Pilot – June 2018

George Holt

Thomas and AIRCO

I was delighted to read
the article on the DH83
Fox Moth, but disappointed
that the ‘Fox Provenance’ box
incorrectly referred to the DH9
and DH18 when the correct
designations are Airco DH9
and Airco DH18. All the DH
designs up to and including 25
are by Geoffrey de Havilland
whilst working for George Holt
Thomas, founder of the Aircraft
Manufacturing Company, usually
abbreviated to AIRCO. Airco is
correctly recognised at Duxford
with the information boards
stating ‘Airco DH9’.
Ian Simmonds and I have just
published a book on George Holt
Thomas’s life, as he seems to be
virtually unknown in the aviation
world to which he contributed so
much (see 'Books & Gear'
p.82 – Ed)

I read that British Airways

proposes to celebrate its

centenary in 2019. That can

only be based on Holt Thomas’s

AT&T airline which started

operations in 1919 – ‘the world’s

first international regular daily

scheduled passenger flights’.

Dave Scott, by email

Blackbushe rip-off

I have been based at

Blackbushe on and

off since 1982. I normally fly

small GA singles and have been

charged landing fees of up to

£28, but generally £14 which

seems quite fair.

Recently I was picked up there

and dropped back in a PA-31 to

take someone to Blackpool for

a funeral. Imagine my horror

when I received a bill for £312

for two landings. Seriously?

It seems Blackbushe’s fees

jump from £25 for below

2,500kg to £156 over 2,500kg

MTOW. This airfield obviously

doesn’t want GA and uses

underhanded methods through

an unreasonable scale to rip

people off. I will never visit again

and suggest you don’t either.

Andrew Freeman, by email

Wind in the wires

Harald Penrose could

not have met Viscount

Trenchard ‘in the early 1960s’

(Steve Slater, May) unless, like

Lord Dowding (also mentioned

in the article), he took up

spiritualism. Trenchard died on

10 February 1956.

Jeffrey Finegold, by email

Pilot praise

The disadvantage of

reading April’s issue on

the day it arrived (which is what

I did) is that subjectively it was a

long wait for May’s issue to arrive,

but worth the wait.

I was fascinated by the Tech Log

article on engines. It was a lovely

mix of history and engineering

and I enjoyed it and learned a lot

from it. I’d like more such articles,

particularly looking at aspects of

the engineering in light aircraft. If

you want specific suggestions, I’ll

suggest the linkages between the

controls and the control surfaces.

The Twin Comanche article

gave rise to a burst of nostalgia as

I read it. I think ‘Twin Comanche’

was the first aircraft name I

encountered and that was back in

the 1980s. I appreciate that this

aircraft has good performance

and handling characteristics but

it’s really the curtains that make

it so successful, isn’t it? They are

reminiscent of 1930s aviation and

that takes me nicely to the article

about the Fox Moth. More aviation

history for me and I love every

minute of it.

46 | Pilot June 2018 | pilotweb.aero

I recently flew into Norwich on business

for the first time as a PPL and would like

to thank SaxonAir for their excellent

handling. Having checked on the likely

costs in advance (just in case I might

have to leave the club aircraft behind

as payment). I did the PPR through

them on the day, and both ATC and

SaxonAir were ready for me on arrival a

few hours later. I was marshalled onto a

stand beside their modern building and

chocks were installed. Whilst I closed

up and fitted the rain cover, my bags

were carried to the crew room, and

after an offer of coffee etc and whether I

needed a taxi I was on my way to work,

happy the aircraft was safe, secure

and in good hands. The following day

between rain showers I made a quick

visit to sort out refuelling, which arrived

promptly and the cost was added to my

overall invoice.

They are open from 05:00 (local)

so my intended 08:00 departure next

day was no problem. On arrival I was

expected, my departure information

was on their board, and when I rang

ATC they already had my details.

After self-briefing in their internet

room (with printer), a quick coffee

and a comfort break in clean, modern

facilities (changing from flying clothes

into a suit is never fun in a draughty,

dubiously-cleaned WC stall) I was

escorted airside. Excluding fuel, the

sum total for handling, landing fee and

two nights parking on their ramp was

£78.00 including VAT which I thought

was excellent. I asked my ground

handler about their approach to PPL

traffic and he stated they apply the

same degree of service whether you’re a

private pilot or commercial traffic. They

were busy with executive jet, helicopter

and other private traffic during my visit.

What a refreshing change from the

indifferent (or no) services provided

at ridiculously inflated costs by some

other airports. I get the chance to fly

on business three or four times a year

with PPL/IMC and some 300 hours

under my belt so I am not a ‘regular’,

but this is by far and away the best

service I have experienced in years. I

have already thanked them directly

but I am delighted with the service

from SaxonAir and would heartily

recommend them to anyone thinking of

visiting Norwich.

Ian Butter, Blackpool

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