Friday 22 July 2011

Beechcraft Staggerwing

For sharper images click them




When I was at the airfield the other day, dropping off a consignment of oil (Craig and I are going halves, as we both have 582 two-strokes), I discovered that the gorgeous staggerwing I saw when I first moved in is Geoff's. Incredibly humbling, when I think what an interest he took in our flexwings. Nice guy!

Anyway, I got some semi-profficient shots of it (not got the hang of the settings yet, really)

Geoff says he will take me up in it one day!

Hello BHS parents!

I wouldn't dream of giving my email address to a student, and almost never to a parent, but I liked a couple of our parents at school so much, yesterday, when they were having a look at where their son was going to be taught next year, that I can see them becoming real friends. Their son's maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather both flew; and both his parents have a hankering to do so too.

I hope my scribblings on a scrap of paper bring them here and that they will stay in touch.

That's the power of aeroplanes.

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Free as a bird!

What with one thing and another, it has been some weeks since I flew. It is about time I got up there again! I never would have imagined there'd ever be a time when anything else would appeal more; there hasn't been since the summer of 2008. But recently work and other commitments have distracted me.

Well, I am on school holidays now and can do it, whenever the weather is favourable, whenever I want to. And the Met looks good for evening flying until the middle of next week.

So I reckon I will be flying tonight.

Saturday 9 July 2011

click image for clarity


Another cheap classic is available at the moment, on ebay, and I have been obsessing about it because it is flying at its most pioneering; I love its minimalism. It is the Pathfinder I, manufactured until 1983. This one is one of only six still registered, and it is thought that it is one of only two currently airworthy. And what's more, the price is hovering around a grand...with a predicted reserve of £1,500.

But again, Hangarage would be the big issue for me.

Sooner or later I will have to leap on one of these opportunities. They won't be with us for ever.