Taifun,
The FAA have obviously mellowed a bit and softened their attitude in recent years however the Nord 1002 is a known and certificated CofA aircraft in the UK. Although yours is another matter entirely being re-engined with a US made flat 6 that does restore the Bf108’s original proportions but, IMHO, does not improve the classic elegance of the Renault straight 6 engine configuration in the Nord “Mille deux”.
Cheers, or more properly, Felicitations,
Trapper 69
:rolleyes:

Lovely. Did the Major use his zimmer frame or a fork lift to access the cockpit………!! I am of course only joking as he is quite the fittest RAF retiree I have known.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

RR and all the forum members who came,
What a great afternoon it was. The pilots had their hands full with the crosswind but we only lost the Great warbirds guys who were stuck at Shoreham with even more wind than we had along with Alan Cassidy whose CAP232 had a problem that meant that aerobatics were just not possible on safety grounds. Everyone flew magnificently for all of us and I doubt if anyone went home feeling they had not had a great time. I did for sure though I really itched at times to be up there too. Perhaps next year……!!
Dave Poile and his family did a fantastic job as ever and I am certain Pudsey meandered home well satisfied. A big thank you to all who made the day such a huge success – this despite the appallingly wet August which has made the farming community in East Anglia suffer enormously.
Looking forward to a dryer 2005.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
PS – Dave Evans, the CAA airshow inspector, went off chuckling: I think he enjoyed his day too.

I will be there from around 0930 and wearing a rather fetching Aussie stetson with “hair conditioning” mesh. My uncle, a retired WW2 Luftwaffe Ritter Kreutz trager Oberst will also be there inspecting the (Aussie designed though Slepchev is hardly a diggers surname) Fieseler Storch which is to make its maiden airshow debut in the afternoon. Do not return any form of salute in case of offence………either way…!!
The meeting time coincides with the airshow brief so have a jar for me as I will be otherwise engaged. Hope to meet some of you during the day.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
PS – As of 1130 today, Saturday, no phone calls of any nature other than expected and boring ones have arrived………..Sod it……………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony A,
Fantabulous indeed. I often appear like the first shot in my better crazy flying routines. Thank you so much.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

A fabulous Woburn despite the best efforts of the Met Office. Both days were superb weather and Saturday saw a very large collection of de Havilland types however Sundays total was rather less due to threats of Hurricane Charlie’s tail – now due on Monday.

No untoward incidents although the crosswind on Saturday made a few sphincters pucker on arrival. The airshow went off well with some nice presentations though somewhat laid back as is appropriate for vintage biplanes. The Tiger Moth slow flying race was won by Dave Evans of the CAA…………….!!

There was but one contestant in the Chipmunk freestyle aerobatic competition so the undisputed winner was Dennis Neville. Four entrants for the Tiger Moth freestyle made it a real competition and some geriatric grey bearded old OFFA (Old Flying Farts Association) member demonstrated, yet again, that old age and treachery will often triumph over youth and skill. He won the Len Jefferies Trophy and the Christopher Clarkson Trophy plus a bottle of 12 yrar old Famous Grouse and an engraved crystal glass. Torquil Norman had kindly offered him the loan of his grand Tiger G-AGEG, an offer gratefully accepted. I think the winner was in grave danger of a hernia as he gleefully bore his loot in the direction of his car plus his camera, shooting stick and collapsible camp chair. Just five years ago the 2004 winner had won the same trophies at Cambridge when Marshall’s sponsored the contest, this after apparantly suffering what turned out to be a mild heart attack some three hours or so before his flight. After a three year period without any medical certification and flying only with his son as P1 he received one of the first NPPL’s in 2002. This was his first contest since then.

As usual the prizes were graciously presented by the DHMC president, the ever beautiful Dowager Duchess of Bedford.

A fine 24th DHMC Rally at Woburn; though there was one held at Old Warden in that dreadful year of foot and mouth disease when Woburn really feared for their irreplaceable deer herds and were unable to offer the venue that year. 2005 will se the Silver Jubilee of Woburn rallies and should be a really memorable occasion.

Thanks to that indefatigable McKay family, Stuart, Miranda and Melissa without whom the De Havilland Moth Club would not exist. I really think their other daughter, Fiona, who died some years ago with a heart problem looks down on the rest of the families efforts with approval – she would have loved Woburn 2004.

Cheers,

Trapper 69

PS – All the whingers on this thread must realise the event is arranged by and for the DHMC plus the DHTS. If the public would like to attend, and they demonstrably do in great numbers, then they are more than welcome. It does not cost a fortune to join the DHMC and you get a really excellent magazine around 6 issues each year plus 6 newsletters. Contact Stuart McKay for details.

Albert,
Your mate is obviously visually impaired – IMHO. I had a fabulous day though the gate security to the aircraft park was very tight. Most folk seemed to be getting all the photographs they wanted. Perhaps some snappers think they are, as in Orwell’s materpiece 1984, more equal than others……………..!!!!!!!!!!! At least the dratted stepladders were not in evidence. Frankly the safety situation within the aircraft park at Woburn in the past has been less than satisfactory and if the CAA has indeed applied pressure for an improvement it is long overdue – same goes for the PFA Rally. If you only knew what the forward visibility is like taxying a taildragger you would be somewhat more cautious when props are turning.
Cheers,
Trapper 69