The Flying Groups original aircraft, a 1974 Cessna 172 M was purchased in 1981 by a syndicate of four pilots comprising of Messrs Burgess, Porter, Pernell and Dunn. Two being local businessmen; one a ship’s captain and another a haulage contractor. After a short while I (HH) was seduced to join them to help out with the finances!!!

The Cessna 172 was purchased from an importer. It had been flying under Danish registry, and was based at Blackpool Airport in the Hangar of A.N.T. It was subsequently registered in the UK, & was allocated the registration G-BHYP

From the beginning it was an interesting union as our ships captain was at sea for months on end and we had the ”advantage“ of keeping two booking diaries; This led to much discussion between pilots when they arrived to fly.

The Cessna was not equipped with a transponder, but had the luxury of one VOR! Unfortunately, this unit was generally U/S or not reliable. This led to a reliance on basic navigation, which at times was difficult. However many long flights were undertaken with the aid of mark one eyeball and the blessing of God.

One of the early pilots landed at Liverpool Airport, unfortunately on the wrong runway (and on the old airport site). In true fashion, he had the cheek to request a reduction of landing charges!

The fortunes of the group were always on a knife-edge and at a rare get together of all (5) members; it looked as though we were going to have to sell the Cessna and split the proceeds after paying off A.N.T. for quite a large debt.

Thankfully this never happened as we agreed that one last try be made to keep flying, and took on two more members, both of which are still with the group (Messrs Theobald and Hughes). They were persuaded to part with capital (this was not easy) but by the grace of God and the purses of the two, the group was saved.

At about this time it seemed unfair that our ladies should be treated in what was merely a man’s world. This was necessary due to constant rumbling with unpleasant words like “money“and “time away from home” contributing to a general anti aircraft climate.

It was decided to give them a dinner at a local hotel. This was again an interesting evening - especially when one of our more intoxicated pilots shouted in a loud voice for more bottles of wine from our hosts. The eventual bill was only matched in height by the one from A.N.T. The meal was of the new cuisine style and impressed us with the dainty and small proportions of meat, although I think they used the bacon slicer to cut the ice cream. I am told that one of our party needed to stop for fish and chips on the way home. The event was voted a financial disaster, but a social success. Shortly after the pilot who organized the event left the syndicate, but it did the trick and the YP-Nosh has been a regular event in the years since.

The group went from strength to strength and it was decided that we had to renew the Cessna. After much searching G-BRZS was found to be for sale at Staverton. A party went down to check it out. One feature of this was the face of the seller looking on as the Cessna was pulled to bits before his very eyes; every panel that could be unbolted was, including the wing tips. The carpet was taken out and the under side fuselage looked into. After much discussion and trading, a figure for part exchange was agreed and the machine was ours. It must not have been in bad condition as it was originally on the US Registry and had survived a flight over the Atlantic via Iceland.

Some time after this in 1997 one of our more financially endowed members cast his gluttonous eyes over a Robin that was to be sold at an auction in the Midlands. This machine was to be sold on behalf of a Flying School that had gone bust in the South of France, one of three Robins; the others had already been disposed of. The machine was checked over and test flown while I crouched in an unheated hut on the airfield going over the Maintenance logs.

It was mid-winter and I was freezing. The aircraft proved OK and the Robin was purchased under the hammer (by the wealthy one) the following weekend. The addition of this aircraft to our fleet was agreed after much talk and beer at our next meeting. At this time the syndicate had to be increased to roughly the present number to operate and finance two aircraft.

Currently the group has benefited with better financial control (i.e. more cash for goodies) and a fairly balanced membership bringing with them the advantage of a diverse array of skills for the running operations and maintenance.

During the existence of the group our aircraft have been participants in some interesting events, notably: -

• Being used as a practice target for the RAF

• Involved in Air Sea rescue by skilfully dropping a dinghy to a waterborne Helicopter Pilot in the Irish Sea (As seen on 999)

• Carrying out emergency medical supplies deliveries

• Being involved in Parachute jumping for fund raising in local events

During the years the group has been in operation we have had many colourful characters we could mention, but time and libel laws have to protect their privacy. In all, the group has been successful in providing reasonably inexpensive flying, and demonstrates the ability of a divergent membership working together for the benefit of us all.

I hope this brief account will give you a small insight of our beginning, and the trials and tribulations of the past 20 years.

Our Thanks to Harry Hargreaves for an insight into the Groups History, & for persevering back in 1981, when a sell-up would have been the easy way out!