Keeping it in the family with NSF Sibson

NSF SIBSON
AIRFIELD: SIBSON AERODROME, PETERBOROUGH
WHERE:  6NM W OF PETERBOROUGH
RUNWAYS: 06/24 AND 15/33 GRASS
FACILITIES: FLIGHT TRAINING, AEROBATIC TRAINING, PRIVATE HIRE, TRIAL LESSONS, MAINTENANCE, FUEL, CLUBHOUSE
TEL: 01832 280289
WEB: www.nsof.co.uk

The Kimbell clan is taking NSF Sibson to new heights 

RELOCATING a business is always a risk, especially for a well-established flying school like NSF Sibson. It has a heritage dating back to the 1920s when the Northants Aero Club trained RAF pilots on Tiger Moths.

The move seems to have paid off, however, for the Kimbell family. They have successfully moved Northamptonshire School of Flying (NSF) from Sywell across the county to Sibson and continued to build on its reputation.

Roger Kimbell, who learned to fly with NSF in 1988, bought the school ten years later in 1998, but made the decision to up sticks 15 months ago.

"We were having difficulties at Sywell agreeing lease conditions. We'd looked at another location but it would have meant starting from scratch - there were no buildings and we'd have had to license the airfield," Roger explains.
"Just when I was thinking of giving up, the opportunity came up to buy Walkbury Aviation and we spent months negotiating."
The Kimbell family bought the Sibson-based school in November 2004, and ran the business alongside the Sywell operation for about six months.

Roger and the maintenance facility at Sibson

"We moved the fleet here at the start of April 2005 and finally moved the maintenance department across in August last year," adds Roger's daughter Lucy, who runs the school. Flying is definitely a family affair for the Kimbells, with Lucy at the helm and son Charlie, an airline pilot, teaching aerobatics in the school's Pitts when he's not flying for Monarch.

Lucy (shown left) at the helm of NSF Sibson

Lucy shares her father's philosophy for NSF Sibson, which is very much about progression and helping PPLs make the most of their licence. She says, "We want to give people a reason to go flying once they've qualified. Dad was very determined to address this, as he'd come through the flying school environment." NSF's fleet therefore includes tourers, some with long-range tanks and higher payloads so PPLs can fly further, but also a Pitts, Tiger Moth and Piper Cub for tailwheel conversions.

The school also operates a buddy system, to introduce pilots who can go flying together, reducing cost but also helping to develop skills. Roger is the first to admit it can be a huge advantage flying with someone else. "Going from A to B, with someone else doing the radio one way, and reversing it coming back is a great idea. It's half the cost so you can fly further or cheaper, depending which way you look at it."

Student achievements are noted on a 'roll of honour' board, "unearthed in the attic" when the family took over Sywell. The board harks back to the heydays of the Northants Aero Club - a time Roger remembers well from his childhood.
"When Brooklands [a flight training school - Ed] was at Sywell it was a professional operation, teaching military pilots to fly, but there were also lots of privately-owned aircraft which Northants Aero Club looked after.

They used to have a room at the Aviator Hotel, always known as Sywell Airport Hotel, and there was a waiter in a white coat and dickie-bow who used to bring the pilots a brandy and soda after they'd done their flying... or before they'd started!
"When people came back late, they'd line up their cars around the runway to give incoming flights something to aim at!" he laughs.

Flying for everyone!
NSF Sibson works closely with the British Disabled Flying Association to open flying up to those with disabilities. Local pilot Andrew Thomas, from Collyweston in Northamptonshire, along with staff at NSF, is responsible for Go Bear - an intrepid fundraising teddy bear!

Travelling the world in pursuit of airborne adventure, Go Bear has so far flown with the Red Arrows as well as trying his paw at weight-shift microlighting amongst other things.
"The aim of the project is to create the world's most interesting flying logbook," says Lucy Kimbell, Ops Director at the school.

"Upon completion, Go Bear, his logbook and flying souvenirs will be auctioned off on behalf of the BDFA."
The Sibson-based school has a specially adapted Warrior available for anyone who would like to fly but cannot operate the rudder pedals. Instead, the aircraft has a hand-operated system, which allows pilots to steer the aircraft.

Go Bear will be making a VIP appearance at the BDFA fly-in at Sibson on 12 August. There will be a flypast by the BBMF Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, plus a barbecue and raffle. Anyone interested in trying the adapted Warrior should contact the school.

If you would like to add to Go Bear's logbook by taking him on an adventure - flying or otherwise, or you would like to take part in the BDFA day on 12 August, contact Lucy Kimbell on 01832 280289.

Words: Kirsten Corrigan Photos: Darren Baker