The Flying Group's 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.
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 and was allocated the registration G-BHYP (hence the name of the group).
One of the early pilots landed at Liverpool Airport, unfortunately on the wrong runway (and on the old airport site). He had the cheek to request a reduction of landing charges!
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.
We kept ZS until 2018. The aircraft still flies from Blackpool, disguised under a different paint job and with a new registration .
In 1992 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. The aircraft proved OK and the Robin G-FTIN was purchased.
At this time the syndicate had to be increased to roughly twenty members to operate and finance two aircraft.
Around 2010 G-FTIN had an unfortunate accident, was written off and replaced by G-CHOE.
In 2018 when the group sold G-BRZS to a local flying school the group then reduced in size to 10 members operating a single aircraft, our Robin DR400 G-CHOE.
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.
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 30??? years.
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 and was allocated the registration G-BHYP (hence the name of the group).
One of the early pilots landed at Liverpool Airport, unfortunately on the wrong runway (and on the old airport site). He had the cheek to request a reduction of landing charges!
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.
We kept ZS until 2018. The aircraft still flies from Blackpool, disguised under a different paint job and with a new registration .
In 1992 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. The aircraft proved OK and the Robin G-FTIN was purchased.
At this time the syndicate had to be increased to roughly twenty members to operate and finance two aircraft.
Around 2010 G-FTIN had an unfortunate accident, was written off and replaced by G-CHOE.
In 2018 when the group sold G-BRZS to a local flying school the group then reduced in size to 10 members operating a single aircraft, our Robin DR400 G-CHOE.
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.
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 30??? years.