My turn to ask for some help please. Project Propeller is in dire need of help. Pilots willing to fly veterans on their only, annual fly in, people to help on the ground and, unfortunately, money
This year the host airfield is charging a blanket landing fee of £400 which, coming on top of reduced/withdrawn contributions and the desire to feed these wonderful people, means that PP is more than usually stretched. So, please would you help? I don't mind how you do it - kidnap your OC, his dog, cat, wife, children, best mate and demand a ransom, pin him up against a wall until he agrees to allow you to borrow a Hercules to transport some of the veterans, get him to send some ground helpers, borrow a couple of helicopters, (we all know that they and the Hercules won't be doing anything from Friday afternoon to Monday morning so someone might as well benefit)
ANYTHING to help this day be the best yet. I'll be there on the ground to help. I do not need to tell you how much we owe this dwindling bunch of real heroes.
Here is the tale of Project Propeller, how it came into being and up to date news.
Project Propeller – The Background
The seed was sown in 1998 at Elstree. Gideon Todes commenting on the weekend aviation activity to Ian Burnstock, ‘ All these people seem to do is fly around in useless circles, why can’t we harness their energy more effectively? perhaps they could give ex-wartime aircrew the chance to fly again’. And so Project Propeller was born.
Ian and Gideon contacted Aircrew Associations throughout the country, bounced the idea off fellow pilots, made enquiries at possible airfield venues and in the spring of 1999, sixty-four light aircraft, carrying around one hundred ex-WW2 aviators congregated at The Squadron, North Weald Airfield in Essex.
It was a purely charitable event. Airfields waived landing fees, pilots contributed their time and their aircraft at no charge, food and drink was on the house and a simply wonderful time was had by all. Many of the wartime aircrew hadn’t been in an aircraft since the war and some even got the chance to actually handle the controls again. A great, unqualified success, it had to happen again.
The downside of the first ‘Project’ was the stress and strain of just two people coping with every aspect of the organisation. The logistics were awesome; from matching pilots to passengers, negotiating with airfields across the country to waive landing fees, calculating arrival slot times, arranging catering . . . and all this was done without a computer, fighting and arguing across the dining table in Ian Burnstock’s flat. Ian’s wife, incidentally was not too happy at the spray glue which, following these ‘planning’ sessions, which coated floor, ceiling and furniture. Gideon and Ian used a can of this substance to stick names of pilots, aircrew and airfields on to large sheets of paper for easy reference. The problem solved itself following this first event by the appearance of Dennis Ray, one of the pilots who also happened to be a computer wizard. For all future events Dennis and his skills became the fulcrum of the organisation. No more glue spray cans, a marriage continued! Also another talented helper materialised, Pitts Special owner Dave Cockburn. Due to pressure of work, Dennis stepped out of the group in 2010 and Nick Potter took over his duties. Now the organisers are a team of three, Nick, Ian and Dave, plus wives, girlfriends and offspring. Gideon is still involved but only as a participating pilot.
The labour of administrating the event is roughly divided, although tasks tend to overlap. However, it could be said that Nick is the one who maintains contact and establishes co-ordination between the pilots and our veteran guests, Dave tends to deal with matters such as catering, the organisation of essential items such as the power generator, tables, chairs, marquee and is also our resident sound engineer and Ian works on fund-raising, finding venues, cajoling speakers to come along and arranging the musical entertainment.
2000 saw the event at Duxford, this time one hundred aircraft and two hundred and fifty veterans. The usual refreshments, plus the appearance of a guest speaker, Ken Wallis and his autogiro. Extra joy flights in interesting aircraft were available and for the stout hearted, aerobatic trips were organised.
In 2001 the Project returned to Duxford. It should have been at RAF Coningsby, home of the Memorial Flight, but the MOD in its wisdom would have imposed high landing and parking fees plus insurance for all visiting aircraft. So reluctantly and to the great sorrow of the CO, the Wing Commander Flying and all the officers and men at the station, plans had to be changed. The event followed the usual formula, but this year the guest speaker was record breaker and test pilot Alex Henshaw.
2002 was Kemble. This year a full swing band was laid on. Guest speaker was John Farley of Harrier fame. Added ‘superbonuses’ on this occasion were a Dakota and a Dove kindly contributed by the late Victor Gauntlett, which gave joyrides to over a hundred of the veterans.
2003, Elvington, the Yorkshire Air Museum. Again a swing band and TWO guest speakers, cartoonist Ken Aitken and naval aviator, test pilot and writer Eric (Winkle) Brown.
2004 brought the project in full circle, a return to North Weald. 100 visiting aircraft and 270 veterans. This time Diana Barnato Walker, famous ATA pilot and the first woman to fly a jet, was the guest speaker and entertainment was provided by an Andrews-Sisters-type singing group.
2005 brought a return to Kemble, on Saturday 25th June. Unfortunately, the event this year was fraught with very poor weather and rather that the 120 aircraft expected, only 36 managed to make it. However, a number of the pilots rather than disappoint their passengers drove in - some from as far afield as London and the midlands. In all, the attendees this year totalled around 150. As we had planned for 350 and had ordered 500 sandwiches and almost as many cakes, a number of truck drivers and coach travellers in truck parks on the way back to London received unexpected – and very welcome - extra nourishment. Nevertheless, the hired jazz band played, an Antonov biplane took virtually everybody up for a joy flight and there were certainly no complaints from the attendees.
It could be mentioned that there is a problem with the event, the proverbial one, money. Everything is provided for the veterans, flights, refreshment, entertainment and particularly, good companionship. But nevertheless, it costs. For the last few Projects, the veterans have been asked to contribute a nominal sum on arrival at the venue. In addition, collections are made at the event itself and some monies are contributed in advance by well-wishers. We have even managed to bring in the Lottery and in 2005 they contributed £2,900.00. As a matter of interest, one of our ‘sponsors’ is a medical consultant who threatens to withhold treatment from his patients unless they pay up.
PP 2006 took place at Halfpenny Green Airfield on Saturday June 24th. We received more help from the lottery, some 100 plus aircraft attended, Raymond Baxter was our guest speaker, the BBMF flew a Spitfire over the gathering and a swing band entertained. The weather was perfect and all-in-all, this was one of the best events yet.
2007 saw the Project at Bruntingthorpe airfield near Leicester and for the first time, the weather almost won! It was terrible, very heavy rain and lots of wind and instead of 100-pus aircraft, only twelve made it. However, thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of the pilots, our ex-aircrew guests were driven in from all parts of the country. Their pilots had changed their flying helmets for chauffeurs’ hats and made sure that their passengers could get to the Project. Even our guest speaker, air speed record breaker Peter Twiss was driven in by his pilot from his south coast home. The RAF had to cancel the appearance of the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane because of the 500 foot ceiling and the expected 40 Tiger Moths certainly could not get there. But the band played, refreshments were served and the day proved to be one of the best ever.
Old Warden Airfield, home of the Shuttleworth Collection of vintage cars and aircraft was the 2008 venue.for the event. This time the weather was kind and 100-plus aircraft arrived with their consignment of eager veterans. The same Andrews Sisters look-and-sing-alike group –the ‘Hummingbirds- who had previously entertained at Kemble, again sang their hearts out and the guest speaker was Tony Blackman who among many other things, had been chief test pilot on the Vulcan bomber development. The Collection flew a number of their aircraft and a privately owned Kittyhawk was displayed. Yet another memorable day for a lot of gallant old gentlemen.
Bruntingthorpe welcomed us for the second time in 2009, but this time we were moderately lucky with the weather. Of the expected 103 aircraft, some 75 arrived but again, a number of our dedicated pilots drove their aircrew guests into the event - one in a 1919 model ‘T’ Ford. Round-the-World Flyer, Polly Vacher was the guest speaker and music was laid on by John Hunter who apart from being a music teacher and a brilliant pianist is a Full Member of the Guild of Aviation Artists. And finally, our thanks go to, Squadron Leader Al Pinner, the CO of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, who, in spite of the limited ceiling, flew their Mark 19 Spitfire to the event and gave a brilliant display.
East Kirkby, home to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and the only other ‘working’ Lancaster in the United Kingdom, was the venue in 2010 and although it has been said before, this, by common assent, really was one of the best PP events to date. The venue itself is packed with interest and artefacts that stirred the memories and imaginations of all present. Our guest speaker, Bob Foster, one of the few remaining Battle of Britain pilots, gave a fascinating talk about his experiences during and after that memorable period and as always, the refreshments were excellent as was the live musical background organised by John Hunter. This year ninety-eight aircraft participated and the BBMF joined in with a Mark 9 Spitfire flyby. Now for 2011 - on Saturday June 11th, the venue will be WICKENBY AIRFIELD in Lincolnshire . . . we all hope to see you there!
Project Propeller has become an institution, long may it continue.