Skybolt😀
The weather on Saturady was awful for gliding so my visit to the Welland GC event at Lyveden near Corby was somewhat abortive. Fortunately they had both weekend days and Sunday was fabulous. Popped in again with our Skybolt and there were many happy looking trial lesson folk enjoying their flights. Its a small voluntary set-up that operates generally at the weekend but their airfield is great and so is the equipment. You pays your money and takes your choice. I am joining Welland especially since it is only 12 miles from home.
Trapper 69
PS – They even invited me to do an aeros practice on the dead side on departure back to Leicester – my pleasure.
SkyboltWhen you compare the UK warbird scene now compared with that of say 40 years ago there is absolutely no comparison. In the main this is due to many wealthy folk who have put their own money into the restoration of lots of fantastic aircraft. It has given them pleasure as well as the huge number of less fortunate enthusiasts like myself. I fully agree with those who are content to wait and see but I am absolutely sure that the Legends weekend will provide a feast for the eyes and ears as has been the case since the event first appeared. My only regret is that, once more, there are two unmissable events on at the same weekend – FL and the PFA rally. At the first I cannot dream of being able to afford one of the aircraft – at the second I can and do……….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See you there – either Duxford or Kemble.
Trapper 69
SkyboltDave,
Thanks for the advice. Have filled in your questionnaire but there are quite a few areas where it is necessary to read the actual consultation documents if you are to appreciate what is involved. Perhaps you might let us know how many responses you have had to date. Totally agree with your comment that a really maximum effort is needed NOW from all in private, sporting and recreational aviation. EASA need OUR advice especially as GA represents by far the largest number of folk in civil aviation in Europe and we just cannot afford the level of bureaucracy and costs inevitably linked to the old NAA’s like our own CAA.
Trapper 69
Skybolt😡
Have just finalised my own responses to the EASA NPA 2/2004. I had a total of 23 response forms to complete in the format supplied and required by EASA if my submission was to be taken into consideration. The form template takes around 500KB and my own text averaged around 6KB each time or just over 1% of the total amount to be transmitted by email. In my case over 12MB with my non-broadband snail internet/email modem. What an utter foulup in terms of encouraging a reasonable level of response from all of us so-called EASA “stakeholders”. What do you think?
Trapper 69
PS – It really is vital for all of us in GA to get a response into EASA either direct or through your own representative body in your own country. Our views must be taken into account as GA represents by far the greatest number of people involved in civil aviation in the EU countries. The EASA website has all the details so if you want to influence policy and escape the usual GA level of apathy get stuck in with a plain Word document comment to your GA representative body such as PFA, BMAA, BGA, AOPA(UK) etc. No need to use the EASA format and a huge emailing phone bill if you send it to the above organisations.
Skybolt🙂 A really excellent selection of display items. What a contrast between the precise Chipmunk aerobatics by Chris Kelleher and the Dennybatics. Bet the Dobson engine life will prove a fraction of normal. The Hurricane and Spitfire displays were magic and those three stalwarts in the tied together formation must have shed gallons of perspiration in the gusty conditions when they flew. James Gilbert’s commentary style was great – informative with a laid back delivery. A good crowd in view of the forecast however the incipient hypothermia in mid June was a bit of a shock. Roll on summer…..!!!
Trapper 69
SkyboltSteve,
Why not ask Leicester? Arthur Eldridge, the Club Chairman, is the guy to ask; probably through Ann Giles, the club’s administrator. It has a fairly central location and the new grass parking area can take a huge number of visitors. Malcolm’s grub is excellent as well.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltI retired from the Feds in 1998 having had 14 years gamekeeping – I am now back to poaching so fill your boots. Though you would be a bl**dy prat to forge a medical since if you did have a mishap the insurance company would certainly not pay out and the Feds would certainly prosecute as has been the case in the not too distant past to a really great GA enthusiast who must have had a brief mental aberration.:cool:
SkyboltCome on children this is just not good enough. Our colonial cousin will think all Brits are bonkers…………..!!!! Hmmm…??
Cheers,
Trapper 69
(on George Washington’s birthday – as well as my own. Clickety click and still going strong.)
SkyboltDaz,
Glad you have accepted all the advice. If I can be of any help then give me a call. The Isaacs Spitfire is a design you will be proud of when it eventually emerges. Have you joined your local PFA strut yet? They are a really useful source of assistance to a first time builder.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltDaz,
I reckon he did give you a straight answer and if you needed amplification you just got it from me. Lets face it ,any Titch or Taylor Monoplane conversion is going to look terrible though I admit beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you realised how much you would be involved in financially to prepare an acceptable design submission for the PFA to consider you would never start to try. Beleive me the cost of a time expired O-200 would be cheap in comparison and then you could rebuild it under the watchful eye of a friendly D licence holder. The Isaacs design is a gem – just ask anyone who has flown it. Hope this helps. I do appreciate the tribulations of the impoverished aviator having been one myself for most of my 50 years as a pilot.
Cheers,
Trapper 69:cool:
SkyboltDaz,
That converted Titch looks absolutely awful and resembles a cartoon series on the Spit. I have replied on the Avi8 website to your question there. It seems to me that Francis Donaldson wrote a fine response to you since he was absolutely right. Why reinvent the wheel. If you can afford it then go for the Aussie Spit – either single or 1.5 seat version – if not but time is available and cheap then the Isaacs Spitfire is excellent. Do not become yet another doodling timewaster for the PFA – they have far too many already. If you had any idea just what you would be involved with in terms of expensive design and structural analysis with a significantly modified existing design you would never even start that daydream.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
SkyboltManonthefence – Lovely. Reckon that was my second out of three landings off one approach. That runway is rough to say the least – fine for stalling speeds of around 40 knots or less but not for 55 knots or more. I had only renewed my DA on the Monday and on the Wednesday I was still grinning and, as in Barnsley, I could talk of little else. 42 months is a loooooooooong time to be out of the display circuit. I missed it enormously. There is a real feeling of being part of a huge family of aviation enthusiasts – no matter whether they be pilots or public (or even CAA trappers). Ah well, the 2004 season is to come.
Thanks again,
Trapper 69:D
SkyboltAm so old I am totally unable to find a way to post a wood-engraving on this thread. Perhaps Damian B or Man on the Fence could oblige with a candid shot of me or even the Skybolt. What a handsome/glamorous bunch you all are. That reminds me – my beard needs trimming this week or perhaps it is this month/season/year. It would make a change to have the beard fluttering in the slipstream rather than the keffiya.
Yasser Verifat
alias Trapper 69
PS – The Skybolt is on
http://www.tempest.ndo.co.uk
PPS – I am off to NZ in April for a couple of months on holiday with my wife and intend to get to Wanaka as display correspondent for PILOT so if you are there do look me up. I celebrate 50 years as pilot in command on 17 April 2004. First solo was on an ATC Kirby Cadet 3 glider in 1954 so would love to get aloft that day in another more potent sailplane on the same day in 2004. Should still be in South Island and the 17th is a Saturday so any ideas out there? I have a Silver C with Gold height and it would be great to crack either Diamond height or possibly my Gold c distance on an out and return basis. Mind you such opportunities in gliding do not comply with anyones hopes…..!!!:cool:
SkyboltThat commentatore name is Roger Hoefling and he Gave a scintillating talk today at the Friends of Duxford gathering. He was the organiser at Mildenhall until very recently and is now organising events for the Royal Navy. His style of commentary is fairly unique and his knowledge of aircraft shows his scholarship in research. The art of any commentator is to educate as well as inform and entertain when the odd spectacular item palls a bit and Roger truly has that skill.;) Also on the programme at Duxford were Helen Tempest, Dave Evans and Rod Dean all of whom gave excellent presentations on different aspects of the display scene. Congratulations to Steve Bridgewater and the other FOD members who organised such an entertaining event. Roll on the next one.
Trapper 69
SkyboltCher Melvyn,
Je suis le pere avec le commande du langue Francais formidable mais tres mauvais. Tu connais bien je pense. J’ai un billet avec Ryanair au Charleroi et retour pour 25 livres seulement. C’est pas cher le vol comme ca.
Bonne chance avec le moteur,
Trapper 69 (ou soixante neuf a vous – oooooh la la……..!!!!!!!!!!)
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