Members may like to be aware that Jeff Boyling, shareholder pilot of Catalina G-PBYA, based at Duxford, is planning to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Harry Hawker’s 1913 attempt to fly around Britain in a Sopwith Waterplane.

Jeff, who is an Australian himself and knows the Hawker family both here and in Australia, has researched the history of Hawker’s life and is a great admirer of his achievements.

He is planning to complete the circuit in five days rather than the three that Hawker aimed for, as he will be giving several displays on route.

It is also fitting that the commemorative flight will be undertaken in an historic aircraft, the oldest UK-based aircraft capable of land and sea operations.

Of particular interest to local members will be the first day, Wednesday 21st August.

Centenary of the Daily Mail sponsored Circuit of Britain race in 1913

 The plan is to depart Duxford at 10.30am, fly at low level over London and then over the Sopwith factory site in Canbury Park Road in Kingston. He will then continue over Harry Hawker’s grave at Hook and on to Brooklands where Hawker was taught to fly by Tom Sopwith, and where he subsequently tested many Sopwith aircraft.

His flight level is planned as 1000ft. He will land at Southampton and from there begin to follow the original route around the coast of Britain.

His estimated timings are:

Tower Bridge, 10.50am,

Canbury Park Road, Kingston, 10.55am,

Hook, 10.56am

Brooklands, 10.59am

Southampton, land at 11.20am,

    departing again at 1pm

He will return on Sunday 25th and fly the reciprocal route, planning to be over Kingston at 16.06pm.

All of this is of course subject to weather and air traffic requirements on the day.

You can follow his progress on the website  http://www.projecthawker2013.com

Barry Pegram