FAA SQUADRON GLIDING SUPPORT

2004 has again seen the Squadron successfully providing powered flying support for FAAOA Gliding Scholarship courses – (albeit only at Lee-on-Solent this year).
The team of intrepid pilots who pitched up in April for the Easter course included Dick Roberts from Temple Bruer in his natty new Zennair Zodiac. Dave Gibbs in his shiny Chipmunk from Wellesbourne Mountford, Barry Woodhouse in the mighty Stemm from Lasham, Michael Bonham Cozens from Bournemouth with Bonanza and Phil Moore from Lee in his Auster. The eight students each completed a Navex and TAC.R.
The July course was hit badly by the weather which prevented Tim Nicholas bringing his Jodel down from Shawbury. The effect was to wipe out any further activity after Barry’s magnificent effort on Wednesday when he ‘stemmed’ down from Lasham and proved able to fly four of the eight students around the course in the day.
By the August course our British weather became positively vindictive but the Squadron was not to be beaten. On Tuesday 17th ‘Doc’ Holliday arrived from Yeovilton in the Tobago and managed to complete eight exercises with four students before returning. Not only were the standard probes to Petersfield and Thorney Island carried out, but a last minute ‘one off’ exercise which was quickly created, required a landing at Old Sarum to collect a spare brake cylinder diaphragm for the Super Cub tug which thanks to Doc. was back in the air after only three hours AOG.
Remarkable effort though this was there were still three students left to fly, so on Friday morning, in desperation, I contacted that remarkable man from New Milton who, despite not being able to see across to the Isle of Wight due to heavy rain, went to his strip, got his home made aeroplane out of his home made hangar, took off from his home made airfield and was drinking tea at Lee by 1030. Thus the day was saved, all students were flown before Tony Ashmead, with much gratitude, took his impeccable Pulsar back to Batchley Farm.
Twenty two out of twenty four students enjoyed FAAOA courses at Lee this year, (one did not show due to injury and one left half way through). Of these nineteen were flown in Squadron powered aircraft and they all loved it. Fourteen went solo in gliders and they all said they wanted to join the R.N. (who wouldn’t ?) Much credit goes to the Squadron pilots who provided their aircraft for this very valuable contribution to the future of the Fleet Air Arm – long may it continue.

Report by Phil Moore