ANDREWSFIELD CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2019

 ANDREWSFIELD WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY 2020
 

Dear Member
 
Another year has gone by, where did this one go? For Andrewsfield it all started with the usual wet weather which once again we are doing battle with now. 
February we had a talk from Pilot Aware, who are making a product to help pilots of light aircraft with electronic conspicuity. Andrewsfield has been very keen to do anything to help with safety, and on the back of that talk the school bought three units and member Susie Henderson contributed to purchase another one, making 4. We also have a base station which is part of the national coverage. Many of you might have noticed the screen in the clubhouse so now we can see where some of you go! Big brother (Mike) is watching!
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March .There was no ski holiday this year because we were too late to book rooms, but 2020 is on, and rooms are booked please let us know if you are interested.

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May we had a very enjoyable talk by Sean Reynolds CB, CBE, DFC, who gave us an insight into his career in the Royal Air Force and his experiences in active war zones, this gave everyone present  a first hand view of what goes on behind the scenes. Thank you Sean.

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May, Sadly Des Delaney passed away aged 95. Many of you will remember Des, or were taught by Des. Although desperately sad to lose him, he had a wonderful life, he flew over 30,000 hours including all the V bombers, and was the CFI at Andrewsfield for many years. Skiing until the age of 92, he lived life to the full.  It is such a shame he never wrote a book!

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June FLYOUT to Compton Abbas which sadly Mike and I didn’t make, but everyone who went had a fantastic day. Thank you to Steve DH for all his efforts organising it.
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June The formation flying day proved to be another great day. Pete Brand and Nigel Willson making sure we didn’t bump into each other, All who took part, learnt about a new skill, and if you have not tried it you must  ..Both Mike and I took part, found it a positive adrenalin boost....We will ask them both very nicely for another date in 2020 so watch the website for more info.
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July Mike Naylor gave us a talk on Sky Demon and some of the pit falls that you can fall into whilst using it. The slides from this talk can be found on the website. Thanks to Mike for this interesting evening and I am sure I speak for everyone wishing Mike a speedy recovery form his recent surgery.
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August it was the annual Bike ride, thanks again to Gerard for doing the route with the stipulation of no hills. We even missed a pub to get back for the eagerly awaited BBQ that Peter and the girls prepared. Great way to keep fit!
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September and the flyout to Sturgate. Once again brilliantly organised by Steve DH. even organising perfect weather. but Sturgate were not ready for the Andrewsfield team, because even the early birds didn’t get a bacon sandwich, they claimed to have run out. We dont believe they ever had any. Peter W caused a furore in the second kitchen by asking for cheesecake, which we believed Sturgate are renowned for. On this occasion it was all too much for the chef, who chucked all the plates on the floor and walked out. Cheesecake was definitely Off.
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September was the annual bowling, thanks to Angie Gardner  for organing this evening. Once again the prestigious award of Best Bowler went to Martin Payne (second year running). Great turn out for the Bowling.. This years Champion and Trophy winner was Martin Payne, 2nd was Mark Hadley, 3rd Steve Rolph (not a coffee in sight) Team winners Carol, Julia, Tim, Tracey, Steve and Debs .Thanks to all 23 players 
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December, Thank you to all who supported this years Dinner and Dance, Once again the food was great, and Coast, the band were excellent.  It was announced that the Jim Heelan Memorial Trophy this year is awarded to Jane Giffould, although Jane was not present, this was received with much applause, and also to add to that, she has  been awarded the BWPA Essex Group Trophy. Many congratulations to Jane. We are honoured to have both past and present heads of the BWPA, Julie Westhorp, now having passed the baton to Sharon Nicholson. To all female members of Andrewsfield please have a look at membership, as they welcome support.

December We had a full house, and were honoured to have 3 times Red Bull Air Race World Champion Paul Bonhomme present a talk. Paul kindly put together the talk just for us at Andrewsfield. it was hugely enjoyed by all present. Paul gave us all, a behind the scenes view of the Air racing world. We had Steve Parrish n.l.a.m.n and his wife Michelle attend, It was a birthday and wedding aniversary treat, from Steve to Michelle. He know how to treat her! we also collected £225 for charity. Thanks to Paul and all who attended.
Please could all Pilots take a moment to check licences and medicals to check for revalidation dates. All leading such busy lives it is easy to miss a date. For all of you who have qualified, or added ratings to your licence this year, many congratulations, and fly safely in 2020.

Carol
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I would like to thank all of you for your continued support, and to update you on the airfields future, and the housing development plans. Special thanks must go to members Mike Frost, Mike Derrett and John Gilder for their efforts. There are numerous development plans from different sectors, however as the plans have been investigated, the airfield is becoming more and more popular to the surrounding residents, and it would seem that many of the plans have the airfield protected. We must never be complacent in these matters however both Carol and I are not unduly worried for the foreseeable future. With this in mind we are working on a new exciting project that we hope may be in place by May 2020. I will keep you all updated as progress is made.

If you were wondering what the trench work was taking place  in November, we have had fibre optic broadband cables laid in the hope we can get faster internet once all connected.

If any of you pilots are wondering where G-BFMG has gone, she is away on annual and will then be taken to Turweston for a complete respray and new interior.

We have had 2 CAA inspections and we have passed both with flying colours, our pass rates for tests and exams is exemplary, which is down to the professionalism and attitudes of our wonderful staff and instructing team led by Carol our CFI/HoT.
My thanks go to them all.
On this note I would like to congratulate Pete Brand for his Royal Aero Club award for flight safety (below left) and
Carol Cooper for her Honourable Company of Air Pilots "Pike Trophy" Award for contribution to GA Flight Training (below right)
            

I would also like to say a big thank you to Peter Watkinson and all the girls from the kitchen, who never cease to amaze me - what they can provide from  limited facilities. Peter also supports me in so many ways and I cannot thank him enough.

To Steve Rolph and John Muldowney, thank you for keeping the airfield looking good, it is our shop front and means a lot to us all. I know it looks sad in these winter months but all summer we have been complimented on how good the airfield looks.

Last but not least to a big thank you to all the office staff led by Sue, and all the hangar rats. Thank you for all you do and your continued enthusiasm to your tasks, you really are the " A Team".

During the winter, flying is reduced, so the club relies on the membership and landing card renewals to see us through the quiet months, so could I please ask you to pay your subscription which are due 1^st January 2020.
These can be paid on line via the website
https://andrewsfield.com/product-category/membership-airfield-services/

Thank you and A Merry Christmas to all of you and your family.

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