Name that 'genre'
Here's your chance to make your mark on aviation history. Help is needed for the growing world of the...er....minijet, microjet...er...well, that's the point. The little wonderjets in this sector desperately deserve a "proper" classification and I'm sure there is something wonderful lurking in Great Aunt Agatha's flying helmet for the first nephew or niece who can suggest a suitable new monicker. So here is a short list of what NOT to suggest: Microjet, Minijet, Microlight Jet, Very Light Jet, Light Jet, Personal Jet, Entry Level Jet, Barbie Jet. Over to you.
Mystery 707 revealed
The "just how low can you get" mystery Boeing 707 in last week's Straight & Level is apparently G-AYVG. "Victor Golf" - previously of Donaldson International Airways "but operated by British Midland's 'Instant Airline' was on lease to Zambia Airways", says nostalgic and ex-Donaldson Nephew John Hetherington. But where? Lasham, Manston?
Can't see the wood for the carburettor
(From an NTSB accident report - Maule M5-235C, spotted by Nephew Dan Willink) "The airplane was towing a banner, when the engine quit and the pilot made a forced landing in the trees. The pilot was unable to restart the engine. He said he did not use carburettor heat." Budgie News safety expert Douglas McPrang comments: "Forget the carb heat. It sounds like he should have used a hedge trimmer if he really hoped to restart the engine in those trees."
Attention getter?
Nephew Brian Miller, also at the same luncheon in Washington where Birdseed boss Rod Eddington made his recent "January sales" remarks mentioned the other week, feels the rest of his message needs an airing. In essence, he says: "How do you get the undivided attention of the manufacturers? Answer: tell them you want to buy 30 new airliners." And talking of Birdseed, it seems that not content with squashing up the legroom in its 777s, the airline's in-flight High Life magazine is this month determined to baffle its readers over the make-up of the current fleet. According to sharp-eyed Nephew and 33-year Budgie News veteran reader Olov Andersson, the Megaplanes 767-300 is illustrated with a drawing of a 737-500, while the accompanying article on the 757-200 is illustrated with a picture of....err.... a 767-300. You think that's confusing? Just wait until it decides to reintroduce Concorde - cunningly disguised as a Scruggs Aeroscrape 146 of course!
Source: Flight International
