Many congratulations to Alasdair who became the first ever student pilot from Kemble Flying Club to do the 'big flight' for his qualifying cross country. He routed to Shobdon, landed, then to Wellesbourne to land and return to Kemble to conclude the qualifying requirement in the one big hit!
Alasdair was also the hero at the Pizza night on the Friday after his flight too - knocking out hand made pizza for all attendees - a big thank you from everyone.
World First! Kemble Flying Club’s Ikarus C42 G-KFCA has flown into the history books with a Guinness Book of Records confirmed World First ever flight using 100% synthetic fuel.
Zero Petroleum’s synthetic UL91 fuel is manufactured by extracting hydrogen from water and carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide. Using energy generated from renewable sources like wind or solar, these are combined to create the synthetic aviation fuel (SAF).
This innovation is part of the RAF’s Project MARTIN and has the potential to save 80-90% of carbon per flight, supporting the RAF’s vision that synthetic fuels will have a major role in powering the fast jets of the future.
While the RAF goal is to reduce their Carbon footprint the wider implication is this fuel could eventually power all aircraft types and irradicate aviation’s negative contribution to pollution and global warming - at the same time saving hundreds of thousands of jobs in the engine manufacture industry and associated supply chain.
KFC boss David Young said: “what a privilege this has been to be a part of the RAF project and a team that have created a special moment in aviation history. This is a marker forever, the amazing moment our aircraft proved to the World that a truly synthetic fuel can save the aviation sector!”
“And the fuel can be manufactured where it is needed completely removing the energy cost of distribution of fuel in massive oil tankers and the risk of oil spills.”
For more information on Zero Petroleum see www.zeropetroleum.com
YOU CAN FLY THIS NOW TRULY FAMOUS AIRCRAFT AT KEMBLE FLYING CLUB! BUY A VOUCHER NOW AND ASK TO FLY IN KFCA WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR FLIGHT.
How did the RAF do it?
They chose our aircraft because RAF Test Pilot, Group Captain Willy Hackett, was converted to microlights by dy last year and he has been experiencing flying KFCA on other projects.
He understands the performance and economy of these aircraft and realised this was the best platform - especially with a limited supply of the SAF - to test the fuel.
Next in step CFS the Rotax engine distributor with all their technical expertise. CFS bench ran a new 80hp Rotax 912 engine with SAF and scrutinised its performance.
The bench tested engine was brought to Kemble Flying Club and fitted to G-KFCA and ground run. The British Microlight Aircraft Association Technical Office had stepped up to arrange approval of the engine change and flight with the novel fuel.
Willy Hackett pressed the start button at 11:30 on 2nd November and the engine fired up into beautifully smooth normal life! The aircraft flew around the airfield formating for a while with G-MEGZ flown by Instructor Mark Hayter who was with a photographer.
After landing and taxing back to the small group of VIP’s at the KFC hangar Group Captain Hackett proclaimed the aircraft engine performed perfectly normally with no detectable difference to flying with normal petrol.
The test engine has been removed and quarantined for inspection and further tests.
For a detailed video follow the URL below:
First time flyer Tatiana Fernandes was truly speechless as we punched through a few little wispy bits of very low cloud yesterday to burst into the sun soaked scene above. Tatiana soon recovered her composure and quickly got to grips with manoeuvring the aircraft and flying straight, and level, and allowing for drift. Below the cloud again Tatiana flew around Westonbirt, Malmesbury, The Cotswold Water Park and Cirencester before I took control for a little engine off gliding to finish. An amazing first ever flight for sure and well flown! Many thanks to Dad, Anthony, who bought a Kemble Flying Club gift voucher for Tatiana’s 18th birthday. Dy
Paramotor pilot Geoff Bates made his first solo flight in the QuikR before Christmas at Kemble - and yes it was nearly dark as can bee seen from the lights in the photograph below! Very many congratulations to Geoff who travels from near Hereford to fly here at Kemble Flying Club.
Geoff said he loves flying his paramotor but wanted to broaden his horizons and aviation knowledge and skills by taking on the challenge of flying a flexwing. Geoff flew three circuits after dy jumped out of the aircraft. David said: “I thought he did really well especially as there was a fair bit of other traffic about. Its really great we have all the lights on the QuikR so when it is a bit gloomy the aircraft is really visible. Given Geoff’s travel distance and a few weather let downs he has done really brilliantly to get solo in 16 hours. Well done!”
Gary Anderson from Malmesbury clearly enjoying his trial flight in the Eurostar.
David Knight, another Club Member who has always wanted to fly since he was boy, achieved that amazing milestone, his first solo flight, on Wednesday 10th October in the Eurostar - and in the same week completed his first ever marathon run! Two big ‘firsts’ in a week and flying involved in both activities as David flew (airline flight) to Palma for the Zafiro Palma Marathon on Mallorca on 14th October. An obviously delighted David is pictured just ater his first solo flight with flying instructor Mark Hayter and holding the ‘First Solo’ strip completed in the Control Tower.
The first solo ever in G-GRLS was achieved on Tuesday by William Cave after just 12 hours flying instruction! Very well done Will! He has dabbled with gliding since he was 16 so that helped him make this solo date. Our rather well known aircraft, build by girls at Benadean School in Kent, has been at Kemble for nearly three months now and covered over 100 hours instructional flying already. Will, 30, of Wotton-Under-Edge is quite at home with aircraft as for the MOD he looks after engineering and certification of our fast jet aircraft fleet!
Mary-Jean Foxwell, 14, guides TeamEurostar FZ through a lovely turn at 3000ft today. Her flight was thanks to dad, Jim, who outbid all at a charity auction for people in poverty. Jim has already raised over £4k for the charity and departs shortly to Romania to assist with a build barn project. With him will be Kemble flying club member, David Hutchinson who sponsored the flight today. Many thanks David!
It’s amazing what you see when out and about for a flight! Bill Brooks, P & M Aviation Chief Designer and Test pilot spotted at Clench common about to fly home on his bicycle!!!
