ABOVE: 91 year old George Brennand recieves the award for oldest pilot flying in as P1
The annual Alderney Fly-In recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with thirty aircraft and pilots young and old arriving for ‘a weekend of island fun in the sun’.
Despite ‘less than ideal weather conditions,’ around eighty pilots and their passengers enjoyed ‘a weekend of bonhomie, entertainment and relaxation on the island’; including a welcome drinks reception, a BBQ, a gala dinner and prize presentation.
The recipient of the award for longest distance flown was Bill Brooks who, as well as participating in the evening’s ‘fun contest of paper plane races,’ was described as having ‘the advantage of designing planes for real’. Mr. Brookes flew his AA5 Traveler from 13nm north of Inverness, beating competition for the title from as far afield as France.
Other trophies awarded included the prize for the oldest pilot (flying to the event as P1), claimed by 91 year old George Brennand. The youngest pilot’s title was claimed by Josh Le Breton, aged 22.
Summing up the weekend, Alderney Flying Club David Chiswell commented: “We have had great feedback from all participants and are pleased we were able to host such a successful fly-in”. He also extended his thanks to all of the volunteers and the event’s main sponsor, Alderney Electricity Limited.
The first Alderney Fly-In took place in 1985 to celebrate 50 years of Alderney Airport, the first operational airport in the Channel Islands, which was built in 1936. Located three miles west of St Peter Port, the island’s capital, the facility cost an estimated £100,000 to construct and was officially opened in May 1939 by Air Minister Sir Kingsley Wood. Today, as well as operating scheduled and charter services, the airport also welcomes private aviation with ‘affordable landing fees and VAT free fuel’.
Next year’s fly-in has been scheduled for the weekend of 6-8 September 2024 and more information about the Alderney Flying Club can be found here.
IMAGE: THE ALDERNEY FLYING CLUB
