Meet Heelan's Flying Circus

...and be entertained by the Andrewsfield gang!

ANDREWSFIELD AVIATION
>>AIRFIELD: SALING AERODROME, GREAT DUNMOW (EGSL)
>>WHERE: 4NM WNW OF BRAINTREE
>>RUNWAY: 09/27 (GRASS)
>>FACILITIES: CLUBHOUSE, BAR, RESTAURANT, FLIGHT TRAINING, TRIAL LESSONS, PRIVATE HIRE, FUEL, MAINTENANCE
>>TEL: 01371 856744
>>WEB: www.andrewsfield.com; www.heelansflyingcircus.co.uk

THE only prerequisites for joining Heelan's Flying Circus are a good sense of humour, and a thirst for airborne adventure. LOOP fits the bill, so we headed over to the group's base at Andrewsfield Aviation for the May fly-out.

Originally set up in 2003 by Jim Heelan, a former instructor at Andrewsfield who was tragically killed in a motorbike accident in 2004, the Flying Circus is a rare find. Walk into the clubhouse and immediately you're one of the gang, and the enthusiasm for flying is infectious. Robert Boustead, the group's resident webmaster and photographer, told LOOP, "Everyone gets so excited about the website, seeing pictures of the trips and reading about them.

"I flew with Jim a few years ago and said I didn't know anyone that I could fly with, so he decided to put a group together," he explains.

Robert is one of the original members, along with Steve Malcolm, or 'Wingco' as he's affectionately known. Steve has taken over the planning side of things. "Previously, Jim did all the flight plans for the trips and after he died, I had to step up."

Together with Shane 'The Hopmeister' Hoppings, Steve tries to get everyone together one Sunday a month for a regular fly-out.

It's not always plain sailing though, and despite hopes for good weather, the May tour of East Anglia and Kent was looking unlikely at 0900. Not easily deterred, the eager pilots waited until the very last minute, tucking into bacon sandwiches and cups of tea at Andrewsfield, before finally admitting defeat.
This is not uncommon, according to Steve Rolph, also in since the beginning, "When we start buying the bacon sandwiches, it's a sign we're staying!"

You could argue that the bacon sarnies are the real reason for the get-together, but it's clear that everyone's disappointed today, especially newbie, Adrian Kinsley, 20, who first flew with the group on a trip to Le Touquet in March, which was diverted to Lydd due to poor weather. "I had a good time but it was a bit mad. It was a week after I'd passed my PPL and then I was over the Channel at 600ft!"
Involving new members is vital to the group's success, and the more experienced pilots realise the value of sharing their experience.

"You can have a good laugh up there and we always give each other feedback. It helps develop your skills." says Shane.
"If I'd been flying on my own then I probably would've given up by now. Flying brings us together," he adds.

Anyone is welcome on the trips and students can really benefit from going, without the pressure of decision-making. Richard Trott, who joined the group 18 months ago, took a PPL student on the last fly-out to Le Touquet. "We had to make two diversions so it was a good opportunity to see how it all works, without actually being in the thick of it. You get a chance to listen and observe," he explains.
Steve R, (who secretly wishes he'd pursued a career as an airline pilot), told us why he enjoys being part of the Circus, "We're all amateurs and belonging to the group makes you go places you wouldn't otherwise."

His 16-year-old son, Sam (who IS going to fly for a living), is currently learning at Andrewsfield, and having gone solo a day earlier, is prime fodder for mickey-taking today. Being the youngest in the group, he's an easy target, and the fact that he's clearly a talented pilot only adds fuel to the fire!
"We'll have to use scorecards when he lands in future," winks Wingco.

So what's the secret ingredient? Nick Ferris, 24, told LOOP, "The success of the group is down to the fact that it's well-established, we've got good facilities and a bar, so we can sit it out for three hours when we have to! And we've got a good met station, because we're so near to Stansted.

"It's the whole package really. This is the best way to keep current and get some good flying in."
There's definitely no room for slackers either, "We make a date at the end of every trip and it's always fixed before we leave," he explains.

True to Nick's word, while waiting in vain for the clouds to lift, the discussion starts for the next trip - the rescheduling of the East Anglian tour. With the date set for 18 June, everyone nods in agreement and spirits are lifted with the thought of a day's flying, albeit in a month's time.

The members of the Flying Circus are true ambassadors for club flying, with their monthly trips and a busy social calendar, bringing the pilots and their partners together for quiz nights, bowling and even a murder mystery evening. The result is a thriving community of friends and family at Andrewsfield, who all share the same love of flying.

1.Adrian Kinsley
Age: 20
Job: Dispatcher, easyJet
Hours: 60, PPL three months ago
Dream machine: Any big jet!
What next: Career as a commercial pilot, so hour-building for now!

2. Nick Ferris
Age: 24
Job: Accident Repair Estimator
Hours: 110, PPL 2002
Dream machine: As long as the engine works, who cares!
What next: More social flying

3. Carol Cooper
Age: 44
Job: CFI, Andrewsfield
Hours: 17,000
Dream machine: Anything faster than a 152
What next: Reaching 20,000hrs

4. Richard Trott
Age: 39
Job: Manager of Jaguar dealership
Hours: Nearly 200, PPL in 1999, night rating earlier this year
Dream machine: Beech Bonanza
What next: IMC Rating

5. Robert Boustead
Age: 46
Job: IT Manager
Hours: 170, PPL in 2000
Dream machine: Diamond Twin Star
What next: Getting more people involved in the fly-outs

6. Steve Malcolm
Age: 41
Job: Operations Manager
Hours: 140, PPL in 2000
Dream machine: Rockwell Commander 114
What next: Longer trips; France this year

7. Sam Rolph
Age: 16
Job: Not quite.  Studying for GCSEs
Hours: Just gone solo, hopefully PPL in time for 17th birthday in October
Dream machine: Any expensive jet!
What next: Storming his GCSEs - Sam's on target for straight As

8. Marc Rolph
Age: 14
Number 3 in the Rolph gang, Marc knows his stuff and can spot any plane blindfolded, well almost!
A true Circus member in the making.

9. Steve Rolph
Age: 49
Job: Contract Manager
Hours: 150, PPL for 9 years
Dream machine: Yak 52 "I love the sound of the engine"
What next: Having a laugh and forgetting about the stress of work

10. Shane Hoppings
Age: 45
Job: Finance Manager
Hours: 130, PPL 2003
Dream machine: Stationair high-wing Cessna
What next: Trying to encourage his daughters to pay for their own flying lessons!

11. Just Jane
Age: That will remain a mystery
Job: Teacher
Hours: Dunno! PPL in 2000
Dream machine: Spitfire
What next: Vauxhall Astra (eh?)

Run away to join the circus
Stretching their nav skills is top of the list for the Circus pilots. No longer content with circling the Essex lakes, the group travels far and wide to get the most from their flying.
The Essex, Norfolk and Kent tour is definitely ambitious and with six legs planned it will be a busy day for the group.
Starting at Andrewsfield, Great Oakley is first up, followed by Old Buckenham, Earls Colne, Rochester and Stapleford, before heading home.
The fly-out is planned for 18 June, so anyone  interested should contact the club asap!

Words: Kirsten Corrigan Photos: Dave Spurdens