The Players Uncovered

Sunday 20th of February saw the cancellation of the Eastbourne F3F event, up and down the country 'grumpy' F3Fers replaced their toys in their workshops and braced themselves for the inevitable family day to follow.

Not true for the band of intrepid fools who mustered on a quite airfield in Hampshire. Late last year Karl Pashley had built 6 Extra 300's all equip with Irvine 53's and owned by a batch of smug F3F pilots who had decided that they where to show the power guys a thing or two. Things started just fine. Under the direction of Sigmund we all posed for our pre-show photographs and signed the inevitable autograph books that were eagerly waved by a number of small boys who had slipped past security.

Karl and his bemused father Don took charge. In a flurry of pipes, fuel, smoke and bruised fingers Karls Extra was flicked into life. All eyes where on the vastly experienced master of the sticks as he calmly lit a cigarette and taxied, unassisted to the threshold. Then with a practiced flick of his thumb the throttle was fully opened and the machine leapt down the runway at a frightening rate. We all watched hoping to glean some tips for our maiden flights into the oily world that is power. What followed was unfortunately a precursor to the rest of the day. Karl proceeded to rotate and once about 3 feet from the tarmac flipped inverted and started to dive back towards the ground. Inches from the tarmac the yellow beast flipped again just prior to the days first impact. The result was a somewhat modified undercarriage and front end accompanied by 3 pilots beginning to long for the safety of the Eastbourne slopes.

The crowd would not be silenced until more blood had been spilt, up stepped Iron John McCurdy. Don worked his magic once again and in a twinkle Johns red Extra was quietly purring at the end of the runway. No problems John thought, all I have to do is beat Karls duration record of 4.3 seconds and the glory is mine. John did indeed steal the show with a display of low-level aerobatics which started to give the rest of us hope for our chances. It was on Johns 4th flight that his, and our, luck changed. During a slow, low downwind pass his Irvine decided to have a rest and his Extra was converted into a glider. If John had been a regular Pike flier the performance of his gliding Extra would have been totally predictable but unfortunately being used to more efficient machines he proceeded to turn onto finals a tad to aggressively and ended up attempting to dig a hole in the tarmac. Significant damage was sustained by his toy and the Irvine will never get to sing again.

Two down two to go. Vic was to be next, he seemed a tad tense but we put that down to the the overpowering quality of the assembled field and summoned 'Don the flick'. Once his engine bolts had been tightened and his controls setup he also was ready to display. The takeoff was uneventful, swiftly climbing to a 'safe' altitude and gentle acclimatizing maneuvers where undertaken but then we where made aware of a glaring oversight in Vics preparation, his silencer fell off ! An emergency landing was duly completed and we went hunting for the missing pieces. Flight 2 was attempted and despite full throttle and numerous ground loops through the pits and the other airborne club pilots Vics engine stopped as it tried to devour Dons leg!

Time for Vic to have a little rest whilst the paramedics cleared away the carnage and we dried the tears of laughter from our eyes. Long John Don, that famous one legged engine guru, once again flicked Vic's rogue beast into life, after the briefest of discussions it was decided that Long John would get the beast airborne and at about 5000ft he would hand thing over to Vic. The flaw in the plan was part two, as soon as Vic got his hands on the transmitter the wayward bird made a dart for the ground and succeeded in digging the deepest hole of the day!

One left. Mine. Oh dear I was beginning to wish I had spent the day trudging around B&Q! There was no hiding place I had incited the ownership of the scrap that lay before us so they where not about to let me slink away. Once again Don was called to the flight line, and in a frighteningly short time I was center stage at the end of the runway with the baying crowd to my left. I proceeded to fly in true sc00p mode, slowly and carefully at a considerable altitude, until my first landing was called for. This was also a slow and calculated affair resulting in a now unique pristine Extra 300. Later on I was however not so fortunate, whilst cruising at my customary 'safe' altitude it became clear that a bitter 'Vic the Prep' Eldridge had been tampering with my equipment! My silencer also decided to fall off resulting in a state of unnecessary panic! A hurried circuit was made and I am ashamed to say that the downwind checks where totally ignored resulting in a less than graceful arrival in the light rough. I also sustained damage to my undercarriage but unfortunately the only photograph that I can find is a pre crash shot :-)

All that was left was a final shot of the wreckage and a trip over the road to the pub. This was truly a very special day and one that will live with all concerned for years to come.

I would like to thank the regular fliers from the Lee Bees's club who allowed us to terrorize their idyllic site. I suspect that the memories will also haunt them to the grave.

And then there was none