Our 38th annual event was held on 17-18 June 2017 with the support primarily from Stansted Branch and The Squadron/North Weald Flying Services. Every year we recognise some aviation anniversaries and this year we marked the 80th anniversary of the formation of Piper Aircraft, one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers. In 2017 three Piper aircraft were also reaching anniversaries their first flights too. It was 80 years since the first flight of the J-3 Cub, which was known as the L-4 Grasshopper when used extensively in WW2 by the USAAF. It was 70 years since the first flight of Piper's first post war designs the PA-16 Vagabond and it was 50 years since the first flight of the PA-28R Cherokee Arrow, which saw the introduction of retractable undercarriage on the Cherokee range. Over one of the hottest weekends of 2017 (apparently too hot for some pilots!) we had a good range of aircraft for our visitors to see and a good social atmosphere. Some images from 2017 are shown below.Thanks to all those visitors who joined us by air and road, our vendors and volunteers. As always we awarded a number of trophies to visiting aircraft and details of these are below.
FLY-IN AWARDS 2017 - Awarded Saturday 17 June
AWARD CATEGORY | CRITERIA | Winner
(Aircraft |
Pilot | Comments |
JOHN COOK MEMORIAL TROPHY | The aircraft which embodies the "Spirit of the Fly-In". The "Enthusiasts choice". | G-BRHP
Aeronca L-3C |
Mr McCormish | |
ANTIQUE AEROPLANE COMPANY | BEST RESTORATION | G-BEDA
CASA 1.131 Jungmann |
Mr Berry | |
A J JACKSON TROPHY | CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE
Best presented aircraft of any type |
G-BSED
PA-22 (Mod) |
Mr Lloyd | |
Best of theme Types | ||||
Piper J3/L4 Cub | G-NCUB | Mr Willies | ||
Piper PA-15 Vagabond | G-BIAP (PA-16) | Mr Bish | Awarded to PA-16 Clipper in absence of PA15s | |
Piper PA-28R Arrow | G-AVWO | Mr Cahill |