History of the BMPA

History of the BMPA  >  1998

1998 Spring Meeting, February 28 - March 1, Islington

Saturday 28th February

Morning arrivals at Stakis Hotel, Islington, lunch in lower Brasserie followed by guided tour of Tower Bridge. Reception and dinner in the Angel/Morris suite.

Sunday 1st March

Lectures or guided tour of "The Famous Square Mile (2000 years of history)".

36 members and guests attended all or part of this meeting.

For a report of this meeting please see the Summer 1998 newsletter.

1998 Autumn Meeting, September 3-6, Dundee

Thursday 3rd September

Arrivals by air to Dundee Airport or by road/rail to the Earl Grey Stakis Hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Friday 4th September

Morning tour of the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther (guided tour of displays about Scotland's maritime history) or a walking tour of St Andrews (guided walk around the old town, university, abbey and golf courses). Meet up for picnic lunch followed by a visit to The Secret Bunker (Fife's nuclear bunker) or a visit to Falkland Palace, Garden and Burgh (country residence of the Stuart kings and queens when boar hunting in Fife forest). All back together for dinner, again at the hotel. Then Scottish Evening aboard the Frigate Unicorn, ten minutes walk from the hotel, including Scottish music by award winning musicians, singing, display dancing and an opportunity to try some Scottish Country Dancing. Fisheries visit may be replaced by visit to RAF Leuchars if they can work it around their impending air show.

Saturday 5th September

Either flying event or Royal tour during the day. Flying event: fly out to a Scottish Airfield for a picnic lunch, flying competitions en route (see below). Royal tour: Glamis Castle (family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372, childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and birthplace of HRH The Princess Margaret) followed by picnic lunch, journey up the picturesque Glen Isla, through Deeside and past Balmoral Castle to Lochnagger Distillery for a guide to turning mountain water into malt whisky. Then back by Cairn O'Mount to Dundee.

AGM and dinner to follow.

Sunday 6th September

Visit to Discovery Point, home of RRS Discovery as well as an excellent exhibition centre. Guided tour of the ship in which Captain Scott travelled to Antarctica in 1901-1904. Buffet lunch in the hotel before departure.

Flying Competitions

  1. Guinnes Trophy, awarded as usual to the pilot who arrives closest to their ETA.
  2. Pilot's Quaich, awarded to the pilot who:
    • Shows the best airfield joining technique.
    • Shows the most competent use of radio.
    • Demonstrates the best landing (skill rather than spot).
    • Correctly answers a short general airmanship quiz set at PPL/SPL level by a panel of seniour QFIs from CSE aviation.
  3. Navigator's Quaich, awarded to the crew of the aircraft who:
    • Complete the navigation route most accurately.
    • Complete in flight the best/most accurate navigation log.
    • Correctly answer a short general knowledge quiz on very basic VFR navigation. A knowledge of GPS and electronic aids will not be required.
  4. Scottish Quaich, awarded for the most intrepid flight.
For a report of this meeting please see the Winter 1998/99 newsletter.

1998 Lectures

  • The General Aviation Awareness Council - What it does and how it does it (David Ogilvy OBE)
  • How to build an aeroplane in your consulting room (and acquire epoxy pox) (Raymond Clegg)
  • The life and times of a consultant surgeon, CAA medical officer and airline pilot (Simon Janvrin)