KLAMCNewsAugust2009

August 2009 News

Next Club Event is on 27th September 2009

KLAMC Fly-in!

Summer Photo Competition entries

are now closed!

On 25th August 1919 the world's first daily first passenger flight

was launched from London to Paris across the English Channel.

On 25 August, 1919, the world's first daily international passenger air service was launched, from London to Paris. It took off from Hounslow Heath - a patch of land just a mile or so from what is now London's Heathrow Airport.

The service was operated by Air Transport & Travel Ltd, who would eventually become British Airways.These flights were thought to be a bit risky and rather expensive, so initially the take-up was not huge. Pilots followed the railway line a little to the left to that they didn't crash into oncomming aircraft. The railway signs were also displayed on top of the stations all the way down from Tunbridge to Ashford in Kent. Flying at around 2,000 ft over chalk pits and reservoirs for landmarks.

Unfortunately the original aircraft - a converted de Havilland bomber - no longer exists.

Ninety years later the BBC's Transport Correspondent Richard Scott donned goggles and leather helmet and took to the air in a Tiger Moth for a similar experience! Click here!

Binham - Saturday 15th August 2009

Tragic Accident at Silverstone Racing Circuit.

EAA and the International Aerobatics Club are mourning the tragic loss of IAC President Vicki Cruse, who perished in a plane crash while participating at the World Aerobatics Championships in England on Saturday August 22, 2009.

Vicki was flying an Zivko Edge 540 as a member of the USA Unlimited Aerobatic Team in the biennial world meet held at Silverstone. A local spokeswoman said the authorities were notified early Saturday afternoon (U.K. time) that a single aircraft taking part in the competition had come down on the circuit.

"Vicki was an outstanding competitor and was passionate about flying, her leadership as IAC president, and as an EAA Director, "EAA chairman/president Tom Poberezny said. "Her flying skills and enthusiasm were highly valued. This is a tremendous loss for aviation, EAA and IAC. Our condolences go to Vicki's family and many friends.

Forty year old Vicki Cruse was born in Springfield, Mo., and had logged more than 2,500 hours of flight time, nearly all of it tail-wheel aircraft. She won the U.S. national unlimited aerobatic championship in 2007, and had been a member of the U.S. national team in 2002, 2004 and 2006, as well as this year.

The pilot of a light aircraft pancakes sideways 'Biggles' style into trees on Dundee golf course!

Mr Hagedorn, 63, from Chelmsford, Essex, said: 'Captain W E Johns saved my life. As a boy, I remember reading a Biggles story where he was shot down while flying over a wooded area.' After realising that he was nearly out of fuel he headed towards the trees, pulling back on the stick at the last moment and landing flat onto the trees just as his hero had done in a schoolboy adventure story. This luckily enabled the pilot, Mr Hagedorn, to walk away unscathed. - A somewhat novel landing!

Read and see more: BBC Video report - Also the Russian Aerobatic team training in the UK!

3rd KLAMC Open Fly-In a Roaring Success!

Thanks to the perfect weather, some breath taking flying displays, great BBQ'd food, supportive guests and club members the 3rd Annual Open Fly-In proved to be a roaring success! Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a great success!