In this month’s edition:

• Down on the farm 92 last month 7/26 – Tony Palmer
• Bomber Command Centre visit – Chris Foss
• Last Month’s Talk: Paul Smiddy, Moonlight Crusaders – Richard Griffiths
• Mike Whittaker’s Plank: Get the plans
• Jetson ONE has ultralight privileged in Europe
• Small Ads

Down on the farm 92 last month 7/26

Not a good month! I have had 3 good friends die this month

Rod Palmer, see Obituary below, Ex Strut member, cremated IOW 23.7.26

Ian Charlton, see next month’s newsletter for Obituary, Ex Strut member, there will be a memorial fly-in/party at Chilsfold to celebrate his life on Sunday 23rd August 2026.

Tuomo Salovaara, a Finnish friend who I was proud to know for 48 years

Rod Palmer 5.9.1944 to 28.6.2026

Rod was a member of the Southern Strut and attended meeting for many years until he moved to the I.O.W in 2006 but still came to the fly-ins when possible.

Rod was born on the 5^th September 1944 in Guildford, Surrey to Joyce and Basil Palmer. An only child, he grew up in Hersham.

Rod loved music throughout his life, and during his younger years he was a regular face at the Wimbledon Palace and Kingston Jazz Cellar.

When he completed his schooling, he undertook an apprenticeship in aircraft engineering with Vickers Aircraft at the Brooklands site in Weybridge.

During this time, Rod’s love of music led him to playing rhythm guitar in the band, The Echolettes. Perhaps their biggest brush with fame was winning the first round of Ready Steady Go with their song, ‘Our Love Feels New,’ which Rod co-wrote with fellow band member, Nick Horgan.

When Rod finished his apprenticeship in 1966, his colleagues had a whip round, raising £6 as a leaving gift to put towards his travel fund. He and three of his friends travelled the world in a Land Rover ending up in Australia, where they stayed for a while, working in a gold mine.

Back in Surrey, after a short spell as a removal delivery driver for Bentall’s, Rod returned to the aerospace industry, working for BOAC.

In 1970, he met Gill in Jersey, when they were both on holiday. There was an instant connection between them and when Gill returned to England, Rod was at the airport to meet her.

At this time, Rod took a job with British Air Tours, based at Gatwick and the family moved to Plumpton Green, where Leanne was born in September 1979. When he returned from his travels, Rod spent time restoring two Daimlers and since then had a passion for classic cars. In 1984, the opportunity arose to buy Plumpton Green Garage, which allowed him to work on the classic cars he loved so much, along with the regular MOTs and services he undertook for customers.

In 2006 they retired and moved to the Isle of Wight. Rod finally had time to dedicate to projects he had always wanted to do. Back in 1970 he had got his pilot’s licence but life was busy and he never really had the opportunity to fly. In the early 1990s he re-validated it and was able to realise his passion for flying. He had a Piper Cub at Slinfold; and a Fairtravel Linnet at Swanborough and later a share in a Jodel. After moving to the island he bought a Jodel of his own. Rod wanted more than to fly a plane – he wanted to build one of his own. And that’s exactly what he did – he built a tri-gear Europa in his garage at home. It took six years to build and was completed in 2016. He loved the process – it was pure escapism for him and he registered the plane G-ILLZ, in honour of Gill.

Rod brought the plane home every winter, back into his garage so he could tinker with it, getting it ready for the following year. He also continued to work on car restorations and over the years had a Mark 5 Jag, a Capri and a Rover V8, amongst others.

Rod’s passing on the 28^th June came so unexpectedly for all who knew and loved him. He died at the Mountbatten Hospice with his family by his side. He lived a rich and full life, filled with the things that mattered most: Gill, his children, good friends, cars, aeroplanes, adventures abroad – all simple pleasures. He will be remembered as a man who liked a laugh, enjoyed banter and was always happy, always had a smile on his face. To Gill his wife Rod was the love of her life, her soul mate and best friend. Theirs was a partnership built on love, loyalty and countless adventures together.

Whether they were at home, seeing friends and family, travelling the world on cruises, or working underneath a car in the garage, they were happiest together.

To his children Luke, Nicole and Leanne, he was an amazing Dad.

Klemm L25C G-ACXE

Nothing to report as Jim had time off because of an operation on his hand and I went to Finland for a week with my wife Lesley to drive a friends Ford model A cabriolet in classic car rally, while my friend drove his Model A Sportster. I had been back less than 2 weeks when I got the news that he had passed away in his sleep at 63, I knew him as a 15 year old language student.

Prentice G-APPL VR189

No movement

Beagle Terrier G-ATDN TW- 641

Taxi trials soon with a view to it flying this Summer.

Flyin at Palmersfarm

On the 1^st of August, all welcome. See below:

Tony Palmer

Bomber Command Centre visit

Photos from my recent Lincolnshire trip. Stayed at the Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa, which accommodated the Dambusters Squadron during part of the war.
Visited the Bomber Command Centre just outside Lincoln. Photos below:

I also found the Lancaster sculpture, nearly full size I believe, beside the A46 on the Newark to Lincoln road.

Access to this was closed so that was as close as I could get!
Hope you might find these of interest.

Chris Foss

Last Month’s Talk: Paul Smiddy – Moonlight Crusaders

After a last minute panic precipitated by The Longshore being unable to accommodate us for the talk, the relocation to The Shoreham Centre proved to be an excellent alternative; much better for giving a formal presentation (even if we had to pay).

Paul Smiddy’s presentation deserved the qualities of the venue. He is a serious historian who has thoroughly researched his subject: the Special Duties squadrons during the Second World War. This is a topic that has been covered before, notably by Group Captain Hugh Verity DSO DFC, who actually flew operations in to occupied France, in his 1978 book “We landed By Moonlight: The Secret RAF Landings in France 1940-1944”. Since that publication, more official information has become available, so Paul’s research sets the enormous bravery of the SOE in its institutional and political context, some of it surprisingly murky.

Starting with the development of the iconic Lysander. Considering its eventual success in such a demanding role, it’s gestation was not immaculate.

“Harald Penrose [Westland’s chief test pilot] fell into his job; Teddy Petter [Westland’s Technical Director and son of the Chairman] was parachuted into his. Together, they made the Lysander. Teddy put in the flaws, and Harald did his best to eradicate them.” [Smiddy p.15]

On the prototype Lysander’s second test flight, Penrose confirmed a major flaw; in landing configuration, elevator control became ineffective. His skill allowed him to use throttle to soften the landing. Petter was very resistant to making changes. Those that were eventually made left a very nasty performance characteristic. Opening the throttle in an abandoned landing caused the nose to rear up and was difficult to correct with forward stick. If you took off with the landing configuration set, you had a big problem!Considering the challenging landings that it would be destined to make, it is remarkable so few were lost. I imagine the pilots learned quickly. You would think that Westland would have made great efforts to eradicate this flaw; you would be wrong. The personal interactions between ‘nepo baby’ Teddy Petter and others in the company were awful.

I’ve described this element of Paul’s talk in detail as I though it would be of immediate interest to members. There was much of surprise in the rest of Paul’s talk. There was rivalry between elements of the military, with the Special Duties Squadron initially being allocated a very inferior airfield. There was also treachery, and rivalry between sections of the French Resistance. If you didn’t attend, and this has whetted your interest, this is all presented in exquisite detail in Paul’s book. You can get it here, direct from the publisher: ospreypublishing.com/uk/moonlight-crusaders

Richard Griffiths

Mike Whittaker’s Plank: Get the plans

You might have seen Mike Whittaker’s SSDR ‘Plank’ at the LAA Rally in 2018. It seems that it flies well, so Mike has made the plans available. Without the engine, Mike claims it cost about £1,000 to make. Download the plans here: nestofdragons.net/weird-airplanes/special-mw9-plank/construction-plans/

Jetson ONE has ultralight privileged in Europe

The personal eVTOL company Jetson has obtained the first official ultralight identification number for a personal eVTOL in Italy (and by implication all of Europe!) from the Aero Club d’Italia. It now holds the same operational privileges as a conventional ultralight helicopter. The announcement (in Italian – use your browser to translate) is here.

It is advertised as very easy to fly:

Our unique flight computer makes flying extremely easy. With full control over altitude and direction in one hand. An intuitive system that makes everyone a pilot in less than five minutes.

It is also advertised as ‘affordable’ but at $148,000 a pop that’s questionable. However, that production is sold out until 2028 indicates that it’s ‘affordable’ for some people.

How long before it is regularised in the UK? One use case for it, together with mountain rescue, is commuting to work. Currently flight time is 20 minutes, with top speed software limited to 63 mph, so if you live within 30 miles of the office, it’s doable on a good day. Will the LAA, or the BMAA be permitting it soon?

Small Ads

Events

• Palmersfarm fly-in Saturday 1^st August 2026
• Ian Charlton memorial fly-in/party at Chilsfold to celebrate his life, Sunday 23rd August 2026.

Fly in to Truleigh FarmFest ’26

Looking for something to do after visiting Palmersfarm on 1st August? Then come along to FarmFest ’26 at Truleigh Manor Farm (just north of Shoreham). Fly in, park up and camp overnight. The event is in aid of the mental health charity Mind. Full details here: truleighfarmfest.co.uk

For a full list of events go to the website Events page.

Next Strut ‘Club Night’: Wednesday 5th August 2026, 7:30 pm at The Longshore.