Lancashire Aero Club. Editorial address: - January 2009 Editorial

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1 Contact: - info@lancsaeroclub.co.uk The The Fly by wire Newsletter of the Elevator Lancashire Aero Club Editorial address: - elevator@lancsaeroclub.co.uk January 2009 Editorial The first thing to do is to wish each of you a happy New Year, safe flying and hopefully a good flying season. That is something we cannot say we have had over the past few years, but I am always hoping that the dream will happen. There is not a lot happening at this time of the year and even the committee are having a quiet time though, of course, we are always looking for that elusive site to put down our roots. All is not lost as there are opportunities arising and each is looked at very seriously for its viability. When we get one that is suitable then this is where you will be hearing about it. The one thing that we all want is somewhere to fly to and to have a good time when we get there. What each of us requires is different but generally it s something to eat, someone to talk to, and something to look at whether its aircraft or goodies or bits and pieces. So where will we find all of these items the LAA International Rally. It has been announced that the rally will again take place this year but not on it s traditional weekend of July but this year it s the first weekend in September. The idea is to get the good weather we have been missing for the last six years. That was the reason that there has not been a rally for the lat two years, that and the fact that the bad weather made sure the last few rallies lost money and were not sustainable. So why is it being resurrected? Due to the gap between these rallies it has given the organisers the opportunity to start again with a clean sheet approach and a new fresh look at what is required. Also its an opportunity to change venue as well and for this year, and probably for a few years to come, the rally is moving to Sywell Aerodrome. This was the first home of the PFA Rally (old terminology) and though it s a little small it s a very good venue with a lot of attributes to recommend it. The one point that it does create though is the requirement for pre-booking for aircraft arrivals. This is due to restricted aircraft parking and the organisers do not want to turn anyone away when they are in the air hence the pre-booking requirement. Watch the aviation press for announcements and then go to the website as directed. That s all for now so clear skies and safe aviating Cliff Mort

2 The North Western Strut Of the Light Aircraft Association Are hosting the Guild of Air Traffic Controllers Pilot Controller Forum. Tuesday the 13 th January 09 Starting at hrs NWS is hosting a meeting organised by Tim MacKay on behalf of the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers. Controllers from a wide area in the north west are being invited and questions from local pilots on all kinds of topics will be addressed. Tim will be chairing the meeting. Refreshments will be available - please let Tim know if you intend to be there so that catering can be organised (phone or dunadry@hotmail.com) If you are coming along to Strut Night on Tuesday 13 th January (and we hope you are!!) please note that part of Worsley Road near The Brown Cow Hotel is still closed due to road works. Depending on which way you normally approach, you may need to follow the diversion signs to get round to The Brown Cow Hotel. Otherwise approach the Brown Cow from the North (Jct 13 on the M60 and along Worsley Road, go past the road closed sign for 50 yds and into the pub car park ).

3 "Spitfire! the Experiences of a Fighter Pilot" by Squadron- Leader "B. J. Ellan" Published in 1942 by John Murray, London A question of ammunition Spitfire! Fly!.Pulling sharply round out of the way I found another 110 on my tail. How he got there I don't know for I certainly did not see any of the Huns break formation until I opened fire. Keeping in the turn I got away from this gentleman and, feeling rather like a replica of that famous petrol advertisement, "That's Shell, that was!" had a good look around. Nobody seemed to be after me and I turned in after a 110 ahead, coming in from the side at him. I got a good sight on him and fired a long burst until a large portion of his port engine came right out of the wing. He lurched over on his side and fell half inverted towards the glistening water far below. Keeping a good look round, I managed to watch him on his last journey and was rewarded by the sight of a huge splash of white foam as he hit the sea just off the coast. A moonlit sortie The flight seemed almost over now, far to the east a few aircraft were heading for the Belgian coast and a Spitfire was diving back towards home. No there was nothing more to do but go back home to the aerodrome. Then, as I turned north, a solitary 110 flew slowly past, half a mile away. Diving down a little I turned in under his tail and closed in behind him. Where he had suddenly appeared from I couldn't think, but the reason he was limping home so slowly was obvious now his starboard engine was out of action and I could plainly see the three blades of the stationary airscrew standing mutely out from the bulge of the engine. Throttling back and somehow feeling a bit of a cad, I took very careful aim, checked the range, and pressed the firing button. Nothing happened. I pressed it again. No I was out of ammunition!! Sitting there just behind him I swore softly to myself. The German pilot was obviously quite oblivious of my presence. What a shock he would have got if only I had had some ammunition!

4 Sliding out to one side I pulled up over the top of the enemy aircraft in a barrel roll, looking down through the roof of my cockpit as the aircraft became inverted. I laughed as I caught a glimpse of a pink blur in the front cockpit as the pilot looked up and saw me. He must have had the fright of this life! Slipping down the other side of him I rolled out right way up, looking hard at the rear cockpit. The sliding cover was closed. If there was a gunner on board he must be dead. I noticed the pilot had opened up his one good engine wide and a thin trail of black smoke was streaming back from the exhaust. I think he must have thought I was playing cat and mouse with him and I suddenly felt sorry for him. I could visualize his feeling as he strove to get away in his crippled aircraft, expecting at any moment to hear the clatter of bullets striking the fuselage and wings and waiting to feel one plough through his body. I climbed and turned across his nose, rocking my wings as I straightened up and flew away from him. He would get home all right as long as he didn't over-rev that engine. Good luck to him anyway. Over the coast And all the way back I pondered on my feelings. Why should I have felt sorry for that German pilot? War is war and no quarter is expected or given and yet, once the heat of the moment was over, I felt almost glad that I had been forced to give him that quarter. How contrary is human nature! Tomorrow, perhaps, he would be on another raid in another machine and might shoot down one of our chaps, perhaps one of my flight perhaps he might come upon me gliding home with a dud engine, and finish me off. I wondered if he would feel the same way I did, or whether the Nazi doctrine had killed all his decent feelings. Somehow I hoped it hadn't. Paradoxically in a fight I always hoped the other chap was a decent sort of guy. It was so clean up there in the blue the thrill of flying and the bigger thrill of fighting. And yet if I had had some ammunition left I couldn't have missed him and I would have shot him down. But if we had not been at war could I delight in killing? No. Sanity would prevail and we should all become normal people once more.. In his book Squadron-Leader Ellan concludes "I should like to pay tribute to the men who design and build our fighting aircraft. Our successes are their successes, for it is they who have placed in our hands the finest aircraft and equipment in the world. To them we owe a special debt of gratitude".

5 If you are one of these Sixteen reasons why aircraft are easier to live with than women An aircraft will: please read on. 1) kill you quick a woman enjoys taking her time 2) be turned on by flicking a switch 3) forgive you for doing a touch and go 4) welcome a full pre-use inspection 5) come with a manual to fully explain its operation 6) have a strict weight and balance limitation 7) welcome being use any time of the month 8) not have in-laws 9) not care however many other aircraft you have flown with 10) arrive at the same time as the pilot 11) not mind if you admire other aircraft 12) not mind if you buy aircraft magazines 13) expect to be securely tied down 14) not comment on your piloting skills 15) only whine if something is really wrong 16) however, when an aircraft goes quiet, just like a woman, you know you are in big trouble!! (If you are one of these read it anyway and feel glad you are on a much "higher plane" than men!! ) DATES for your diary The Diary The only dates that I have at present, with the flying season coming to an end, are for the North Western Strut and are: - In January 09 the NWS are hosting a Pilot/Controller Forum and will welcome all pilots from around the region to the meeting. There will be a buffet served during the evening and it is the opportunity for you to get your opinion across to the Air Traffic Controllers. The date for the meeting is the Tuesday the 13 th January 09 and is the usual venue of the Brown Cow Hotel. Strut Nights are on the SECOND TUESDAY in each month at THE BROWN COW HOTEL, 3 19 Worsley Rd, Eccles, M30 8BW.

6 ADVERTS The Baytree Cafe The Baytree Cafe (Northwich) Ltd 2/3 Town Square, Northwich CW9 5AR Tel For Sale or Wanted The following adverts for aircraft for sale will no longer have the photograph attached to them. If you want to see these photo s you will find them in the For Sale section of the Lancs Aero Club web site Jodel 112 Share for sale Factory built Jodel D112 G-BEZZ on PFA permit, hangared City of Manchester Airport, Continental A65 hand start, cruise at 150 kph on 17 lph, 60 l tank, 494 lb useful load, friendly long established group with good availability. Share 2450, monthly 55, only 24 per hour wet. M.Turner or SHARES FOR SALE G-AVGI PIPER CHEROKEE 140 Recently zero-timed, 150 hp engine Well maintained and cared for aircraft Friendly, well-run group; currently 4 flying members, up to 4 shares available Good availability, online booking system Ideal for those consolidating hours, or looking for a low-cost, simple touring aircraft 4,000 share, 75 per month / 60 per hour wet Adam Chris Or cherokee@threefiftysix.plus.com PIPER CHEROKEE PA (6/7 SEATER) 1/6 TH Share in this fantastic 6/7 Seater Aircraft, the only one based at Manchester City Airport. This is a real touring aircraft, fully IFR equipped, with a recent re-spray and New 3 bladed prop. It will cruise at 130kts at 10,000ft, and has an endurance of 5hrs with reserves. It has excellent availability, and a very experienced group, regularly flying overseas to Europe. It is equipped with the following: KN62A DME, KX165 Nav Comm, KX175B Nav Comm, KT76 Transponder, KR85 ADF, 2 VOR s, 1 ILS, Skymap IIIC Colour Moving Map GPS, 2 Altimeters. 6 Place Intercom, 6 Life Jackets, 1 Dinghy, 6 Headsets, Full set of Instrument Approach plates (AERADS), and Airways Charts, which are updated monthly.

7 1/6 th Share at , 90.00/month and 90.00/hrWet Tel: John Cheetham for more details or test flight SHARE FOR SALE G-PAWL PIPER CHEROKEE 140 On the field at Barton. Engine 2061 hours. Annual due September Internet booking system (MSN Hotmail). Excellent availability, there are nine in the group but only 4-5 seem to fly. A really nice aircraft to fly. Share only 700! (member has left the area). Monthly per hour, dry. Please contact Derek Brumhead (group member) DDB@tesco.net PIPER ARROW 180 SHARE FOR SALE - LIVERPOOL / BARTON GROUP G-AWFJ, The group currently have one vacancy for a 1/6 share at 7000 ONO (no realistic offer refused). The details of the aeroplane are: Equipment: VOR/DME and RNAV, GPS, Autopilot, Mode C Transponder New propeller 2002, Engine overhaul 2004, repainted 2005, C of A 2008 _ Barton/Liverpool group, currently based at Barton. Current costs 125 per month and 72 per flying hour (wet)._ Contact Graham Keeler on or g.j.keeler@salford.ac.uk or Richard Sawyer on CESSNA 172 1/8 th SHARE FOR SALE 1/8 th share available in Cessna 172H. In excellent condition, hangared at Barton. Zero timed engine less than 400 hrs. ago ( Rolls Royce Continental Six cylinder O hp very smooth ) Airframe 2800 hrs. Annual Due Oct Internet booking system, excellent availability. Long established sociable group. Will accept newly qualified PPL per Month per Hour Wet King KX170B & Bendix King KY97 Nav/Comm s Bendix TR8, ADF, DME, Mode C Transponder, New Garmin SL40 Paul Kavanagh Chairman Contact :- Geoff on:- Mobile No gnogrant@hotmail.com Share Your Committee Kevin McGuire Vice Chairman/Membership Secretary David Kaberry Treasurer John Latimer Secretary Chris Barham Communications Peter Gaskell

8 Andy Halvorsen Kate Howe Cliff Mort Editor