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Although the group is large with 12 members G-BASH is looked after with great care and much enthusiasm by the group aided by Doug Ranger, Yvonne and the gang at Wiltshire Aircraft Maintenance.
Doug and Yvonne in the office at WAM ADF found working? Ian Todd stubbornly refused to admit defeat, for some 10 years the ADF has not worked, but it is an essential piece of IFR kit. NDBs are still used for holds and smaller fields such as Wellesbourne and Compton Abbas have installed them as low cost aids for use in poor visibility. Over the last year Ian has located second hand working equipment in the USA and imported it. He and Phil Acock finally got it all working. The Group voted to reimburse Ian for his costs, on condition he coach the IMCers in ADF tracking which they all forgot years ago. Dave Skertch found that he could pick up the MP beacon from 25 miles at FL45 and tracked EAS back in from the Isle of Wight at FL50. New Engine Ian Todd informed the bashers "Good news chaps...the new engine is back in the aircraft with brand new Millennium pistons & Cylinders...new heads etc. The magnetos have been reconditioned. The propeller has been serviced by Hants & Sussex and is ready to refit. We're now waiting for a new starter motor and the overhauled carb which should be here by Tuesday. I hope to air test it on Wednesday all being well so get booking again! We have a slight problem with checkouts as continuous circuit bashing is not the best thing for a new engine whilst its being run in. All I can suggest is that we try to include some cruising at moderate power settings as we go along and perhaps do our landings at airfields further airfield. The old starter was knackered apparently so with a new battery as well we should have no more problems in that area".
Above: New Engine fitted by WAM The cost of the work of: The WAM bit
The overhaul of the engine by Mercury comes to £10457.50 inc. VAT (a whopping £1557.52). Total £ 12298.16 Clean Up 2006 The Bashers arrived on Easter Monday to clean up the aeroplane to find that Keith Dixon had done much of it, thanks Keith. Dave Skertch, grumpy to the letter did however comment that Keith had forgotten to clean the chocks, petty!
Above: Dave Skertchly, Ian Todd and Dave Leddy after cleaning, photo taken by Chris Sellen G-WASH Chaps will be pleased to know that we now have a sparkling new BASH for the 2005 season. People came from miles around to watch progress with the annual clean today, and dropped in at the Microlight Fair when they'd had their fill. Unfortunately the Bashers didn't have time to hoover inside, so the aeroplane may still be a little bit infested with ants. I don't think they've nested but are clambering up the undercarriage leg, but it could upset passengers of a nervous disposition.
Above: Chris Sellen cleaning G-WASH Bent BASH At the beginning of June G-BASH suffered an accident at Popham. It was every AA5 owners nightmare, a nose wheel first landing, which resulted in the inevitable AA5 bounce. Fortunately no-one was hurt, the engine was unscathed and the airframe suffered no damage, but the nose leg and torque tube were written off.
Above: G-BASH looks forlorn without its nose leg. 6 weeks prime flying including a trip to Germany and the bash Group day out were lost At the subsequent meeting the miscreant along with Dave Skertchly were sentenced to do a tail wheel rating.
Above Left: The torque tube was split along its length, Right: X Rays showed that the nose leg too was cracked
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