Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
Sloping Off - our newsletter

DIARY OF A FLIER BY B LEONARD WISE

The story so far. B Leonard Wise was trying to pass his B certificate. But was told to abandon it because of the high wind. When he went to speak to the examiners he accidentally hit one with is transmitter and the two examiners fell and sat on two planes. The Club is conducting an enquiry so see who is at fault and if Mr Wise should be prosecuted for assault.

We were having a dinner party at home and Clarrisa had invited her nephew Sidney and his wife. Sidney is solicitor and he annoys me by calling me mate or Len. I am not his mate nor is my name Len it is Leonard. Sidney said I hear you have a bit of trouble at the flying club. I explained what had happened .You need some help there old mate he said. I can well defend myself thank you said I. But Clarrisa who likes Sidney told me I needed his help which he offered free. He said he knew old Coggins would be there and he wanted to get one over him if he could. It would be good free publicity if we came out of it well. So whilst the women talked we went in to the study to lay our plans.

We assembled in the scout hut where we hold our meetings. The chairman and  secretary sat at the front of the hall, the two examiners were to his left and myself  and Sidney were to his right. Between the chairman and secretary sat the solicitor Mr Coggins.  There were several members present to see what would happen

The Chairman told us Mr Coggins had been asked to attend because of the serious nature of the problem. Firstly Mr Wise is accused of assault. Sidney got up to speak. The Chairman asked who he was and stated that only members could speak unless asked by the committee. Sidney told them he was a member, had joined last week and showed his membership papers. He asked Joe what happened and Joe told him.  Sidney asked where Mr Wise’s hands were when he assaulted him. Joe replied he had a plane in one hand and the transmitter in the other.   Did you see him trip asked Sidney, well yes I saw him stagger. Did he deliberately strike you or was it because of him trying to keep his balance. Well Joe told them it could be. Sidney pressed the point can you imagine anyone setting out to assault a person with a plane in one hand and a transmitter in the other. Joe reluctantly agreed with Sidney. So concluded Sidney it was an accident not an assault. Reluctantly Joe agreed. But he said he is still responsible for the compensation.  Two planes at £400 each.

That seems to be that said the chairman. Not so I said. There are two points to be cleared up one is the amount of compensation the other is who pays it. Before he could stop me I said I refer you to section three of the constitution. Safety when in the Pits. Aircraft shall at all-time face the runway and pilots and helpers shall whenever possible work behind the propellers. Section 4 is the important one I went on. Persons not working on an aircraft are forbidden to stand in front of the pits they must stand behind the pits and the planes. This is to stop persons from standing on or tripping over planes and thus causing damage. The persons who damage the planes by whatever cause are responsible to pay the damages.   .

It seems to me I went on that the examiners were standing where they are forbidden to stand for safety reasons, they caused the damage and they must pay.

The examiners were not popular because of the high handed action when I flew. The Chairman looked at Mr Coggins and asked for his guidance. He stood up and said firstly it is clear Mr Wise did not assault Mr Hacket. He stumbled and gently hit him with his transmitter. Secondly I cannot add much to what he said, the examiners were standing in a forbidden zone and were responsible for the damage. Mr Wise is in no way guilty of any of this .Nor is he responsible for damages.

There was more clapping and a few cheers. As I write this I am pleased at the way it had turned out. But I still have not obtained my B certificate. I am due to have an operation on my knee sometime in the future so it will be some months before I can fly again.  So I must close my Diary for now and wish everyone a Happy Christmas.