AERODRQMEThe Journal of the Friends of Sywell Aerodrome Autumn 98

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De Havilland Dominie G-AKRP outside the Aviator H

The rare Dominie which has been underrenovation at Sywell for the past few years is\ reaching the stage where Rex Ford is confident

‘ she will be flying early next year. In late Novemberthe engines were run up for their second taxyingtest on the aerodrome.So far restoration work has taken three years and

7 000 man hours The Dominie is modified to Mk IV

otel during an engine test in late November.

Restored Dominie

FIrSt Issue standard with twin DH Gipsy Queen ll 220hp engines A"Vb°dY ‘”°“'d °°“9h am" °"'Y t‘"° “ans i"£1 50 F ,0 b I F - d f 5 9”/is ad and constant speed propellers The engines have 27 Y°a"5- Re‘ F°'d’5 D°mi"i° is "° di°'°m-

. - F68 mem GT5 O nen S O W I I'OITl6 '__ y been rebuilt and were started in October for the first. time in 27 years, to the delight of Flex and one—time LE N

|nSld€ owner of the aircraft Bob Wirth. He sold it to Rex to

complete the restoration.

Built for the RAF in 1945, the Dominie is basicall a

The S}/We“ Experience 3 DH 89a Rapide with a slightly different seating y er dearrangement. It had a busy flying career in Britain fol-

RunWaYS to the Future 4 lowed by aerial survey and parachute dropping in

Af',bl b‘ bd d‘ '—d llLet 61 OG turboprop 5 staézaon ihterzotigig aZ:rl3r(err]r?en|,nC-I?eiriira]ny.ere ‘C ng SC h O

‘We need only two more part—owners to raise theNorth repps Character 6 finance then we can complete the work,’ said Rex.

‘There is a lot of interest in the aircraft and I don't syweire Nerinampienenire sehoei ofInto the Chasm 7 foresee much difficulty in finding additional partners.’ Flying has been bought out by former stu-

- - The Dominie is an eight—seater. Six shares have deni Roger Kimbeii of Le¢|dingien_Slsterly trials 8 already been bought. ‘We limited the number of own- Existing staff enii ying ineii-ueiei-5 wi|| beMuseum 8 ers to eight so that everybody can fly in it at the same regained and plans are being made for

time, if they want,‘ said REX, Of Fordaire. expending the cgmpgi-|y’5 activities,

the Dominie, call Rex on 01604 645996.

Kriegie Cans 10 If you would like to purchase a one—eighth share in Deiai/5 inside, page 3

F.O.S.A

TlO

I-X

Aerodrome. Contacts 3if ,8 (-3W

PA to the

01604 491112

Frank BirdAviation manager.

01604 644917

Sarah Bryson

Aviator Hotel01604 642111

Maurice TaitEditor

‘Aerodrome’01743 353808

Mrs Elizabeth Brown

managing director.

Deputy manager

V W

__ 1-“ -_

‘I n

Pilots Licences won atMr C Merewood Wootton dufing 1Mr D Flay WellingboroughMr P Huntingdon NorthamptonMr R James Northampton §|Q§§ HelicoptersMr D Crowther Orlingbury John O'Donohue IrelandMr M Rose Northampton Dee Brummitt Northampton

WhO'S WhO In FQSA Mr N Blake Northampton Robert Howard Cork, IrelandAt the foundation meeting ot the Friends of Mr D Butt Northampton John Spring CambridgeSywell Aerodrome held in August, the follow- Mr B Young Boughton John Delaney Oxfording were elected to the committee — Mr P Hanlon Flaunds J P Carraud Guildtord

Ms V Gray Desborough Paul Thorne AylesburyMr Ian Castle (chairman) Mr G Warren Brixworth Nigel Finn-Kelcey Weston UnderwoodMr Jon Andrew Mr C Pcaccck Wellingborough Chris Harris OakhamMr Frank Bird (co-opted) Ms L Bureau Market Harborough Barry McCrae TowcesterMr M Bletsoe-Brown (co-opted) Mr M Henderson Northampton Phil Turrey BrackleyMr Matthew Boddington Mr P Pinchin Barton Seagrave David Bishop NorthamptonMr Steve Bott Chris Line Napton SouthamMrs Elizabeth Brown (co-opted) Fly Light Air Spggs (Micrglight§l Lee Smith LeicesterMiss Sarah Bryson (co-opted) Peter Simpson Northampton Stan Plummer St AndrewsMr Mike Creed Carl Jones Cogenhoe Steve Kendall BiggleswadeMr Eric Gayton Richard Grcavcs Hcckliite Paul Johnson NorthamptonMr Ian Dall Gordon Higgins Lutterworth Tony Churchill CambridgeMr Ben Ashman Andy Higgins Lutterworth David Sanders GuildiordMr Flex Ford Les Fox Aylesbury Tony Moy Market HarboroughMr John Francis Gary Clipston Rothwell Simon Butler LondonMr Chris Gurney Richard Hayes Thame Wendy Welsh OxfordMrAllan Holmes (co-opted) Mark Jones Manchester Craig Goodwin PeterboroughMr Roger Kimbell Rcberl Grimwogd st Albans Sandy Gallard LiverpoolMr Paul Morgan Dominic Wilson Rutland Nick Thake Market HarboroughMr Chris Parker David Abbctt st Albans Jim Coulter IrelandMr Bill Taylor Ann Fusco Kent Tony Bristow NorthamptonMr Barry Waples (co-opted) John Harmon Burton Latimer George Montgomery FtaundMr Anthony West Michael Kerrison Ireland Oli Tennent Surrey

k J ;

a

Karen -

Former student takes overat Sywell ying school ‘ .. 1

Andrew = A \

did

Sywell‘s Northamptonshire School of Flying is an instructor at the school, and Jon Andrew is con-

now owned by former student Roger Kimbell sidering ideas about what to do next.

of Loddington. Jon and Steve have a two—year agreement and r Jghn Whitehead s

Roger bought 100 per cent of the share capital will continue to support the company by being

from owners Steve Bott, Jon Andrew and Karen flight instructors and consultants. $13“ and fdrme; students at Ndnhamptdnshird

Andrew, for an undisclosed sum in mid-November. ‘l plan to keep the present team of four instructors Sdhddj of Fjying were saddened yeoemjy to

Existing staff and flying instructors will be retained and two maintenance staff. Among the things we leam of the death of John whitdhdad_ Flying

and plans are being made shall be organising are pleasure flights, corporate was 3 vjiaj and ddnsuming passion for John.

for expanding the entertainment with flying experience and trips pmyiding many years of p|9a5urg_

company's activities. abroad for newly qualified pilots‘ said Roger. He was a jdnd_sd~ind instmdor at me sdhddj

‘l retired from the construc- While Jon Andrew is looking at other ideas for an some years add, and taught Md of me dun-em

tion equipment industry at occupation, Karen is looking fonuard to staying at instfumors id f|y_

the end of July, and was the aerodrome. He will be sadly missed by his many friends at

beginning to wonder what l ‘The school has been at Sywell for many years, $ywd|| aerddrdmd

was going to do for the rest and was formerly the old Brooklands flying school,‘ * 4

New owner of my life,‘ said Roger. ‘Now said Karen. , s

- I have to learn about ‘We bought it in 1988 and have had ten years of _w- d ,

Roger Kmbe" running the school.’ hard and enjoyable work including getting through kg’: EDITOR S NOTE ToHe will be joined by wife Judith, and daughter the recession. lt is now very busy and a successful ~=m\° COIVTRIBUTORS

Lucy who will be leaving her work in marketing company.

and public relations in London to work with her ‘lt is strange not being my own boss any more, but This ms‘ issue °f Aerodmms‘ has bee"

parents at Sywell. I will get used to it. We taught Floger to fly, so he is :‘::£ie:1:r‘ZY£f"31éhgogzii §gZf%g1a::rft'?]T_'

‘l learned to fly here ten years ago —— and most of well-known to us and a friend ' . b f F08. , . ‘ ' . siastic mem ers o A

the people who were here then are still here now, Nonhamptonshire School of Flying has the follow- We wemme an conmbuons Even sol many

said R°9e'-' ‘"9 aims" at Syweu ae'°d'°me3 have had to be held over due to lack of space,

Karen Andrew Wl|| continue with the school. 2 Cessna 172, 2 Cessna 152, 1 Pitts S-2B and Wm be pubjished in future issues

Steve Bott has joined Jersey European Airlines to Special, 2 Beagle Pup, and by arrangement with Maurice Tait’ Ednon

fly F27 turbo—props but he will still be available as Alan Wisby a Grob 115. \ ,

The Sywell experience — a company’s view

of doing business at the aerodromeHendrickson Europe Limited scratch on a green field site or refurbish Sywell Airport Company has totally

commenced trading from its Sywell and add a ‘Purpose Built‘ extension. changed its thinking and approach to its

base in 1986. Over the years we have The choice was fairly simple in the end, tenant base.

seen tremendous change both Sywell is well located near the M1 and Gone are the days of ‘this is what we

internally and with our customer base. A14 and this took care of the logistics have, take it or leave it‘. There is a new

The business has expanded from 25 issue. Syiivell management liked our pro- entrepreneurial spirit focused on the need

employees to in excess of 250 people as posal and a deal was agreed. Sywell for change in an ever-changing

we continue to grow. All of which confirms funded the building costs and itemised environment. New or existing tenants can

that apart from death the only thing the cost over a new long—term lease. We discuss their needs, concerns and aspira-

certain in life is change, and therein lies got what we wanted and Sywell realised tions and agree a road map on how to

the challenge. The professionals will tell what a great job was being done of mod- get there. A purpose-built package

you that change is stressful and difficult ernising the buildings, upgrading the individually styled to meet the need at

to manage. Yes, we would not disagree image and retaining a valuable tenant. competitive market rates is readily avail-

with that statement, only to add that it As we continued to grow and once again able.

also presents a lot of opportunities which reviewed our long-term options, an Finally when we now have customers

effectively managed can produce tremen- agreement was reached wherein from far away lands come to visit, they

dous benefits. Hendrickson was allocated its own site enjoy the Sywell experience. The

So what has all this got to do with with a private entrance. In the meantime facilities are good, the history is great —

‘Purpose Built‘ at Sywell? A lot more than additional ‘Purpose Built‘ units were world war two, planes, helicopters, the

meets the eye. For example, in the early added under the same arrangement and officers mess now a Motel with a history

days one was concerned with the image today we occupy 100,000 sq. ft. on a all of its own.

created when new customers came to five—acre site. All of which confirms our decision to stay

visit. At which point in time we had a Having started the ball rolling in 1988 at Sywell.

meeting with the management at Sywell with the first ‘Purpose Built‘ unit and refur- J. . . ohn Kelleher

Airport and explained our plans and con- bishment scheme Sywell managementcerns. The options open to us were to realised the potential and continued the Man. Dir. — Business Development

relocate to new premises, start from good work. As can be seen today the Hendrickson Europe Limited

Runways to the FutureHow does Sywell Aerodrome t in with the transport needs of a

modern society?Michael Bletsoe-Brown gives his view ori what may happen

T You wouldn't expect generation of short haul turbo-prop aircraft. The

this first issue of demand for these regional sen/ices continues to

Aerodrome not to men- grow as congestion on our roads increases.

tion runways and facili- World passenger numbers are growing at an

ties would you? I do not unprecedented rate. Future predictions by the

wish to disappoint you. industry suggest this trend will continue well into

Sywell aerodrome first the next century.

began as a result of a So where does this leave Sywell’? A very good

W°h8¢| need from local people for question. My belief is that Sywell should con-

5|°l$°°-B|'°W" an airfield from where they tinue to fulfil a local need for the General Aviation

could y their aircraft for fun. Very soon Sywell Community and improve its facilities for them

became an important social venue with many wherever possible.

hundreds of people enjoying either flying or just Northamptonshire is an expanding economic

watching. Sunday afternoon teas at the area and as we continue our convergence

aerodrome became legendary. Apart from during with Europe, so a future local need may arise for

the Second World War, Sywell Aerodrome has improved aviation services. This may include

served that need since the 1920's and still does facilities for business or corporate aircraft, having

today. pushed out of the large airports to make

However aviation has changed enormously way for more passenger services. There may

over the years. l would imagine those arise a need for flights to other airports as part of

founder members could not have foreseen jet a future deregulated airways network. Whether

helicopters or hi-tec microlights such as those any of this will come about is anyone‘s guess.

which fly from Sywell today. However, Sywell Aerodrome should be able to

Elsewhere at the large airports we have seen respond to such local needs should they arise.

the arrival of the corporate or business aero-

planes which fly their captains of industry or iT~‘i’?_

wealthy personalities around the world. The com- Michael Bletsoe-Brown 3;

mercial aviation industry has been deregulated in Managing Director

recent years and small regional airline Sywell Aerodrome Ltd = .55

companies have emerged, operating the new

i s SA * t .. . .

Trials and tribulations of a motel manager

During a particularly hectic and busy Saturday ‘Do you think there will be many more like that?‘

night, we were invaded by a posse of the ‘Boys I replied, ‘Nearly all of them on a Saturday night.’

in Blue’ who said there had been a bomb scare ‘in that case I think we'll discreetly withdraw and

phone call and that it was imperative that all forget the others,‘ he said.

the premises should be vacated asap. So much for security.

It took a lot of explaining and argument to disperse

the customers from the Cockpit Disco, the Keith West, Hotel Manager, now retired

wedding party from the Cirrus Room, the

restaurant and other bars. ' i '

The young inspector then noticed the Motel rooms A Sand asked whether they were occupied. I said yes

and he suggesjed that he wgujd accompany me One of the most pleasurable aspects of bar work in the Aviator is the contact with

for h K the customers, many of them regulars who become firm friends as well asac u

p th 1- customers Being an airfield, we have a lot of people popping in and passingWe duly began our rounds, knocking on e irst ~

door and waning After much de|ay and movement through, including foreigners. This makes for some very interesting conversations,

ened | OK nu assuming you can understand what they are saying.in the bedroom a ve dishev o in e e- _ _

, _ , , _man peeled from bergind the saiety chaisnd When l first worked in the bar l had never pulled apint in‘ my life. It was in 1994, Thglmg cmok

X X X we at or :::.':;::?:*. i:t:;t:':":;:.::':: tits: ::i:;";:.Z";‘t'.2:.:t: ilZ,"‘?i2.%°;2f.ii.d

$9::°:£:':::):33‘:|TZ:giE;da=m;mp:;; l was confronted by a sea of faces all desperate for a drink. The other staff guided me through initial trau

, _ ' ma. l was so relieved when the crowd thinned a little and l could finally draw breath, and from that

feigfdgneegugzeg '£::£:$|ly'Jg??t'E:g°" moment as l gradually got to know the drinks and prices, l really began to enjoy it.

Wag lgdy As I ‘see it, ‘tihfe most important thing is for customers, regular ones in particular, to get used to seeing

ami iar sta aces.

am that evte" :35 éi hY;1:°9et"h2°"|:b- "°t:"9 Also they need to know they are going to get a friendly welcome and efficient seniice.

was going o s l im or a eas o ours. e

then slammed the door in our faces. TC-

The inspector, looking very embarrassed. said, Thelma retires at Christmas — unless she changes her mind beforehand.

4

The LET 610G is a 40-seater passenger or cargoplane with two turboprop engines and a wingspanof 84ft. It was on display at Farnborough Air Show

HOW DID lT COME TO g...

LAND AT SYWELL?

Michael Bletsoe-Brown explains...

It all began one morning with a phone call fromMajor Anthony Gurney, a co-director, asking if I ‘was going to Farnborough Air Show and if so -

could I pick him up in London? iI said ‘yes‘, as apart from any other reason,

outings with Major Gurney are at the very least

interesting if not positively dangerous! I collected

him the next morning in St. James and after a cof-

fee we proceeded to Farnborough in what he

refers to as ‘my splendid motor car‘.

From Farnborough‘s main gate, the public car parkwas mijes away to our je and the exhibition was The Czech turbo—prop LET 610G during its surprise visit to Sywell.

to our right. As we drove up to a pretty young around this impressive aircraft we proceeded with stayed the night

blonde lady on the gate, Major Gurney quickly said the rest of the show. Shortly afterwards, Major and then took off The

‘Leave this to me,‘ Gurney suggested it was time for a gin and tonic the next morning,

‘Excuse me my dear, l oan‘t walk, l have a tin leg'_ and we chatted about the planes we had seen. having bought 1200 litres of fuel and spent lots of

what a whopper, out it worked and my ‘splendid The Major said: ‘Won‘t it be great fun if our Czech money in The Aviator Hotel.

motor oar‘ ended up parked amongst the exhibits friends turn up at Sywell with that beautiful new

in a grand position for viewing the aeroplanes. aeroplane of theirs?‘ l agreed but privately thought Cautionary thought:

Major Gurney got out ot the oar and we were ott it unlikely. The Major commented: ‘I bet they will, lmust remember in future how persuasive the

amongst the airoratt Betore long we oame aoross you know.’ After a good day at the show, I drove Major can be in any language. lknow he is

the Let 610, We were attraoted oy its very large Major Gurney back to London and then off home. planning another trip, where to ldo not know. But

tyres, The next minute the Major was up the steps The following Monday morning I received a call wherever it is, its likely to be interesting, if not

and into the cockpit where he eame aoross the from the Tower. It was Frank: ‘Do you know dangerous, and who knows what we may bring

Czech pilot who could not speak a word of anything about this x x x great aircraft which has back. No doubt you will read about it in the next

English, However_ the Major seems to possess a called up to land?‘ issue of the ‘Sywel/Aerodrome‘.

universally aooeptaole language ot his own_ Alter I sheepishly had to admit that I did and apologised Incidentally, it anyone is interested in receiving

we had gleaned that the large tyres were tor grass, for not warning him. However, I never thought the details on the Let 610, we have copies of the com

he announoed to the pilot; ‘we have a small pilot would come. Sure enough later on the Let panys brochure.

airfield in Northamptonshire oalled Sywell, We 610 could be seen in the sky. The pilot flew over .would love you to call in on your way home. We'll the aerodrome, did one circuit then plonked this

moto

sell you some luel and do your oustoms tor you 40—seater aircraft down on our grass as safe as

and send you on your way‘. you like in a 30 knot plus crosswind, and stopped

The Czeoh pilot nodded as it he had understood using only a third of runway O3 would you believe!

d, l h' d d tt l l< We were ve leased to reet the crew who ' Mal" '°h"bi$hmeht$ and updates P'"5 theevery wor so gave im my car an a er a oo FY P 9 BSE crisis having their enact work at

Sywell Estates Farm.

I ' ' ' ‘ Sywell's farm has 208 acres of crops such as0’ I I I wheat,barley,rapeandbeansand60aor_esotgrass not including the three runways

The Northamptonshire Air Gunners Associa- The Association has been pleased to be maihtaihed duhhg the summer m°hth9- lh SW‘

lion was formed in 1978, originally meeting involved in the 70th Sywell Anniversary t9mb9" 3" th9 $ih9|e 5uck|9' he'd was sold dl-'9

in Orlingbury. The Founder member. Eric Celebrations most particularly regarding the to d9P'9559d beef Phcesr ahd the 97355‘?-hd Wm

Billson orc and bar trained prc—war at the Memorial to No.6 E.F.T.S. which was be Wished to grow Cereals-

RAFVR School at Sywell. as did their Presi- stationed at Sywell during the war. we are UP to date Whh 3" iahh Wohh N°l'nh9

dent Bob Hughes DFC and Chairman Stan Membership is open to air gunners Wimer months are c|°5ih9 ihr We 379 hlrhihg W7

Tm-y, and wireless operators hands to jobs on the aerodrome complex,‘ said

Ther rst President was Air AG farm manager Mark Th°rh9Yc'°h-

Commodore Heycock and O ‘The idea was to create an atmosphere Thesa ‘ah b9 35 lhhe 35 93"d9hih9 mlws “K9

in Feb 1979 Mike Newton, and comradeship reminiscent ofour time in k9'bih9 ahd ‘9h°ih9- The a9r°d"°m9'5 updates

whose family connections with Sywell are the war. I think that has been re—created mean W9 3'9 d°ih9 3 '01 °l dih979m “"93-legendary, agreed to become vice-president. within our organisation.’ whim make 3 hh-79 @h3h99 huh doing "'9 53'”In August 1980 the Association moved to Eric Billson, recently retired president and i°b d3Y ih ahd day ‘M-Sywell, meeting on Thursday lunchtimes. founder. ‘h is ham Wk. bill WW ihwfeshhh-'

‘ J

SYWELL '98 - AERIAL PAGEAINT

Barnstorm/ng and thrills -aamong the squa/ls

We had rain. We had wind. We had lots of Sywell ‘99. ‘BUB’ dropped in too, an Antonov such an unusual but delightful little machine.

it. lt was cold. Did Mother Nature's worst AN2, the world's largest single engined It certainly made many look twice.

deter us? Not a bit. I reckon it we'd had a bi—plane. A real beauty of a beast! Her mas- And, of course, no Sywell display would be ' r

plague of frogs, Matthew Boddington and sive 1000HP 27 litre engine barely ticking complete without some Barnstorming, the

Ian Castle, our air show organisers, would over as, belying her rather ugly appearance, golden age of flying for fun being kept alive

have rustled up a display sequence to pilot Peter Halasi made sweeping turns and by the likes of pilots Matthew Boddington, Ian

incorporate them! crabbed his way along the display line for us. Castle and Barry Tempest : re-creating those

For those of you who couldn't make Sywell Sywell ‘98 gave you — get this — the world's dare-devil aerial antics of the 1920s.

‘98, let me tell you about some of the treats smallest twin—engined aircraft and the world's So, you see, if you didn't make it to this year's

/

/-Tyou missed. It was great to see the Crunchie smallest aircraft carrier. All at what must be show you missed some magical flying

Flying Circus Boeing Stearmans and hear the country's furthest airfield from the sea. sorcery. You must join us next year. lf you

their 450HP Pratt & Whitney Wasps : world The two worked together as a most unusual haven't been to Sywell for a while, you'll see

record—breaking wing—walking and spectacle 1 a Mitsubishi Shogun 4x4 carrying and feel a new vitality about the place. Under

barnstorming in these rugged 50 year old bi- on its roof a French built Cri Cri. I don't think its present management it's now, after years

planes. anyone watching could quite believe it when in the doldrums, arguably the best all-grass

Not one, but two WW2 Mustangs delighted us the Cri Cri (just 13 feet long and weighing airfield in the land. Sywell has come a long

on the Saturday ...... .. oh the sound of those 2000 times less than a 747) lifted off and way since the first aerial pageant in 1928 and

Merlin engines. G-SUSY is Sywell's very gave us a fast, tight and aerobatic — yes aer- has a busy and bright future. Be part of it —

own, of course. Or at least she's flown from obatic display! whether you fly or not. Join FOSA, the

here by owner Paul Morgan, along with her l think a first on the UK airshow circuit was Friends of Sywell Aerodrome and join us next

sister, the newly restored Hawker Sea Fury. also one of Sywell's own. Mike Bletsoe- year for Sywell '99. Wing-walking

Sadly, strong cross-winds kept the Fury on Brown's Polish built Wilga (it's Polish for Mark Whall, Air Show Commentator,

the deck — so here's looking forward to some kind of bird). I'm sure few had seen Sywell '98.

t

Northrepps — an airport witha character all its own

From Gipsy Moths to helicopters, aircraft have hour or 25 bob (£1.25)

Chm G1""Y '5 ‘I f1"""'0" 0f5Y“"’” A"_'“"0{' been landing on the Northrepps Hall estate since if he block booked for

‘"'d “ls” "P""""S N°”h"’PPs 1"’?"'"""’""1 - the thirties. In those early days barnstorming ten. In real terms this

Hm’ he ""3 s”"""M”3 "f'h" "M “"i"'i”" teams flew in during the summer and local isn't a lot different to

activity seef'[i_” the skies 0"” C"0m"" d”"i”g estates entertained flying visitors, the cost of flying now_ __.i._i_i.N""h""pps ‘fa The first person to land on ‘the farm‘ was my uncle The present site was opened in the late sixties and the loca

who used to hire a Gipsy Moth from the London flying clubs of McAully, Waveney, Felthorpe and Norfolk &

<0-'

~..

area. He landed Norwich visited regularly. A Beagle Pup used by Anglia TV z

there regu- some Cubs were the first aircraft based here.

larly Business life had its impact, too. The opening of the Bacto

between gas site and deliveries to the local mushroom farm involved

1930 and Britten—Norman Islanders, assorted sing|e—engined planes,

1939. Plane and helicopters. The field was also used by local crop—dus*

hire cost him using Tiger Moths and later Pawnees.

ab.°.‘" 3° Baby sisterShmmgs an l started regularly using the site in the late 60s. l worked

abroad for several years and following a flying accident

ieid, 3 caravan 1981, I thought that Northrepps could become a full-timi

and a Windsqck _’ ‘h0bby'. The airfield had gone into the flying farmers‘ gui

that's Northrepps in the early 70s and trade had steadily increased. Throu

International, an the 80s its movements grew from a few dozen to a peak

3i|'pQ|1f°|-the dis_ some 1200 a year in the late 80s. The average movemer

cerning over the last five years are around 900 a year.

enthusiast. Northrepps is now in all the civil and military airfield guide

emf

l

>

ti J\I

Ben tastes true freedomof the air in a desertmicrolight adventure

Flying through the world’s longest and deepest fissure

by Ben Ashman

g by girls of the Crunchie Flying Circus

I had been in the Wadi Hum valley for three feeding grounds in the desen. They seemed

Spectators runntng tot, days, towing a group of hang gliders up unconcerned.

cover during the over the gigantic sand stone cliffs that At the entrance I realised that I was past the

sywett .98 pageant towered more than three thousand feet point of no return as I had no room to reverse

The °pen_ah tabtes above the desert floor. my direction. The fissure walls towered high

on the hotet tawn were Each day l would gaze at a massive vertical above and below nothing but darkness. The

tn tow demamt fissure in the highest mountain, cleaving it in wingspan of my craft was 35 feet and sitting in

half. From top to bottom it was approximately a 100 feet wide chasm only gave 30 feet of

fifteen hundred feet deep, and at its mid- clearance either side. The photograph had

height was one hundred feet wide and ran better be good.

straight as a knife cut through the kilometre Time slowed and my concentration was

wide block of sandstone. intense. Moving to the side which was now in

lal We cater for all types of aircraft. helico ters both ci I d l- - ~ -

P V‘ ah m" The more I looked the more I wanted to fly my direct sunlight I felt the first bumps of heated

tary, microlights, powered hang—gliders, parachutestand the ttttte ctatt through to the other stdet - B t t tair e ore cou d worry I burst from darkness,

and °dd ghder ahd ha"°°h~ ahd We are Opeh 1° h°h“'ad'° a"°'ah- The Jordanian tourist board had sponsored exiting out of a three thousand foot cliff which

Northrepps has about t2fl —ins a ear and h st '

br.

d

=. ters

Y Y t_ ° 5 "ah°“S our expedition to fly over and around their was glowing bright red in the morning glory,

hah9“9h_d'h9 evehls ahd ae’°h_3h° ha'h'h9 Weeks major sites, both natural and man made, and what a feeling.

OI" tahhhf has had ah 'hte'e5l 'h SYWQH 5'h°e hall _°he - Al in return we were to produce as many photo- I must have been one of the luckiest souls in

Northrepps, we like to think we are S ll‘ b b st . ~ - - ~

Ywe 5 a Y 5' 9' graphs as we could illustrating our exploits. the world on that morning, not by escaping

With this in mind I decided to make the flight an dan er or risk but b ex erien 'y g y p cingsome-

Reasons to visit Northrepps International - - - - - ~ - -

with the photograph that I wanted firmly in my thing that is unique to pilots, the freedom of

The airfield has a camping site and the local village has a pub, mthdt the ah

hotel and B&B. The sea is 20 minutes walk. There is a choice -t-he hext day t woke hetote the Shh and read.

tt th of 9°” ””k5- The he/d is about h”° mi/95 South east hf C’°'he' ied the Cosmos microlight. The air was very Ben Ashman is an instruc-

and on the ed e ot Po l d. - - -

9 PPY ah still — I needed this to avoid any turbulence tor at Fly/ightAirsports, '*

- C’°'he' 9'5"” 7° fame ’h Victoria” limes as 3 spa T°'””- The As I started the en ine the first blood-red ra s S ell He took the hoto- " ' if uhuide . .

9 Y YW - P -

town s hero is Henry B/ogg who was the most decoratedugh illuminated the mountain peaks. I opened up graph by mounting a t- . >5kot lifeboatman of all rim .

- - p

ahts t*?"',‘ morning air and set course straight to the eight feet long pointing out it

les Jw

9 the throttle and gently climbed into the smooth 35mm camera on a ole '5' 9 _i

W‘t

ave:

canyon. Down below the camels of the to the front supported by I _h e

4m“$a* villagers were making their way out to their wires from the wings. " » '7

Rival sisters who find each other a trial —in the nicest possible way, of course

By day we are sisters and colleagues at the H I P k I . h h overcome obstructions such as hill climbs,

Aviator Hotel, but at weekends we are rivals ay 6y 35 axp aine W y 5 6 descents, mud, water, pot holes or side slopes.

behind the wheel. anal C3 rly COl’i’l 196136 The fewer canes you hit, the lower your score and

My interest in Land Rover trialling began about the lowest score wins.

four years ago when my late father joined the East i nenania invnivan as Passangai and inacnania After the passing of my father, my elder sister

Northants Land Ftover Owners Club (ENLROC). Many a Siindai’ is n°i” Snani in iieins Cninnaiing Carly, who was 17 and had passed her driving

His rst Land Ftover was just a basic Series llA. against °inei Land Fi°i/9' eninusiaaia test, took over as trials driver, with me as passen-

My enthusiasm for the mechanical side of Land i-and Rniiei inaiiing iniinivas iwn ai'ani5- °ne °i ger and mechanic through the knowledge l picked

Rovers grew, particularly when my father decided wnicn in"°i"e5 Rnad Tainan Vanicias (Riv Tiiaiai up during the Land Rover's rebuild.

to rebuild a hybrid Land Rover, which consists of in wnicn inY aiaiai and i aia iniaiesiaa We caused quite a stir, a 17-year-old and a

Range Rover chassis, gearbox and V8 engine with Tna idea is i° diii/9 ini°ii9n gait’-‘S marked Wiin 15-year-old competing against grown men. We

Land Flover body parts. Canes i"iin°iii nining anl’ °i inain Wniisi iniing i° soon became known as the Pask Sisters. Carly's

Carley, left, and Hayley Pask with their hybrid Land Rover.

Museum go—aheadfor Research GroupAn Aviation Heritage Centre is to be set up at Sywell by the

Northamptonshire Airfields and Aircraft Research Group. Terms were

agreed with the aerodrome company late in November, and plans are

in place to open the museum in the early summer of 1999.

‘We shall be erecting a Nissen-type hut in the car park so we can put our

memoribilia on display,‘ said Gary Denton, the group's membership secre-

tary. ‘We don't want them to be kept in storage in various lock-up garages

and lofts, as happens at the moment. We have no end of stuff to put in the

museum — uniforms, engines, even the rear end of a Wellington bomber

with gun turret which we recovered from a marsh at Pembrey in Wales.

This particular aircraft was once repaired at Sywell. ' f \The o hasfeltthe needfora rmanenthomeforaboutthree ars, FA9' UP P9 Y9

and will need to raise funds for the new building. Established in 1988, the

NAARG is a registered member of the British Aviation Archaeology Council

and meets at Sywell aerodrome on the last Thursday of each month..

The group researches and then recovers wreckage from World War ll air- bcraft crash sites, for preservation and eventual display to the public as a i 1 m S

of each aircraft is researched vi Air Minist and US documents. ii Y0" W°iiid iiife i° i°in iilem (ii °°5i$ °"il’ry a ry ° .

On the location of a crash site, and after obtaining permission from the 4g Q £1-50 3 Year), °°"iaCi Eillabeih i3i°W" ai

landowner and a licence from the Ministry of Defence, the group can then " the office for your membership leaflet and

locate and excavate any aircraft remains. aPPil°ail°" i°""- Teii 01504 491112\ J

memorial to all those who took part in the air war of 1939-1945. The histo-

Contact Flobert Allen on 01604 713644, or Gary Denton on 01604 496938

progress in the trials earned her The Most

improved Driver trophy.

I began trialling 12 days after passing my driving

test at the age of 17 and came 10th out of 18 com-

petitors. We are now no longer the Pask Sisters

but the Pask Rivals!

Our club is a friendly, family club and we welcome

spectators to the events. Through spectating many

new members have joined the club. Trial sites are

hard to come by and the club is always on the look

out for new sites for different challenges. So if you

know of a spare field site or quarry, please let us

know at the Aviator Hotel.

Hayley Pask

C

_¢-

/“"3 has 528

$i'“\“‘\4'\<<~

Q 22:2 1,2 A Log Book/ Reminiscencet 5 . y5 . N

b Geoff Thomas

I,’ » My Log Book has two entries on July 10 1954 - Tiger Moth G-AHMN, 25

' I Thank you very much for my starter minutes solo and Tiger Moth G-AHMN 10 minutes dual. The interestingpack. bit was between those entries that day.

What a splendid idea. Both my wife and I have attended During the 25 minutes solo I was tempted to follow two other Sywell aircraft

Maybe Sywell will once again Sywell Aerodrome on several occa- into landing at Billing Aquadrome on what was then known a th fl ' fies e ying Id.

become the centre for all ying sions over the past ten years and we On return to Sywell, John Jackson, who so meticulously looked after club air-

enthu ' st nd ' 'sia s a perhaps for those are proud to at last be a small pan of craft, commented on long grass on my tailskid and advised me to stick towho are not able to partake of this it and be able to be advised of any aerodromes.

wonderful sport — they will be able to future events.

realise and appreciate this very spe- As we own several Historic Vehicles,

cial way to live. My husband used to perhaps you would be kind enoughy a lot from Sywell and would like to to forward a few more membership

become a member of FOSA. I have stickers which we would gladly payadded his membership fee to mine. for by return.

Good luck to this venture. Looking fonnard to our next visit to

Sywell.

Doreen Velten

Corfe Mullen, Dorset. J H Brownhill and V Brownhill

Flitton, Beds.

V §

Chris Herratt

to call upon and impart to a stu- for the Territorial Army, thedent pilot. Police and spent much time

was absolutely right and that's give.

K 4what it took! Roger Kimbell

. . . , Not heeding this remark, I joined John Beaty in Tiger G-AHMN and severalI IIISI meI CIIIIS I" I994 aI SYWIIII we II_ad many e“'°yaI'I° other Sywell aircraft in a flight to Stoke Goldington for a cup of tea with BobWIIIISI I?b°II°III:’Iy and _ 5essI°IIs I°9eIIIeI and I was Wesley, landing on a field approved by CFI Les Hilditch.expe"s“IeIy Irymg I0 Imde“ my amays 9IaI°IuI I°I Ihe e"dIess After a pleasant half hour with Bob we returned to the field and commenced

ying skI.IIs' He MI MI Ionq paence he aII°“Ied me In Ihe take-off. ‘MN had a mind of its own’, swung left and had just become airbornesIa_IIFd “Is °_I”“ IIeI'°°PIeI pII°I “y day? be_I°Ie “"_Y MI 5°" when a 15 feet hedge appeared directly ahead — a memorable sight from theIIaIIIIn9 busIne§s aIId_II was °I °_°'°"II“aII°II seI III‘ front cockpit of a Tiger Moth. We struck the hedge and landed inverted on theIa'9°Iy_d“e I° IIIS 'IbI'I°IIs _ CIIIIS was?“ °x°eII°"I IIIIII yew other side. The following complete silence was broken by John's calm voice°"IIIIIsIasm II" IIeII°°pI,°Is’ ms III°I°“9II I"sI"I°I°" makm me in the Gosport Tube asking if I was OK? followed by our rapid exit. Lescharm and IIIS Ia_°k °I IIIQII pIes' d° Iasks °I'eI and °veI agam Hilditch later said he thought we were fortunate not to break our necks onsure sales technique that I start- until I had mastered them prop- Sudden mease of the Suhoh Harness

ed IIa'"I“9 WIIII mm s°me °'IY' Imstakes w°'°_maII° “II We crept back to the wreckage, switched off the magnetos and wereIweI_ve momhs Iamj _ senous °_I MI’ QIIIIS came down confronted by a professional photographer attracted by the gathering ofChris was a very skilled pilot I18_fd- WW5‘ ii "mes I b°°a_m° aircraft. He had photographed the whole scene. He was persuaded not toand had own’ II memory I"IIaIed aI whaI I IeII was IIIS publish his ‘scoop’ by John's promise to buy a large number of the photos,serves’ more Ina“ II’II0° II°_IIIs harsh IIeaImeIII and 'ea°II°II I° some of which John later sold for 2/6d. (12fip) each. We still hit the front pageI° IIaI_e _ m°sIIy °“ _'°Ia'y wmg °“e °I my m"I°' °"°'s' I MI” of the Chronicle & Echo though, but at least no photograph.ma°IIII_Ies' much °I II _ see IIIIII aII he was IeaIIy Irymg We were then safely returned to Sywell in Jack Linnell's Miles Messengeroperationally with the Army Air to_do_was ensure that I stayed G_A|EK‘ piloted by John Sudhomugh‘ and were greeted by the ever

°°'Ps ‘”“°_'° he was "“ ""’° '" "‘° ‘"'"'°- , imperturbable Les Hilditch, pipe in mouth, at the door of the Flight Office,advanced I"sIIu°I°" Them were M°I°I ‘ms’ m°I°°I°ss 'aIIyI"9' requesting us to each have a dual session with him later in the day.very few types of helicopter that drinking beer, eating hot curries Hence the second entry in my Log Book that day 1-lger Moth G_AHMN 10

he had not flown so he had an and enjoying life to the full were minutes dua|_ ‘

enormous wealth of experience Chris's 'raisons d'étre'. He flewTI

Despite holding a PPL(A) licence training overseas pilots to mas- F o rand with 300+ hours in my ter new types of machine. He m ‘n 6 Q Ilogbook, Chris told me that I seemed happy to go anywhere 6 _ mas Pam] is onwould need the thick end of 40 at anytime to help others to do Friends of Sywell Chris Room athours more with him to master what he loved doing best, and The 14 Decembéfi I“ me 9 3°any light piston-engined we all will sorely miss him. X, M°IIda.Lm|- Hotel, from 730- - '

helicopter. I didn't believe him What an incredible shame that Q the MI committee arebut as in all things to do with such a talented man should be . man ran Castle and_ ‘he “ members.teaching people to fly properly cut off from us so prematurely chm! toward to me9\\“9 aand, more importantly, safely, he when he had so much more to Iookmg

Y

9

Al

Ex—prisoners of war answer‘Kriegie Calls’ at Sywell

‘Kriegie Call‘ is the name given to an annual Oder on 21 July. On arrival the Kriegsmarine the camp guards supplemented by young Kriegs-

reunion which has taken place at the Aviator Hotel, Naval Base at Swinemunde was bombed just after marine from the Naval Base at Swinemunde

Sywell, since 1980. This year the veteran ex-World we were manacled and again crammed into cattle Some prisoners died later as a result of this deba-

War ll RAF Bomber Command aircrews who had trucks. Still without food and little water, on arrival cle, and many still bear the scars both physically

the misfonune to be shot down over enemy-held and mentally. The stay at this camp was particular-

territory and became Kriegsgefangeners' (prison- Eergy Qarruthers ly frightening, principally because the

ers of war held by the Germans), staned arriving Commandant was a pro—Nazi who boasted that

on Thursday 22 October 1998 to enjoy a special Sadly, we leam that Percy Carruthers the Geneva Convention was only good for toilet

get together with a camaraderie second to none; died peacefully in his sleep on 7 Novem- paper, and on occasions he ordered guards to

this because they were room, hut and even cell ber, aged 80, at Lancaster Royal machine-gun over our heads regardless to

mates who suffered adversities and atrocities Infirmary after a six—week illness. damage caused to our living quarters — just

which will always be remembered and, sadly, His funeral was at Lancaster on 12 kicks.

for

scarred many for life. Nevenheless, with 55,000 November. ln February 1945, again because of the advancing

RAF Bomber Command aircrew paying the One of the founder members and chair- Red Army, the camp was evacuated. Columns of

ultimate price for freedom, the few sun/ivors who man of Kriegie Call, he was a pilot who prisoners were forced to march through deep

congregate at Sywell realise just how fonunate was awarded the Distinguished Flying snow during one of the coldest and worst winters

they are to do so some fifty-three years after the Medal and was Mentioned in Dispatch- Eastern Europe had suffered, the pitiful columns

war — and rejoice! es. He was been responsible for the meandering through northern Germany for an esti-

They remember vividly the evacuation from annual organising of Kriegie Call and mated 400 miles. Many were falling and dying,

Kriegsgefanganenlagers: Stalag—Luft 1 at Barth on never missed a re—union until this year. some never to be heard of again, en—route until

the Baltic Coast; from Stalag—Luft Vl at Heydekrug Our thoughts go out to his wife Jean, eventually arriving at Stalag llB at Fallingbostel on

near Konigberg: the then East Prussia, and from who, in spite of all the circumstances, the Luneburg Plain.

Stalag—Luft IV, at Gross Tychow, Kiefheide, attended Kriegie Call One Nine. Only Alter ten days rest with little or no food and wafer,

Pomerania, the real aggravation beginning with those who know Jean realise what a this camp was evacuated, with more forced

the evacuation from Heydekrug away from the wonderfully brave woman Percy marching, strafing by RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force

advancing Red Army in July 1944. Whilst many married. Jean will continue to administer and USAF tank—busting aircraft (friendly fire),

prisoners were transported by rail to a camp at the Kriegie Call Fund. causing eighty or more deaths. The columns

Thorn in Poland, 800 prisoners (including those Tony Johnson. marched on — some individuals managing to

attending Sywell) were entrained to Memel in Tony Johnson was elected caretaker escape to be recaptured, shot or reach Allied lines,

Lithuania, physically crammed like sardines into ‘"09-°ha"ma" if The 0°i°b°l m°°ll"9r due 1° until finally liberated by our Forces.

cattle trucks, and on arrival crammed in the two P°'_°Y'5 “'"°$sr a"d lakes °Y°’ as °hal"'"a" Kriegie Call is extremely fortunate in being able to

holds of a coal boat that had seen better days. For um" me "en O°t°b°' '“°°“"9 3‘ Sy"’°"' hold its reunions at Sywell aerodrome. lt is central-

about 72 hours, without food and proper ly situated so far as the UK members are

sanitation, many suffering from malnutrition and at Kiefheide railway station the 800 prisoners were concerned, and the hotel accommodation and hos-

dysentry, the Kriegies sailed through the Russian made to run the four kilometres to the newly erect- pitality we receive helps tremendously to make the

submarine infested waters of the Baltic, eventually ed camp, Stalag IV, and subjected to bayonetting, event a success every time.

docking at Swinemunde at the mouth of the River rifle clubbing and general unsociable behaviour by TJ

Crowds defyweather forVintage rally

Numbers attending the Vintage Vehicles and

Bygones Collections weekend at Sywell in

August were double those of last year despite

wind and rain, says their Sywell 98 co-ordina- .

tor Barry Waples.

Attractions included more than 350 vintage _

and classic cars, military vehicles, motor

>“v

1

¢Y<>|¢$t aglicullulal °Xhlbil$- mi"itl"° Sleal" The aerodrome was the venue for a ‘Young Eagles’ day in July when Sywell branch of the Popular

9"9i"°5- °°"lme'°ia| Vehl°|e5 PM °|d-"me Flying Association more than 130 children, and some keen parents, flying.

. s.~*\

4

ma...“

anywe

'7‘uv.

Tai|'9'°""d- The Young Eagles programme aims to give children the chance to sample recreational flying, and

Pl'i6e|B$$ <>0||B¢ii0h$ 0? memorabilia, models is an initiative of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) headquarters in the USA. The target

alld bl!-9°"°$ We"? °" 5h°W a|°"9 Wm‘ "adet is to have flown more than one million children world-wide by the centenary of powered flight in

°ha|'"Y 3"" "3" 5i3"5- 2003. Several locally based aircraft and pilots took part.

10

*1 PROPERTY FOR LET I

Aerodrontc C N

7 Advertisement Rates:..?‘_q_..._-5. l_)isplay: £5 per single colcm

. Linage: £2 per line, min. 5 lines.

General Maintenance of Aircraft, Modern 8| Old Phgne Q1 6Q4 491 1 1 2Aircraft Leasing

Specialist in Fabric 8| Wood

Contact: Rex Ford,

Shackleton A Hangar (Unit 12F)

Sywell Aerodrome. Sywell

Shell have been proud

Taylor Aircraft Services I0 SUPPIY SYW9"$ywe|lAe|'QdrQme

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t~|=»1wm21w fuels and lubricants fors..._F "<@%!@ 1:: over 50 years.\.. X’

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Visitors Always WelcomePhone 01604 644678

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of factory/warehouse and 2,000 sq.ft. of oice area including toiletsThe Lancaster Haggag - Site B, Welling_l;_oro_gqh Ro_a_d just and rest room. Rental £3.50 sq.ft.refurbished offer a very efficient high building for distribution purpos- The_0_amping_G_az Warehouse - Site_C_, Ho1c_o11._ane undergoinges. Complete with 6 loading doors plus 2 dock levellers. Parking refurbishment offers a total of approximately 38,000 sq.ft. includingarea, facilities section with toilets, shower and rest room. Total 2,000 sq.ft. of office area. The building lends itself to manufacturingapprox. 68,300 sq.ft. for rent @ £3.50 per sq.ft. Additional office but has been used as a warehouse for many years. The property hasbuilding of 6,000 sq.ft. available on a design & build to complement 4 loading doors plus 1 dock leveller. Heating is installed throughout, athis superb building. Would make a superb UK HQ. sprinkler system is fitted. Unit will be available Christmas 1998.Airways House 1,200 sq.ft. of office space including gents & ladies, Rental £3.50 per sq.ft.heating and light, new construction with character, available 3 yr. At The Wellington Hangar - Site C, Hmgtiage original property of£8,400 per annum. 30,000 sq.ft. available on a flexible short term licence. Annual fee ofQgmmerce House 450 sq.ft. of office space includes toilet & £2.00 per sq.ft.kitchen/store, available on flexible terms at £3,200 per annum.The Bellman Site - Hglcgt Lane just refurbished, otters a manufactur- FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESEing or storage facility of approx. 19,000 sq.ft. split into 17,000 sq.ft. PROPERTIES TELEPHONE 01604 491 112

iiéyweii

OIVIEFOSA wants

Aviation Charges ‘=~~>°‘ Y0"!Microlight Pilot Training: from £65 per hour inclusive of VAT

Fly Light Air Sports 01604 494459 lf you would like to join the Friends of Sywell Aerodrome (it

Fixed Wing Pilot Training: from £92.50 per hour inclusive of VAT C0513 °n|y £150 3 year), Conrad Eiizabem Brown at the

N°"hamPt°"sh"° S°h°°' °f F‘!/‘"9 01504 644678 office for your membership leaflet and application form.

Helicopter Pilot Training: from £210.33 per hour inclusive of VATSmane He11cop1e1S 01604 790595 Benefits include: A chance to win a free prize in the draw

Aircraft Hire: from £64.14 per hour inclusive of VAT °" each magazine PUb|i¢3Tl°"i AND -Fordaire 01604 645996

Fuel! AVGA3 31P_i"C|\1$_iVe Pei We FOSA offers on production of your Membership Card

JET A1 29p '"°'“$"’° pe' ""9 O Entitlement to a 5% discount on Restaurant meals inOil £3.06 inclusive per litre

Landing Fees: M101-oghts £ 650 The Aviator and 5°/o discount O 8" Aviator accommo-

Single engined Fixed Wing and Helicopter £ 8.50 dation rates.

Z2/igoeyngilnefi FifX$%l_/Vl"9 3011-l“He|i¢°PTei £15-0° O Private Pilots visiting Sywell from 1 December untilvernig ar ing: . inc usive o per nig - -

Casual Hangarage: 210.00 inclusive of VAT per night 31 Ma'°h 3"’ ‘?"""ed ‘° 50°/° d'S°°“"‘ °" ‘heLong Term Hangarage: Prices on request from Sywell Aviation 01604 644 917 pubhshed 'a"d'"9 fee-

Aircraft Maintenance: FordaireTaylor AircraftNorthants. School of Flying 01604 644678

For all other queries please contact :

Mr F Bird, in the Control Tower 01604 644917

}, Dates For*1‘ Your Diary

12 December: (Saturday) FlylightAirsportsChristmas Party at The Aviator Hotel.

Phone them on 01604 494 459.

14 December: (Monday) Christmas Party. All

01604 64599601604 492160

0 Adiscount on aircraft hired from Fordaire.

\ . J

Sleek newhelicopter atSywell, via

Monaco anda night in a

chateaum@mbei$ °l FOSA are in‘/"ed I0 l°l"T the Chairman in Sloane Helicopters decided to collect their in the South of France, to refuel at Troyes,

"16 Cirrus R0001 OT The Aviator H0164 TOY new Agusta 109E Power from the factory at which was sufficient for the rest of the jour-

7-3° ' 930- Monaco Super Yacht and Helicopter Exhibi- altitudes, but the AlO9E Power is a full single

FUTURE EVENTS tion in Monte Carlo. pilot IFR machine, meaning it can fly in cloud

home to Sywell they would drop in at the

introductions, drinks. and Qeneial 99110 k"°W Y°U' Vergiate, north west of Milan, and on the way ney to Sywell.chat Usually helicopters do not fly at these

Let me omce know 11 you want 10 to Le Touqet in The 109E Power is the latest generation of on autopilot in most weathers.

111 8 eay Summee corporate helicopters, seating up to seven At Troyes the question was: do they clear

01604 491112 passengers, and is the fastest corporate heli- customs and set course for Sywell, or do

F \

\ J

._._./\

>(' Draw Prizes 18° '"P"- l"°"-

copter flying in the world today with a maxi-

mum cruise speed of 156 kts, approximately

Peter Barnes piloted the Agusta, one of only

they take a leisurely overnight stop at a

chateau with a gourmet dinner? Guess what

Within 20 minutes we were landing on the

on pubheetien of Aemdmmey FOSA membership two helicopters allowed to fly into the port at lawn at the luxurious Royal Champagne

numbers ere drawn em O1 e hem Monaco because of its unique twin engine chateau in Epernay near Reims where we

F1181 drew wmnere ere; safety characteristics. Others had to be enjoyed an excellent meal and the mandato-

Higm m e -Nee, Mom emmeey e1 13,1 Ceee _ taken in by road. ry bottle of champagne. We flew home next

FOSA Ne 445, M, H Auem Nem1emmen_ Entering into the spirit of the exhibition and morning.

He|1eeme1.ma| |eesen emmesy 01510311 Heneemers support for Sloane, a number of helicopter Our Agusta 109E Power is now flying regu-

FOSA Ne 300, Ms K Cook, Nom1ammo11_ flight school members flew to Nice by airline. larly on charter and demonstration flightseeme 01 Beus whisky courtesy of Avmor H0191 For the iourney home after the three—day from the base at Sywell and is proving to be

FOSA Ne 5211 Mr S Tomeyy Mom1en_ show we flew along the coast to St Tropez, an extremely popular helicopter.

climbed to 10,000 ft, and over the mountains