41st edition, 26 - 27 June 2010

The 2009 break with tradition, when aircraft arrived over Friday & Saturday, was partially maintained for 2010, when two non-participating aircraft landed on Friday afternoon. These aircraft were placed in Park 4, whereas the actual participants, who arrived over the week-end, used Park 3.

Excluding the above two aircraft, there were an additional 11 entries, up from 2009’s 10 competitors. Nationality-wise, British pilots as usual were in the majority, with five G- registered aircraft, and another two, US-registered, being UK-based (one being a non-participant). France followed with four entries, (one didn’t compete). Last seen in 2008, Finnish and Belgian participants again made a showing with two and one aircraft respectively.

As in 2009, there were no German entrants.

Aircraft-wise, the one aircraft that stood out was the Eclipse 500, by virtue of being a biz-jet, and the owners not being able to compete.

As for the rest, there was nothing that could be regarded as unusual, the distinctively-shaped Robin and Mooney standing out from the rest.

In the 2009 introduction, I expressed surprise about the poor participation of aircraft manufactured by those two US general-aviation giants, Piper and Cessna (no Pipers, one Cessna). For 2010, the balance improved somewhat with three Piper aircraft – including the ever-green Cherokee – making an appearance. Cessna participation however, remained the same, one aircraft.

The remainder were a mix of Cirrus, Socata and Rockwell types.

The overall winner trophy again went to a Briton, flying Piper Saratoga G-RIGH.

AIRCRAFT	REGISTRATION	PILOT & PLACING	NOTES/HISTORY
P. PA-28-161 Warrior III	OO-PEG
Cirrus SR22	OH-BRA
P. PA-28-140 Cherokee C	OH-PCN
Avion Robin 400/180	F-GPAP
Cirrus SR20	F-GTCI
Cessna 182 Skylane	G-HRNT
Cirrus SR22	G-TAAB
Mooney 201 SE	G-FLYA
P. PA-32R-301 Saratoga II HP	G-RIGH	Overall Rally winner.
Rockwell Commander 112TC	N4599W		UK-based.
S. Tobago	G-BZPI

Non participants

AIRCRAFT	REGISTRATION	PILOT & PLACING	NOTES/HISTORY
Socata TBM 700	F-HBGH		Arrived on Friday, the 25th. Not a participant.
Eclipse 500	N177CK		UK-based. Arrived on Friday, the 25th. Not a participant. Second time that a biz-jet has made an appearance at the Air rally.

Cancelations

AIRCRAFT	REGISTRATION	PILOT & PLACING	NOTES/HISTORY
Avion Robin DR400	G-FTIL		This was meant to arrive on Friday.

42nd edition, 2 - 5 July 2011

As if the original number of participants amounting to just seven aircraft wasn’t bad enough (representing a 63% drop compared with 2010), only two aircraft actually showed up.

Sadly, the one aircraft that would have stood out by virtue of being a tail-dragger, a Cessna Skywagon, failed to turn up.

For the third consecutive year, there were no German entrants.

And for the first time in the 40 years that they’ve been participating, a French crew took home the overall winner trophy.

AIRCRAFT	REGISTRATION	PILOT & PLACING	NOTES/HISTORY
Avion Robin 400/160	F-GSRE	Overall Rally winner.	c/n 2386. Last seen during 2007 air rally.
Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six	G-BXWP		c/n 32-7340088, year of construction 1973.

Cancelations

AIRCRAFT	REGISTRATION	PILOT & PLACING	NOTES/HISTORY
Cessna 185F Skywagon	G-BYBP		c/n 185-03804, year of construction 1979. Previously registered as OO-DCD, F-GDCD, F-ODIA, N4593E.
Piper PA 28	G-BKSW
Piper PA30-600 Twin Comanche	G-CDHF		c/n 30-1111, year of construction 1966.
Cessna 182S	G-HRNT
Cessna Turbo Skylane T182T	I-GIBR		c/n 18208231.