Luton Minor Gathering at PFA ‘Flying for Fun 2006’ Rally Kemble, Gloucestershire, 18-20th August.
Help Celebrate the 70th Birthday of Luton Aircraft and the 60th Anniversary of the PFA !
The last time we saw a line up of Luton Minors like this, was nearly 30 years ago, when the PFA Rally was at Sywell.
Now we’re setting Luton Minor owners around the country the challenge of getting to Kemble for the 2006 Flying for Fun Rally.
It’s all the fault of Nigel Hitchman, Projects Editor for the PFA Popular Flying magazine. He said “Why not try to get all the airworthy Lutons to the PFA rally. The non radio procedures are easy with no restrictions- this year you don’t even need to call for PPR, just turn up. Wouldn’t it be great to see a line-up of 10 or more parked together!”
And he’s absolutely right, so the challenge is set. Let’s see whether we can get every flying Luton in the country to Kemble. I can see even more bright ideas already. As well as a Luton line-up, I can see us combining with our Pietenpol friends to create a “Parasol Posse”. How about a stream arrival all doing a stately 55 knots into the overhead. We could cause “Minor Mayhem” in the circuit!
Well ladies and gents how about it?
More information on http://www.lutonminor.com !
By: GASML - 5th July 2006 at 22:59
Just the one I understand. Mine. But I wasn’t there either!
By: ollieholmes - 4th July 2006 at 17:02
So how many Luton Minors made it to Old Warden this weekend? Sadly i was stuck in the States and could not attend.
By: GASML - 4th July 2006 at 09:34
As you say, the Duet isn’t really a Luton aircraft product, although it was designed in the late 1960s to offer a similar flying experience to the Minor, but for two.
Certainly Arthur Ord-Hume has made strong comments on its provenance, the only repeatable one being that its a “series of compromises flying in a surprisingly good formation!”
I did also hear from a former Phoenix employee, that the fuselage width was arrived at by sitting their two largest employees on a bench, then putting the longerons on either side of them!
So saying, its been bimbling about for 30+ years, so it can’t be too bad. A pity though that they put squared off wingtips and tail on it. I guess they though it modernised it then, sadly it lost much of the Luton charm.
By: wysiwyg - 4th July 2006 at 08:01
The Luton(!) Duet is owned by a mate of mine who also has a Luton Minor and a Luton Major. Despite several offers to fly the Duet I have never managed to get round to it. One thing that should be realised is that the Duet is actually nothing to do with Luton. I believe the plans were once available from Phoenix who also were once supplying Luton Minor plans and that is the only similarity. With regards to weight carrying…I know my friends son (20 something year old male) has flown it with other not-too-big adults. Perhaps treating it as one adult + one child is the way ahead for this aircraft.
By: Propstrike - 1st July 2006 at 22:36
Seemed pretty fair to me. Most good ‘uns seem to go for 4-5K.
I was flicking through some old mags from ’95 and they were the same price then.
The Luton Duet in this month’s PF looked good value at 5.5K, if it really is a two-seater for two, rather than just a single seater for the more ample gentleman, in the style of an Evans VP2
By: GASML - 30th June 2006 at 15:33
Thanks Propstrike!
Yes, G-ASML is for sale, but frankly even if I don’t part with her, I’m just as happy to keep on flying her.
There could potentially be a few Minors at Kemble this year, in celebration of both the 60th birthday of the PFA and the 70th of the Luton Aircraft Co.
G-ASML will be joining about 60 other PFA types at Old Warden this weekend for another PFA Birthday Party – I gather the parking situation’s giving airfield manager John de Main nightmares already! 😀
By: Propstrike - 29th June 2006 at 21:29
GAMSL,
I hope you will still be the owner, for your gathering!
Saw the advert in Popular Flying. It’s always a shame when you have to let them go.
Still, this time next year you will probably be patrolling the western front!
A.S
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June 6, 2006 at 10:34 pm