QSY
For the funny, the weird, the wonderful and the just plane strange…
The life of Brian Would a film about legendary microlight pilot Brian Milton and his phenomenal flight around the world in 1998 be a documentary, a thriller, a tragedy or a comedy… Anyone who has read Brian’s book of the flight, Global Flyer, would probably say it’s all of those genres. And yes, a film based on the flight, titled A Wing and a Prayer is being mooted by experienced Hollywood producer, Niels Juul (Martin’s Scorsese’s The Irishman among others). The Guardian reports that the film is ready to go, complete with a big name star and director, but their identities won’t be revealed until the Berlin film festival in February. Shooting is expected to begin by April in Malta and London, with a transatlantic premiere planned for September. The film will tell Brian’s story and how he retraced Phileas Fogg’s round-the-
Main Brian Milton biopic on the way?
11,000th Van’s RV flies
world trip in a microlight after taking up a bet at the Reform Club, where Jules Verne’s fictional character was also a member. Brian flew a Pegasus Quantum for 24,000 miles in 120 days, setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest microlight circumnavigation.
Adventurer Chris Bonington described Milton’s flight around the world as ‘an amazing achievement, of dogged bloody-minded tenacity and the taking of some huge risks’. So, who do you reckon for the lead role…?
It’s nearly 50 years since Van’s Aircraft was founded and during the years since then the company has become the most successful kitplane manufacturer by far – and the 11,000th RV has made its first flight. The aircraft is a Van’s RV-7A belonging to Lennard Nichols and Jay Conlin from Alberta Canada. Completed RVs (as of 30 November 2021): RV-3: 303, RV-4: 1,443, RV-6/6A: 2,700, RV-7/7A: 1,885, RV-8/8A: 1,602, RV-9/9A: 1,163, RV-10: 995, RV-12/12iS:737 and RV-14/14A: 172.
Heroes & Villains HERO Phil Dunnington, a balloon pilot who cofounded the famous Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and flew a Beech 18 to take him, his wife Allie and the balloon around the world, has died aged 74. “His last balloon flight was with our great friend Captain Khalid over beautiful Wadi Rum where both Phil and I did 10min hands on,” said Allie. LUCKY A 72-year-old pilot who made an emergency landing on a German autobahn bridge,
hitting a truck. The pilot had minor injuries while the truck driver was unhurt. The pilot was flying from France to the Netherlands, over the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, when his engine began to fail. SKILLED Jon Humberd was the overall winner of the Central Florida Classic STOL event in early December with a combined take-off and landing distance of 159ft. Jon was flying a Zenith Super 701, a
popular aircraft for STOL competitions. Watch a video here. SAD TG Aviation has ceased operations at Lydd Airport and is considering its options for the future. The flight school was established by former RAF and Red Arrow pilot Ted Girdler at Manston Airport, but moved a few miles across Kent when Manston closed.
Taking the Phractyl
Who thinks the world’s mainstream media has been tricked into thinking the Phractyl Macrobat is a serious attempt at a Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft? VTOLs of all types may be flavour of the Venture Capital market at the moment but a bird-shaped aircraft with tracked feet? The clue may be in the selfdeprecating humour of the African Phractyl team: “If you would like to help all of those suffering from running-lateinitis, support us on Patreon or Paypal, or simply write to us.” More here.
Send your QSY submissions to QSY, PO Box 4261, Melksham, SN12 9BN or to qsy@seager.aero 72 | FLYER | February 2022
