History of the BMPA

2002 Spring Meeting, April 19-21, Sywell

Accommodation was at the Aviator Hotel on Sywell airfield itself. Saturday saw 5 talks (see below) interspersed with a buffet lunch, discussion, snacks and finished off with Dinner at the Aviator. Sunday saw visits to Fordaire Aviation (engineering and restoration projects) and Sywell Aviation Museum (newly opened July 2001). There were 45 attendees in all, with 35 attending the Saturday night dinner. This meeting had PGEA (Post Graduate Educational Approval) for 3 points and was an open meeting. Reports will follow in the autumn newsletter.

2002 Summer Meeting, July 26-28, Shenington

Over 40 people attended at some point during the 3 days, with 11 medical students turning up. Five or six aircraft flew in and several people camped overnight, notably Andrew Sayers in a tent under his new aircraft's wing. Reports will follow in the autumn newsletter.

2002 Autumn Meeting, September 6-8, Newcastle

Frankie Walters (BMPA President) organised this meeting for us. It was based at Newcastle on Tyne and on offer were jet provost flying, an introduction to archaeology from the air incorporating a flying competition and night clubbing - the hotel was on the Quayside in the heart of clubland! The AGM was held during this meeting as well as the Guinness Cup Competition and our Annual Dinner. A full weekend package for two people cost £375, for one person the fee was £225. Reports will follow in the autumn newsletter.

Friday 6th September

Arrivals by air to Newcastle Airport - transport provided to your hotel in the heart of Newcastle's exciting Quayside. For car arrivals parking is available at the hotel. By train it's a short taxi ride from the Central Station to the Quayside.

Evening meal at La Tasca - Spanish tapas with lots of Sangria or beer. Just the thing to get you in the mood to explore the vibrant nightlife of the Quayside (guided by one who has sampled it well!).

Saturday 7th September

Jet provost flying available all day - trips are expected to last approximately 30 minutes but longer trips can be arranged. This is an optional extra to the full programme.

Breakfast at Wallington - This is the stately home of the Trevelyan family and is now owned by the National Trust. There we shall be hearing from Tim Gates about 'archaeology from the air' and his photographs may well hold some clues for the flying competition later. Tim is not only one of the greatest authorities in this fascinating subject but he also acts as adviser to many university departments as well as the National Trust. This talk will change how you view the countryside from the air. We then have the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Wallington to see why the National Trust will be closing the property for a year. Our guide will be the National Trust Historic Buildings Expert, Hugh Dixon, who is forfeiting his silver wedding morning celebrations to be our host. His knowledge of the treasures of Wallington is boundless. The trouble will be keeping him to time!

We leave Wallington for Newcastle Aero Club where a simply lunch will be served and we will start the flying competition. We hope to be able to visit the radar room to see if competitors are keeping to the correct course. If you come by car or rail we have reserved club aircraft with local instructors so that you can still take part in the flying competition for a small extra fee of £35. We are trying to ensure there is no advantage in having a local instructor as your pilot. There is no entry fee to aircraft owners using their own aircraft but if you have spare places to offer please let us know on the booking sheet - having spare eyes may be useful.

There will be a shuttle service to the Quayside or the Metro station throughout the afternoon for those who wish to explore the delights of our wonderful shopping centres or perhaps the new 'Centre for Life'. The climax of our day will be dinner at Trinity House - a unique maritime heritage dating back to 1505. Before dinner we shall be given a guided tour and introduction to the history of Trinity House. We will then enjoy good fellowship in wonderful surroundings and we shall have the gentle sound of the Northumbrian pipes to entertain us (not at all like the Scottish ones!).

For those with the energy there will be the chance to try the nightspots you missed on Friday.

Sunday 8th September

Breakfast in your hotel, then a choice of attending the AGM of the Association (members only) or taking in a bit of the life on the Quayside. We offer a guided walking tour tracing the changes to the Quayside since the keel boats. There is also a street market all morning, one of the oldest Sunday markets in Britain. At 11am we cross the new Millenium Bridge to the Baltic Flour Mill. It opened at one minute past midnight on 13th July - a novel launch of this brand new gallery. There will be a short private introduction to the thinking behind the gallery before you are free to roam at leisure. Lunch will be back on the Newcastle side of the bridge at the Malmaison Hotel, giving you the chance to take a last look at the river Tyne and the sights you have seen during an all action weekend.

We hope you will join us in the North where the nightlife is said to be the 5th best in the world. You will staying right at the heart of it all but your hotel is quietly tucked away from the revellers.

2002 Lectures

• "Five fatalities and a survival" - An assessment of glider crashworthiness (Dr Tony M Segal)
• General Aviation Activities (Frank McClurg, CFI, Northamptonshire School of Flying)
• A history of Pilot Medical Assessment - Medical Standards for the National PPL (Dr Simon Janvrin, Chief Medical Officer, C.A.A.)
• Implications of the National Private Pilots Licence (Mr Martin Robinson, CEO, AOPA UK)
• What do you mean? "Am I fit to fly?" (Dr Michael Bagshaw, Head of Occupational and Aviation Medicine, British Airways)
• Archaeology from the air (Tim Gates)