There is a Skeeter which appears occasionally at fly-ins.

When I was a boy, we used to have a Westland Wigeon flying over our farm quite often late afternoons on the shuttle between Boscombe Down and Yeovil. I also remember the Belvedere. Shame there aren’t any of them still flying!

Yes, but the CAA will never allow it!

YR

At North Weald this afternoon I saw two containers.

(Ducks for cover)

Don’t know about its early days, but the Kings Cup is still one of the Royal Aero Club’s annual races (along with the Schneider Trophy etc).

These races are run on a handicap basis, with all aircraft flying a practice run at full throttle to determine their declared race speed. Aircraft have to be able to do at least 100 mph to be able to race. Any competitor exceeding the declared speed by more than 1% during the race is disqualified.

The handicapping is worked out so that in theory all the aircraft should cross the finish line at the same time. The slowest aircraft start first. I have watched a race where the slowest aircraft (a Cessna 152) started about 35 minutes before the fastest – a Beech Baron twin. At the end of the last lap everyone dives for the finish line – quite a spectacle!

The races are of five laps around turning points over ground markers. Cutting corners is penalised as there are ground observers. It seems that the ability to turn really tightly and accurately over the marker is one of the main secrets of success. Can’t remember the length of each lap – maybe up to 25 miles.

I assume the early races were run on a similar basis of handicapping to allow for all sorts of types to take part.

YR

Moggy – wheels firmly up. In the situation, wheels down would have complicated things too much and greatly increased the risk of flippping over.

A certain young lady did smuggle a bottle of Old Peculier into my side ward on Saturday, but I didn’t feel up to drinking it, or eating the accompanying stick of Southend Rock! I’ve got those to look forward to.

The other downside is the A&E cut off all my flying gear, which was just reaching a nicely oily, used state. So, apart from sewing on all the velcro again, it has got to be given that weathered look again (after it has been replaced).

YR

No problem about a 30 cal on the Ferret. When I was in the TA, our Mark 1s had the Browning with a periscope mount so you could fire it from behind the armour plate without having to stick your head out the top and risk getting it ‘blown off’!

Firing the things on the ranges was great fun. We were supposed to aim the tracer about three feet above the target so the normal rounds would hit (the tracer being lighter weight because it burnt). It was much more satisfying to fire the tracer at the target and watch the rounds ricocheting off in all directions.

It always seemed to be raining when we were out on Salisbury Plain, but we kept pretty snug in our tank suits.

YR

I think it is fairly straightforward. You tell the PFA Engineering Dept what you would like to do, supported by relevant drawings and they will approve, turn down or ask for tit to be modified.

You have to show that any mod will not have a detrimental effect on the structural integrity or flying characteristics.

I don’t know how many other Isaacs Spits have been built. You may find some similar mods have already been done. In which case the approval process is easier.

When my friend built his Europa, he incorporated several mods – some existing ones which had already been approved elsewhere and a couple of new ones, including access to the rear of the panel by a hatch in the firewall (for which he had to demonstrate that the fireproof structure was maintained). He went to the PFA Rally to see what ideas he could get from other people’s aircraft.

I know someone else building a Europa who is quite tall and has managed to get a mod agreed which puts a fillet into the fuselage to raise the cockpit canopy.

Speak to your PFA inspector, and sound him out first. He’ll be able to help you prepare the paperwork.

If you had the same thing with the CAA it would be a nightmare. We had several ex-Swedish Bulldogs imported in to North Weald before they were put on the G-Register (they’re the Ultimate High ones now). They had tiny little brackets on the outside of the fuselage where the Swedes attached their skis. ‘Unauthorised mod’ said the CAA. It would have cost a fortune to get them approved, so off came the brackets! Shame really.

YR

Excellent, Janie!

Now all we’ve got to do is raise a few million quid. We’ll do a whip round at the next Forun meet.

YR