Just got back from Halfpenny Green, and I am still thawing out. Thank you to everyone who came, and I hope no-one got frostbite. Also sorry the aerojumble was not up to scratch. We won’t be trying to make it two days in subsequent years. There were fewer visiting aircraft today in gustier conditions, but the Leonides and Hercules runs were marvellous, though running 1200 hp and 700 hp fans did not help with the cold !

I got details of what will be in the static park yesterday, while I was setting up. There will be two Bulldogs, trying not to look like ugly ducklings next to a Savoia-Marchetti SF.260, two Cassuts, a Mini-Max, Maule, Comanche and others. If yesterday is anything to go by the Fly-in will be busy.

Good news for aerojumblers, the Flight Academy, who are always very supportive, are letting you use their hangar, the same one we used last time. You’ll be sharing it with a Twin Star, rather than a Jetstream, though. All tables still free, however, though you have to bring your own.

Both days are 10 am to 4 pm

Slight update on the Boulton Paul power control units which will be in the aerojumble – there will be VC-10 and unused (in their original box) Soko Galeb units and a fantastic Concorde unit, complete, a work of art, but there will be no BAC.111 PCUs. They were apparently filled with something called Sky-dol, which is absolutely vile, and will give you dermatitis for the rest of your life if it comes into contact with your skin. I have just learned today all about it -a good job that I always touched those PCUs wearing gloves ! No-one told me before now !

The Boulton Paul Aircraft Heritage Centre is now almost empty, just a few benches and trestles left. The Defiant Balliol and P.6 are in the old flight shed, which gives it a deja vu look (apart from the P.6). The StART Canberra and Jet Provost are ready to ship – they are going to Baxterley. The Overstrand is already at Halfpenny Green for the Wings & Wheels Fly-in.

Ah, but a long long way from yours, Andy. In these days of high fuel costs, having an aerojumble in each area of the country is surely not a bad thing. It attracts sellers like the Boulton Paul Association who will not travel far, and therefore turns up stuff which otherwise would not appear.

Read, and replied, Andy.

I’ve just heard that the Stig is coming again. He didn’t pay last time, at CockpitsWest last September, but then I hear he doesn’t know what money is for. We are having a rally auto-test, organised by the local rallyers, so I don’t know if he will be taking part in that. He left a lot of tyre rubber behind when he drove an Ariel Atom last time.