Tiger Moth Day, MONDAY 3rd October

[Julie Hall - WSCC AO Representative]

Yes, you read that correctly, this is an event on a Monday, so get your sickie voice on and get ringing the boss. Except for our newly retired, proper pensioner Alan that is, congratulations Alan on your retirement.

 

Meet at 10 am Darley Moor Airfield, Ashbourne, DE6 2ET where we will sit out on the viewing platform with Sue and a coffee to watch Martyn take a flight in a Tiger Moth at 10.30 am.

 

This event is totally weather dependent, which is why I am so late posting it, but the current forecast is good, so I am going for it.

 

Afterwards we will have a wiggle round somewhere pretty and go get some lunch,

 

So, who is going to have a mystery, short term illness on Sunday night?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Cough, cough, gurgle, cough.

Sniff.

I'm sure I can feel a really infectious bad cold coming on...

[Julie Hall - WSCC AO Representative]

Martyn, or is it Flight Lieutenant Martyn now, with the colour co-ordinated aircraft, it had to be red to match the Westfield.

 

 

Now he thinks he is Biggles

 

 

It was not long before Julie came along with a daft, cheesy smile on her face asking the nice man if we could possibly bring the cars round for a photograph.

 

 

Back to the car park

 

 

The Tiger Moth that Martyn flew was made in 1941, so I guess it might be made by women? if all the men were at war and the women were in the factories? Watching him getting in was a bit like getting in a Westfield, left foot here and right hand there. The flight went over Alton Towers, the JCB factory, Dove Dale and finally skirted round Ashbourne. It was deemed a good birthday present. This flight was around £100 or you could go for the Dambusters flight up to Ladybower, which takes around 1 hour and costs £450. Just thinking with Christmas coming up soon.

Afterwards we all popped into the Peak District and the Swiss style village of Ilam for lunch, where, funnily enough all these bi-planes were flying overhead.

Not a bad first day of retirement then Alan?

 

[Julie Hall - WSCC AO Representative]

Taxi down the runway

 

https://youtu.be/aFikg4T9DYI

 

Taking off

 

https://youtu.be/YIp9jkUjG0M

 

Landing

 

https://youtu.be/2t01CDfvrdY

[Paddy1951]

I really enjoyed the first day of retirement and by the look on squadron leader Vans face I know he enjoyed his birthday present

[Martyn Vann - Warwickshire AO]

The flight was a great experience. As Julie has already said it was very much like climbing into a Westfield and strapping in with harness. When the engine started a lot of draught was apparent from the footwell area much like a Westfield when driving. The engine popped and stuttered as it warmed up in a very similar way to my pinto on carbs and a similar amount of vibration etc. The acceleration was definitely not as good as the Westfield and the top speed was only approximately 60 knots (about 70 mph) but on the plus side the view was spectacularly better than when in the Westfield! I was surprised how sensitive the controls were, only very minimal movements on the controls were enough to make turns etc. and of course delicate minor adjustments continually applied to maintain level flight. I could liken it to driving a Westfield, that feeling the imperfections in the road and making small movements to correct whilst taking corners is a matter of a twitch of the wrist……..stunning!

 

Overall a fantastic flight followed by a fantastic Westfield run in the Peak District and a great lunch with excellent company……bliss

 

Anyway, here are some videos of the flight, enjoy!

 

https://youtu.be/M4VHdM5rVxw

 

https://youtu.be/jA3p4Do1nJM