Dear Supporter,
Welcome to the first of the “Chairman’s Newsletters.”
Supermarine Seaplane is now well advanced in its project to build a flying replica of the historic, Schneider Trophy winning S5 seaplane. As you will have seen in our regular news updates, the wings are now having their metal fittings made and fitted, and final skinning will soon take place.
I joined the charity as Chairman on the 1st of January this year, and as we go forward, I would like to share with you the reasons I am so excited about this project.
I started flying on leaving school and have enjoyed a very varied and satisfying career in aviation. I still work in the modern aviation industry, but my interest has always been classic, historic aircraft and the men and women who pioneered flying from the earliest years. From an early age, I found the history of aviation is to be an inspiring one. Designers such as Reginald Mitchell, were at the forefront of technology, and the many individuals who worked to build these revolutionary designs, to service and maintain them, and to fly them in often difficult and challenging circumstances, deserve be commemorated and celebrated. Their’s is a story that is still relevant today. Historic aviation embodies the romance, adventure and the successful struggle against adversity that continues to make life so worthwhile.
It is with the goal of inspiring the next generation of aviation adventurers in mind that we have announced a new initiative that aims to expand our activities. Our sponsored flight scheme will raise funds for the building of the S5 replica, while allowing supporters to fly in an historic aircraft and experience flight as we feel it should be. As part of this scheme, I will have the pleasure of piloting the Chipmunk; a 1940s design recognised as possessing some of the finest flying qualities of any type, having been compared favourably to the legendary Spitfire itself!
Over the coming months, as our project progresses, I will be adding my own thoughts on the fascinating world of aviation by recalling some other experiences both from my own career, and from some of the characters it has been my pleasure to meet over the years. From an old instructor friend who related the story of how he flew as Guy Gibson’s air gunner in a Hawker Hind biplane in the thirties, to my own experiences displaying the Hawker Hunter, at locations such as Duxford and Old Warden, I hope you will find these stories interesting and informative.
And so until the next instalment:
Blue Skies and Happy Landings!