To be honest, I did not take a whole lot of notice of the ILAS Condor project while it was developing.  How things have changed!  

I was always very keen that ILAS should pioneer the use of permit aircraft for flight training, but when it eventually became possible, it was too late for me personally.  I felt I had to go ahead with my pilot training because I was getting closer to the completion of my own RV-9 project.  I eventually did so, finally achieving the PPL in November '17.  So I saw the Condor as good for ILAS but not really relevant to me.

If I was starting now, I would certainly do my 'ab initio' training in the Condor.  For one thing, the cost would be perhaps 50% of some of the commercial outfits.

Secondly, my own aircraft will be a 'tail dragger'  like so many permit aircraft in this country.  So training on the Condor would have been especially appropriate for me.  True, EI-BDX is flapless, so I would have had to acquire the skills of approach and landing with flaps on another aircraft.  But that is much easier than transitioning to tailwheel landing from a tri-gear aircraft.

Now, having achieved a PPL in C150s, I need to exercise the privileges of this 'license to learn'.  So it makes complete sense to further my flying education by adding that tailwheel endorsement.  As I write, I am abut 9 hours into that process and it is going to take me another few hours.

However, the result will not be merely an ability to land a tailwheel aircraft but a completely transformed level of 'stick and rudder' flying skills.

So what's it like to fly?  Well, I can tell you that,coming from a series of C150's of about the same vintage, it is a pure joy!  I am okay with overhead wings but the Condor's low wings  just feel so 'right'. Changing from a yoke to a stick, which I was worried about, was just a non-issue from the start and actually feels much more natural.  A particular joy of this type is its responsiveness to the rudder.  In the C150s, I couldn't really feel the rudder and didn't need it that much but BDX gives you such a nice coordinated turn with rudder that you actually enjoy using it correctly.

EI-BDX is in great shape - probably almost as good as when it left the Rollason factory.  But it still has a very 'classic' feel and in comparison to the beat-up C150s I trained in, which are just worn out, it has an atmosphere that I would compare with Triumph Spitfires or Mini-Cooper rally cars of about the same era.

The Rollason Druine Condors were always conceived as training aircraft.  In fact the original business model was that they remained factory owned and were leased out to flight schools across the UK.  It is certainly the case that EI-BDX demands better flying skills.  Obviously, you need to be far better with the rudder to counter P factor on take off and to keep her straight on the ground.  But, in addition, without flaps, speed control in the approach and landing phases is far more important and you also need to be far more active in using the throttle along with pitch to keep a stabilised approach.  

 In comparison, the C150 (the only point of reference I can talk about) can be 'driven' down or dragged in.  It seems to cope with a far wider range of ineptitudes than the Condor and the student pilot won't always know that he or she has done anything wrong.  In the Condor, the threshold can climb up the windscreen or disappear under the nose very quickly unless you get the speed right.  Round-out speeds outside of the optimum range for the conditions (50-60 knots) will result in a very firm arrival or a balloon/bounce.

As a builder, I would love to get stuck in to re-organising the panel of BDX.  Crossing hands to use key controls like mixture and carb heat (both located above my 'stick' hand) is not ideal .  Nonetheless I was working those controls without needing to look at them within the first hour.

Yes, you can learn the basics of flying in a C150 but the Condor will make a pilot of you.  I recommend you give it a go.

Details of the Condor group and how to get flying in EI-BDX can be found by clicking below

Fly the Condor.

I will keep you posted on how I am progressing as my training goes on.  Look out for updates to this post.

Loman O'Byrne

The latest newsletter from EFLEVA has just arrived

EFLEVA Newsletter July 2018.pdf

It is time once again to invite all members to put forward their nominations for the 2018 ILAS Awards in each of the four categories:

1.   Air Touring Award.

For the best journey by an ILAS member in command of any aircraft (any type, any registration) during the judging year (the 12 months  up to Monday 8th October), based on a log of the trip.

2.  Homebuilt Award.

For the best new build ILAS permit type aircraft first flown during the judging year.

3.  Vintage/Classic Restoration Award.

For the best re-build/renovation of an ILAS permit type aircraft that was returned to flight during the judging year.

4.  John O’Loughlin Exemplary Airmanship Award

For the best display of airmanship in the operation of homebuilt and classic/vintage aircraft.

We are inviting members to make their nominations by email to chairman@ilas.ie not later than Sunday 21^stOctober. You may also nominate yourself if you wish.

The ILAS Awards function / Christmas dinner is planned for Saturday 1^st December 2018 at the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy.

Nominations are especially important for the Airmanship Award because the judges may not know of the incidents or events that demonstrated airmanship. Equally, nominations are important for the Air Touring Award because the judges may not know about the trip concerned. 

When nominating a person for an award, please give reasons why you think that person deserves the award – the more detail the better. Nominations without supporting justification cannot be accepted. On the other hand, multiple nominations of the same person won’t confer any advantage. The Permit Secretary will be aware of first flights of C&V and Amateur-built aircraft if the paperwork has been submitted.

There is a separate FAQs document which can be found at ILAS_Awards_FAQ_2018.pdf or in the downloads section of our website. If you are having trouble locating please send a mail to webmaster@ilas.ie

Good luck to all entrants and please get those nominations in.

Michael Ryan

Events Coordinator 

People started to arrive on Friday in preparation for the event. Campers set up in the field and G-UINN had already flown in.

The weather was perfect for the weekend. Aircraft started to arrive from 9.30 am and EI-BSG Gyrocopter was being assembled. The gyrocopter flew around 10:30 and then again in the evening. A total of 32 aircraft flew into the field during the course of the day. Of these, some aircraft enjoyed local flights of the surrounding sunny south east and appreciated the breath taking views that were on offer. Many came by road as well and over 150 people were in attendance through the day. After the BBQ, EI-AHI Tiger Moth was busy and allowed some of the other pilots to experience the joy and excitement of open cockpit flying in such a prestigious craft.

Many people commented on how well the field was presented. Visitors and visiting pilots were greeted with refreshments at the club house throughout the day and a BBQ in the afternoon. People camped for the evening and some stayed locally and made use of the B&B facilities. 

The Fly Market was set up in the new ILAS gazebo. This is a great opportunity for people to buy/sell and swap equipment. This is something we hope to continue for future fly-ins. In the meantime, you can use the website Buy and Sell page to offer or seek items.  Also on display in the porta-cabin was a sample of equipment that can be borrowed from the ILAS tool library. On view were the boroscope inspection camera, propeller balancer, differential pressure tester and high voltage cable tester. A full list of items that can be borrowed is available on the ILAS website.

Early Sunday morning started off with a mist over the field but before long this had burned off and the first of the flyers had arrived. A total of 20 aircraft visited the field and were assisted by the follow me marshals. Some of the aircraft that arrived were pilots who had visited the day before. Again, many people came by road as well, and there were around 80 visitors. The BBQ was fired up for 1 o’clock and the aroma soon had people lining up for a bite to eat. 

The two day event was an excellent opportunity for our members to get together to swap and share stories, to reminisce on old times and to make plans for the future. As you walked up and down the field it was a delight to hear the stories, the laughter, the in-depth technical debates and the sharing of knowledge.

We had a fantastic two day event. This would not have being possible without the volunteers at the field so we would like to thank all who volunteered and helped out. It was due to their contribution and hard work before, during and after the two day event that made it a memorable gathering.

Our next fly-in is the Harvest Fly-in scheduled for 28^thAugust. Registration is on the ILAS website. Hope to see you all there.

Mike Ryan, Events Coordinator

John Kent has stepped down as ILAS Chief Inspector at his own request and has been replaced by John O'Toole.

John O'Toole has worked for Aer Lingus for nearly 20 years, currently in the role of training captain on the A320 fleet. He became a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer in Canada in the late 1980s having completed technical college and an apprenticeship. He started flying commercially and worked as a pilot/engineer on various smaller aircraft types in remote regions. After a few years in Ireland, he got involved with flying and maintaining light aircraft. He later became involved with the Iolar restoration project (Aer Lingus Charitable Foundation) and subsequently the DH Chipmunk fleet of the Irish Historic Flight Foundation. In 2013, he became an inspector for ILAS. He holds an MSc. from Cranfield University, in Safety and Accident Investigation. He is desperately trying to finish a Murphy Rebel kit aircraft for at least ten years now. John is the current holder of the ILAS Classic/Vintage trophy for his upgrade of EI-AET to floats

John would like to express his gratitude to the ILAS committee for his appointment to CI and is delighted to serve the greater ILAS membership in support of their sport aviation goals and aspirations.

On behalf of the members, we wish him every success in this new extra position of responsibility and we assure him of our full support. 

30 people attend turned out to hear Leo Murray of Air Accident Investigation unit  deliver the inaugural Dave Ryan Memorial Lecture at Kilrush on Saturday 7th April on the crucial subject of permit aviation safety

Soup and rolls were there ready for all when they arrived. The time before the lecture was time for people to meet up and catch up with fellow aviators. While the weather was good at the airfield, it was not as good in other parts of the country. Nonetheless, four aircraft flew in for the event and the rest attended by road.

Charles O’Shea opened the lecture by speaking about Dave Ryan and his contribution to aviation, as well as acknowledging Eamon Fitzgerald. Leo Murray from the AAIU then gave his presentation.

The presentation was split into two parts. The first part of the presentation focused on the process the AAIU has in place to handle accidents, beginning when an accident is reported, then the onsite procedures, followed up by the lab and the final report being issued. He mentioned the regulations they must follow: Annex 13, SI 460 2009 and EU 996/2010. In the second part of the presentation, Leo spoke about different problems that single engine aircrafts experience including induction icing, He also covered the safety aspects of BRS parachutes and inappropriate landing sites

Leo gave an overview of the report issued by the AAIU in relation to Dave’s case. Given the occasion and the number of us who knew and admired Dave Ryan, this was difficult for all in the room.  However,  it was done in a positive way to raise awareness and was all the more effective because of that personal connection. 

Leo displayed an interesting chart in which Irish meterological data over the last 30 years was mapped onto the familiar chart showing the risk of induction icing.  The vast bulk of the data points fall within the induction icing curve and almost half of them fall within the most serious risk area.  This demonstrates what we all know but need to take more heed of; there is scarcely ever a day in Ireland without risk of induction icing. 

Leo spoke about BRS parachutes, advantages, disadvantages, costs and safety precautions. He showed some videos of BRS being deployed in a test environment and an emergency situation.

Leo spoke about the difficulties of choosing landing sites other than airfields, in particular about the dangers of unknown slopes and hills. If it is not an emergency, he recommended performing a flyover and possibly walking the site first to make the landing and take-off safer.

All AAIU reports are on the website www.aaiu.ie and if you sign up you can get email notification of when reports are issued. Leo encouraged people to read the reports and gain knowledge and lessons learned from them. On average, Ireland has approximately four fatalities a year and everyone would like to see it reduced to zero.

After the main presentation, Loman introduced John Todd who gave an update on Dave Ryan’s Little Wing 3 project which he has taken over. He showed pictures of the progress made to date and discussed the build and plans.

The information contained in this lecture was very important to all of us. Hopefully we all took something away from the day so we can improve our own practice. As pilots, we are always learning.

The ILAS Tool Library has made an important acquisition; an ACES Probalancer Sport Model 1015 dynamic propellor balancer.

This advanced tool will form the basis of a new Prop Balancing Service to be delivered through Inspectors who have been trained in the process.

Details of how to access the service are available on the Member Services page

A short case study video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/zCVS4GED_Vk

The committee has arranged a series of lectures to take place during the remainder of the winter and spring period.

The list of events planned for the coming winter/spring series are:

• Aviation Weather, given by Met Eireann
• Permit Aviation Safety, given by the AAIU.
  
• EASA - what on earth is going on? given by Julian Scarfe of European Air Sports
  

Following the fly-in season, the lecture series will resume in September with further events planned for locations around the country.  Our intention is to have approximately six such events over the course of each autumn winter and spring.  With the Annual Awards event and the AGM, this will make for a busy social and educational season in the period when flying weather is less reliable. 

During the summer flying season, ILAS will continue to host 2-3 fly-ins, so the focus on 'indoors' activity will diminish. 

All events will be published on this website and will be announced via email to members.

You are viewing the new ILAS website, launched at the AGM on 28th Jan. This major revision features a new and clearer navigation structure, membership self-service features and event management services.

The new website is a total rebuild of the last version, based on an entirely new platform called "Wild Apricot" (whose name is seen in the generic help system) and offers a fresh new interface with a much more logical member structure.

There is now a clear division between the public face of the website and the members' area, with much of the most valuable information and facilities accessible within the members' area only.

The website has greatly enhanced event management facilities, with the option for users to register for events, each of which will have its own unique event page.  While events in general remain free to members, registering ensures they are added to an email list for any updates.  Event announcements will now only go to those who have not yet registered while a reminder will only be sent to those who have registered. Members can also register guests that they would like to bring along.  For the odd event such as a training course for which the trainer is brought in from abroad, the website has facilities for collecting event fees on-line and issuing e-tickets. 

In addition, the website has very powerful membership facilities, including the ability for members to reset their own password and edit their own profile.  Members can also make subscription payments as before, but now they can opt to make automatic recurring subscription payments, which removes just one more administrative hassle from the aviation world.

The ILAS awards winners for 2017 were confirmed by the Committee at their meeting on 23rd November.  They are:

Category	Winner
Air Touring	Andrew Butler for his RV-7 trip to Switzerland with mountain flying in the Alps
Best Classic/Vintage Restoration	John O'Toole for his conversion to floats of Piper J3 Cub EI-AET
John O'Loughlin Airmanship Award	Ken Townsend for his handling of the 'open canopy' incident at EIIF in his Colibri EI-EWZ

No eligible first flight of a homebuilt type took place within the judging year so the Ferguson trophy cannot be awarded in 2017.  This is a matter of concern to the committee.  

 Congratulations to all of the winners