Historic flight News

A Prefect from Keevil will be with us this year and will be here in time to be displayed at the Vintage Flying Weekend.

After much effort the winch clutch has now been removed and Andy has been trailing around Chippenham to find a replacement. He has achieved but it will cost

A team took apart the gearbox and clutch on Friday. Parts are now being sourced to replace the worn parts. Thanks guys!!!

Owing to the very poor flying weather on the pre-christmas course we were able to tackle the work on the landrover and it is now fully serviceable.The rear wheel hub leaking oil seal has been fixed along with a new rear axle breather valve which should stop the problem in the future. The battery master switch has also been fitted and is working -look under the bonnet and you can’t miss it. Onto some less pleasing news. The fund is owed a grand total of

We have taken XA310 apart and loaded it onto its trailer, taken the cab off the Babe winch so we can get to the clutch, disconnected the battery to the Brut so we can fit a battery isolator. In fact Andy has taken a few extra redundant bits of metal off the Babe with his disc.

4300′ on the first lauch of the day. Al Stacey in the MK3 was realeased from his aerotow out of Keevil just over Hullavington. his first words after landing alongside the launch point were “I must be either mad or stupid!” The MK3 will now be with us for the next couple of months – what fun!! A fantastic evening, 27 degrees, sunshine, BBQ, flying – what more can you ask for.

Al Stacy’s MK3 is arriving today, it will be getting its C of A done at the same time as our aircraft. I’ve been told we get to keep it for a month in return. If you haven’t flown one before – have a go!!

Thirty launches last friday with probably the most half-hour flights we’ve seen in one day. The airfield was bathed with warm evening sun, and the smell of char grilled burgers on the BBQ. Let’s hope that the sun stays through to this Friday. The C of A will be done this weekend too.

Yes, both of the aircraft passed their CofA today. They both then flew 11 launches that afternoon. Thanks to those that helped with the aircraft and evening flying. Just got the following email !!!! “XA310 was not the MkIII I first went solo on which was WT898 on 24/06/1973.However XA310 was the first MkIII I ever flew in on 14/10/1972 captained by Mr. Franklin at of course Weston-super-Mare. On the same day I had my first ever air cadet flight in Sedburgh WB929 captained by Mr. Townsend. So it was a pretty special experience to be able to have the opportunity to fly the old beast again after around 34 years. On this occasion my teeth didn’t chatter and I kept my mouth shut instead of shouting at my instructor (heard on the ground). Thank you for the opportunity to have another go. I look forward to doing it again soon (perhaps tomorrow evening). Best regards, KK”