Noseleg Crack - Help needed

Update (13-08-2009)...

Hi guys,

The noseleg problem on G-ATSI has been resolved, in fact it was not a problem at all. Many thanks to JW & GB for their help and offers. Because of my C of A renewal I will not be able to make Schaffen Diest. Hope to see you all at Sywell. Take some pics of SD and post them.

Cheers,
Roy S
---------------------------
(08-08-2009)

Guys,

Just nearing the end of my CofA renewal and guess what, a crack in the noseleg.
It is the older type leg with the damper on the outside. The crack is about 3” up from the bottom, just below the upper bush. The crack goes about half way round, there is no crack on the outer skin.

1) Anyone know if this can be repaired and how?
2) Anyone have a noseleg for sale?
3) Where can I get a noseleg from?

Cheers
Roy Sears (roysears [@] sky.com)
G-ATSI

Bolkow Squadron Meeting...at Oshkosh

Calling all Squadron members...

The EAA's annual Air Venture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin is taking place between July 27th and August 2nd 2009.

To my knowledge, four of our number are attending this year's event. If any Bolkow flyers are planning to travel to Oshkosh it would be great to meet up for a beer or two. Let's try and add to the list:

Gunther Butterweck

Stewart Luck

Derek Hampson

Colin Hampson

The Bolkow's legs couldn't quite stretch to the 8000 mile roundtrip so we're all cheating and hitching a ride on a B747 (almost as good a tourer as the Bolkow). If any of our American members are planning to fly into Oshokosh, please do get in touch as we'd really love to meet up.

http://www.airventure.org/

Bolkow Bo.207 for Sale

BOLKOW 207 I-ARAM for Sale

c.n. 243, built in 1963, formerly D-EJBO
Same owner from 1974.
Always hangared
Airframe TT 1900 hours. New fabric, paint and transparencies.
Engine TT 260 hours since new. Hartzell VP propeller
Aircraft officially registered as historical (reduced insurance rates)
2 VHF COMM, VOR, DME, Transponder C, ELT, EGT, interphone with 4 headsets
Utility category, aerobatic with two pax
Very comfortable 4 seater plus 20 kg luggage
Excellent flying qualities

For further information contact Giulio Valdonio : valdonio@iol.it

Price: € 42,000 o.n.o. (no VAT)

McCauley Prop for sale

For Sale: Used propeller in good condition - McCauley 1A100MCM6758 sn 36279 previously installed on D-EMFU Bolkow Junior Bo.208C.

Price: Euro 1200 (€) no VAT.

Can be viewed at EBLE - Beverlo, Belgium. For more info mail to leon.baor@telenet.be or call 0032 475 699 536

Kind regards,

Daniel Verreyken.

Bolkow Squadron - 25th Anniversay Fly-in 14-16 August 2009, Schaffen-Diest, Belgium

Hi Dear Bölkow Gang,

I hope you are all well and looking forward to the spring of 2009 and to getting Bö wings back in the air again.

This year the “International Bölkow Squadron” is 25 Years Old! This event we must celebrate!! It was in 1985, at the PFA Rally in Cranfield that the idea for a Bölkow Squadron was founded by Stewart “Chuck” Luck and myself. John Webb was in the background but that year he was busy rebuilding BO 208 C, G-AVLO! Picture 330 (ed: below) shows the founding members at Schaffen Diest.

So my plan is that we should hold a 25th Anniversary Meeting as part of the “Old Timer” Fly In at Schaffen Diest, Belgium 14-16th August 2009. All three Bölkow types (207, 208 and 209) together with their owners and friends would be really welcome. Our Meeting will have no rules but everyone should follow the official published procedures for the Old Timer Fly In. I will talk to the Boss, Mister Guy Valvekens, to get his permission.

As you know we are not a club or anything too formal, but just a group of pilots, friends and mates with a shared enthusiasm for Bölkows. You can arrive by aeroplane, car or cycle and stay for two hours or two days! What do you think of this plan?

Picture 002 (ed: below) shows the dedicated squadron group at Popham Airfield last year. We all enjoyed German Bratwurst and beer and the hospitality of Lindsay and John Webb. Later we were treated to a wonderful evening meal by Jane and Stewart Luck in a local pub. It was also good to be able to welcome special guests Sheila and Jim Evans from New Zealand who own a Junior and a Monsun down there.

Always a turning prop!
Cheers,

Gunther

New members - welcome

Welcome to new members, Girish Patel and Giulio Valdonio.

Girish has recently acquired Bo.208C G-BOKW...

'I am new to Bolkow aircraft and have recently purchased a Bolkow Junior 208C G-BOKW. I would like to make contact with other Bolkow owners for mutual benefit and support (perhaps through "the Squadron"?). I am also interested in keeping in touch with our European friends if possible. If you have a list of names and contact details that you can divulge I shall be very grateful. Any friendly Engineers are always particularly good to know. My aircraft is on an LAA Permit but I understand that under "the Old Orphan aircraft" exemption this is now an EASA permit.'

(photo copyright of Stuart Reid)

Giulio is a new member from Italy and says this about his aeroplane...

'I have owned for 44 years the only Bolkow 207 in Italy and only now I find that there is a Bolkow club.Let me introduce my self: I am an aircraft engineer, and have bought my 207 (c.n. 243, formerly D-EJBO, now I-ARAM) in 1974. It was white and purple, but when I had to overhaul it I decided to paint it in Afrika Korps colours copying the famous Bf 108 KG+FM. I enclose a photo of the plane as it is now, still active.'

Bolkow Newsletter

Our Squadron Editor, Phil Swain has recently put together the December issue of the Bolkow Newsletter. If you're not already on the distribution list, simply drop me an e-mail.

Phil is always looking for contributions for the newsletter, so if you have anything to add, whether it be a trip report, a photo or anything of interest, I'm sure Phil would be keen to hear from you.

Bolkow fly-in, Sandown, 28th & 29th July

John Webb, Nick Smart and Andrew Court are organising a Bolkow Monsun fly-in at Sandown, Isle of Wight this coming weekend (28th & 29th July 2007). The plan is to arrive mid to late morning on Saturday and have a DIY Barbeque.

Details of Sandown can be found by clicking the following link: http://www.isleofwightairport.co.uk/

All Bolkow types are welcome! Hope to see you there.

News and question from Jim...

I am starting to re-install the canopy on N412GS and I need a little help from the Junior Community.

Since the old canopy was - to put it mildly - not properly installed, I'm not sure what a properly installed canopy should look like. What a I need to know is:

1. How far aft of the instument panel should the holes for the forward canopy rail pins be?
2. What is the gap between the canopy rail and the top of the fuselage when the canopy is closed?

I did the final trial fit of the forward canopy and the results were gratifying:

This is what I started with:

Jim.

Question from 'Down Under'...

A quick question for all Bolkow buffs...

I am rebuilding 208A 523 (Australia's only example ) and the horizontal stabilizer is fairly badly stone damaged from a previous life on some rough outback strips. I have used some filler and repainted it however, it will still have to operate from some rough strips. Is there any issues using leading edge tape, in terms of balance? Where is the balance point? Any helpful hints welcome.

Dennis Brown
Oz Bo 523

(Ed: You should be able to reply using the comment function. If you have any problems/issues, feel free to send your reply [as an e-mail] to me and I'll post it on the site. colihamp@gmail.com)

PFA Regional Rally - Sywell May 5th/6th

Attention all Bolkow Flyers!

A number of Bolkow pilots have expressed their intention to attend the first of the PFA's new 'Regional Rallies'. The Rally is to be held at Sywell on the weekend of 5th-6th May 2007. Let's use this fantastic occasion to muster as many examples of type as possible.

Full details of the Rally can be found at: http://www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk/revival.php

Pre-booking of landing slots is required and can be done online. Landing fees are £5 for the entire weekend, and pilots may camp by their aircraft.

Let's help make the PFA's first 'Regional Rally' a success. I look forward to seeing you all there in a few weeks time!

Welcome!

The idea is a simple one; To provide a means for members of the Bolkow Squadron to communicate with one another, share experiences and coordinate gatherings of aeroplanes at fly-ins.

In the past, getting any amount of aeroplanes in the same place at the same time has proved to be difficult even at the best of times. It is hoped that by having a central location of contact details and information about fly-ins, events and meetings, that more Bolkow owners and pilots will be encouraged to attend. The Bolkow community, like any other, relies upon the knowledge, experience and expertise of its members, and so I would invite you all to contribute what you can to this 'forum'. Any articles, trip reports or photos that you would like to contribute would be greatly appreciated.

Please get onboard!

(This is my old aeroplane D-EDNA, now owned by Martin Woodcock. Photo taken at the 2005 International Old Timer Fly-in at Schaffen-Diest, Belgium).

G-AVKR

Clive Morris (G-AVKR)

Hi Bolkow drivers! I have a small problem with G-AVKR . The pitot tube that runs down inside the left hand wing strut has sprung a tiny leak according to my latest Annual CofA check. No problem really as the strut is sealed and acts as a large pipe itself! I have not noticed any lag on the ASI. However it should be fixed sooner or later. Any ideas? If it comes to it , can I get a new left wing strut from anywhere and how much ££s?

A quick intro: I have had GAVKR for 3 years. I am based at Deanland in darkest Sussex, a 490m grass strip. Its in a beautiful position just by the South Downs, and was a D-Day advanced landing ground with long metal runways. It had 3 Spitfire squadrons based there. Only a few minutes from France (by Spitfire!)... My wife and I have flown to Condom in s.france for the last 2 years,to visit friends nearby . Despite its name Condom is a lovely little town! The local grass strip is very friendly and has fuel. We left GAVKR for a week and it was still there when we came back. We flew via Le Touquet and Saumur midweek and hardly saw any traffic, one jodel above us, and one Mirage below us!

My background is RAF , BOAC (BA if you must)! And finished off in Virgin which made an old man very happy. I started in the RAF in 1957. I have been flying continuosly for 50 years and have averaged 500 hours a year,you work it out! I would love to see any Bolkows visit Deanland and by the way if anyone wants a bi-annual flight with an instructor to sign your log book, look no further. I can fly anywhere to meet you and fly in your aircraft or mine. I do not charge, apart from a bacon butty!

My tel: 01323 423380. Look forward to hearing from you, Clive Morris.

German Bolkow Fly-in?

Stewart Buckingham (D-EEAH )

D-EEAH will have its 40th “birthday” on 26 June 07 and I have been considering trying to take it back to Laupheim on 26/6/2007 to celebrate its first flight there. In the course of exploring this prospect I got in touch with Dr Haan on the German Boelkow web site. He has kindly put me in touch with folk at Laupheim – but he also mentioned that there is to be a Bolkow fly-in at Bopfingen (not far from Laupheim, in fact) the following weekend (not quite sure if it is Fri/Sat/Sun or just Sat/Sun or even Sat/Sun – but circa 30 June either way, so now I am looking to combine that with my Laupheim visit. He asked me if there were other UK Bolkows who might be interested – so - hence this message. Bopfingen is at N48:50.9 E010:20.0. I have not looked at routes but my guestimate is ~500nm from Lydd. Can we cajole any other Sqn members to join in, do you think?

(Ed - Perhaps any interested pilots can drop Stewart a quick line: deeah@btinternet.com)

Canopy Progress - Jim Washburn N412GS

Jim Washburn N412GS

Just finished two nerve-wracking days cutting on a very expensive piece of flexiglass. Tomorrow I'm going to do a trial fit on the airplane, but for now a large bourbon - or two!

Cut for the latch on the front bow...

Latch trial fit...


Edges trimmed...

Bolkow Newsletter - December 2006

BOLKOW NEWSLETTER - Phil Swain

Since this is a December newsletter may I wish you all a Happy Christmas! Let’s hope our Christmas stockings will contain something aviation minded such as a Coloured GPS, a glass cockpit kit etc! Anyway, I hope you get what you want.

May your New Year be safe and accident free and as Gunther says “always a turning prop!”

Welcome to Mark Kaye who has joined the group owning Bolkow 208c (No.204) G-ATXZ. If I remember correctly this aircraft is kept at Tatenhill. Tatenhill is well worth a visit – great airfield and extremely pleasant staff. Mark is a professional photographer who has offered his services to the club, free of charge. Thankyou Mark!

Thankyou and welcome to Tim and Nick Ravine, also Elizabeth who e-mailed me. They are now the proud owners of Bolkow 208c G-ATSI.

G-ATSI is on a 2 year EASA certificate and Tim and Nick would appreciate some info on friendly engineers to either work on or sign for work done. Can someone help please? The aircraft is now kept at Sywell after being hangared at Shipdam in Norfolk for over 30 years. Contact can be made on Tel. No: 01604 720023 or 01604 770191. They suggest that Sywell would be a suitable venue for a fly-in. I agree. Lets hope we get some suitable weather.

Colin Hampson, Dereks’s son, is using his talent to produce a web page www.bolkowsquadron.blogspot.com. Here we can post details of meetings, fly-ins, photographs, trip reports, wanted adds, information etc and anything else to do with Bolkows. The site already has some interesting articles and photographs of members aircraft. Contact Colin through colihamp@gmail.com.

Stewart Buckingham now owns Bolkow 208c D-EEAH (lucky man. It’s a very nice aeroplane!) and keeps it at Boscome down. He has certainly put it to good use since he got it having flown it around the Isle of Man and Ireland and then joined two dozen other aircraft and flew it in the “Around Ireland Air Rally”. That was in 2005. This year he teamed up with 13 aircraft and entered the “Around France Air Rally”. Trips to Germany for its annual Cof A and a weekend in Calais demonstrated that he is an intrepid aviator with a very capable aircraft. In 2007 he is joining the “Around Germany Air Rally” and taking D-EEAH back to Laupheim on the 40th anniversary of her first flight in 1967. Phew! I think we should watch this space!

Stewarts friend who accompanied him in the Ireland rally was obviously impressed with the Bolkow’s performance that he is now scanning the adverts in case one comes onto the market.

Nigel Everett sent me the following e-mail regarding Bolkow Junior
G-ATSX.

“I am one of four group owners of G-ATSX. When we bought her about two years ago she had a C of A and was in working order. However, in a regrettable fit of zeal, we decided to strip her down and rebuild her. We disassembled her and stripped the paint, finding the bodywork largely free of corrosion. We were then held up, partly by the need of someone to repair the damaged trim tab and partly by running out of steam. With the superb help of wonderful Gunther I managed to arrange for him to get the trim tab fixed in Germany and we now have it back, complete with paperwork. This winter, either I shall get the chaps to work and finish the project ( might need a large whip Nigel! Ed) or next summer we shall have a complete box of bits for sale (shame! Ed))

There were five of us in the group originally, but one has already died. I did suggest a Tontine arrangement, whereby title to the Bolkow (complete or box of bits? Ed) would pass entirely to whoever outlived the rest, but they did not take to that. I think that we may have to pass a rule that no one else may die until the project is complete.”

As editor of the newsletter I am in the process of compiling a members list which I hope will include telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. This to enable any Bolkow group member to get directly in touch with any other group member. As soon as it is completed I will e-mail you all. If I find I don’t have your details I will contact you. If you don’t want your details put into the list, please let me know. (philipswain@talktalk.net)

A contact list is always useful if you want any hints or advice from other members.

Sad about the PFA Rally. It was a good opportunity to meet up as we have done in previous years. We’ll have to arrange our own BOLKOW RALLY

The Bolkow Club is open to all aviators who own Bolkow aeroplanes i.e. 207’s, 208’s and 209’s etc

Warbird! - N905BB

Don Black (N905BB)

I purchased 208 # 546, ( in very poor condition) in 2006, and re-registered it as N905BB. Following intensive research, for which I now have an excellent library, I am about halfway through an honest re-creation of BB905, one of the lost Biafra Babies.

My work follows the history of these ships that has been published, as well as by one of the pilots of the era. Further, my neighbor was a relief pilot at that time, flying KC96s and DC7s into Biafra with food and flying out with wartime orphan children. Biafran history has been fascinating for me, considering that the country existed only 3 years.

In Florida, we have high ambient temperatures year around between 85 and 105 degrees F. The Junior's airfoil is not exactly ideal for this kind of application. Density Altitudes are always high. My solution was to replace the O-200 with the latest Continental IO-240B powerplant. It can be seen in some of the fotos.

The conversion is not merely a transplant, and has required some engineering solutions. The 125 hp should be ideal. I had studied the 3300 Jabiru, which would have been a better choice actually, but they were not delivering at the time and I had to make my decision.

To really love an aeroplane...

Bernice Hintz (ZK-CJE)

To really love an aeroplane
To understand her - you gotta know her deep inside

I inherited my aeroplane CJE (Emma) in 2000 from my father. In 2005 with more and more niggling problems occurring (age 41 years to be expected) I decided it was time to have a good look under her cowlings. I was in the perfect location. I was surrounded by helpful aircraft engineers. To my horror they handed me a set of overalls and told me I needn’t think I was getting off that easy. Over the course of a year (I had to save for some things and fit it in-between a new full time job) my engineer and I isolated problems and solved them. I was introduced to paperwork things, like Airworthiness directives, engine, propeller and airframe log books. I spent a couple of days with my engineer doing the annual check and compass swing. I got grease under my fingernails and discovered handy tools I’d never dreamed of. I was educated.

Hear every creak - see every crack
N' give her wings when she wants to fly

I have a new respect for engineers. A good engineer, one with years of experience a) knows where to look for problems and b) can see what I can’t. As I said there is no replacing experience. Having been involved in the process, having seen her naked, so to speak, I am much happier flying her. I have a handle on how she is put together and what is important. My pre-flight checks are now not a cursory walk around; I truly pay attention to details. I know what all the bits are for.

Then when you find yourself paying endlessly for her bills
Ya know ya really love an aeroplane

At times my mother despairs at my expenditure and suggests I sell her. Then she sees it’s a hopeless case and buys a temporary share of some part. A fuel line or two, an exhaust manifold, a transistor or two in a VHF radio. I am just wondering if she’d like an ELT antenna for Christmas.

When you love an aeroplane you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love an aeroplane you tell her that she's the one

Earlier this year a friend of mine came down to do some night flying in Christchurch (Kaikoura doesn’t have lights) after spending some time with her I realised how much I missed flying. I starting flying FSL, the Air New Zealand flying club 152 and much as I liked her she just isn’t the same. Emma is like no other. Well similar to 9 others.

Cuz she needs somebody to tell her that she's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved an aeroplane?

The blood sweat and tears, the time, the frustrations, the angst every cent is repayed when I know I am improving her restoring her so she will continue to support me in the air. I am very keen on reliability whilst Crossing the Cook Strait or flying up the Kaikoura coast.

To really love an aeroplane
Let her hold you - til ya know how she needs to be touched

Emma has pushed me further than I would have gone by myself. Because I inherited her I took up learning to fly again. (I had 24 hours in Tomahawks). I needed to earn more money so I had to change my career path to afford her. I wanted to go to fly-aways with her so I had to get brave and extend myself. Now I’ve started to understand the engineering side I am inspired to learn more and so I’ve started studying for my Aircraft Maintenance Engineering exams. I just need to learn how to let her ride the NW and rise above the Kaikoura rollers.

You've gotta breathe her - really taste her
Til you can feel her in your blood

That’s easy with a Bolkow she is so small it’s like strapping on an aeroplane. In a strange way she is like a costume because when I fly her I am a different person. You can’t be half hearted about flying or landing her. She doesn’t forgive a lack of attention.

N' when you can see your future destinations in her eyes
Ya know ya really love an aeroplane

Now that she is back in the air I can’t wait to go visiting. The effort that I’ve put into getting back in the air I am damned if I am going let a chance go by to fly her.

You got to give her some faith - hold her tight
A little tenderness - gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
Ya really gotta love your aeroplane...

(Adapted from Have you really ever loved a woman by Bryan Adams.)

In The Family Way...

Bernice Hintz (ZK-CJE)

In the beginning there is the desire. Some of us desire petite and graceful girls (Europa), some of us desire a good hard working girls (185s) and some of us desire unique and unusual girls with attitude (Murphy rebels). Some people even share their girls (ménages a trois). Budget and genetics are usually what decides the outcome of the hunt. Some people will search the world for what their hearts desire and some people will settle for the girl next hangar/door (DDK). Whatever the chase is always the most exhilarating time and when we will blindly spend money without a care.

Then there comes the conception. Always fun, sometimes a surprise. Happens everywhere but usually in the cover of dark, close to a pub and again with unrealised amounts of money being committed to. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the partner of the reality of the situation. I have heard of a man agonising for three weeks on how to tell his wife about what he has done, only to find she wants a piece of the action.

Gestation is a long period of discovery. The early days can involve a bit of throwing up until the body gets used to the different environment. Partners may argue usually over large cockpit plus sized pieces of coloured paper. There can sometimes be strange cravings that people will travel large distances to satisfied. Karamea for Whitebait, Invercargill for oysters, Dunedin for Emersons. This is a time of discovery, a time of expanding of ones knowledge and diplomatic skills.

The birth a challenging time. The coming into the real world. The passing through very narrow gaps with a lot of screaming and swearing. Some partners choose to close their eyes or faint at this point. Dingle is a classic place of being born. An airstrip that needs a lot of respect and a midwife to glide the way. Dingle is Pristine, stunningly beautiful and not a place you’d go unless you’ve done your time (gestation), not for the inexperienced. There is always the option of having Julius fly you in, straight in by fling wing. (Caesarean). Afterwards you can stay for a bit and relax. ($15 and a sleeping bag).

Now reality hits, the sleepless nights, the worrying if you’re doing it right and just in case you thought you were your mother-in-law/CFI will set you straight. The bringing up years seem to last forever as do the bills. If you’re not very careful you can find yourself repeating the exercise from the start and you will need a bigger hangar. A few of our members must enjoy this first phase because they seem to be very good at it and buying ever bigger aeroplanes.

About this time the socialising happens. Mothers will form support networks and the children all get to go to play group. (fly-ins). At these gatherings there is a lot of chatter, eating and drinking. The girls will play dress up and the boys will go back to there roots and climb trees, though these lines of demarcation are less defined now days. Basically it is about showing off. Sometimes there are accidents, heads need to be bandaged and tears wiped away before bedtime.

As children get older they venture further a field. They play in other peoples sandpits and learn to share their toys. It can be fascinating and a source of intense jealously when children find out what their friends have in their toybox. Tantrums are common when sharing doesn’t occur or the child demands to have the same toys. Kokonga is such a toybox. Peace can be maintained with bribery. Usually lollies are a good distraction and I have to congratulate David for his circumvention of a potential ugly situation with a large bag of the sponsors lollies. I was also pleased to see everybody sharing their toys in the form of sharing rides. I was elated to get to play in DIH again, Thank-you Tom you are a good boy.

When children get into their teenage years they have a very select group of friends usually not of their parents choosing. This is when they have to be watched closely but from a distance. Teenagers know everything so there is no use trying to teach them anything more. You can but sit back and hope you have taught them enough sense not to kill themselves or go down the family way path too soon. Food and drink looms large in their horizon and they can often be influenced in this way. Too much drink can create mischief and modified behaviour. It was observed that a certain 185 toy was transformed. Luckily nobody was hurt in the process.

Eventually they come of age, they mature. Don’t think you are scot-free though. They are still around for dinner or a loan. Loans now of course being huge in relation to their desires. A girlfriend to impress, a car, a career as a commercial pilot or if you’re really unlucky to buy an aeroplane. Hence the next generation of aviators are born, the cycle repeats. You’ll know if you have brought them up properly because they’ll have manners enough to invite you to go flying with them when you get too old (50) and nasty people take your licence off you for knowing too much.

Thanks team I thoroughly enjoyed the play group at Omarama this year. The Saturday fly around as always taught me new ways of doing what I thought I already knew and the way you share your toys does credit to your upbringing. Those of you who are concerned about the theme of this piece needn’t start knitting me booties, one precocious Bolkow is more than enough for me to handle and afford.

PS: Alistair I’d like to remind you of the agreement we made in the bar. I’ll let you come and play with mine if you let me play with yours. Besides it’s in your best interests because I am younger than you and you’re in danger of knowing too much.

'Flying For Fun' 2006

The Popular Flying Association's (PFA) annual 'Rally' (renamed Flying For Fun') has, in recent years, suffered a curse of epic proportions. Any event of this size relies on good weather (or at least, not bad weather), and this is, of course, especially true of a fly-in. Traditionally, the Rally has occupied the first weekend in July, but coupled with very poor weather, this has tended to clash with other events (RIAT and the British Grand Prix to name but two). In recognition of this fact the organisers made the decision to move the event to the third weekend in August.

The first weekend in July arrived, and Mother Nature revealed a rather warped sense of humour. You might remember 1st - 2nd marking the beginning of what turned out to be the hottest July on record. The British Grand Prix had even been moved. I turned to one of the Twenty-First Century's greatest minds to sum it up best...''Doh!''

''Fear not'' the BBC told us. ''If you thought July was hot, just wait until we get to August.'' Well, August arrived, and I was less than impressed. Wet and windy conditions prevailed over the first two weeks, and I began to fear the worst. Fast-forward to the Wednesday before the Rally, and I dispatched a 5 day weather forecast to fellow Bolkow flyers, Gunther Butterweck, Stewart Luck, and my father, Derek. The forecast looked alright, certainly better than I had first thought. Stewart e-mailed back, ''Well, your forecast is better than mine!''

By the time dawn made an appearance on the Saturday morning, I had digested the various weather reports (along with my breakfast), and was confident that it was a 'go'. Hampson Snr called from Rotterdam for an update. The plan for my father to fly across from Rotterdam and pick me up from Goodwood. From there, we would fly direct to Kemble. ''It's o.k here, I'm going to set off in 30 minutes''.

Driving to Goodwood, the weather was bright and breezy. Cloud was building from the south-west, but it was suitably dispersed and the visibility looked good. So, there was nothing for it but to wait for my father to arrive in G-ME. I was expecting him at 10:15hrs (L), which came, and went. Just before the point of getting concerned, the Bolkow appeared overhead at 10:45hrs (L).
''Battery was flat.'' was the response to my mild look of concern (or maybe that was just the wind-swept effect?) as the intrepid aviator, complete with a striking yellow lifejacket, deplaned at the fuel pumps. ''Ah''.

Fuel and landing fees paid, we jumped into the Bolkow for the next sector. Dad kindly relinquished the left-hand seat, and I handed over my PLOG and deputised him in the role of 'Navigator'. We briefed for a 24 departure which involved an early right turn for noise abatement, and also for the anticipated procedure into Kemble. As we started up a pair of French homebuilts were getting airborne, also bound for the Rally. The route would take us north-west to Popham, turning slightly to a more north-north-westerly track towards Swindon. From here we would pick up the mandatory VFR route inbound to Kemble.

Two up, full fuel, a tent, and overnight bags meant that we were at MTOW so the climb-out was 'leisurely'. We skirted the bottom of some broken cloud on departure at around 1200ft, but it cleared quickly once we reached Petersfield. Switching to Solent Radar for the briefest of services (they were busy with an inbound -146), we then called Popham to broadcast our intention to transit the overhead. The weather was lovely, and we started to develop high hopes that we would be just one of many aircraft making the trip that morning.

Passing Swindon, picking up the VRPs that make up the VFR route proved to be straight-forward. One 'gotcha' when flying into the Rally is that there are two water towers, and care must be taken to identify the correct tower (Malmesbury) before turning towards the field. Approaching Malmesbury water tower, we had a Bulldog behind us we began our decent and turn towards Oaksey Park. The Bulldog had seen us and slotted behind in trail. The ATIS had given Runway 26 as active, and on changing to 'Kemble Hard' the frequency was typically busy with finals calls. Flying the specified offset approach (to avoid Kemble village), we rolled wings level on short final, touching down nicely (''taildragger style'', my 'navigator' commented) and vacated at the first exit.

(G-ME arriving at Kemble)

After parking up and booking in, we set off to find our fellow Bolkow Squadron members. We had seen D-EHAC in the aircraft park so knew Gunther had made it. We found Gunther Butterweck and Stewart Luck at the PFA Education tent. Stewart has been responsible for the fantastic 'Build-a-Plane' project and he was kept busy all weekend flying people in 'The Spirit of Brooklands' (G-TSOB). We also met Mark Kaye (G-ATXZ) who drove down from Tatenhill with his girlfriend (I'm terrible with names), and enjoyed a few beers in the Education Strut's motor home. Clive Morris managed to fly G-AVKR in from Deanland. Clive was the only other Bolkow I saw (any others?) in the aircraft park.

(Stewart Luck bringing 'The Spirit of Brooklands' back down to Earth)

That night, we stood outside the 'Beer Tent' in the drizzle and the dark, and joked about why we go to great lengths, year after year, to get to Kemble, to stand on a wet, cold airfield, drinking warm beer. ''Same again next year'' was the unanimous response.

(Derek Hampson, Colin Hampson, Gunther Butterweck, Stewart Luck)

With G-ME having to get back to Rotterdam, and D-AC to Bonn Hangelar, we left at lunchtime on the Sunday. There was enough moisture in the air to neccesitate 'weather avoidance' on the return home, but in general the conditions were o.k. A brisk westerly wind gave reports of 126kts groundspeed for G-ME as it skirted up the Belgian coast. Gunther later told us that he saw 133kts on the GPS whilst over France. This must be a record, Gunther?

(D-AC and G-ME depart Kemble. Same again next year?)

So, another year of 'less than ideal' weather meant that the PFA, despite their best efforts, have almost certainly made a significant loss (again). The actual weather conditions at Kemble were, in general, quite reasonable. However, many people will have been put off by the forecast, and physically getting to Kemble from certain places was likely more trouble than it was worth. Those of us who did make it certainly enjoyed meeting up, walking around the aircraft park and watching the aeroplanes arrive and depart. Some 600 aeroplanes made it to Kemble this year, if there is another Rally, we will be back in 2007.