Flaps July 2010

It’s here! The very first edition of Flaps. Here’s what’s in it: 0.00 Introduction 1.05 Private pilot and former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik – we hear about an expensive prop strike and find out about his worst day in aviation. 9.07 We went along to the high-speed taxi run of the lovingly-restored Vulcan bomber XM655 – and spoke to one of the crew. 16.26 And we ask – is a Vulcan louder than a vuvuzela? 17.26 In our “Pet PPL” feature, student pilot Karl takes his first flying lesson. Good luck Karl! 22.16 We welcome straight-talking former airline and RAF pilot Pablo Mason: he reckons you can’t over-estimate the power of common sense. 26.16 In 1982 a British Airways crew inadvertantly flew their 747 into a volcanic ash cloud. It’s mainly because of their experience that European airspace was shut in April. We speak to the man at the controls that day – Captain Eric Moody. 31.06 We look ahead to next month’s Flaps.