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Sywell Revival 2009
Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September 2009 Statement dated Wednesday 9th September 2009, updated on Sunday 27th September 2009 |
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A tremendous success for all the team at Sywell Aerodrome and the Milton Keynes Aviation Society (MKAS). In April 2009, when the LAA decided to scale back the proposed LAA Rally to a large Fly-In, as it did not wish to overexpose itself financially due to the current economic climate, Jeff Bell of Sywell Aerodrome then approached the Milton Keynes Aviation Society to run all the air side access and marshalling at the Sywell Revival, based on our successful work with the airfield over the last few years. Many pages were written on the run up to the event on various forums, as to what was to be and not to be, but the reality of the matter is, that in the end the event was a great success. However first and foremost, it was conducted in a safe and enjoyable manner, and secondly it was also run cost effectively without any great cost or complications. MKAS had full responsibility for both the airside access and the marshalling. We carefully considered the various options, observed all the comments being aired and then decided on what would happen. Without the help of many people, the planning would not have gone so well, but one person in particular we would like to thank is our good friend John Broad. We would also like to thank the great team at Sywell Aerodrome, who supported MKAS in all the decisions made regarding the air side access, which was a big bone of contention for everyone, and which was to prove to be crucial to a successful event. The MKAS marshalling team was made up of several groups, working well together, and very ably led by Nigel Kemp – with MKAS marshallers - Ben Burt, Dave Irvine, Russell Osborn and Dave Beetham, the Air-Britain team - Phil Kemp, Trevor Davies, Kevin Jarvis, John Tiejen, Rowland Benbrook, Alan Field, Trevor Mason and Dylan Allen and the Panhandlers - Paul Regan and Mike Kemp (also an MKAS member) and not forgetting Mike Blake (LAA) and Tony Townsend (Air-Britain Manchester). They all did a terrific job over the two days, marshalling 321 aircraft on Saturday and 149 on Sunday. With a total of 501 different aircraft attending on the Friday and over the week-end it was a superb fly-in. The air side access team consisting of myself on point (I was the big cheery guy in the orange fleece, handing out the air side safety leaflets) ably assisted by Lyndall Phelps, Adrian Chadburn, Geoff Goodchild, Jacob Goodchild, Norman Gillard (MKAS), Dougal Berry (MKAS) and Angela Smith. Thank you to each and every one of you for doing such a sterling job. However we must also thank the many pilots, hundreds of enthusiasts (many of them friends) and members of the public and their families, who attended the Sywell Revival over the two days. We had over 1,100 people go air side on Saturday and almost 700 on Sunday, and we would like to thank everyone for their understanding on the safety briefings, and their exemplary behaviour airside, which made my job and the rest of the MKAS team a pleasure. Sure we had some quite derogatory comments, from enthusiasts and pilots alike, but that was to be expected. We would also like to thank everyone who went air side, for the £1,246.91 that we collected for the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance - you never know when you or your family might be needing their or indeed another Air Ambulance's help. Sywell Aerodrome and MKAS did what we did for everyone’s benefit and enjoyment, and the many comments we have received so far have been for the most part very complimentary. Sure there are some wrinkles to sort out, and we have now set the bar very high!. But then again we as a team don't believe in doing things by half. We all now look forward to the 2010 Single LAA Rally and we hope to play our part in making that event an even bigger success, if and when we are asked to do so. Thank you to everyone once again, and happy flying, spotting, or whatever other pleasures you gain from this - the wonderful world of aviation. Andre Faehndrich – Milton Keynes Aviation Society |
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