LAA Highlands and Islands Strut

Transcription

1 May/June 2018 Newsletter LAA Highlands and Islands Strut Website: Newsletter Next strut meeting Friday 25 th May 2018, 7:30pm at Highland Aviation, Inverness Airport. This issue:- From the chair Awards ceremony Apache visit EGPE Movements Caspian Sea Monster Fly-In Diary P-51 Forced landing Photo corner Easterton update For Sale Membership renewal form FROM THE CHAIR May 2018, by Nigel Campbell LAA HIGHLAND & ISLANDS MAIN EVENTS - SOLAS and DORNOCH FLY-IN Thankfully it is that special time of year once again. SOLLAS - LAA Highland & Islands Strut's annual fly-in is our first event on 7th and 8th July. Perhaps the weather shall behave this year and thus many aircraft shall arrive as was the case in the years when the weather was on-side. Thanks again to our island based members that make all the necessary arrangements who deserve the reward that fair weather is able to deliver but also our thanks for the sheer effort and dedication such an event requires to stage this event on such a beautiful part of our area... DORNOCH - LAA Highland & Islands Strut's annual fly-in 28th and 29th July. A new official based in Inverness has been appointed to be responsible for Dornoch Airfield by Highland Regional Council. I believe he is also responsible for Plockton and Broadford. I have received a copy of the council s draft proposal by E mail which I have transmitted to our LAA head office seeking their assistance to prepare a knowledgeable and considered response. HIAL Controlled Airspace Paul (Jenkins) has once again reconfirmed there is no update available on this issue. Perhaps we have turned a corner, where all users concerns are now being considered, as was demonstrated recently by Exeter s sky grab not being approved at this time. HIAL High-tech - you are invited! All were invited to attend our 2018 HIAL Air Traffic Management Strategy Event. I personally did not attend and as yet I have not received any detailed feedback. However, I am sure one of our committee who was in attendance shall fill us in on some basic detail at our meeting this Friday 25th May. REASONABLE PRICED LANDING CARD AT INVERNESS No change. I remain awaiting feedback as to the outcome from the airports deliberations. Our Club is only seeking a landing card that is more akin to the reasonable cost available for Wick etc. As our LAA permit aircraft all operate non commercial recreational flying we consider our request to be fair and equitable. HANGAR CHAT The Jodel s refurbished and recovered wing was refitted some weeks ago. Members of the group continue to install the other necessary bits and bobs progressing towards final assembly and thus test flight. Page 1 of 11

2 From the chair continued Hangar rental agreement: As one resident who has signed and returned the lease agreement, no doubt is the same status for all others, I await a countersigned copy of the lease by HIALs MD and Finance Director. One of our members has already made contact with HIAL requesting them to issue the countersigned copies of the Contract to all. In my humble opinion, until a countersigned copy has been received by tenants, no contract can yet be considered to be in force. G-MACI is scheduled to depart south from Inverness on its way to its new home sometime during week commencing 28th May. G-BKET the 1952 Piper Super Cub L18C is scheduled to resume its decades of residence in the near future in the slot vacated by G-MACI. This aircraft has been a tenant at Dalcross commencing around the mid 1980s. CHANGE OVER TO 8.33 AT HIAL AIRPORTS AS PER BELOW TABLE Originally, it was mandatory that all aircraft had an 8.33 compliant radio installed by 31st December However, the rule was subsequently modified from the original date of 31st December 2017 to that aircraft require to have 8.33 (below 19500ft) should we be intending to communicate with any airfield that has renewed its radio license from 25 to 8.33 spacing that is borne out by the changeover dates in the below table. As an example we require to have 8.33 in time to comply with the changeover at Inverness presently scheduled for 30th November. Of course should we travel and intend to communicate with any airfield that has already changed over to 8.33 all shall require to have 8.33 capability as well as the 25. The following is the planned schedule for frequency changeover as issued by HIAL on the 3rd of May 2018: Location Service 25kHz 8.33kHz Conversion Frequency Channel Date Benbecula TWR/APP Jun 18 Stornoway TWR/APP Jul 18 Barra AFIS Aug 18 Campbeltown AFIS Aug 18 Islay AFIS Aug 18 Tiree AFIS Aug 18 Sumburgh ATIS Aug 18 Sumburgh TWR Aug 18 Dundee TWR/APP Sep 18 Dundee ATIS Sep 18 Kirkwall TWR/APP Sep 18 Wick TWR/APP Oct 18 Inverness TWR Nov 18 Inverness APP Nov 18 Expect changes to the EGPO AIP supplement, and NOTAM action over the coming months, leading up to the 31st July change over. Page 2 of 11

3 Ewan Spalding Trophy Presentation At the last Highland Strut meeting held on the 30 th March, the Ewan Spalding memorial trophy was awarded to Rick Phillips in recognition of the completion of his superb Bowers Fly Baby. Rick Phillips pictured (right) receiving the Ewan Spalding trophy from Strut Chairman Nigel Campbell. Inverness Visitors There were a number of Apache helicopters operating in the Highland area earlier this month which made a fuel stop at Inverness where I was able to take this snap on the North Apron. Reassuringly noisy and quite menacing: Page 3 of 11

4 EGPE Movements This extract of an Inverness Airport movements log book from 1994 appeared in a Facebook post by the Highland Archive Centre recently. I thought it was interesting to see a few familiar registration numbers, such as G-BFLU and G-BKET. It also shows DC3s G-AMPO and G-AMYJ and serves as a reminder of when they were an everyday and welcome sight on the apron. The Highland Archive Centre apparently holds 300 of these log books dating from 1958 to They are all available on request in the archive search room. Ground Effect and the Caspian Sea Monster Clicking this image should take you to an interesting article and video on the Caspian Sea Monster, a Russian developed ground effect vehicle. Thanks to Bill Ritchie for forwarding this. Page 4 of 11

5 Fly-In Diary 2018 Mull 46 th Fly-in, Glenforsa Airfield May 26 th - 27 th Buchan Aero Club Fly-in, Longside June 16 th - As usual, there will be no landing fees, (donations gratefully received), the barbie will be lit, and avgas available. James Hayward memorial Fly-in, Easter Airfield, 17 th June Lamb Holm Fly-in Friday 22 nd June to Sunday 24 th June. Sollas 7 th /8 th July 2018 Further details to follow. Kilkeel 21 st July 2018 See details above on page 6. Dornoch 28 th /29 th July To be confirmed. Mull RV Fly-in, Glenforsa Airfield 25 th - 26 th August LAA International Rally, Sywell 31 st August 2 nd September Mull 4 th Annual Vintage Taildragger Fly-in, Glenforsa Airfield 15 th 16 th September Please send any Fly-in or aviation related event info to the Editor at laahighlandstrutnews@outlook.com P-51 Engine Out Landing This video features on-board footage of an engine failure in a P-51 war bird followed by a forced landing in a field at Duxford. What I found most interesting was the analysis by the pilot of what happened and his evaluation of what he could have done better always a good approach to take. It is a little long at 35 minutes, but it s well worth watching, especially for those of us who haven t done a PFL in a while: Page 5 of 11

6 Photo Corner There were a lot of really nice photos sent in recently. Thanks to all who contributed, sorry there wasn t room to feature them all, we ll use any that don t appear in a future issue. Robin DR400 (Based Kemble) Ian Lane (Easterton) and Ian Hay (Kemble) Courtesy of Iain Bright Cessna 120 Iain MacDonald and Rick Phillips (Both Easterton) Page 6 of 11

7 Sent by Iain MacDonald, G-BHLW coasting-in to Nairn on 7th May. Photo taken by Iain Bright (taken from the Easterton Europa). Iain s favourite photo of the year! Ben Rinnes. 30th April. G-BHLW. Courtesy of Iain MacDonald. Page 7 of 11

8 Some photos from Easter Airfield, courtesy of David Edes: Largest visitor to date, Pilatus PC 12 G-DYLN. Banner towing Numbers now concreted in and painted: Page 8 of 11

9 EASTERTON - Powered Flying Update. Message from Rick Phillips: Despite the rather wet weather that heralded the first few months of 2018, the G-VALS flying group have had the best 'flying' start to any year since acquiring the aeroplane in March To date, members of the Pietenpol group have enjoyed flying in excess of 35 hours since the 1st January, this date perhaps being the most memorable New Years Day for outstanding flying conditions for many a year. Similarly, following the relocation of the Cessna 120 (G-BHLW) to Easterton in March, the group members have enjoyed a resurgence of landaway sorties, with Longside, Perth, Glenrothes, Knockbain and Dornoch all being visited during the last 3 months. The Perfo runway has without doubt proved its worth, with some members taking the advantage to fly both aeroplanes per visit! Click on the image to view an excellent Youtube video featuring G-VALS from cameras mounted on the aircraft. Courtesy of Rick Phillips and Iain Bright who sent it in. Copy and paste this link if clicking the picture doesn t work: Forgotten Aerodromes of World War 1 Rick also forwarded these extracts from the above titled book by Martyn Chorlton. You can order yourself a copy from the publisher here: Page 9 of 11

10 For Sale 20 Litre Jerry Can. Good condition. 15, for collection or can deliver locally. Tel or Text or contact the editor. RAF Flying Suit. Used, but in good condition with no tears. Size 5 (91-99cm Chest / cm Tall. 20 (plus 5 UK postage). Tel or Text or contact the editor. Page 10 of 11

11 Highland Strut membership renewal for 2017/2018: Treasurer s Address:- Billy Grant, Craigellachie, Laundry Lane, TAIN, IV19 1ED September 2016 With this the September issue of the newsletter, we come again to membership renewal, which we have once again been able to maintain to the paltry level of only 5:00 for the year October to October. To maintain your membership, please complete and return this form with payment to the treasurer at the address shown above. Cheques should be made payable to The Highland Strut. Alternatively, come along to the next meeting and see Billy in person, but please complete the details below which will form the basis of our membership list. Name: LAA BMA Address: BGA LAA Membership No.: address: Telephone: Postcode: Mobile: Page 11 of 11