Flying From My Mind by David G Cook

Author:David G Cook
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781783460465
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-06-01T07:00:00+00:00

TIME TO CLIMB

In May 1993, we decided to attempt a ‘time to climb’ record as our next publicity project and beneficially it would be an inexpensive venture to carry out, an important consideration for any CFM event. The FAI’s 0 – 3000 metres (10,000 feet) record was currently held by two Frenchmen who achieved the climb in 27 minutes. The rules stipulated that the plane must be carrying two people, so I nominated my son Jacob to fly Shadow 02 with the CFM storeman David Foster (who was the lightest of all the employees) to be the passenger. To make the aircraft as light as possible, David Foster had nobly volunteered to fly naked but I thought this might not be too helpful if the plane was forced to make an emergency landing away from the airfield! An official observer was required by the FAI sporting code to witness the event but, as I already held a certificate for this position, this would not be a problem.

We fitted out 02 with the engine from our factory Streak Shadow, as this would give 64 hp rather than 40 hp. This complied with the FAI definition of a microlight although it was, at that time, in conflict with the current CAA regulations. It was not till later that permission was granted by the CAA to use a larger size engine on a microlight – our ‘D’ Series Shadow being a result of that decision. Trials had shown that extreme thermic conditions resulted in the quickest altitude gain, so the weather on the day would be a critical factor in the gaining of the record.

A warm, breezy day with plenty of potential thermic activity and a ‘buoyant’ atmosphere was chosen and Jacob and David Foster roared off in 02 from Thorpeness cricket pitch, the sealed barograph to show the time against altitude positioned safely in the cockpit. An excellent result of 11 minutes 2 seconds was recorded; less than half the time of the current record.

To our dismay, the FAI rejected the claim on the grounds that I, as the ‘official observer’, was related to the pilot. Quite how this fact could alter the sealed barograph reading was not made clear and the official world record remained in France with the two Frenchmen.

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