In this month’s edition:

Down on the farm 91 last month 6/26

Klemm L25C G-ACXE

We had problems with Cylinder oiling up, removed it and made a new inlet valve guide which did not run true with the seat and therefore had no compression. We have taken the easy route and have dug out a spare cylinder which we are prepping to go on. Unfortunately Jim my partner in this project has had a large growth cut from his hand and has been absent from the workshop for a while, so all work has stopped on the Klemm.

Tiger Moth DH82C 5084

I sold my Tiger last Summer to a guy who was starting up a company taking people for rides in Tiger Moths out of Dunkerswell. Hr also purchased an older silver DH82A for the task and made a great advertising video.

Unfortunately on the 2^nd of June he was returning from taking a customer for a flight when he had a bad landing. The plane was flipped over on its back and impaled the top wing on to a fence post; both occupants had minor injuries but released themselves and walked away. The accident is being investigated by the AAIB so no comments until the results are made available to the public. No doubt it will be written off and someone will buy the plane and rebuild it, but it won’t be me!! I have enough to see me through a few years. P.S. the customer got his money fully refunded. Photo from the Plymouth Herald of 5084 looking sad.

Prentice G-APPL VR189

No movement on the Prentice except I have repurposed some of the wiring that we stripped out for the avionics fit for TW-641. One of the plugs fits the radio and believe me there is many feet of wire in a Prentice.

Beagle Terrier G-ATDN TW- 641

The Terrier is coming on well; the wings are bolted on with all new bolts. The struts were stripped to the metal and repainted. The Pitot had to be rebuilt as it suffered in the move. The tail feathers are all back on and I am setting up the elevator trim. The right side is automatically set when you operate the flaps, so no re-trimming necessary when setting the flaps and of course not messing about when getting rid of the flap.

I cut one of the aileron cables both sides when removing the wing, I had considered joining the cable with a turnbuckle but managed sourcing a pair of new cables. (Tim had supplied me with a set of old cables to try but they were a bit rusty in places but new is obviously better) I am also replacing the pulleys that they go over at the sides of the windscreen as they have suffered with no use and age they are semi seized.

I am now on the wiring, the radio and transponder were ancient ie non 8.33. I picked up a pair of Funke units ie 8.33 radio and a mode-S transponder. The VOR unit and antenna are coming out. The Nav lights have gone LED and there will be LED’s illuminating the fuel tank gauges.

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

Next club night 1^st July 2026 at the Longshore by the airport roundabout

Talk by Paul Smiddy who wrote MOONLIGHT CRUSADERS, Tangmere was the base for many of these flights.

This engrossing history explores the creation, development and actions of the Special Duties squadrons, which carried spies, political figures and much more.

Get there for 7.30 for an 8.00 start.

Tony Palmer

American Private Equity Buying Continental

The American private equity investment company Arcline Investment Management is buying Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. from its current Chinese owners for $535 million. Details here: arcline.com/arcline-investment-management-to-acquire-continental-aerospace-technologies/

Chilsfold Farm Fly-in 20th June 2026

After the nun of excellent flying weather, we were let down by very low cloud and fog along the coast. That prevented many (me included) from flying in. So Dave Grint making it there from Deanland in his trusty Streak Shadow deserves special recognition.

A reasonable number of aircraft made it in from the north and west. Click on a photo below to see a bigger version:

There were lots of Bristells, with an over-representation of Bristell taildraggers.

The catering by Farry’s family and friends was magnificent. A nice opportunity to catch up and chat. Then when it was time to go, the sky cleared and the sun shone – British weather!

Richard Griffiths

CAA Medical Changes

The CAA have announced changes to the criteria determining cardiovascular fitness to fly. Full details are here: caa.co.uk/aeromedical-examiners/medical-standards/pilots/medical-conditions/cardiology/cardiovascular-system-general/#

What follows is my take on the issues raised: Caution! I have no medical qualifications and may have misunderstood detail.

The most significant bit for many is the Cardiovascular Rsk Assessment flowchart (downloads as a pdf). It all depends on the score you get from the QRISK cardiovascular risk calculator that estimates your risk of a cardiovascular incident in the next ten years, expressed as a percentage. Depending on your licence these are the limits; greater than or equal to that percentage and further investigation is required:

• Class 1: ≥10%
• Class 2: ≥15%
• Class 3: ≥15%
• LAPL: ≥25%

The raised limit for Class 2 is new. However there is a gotcha in the small print:

This calculator is only valid if you do not already have a diagnosis of coronary heart disease (including angina or heart attack) or stroke/transient ischaemic attack, and not on statins.

So if you are on statins, and an increasing number of people are, it shouldn’t be used. How is that going play out?

There is some controversy over this approach. For background see this statement by AOPA UK: aopa.co.uk…aopa-medicals-aims-and-objectives. Essentially it is setting an age limit on medical classes, if not de jure at least de facto. Even if your flying can be continued on a PMD, an issue that may affect you is what it will do for the number of instructors/examiners in the UK.

The chart below shows the risk score produced by QRISK when the only data entered is sex, age, non-smoker and no diabetes. It presumably shows the population prior probability that QRISK uses before other factors (mostly negative) are loaded.

So for men, if no other factors are involved your class 2 is at risk after 67 and for women after 73. Any medical history and it could be considerably lower. Pick your postcode carefully as your score can go up or down by a few decimals and could tip the balance. To improve your chances, don’t ever smoke, get a good Cholesterol/HDL ratio, low blood pressure and good body mass index; perhaps no surprises there. However around and after the critical age, you’ll be in a loosing battle.

Of course the QRISK score is only to determine if you need further investigation. Surprisingly the options then do not include the familiar and comparatively cheap resting ECG, but an exercise ECG, stress echocardiogram, perfusion scan or coronary angiogram. How that goes may depend on the depth of your pockets.

Richard Griffiths

CAA Report: Airspace Infringements: Causal Factors 2025

Sets out the causes and contributing factors of airspace infringements. Very much worth a read, particularly on problems caused by airspace depicted on GPS moving maps and altimetry issues. Read it here: Airspace Infringements: Causal Factors 2025

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

Events

Put these in your diary:

• Palmersfarm fly-in 1^st August

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

Next Strut ‘Club Night’: Wednesday 1st July 2026, 7:30 pm at The Longshore, Shoreham for a talk by Paul Smiddy, author of ‘Moonlight Crusaders’, about Special Forces operation during the second World War.