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VX outside the Club hangar. Victor X-Ray pictured not long after arrival with Phil Phillips, founder member and first CFI. Victor X-Ray pictured in 1970, about to start up. A study in contrasts. VX waits while a 2 Squadron Phantom pair gets airborne. VX on the airfield, circa 1972. The Office. Primary flying panel. The Office - right hand panel VX with Wulf Ehrhardt and Phil Phillips. VX on the flight line on one of those beautiful, crisp, clear autumn early mornings we used to get in Germany. Mike Kendell with VX on the line, early one morning. VX airborne for a photo-shoot on 17 June 1973. Al Lemon in the right-hand seat. Club Secretary Al Lemon formates VX on the photo ship, 17 June 1973. Club Away Weekend, Koblenz, 10 July 1973. At Koblenz, 10 July 1973. A typical flying day scene. VX undergoing refuelling and an oil check on the flight line. 30 years on - VX as she is today.
An early photograph of Victor X-Ray. The little Bolkow was acquired in 1969 to provide an aerobatic capability, and quickly became the lynch-pin of the club's operation. This looks like one of the parking areas on Laarbruch's north side, so it was probably taken outside the club's original hangar in the North West corner of the airfield.
Via Paul Phillips Looks like the Main Engineering Hangar, so she had probably been receiving some TLC from Phil Phillips, who when he wasn't being the club's CFI was OC Mechanical Engineering Squadron.
Note Larry Browning's Cessna in the background.
Via Paul Phillips 5 December 1970. Wulf Ehrhardt in the left hand seat and Phil Phillips in the right bring VX back from a seemingly-interminable absence undergoing CofA in UK. Larry Browning on chocks duty.
Note Laarbruch's main engineering hangar in the background.
Via Wulf Ehrhardt. Club members watch while VX sits quietly on the club flight-line near the GCA radar caravan.
This was a rare sight, as the club did not normally operate on operational flying days. The club was not permitted to use the main runway, primarily to ensure that the runway was never blocked for military traffic, and employed a grass strip alongside it instead.
Via Wulf Ehrhardt Club Secretary Al Lemon's brother, visiting from UK, poses with Victor X-Ray.
Via Al Lemon. All who flew the Bolkow Junior will always remember the single quirky Y-shaped control column, centrally-mounted so that it fell easily to hand for either seat.
Via Liz & Al Lemon The Bolkow's cockpit was always an intimate experience. This picture gives a good indication.
Via Wulf Ehrhardt VX about to depart after refuelling on a wintery and chilly flight line. Note the jerry cans used to hand-refuel the aircraft.
Circa 1972. This classic view of Victor X-Ray in flight was taken by RAF Germany Command Chief Photographer Barry Elson, using the club's Piper Caribbean as a photo aircraft.
Via Roger Goodwin This was a photo-shoot sortie. The left-hand seat was occupied by the photographer, so that he could shoot through the opened clear-vision hatch.
Via Roger Goodwin The club's Piper Caribbean in the background.
The Away Weekends were an enjoyable and convivial way of escaping the stifling RAF bureaucracy which always had to be observed at Laarbruch.
Via Roger Goodwin Preparing for start-up during a Club Away Weekend to Koblenz and the Moselle.
The Away Weekends were an enjoyable and convivial way of escaping the stifling RAF bureaucracy which always had to be observed at Laarbruch.
Note the club's Piper Caribbean in the background.
Via Roger Goodwin Refuelling was gravity feed by hand, from jerry cans through a filter funnel. Roger Goodwin on step-ladder duty.
Via Mike Kendell Swansea 2002. John Chorley and G-ATVX reunited 30 years after he gained his PPL in her.
Via John Chorley.
VX outside the Club hangar.
An early photograph of Victor X-Ray. The little Bolkow was acquired in 1969 to provide an aerobatic capability, and quickly became the lynch-pin of the club's operation.
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