NEWS PAGE

Another attempt at the auto gyro speed record

It gives the Society great pleasure to hear that one of our distinguished honorary members, W.Cmdr Ken Wallis, has been cleared to have another crack at the auto-gyro speed record.

The 96 year, ex WWII Wellington bomber pilot, had been prevented from attempts on the current record for the past decade or so by a Civil Aviation Authority ruling that restricted, without exception, single seat auto-gyro flights to an upper speed limit of 70 mph.

In a letter to our membership secretary, Nigel Ratcliff, he reported that he had recently received correspondence from the Civil Aviation Authority relenting on his request for special dispensation to attempt the record.

Ken told Nigel that he is going to dust down his old speed record autogyro and, with the assistance of a new propellor, do some tests above a local 'mile' road to see if he can beat his old record with this machine of 136 mph.

The Society wishes Ken all the best in his attempt and looks forwards to hearing of a successful outcome!