FROM THE ARCHIVES

WELL-TRAVELLED HISTORY

Proudly residing on the wall of the LAA Members Lounge at Turweston is a handsome painting from the opposite side of the world, which also shows one of the most iconic aircraft in the LAA’s history. The painting is of John Isaacs’ original Fury, a 70% scale reproduction of the 1930s fighter aircraft, built by its designer between 1961 and 1963, and first flown from Thruxton Aerodrome on 30 August 1963.

Former Supermarine draughtsman, then schoolteacher, John, subsequently produced and sold plans for the aircraft, which he later bequeathed to the LAA where copies remain available to this day. In 1963, he was invited to New Zealand, where he was presented with this painting by Barry

Thompson, the builder of the first Isaacs Fury in the southern hemisphere. The painting was later donated by John to the PFA, and it carries plaques with the names of the first 18 builders of the type around the world.

John became one of the most respected luminaries of the Association and with David Armstrong, gave his name to the LAA’s Armstrong-Isaacs bursary scheme to assist younger aviators in completing their PPLs. John’s original prototype, G-ASCM, isn’t often very far away, either. It is based at Hinton Airfield just a few miles from LAA HQ and, as its owner is Turweston Flying Club CFI Paul Shenton, it is a regular visitor. Indeed, it is frequently parked just outside the office window!

Steve Slater