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Welcome to the Echo Echo Flying Group
Echo Echo Ltd is the longest
established flying group based at Bournemouth International Airport. The
Group was founded in 1981 by Ted Stewart the owner of G-BCEE a 1974 Grumman
AA5 Traveler. Ted bought EE in 1979 for £17500 and allowed a few of his
close  friends use of the plane. This arrangement was
formalized two years latter by the creation of Echo Echo Ltd with Ted and
nine other directors making a total of ten, with the group maintaining this
size ever since. During the first year a deal was struck with a local avionics
shop for an upgrade to the avionics which for its time put EE into the
electronic, flip flop LCD radio age. The group continued to improve and
upgrade EE over the years which resulted in it becoming one of the best AA5
Traveler's in the UK.
One of the modifications carried out on EE which is now
cleared via a CAA minor Mod for all AA1’s and 5’s is the fitting of Red
transparent rudder cap which replaces
the old flashing beacon.../redcapthumb.gif../redcapthumb.gif
.
 Plane stripped and
repainted in 1992 to latest Tiger colour scheme.
During 2000 we were about to modify the engine in EE from 150hp to 160hp when the
opportunity arose to purchase N31RB, a 1976 AA5B 180hp Tiger.
Dimensionally both aircraft
are very similar, but the extra 30hp opened up new horizons with the
ability at last to make full use of the four seats, with operations from
shorter runways becoming less restricting.
This Tiger came with a
comprehensive, but old technology
avionics fit, and therefore the opportunity was taken to upgrade and
improve the layout of the avionics to include new Garmin
GNS430 GPS Nav/Com
along with new Audio box and Transponder. The layout was changed to bring all the
new equipment into the centre stack and move the ADF over to the far R/H
side below the DME. the logic being that if either of these units gave any
serious problems they could be removed without upsetting the layout or
operational capabilities of the aircraft.
This aircraft served the
group well for seven years, but with a number of members becoming
restricted to a NPPL meant that they could no longer legally fly the “N”
reg aircraft. The option of putting the aircraft on the UK register was
investigated, but due to the age and advancing hours on the engine it
looked like a complete engine rebuild would be required. The total cost
looked prohibited so other options were looked at and eventually the
opportunity became available to part ex, N31RB for G-BIPV our present mount
a 1979 Tiger with zero hours on the engine.
Although this aircraft is in
overall good condition with IFR Avionics, recent paint and leather interior
the group will continue to look at ways of upgrading and improving the
aircraft in the coming years.
One of the most common questions
asked by prospective members is " Does ten members cause a problem
with availability"?. The short answer is no, past history of the group
speaks for itself, we have been operating now for 22 years during which
there has been a surprisingly small turn over of members. During that time
no one has left due to the lack of availability, the most common reasons
have included, medical, wanting to move to more complex aircraft, career
changes and location moves.
One of the secretes of the
Groups success over the years is its social atmosphere. That's not to say
we know everyone's business, but that no one is an island operating on
their own. We try to have a annual summer Barbecue and Xmas or New Year
dinner where members, spouses or partners can all meet socially.
Bookings have always been on
a first come basis using a central diary held by one member, we don't
operate a preference weekend system like some groups. We are very
gentlemanly and where one member may have a booking for an odd hour in the day
and someone wants the plane all that day for an away trip it's generally
accepted that approaches can be made to see if one will drop their booking
in favour of the other.
Every month members receive
a copy of the their accounts showing their flying statement for the month. On these
will be shown the Monthly standing charge (Monthly Charge), which at the
moment is £95 and the standing order to the group (SCP) as a payment. Any
payments made during the month is shown as a (P) payment with date. Also
each flight made by the member is shown as a Flt No, date and tach time
taken from the flight sheets. Tach time is charged at £75 per hr and from
the total tach charge will be deducted any fuel brought to give a balance
figure for that flight. An additional charge of £7 an hour is also charged
and billed separately which goes towards the engine fund.
To enquire about details of shares
availability contact the group at ee31rb-group@yahoo.co.uk
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AYA
American Yankee Association the Grumman Owners Club.
