Many years ago I read a report of a pilot who noticed that one of his wings was failing - the lower spar had broken, and the wing had started to fold upwards. He rolled inverted and found that the undamaged upper spar took the load. So he navigated back to the airfield, joined and flew the circuit, all inverted, and when on final rolled upright at the last possible moment and managed to land just before the wing finally failed.

This challenge is a re-enactment of that feat of airmanship: -

1. Navigating while flying inverted,
2. Joining and flying the circuit, still inverted,
3. Only rolling upright on final and at a "survivable" altitude.

Start ant any time of your choosing during the month of October 2024.

Club base at Gloucestershire/Staverton, EGBJ.

You will depart from Gloucestershire Airfield, EGBJ, and your intended route will be: -

EGBJ, Worcester Beacon, Sleep (EGCV)

N.b. Worcester Beacon has an elevation of approximately 1000 feet, so you will be climbing to 2500 for safe clearance agl.

As you reach 2300 feet you notice you left wing is starting to fail (buckle upwards - indicating that the lower spar has broken)!
So:

1. Roll Inverted so the upper spar takes the strain. (Which way should you roll - Left or Right?)
2. Find an airfield to land. (N.b. both Gloucestershire and Sleep have too many houses/villages in the close vicinity, and as you are at risk of "falling out of the sky" you dare not overfly any habitation whatsoever!). For the purposes of awarding a STAR, destination airfield is EGBS Shobdon (still try and do your diversion in flight).
3. Plan a route to get yourself to that airfield (EGBS Shobdon). (N.b. This route must similarly totally avoid overflying any habitation!)
4. Decide the altitude that you could survive falling from when the wing fails in upright flight.
5. Navigate to the alternate airfield and join the circuit - all while still in inverted flight.
6. On final, and below that critical height, roll upright and land (Which way should you roll - Left or Right?)

You may use any aircraft classified as GA (within the EASA "light" category - please see club rules for details) that will sustain inverted flying (sorry but by definition this excludes helicopters).
It is probably more in the "spirit" of this event to use a single engine aircraft.

As this could be sufficiently stressful we will use calm weather! You will need to turn off any on-line weather updates and select calm in the simulator weather options.

Always ANC (Aviate, Navigate, Communicate).

Remember, there may be non CIX VFR traffic in the area as well as club members and that the event should be fun for everyone - pilots and controllers. If your enjoyment is impaired by "unsportsmanlike" ATC, let someone know so senior club members can pass on your concerns. Similarly, if you get something wrong, such as entering controlled airspace without authority, learn from the experience and follow instructions - even if requested to 'Disconnect'. If you do have problems, don't be afraid to ask. Club members are always happy to help, and ATC would much rather you asked than stumbled on causing mayhem.

ATC Currently there is no planned ATC.

Be aware that ATC may be trying to get in touch with one of us, so don't let TeamSpeak chat cut across the radio. Conversation should stop immediately if ATC transmit and only continue if "they aren't talking to us". If you realise a member has not heard ATC, let them know on TeamSpeak. Remember that if ATC tells you "Standby" It means "wait, don't call me, I will come back to you as soon as I can" - busy with a more urgent problem.

The Club Star award will be awarded to all those departing EGBJ and landing at EGBS flying this event at any time during October.

Event Idea: Max Symons | Event Planning: Max Symons | Event Briefing: Max Symons