Gaydon is now Ford’s main proving ground and R&D centre for PAG (Premier Auto Group) and it also contains Aston Martin’s main factory, and BMW also use it for Mini testing. I had Ford, Jaguar and Landrover as my main accounts for 4 years, and visited Gaydon many times.
The old buildings and airfield causes them quite an issue as they were built to withstand the weight of V bombers so any changes involve significant ground works. They often get RAF aircraft beating up the airfield, with tales of Hercules coming past ‘G’ Deck (the main reception building) at eye level……

We had a thread on this about a year ago, I will see if I can find it…
The main thing I remember about it was the stress involved, and the fact that he used a tube full of red wine to level his workbench…which was drunk once it was level (I must try this in my workshop!).:D
I think he gave up on the composite thing and then went and built a wooden biplane, with some help, at a remote farmstrip?
Did he also lose his marriage mid-way through?

Mally, thanks for reminding us, you can imagine the producer talking to Martin…
I want you to do this series…
No!
We will help you rebuild your stearman?
No, still not interested
OK, we’ll let you fly a spitfire as well?
Oh, alright then, if you insist! 😀

A heart-warming site, well done the LPG!

Nice Pics, we drove past on our way to Wood Green Animal Shelter at Heydon, we got a lovely view of the RAF Liveried Dragon Rapide/Dominie taking off.
Even the kids expressed an interest in seeing the new hangar!

Also i checked weight limits, i am 16st (0.5 st lighter than this time last week! and dropping lol) LFS were like “ooh thats about the limit, we have had ppl of 16st, but it depends if you will fit in the plane” I am actually not that big for 16st and have fit in a vigilant so i think the PA38 will be no prob, i called ravenair and they said that it would be fine.
James

James,
I did my PPL through an RAF Scholarship in 5 weeks flat on C150s, and I weighed a strapping 10.5 stone then.
After a 17 year gap I have decided to regain my currency, and when I went to book a test flight on a C152, they suggested that people of my ‘height’ would be more comfortable in a PA28-160, it is probably more to do with my Lithe 15.5 stone 😉
They said that I could fly the C152, but not with full fuel and an instructor, but there would be no such issues in the PA28.
I tried both, and found that it was the width at shoulder height that would limit the Cessna, the PA28 is a much more comfortable aircraft in that respect.
In terms of the increased cost over a C152, my aim was to convert to it after currency anyway to fly the family, so that would negate any savings made by doing my re-currency on the C152.

Petition Signed!