G-VFWE Archives

Previous Events

Shoreham Airport 60th Anniversary Fly-In: Shoreham, Sussex, 15th June 1996
G-VFWE 1997: Old Sarum, Wilts, 31st May & 1st June 1997
G-VFWE 1998: White Waltham, Berks, 16th & 17th May 1998
G-VFWE 1999: Kemble, Glos, 15th & 16th May 1999
G-VFWE 2000: Thruxton, Wilts, 13th & 14th May 2000
G-VFWE 2001: Wroughton, Wilts, 12th & 13th May 2001
G-VFWE 2002: Kemble, Glos, 10th-12th May 2002
G-VFWE 2003: Kemble, Glos, 9th-11th May 2003
G-VFWE 2004: Abingdon, Oxon, 14th-16th May 2004
G-VFWE 2005: Hullavington, Wilts, 20th-22nd May 2005
G-VFWE 2006: Keevil, Wilts, 26th-29th May 2006

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G-VFWE 2006 REPORT

G-VFWE 2006, this year at Keevil, Wiltshire, after our soaking last year at Hullavington, once again proved to be something of a "Madame Butterfly" event, i.e. 'one fine day' (this time out of four).

The Friday was a real washout, with just two aircraft able to make it through the murk during the day: Martin Holloway's Super Cub G-XCUB from Alton, Hants, and Cherokee G-ATOM from Prestwick (which, however, had reached Compton Abbas the previous evening and had been forced to stop there).

The Saturday was not much better; the Army Historic Flight's Auster 6A, G-ARXU, turned up in the morning, and later we had a nice surprise when the Pushpak G-BXTO arrived all the way from Norfolk (and subsequently won a well-deserved award for the most meritorious flight); then our joy-riding Tiger Moth, this year Ian Perry's G-AMNN, turned up out of the gloom all the way from Shoreham in the early evening and cheered all the stalwarts up a bit! Unfortunately the entire Air Atlantique flight, which had been stuck at Kemble, eventually had to return to Coventry.

The Met. forecast for the Sunday was for fairly good flyable weather although with not much in the way of sunshine, and in fact nearly 300 aircraft turned up during the day, showing the sort of support we expect (and usually get) in such conditions. Even the BoB Flight Dakota was somehow rescheduled and turned up after aborting on the previous day.

Bank Holiday Monday (this was the first time we have tried to operate over a full Bank Holiday weekend) proved to be partly sunny but with a lot of heavy showers, and this pattern not surprisingly kept the majority of visiting aircraft at their home bases once again.

Despite the weather the public supported us well, so presumably there must be still a lot of support out there for a nostalgic event such as ours.

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G-VFWE 2005, HULLAVINGTON

Pretty well all of you who read this will know by now that, this year for the first time, G-VFWE was affected pretty badly by the weather over the 20th-22nd May. While there was some sunshine to be enjoyed, we also had strong gusts of wind, heavy rain showers, and even hail at times.

Needless to say, the uncertain flying conditions dramatically reduced the numbers of our expected flying visitors from 700+ down to about 160. Nevertheless, there was enough activity to attract quite good crowds of spectators, and since the event many messages have been received which without exception have been fully supportive of everything we have been trying to achieve. In particular, we would like to pass on our sincere thanks to Air Atlantique, who brought us an excellent selection of aircraft, including their Anson, Twin Pioneer, DC-3, Rapide and Prentice.

Terry Booker (Ops Manager) and I have now finished a fairly lengthy debrief and, as a result, we have pretty well decided to return to Hullavington once again in 2006 rather than move on to Colerne as originally intended. We will release more details later this year.

In the meantime there are several more G-VFWE Ops events for you to visit, as you will doubtless be aware. In particular there will be a unique Chavenage House event on July 17th, and also our own Henstridge Fly-In on Saturday August 27th, which becomes more like a mini-G-VFWE each year, attracting a wide variety of aircraft from all over the southern half of England.

Many of the awards were not presented this year at Hullavington, in many cases because concours entrants were unable to reach the venue. A shortened list of winners is given below:

BEST AUSTER (and Ranald Porteous trophy): Terrier G-ARSL (David Colclough).
RUNNER UP IN CLASS: Auster AOP.9 G-BKVK (Jon Pote).

BEST DE HAVILLAND: Leopard Moth G-ACUS (Ron Gammons).
RUNNER UP IN CLASS: Tiger Moth G-AGHY (Paul Groves).

BEST BEAGLE PUP/BULLDOG: Bulldog G-BCDK (J.Randle).

BEST AERONCA (new award): Champion G-IVOR (P.White).

BEST 'OTHER EUROPEAN': ANTONOV AN-2 LY-BIG (D.Holland/J. Calverley).
RUNNER UP IN CLASS: Tipsy Belfair G-APIE (D.Beale).

BEST HOMEBUILT: Pietenpol Aircamper G-CCKR (T. Wilson).

OLDEST AIRCRAFT: Leopard Moth G-ACUS (R.Gammons).
RUNNER UP IN CLASS: Tiger Moth G-AGHY (P.Groves).

MOST MERITORIOUS FLIGHT: Chipmunk G-AOJR (G. Caubergs - Belgium).

BEN COOPER SHIELD (FOR BEST PREWAR AIRCRAFT): Leopard Moth G-ACUS (R.Gammons).

FORTIS WATCH AWARD: P White (Champion G-IVOR).

All the other awards, including the Alex Henshaw Trophy, will be held over until next year.

The prizes were presented by Mr Dave Unwin, Editor of the magazine "Today's Pilot", who stood in at very short notice for our usual celebrity, former test pilot and record-winning flyer Neville Duke, who was delayed by the adverse weather.

The judges comprised Ultra Light Aircraft Association founder member Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (chairman) and Ann Tilbury, formerly of "Flight" magazine. In announcing the winners, chairman Ord-Hume specifically congratulated all who had made the effort to attend the Great Vintage Flying Weekend this year and had braved the truly appalling weather, which had brought torrential rain storms, hail and nil visibility across so much of the country. He also thanked organisers Peter Campbell and Terry Booker for their unstinting efforts to make this event such a success.

As usual this event was sponsored by the Met. Office, and media sponsors were the magazines "Flypast" and "Today's Pilot".

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REPORT ON G-VFWE 2004 AT ABINGDON
(14th-16th MAY)

Well, G-VFWE 2004 (May 14th-16th) is now well and truly over and the organisers are still busy sorting out all the inevitable paperwork that follows such an event. However we are all agreed that this was the best in the series so far, helped to a large extent by the settled weather throughout most of the UK over the weekend. Nevertheless there were more aircraft prebooked to attend than ever before, and a first estimate of the total numbers that actually made it were about 550, although we are still working on the Air Traffic records.

Undoubted highlights included the appearance of the newly-restored Miles Hawk G-ADWT flown by Desmond Penrose, the DH Dragon G-ECAN flown by Henry Labouchere, the N/A Mustang G-SIJJ Jumping Jacques of Peter Teichman (who chose to attend in this rather than in his Beech Staggerwing) and the ever-widening selection of classic and vintage aircraft which are given an early-season airing by their doting owners.

Yet again we are pleased to report that there were no 'incidents', and post-event e-mails, letters and phone calls have been unanimous in their praise, which is extremely gratifying to the organisers, particularly Terry Booker, Chris Wood and myself, as we have devoted much time to the planning and execution of the event without knowing if the weather would affect it as it did last year.

PRIZEWINNERS AT G-VFWE 2004, ABINGDON

Judges: A. Ord-Hume (Chairman) and Ann Tilbury
Presenter: Sqdn Ldr N. Duke DSO, OBE, DFC (with two bars), AFC.

The Chairman made the following observations in his opening address: "Our task this year has been an immensely difficult one. We have been overwhelmed by the extremely high standard of presentation of your aircraft. Last year we felt it would be hard to better the level of individual achievement. This year makes last year look puny by comparison. The utter quality of restoration, preservation and presentation is outstanding; it is a tribute to you all."

BEST AUSTER
Winner: Autocrat G-AGTO (D. Miller) -- who also took the Ranald Porteous Trophy for the second time!
Runner Up: Alpha 5 G-APBW (N. Huxtable)

BEST DE HAVILLAND
Winner: Tiger Moth G-ANEH (G. Wells)
Runner Up: Tiger Moth G-AHOO (J. Milsom)

BEST CHIPMUNK
Winner: Chipmunk G-MAJR (C. Adams)
Runner Up: Chipmunk G-AOSK (L. Irvine)

BEST PUP/BULLDOG
Winner: Bulldog G-SIJW (J. King)
Runner Up: Bulldog G-ASAL (S. Hill)

BEST MILES
Winner: Hawk Speed Six G-ADGP (R. Mills) -- who was also awarded the new Alex Henshaw Shield for the Best Miles or Percival Aircraft
Runner Up: Magister G-AKPF (P. Holloway)

BEST PERCIVAL
Winner: Proctor IV G-ANXR (L. Oakins)
Runner Up: NOT AWARDED THIS YEAR

BEST 'OTHER BRITISH'
Winner: Civilian Coupe G-ABNT (Shipping & Airlines Ltd.)
Runner Up: Fairtravel Linnet G-ASZR (R. Palmer)

BEST CLASSIC PIPER
Winner: Vagabond NC4531H (owner unknown)
Runner Up: Cub G-OCUB (P. Ansell)

BEST CLASSIC CESSNA
Winner: Airmaster G-BTDE (I. Logan)
Runner Up: Cessna 170B G-AORB (P. Ford)

BEST LUSCOMBE
Winner: Silvaire G-AKUI (D. Sims)
Runner Up: Silvaire G-LUSI (M. Robinson)

BEST 'OTHER AMERICAN'
Winner: Stinson Voyager G-AFYO (M. Lodge)
Runner Up: Stinson Reliant G-BUCH (I. Logan)

BEST JODEL
Winner: DR.1050 G-IOSI (C. Boylen)
Runner Up: D.117 G-BFEH (J. Crabb)

BEST 'OTHER EUROPEAN'
Winner: Potez 60 HB-SPM (G. Hug)
Runner Up: Zlin 226 G-EJGO (R. Bower)

BEST HOMEBUILT
Winner: EAA Biplane G-AVZW (C. Edmondson)
Runner Up: Pietenpol Air Camper G-BUCO (A. James)

OLDEST AIRCRAFT
Civilian Coupe G-ABNT (Shipping & Airlines Ltd)

MOST MERITORIOUS FLIGHT
Potez 60 HB-SPM (G. Hug)

BEST PREWAR BRITISH LIGHT AIRCRAFT (THE BEN COOPER SHIELD)
Leopard Moth G-ACUS (R. Gammons)

FORTIS WATCH AWARD (VIA VINTAGE AIRCRAFT CLUB)
Luton Minor (Mrs B. Schussler)

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REPORT ON G-VFWE 2003, KEMBLE

9TH - 11TH MAY 2003

Well, the seventh in the series of Great Vintage Flying Weekends is now over, and once again I'm pleased to report a successful event with no reportable incidents.

Despite the vagaries of the weather over the weekend, which included some heavy showers and a moderate and very chilly wind which never seemed to be right down the runway, we had an amazing variety and number of aircraft visit the event. At one extreme, the tiny Chilton monoplane flown by Kathy McDonald and no less than three Luton Minors: at the other, Anthony Hodgson's magnificent Beech Expeditor and virtually the entire Air Atlantique Historic Flight. In there too were dozens of Austers and de Havilland types and no less than ten Miles aircraft on the Sunday, which must be a record at one event for at least 40 years.

I'm sure that the event will be well reported in the aviation Press, but in the meantime here is a summary of the Prizes awarded:

BEST AUSTER [including variants]	Aiglet G-AMKU	P. Lipman
'Highly Commended' award	Auster 5 G-AKSY	T. Brier
BEST DH BIPLANE	Dragon Rapide G-AEML	P. Thorn
'Highly Commended' award	Puss Moth G-ABLS	R. Souch
BEST DH MONOPLANE	Leopard Moth G-ACUS	R. Gammons
'Highly Commended' award	Puss Moth G-AIYS	R. Souch
BEST CHIPMUNK	Chipmunk G-BCXN	M. Turner
'Highly Commended' award	Chipmunk G-AMUF	I. Mills
BEST BEAGLE PUP/BULLDOG	Bulldog G-EDAV	J. Armitage
'Highly Commended' award	Bulldog G-CBDK	J. Randle
BEST MILES	Hawk Speed 6 G-ADGP	R. Mills
'Highly Commended' award	Messenger 2A G-AJWB	G. Spooner
BEST PERCIVAL	Vega Gull G-AEZJ	R. Spurrell
'Highly Commended' award	Proctor 4 G-ANXR	L. Oakins
BEST 'OTHER BRITISH'	Super Ace G-AKVF	B. Metters
'Highly Commended' award	Super Ace G-AKUW	J. Rickett
BEST PIPER	Super Cub G-BLMI	R. Gibson
'Highly Commended' award	Not awarded
BEST CESSNA	Not awarded
'Highly Commended' award	Not awarded
BEST LUSCOMBE	Luscombe G-BULO	A. Caldecourt
'Highly Commended' award	Luscombe G-BSNE	N. Reynolds
BEST 'OTHER AMERICAN'	Baron G-WOOD	L. Slawinski
'Highly Commended' award	Reliant G-BUCH	N. Knighton
BEST EUROPEAN	Regent G-DUDZ	D. Pattison
'Highly Commended' award	Robin DR.200 G-BLCT	C. Foss
BEST HOMEBUILT	Pietenpol G-PIET	N. Marshall
'Highly Commended' award	Jabiru G-EBWC	E. Comber
OLDEST AIRCRAFT	Moth G-AANV	R. Seeley
'Highly Commended' award	Puss Moth G-AAZP	T. Williams
MOST MERITORIOUS FLIGHT	Mooney 20 OY-DFD	B. Petersen
'Highly Commended' award	Nipper OO-VAG	J. Mangelschots

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G-VFWE 2002

Review of the 2002 Great Vintage Flying Weekend

The feedback from both aviators and public visitors following G-VFWE 2002 at Kemble indicates that we seem to be continuing to provide the sort of Fly-In that most are happy with. We are not complacent about this and will continue to try to make improvements. Over the three days a total of about 350 aircraft attended Kemble during a period of reasonably fine and calm weather sandwiched between prolonged periods of rain. Unfortunately the continuing wet weather and low cloud in the east of the UK precluded more than a few visitors from that area, but our grateful thanks to everyone who managed to get through to make our event a success.

The 2002 prizewinners are as follows:

BEST AUSTER	J/1 Autocrat	G-AGTO	D. Miller
Runner Up	J/2 Arrow	G-BEAH	A. Gray
BEST PUP		G-BAKW	Ms H. Beavan
Runner Up		G-AXDV	T. White
BEST BULLDOG		G-GRRR	B. Metters
Runner Up		G-ASAL	S. Hill
BEST DH MOTH	Leopard Moth	G-AIYS	Mrs V. Gammons
Runner Up	Leopard Moth	G-ACUS	R. Gammons
BEST DH MULTI-ENGINED	Dragon Rapide	G-AEML	P. Thorn
BEST DH (CANADA)	Chipmunk	G-BWVY	P. Portelli
Runner UP	Chipmunk	G-BCXN	M. Turner
BEST MILES	Messenger 2A	G-AJWB	G. Spooner
Runner Up	Hawk Speed 6	G-ADGP	R. Mills
BEST PERCIVAL	Jet Provost	G-JPRO	J. Armitage
BEST 'OTHER BRITISH'	BA Eagle	G-AFAX	M. Miller
Runner Up	BA Swallow	G-ADPS	J. Hopkins
BEST NON-BRITISH	Silvaire	G-LUSI	M. Robinson
Runner Up	Super Cub	G-BLMI	M. Teather
BEST HOMEBUILT	Dart Kitten	G-AEXT	A. Hartfield
Runner Up	Pazmany PL-2	G-OPAZ	K. Morris
OLDEST AIRCRAFT	DH Moth	G-AAHI	Mrs S. Reid
Runner Up	DH Puss Moth	G-AAZP	T. Williams
MOST MERITORIOUS FLIGHT	Mooney 20F	OY-DFD	B.V. Petersen

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