wiltshire

Down in Wiltshire nothing very much has stirred, other than our several successful film shows; special thanks due here to Our hard-working projectionist and his crew, also to those who organised the Christmas and Twelfth Night parties. The winch, which was mentioned in our previous newsletter, has now been tried out and proved a success. This will be a great asset when using the local ridge, which until now could only be reached by aerotow. The club fleet has been improved by the addition of a Skylark 4, which we hope will be put to good use in the coming season.

The Club Open Day was held on Sunday, 28th May. Fine weather brought hundreds of spectators out to see Swindon’s Dairy Queen open the proceedings in the T·31 piloted by Club Chairman, L. R, Colquhoun. The programme continued with delay jumps by members of the Swindon Parachute Club. Test Pilot D. Morgan brought back memories with a scintillating display in a Spitfire followed by Wing Cmdr. G. Lowdell (plus bowler and umbrella) demonstrating how not to fly a Biplane! CFI George Turner performed Olympia type aerobatics and the day finished with a “city gent” on yellow cycle being bombed with flour bags from a Tiger flown by Secretary Beryl Sanders and J. Gosling. Much flour of an unknown brand was used with very little effect! Since that date, S. Colborne, B. Hazell, M. Parkins and J. Swallow have made first solos. Cs have been obtained by Club Chairman, L. Colquhoon, P. Davies, D. Ford and D. Woodwards. The do-it-yourself trailer was completed (enough) to take the OIy to Edgehill where we were extremely grateful to share camp with the Coventry Club.

The end of 1963 saw the AGM and the following have been elected to serve on the Committee for 1964: George Turner (C.F.I.), Ray Clark (Treasurer), Beryl Saunders (Secretary), Nell Eccles, Dan Ford, Stan Perry, Sam Colbourne, Peter Clifford and David Schofield. Since our last appearance in these columns Bernard Keogh managed two legs for his Silver C. with a five-hour flight in the direction of Lasham via Southampton. Another notable flight was that of Sam Colbourne in the Oly when he reached 10,000 ft. from Nympsfield. The T-21 has been modernised by having a permanent canopy attached. This, we hope, will encourage more pupils to take advantage of training during the winer months. Our fleet for 1964 will consist of a T-21. Swallow and an Olympia 2B with a possibility of a syndicate formation in the near future. Launching equipment comprises a two-drum winch the Princess. a rebuilt Jenzen and, ‘of course red’s never-ending support in the Terner. At present flying has ceased due to the arrival of the “new” clubhouse. The weekends are now producing able bodied working parties and we hope shortly to start serving fresh beer from a new bar. Although we have no gilded plate to offer soaring arrivals, we shall nevertheless, be very pleased to welcome and entertain anyone who should make South Marston their destination. By the time this is in print we should be fully self-contained and back to normal. 

The progressive trend in the club’s activities has been maintained over the past few months. ‘both in the flying and social spheres. The annual Dinner-Dance, held at the end of March. was a very successful evening Our guest speaker was “Nick” Goodhart, who enlightened us on the new Lyneham Special Rules Zone, now established our doorstep and with which we are now learning to live. Also, during the evening trophies were presented to Fred Butcher and Eric Winning for club achievements in 1966. The May task week, although not blessed with particularly good weather produced some good flights, Dan Ford getting a well-deserved five hours. And Jack Purchase a very near miss to Gold C Distance, We would like to bring to the attention of all power pilots that prior permission must be obtained from Air Traffic Control before visiting South Marston. since the airfield is now in regular use by Messrs. Vickers.

The Annual Dinner-Dance look place on Friday 29th March at the Kings Arms Hotel and was attended by ninety members and guests. Dr J J Hayward proposed the toast to the club and John Gosling responded: At a later stage the absent, Chairman ~ voice interrupted proceedings to wish us well and to explain that he was in Munich on business. This was evident from the lubricated voices and beer garden music! The evening continued until the band finally admitted defeat at 1.0 a.m. to a floor full of twister’s intent on dislocating something! We have already felt the benefit of John, Everitt and the Capstan. and hope to win more pearls from this “Super Instructor” during his stay. 

Immersed in frost and fog, it is painful to remember that day when Fred Butcher soared the new Swallow (Vario not then fitted) for 45 minutes to gain his C. However, there are many jobs to help the dark evenings by-a mobile control office I canteen I instructor’s hideout based on a disused milk-float has been started and a Jensen interceptor (disc brakes under new management) is being given a new bonnet, etc., to compensate for a brief engagement with an army lorry. Future tow-car drivers may be required to take the advanced driving test. Recently members of the Club were guests at a meeting of the Swindon Aeronautical Society, when Mr. Yates, Principal of Bath Technical College, gave a most interesting talk on Gliding, ending with the film “Whispering Wings,” Even being a vulture has its compensations. 

So much progress has been made during the last two months that annual events such as the Open Day and Club Barbecue have quickly become history. Thinking of these two events, Dave Morgan’s “Spitfire” aerobatics and farmer Fred Butcher’s barn and grain drying plant come too easily to mind (who said there wasn’t enough hay?). On Friday July 20th, D. Ford flew the Olympia to Podington and was retrieved by Terrier tug. This week-end also marked the arrival of the T.2l ex Northampton, after some good-natured negotiation. Northampton now have the T.31 and our enviable bank balance! 4 On the following Saturday four happy members returned from Slingsbys with the Olympia trailer, containing our new Swallow (BGA1061). A trailer for this, started four weeks ago, is almost roadworthy. During the camp fortnight we enjoyed a short visit from Sgt Andy Gough with the “Capstan”, which evidently “grew” on some members before bad weather curtailed all flying. The twin drum diesel winch should become fully operational when the nucleus of drivers is larger. Under trials it has dealt with the T.21 and Olympia 2a quite satisfactorily using piano wire. One advantage to the winch driver is the return to the launch point after two launches. The exchange of views on the past launches is invaluable, and someone else can lay the cables out and carry on the good work if this advice is not constructive!

The Annual Dinner-Dance: took place on Thursday 29th March when 80 members and friends were delighted to welcome the National Champion. Sgt John Williamson, as guest of honour. Proposing the toast to the Swindon Club he thought of the future and pointed out that results achieved by hard work were usually of greater value than the “handed out” variety. Much satisfaction should result from being a member of a growing club. He concluded by inviting us to join the Moonrakers at some future date in ridge soaring at Huish – an offer which Club Chairman Les Colquhoun accepted with zest.

Since last appearing in S&G we have acquired an Astir at the top of the club fleet, replaced a bent Skylark 3 with a K-8, built a new Perkins powered auto tow car, changed to Parafil, flown 300km on the same day and held a task week sponsored by Hambro Life. Steve Foggin has taken on the job of CFI for yet another year and John Freke and John Baxter went off for full ratings – the former unfortunately having gone into retirement after giving much good service to the club. The poor soaring season of 1978 was countered by the splendid and varied offerings from the ladies’ Social Committee – and we are now planning for a bumper 21st season of cross-country flying by building a new K-13 trailer for the dual out landing and holding a series of lectures and films in ~ evenings. Our active and comprehensive fleet of private gliders, the latest addition being a Vega, is gelling itself polished in anticipation of tile soaring season.

At our last census we were surprised to find that half of our members were solo and over a third had progressed to the Olympia. One energetic member had soloed within three months and another had soloed and converted to the Olympia within 12 months. Our Instructor situation has improved somewhat but experienced pilots are still more than welcome. The Country and Syndicate Membership Subscription remains at £2 2s. (plus £2 2s. entrance fee) in the hope that energetic pioneers will join us from afar. 3 At the moment we are fiercely debating our expansion policy and are open to offers of second-hand intermediate solo machines or high-performance two-seaters. We have welcomed visitors from Lasham, Nyrnpsfield, Northampton, Coventry and Upavon, and have scattered ourselves around the various clubs in the summer. The first ‘Saturday of the month is a club social evening, so join us if you are ever in the Vicinity.