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Essex
Microlight Club was founded in 2003 by a handful of pilots who
share a passion for microlight flying. It was in a sense a club even before it
was formally called a club, on the basis of the pilots, who had their aircraft
based across various airfields scattered across the county, arranging informal
flyouts, followed up with discussion and banter about the flights and anything
to do with flying. Out
of that, and with growing numbers of pilots joining us, we
decided to formalise what had in any case become a reality, and we became Essex
Microlight Club. Although
the membership has risen since those early days, (now about 40) and although now
formally established, we remain very much an informal club. This is partly
because unlike most microlight clubs, we are not centred around an airfield. We
are instead still scattered across different airfields and farmers strips and
this gives the club a certain underlying informal character. Also, the lack of
formality is in keeping with the general ethos of microlight flying; being able
to fly wherever and whenever it takes your fancy (subject to the weather!) with
maximum freedom with minimum rules and those include minimum club hassle, club
bureaucracy and club rules Having
said that, the very fact that we are scattered across Essex, for most of us any
without the benefit of having many, if any other microlight pilots based at our
individual airfields, means that EMC serves as a focus for our microlight
flying. This
focus is in terms of:- -
Group flyouts. Flying is always more fun as a group rather than flying alone and
it can sometimes have safety advantages too -
Events, such as our EMC Flyin to be held at Damyn’s Hall. -
Mutual Support, such as letter
writing to support an airfield or being trailered out of wheat fields in Kent
when the engine seizes up -
Banter and camaraderie amongst us, where we can all share our flying
experiences, embellished where necessary with exaggeration and lies. This is all
part of the fun. -
General discussion about microlight flying. I think it’s fair to say that EMC
has it’s fair share of members who have an acute awareness of the issues
facing mirolight flying, hold strong opinions and who do not hesitate to express
those opinions. -
Meetings. We reserve one day per month to meet up at a pub to spend the evening
engaged in discussion and banter dedicated to all matters to do with microlight
flying and our flying exploits over beer and for those feeling hungry, followed
up with a meal, normally either a curry or a pizza but it does vary. The
proceedings start at 7pm for 7-30 at Stewarts Bar, Western Road, Billericay, the
second nearest pub to Billericay Railway Station.
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Copyright © 2008
Essex Microlight Club |