Light Aircraft Association

Wiki claims he did Donald. He was the first to land an aircraft at Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. Again, the trip was delayed: after his aircraft was severely damaged at Lord Howe, he had to rebuild it himself with the help of islanders. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Chichester Pleas...

Chris is correct in assuming I was referring to Maurice Kirk. Not everyones cup of tea especially those with any authority which has got him in to a lot of trouble. However anyone who can fly from the UK to Australia, on to NZ and Norfolk Island, with just a map and compass is a true navigator. Sir ...

Colin Hales quite rightly takes me to task for missing the fact that Norman Surplus completed the first autogyro circumnavigation when he arrived in the USA with James Ketchell. https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article16224092.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_PAY-British-gyrocopter-pilots-in-Magadan-3-Th...

I have spent over three years researching the recent Bill Woodhams Trophy. It has been quite a controversial scenario since I first raised the issue of TCT being awarded the trophy for her dual travels in Africa around three and a half years ago on Pprune. This has been a difficult case to handle fo...

Many years ago I used to fly a Cherokee in to Priory Farm at Tibenham where there was a PFA strut.

What went wrong and why is there no Norfolk strut?

Thanks for that Brian.

I must say I was quite surprised to discover the Gardan Horizon can now be operated on a permit.

It is a shame the Ralley 880 does not qualify.

Just seen an Auster on Afors. G-AJEE is on sale for £18k 1946 AUSTER AUTOCRAT .PERMIT APRIL 2020 AIRFRAME3384 ENGINE 1052.FAIREY REED ALUMINIUM PROP. How hard is it to maintain such an old aircraft? And what does this mean for maintenance? “Piper Colt PA22 United Kingdom Colt PA22 £15,500 Piper Colt...

I guess your story Chris and many others is what the LAA is and the old PFA was about. Getting people flying within a budget. There must be a tremendous amount of satisfaction from flying something you built with your own hands. I admire Colin Hales for getting so far in something he built. It was s...

Agreed Chris but great to train on. About the only thing worse is the Rotorway Exec.

As for the VP1..sounds like a challenging little flying machine.

That reminds me of transitioning from fixed wing to helicopters in Perth,Australia thirty years ago. Too hot to fly with the doors on in an R22 meant sitting on the map. One hand on the cyclic,the other on the collective and map reading became a challenge. The only good point about the R22 is the fa...

In flight map reading must be interesting in a VP1

That is excellent news Brian.

Better it be given to someone deserving than sit on a shelf at the LAA HQ.

James Ketchall has safely crossed from the Faroes to Scotland and is nearing the end of his amazing flight.

What about one of us donating a trophy to the LAA for the best annual adventure?

I do understand the issues with the Woodhams trophy Alan but is the past any reason to ignore James? Let me quote what he claimed he was going to do when he left Popham in late Spring. I will set off from Popham Airfield in Hampshire on a trip that will take me through France, Germany, Poland, Lithu...

I don’t understand why the Bill Woodhams Trophy has to sit on a shelf for a year. Can you explain what the problem is Brian. Surely there has been enough controversy about this in the past without creating more. In simple terms it is an award for a feat of navigation. What is the problem with shelvi...