Struts 4U

Anne Hughes rounds up Strut news & views

With the return of flyable weather and long daylight hours there have been reports of gatherings, fly-ins and adventures across the country in the last month. Some were planning to make full use of mid-summer flying with the ambition of winning the 2022 Pooley’s Dawn to Dusk challenge, among them Nic Orchard from the Kent Strut with her Aeronca Champ G-TECC. We were fortunate in catching up with Nic when she made her lunch-time stop at Turweston when she told us that hers was an ‘alphabetical and structural’ challenge.

Along with navigating, taking relevant photos and remembering which letter of the alphabet was next, Nic had given herself a hard day’s work, as she explains, “My day started in around January, it felt, although it was a mild June morning. I split my route into four, allowing up to an hour for fuel breaks. There was wiggle room at the end of the day, but not too much. The planned route was for a total flight time of 8hr 32m in nil wind; by the end of the day my actual flight time was 9hr 40m. with 10hr 20m in the saddle.

“By the evening, I’d found almost everything I wanted to, taken many photographs and landed in time to relax for an hour or so. I’d also looked at some smallish things on the ground from above, creeping through some gaps in airspace to do so. I’m wondering if that’s normal. I’m wondering if any of it is normal. There’s a charitable element also, so whatever else, there is benefit for a good cause.”

During May other Kent Strut members enjoyed a relaxing fly-in to Solley’s Farm, where ice creams were on the menu, while Gloster Strut spent a day at Croft Farm. Tim Badham reported that the Strut enjoyed a fabulous evening of food, flying and fun with great people and a marvellous variety of aeroplanes. Flyers came from all directions including Hampstead Norreys, Sleap and Middlezoy. The fine weather and lack of wind made for a relaxed and memorable gathering, thanks to all of the hard work put in to arrange it – especially by Mike Waldron.

Trevor Bailey entertained with a demonstration in the SE5 (smoke on!) and Alan James gave a talk about his Pietenpol Air Camper. In the evening the BBQ supper was in full swing, with Mike serving his tasty Chowder, spuds and garlic bread, all washed down with drinks from the ‘field kitchen’. The Strut reported one of the best evenings together, new friends, great aircraft and a perfect flying evening with a finale of three Piper Cubs giving a slow fly-by in formation, a magical sight against the most beautiful backdrop of the perfect summer evening sky.

Oxford Group Strut continued their 50th Anniversary celebrations with an open invitation to aviators to join them at Enstone Airfield for a cream tea and an excursion around the hangar. An impressive demonstration of the Spitfire simulator made for an interesting experience while outside in the sun, among other aircraft, was a line-up of Piper Cubs and a Stearman.

Martyn Steggalls from the Suffolk Coastal Strut set up the ‘Spirit of Boxted’ fly-in at Monewden Airfield, and says, “Well what a great day – hot and sunny, although with a tricky crosswind. We didn’t quite make the 50 visitors, with a few cancelling due to tech issues and concerns on the wind/turbulence, but a total of 43 for the day was quite respectable.”

Neil Wilson has recovered from the LAA Scottish tour and is now back with the Wessex Strut. Members recently held a skittles night at a local pub, while on 9 July a lovely evening was spent at Middlezoy Airfield for a BBQ. Forty-five strut members and 15 aeroplanes attended and all enjoyed the excellent clubhouse and airfield facilities.

It is so good to hear about all the activities around the Struts. Don’t forget to check the list and see where your nearest Strut meets if you are not already involved. LAA Member Clubs have also been holding events around the country with an added enthusiasm felt around the airfields, as we all make up for the last two years. We look forward to reporting back next time on your Strut and Club fly-ins, so please send your news and pictures of your events for us to share in this column. ■