreasedby7.20/0-betterthan anticipatedbutbyvirtueoftheenginealso movingupitspowerrange,theenginetake-off poweravailablehadincreasedfrom53hp (53%oficiohp(to68hp(650/0oflo5hp)-a28% increaseintake-offpower.

FLIGHTTESTS

NothingelseforitbuttoflyitTake-offwas considerablymorebriskthanbefore,with arealpushinthebackrightfromopening thethrottle.Previouslytheengineonly reallystartedtopushafter5oyomtake-off roll.UpandawaywhilemonitoringT&Ps verycarefully,itwascleartheenginehadfar morebitethanpreviouslyandclimbratehad improvedconsiderably.

Break-inwasachievedveryquicklybyflying aroundatTCM'srecommended2,500rpm (750/0power)foratotalof3-4hours,afterwhich oilconsumptionstartedtostabiliseat4-5hr perlitre,andbetterlater.HighestCHTssoon droppedtoaveryacceptable320to380degFin cruiseandonly410degFflatout

Theensuingflighttestsshowedthatthe aircraftwasmoreeconomicalincruise,hada 5-6mphhigher top speed,climbedfasterand tookoffmuchquicker-allwithnoweightor CofGpenalty.

Theengineidlesverywell,iscrisp,smooth andpurposeful.Noproblemshavearisenand followingfullModapproval,weareenjoying

evengreaterefficiency,usability(shorter runways)andeconomy.Inshort,theaircraft hasbeentransformed.

Afewnumbers: 2,250rp111 cruiseat1,5ooftDA: 156mphTASat13.51/hr

2,380rpmcruiseat 1,5ooftDA: 167mphTASat14.51/hr

2,500rpmcruiseat4,5ooftDA: 174mphTASat1.61/hr

2,500rpmcruiseatn,000ftDA: 176mphTASat14.51/hr

Thismodificationgoessomewaytoshowthat an'antique'robustdesignlikethe0-200(which originatedfromtheA65firstproducedin1635) canbeupdatedtobecomemoreefficient,while stillretainingsimplicityandreliability.The 0-200comparesveryfavourablywithother moremodernengines.

Interestingly,werecentlyspottedthatTCM hasTypeCertificatedan0-200Dvariantfor likelyuseinthenewLSAcategorywitha compressionratioof8.5.Theystillonlyclaim loohpthough!Perhapsitmadecertification easierandpossiblefutureretrofitsmoreviable. Fewdetails(orsparepartsliareavailableas yetbutitisclearourthinkingwasalignedwith TCM'sandgivesfurtherconfidence.

Itshouldgowithoutsayingthata modificationofthistypehasgreatsignificance tothesafetyandreliabilityofanaircraftso itmustbewellthoughtout,documented properlyand,crucially,fullyapprovedbyLAA Engineeringbeforeinstallation.

Wearethereforeextremelygratefulfor thesupportofFrancisDonaldsonandLAA Engineeringforbeingwillingtoconsider, supportandapprovethismodification,which clearlywasnotwithoutsomerisksforthem. Verywelldoneguys8gals,asRutanmaysay. RogerHopkinsonhashighlightedontheLAA websiterecentlythattheEuropeanParliament voted(87%)fortheResolution:"Agendafora SustainableFutureinGeneralandBusiness Aviation",(2oo8/2134/NIN).

Iampleasedthatwehave,inourownsmall way,contributedtotheResolution'sstated environmentalgoal,"toreduceemissions throughfurtherenhancingtheenvironmental performanceofsmalleraircraftbyusing cleanerfuelsandbypromotingresearch, technologicaldevelopmentandinnovation", whilewealsobenefitthroughlowercostsand betterperformance/utility.

Amongthemanyattractionsonshowovertheweekendof 25-26Julywillbe:

Aseriesofstaticandairdisplaysofhistoricandvintageaeroplanes, hostedattheDukeofYork'sRoyalMilitarySchoolinDover.

AnAirPageant,withfullsupportingprogramme, andhighlightsincluding: Ahistoricre-enactmentbyBlériotXlaeroplanes. AnAirRacebeingorganisedbytheRoyalAeroClub. AflypastbytheRAFAerobaticTeam,theRedArrows.

ThetransformationofDover'shistoricseafrontwith British,Anglo-FrenchandAnglo-Italianthemedevents runningthroughouttheweekend,withentertainments andartistesreflectinginparticulartheperiodofLa BelleEpochandEdwardianEngland.

Forfurtherinformation,especiallyaboutyourinvolvementinhelping re-enactthepioneeringdaysofaviation,pleasecontactDover2009by postatDover2009,CrestingLtd,52HurdisRoad,Bishopstone, Seaford,EastSussex,BN25255,alternatively,email info@cresting.co.uk

PophamMicrolightFar

Creditcrunchorno,thecrowdswereoutforthisannualseasonopener

WORDS BrianHope PICTURES

SUPERBweatherovermuchof thecountrybroughtpilotsand enthusiastsoutindrovesfor themicrolightseasonopenerat PophamovertheearlyMayBankHoliday weekend.

Saturdaysawanestimated55omicrolights andlightaircraftflyin,andthevisitorswerenot tobedisappointed;exhibitorpresencewasalso highandtherewasplentyofinteresttosee, includingthedebutsoftwoengineconcepts.

HKS700TURBO

FirstwastheHKSippoTurbo,whichisbeing marketedbyConairintheUK.Thenormally aspiratedMKSimoisaJapanese-builtfiat-twin enginethathasbeenaroundforseveralyears, andisratedat6ohp.Thereweresomeinitial problems,whichdemandedafactoryrecall, andexperiencewithearlyenginessuggested theenginewasnotmakingratedpower.

However,theseproblemshavebeenrectified andtheunitisnowconsideredareliable6ohp

BrianHope&NigelHitchman

microlightandultralightengine.ftisfairto saythough,thatithasnotyetfoundastrong followinghereintheUK.

TheturboversionmaywellchangeallthatAt arated8ohpitgoesheadtoheadwithaRotax 912UL,andthoughprice-wiseMroundEn,5oo) thereisunlikelytobemuchbetweenthetwo, anCicipatedinstalledweightislikelytobe substantiallyless.ConradBealewouldnotbe drawnonfigures,butexpectasavingoflokgat least.

Thepotentialadvantagesdonotstopthere though.TheTurbowillallowtheengine tomaintainfullpowerataltitude,andthe

'StaroftheUL Powerline-upwasa prototypeaerobatic 2,592ccengine'

electronicenginemanagementsystem eliminatescarbiceproblemsandpromises excellentfueleconomy.

ULPOWER

JustalongfromHKSwasULPower,showing threedevelopmentsofits95hpUL26oiengine. Firstwasthepromised,increasedcapacity 32.5hpmodel,theUL35oi.Stillafour-cylinder engine,the350boasts3,5o3ccanditsrated powercomesat3,300rpm.Priceofthe35oiis E16,900incVATsubjecttoexchangerate.

SecondnewshowingwastheUL260iS,which isanup-ratedversionofthestandardengine. Itsnineadditionalhorses(ratedatlo4hp)come mainlyfromahighercompressionratio.Price E33690Mcl.

StaroftheULline-up,however,wasa prototypeaerobaticversionofthe2,592cc engine,theUL260iSA.WiththeFADEC managementsystemtaldngcareofthe invertedfuellingrequirements,theoilingis notcontrolledbythemoreusualdrysumping

method,butbysimplyusingthecapacityof whatisusuallythetopsideofthecrankcaseas theinvertedsumpandfittinganadditionaloil pick-up,theselectionoftoporbottornsump beingcontrolledbyaChristentypeballvalve. Productionwillbedependentonflighttesting, andexpectapriceofaroundE15,750.

OneotherdevelopmentULisworkingonis anenginedrivenaforcedaircoolingfanand plenumforuseingyrosandotherpusher applications.Thisiscurrentlyintheveryearly stagesofdevelopment.

SHERWOODRANGER

Enoughofengines,howabouttheaeroplanes? Wellnothingshoneoutasoutstandinglynew, butacoupleofinterestingaircraftarenearing completion.

TheLightAeroplaneCompany'sSherwood Ranger,seenatlastDecember'sSPLASHshow asacompletebutbareairframe,hasnowbeen coveredinthenon-paintedOratexUL600fabric thecompanymarketsintheUK.Itwaslooldng resplendentwithyellowfuselageandsilver wings,withtheglassfibrecockpitsurrounds paintedinOratexpaintandexhibitingavery goodcolourmatch.

Verylittleremainstobecompletedbeforethe aircraft,poweredbyaRotax582,isflyingand TLAChasspentconsiderableeffortinbuilding newtoolingandjigsasitwentTheRanger willbeavailableasanythingfromplanstoa completekit,microlightorSEA,andwithRotax,

JabiruorBMWpowerplants.

Theother'almostthere'aircraftwasGrass StripAviation'ssub115kgFokkerEindecker SSDRAgain,thecompanyhasspentalot oftimedevelopingtoolingandjigsforthe developmentofwhatisaUS-suppliedmaterial packageintoafullypre-bentand(mostly) drilledstraightforwardassemblykit.

TheEindecker'sWW1appearancecertainly attractedcrowds,andatalittleunderL7Kless engine,propandinstruments,itcouldwell findanappreciativemarket

Enginechoiceonthecompanydemonstrator, whichwasexhibitedasafullyfinishedbutas yetuncoveredairframe,isaCanadian-built MZ201,detunedto4ohpandthusrunning relativelyunstressed.Rotax447andHirthF'33 areoptions.

AIRMAGIC

TheshowwasusedtolaunchtheAirMagic rangeofcommunicationequipmentfrom SouthAfricabytheUKagent,SteveBoxaH whorunsGyroTrainingLtdatWickenby.Air

'SherwoodRanger.. resplendentwith yellowfuselageand silverwings'

Magichasbeenmanufacturingandmarketing microlightcommunicationsequipmentfor manyyearsandtherangeincludeshandheld radiointerfaces,headsets,helmetsandaerials. Theyalsomarketthehighqualitymulti functionalVertexStandardVXA-22ohandheld. "TheUKalreadyhasawellestablished microlightcommunicationsindustry," saysSteve."Aswellascompetingonvalue, ergonomicsandperformancewewillalso beofferinginnovativeproductsnotavailable elsewhere.We'vegotsomeexcitingstuffinthe pipelinethatwillreallygrabtheattentionof pilotseverywhere."

OneofAirMagic'suniqueproductsisthe "Vee-Rabbit"antenna,abase-loaded5/8wave dipolewithsignificantlyhighergainthana standard1/4-wavewhip.Forthoseexpectingto operateinoutofthewayplaces,thisantenna willgivequiteincrediblerange.Acustomer inSouthAfricarecentlyestablishedtwo-way communicationsoveradistanceof470km usingtheantennaandahandheldradio.(See Products07).

USEFULWEBSITES

AirMagic:www.ainnagic.co.uk

FlytightAnsporls:www.flylightco.uk

GrassStripAviation:www.grass-strip-aviation.com HKS:www.hksaviationuk.com

TheLightAeroplaneCompany:www.g4lac.com ULPower:www.ulpower.com

CROSSWIND CALCULATIONS M EEASY

Mentalarithmeticgoesoutofthewindowformost pilotswhenflying.Here'sareallysimpleway

WORDS DaveSawdon PHOTOS wwwairteamimages.com

IPRESUMEyouarereadingthis inacomfortablearmchair,oron atrain,ormaybeeveninaflying schoolwiththerainpoundingon thewindows.Possiblythere'safavourite tippleinonehandandsomegentlemusic intheair.Undertheseconditions,if I asked youtodosomementalarithmetic(andyou wereagedover25),itwouldprobablytake youlessthanfivesecondstoworkout"twothirdsof25".

Nowimaginethesituationwhenyouare attheholdingpointforrunway24.Youcall "readyfordeparture"andthetowerreplies with"clearedtake-off;wind280,25knots". What'sthecrosswindcomponent?What'sthe headwindcomponentiftheperformanceis abittight?Isitthesameasyouusedinyour performancecalculations?Notaseasyaswhen youwereonthetrain,isit?

Maybeyouareattheendofalongflight, typicallyslightlylongerthanthecomfortable enduranceofyourbladder.Youareflyingan approachwhichisabitmoreturbulentthan partofyouranatomywouldpreferwhen,at5oo feet,youcall"final"forrunway35andthetower replies"clearedtoland;wind030,25knots". Whatisthecrosswindcomponent?Wouldyou agreethatitwouldnotbeaseasynowasin yourarmchair?

Let'sbehonestwitheachother.Doyou actuallycalculatethecrosswindcomponent everytimeyouaretoldthewindstrengthand directionafteracallof"readyfordeparture" or"final"?Doyoualwaysthinkaboutthewind directionandmakeanappropriateaileron input?Honestly?

Duringmytimeasaninstructorand examinerithasbeenveryrarethatapilot hasvolunteeredthecrosswindorheadwind componentsonanapproachorbeforetake-off IfIaskthem,theanswerisusually(withsome honourableexceptions)"errr"followedbya semi-randomnumber.Frequentlytheydon't evenlcnowwhetherthewindwillbenom theleftortherightwithoutlookingatthe windsock!

It'sanunfortunateaspectofaviationthat weallloseasignificantproportionofour intellectualcapacitywhenwehaveanaircraft strappedtoourback.Icannottellyouwhy ithappensbutIcanshowyouawayaround theproblemwhenitcomestocrosswinds andheadwinds.Thepurposeofthisarticleis

topresentasimplemethodwhichwillallow youtoassessthecrosswindandheadwind componentswithasmuchaccuracyasyou like,withoutanysums,withoutanygadgets, inlessthanfiveseconds,andwhilstflyingan aeroplane.

BASICGEOMETRY

Wewillstartbygoingbacktobasicgeometrybutevensittinginyourarmchair,Idoubtmost ofusrememberaboutsinesandcosinesfrom ourschooldays.Figureshowsanaircraft lined-uponrunway36andawindarrow fromapproximately31o°.Wecanseefromthe

drawingthatthecrosswindcomponentisthe windspeedmultipliedbythesineoftheangle betweenthenoseoftheaircraftandthewind directionIcalledtherelativewindangle).We canalsoseehowtheheadwindcomponent couldbecalculated,eitherasthewindspeed multipliedbythecosineoftherelativewind angle,orasthewindspeedmultipliedbythe sineoftheanglebetweenthebeamofthe aircraftandthewinddirection.

Obviouslytoocomplexforourrequirements, sostudentsaretraditionallytaughtthe"ruleof sixths",orthe"clockface"rule,forcrosswind assessmentandnothingatall(exceptthe

/ whizz-wheel)fortheheadortailwind.

The"ruleofsixths"makesuseofthehappy coincidencethatthesineofrodegreesisvery closetor/6th,sine20degreesisverycloseto 2/6thsandsoon.Table1.showsthefullstory.

Thismethodisafairlyaccurateapproximation formostrelativewindanglesbutwecansee thatthereisasignificanterrorat6odegrees. Becauseofthissomepilotsmodifytherulefor 6odegreesanduse0.9ratherthan6/6ths,in ordertogettheerrordownfrom130/ato30/o.

Tousethis"rule"youfirstdeterminethe relativewindangle,andthenmultiplythe reportedwindstrengthbytheappropriate fraction.So,ifthereportedwindis350/25and youareusingrunwayo3:

*thewindangleis40degrees

*zodegreesgives4/6ths

*thecrosswindcomponentistherefore4/6ths of25kt,say17kt-ish.

Ifasecondtablewereproduced,withthe windanglecolumnturnedupsidedown, thissamemethodcouldbeusedtocalculate thehead/tailwindcomponent.Sowhydon't peopleuseitinpractice?

Allwehavetodo,at5oofeetonabumpy day,havingdrunktoomuchcoffeethreehours ago,withsomeoneinthebackaskingwhy something-or-otherishappeningandwith ATCtalkingontheradio,isworkoutthewind angleandthenmultiplythewindspeedby theappropriatefraction!Thehonesttruthis thatthesumsaretoocomplicatedformost peopletoperformwhilstflyinganaeroplane. It'sthereforenosurprisethatmostpilots don'tbothertocalculatethecomponentsand occasionallygetanunpleasantsurprise.

'Weloseasignificant proportionofour intellectualcapacity whenwehavean aeroplanestrappedto ourback'

• Tomakecalculatingcrosswindcomponentseasier, usetheaircraft'sDirectionIndicator(DI).

Whatweneedisasimpletechnique foraccuratelyestimatingthecrosswind component;atechniquewhichrequires virtuallyNObrainpowerforthosedayswhen theremainingbraincellhashadenough. Somethingvisualandeasythatdoesn'trequire sumsoragadgetAndhereitis.

DIRECTIONINDICATOR

InvirtuallyeveryaircraftthereisaDirection IndicatorWI)thatlooksvaguelyliketheone showninFigure2andwecanusethisas aformofanaloguecomputer(thoseofyou whohaveanolderstyleribbonDineednot despair,I'lldiscusshowyoucanusethesame techniquesalittlelater).

AtfirsLreadingthismaysoundcomplicated butbelieveme,withpracticeitisveryeasy. Youaregoingtomentallydrawthevector triangleonthefaceoftheDI.Thedistancefrom thecentreoftheDItotheedgerepresentsthe reportedwindspeed.Onceyouarelinedupon finalapproach,simplyfindthereportedwind directionontheoutsideoftheDIscaleand mentallydropaverticallinedownontothe horizontalcentreline.Theproportionofthe centrelinethatliesbetweentheverticalline andthecentrelineistheproportionofthewind speedthatisatrightanglestoyourdirection;in otherwords,thecrosswind.

Let'slookatthatmoreslowly.

LookatFigure3.Youareeitherlined-upfor take-off,oronfinalapproach,forrunway35 andthewindisreportedas040125.Imaginethe DIbeingapictureofthehorizontalsituation, drawnwitharadiusthatrepresentsthewind strengthinsomescaleorother.Inotherwords,

>COACHINGCORNER

ifthewindis25knotstheradiusoftheDI represents25knots.

Step1:Findthereportedwinddirection ontheoutsideoftheDI(shownasalarge bluearrow).Younowhavethefirstpieceof information;thewindisfromtheright.

StepzMentallydropaverticallinedown fromthewinddirectionontheoutsideoftheDI tothehorizontalcentreline.

Step3:Thehorizontalcentrelinerepresents thecrosswindaxissovisuaIlyscale-offthe crosswindcomponentasaproportionofthe lengthofthecrosswindaxis,i.e.thewind speed.InFigure3itlookslikethecrosswind componentisjustlessthanSo%ofthetotal length,sayjustlesszoknots.Mathematically, theanswerismkt.Withalittlebitofpractice thisisfast,andasaccurateasyouchooseto makeit.Italsoinherentlywakesyouupto whetherthewindisfromyourleftoryourright -it'swrittenonthefaceoftheDI.

HEADORTAILWINDCOMPONENT

Onceyouarecomfortablewiththetechnique itcanbeusedtoestimatetheheadortailwind componentinadditiontothecrosswind.

Lookat Figure4. Youarelinedupfor departure,oronfinalapproach,orsimplywant toknowthewindcomponentsonheading135. Thewindisreportedas180/30.Whatarethe headwindandcrosswindcomponents?

YoualreadyImowhowtoassessthe crosswindcomponentandcanestimatethat it'scloseto 20 knots.Wecanusethesame techniquetoassesstheheadwindcomponent. Justprojectahorizontallinefromthewind directionontheoutsideoftheDItothe verticalcentreline(whichrepresentsthe headortailwindaxis)andvisuallyscale-off theheadwindcomponentasaproportionof thelengthoftheheadwindaxis,i.e.thewind speed.InFigure4itlooksliketheheadwind componentisabout 22 knots(mathematically theansweris 21 knots). Whatcouldbeeasier?

Butwhat,youmightsay,ifyouaren'tlinedupwiththerunwayandwanttoknowthe crosswindandhead/tailwindcomponents? Maybeyouareattheholdingpoint,atdispersal orapproachingtheairfield.Therearetwo solutions;oneissimplytorotatetheDIsothat therunwayheadingisatthetop,butabetter answeristousetheADForVORindicatorsin exactlythesamewayasdescribedfortheDI. Thisisalsotheanswerforthosewitharibbon Di:useone ortheothercompassroses.

Possiblyyou'reflyingaverybasicaircraft withnocompassrosetypeinstrumentsatall? Ityoustickordrawacompassroseonyour kneeboardyoucanstillusethemethod.Infact, withacompassroseofanytypeyouarenow abletoaccuratelyestimatewindcomponents withoutdoingsums.Isn'tthatarelief?

PRACTICEINTHEBATH

UsethecompassroseinFigure2topractice onwhileyou'reinthebath.TurntheDIto representaturbulentapproachintoashortish airstripwitharunwayorientationof3451.The Wind is030/28.

Estimatethecrosswindcomponent.Isit insidethedemonstratedcrosswindcapabiliw ofyouraircraft?Willtheheadwindcomponent havebeenreducedsufficientlytogiveyou concernsoverthelandingdistanceavailable? Mindthebubbles!

STEP1

Findthereportedwinddirectionon theoutsideoftheDI(shownasa largebluearrow).Younowhavethe firstpieceofinformation;thewindis fromtheright.

STEP2

Mentallydropaverticallinedown fromthewinddirectiononthe outsideoftheDItothehorizontal centreline(showninblue).

STEP3

Thehorizontalcentreline(red) representsthecrosswindaxisso visuallyscale-offthecrosswind componentasaproportionofthe lengthofthecrosswindaxis,ie,the windspeed.InFigure3itlookslike thecrosswindcomponentisjustless than20knots(mathematicallythe answeris19knots).

Trythisexampleyourself.The windisreportedas180/30.What aretheheadwindandcrosswind components?

CROSSWIND

Usingthemethodabove,wecan assessthecrosswindcomponentand estimateit'scloseto2018.

HEADWIND

Wecanusethesametechniqueto assesstheheadwindcomponent. justprojectahorizontallinefrom thewinddirectionontheoutside oftheDItotheverticalcentreline (whichrepresentstheheador tailwindaxis).Visuallyscaleoff theheadwindcomponentasa proportionoftheheadwindaxis.ie thewindspeed.Hereitlookslikethe headwindcomponentisabout22k1 (mathematicallytheansweris2118).

WecongratulateDerekLongonwinningtheAirSquadronTrophyforthe bestplansbuiltaircraftwithhissuperbSuperEmeraude.Derckchose POLY-FIBER forthecoveringforitseasyapplicationandunrivaled durabilityWewishhimmanyyearsofenjoyableflying. Whetherornotyoucompeteforawardswhenyouuse POLY-FIBER finiyourprojenorrecoveryouwillbeaWinnertoo,becauseyouhave clgisenthehest.

Fortyyearsoftniulile-freeusehasmade POLY-FIBER theclearchine.ofchampionsandhomebuildersalike.There'snobetterwintotaweran aircraftthan POLY-FIBER- yoursincluded! www.aircraftcovaings.com lhrlbeMs/crrrireendculykor!tall MrRIP}PRAXDRIRIBTMR, AIRCRAFTCOVERINGSLTD HENSTRIDGEAIRFIELD,SOM.BA8OTF

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OurassierdwinningPCsoftwareinteesates seamlesslywithGPSunits,PorkerPC'send On-see-phones*witisthewiriestrangeofwagsarc: coertsaveileble

Scouts'Air

HarryHopkinsreportsfromthelatestScouts'AirCampatCroft

THEYouthandEducation

Strutorganisedanotherhighly successfulScouts'AirCampat CroftFarm,Deffordoverthe weekendof17-19April.

Thirtyscoutscamefromfivedifferenttroops: 20thStourbridge(HalfpennyGreen),15th Cheltenham(Shurdington),MayhillEtHuntly (TheForestofDean),istChippingCampden, andWycliffeCollege(Stroud).

Thepilotsandinstnictorswerelargely providedbytheGlosterStrutandtheWiltshire Flyers,withacoupleof'volunteersfrom EnstoneandLeicesterthrownin.

ThescoutssetupcamponFridayafternoon andweregivenabriefingonairfieldsafety, readyforanearlystartonSaturday.The weatherwascoolandbreezybutfair,andthe aircraftstartedarrivingearly.

Thefirstlecturewasinstructioninaerial navigation,withthescoutsplottingashort triangularcross-countrywhichtheyweretofly later.

ThefleetofaircraftincludedfourEuropas (ownedbyTimHoulihan,DavidCorbett, DavidJoyceandAlanMunro),aJodel(John

Ascoutpreparestoflytheirnavigationcourse Newbold),aJabiru400(MartinScudder),an Acrosport(RichardGoodwin)andaRobin (MikeFortescue).

Whilethefirstwaveofnavigationflights gotunderway,theremainingscoutsgot instructiononmeteorology,aerodynamicsand instruments.

The25thCheltenham(Shurdington)Scout group,whohavebeenadoptedbytheGloster Strutbroughtwiththem"TheShurdington ScoutsCateringTeam",ledbyLouiseSlee, whichprovidedsuperbcateringforeveryone throughoutThiswassupplementedbyRon

BoyandgirtscoutsattendedtheCamp.

Shell'sportablecrepefactory-aregularfeature ofourcampsandverypopularamongstthe kids.

Flyingcompleted,theyoungstersspenttheir eveningmakingchuckglidersreadyforahotly contestedglidingcompetition.

Thenextday,afterinstructiononmarshalling andademonstrationbyJohnBean,Tim Houlihantaxiedhisaircraftunderinstruction fromeagerscoutmarshallers.

Tosaythat,'agoodtimewashadbyall' wouldbeamassiveunderstatementThe verdict?"Brilliant,thebestyet"

SAFETYSPOT Ins tomg er forannualseminar

Morethan100LAAinspectorsmeetforanupdateonissuesand todiscussarangeoftechnicalmatterscroppingupinthefield

IT'Sthreeo'clockintheafternoon andaBankHolidayweekendlooms menacinglyabovethehorizon.The weatherislookinglikeit'sworkingupforafight, withthefinalshowdownsetforBankHoliday Monday.What'snewaboutthat?InoticetheBBC hasdecideditisnowunnecessarytogiveawind directionduringtheweatherforecasts;perhaps ourgreatleadersbelievethatcompassesand magnetsandstufflikethatareabittoodifficult fortheaveragepunter.Or,coulditbesomesubtle trickto'up'theiraccuracystatistics?Iftheydon't statethewinddirectiontheycan'tbeaccusedof gettingitwrong...clever!

Anyway,weatheraside,we'veall(that'stheLAA Engineers)beenunderabitofpressurethislast coupleofweeksasKenCraigie,theLAA'sChief Inspector—hewhomustbeobeyed—decidedto changethedateoftheAnnualInspectorSeminar fromthe,morenormalNovember,tothemiddle ofMay.Nomatterthatitisourbusiesttimefor PermitRenewals..."it'scharacterbuilding".

ForthoseofyounotawareweholdanAnnual InspectorSeminar,letmesaythis,wedo,and thisyearitwasarealsuccess.Iwassoenthralled bythevariousspeakersthatIforgottotakeany photos.PeterHarvey,ourChiefExecutivebrought hiscameratoobut,perhapsforthesamereason, didn'ttakeanyshotseither.Imentionthisbefore yousay,"Well,where'sthepicturethen?"Please

acceptmyapologiesand,trustme,theevent happened.

Thefirsthalfoftheseminarwastakenupwith CompanyBusiness,sotospeak.'Patonthe back'fromtheChiefExecPeterHarvey,andthe ChairmanRogerHopkinson,warmhugsfromKen andaslaponthewristfromme.

TheChiefEngineerexplainedsomeofthe problemshe,andtherestoftheDesignTeam, havetodealwithduringtheapplicationprocess fora'FirstIssue'.

Oneparticularproblemcausingdelaysis thatapplicantsarenotusinganup-to-date 'Completion'pack.MaxineOades,theLAA's EngineeringAdministrator,askedmetomention this.So,whennearingcompletionofyour'new build'pleasecontacttheofficeforacurrent 'Completion'pack.Ifyoudon'tdothistherewill bedelaysingettingyourfirst PermittoFly.

TheDeputyChiefEngineerJonViner,nearlyno

'Steveremindedusthat massisdifferentfrom weight(stayawakeat thebackoftheclass)'

Thislongeron,fromadeHavillandRapide,hasreducedinsizefromlinto3/4in.Asalower longeron,attherearcornerofaslopingcabinfloor,itwassubjecttoalotofwatersoakage.Each timethewoodgotwetitexpanded,crushingthefibres.Whenthewooddriedtheattachments becamelooseandengineerstightenedthem.Ineffectthewoodratcheteddowntoasmallersize.

ThiscloseupofacrackinaMothflyingwire showsclearlythe430failureoftenfoundwhen torsionalstress/strainisinvolved.Corrosionpits combinedwithvibrationareabadcombination. longerthenewboy,gaveusafascinatinginsight intotheworkingsofCASA(EuropeanAviation SafetyAgency)andsomeofthechangestoaircraft maintenanceandcertificationhappeningnowand expectedinthefuture.'HatsOff'toJonforturning whatIwoulddescribeasalessthaninteresting subjectintoanedge-of-the-seatperformance. ItwastheafternoontalksthattheInspectors (overahundredinall)werewaitingfor,starting withSteveFailfromNaneWeighs,whotalked aboutthesciencebehindaircraftweighing. Ispentabitoftimeduringarathermisspent youthflyingasmallfloatplanethathadbeenfitted withaprotonmagnetometer.Thisdevicemeasured theverysmallchangesintheEarth'smagnetic fieldin'realtime'.Togetmycurrentjob,Ihadto do'acoupleofcourses',astheysay,andknow thatgravityisdifferentfromoneplacetoanother. Steveremindedusthatmassisdifferentfrom weight(stayawakeatthebackoftheclass),but, asthelectureprogressed,Icouldseesomeofthe inspectorsscratchingtheirheads,perhapsthinking thatthewholebasisoftheirexistencewasbeing undermined,theideaofwobblygravitybeingfar toomuchtocopewith.

NextupwasMarkMiller,theChiefEngineerof DeHavillandSupport,whogaveabrilliantlecture oninspectingoldwoodentypes.Markspentsome timeexplainingtheproblemsofdeterminingthe acceptabilityofoldwood,especiallyafteraccident damage.Checkouttheexcellentpictureofa longeronthathadtohechangedonhisRapide. Asmanyofyouwillknow,therehavebeen afewwelldocumentedcasesofflying(and actuallylanding)wirefailureonthesetypes.Mark explainedthatmostofthesewirefailureslooked asiftheyhadcomeaboutbecauseoffatiguecracks originatingfromcorrosionpits.Regularreaders shouldbebecomingawareoftheubiquitous natureoffatigue.Italkaboutitoftenenoughsoit wasgoodtohearsomebodyelse'bangingon'for abit.

ThefinaltalkoftheafternoonwasgivenbyRob

Midgley,TechnologyManagerfromShellAviation.

RobworksintheAviationFuelsDivisionand knowsallthereistoknowaboutAvgas.

Startingwiththehistoryofaviationfuel,he tookusonajourneythroughtime,outlining theprinciplechangestothefuelfromitsearly beginningstothepresentlOOLL.

Regularreaderswillknowthatwe'vebeen havingafewproblemswithmoderncarfuelin manyofouraircraftengines,Robdidabrilliant jobofexplainingwhy.

Aeroplanefuelisoneofthosefantastic subjectsthatencompassprettymuchallofthe componentsofourcomplexsociety.

BythisImeanit'snotjustatechnicalsubject; duringanysensiblediscussionaboutaeroplane fuelonemustalsoconsidertheethical,medical and,neveroverlookedofcourse,political dimensionsthatsurroundthesubject.

Robmadeagoodcasefornotusingmotorcar fuelinaeroplanes.Hisview,thattheonlytruly consistentfuelavailableislOOLL,hassome considerablemerit.Butleadedfuelhasbeen

WithMalcolmMcBride_AirworthinessEngineer

'Leadisvery.poisonous tohumansandis knowntocause irreversibledamage'

bannedinmostfuelapplicationssince1996. Since,infact,dangerouslyhighlevelsofvarious leadcompoundswerefoundintheenvironment.

Leadisverypoisonoustohumansandisknown tocauseirreversibleneurologicaldamage.Avgas, commonlyknownasMOLL(100octane,Low Lead)containsfarmoreleadthanmotorfuel(for theroadanyway)everdid.Avgasisnotallgood news,butatleastyouknowwhatyou'regetting.

DuringthemeetingthebossofSkydrive(UK distributerforRotaxengines),NigetBeate, explainedthatlOOLLisnotgoodforRotax enginesforallsortsofreasons,thebiggestbeing thattheleadformsvariouspost-combustion

compoundswhichremainintheengine.These deposits,whichNigellaterdescribestomeas resemblinga'custard-likesludge',areaproblem forengineswithslipperclutches,likethe912and 914flat-fours.Butpistonringsandvalvesget gummeduptoo.

Anotherinspectorcommentedthat100octane fuelcoulddamageanenginethatwasoriginally designedto run onlowergradefuel.Rob explainedthatanoctanerating,overandabove thatrequiredtopreventdetonation,isactually justwastedanddoesn't,initself,doharm. Hewentontoarguethatthecorrectselection ofengineoil,thatis,onethatcanabsorbthe leaddeposits,shouldcuretheproblemof'lead sludging'.

IcouldseefromNigel'sbodylanguagethathe wasn'tconvinced.

Robdidabrilliantjobofcoveringthiscomplex issue.Iamstilltryingtoworkoutthemaths withregardtothedifferencesbetweenMONand RON...whenIdoIwillletyouallknowaboutit. But,forgoodnesssake,don'tholdyourbreath!

Leadcompoundbuilduponthis 912 poppetvalve.ThiswillhaveanegativeWhenslipperclutchesgetcontaminatedwithleadtheythestopworking effectongasflowandcouldeventuallypreventthevalvefromclosingfully.correctly.Thiswillleadtorapidenginewear.

AfewtipsaboutMogas

IDON'Tthinktheonlyproblemaviators havewithMogasisthealcoholcontent —theprosandconsofaddingalcohol havebeenwell-aired.Therealproblemisthat fuelisblendedatthedistributiondepotsinso manydifferentways,fuelcompaniesarenaturally reluctanttogiveaway'octane'fornothing.Recent changestoUKfuelsbytheadditionofalcohol(an octanebooster)meansthattherawfuelusedcan beprettypoorstuff.

Automotivefuel,blendedatthedistribution paint,isexpectedtobesoldwithintwoweeks andusedwithinfour.Anykindofchemical stabilityafterthisisunnecessaryasfarasa retailerisconcerned.Tryputtingthree-month-old fuelintoahighperformanceoutboardengine,I have,itwon'tstart—theingoesoutofthefizz! So,tiponeifyouuseMogas—buyitanduseit asap.

Oneoftheproblemsthathasalwaysbeen associatedwithMagashasalwaysbeenitslower vapourpressureinrelationtoAvgas.Thething aboutvapourpressureinanaircraftisthat,if

you'reflyingaround,andtheambientpressure dropsbelowthefuel'svapourpressure,thenthe fuelwillchangephasefromaliquidtoagasin thefuelpipeandtheenginewillstop.Remember, pressureactsequallyinalldirectionssothe pressureoftheliquidfuelwillequalthepressure surroundingit.Thisproblemgoesawayinthe pressurisedsectionsoffuelsystems.

Vapourpressureisnotabigdealinmost moderncars.Thefuelisdesignedfortheirfuel systemsbecausecarsformmostofthemarket, butit'sabigissueinaircraftfuelsystems, particularlythegravityfedsectionofasystem. Tiptwo,ifyouuseMagas:makesurethe

Tryputtingthreemonth-oldfuelinto ahighperformance outboard-itwon'tstart'

systemonyouraircraftoperatesatahigh enoughpressuretokeepthefuelinitsliquid phase.Vapourpressurevariesinverselywith temperature,ie,thehigherthefueltemperature theloweri'svapourpressureso,trytoavoid excessivegroundrunningcausingheatsoakin, andaround,theengine.

Ifyouhavebeenstuckonthegroundforany reason,andyou'reconcernedthateverything couldbegettingabithot,givetheengineafull powercheckbeforecommittingtoflight-any signofroughrunningandreturntothepan.I knowsomeEuropaownersactuallyturnofftheir enginesifitlookslikethey'reinforalongwait. OnelastthingaboutvapourpressurewhichI'm abitembarrassedtomention,well,considering thereadership,isthatthehigheryougo,the biggertheproblem.Remember,oneofthebiggies inthedesigncriteriaforAvgaswasvapour pressure.It'snotabigdealincars,so,vapour pressureofthefuelmayvarybetweensuppliers. Inotherwords,onedaynoproblemo,nextday noengine.

SAFETYSPOT MCR-Sloshingcompound contamination1

IRECEIVEDaletterbacklastyearfrom LAAmemberAlanCoatesworthabout aproblemthatwasencounteredby hisflyingpartnerduringatriptoFrance.I've beenwaitingforanopportunitytoshowyouthe resultsyoucangetbecauseofthevariabilityof motorfuelsfromoneplacetoanotherandhere's myopportunity.

Itouchedonthis'variability'issueearlierin thearticle.There'salotmorespecificchemistry goingoninmotorfuelthanthereusedtobe; someofthechemicalspeciesusedareextremely reactive.

Weknowthatalcoholisapolarsolventand we'vegotatesttoseewhetherthereisanyin thefuelwebuy.Remember,itisillegaltouse fuelcontainingalcoholinallaeroplanesexcept microlightsintheUKatthistimeevenifthe enginemanufacturerapprovestheuseofsuch fuel.Asfarasweareabletotellitwasn'talcohol thatcausedtheprobleminthisMCR-01fuel system.

Alan'sflyingpartner,DavidWalsh,wason atriptoSouthernFranceinhisMCR-01and droppedintoMontpassat,which,soAllan informsme,isFrance'slargestULMbase.He noticedthethrottle'didn'tquitefeelright',then itstartedsticking.Subsequentinvestigations revealedabrownishdepositinsidethe carburettor—takealookatthephotographs.

David,andtheFrenchengineersthought thebrown'substance'lookedsuspiciously

likesloshingcompound.Alaterspectrographic analysisconfirmedthis.Itlookslikesomethingin thefuelreactedwiththissloshingcompound.It

hadn'thappenedbeforeonthisaircraftand,sofar, ithasn'thappenedsince.AllIcansayaboutthisis, keepacloseeyeonyourfuelsystemcomponents.

Insomemysteriousway,perhapsastrangecombinationoftemperaturesandpressure,thefuel changeditschemistryandattackedthefueltank.Thisbrowndepositwaslateranalysedandfoundto befueltanksealant.It'snotjusttheenginethatneedstobeassessedforMogassuitability.

RV-Sloshin contamin compound on2

WELL-knownRVenthusiast,Nigel Reddish,sentusaVan'sfueltank inspectioncoverhefoundinhis workshop.Itooksomepicturesandthoughtyou

wouldliketoseethem.Theytelltheirownstory really,soIwon'tgoonaboutit.

Sufficetosaytheaircraftthatthisplatewas fittedtohad'sufferedengineproblems'foryears

beforethisblocked(nearlycompletely)ventpipe wasdiscovered.Theventpipeneedsto'breathe' easilytoequalisethepressureinthetankandlet fuelflow.

GTandAirmasterAP332 propellerproblems

REGULARreaderswillknowwe'vehas afewproblemswithinternalcracking ofthebladesecuringferrulesonthe AirmasterAP332VariablePitchPropellerwhen fittedtodirectdriveengines.

Theproblemswiththispropellerseemedtobe confinedtoJabiru3300enginesasfittedtosome Europaaircraft.

TheAP332designusesanelectricallydriven pitchchangemechanismmarriedtoaWarpDrive blade.Thebladeitselfissecuredusingaferrule whichis,ineffect,afour-piececlamp.Thisclamp actsasabearingsurfacewhichpermitsfree rotationofthebladearoundit'saxisandsecures thebladeintothehub.Crackshavebeenfound betweenthebearingsurfaceandtheclamping portionoftheferrule.

Airmasterproducedafactorybulletinrequiring anincreaseinthecheckfrequencytoeach50 hourslastyearbutthiscrackwasnotfound duringoneofthesechecks.Itwasnotedbythe pilot,LAAmemberBobKnapton,as"anincrease invibrationandageneralfeelingallwasnotwell. Thevibrationwentawaywithasmallreductionin manifoldpressure".

ThankgoodnessforBob'sacutesenses! I'mnotsureexactlywhat'sgoingonhere,and couldn'tknowwithoutsectioningthecrackand conductingafullanalysis,butit'slookinglikea fairlystraightforwardcaseoffatiguefailure. Whetherthefatigueisbeingcausedbyhigh stresswithintheclampduringassembly(iepreload)orunusualharmonicsfocussingstressinto aparticularsectionoftheferrule,wemaynever know.

Morelikely,itwillbeacombinationofthetwo stresses.Propellerscontainmanyexamples wherematerialshavetowithstandhighcycle stresses.Toachieveareasonablefatiguelife inthisenvironmentthematerialusedmustbe relativelylightlyloaded,butthisisdifficultto achieveinapropellerbladeroot.

Onesavinggrace,withthisparticulardesign, isthatitisreadilyinspectable.TheLAAwillbe decreasingthetimebetweeninspectionsand decreasingtheferrulelife.

Oneoftheproblemswithestablishingthe structuralsuitabilityofpropellersisthattheyare dynamicdevicesandbladebehaviourisalmost impossibletopredictonpaper.

Thematerialthebladeismadefromplaysa bigpartintheequation.Apropellerblademay betikenedtoatuningforkwithmetalblades producingquitepure,reasonablypredictable, tones.Abetteranalogymightbeaflute—anoncomplextonewithfewovertones.

'Apropellerblade maybelikenedtoa tuningforkwith metalblades'

Woodandcompositebladeshavemore complexvibrationalbehaviours,abitlikeatenor saxwithajazzmouthpiece."Fley,listentothose overtones,man"!

Onethingyoudon'twantisabladefailingand Leavingthehub.AskMalcolmDucker,thepresent developerofthePhilhps'SpeedTwin'.

Duringarecenttestflightastarboardpropeller bladeleftthehub,wentstraightthroughthe fuselage(narrowlymissingthepilot'sfeet) andhitthepropellerontheportenginewhich, naturally,didn'tdoitanygood!

Fortunately,afteragoodbitofflying,nobody washurtandtheaircraftdoesn'tappeartohave sufferedfurtherdamage.Youcouldn'tmakeitup! Naturally,thepartsareallwiththeboffinsat Farnboroughsowe'llhavetowaitandseewhat theyfind.

Fornow,FairWinds.

Fatiguecrackslikethismeanthattheloadpassingthroughthecomponentarenolongersupported bythematerial.Thisforcestheloadtofindanewpathwhichwill,almostcertainly,placeother materialinanoverloadsituation.

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TSHIRTS

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RUGBYSHIRTS

HighqualtlyRugbyshirt:330gsm,100%Pre-ShrunkCombedCotton, ReactiveDyed,TapedShoulders&TwinNeedleHems,RubberButtons, RibbedLycraCuffs,WhiteContrastCollar&CoveredPlacketContrast TapedSideVents.InNavy,RoyalBlueorRed.Sizes:M,L,XL,XXL. 122.99_NOW216.99

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WINDCHEATERS

TheLAAWindcheaterisin 1901nylonwiltsilvercoloured acryliccoaling.Itiswindproof/ showerproof,incrediblylightweight, hasaconcealedhoodInthecollar withdrawcordadjuster,fullfront zipfastening,Iwofrontpockets, elaslicatedcuffs,adjustabledrawcord hem,andaself-colouredcarrybag foreasystorage.Availableinredor navy.S,M,L..XL,XXL lIEVA

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HATS&CAPS

Finally,wehaveanewrangeofLM baseballcapsandsunhats. Thebaseballcapsare 26.99 each,fullyadjustable,andcome inarangeofcolours-charcoalwith redpeak,blacWred,khald/black,navy/ navy,naw/red,red/red,royalblue/black, beige/beige,nalural/black,natural/dark green.Thedoublepiquemeshsunhats orbuckethatscomeinnavyorwhee, andareInslzasMorL/XL.

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UnderstandingAircraftStructures, £26.99 4thedition,byCutlerandLiber

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TheSporlplaneBuilder-Aircraft

£24.99 ConstructionMethods,TonyBingelis,Vol1

SporlploneConstructionTechniques-A £24.99 Builder'sHandbook,TonyBingelis,Vol2

SimplifiedAircraftDesignforHomebuilders

DesignofLightAircraftRichardDHiscocks

TheDesignoftheAeroplane,DarrylStinton

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LowPowerLaminarAircraftTechnologies AirfoilSelection

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Wehavebooksonchoosing,planning,designing,building,fitting,finishing, repairingondflyingyourhornebuilfiFulldetailsofallourbookscanbefoundon ourwebsitewww.loauk.corn.whereeverythingintheLMshopcanbefound.

THEFIRSTHOMEBUILTAEROPLANES

Thesedaysanybodycanbuildhisorherownaeroplaneintheir garageorshed.ButhackinThe1930sitwasadifferentstory.Aircraft wereconsideredtoocomplexfortheordinaryman.DIYchampion FJCommthoughtotherwise,andstartedPracticalMechanics magazine,whichtoldthereaderhowtomakeallsortsofthingsat home.In1935hepublishedaseriesofarticlesonhowtobuildthe FlyingFleaaircraftwhichcreatedasensation.Althoughthisaircraft wasnotasuccess,itsowedtheseedsofamateurflyingandbuilding.WhentheFlyingFlea wasgroundedbecauseofmishaps,PracticalMechanicsagainrosetothechallengewith thetinyLutonMinor,explainingfoitsreadersexactlyhowtomakeonealhome.The193945warstoppedeverythingandwhenpeacereturnedhome-builtaircraftwereeffectively banneduntilArthurWJGOrd-Hume,thepost-warpioneerinamateuraviation,revived thepre-WarMinordesign,andbattledwiththeauthoritiestogetamateuraircraftflying again,hisnewLutonMinorbecomingthefirstBrflishdesigntogainpost-Warapproval.In thisfascinatinganduniquebook,allofthePracticalMechanicshome-builtaircraftarticles arereprintedjustastheywerepublished-IT0111theFlyingFleatotheLA.4aMinor.108pp, large-format,illustratedthroughout,incsomecolourphotos.Price:£11.99incP&p.

FLYINGFROMMYMIND

Cook'sfascinatingstorybeganin1973whenhebuiltagfiderin anattempttowintheInfamousSelseyBirdmanRally.Between 1975and1977hewoneveryNationalandInternationalhang

glidingcompetitionheentered,thenin1977hedesignedand buiftapowerunitforhisglider.In1978hebecamethefirstand lowest-poweredmicrolighttocrosstheChannel.Therefollowed aperiodofdemonstrationflightsatmajorairshows,thenIn 1982hedesignedamicrolightcalledShadow,whichtookthe FIAworldspeedanddistancerecordsfortheclass.In1992hetooktheaircraftto 23,600fItoclaimtheworldaltituderecordtartheclass.Davidstartedacompany tobuildtheShadowin1984andhasdemonstrateditsremarkableflyingabilities aroundTheworld,duringwhichtimehehadmanyamusingandsomeexciting experiences.In1987theShadowwontheBritishDesignAward.Hardback,228 pages,plus36pagesofB&Wphotographs.Price:£21.99.

WORLDDIRECTORYOFLEISUREAVIATION2009/10

weeks,theorderwillbe helduntilthen.

Revised,expandedandupdated,thenew2009/10editionisavailable soon.Ifsstillthemostcomprehensivecatalogueavailableofover1500 Homebuifts,Microlights,Ultralighls,Gyros,Paragliders,Helicoptersand mostotherleisureaircraft.Everyaircraftfeaturedisaccompaniedbya colourphoto,fulldescription,technicaldata,traininginfo,pricesand manufacturerscontactdetails.Price:£8.95incP&P.

r u s

Newgearforpilotsandbuilders

>AIRMAGIC

AIRMagicUI(haslaunched arangeofhelmets,headsets andintercomsystemsfor microlightsandlightaircraft "Weconsiderourheadsetsto havebest-in-classergonomics" saysSteveBoxall,principal ofAirMagicUK,"withlight weight,sculptedeardefenders whichfollowthecontoursof thehead,andretainingsystems withno"pinchpoints"onthe head.Ournoise-cancelling microphonesaredesignedto minimisetheeffectsofwind noiseinopencockpits,andthe headsetscontainnoise-filtering electronicswhichgreatly reducetheeffectofunwanted enginenoise."

Headsetsareavailablein headbandversionsorwith helmetmountstofitontoAir

Prices:Etbc W:www.airmagic.co.uk

Magic'sCarbon-Kevlarhelmets (picturedtwhichweighjust530 grammes.

Radiointerfaceshave "MuTunes"ipodinputasa standardfeature,withmusic mutingontransmitandon incomingradiotraffic.MuTunes alsokeepstheipodmutedfor6 secondsafterradiocallssothat responsesaren'tinterrupted. Anotherproductisthe"VeeRabbit"highperformance antennaforlong-range communicationinahostile environment.

>DETO-STOP

ITdoeswhatitsaysonthetin-Deto-Stop ExplosionsPreventionsystem.It'san aluminiumalloymeshthatfillsthefueltank withoutlimitingtheamountoffuelinthe tank,andlimitstheamountoffuelthatcan catchfire,preventingtheentiretankgoing up.

Texoga,thecompanybehindthesystem, hasspentmorethan 20 yearsprotecting militaryvehiclesandhasjustmovedintothe GAmarket.AutogyromakerRotertecisthe firsttoequipitsaircraftwiththesystemas standard.

Thesystemisguaranteedfortenyears,has beencertifiedbyNATO,andisusedbyboth theGermanArmyandtheItalianNavy.The systemcostsaround€yootoprotectatoolitre

Price: see text W:www.texoga.com

>DUCFLAIR

DUCHeliceshasbeendevelopingcarbon fibrepropellersformorethan3oyears, anditsnewestdesignisafive-blade"silent running"propthat,accordingtotheFrench company,reducesnoiseby8dbor73%.

Calledthe"Flair",it'sintendeduseisfor glidertugsand18ohpLycomingenginesin particular.Frenchairfieldsarefacingstrict noiselimitsinthenextfewyearssoexpectto seemoreapplicationsfortheprop.

TheFlairisnotyetcertifiedandthe companysaysthatwillbeanother. year. However,othertwoandthreeblade propellersareavailableforRotasandjabiru engines,withdetailsonthecompany's website.Pleasecheckanyproposed propellerchangewithLAAEngineering.

Price:various W:www.duc-helices.com

>BERINGER

ADDabitofcolourtoyouraircraft undercarriagewiththelatesthigh-tech wheelsandbrakesfromFrenchcompany Beringer.

Itshighlydetailedanodisedaluminium productswereoriginallydevelopedforcars andmotorcyclesbutnowthecompanyis movingintotheaircraftmarket. NewbrakekitsareavailableforVans, Lancair,Glasair,Zenair,DynAero,TL Llltraightandjabiruaircraft-seethefull catalogueonline.

AttherecentAEROFriedrichshafenshow, Beringerhadcarbonbrakediscs,ahand brakemastercylinderwithbuilt-inreservoir, andparkingbrakevalvesfortheRobinDR400 series.

Price:various W:www.beringerfr

PAISVAGABONDPA17SPEC.WithDeltair re-builtC90-8F200hrs,sealedstruts.permit May2010,formoredetails01425652238 £18,000ono.

MCR01CLUBRotax9125100hp,400H, fixedprop,Skymap,vacuumsystem, transponder.TCAS,alwayshangared. Cambridge.Excellentcondition.£45.000.Tel: 02075860234.

AVIDSPEEDWINGTRIKEairframe.260hrs, enginezerotimed.582oilinjectedfolding wings.trailer,easytow.hangared.Icomradio cornetc.Soldwithnewpermit.£9,500. ReasonforsalejustbuiltJodel1050.Contact Peter01948663738.

Email:peter@peterthomas.go-plus.net

AEROSPORTSCAMPG-BOOW, Singleseat1835BarrySmithVW engine.Allmetal,100hoursfromnew, alwayshangared,insuperbcondition. LAApermitSeptember2009£8,500 PhoneDenison0035312861582

PIETENPOLAIRCAMPER.Completeairframe.Wings,tailassemblycovered.Ready forfinalfitout,paintingetc.Qualitybuild. Call07748332155

JODEL1200-200ENGINE,1800hrs(airframealittlemore)recenttopendoverhaul.1 ownerfor30years,alwayshangared,good tidycondition.newpermitjustissued.£13,995 onoTel:01362820629

ZENAIR601ULTAILDRAGGER.2seat.low wing.Allaluminium100hpRotax.90hours total.Exceptionalcondition.Alwayshangared. £21.000ono.Call01883715537ormail rogerlgray©aol.co.ukforphoto'setc.

RV9A.Completed2007.160hpLycoming. Sensenichmetalpropeller.TTAF/Eng40hrs. BlueMountainEFIS.AOA,Autopilot.Garmin 296,Bendix/Kingradio,Narcotransponder ModeC.HangaredNorthumberland.£55.000 ono.Contactdavid@dbarraclough.comtel: 01665577475/07771622545.

COLIBRIMB2G-BVVNsingleseatenclosed taildragger.Perkywith1834ccVW.Crisp. responsiveyeteasytofly.Excellentcondition throughoutAF+Eng170hrs.£7,750.Tel: 01733380842.

FOURNIERRF5.SerialNo.1968GAZPF.Oneownersince1980.Engine 200hrssince0/Hairframe3200hrs. P.F.A.permittoAug09.Tandemdual control.Semiaerobatic+soaringflight atlowcost.6.0.0.£25,000noVAT. Tel:01995640228(Eng) AskforRoger

OSPREY2SEATAMPHIBIAN,HAP 50hrs.0-320Lycoming,52hrsSMOH. Sparklingperformance,ROC1000 +/min.A/Cdamagedinlandingon roughwater,butwillbeprofessionally repairedandissuedwithnewpermit. £15,000ornearofferJamesKnight 01680812167

EUROPA914TURBOCLASSICTRI GEARRotax115hp.aircrafthours 205PV50constantspeed.Flydat enginemonitoring.Vacuumpump. Gascolator.Electricturnco-ordinator. Skyforcelac.Exceptionalcondition. hangaredLeeds/Bradfordsincenew. Protessionalyfinishedandserviced. AvailableAprilwithnewpermitand 50hrservice.£39,000Email: michael.dawson22@btinternetcom forfullspec.Tel:01943600848

ISAACSFURY11.Built1987,TTA400. HE2500.Lycoming0.320/150hp,Dittel radio.Fabulousfuntoflyandgoodconditioninallrespects.HawkerNimrod colourscheme,5gph.1300tpmclimb, 90Kcruise,aerobatic,elect,start,disc brakes.£12,500.Newpermitonsale. Cane-mailphotos.I'mlookingforold Britishmotorcyclesandwillbuyforcash ortakeinexchangeagainsttheFury. Anythingconsidered.PleasecallMark (M)07799.088513or(T)01603.814970. amailgenguip@talk21.com

, I.

CONDORD6213G-AWAT.Goodcondition. RR0-200A.Rebuilt1987.MicroairM760 radio,transponder,VOR.Withtheelegant roundedwingtips.Newpermit.Always hangared.Seewww.rollason-condor.co.ukfor history.211,000.Tel:01417764084(E)or 01698730407(day).

'•'

TECNAMSIERRA/P92ECHOSUPERor Sportscruiserhomebuiltwithpermit.Contact A.J.atajhobbins@eircom.net

WANTED:AUSTERMK5andLycoming0290-3enginepartstocompletearestoration. Especiallylookingforenginecowls,exhaust. engineparts.Anythingconsidered.CallTim Tayloron07876682721

ALLENHASELDINE-WELDERMobileCAA approvedwelder.Pre-fabricatedpartswelded, repairs.anyaviationweldingconsidered. ContactAllenon01981510330oremail: allenhaseldine@msn.com

JUMPSTARTER12/24VOLTaerostart3" includescharger.NATOadapterleadand crocodileclipsleadandtrolley£800.00ono. Buyercollects.LocationNorthumberland, Telephone:01697747129.

DESIGNAERODYNAMICS,STRESSAND DRAWINGSSERVICESModifications,completelightaircraftprojects,through:BCAR(S), EASA(CS23),EASA(CS-VLA).Reasonable rates,someinitialconsultationtime.KSL Projects.Email:eric@kingeng.co.ukJohn 07769695856.

EXPERIENCEDBUILDER,pilot,PFA Inspectorforwood,metalandcompositeaircraft.Offershisservicesforrepairwork, recoveringandspraying.Finishingoffprojects,assistancewithkitsandinsurancework, buildingInspectionandPermitrenewals.Also aweighingserviceusingthelatestcomputer padsforthemostaccurateweightpossible! ForfurtherdetailscontactMikeHanley—Tel: 01872560771,Mobile:07703781628, Email:mwhflyby.aol.com

ortelephone01793791517.

CASSUTT3MWINGSNEEDED.Lowweight importantcallAndrewChadwick07802232085 ac@chadwick-international.com.

LYCOMING0-360-AID750hourscomplete withMcCauley2D34253propellerremoved fromMoonexM20CG-BUYR£5250ono. PhoneDenison0035312861582.

ROTAX912ULS100hpengineandgearbox. Inexcellentworkingorderwithfullmaintenancehistoryandenginelog.1425hours. CurrentlyinstalledinanIkarusC42. £2.750ono.Tony07715477043.

ROTAX912UL(80HP)250hoursfromnew. Verygoodenginepreviouslyfittedto Skyarrow.Allservicebulletinscompleted, includesradiatoroilcoolerandstainless exhaust.Offersaround£7,250Tel:07810 123505

ROTAXENGINE912F3FORSALEwith1500 hourspreviouslyfittedtoKatana.Formore detailspleasecallAdnanon01292479990.

LightAircraftEngineShop VWContinental&Lyconling Spccenlistsinnu's()enginesfin-yeairs Call01223263951

orE-mail MercuryEngines@dsLpipex.com

FORYOURPLANEORGLIDER

(Alcie: Natiilit0feted RHI) Call BrianMills

\44 CUSTOMMADEFUEL&OILTANKS

PA17VAGABOND, basedPophaminlong establishedgroup.AlsooperatingPA22 TripacerandWA52Wassmer£1,850£55/mo, £36/ph.CallPhilon07785244663.

OAKSEYPARK 1/8share.Wellequippedand maintainedPA28140.£70PCMand£70ph wet.Excellentavailability22,750ono.Contact John01666577108or07880765598.

GOODWOODBASEDFALCONAR(JODEL TYPE) 1/61hshareforsale.Newpermit,new enginerebuild,lowhours.internetbooking, £2.500+2500maintenancefund.£80/month. topupfuel21Itrs/hr.Tel:01243779565. 1/6SHAREAUSTERD4, classictaildragger. under-utilised.HangaredAndover,Lycoming 0-235,longestablishedgroup,includes instructor.Group-maintained.onpermit £2,900£55pcm£60phwetTel:Robin0118 9781821

PIPERL18CCUB- justintimeforsomegood summerflying-1/6thshareinRedhillbased PermittoFlyPiperCubG-BJWZ-£3,000. £100permonthand£35perflyinghour(wet). Goodavailability.ContactRodDeanon07731 477156fordetails.

I I"

MONTOMERIEBENSENB8MRWITH

ROTAX582, 60"GSC3bladepropand21' GRProtors.AlsonewMontgomerieMerlin Podandnew60"propplusradiosetc.May besoldasalotorseparately.e-mail rmmann@fsmail.netortelephone01770820 624

Aircraltyouwouldbeproudtoown

'I' NORTHUMBERLAND.SOCATATB9 GROUPA4SEATER. Economical.friendly flying.Excellentavailability.Hangared.Joining fee£2.000.£55/month.£75/hrwet.William Bliss01434676972mobile07931552052. OwnerIanParkinsonmobile07703032793. TB10 basedRochester,small,friendlygroup, goodavailabilty,f115pcm£85/tachohr. shares£4,000.ContactDavid01737819617 or07768501393.

JODEL1050 AmbassadeurbasedRedhill.50 hrsonnewengine.Excellentavailability.£4k. £90pcmand£45ph.Contact:John0208224 7799email:johnfallis@yahoo.co.uk

MERLIN582. 28hrssincenew.Probablybest builtmodifiedtoMPD.StudentcannowcompletePPL(G)onthisgyroplane.Mustbeseen (LittleRiss).Carbheat.SkyforcelocatorSat Nayetc.ContactIvan01949836747or07846 433531.

PARACHUTE "Strong"paracushionbackpacktype.Justbeeninspected,repackedand certified.Verygoodconditionwithcase.(Over £1200new).£595.00ono.ContactRoy01902 67892or07836348945.

SV35/PMA.Effective&eco-friendly. Airbusapproved.Non-hazardous, 100%biodegradable. CallUKdistributorCirrusSystemsLtd nowformoredetailsorvisitourwebsite. Tel:01305822659 www.cirrus-systems.co.uk

VANSRV8G-DAZZ 180hours TTE/AFsuperiorIO-XP360180hpfuel injectionC/Sprop.Aeroscleared DynonDIMPFDSkymapIIIC,Mode S,leatherseats,permitFeb'10,Farm StripbasedFarmham.SurreyOne shareavailable£8750 CallDarren07785597228

0ShellAviation APPROVEDSUPPLIER ic DELIVERYANYWHEREINUK WHYPAYMOREFORYOUROIL?

IBUYINBULK-YOUCANSAVEPOUNDS

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ltreApprovedOltrotRutax2Sirok,Engines

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I•I•I•I

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e-mail:paulearnmils.co.uk

FREDPROJECT Largelycomplete.Most metalwork.600X6aircraftwheels.Stockof timberetc.tofinish.Reluctantbutmustsell. Callforfulldetails.Needcashtorevalidate PPL£1150ono.07768718352.

SPORTCRUISERKITWITHROTAX912. Justrequirespropandinstruments.Allskins rivetted.LatestElevatorandAileronmods. £42,500.Bigsavingoncurrentprice.Tel 01273857867/01903814080.

KITFOX2 Structuralandfabricworkcomplete.Requiresfuselageandonewingtobe paintedthenfinalassembly.Mostpartsand paintincluded.£7000.Tel.01455290258

EUROPAAIRFRAME, structurallycomplete toaveryhighbuildstandard,taildraggerconversionwithLAAinvolvement. Mostcomponentsmade,manyextraparts included,noFWF £7.500forquicksale 01460281129 milesm@avnet.co.uk

"I•

WANTED. Hasanyoneasparebladefora WarpDrivepropeller?ForaRotax582(tractor)66"diameter.Slighttipdamagenota problem.Thankyou.David01768371488 (evenings).

IPERIODPROPERTY with4beds,Aga, stablesand9acresinNElects+520mstrip andhangarlargeenoughtoholda Stearman.Allexcellentandbeautifulsetting. £950Kovno.Tel:01763287692or markzipfellghotmail.com

NARCOTRANSPONDER AT50a.Complete withrackandplugs.Lookslikeamusthave thesedays.Duetoreplacementunit.£220.00 pluspostage.Barry01227831775.

MITCHELLFUELPRESSUREGAUGEAND SENDER. Tosuitinjectedengine,asnew.Ex RV6offersaround£45.Ring01162867926.

N.P.P.L

DERE!,DmiDSON

Microlite(3axis)toSEPiston(aircraft)

Threedays-£990total

*Day1-Groundschooladexam(aircrafttechnical)

*Day2-Righttraining(differences)includingflight safetybreilingsinPiperPA28

*Day3-Righttest(NET.OFT)

VHFRTAVAILABLEIFREQUIRED

DerekDavidson-Mobile07831517028(7am-0.30am &evenings).Emailflyderek@hotmail.co.uk

VHFRTLICENCE

All thetrainingyouneedtheoryand practical or either,Includesexamandtest Toairtrafficcontrolthebadgeyouwearasto howgoodyou are as apilotisyourRT "Ifyousounda****,they will assumeyouare Itmay nOt befairbutWshowa" Phonemeforachat DerekDavidson,Henstridge,Somerset Tel.(from7am•8.30am&evenings) 07831517428(mobile) Email --flyderek@hotmail.co.uk

DEREKr/MIDSON

HereIam(AGAIN) PPL GroundExams

Areyoutryingtopassbywatching. television(er,sorry,CDROMs)? DrREKDAV1000N Clareand rcouldteenyuumureiroov'tuu.sy ruikiuçrobrsr.rrrunrTo, [cordlarn”ywaroMngPuOiorscrry.CDROMs,untilyourEyeslarout Preday,lut-rimeGround.5chtooclStor.rhome allsevenexams!ledpron-eseyouwillenjoyit Comecoo,arcdoaryoralltheexamsyouneedGobacktoyouruele andsdiro,andyetonw.II,yourlleyouxnthir Nhal I"lean' Three decadesateacher/exams-per TelephoneDerekDavidson,7am-8.30amS evenings,07831517428(mobile) Emarlflyderekgtotmail.co.uk

OwnerMckFlutehasaPPLandIsaLLAMember Iftransportingyouraeroplanesafelyisaproblem,weshouldbeabletohelp. Tel.OLOon02089978100(day&evening).Wabsite:wvavalg.coak

WANTED Lynxmicrosystemadapterlead headsettoNATOplugs.ContactShawnon 01209712805 e-mall:shawningram69alolive.co.uk

WANTED anyTurbulentprojectorparts RollasonorHomeBuilt,crashedornew,anythingconsidered.Callevenings-01732750 608Phil

Tel:08448150970Fax:(18448150971 infoqtraffords-insuranee.co.uk www.aircraft-insurance.co.uk

Seewonderfulold aircraftsuchas thisDeperdussinat theShuttleworth Collection.

ASUMMEROFFLYINGBECKONS

Fromshowstofly-instoaerobatics,aviationtakesoffoverthenextfewmonths

WEarecominginto thebusiesttimeofthe seasonforaviation events,andeveryweekend seemstohaveplentyofoptions. OneoftheLAARegionalRallies istakingplaceinScotlandover theweekendof5-7June,atPerth, andyoucanmeetmanyoftheLAA staffattheAeroExpoTradeShow

JUNE

beingstagedatWycombeAirPark thefollowingweekend.

Butthere'salotofcompetition overthatweekendofrjaziJune. Forinstance,there'sthespectacle ofhundredsmicrolightersheading forthebigbeanoatSandown,Isle ofWight-theannual"Spamfield" WightParty.Ifyou'rethinking ofgoing,registerbeforehand

attheevent'swebsite,wywv. wightparty.org-andtakecare whenflightplanning.There'sa rockfestivalatNewport,IoW,on thesameweekendwithadisplay bytheRedArrowsscheduledto takeplace.

Onthesameweekendthere's aVan'sFly-inatPophamand aYak/RussianaircraftFly-inat

13-14 NorthCoatesNCFCMicrolight

LeicesterANDaroundofthe BritishAerobaticscompetitions atComptonAbbas!Toughchoice -ormaybeyoucannegotiate theNOTAMandfindawayto attendallofthem.Nowthere'sa challenge!

Whateveryoudo,pleasecheck NOTAMthoroughlywhenever youfly.

20-21 TrimIrelandFly-In&880 4 TurwestonLAAAirfieldOwnersseminar 01472388850 01280846786

20-21 KembleAirDayDisplay 13-14 NullsStGeorgesFranceZlinFly-in&Aerobatics 20-21 Wickenby.CharityWings&WheelsEvenl[PPR] 57 NarlhreppsRotaryFly-in01263513015

13-15 ChtdenGalway,IrelandAlcock&Brown90th 21 TibenhamLArfBrecklandStrutFly-in&060,

01379608110

>WHERETOGO

JULY

3-6

4-5

4-6

4-6

4-5

4-5

Dryplay,::PPP)01767627927

10-12Vichy,FranceRSALegend-1yrNulionolFiy-in

2526DornachLW1Highland/3IslandsSeatFly in

GoodwoodFeslivalofSpeed 01862832881

11OldWarden.ShuelewarthHangarDonee

WarldingionRAFArrShow 01767627927

IlensiriageIAOAmsterFly-in&MGOars 11-;2SwanseaArrshow(incRedArrows)

StRambeNd'AlbonFrancedataFly-rn 11-12Popham u•ASouthernRegionalRaIM

Wellinglanbridge,lrylandIrishHomehuill177-in

YallonWoodonangWingsShow

11-12Leicester.LEOCentenaryTorldraggerHyLn, 01162092360

25-26DoverNeal•nlvecsaryEvent

AUGUST

7-9(HerseyParkEuropeanLuscambeRally. 07968980624

18-19FairlordRIADMililanjDspayDi285713300 29-30BloisFranceULMSalon

LTRI-11-AVIATIONSWHERETOGOPAGESAPEretODUCEDINASSOCIATiONWiThMEROYALAFROClUP OldWarden.ShatilewodhMiiitary&NavalPageant Fullevents'islIngssunbe[auragiwmn.royarceracluborg'ndupdctescanbesentluDavid&se daye.wise@Thtinterepearn

THREEFORFREELANDINGVOUCHERS

Supporttheseairfieldsbyflyinginwiththesevouchers-andthenspendsomemoneythere. ThesevouchersarevalidthroughoutJune2009only.Pleasefillinyouraircraftregistration.

Beverley(LinleyHill)

Situatedintheheartofthebeautiful Yorkshirecountryside,HullAeroClubat Beverleywasfoundedin1930duringthe thegoldenageofflying.Theclubisproud ofitsflyingheritagestretchingbackover'm years.The635mstripisgrass,R12/30and theA/Gfrequencyis123.05.Apowerlineat socacrossestheextendedcentreline. W:www.hullaeroclub.co.uk A/CREG:

FarwayCommon

Notstrictlyafreelandingfeevoucher becausetheoperator,TerryCase, doesn'tcharge!FarwayisinlushEnglish countrysidenearSidbury,Devon.Ithas twostrips,Ra8136andR1o128,bothgrass and55010long.CallExeterApproachon bothinboundandoutbound,thenthe airfieldontheSafetycom,135.475. W:www.farwaycommon.com

A/CREG: ValidJune2009only

FullSutton

Greatlittleairfieldlocatedjust8nm fromYorkandthusveryhandyforthat wonderfulcity.Hotels,BOBs,restaurants arejustataxirideaway.Justmakesure youchecktheapproachprocedureswhen flyingintoFullSutton-don'toverflythe prisonrightnextdoor!The72201grass runwayisRoan,andcallonA/G132.32. W:flyfullsutton.co.uk

A/CREG:

ValidJune2009only

Therehasneverbeen abettertimeto becomeamemberoftheLightAircraft Association.Whetheryouareapilotoran enthusiast,lightaviationwillnotsurvive withoutorganisationsthatarededicatedto safeguardingtherightsofordinarypeople toownandoperatelightaircraft.TheLAA isattheforefrontofthework,bothIntheUK andInEurope.Joinustodayandhelpusto help you. ThetAAIsalsoaboutFUNI

GARMIN

Garm1nGPSMAP695£1735

GARMIN

GARMIN

GPS400 IPS

GPSMAP96£255

GPSMAP96Colour£299

GPSMAP196£365

GPSMAP296£632

GPSMAP495£995

GPSMAP496£1195

AirGizmoPanelDockHO

TRANSCEIVERS

AMERI-KING

TheAmeri-KingAK-451ELTisaTS09, UMJTS09approved406MHZELTE795

AltitudeEncoderAK350£150

TRAFFICALERT

ZaonMRX£350

Et"±P•eiRSi

Zaon*XRXE995

'NowinterlacesNthGaminUSW495/496/05, /IowaESP4iGeoplot?,andtheBendadhngAWN

LIGHTSPEED

SENNHEISER

MMUSLightweightGAHeadsetf140

HME100GAHeadset £169

HMEC250ANRGAHeadset„ £340

HMEC460ANRGAHeadset £515

HMEC25KALighmeightANR E430

INSTRUMENTS

RCAllenRCA22-7vacuumhomier £539

RCAllenRCA26uohtelectrichorizon£1595

FalconGHINV-3sacuumGirtonf399

FalconGH02E-3eleUnchuman f995

RCAllenRCA11A-8vaccumDR E539

RCAllenRCA15unlitelectricDCf1595

FalconDGO2V-3insert 06f399

FalconEIGO2E-3metricDC f995

RCAllenRCAB2Asinustuincoordinatorf565

FalconTCO2Eelectricluracoordinator £145

Falconmagneticcompass.E99

FalconVSI2FM-3V51..f115

FalconASII20N-3ASI,,,f115

FalconALT2tMBF-3Altimeterf299

Falconverticalcardcompassf179

Precisionverticalcardcompass£215

BENDIX/KING

£2999

GNC420 GPS/COMM „f3999

GNS430 GPS/COMMMAV£4595

Alloftheabovesuppliedwithwiring harnessforIAA/Experimentalaircraft GTX328 ModeStransponderf1750

GTX330transponder....Call SL40 Comm £1170

SL30Nay/Comm E2495

GPS150XLpanelmount £1995

GNC250X1GPS/COM£2350

GMA340Audio panel £875

GMA240Audiopanel..£599

CUSTOMPANELS

TheNEWTouchScreenportable AV8ORGPS£499

SKYMAPIIICwithdatabasef950

KMD150GPSlpanelmount)11795

KY97AVHFComm14v,,,, f1175

KY96AVHFComm2Bv,,,, f1095

KRBlADFsystem(OHC}pleasecall

KN64DME(OHCl pleasecall

BECKER

AR4201VHFCom £889

BXP-6401transponder€1495

BE-6400altitudeencoder £189

TRIG

TRIG1131 ClassIModeSf1595

TRIG1121 Class2ModeS£1295

FUNKWERK

ATR500transceiver £799

INTERCOMS

HMIntercoms

2placeportable E79

2placefor loomw/PTT E99

4placeportable £99

PSEngineering

AerocomIllwithInteliVoxE249

PMA4000AudioPanel £595

PM501panelmount4place£219

Home/KitBuilders

Wecansupplyanavionicspackagetomeet yourspecificrequirementsreadyfor immediateinstatation. Allloomsarecustommadebyourengineers Itrequired,theavionicscanbebuiltrntoour neviradiorackmountingsystem Pleasecalllerpricingandmoreinformation.

BOSE

MICROAIR

M760transcenier , £695 MICHEL/TKM

MX11 replacementCorn E695

MX170CNav/Corn f1295

MX385 Nav/Corn E1295

HEADSETS

AirMkl hestyalueGAHeadsetf79

AirMkX bestvalueAIRHeadset£159

PM10004placepricesfromf299 PM3000stereo4placeintercomf365 PC1)71001intercom&Coplayerf799

Sigtronics

SPA400panelmount £169

SPA400Nhighnoiseversion £180

MICROAVIONICS

NEWIntegralHelmetwith: Voxheadset f345

VoxandANRheadset£406

BoseXHeadset

AvailableVersions

Battery-twinplug-straightcable

Battery-twinplug-coilcable BatteryU174Helicopter-coilcable Installed-Lemoplug-straightcable Installed-Lemoplug-coilcable

HM51childheadset f79

Peltor8006GAheadset£145

Peltor Helicopterheadset922/44£159

Peltor Helicopterheadset £159

DavidClarkH10-13.4 £225

DavidClarkH10-60 U52

DavidClarkH10-13H E234

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