LOOP Features

Guernsey Aero Club - 35th Air Rally

SIXTY aircraft flew in to the 35th annual Guernsey Aero Club International Air Rally in September, including visitors from Denmark, Germany and Ireland.

The event marked the end of a week-long flying fest on the island, including a Battle of Britain air display.
Rochester-based Paul Smiddy, flying a Robin DR400, was awarded the title of Overall Rally Winner, while German pilot Wolfgang Nickel won the Sportsman class in his Beech Be24 Sierra.

Brian Shaw and Wally Lombard - who have a combined age of 150 - made it to Guernsey from North Yorkshire in their Rans S-6 Coyote II. They won the Bucktrouts Outstanding Merit Cup for their eight-hour flight, and according to photographer Sebastian Tombs, were worthy of the title.

He told LOOP, "2006 was their third attempt to reach the event. In 2004 they were thwarted by bad weather, and in 2005 they were coasting out at Portland and had radio failure!"

A group of microlights and homebuilts from the Sittles Flying Group won the award for the Club with Most Aircraft, which included the Round-Europe Sting Carbon OK-LUA50 and two Vans homebuilts G-RVIA (RV-6A) and G-CCIR (RV-8). Paul Robinson from Bourton-on-the Water was judged to have flown in the Most Interesting Aircraft, G-BUDE, a PA-22 Tri-Pacer now converted to a PA-20 Pacer taildragger. Oldest Aircraft was Gort Measey's 1947 PA-12 Super Cruiser G-AMPG flown from Leicester.

Sebastian added, "Completing the picture were James Black in his Antonov An-2 HA-MKF and the Ultimate High Team from Kemble with their two Bulldogs and an Extra 300 both providing rallyists with rides of varying extremes!
W: www.guernseyaeroclub.com

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LOOP Features

Guernsey Aero Club - 35th Air Rally