Our new Nynja (in build August) will have wing tanks. As seen here on display at Popham. The mod not only provides for a total 116litres fuel but it moves the c of g forward giving place for a 20kg luggage box where one of the original fuel tanks went. The small tank shown provides reassurance a wing tank air lock isn’t going to catch someone out as well as clear evidence when down to your last 16 litres. Thanks to all the friendly Marshalls today making life easy! Dy
Amazing new Dynamic 600kg demo day at Kemble!
The new 600kg Dynamic demo at Kemble Flying Club on Tuesday 30th of April was a real eye opener! Firstly we were surprised the aircraft turned up when it was forecast to be gusting 28 kts crosswind!!! Next we were staggered to watch it take off and not only climb to 5,500ft above the cloud in not much more than a couple of minutes but at the same time reduce to the size of a dot as it sped away at 100kts +. Instructor Mark Hayter (pictured with the big grin on his face!) said that by the time he had done a couple of stalls and steep turns he was over the Vale of Pewsey looking at Salisbury Plain! He returned at 130kts and commented the aircraft handled really well and was incredibly quiet! He landed in a 24kt crosswind and found no trouble taxiing with the free castoring nose wheel.
So, when will we get one? Well probably not for a while although delivery at the moment is not much more than six months. The fact is that for most of our training the high wing Nynja and C42 are pretty near perfect and newly licensed pilots hiring the aircraft have no need to put the brain into overdrive to keep up with the ground disappearing under their feet! However, it was really interesting to see a glimpse of the future 600kg microlight market and I am reminded of the step we took way back in 2004 when we bought our first EV-97 TeamEurostar which was such a leap forward after flying the AX3 and AX2000 - but we soon got used to it! The other matter is of course cost and I expect that basic spec price quoted on the LX Aviation website of £155,000 inc VAT is something else that could take a leap by the time it is specified with everything it deserves.
For the moment I am still looking forward to our own full spec new Nynja going into build later this year but if there are any wealthy Kemble Flying Club Members out there looking at ‘hot ships’ and with philanthropic intentions I shall always be pleased to chat!😊
dy
Flying Again!
Paul Haddock (right), spirits lifted by decent weather at last! Back at the controls of the C42 on a check ride with dy.
Flying a plane aged 10!
Isaac from Lechlade is passionate about wanting to become an airline pilot so his big surprise on his 10th birthday – a flying lesson!
His Mum, Leila Hurst, said they were turned down by some flying schools who said Isaac was just too young. But, then she found Kemble Flying Club and Chief Instructor David Young (dy).
She said: “Dy checked Isaac’s height and that this was something he really wanted to do and said he would be able to reach the controls with the seat fully forward on the Skyranger Nynja microlight.”
On the day dy took off from the Cotswold Airport and soon handed the controls to Isaac and took video clips showing him actually flying the aircraft!
Will there be more lessons now? Dy has advised to save up to start properly when Isaac is 14-years-old and then the time can be counted towards a pilot’s licence!
Congratulations to Chris Richards - First Solo!
Decent weather finally and another first solo! Congratulations to Chris Richards (right).
Congratulations to Alasdair McCormack - First solo!
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.
Congratulations to Andrew Scowcroft - 1st Solo!
World First! A Guinness World Record with our Icarus C42 G-KFCA
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 ever flight - and speechless!
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
Geoff Bates First Solo
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!”