Skyranger Project - September 2024

by Theo Claassen

 

In 2019, at the 75th anniversary commemorations of the Halifax MZ920 crash in Dunchurch, we were supported by the Air Cadets of 29F Squadron Rugby.

In that same year, the squadron was given the components of an aircraft (Skyranger) by the British Model Aircraft Association (BMAA) for them to build and fly. After that it would be handed back to the BMAA for sale.

That build is coming to an end and the aircraft will be taken to Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire for test flying before it will be sold by the BMAA. The actual handover, despite the aircraft not being complete, was done at the RAF Cosford Airshow on the 8th of June 2024. Following the handover, the aircraft was moved back to Rugby for completion.

You may wonder why it has taken so long for the Air Cadets (six of them, under supervision) to complete? At first Covid lockdowns made it impossible for the Air Cadets to meet. Now when they do meet, which is twice weekly for a couple of hours, they have to do their square bashing and other jobs before they can spend time on the aircraft.

Earlier this year I was contacted by their Commanding Officer asking if I would agree to an idea by one of the Cadets to register the aircraft as G-WEPW, these being the first letters of the surnames of the Halifax crew that perished in 1944. I was more that happy to give the idea my stamp of approval. The UK registration of civil aircraft always starts with the letter G, that being for Geoffrey Grant, fortunate, but also fitting. The others are W (Wood), E (Ewing), P (Parsons) and W (Ward). The aircraft also carries the 29F Squadron Badge, the RCAF 434 Squadron badge and a plaque in the cockpit (just visible in the picture) of the Halifax crash main details.

The workmanship, which is checked locally but also by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is outstanding and a credit to the six Air Cadets who realised the project.

It is hoped that the new owner will keep the aircraft as it is delivered, in honour of our Halifax boys. Once the test flying starts, I will take some pictures and report back in a later issue of the magazine