July 2021

In this edition:

  • Down on the Farm – Tony Palmer
  • Video Link: Flying Reporter’ visits Sandown for Spamfield
  • Chilsfold Farm Fly-in 19th June 2021

Down on the Farm 34 this month 6/21

Due to the change in the date of the lifting of Covid regs our first evening meeting at the Swiss Cottage will be on the 4th of August. Another date for your diary is Saturday the 7th of August which is the fly-in here at Palmers Farm.

Klemm L25C G-ACXE

When we ran the engine for the first time we did not have any oil pressure displayed on the gauge and kept our first 2 engine runs to about 10 seconds apiece. We thought it was probably air in the line, so we bled the line and also pumped oil up to the rockers. We also removed the oil line from the scavenge side of the engine and cranked the engine around until oil came out and then reconnected it. We then ran it again a few days later with Phil Trangmar (our inspector) and Tony Berryman (test pilot to be) present and ran it for 10 minutes and had oil pressure after a while. We looked up the book and found it could take up to 1 minute before we see oil pressure. We need to increase oil pressure slightly, reduce the tick over speed and put some gasket gunge on the rocker boxes as we have a slight oil leak from them.

We have brought the wings into the main hanger and have fitted the registration letters, ailerons and the ‘blocks of cheese’ (the inner wing sections that fold up to allow the wings to fold) see pic. We are now preparing all the bits and pieces so that we can fit the wings next week.

Registration letters on top wing one side. The letters are almost a 1 metre high!

They are also on top and the bottom and go across both wings

The British Klemm badge that I had to copy from what was left of an original and produce the art work
Painting the wing folding mechanism.

Bristell NG5 G-NGBB

I have wired the wings and completed it with a connector and the feeds on the fuselage are also complete and ready to plug in once the wing is in place. The headset wiring is now complete. All the internal trim panels have now been riveted in place and the seat belts installed.

have produce the art work for all of the decals on the instrument panel and other places and have also done the same for the registration letters.

Bristell NG5 G-NGBB cabin almost complete
Wing root wiring and pitot lines (pitot and AOA)

Tony Palmer

The ‘Flying Reporter’ visits Sandown for Spamfield

Caution: includes swearing, eccentricity and fun.

Jon Hunt, who posts videos on YouTube as ‘The Flying Reporter’ gives an interesting insight into the phenomenon that is Dan Subhani, the Airfield Manager at Sandown.

 

Chilsfold Farm Fly-in 19th June 2021

The weather on Saturday 19th June was not the best for a fly-in; low cloud and threatening rain. However a small number of intrepid aviators did arrive by air and quite a few more by car. As you will see from the photos below, there were plenty of animated conversations as members caught up with each other after such a long break. Farry flew his amazing Merlin SSDR and a few flips in the Bristell, so there was something going on.

Many thanks to Ian and Ann Charlton and Farry Sayah for organising it.

The next Strut fly-in is on Saturday 7th August at Palmers Farm. Put it in your diary now!

[If you would like a full resolution version of any of the photographs, email me. RG]

Events

  • Club nights will restart 4th of August!
  • Fly-in at Palmers Farm on Saturday 7th August

For the latest list of events, go to the Events page on the Strut website.  I’m including exhibitions and displays later in the year as they are announced; it’s nice to have something to look forward to – let’s hope they happen.