Laurie Gavaghan and Jim Birnie, two Isle of Wight residents, were forced to make an emergency landing in their N3N Biplane at the weekend, as they few over Hayling Island.
The flying enthusiast (they’re Chairman and Treasurer of the Isle of Wight Flying Club respectively) told Hayling Today, that they were just popping over to Goodwood for lunch, when half-way through the 20 minute flight from Sandown they heard the engine playing up.
The engine stopped
Next, what must be a nightmare for a pilot, the engine turned off. They had no option but to attempt a landing, “It’s one of those things – you see a field and you make a decision to land so you just go ahead and do it,” Laurie told Hayling Today.
Happily it all went well and the only damage was the loss of a tail wheel. Phew.
Cool under pressure
Graham and Sue Phillips, who own Tournerbury Farm, where they landed said, “Both pilots were so calm – it’s so extraordinary.”
Being cool under pressure, Laurie and Jim are a credit to the Island.
Hailing Today: “Plane makes emergency landing in Hayling field“.
Image: fun_flying under CC BY 2.0
