The day was fine, the visibility superb. A flight was planned and two aeroplane loads of intrepidly, brave aviators decided to ‘Go Foreign’. The flight consisted of Ni Thomas in AA1 Yankee G-BFOJ and Paul Vickrage + Tim Comber in Grumman AA5B G-BIPV. We were off to Le Touquet for mussels, steak tartar and chips.

At the time (late 90’s) there was no dedicated radio channel for General Aviation in the UK. So we chose to use 123.450mH frequency for passing useful information, position, traffic, weather reports etc.

Imagine our surprise that having updated each other on our present positions, we received a rather disgruntled, abrupt call from someone who said they were Coastguard and we must not use THEIR frequency!! Hmmm??? We hadn’t had that before!! So we stayed silent until reaching Le Touquet. Needless to say the issue was discussed thoroughly over our French feastings. We were GRUMPY over the issue.

It was resolved that we didn’t believe the Coastguard bloke. In future whenever we were using OUR Channel, that we wouldn’t give our call signs, names or our whereabouts when next we used the radio. Thus the Grumpy’s were born.

Ni became Grumpy One, The G-BIPV crew became Grumpy Two, and its stuck ever since. The Grumpy titles very quickly became rather popular – Very soon Andre Everaert became Grumpy Three and Johan Winburg became Grumpy Four. This then started to cause problems? We couldn’t remember who was who with over 4 of us ‘members’, so started to name suitable candidates . Yogi Beck had a star painted on his wing so naturally he became Grumpy Star, then there was Danny DeBrandt Grumpy Red and so on and so on … See the full list.

Place name were likewise amended, but by now we were aware of failing memories and a decline in mental ability so place names became slightly off beat. Littlehampton became ‘Smallpigwieght’, Chilbolton – ‘Cold Nut’, Wing Airstrip –‘The Flappy Place’ etc etc.

In actual usage terms one has to remember that some of the commercial guys use 123.450mH for chatting and it’s the frequency used on the cross Atlantic route for passing position reports and suchlike, so its best not to use it for silly chat or to hog the channel.

By Nigel Thomas

You might be wondering what all the “Grumpy” stuff is all about.

First of all you need to know that we are a European group of GRUMMAN pilots, but why Grumpy Gang? It’s a long story, it basically hinges around the fact that we don’t have a Unicom or air-to-air frequency over here in sunny Europe, and so we tend to “borrow” frequencies (mainly 123.45) to give each other position reports and so on. The Grumpy call sign allows us to remain more or less incognito.
Being true Europeans (ha!), the Brits have no problems with the various languages they encounter, as long as people speak English! One gets used to the ATC accents too, as throughout Europe they try to make the English speakers feel welcome-they speak very slowly to them. It also help to have some real, live linguists within our midst.

Join us!! To apply for admission to the exclusive Grumpy Gang you must be able to tick off number 1 and at least 9 of the following items.

1. You MUST have been to three GRUMMAN flyins (official or weekly trips).
2. Pulled the mixture cut off instead of the carburretor heat control.
3. Taken off with the autopilot on.
4. Taken off or landed with the fuel pump off. (on more than one occasion)
5. Left the master switch on and flattened the battery.
6. Started the engine with the fuel selector in the off position.
7. Porpoised on landing.
8. Run a tank dry causing engine (& heart ) to stop.
9. Forgotten to test for carb ice & wondered what was wrong with engine
10. Tuned transponder to 7700 by mistake (even switching through counts).
11. Told to change frequency and set wrong number, called some one else or forgotten to change the boxes over.
12. Asked ATC for a frequency/danger zone or nav aid that does not exist any more.
13. Wrongly set a nav aid or radio to the incorrect frequency and wondered why you had no reply or was somewhere other than where you should be.
14. Had a dead instrument lead you astray.
15. Caught out by the weather. (Kassel Germany 1999)
16. Annoyed ATC by misunderstanding their instructions.
17. Done something really silly. (Like flying on your own over water and leaving the life raft in the baggage hold or pulling the cigarette lighter instead of the carbheat.)
18. Had a nasty experience due to your own fault but learnt a lesson from it.
19. Talking to ATC, being given instructions, which seem ok until arrival at destination to find that you are talking to the wrong airport and landing at another. (Denmark 1999)
20. Left the pitot cover on or tried to move with something still tied to the plane, which should have been removed before taxiing.
21. Given instructions to land on a particular runway and picked the wrong one. (Keeps ATC awake)
22. Reported “missing” & searched by the gendarmes throughout France for a night without being on a flightplan (Grumpy Red July 2002)
23. Informing the CAA (or applicable joiners own country Aviation Authority)of ANYTHING without being ‘SPECIFICALLY’ asked, which could lead, in any way, shape or form, to a reduction in flying privileges, or in having to write another letter to them.”
24. After landing finding your chicken still fixed on the antenna and wondered during flight where that crowing in the radio was coming from.(Grumpy Moon – North Carolina August 2006)
25. Two people simultaneously using the steps (with luggage on board) resulting in the plane tipping backwards onto the tie down ring – WITH an audience. 1 Point awarded for scratched paintwork. 2 Points awarded if the trim tabs get bent and the audience starts to laugh!!
26. Taking off with the fuel cap resting on the wing tip which cause the lost of about 10 litres of sucked out fuel.
27. Testing OJ’s taxying abilities with a 60kg concrete block on the rear tie down (Grumpy One October 2011)
28. Filing of an International flight plan back to ones home airfield (Henlow, UK) from France, with the departure Airfield (Alencon,France) and the destination Airfield (Henlow, UK) both being entered, and disguised, as (EGWE) Henlow – And then carrying on regardless”. Two bonus points for leaving the French ATC completely and utterly confused and dumbfounded.
29. Taking off with pitot tube cover still in place AND walking away from his plane having forgotten to turn off his strobes (29 March 2014 Lashenden Grumpy Cesspit)
30. Landed at an airport were 8.33mhz spacing is mandatory. Dann Rogge March 2016.

If you can tick off 10 of the above you have enough experience to gain the cherished Grumpy Uniform.

Visit our Hall of Fame to see who has already qualified !

Score 0 – 9 you and you are not sufficiently qualified for use yet. 10 plus….Choose your Grumpy Name……Grumpy xxxxxxxxxx

So now you know all about ‘The Grumpy Gang’. However you may be asking yourself, “But why a chicken logo?” The reason is simple – Rubber Chickens Aid Aviators.

Yes, Rubber Chickens have been specially bred to protect aircraft pitot tubes (these valuable aeroplane fixtures enable the brave pilot to see the aircraft’s air speed) from invasion of naughty grubs and insects building nests in the pitot system. …… The latex fowl are also utilised by astute aviators to act as guardians of aircraft, to frighten away other avian species, by manipulating their imaginations into making them believe that they too may be likewise plucked and impaled on an aeroplane aerial.

Below you´ll find an alphabetical list of the men and women who were found worthy to join the exclusive Grumpy Gang Hall of Fame.

Your Content Goes Here

Grumpy Airbus

Grumpy Albatross

Grumpy Cesspit

Grumpy Cow

Grumpy Cricket

Grumpy Ditch

Grumpy Dragon

Grumpy Easy

Grumpy Falcon

Grumpy Farmer

Grumpy Floater

Grumpy Four

Grumpy Foxy

Grumpy Ghost

Grumpy Gorgeous

Grumpy Hot-Shot

Grumpy Hummer

Grumpy Knee

Grumpy Lawyer

Grumpy Moon

Grumpy No-Name

Grumpy One

Grumpy Parts

Grumpy Peter

Grumpy Red

Grumpy Santa

Grumpy Scotch

Grumpy Sennapod

Grumpy Shed

Grumpy Spanner

Grumpy Squared

Grumpy Stain

Grumpy Star

Grumpy Three

Grumpy Tinkle

Grumpy Trucker

Grumpy Two

Grumpy Vicar

Grumpy Walrus

Grumpy Yorkie

Vacancy – who is next here?

High Flight – John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
you have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
high in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
my eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
and, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand, and touched the face of God
In memory of our friend and fellow Grumman pilot

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

After a courageous ten month battle with brain cancer, Ed Manning passed away peacefully on January 18th surrounded by his loving family.

A native of Idaho, Ed spent most of his childhood in Fresno, where he graduated from Bullard High School and Fresno State College with a BS in Chemistry. He lived in Aptos for the past 43 years.

Ed served in the California Air National Guard as an F-102 pilot. As a United Airlines pilot, he flew the world for 33 years. His passion for flying included private, military, and commercial aircraft. Retirement was spent continuing his travels throughout the world.

Although a long standing military and commercial pilot, Ed retained his passion for small aero planes right until the end. A loyal supporter and long serving officer of the American Yankee Association, he was a frequent visitor to European AYA events even as late as June 2019 when he attended the European AYA Fly-In in Hungary, together with his lovely wife Pat and many members of his family. Ed was always a popular visitor to Europe and made many personal friends here.

Ed was laid to rest on January 29th 2020 in a private ceremony at Santa Cruz Memorial Park.

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

Brian was born in London and spent his early years growing up in India. By the time he was 18 he joined the RAF with a commission and flew Vampire Jets. During a visit to Plymouth to visit his parents, he met his wife Laurie and they were married in 1956. A year later he graduated from Cambridge in Natural Sciences and Engineering and took up a role in engineering with Garringtons in Bromsgrove. His career in engineering went from strength to strength and included a role at Fielding and Platt (latterly Heenan and Froude) designing dynamometers for testing Formula One Ferrari engines. One trip to Maranello included a lift to the factory by none other than John Surtees!

He then took the brave decision to start out on his own designing and manufacturing products for sailing dinghies, office furniture, light aircraft and then MRI scanners. After retiring in 2000, he was able to concentrate on spending more time flying his AA5 on many adventurous flying tours and driving his Singer Le Mans all around Europe. He made friends wherever he went. In the last few years he fought a brave fight with cancer. Scott Roberts, a close friend and business partner, said – “It was one of my proudest moments to have flown with him to his final fly-out with the Gang to Berlin in 2016”.

Brian leaves behind his dear wife Laurie, two daughters, grand-children and great-grandchildren. We miss him every day but can take comfort in the fact that he is with us in spirit as we continue to have adventures in the sky.

It was with great sadness that in February 2017, our dear flying friend Brian, passed away peacefully at his home in Woughton on the Green.

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

We lost Paul in a tragic accident on the 22-07-2006, his pilot Kevin Crossley also suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Paul will be forever missed by his wife Kay, family and friends.

Paul died doing what he loved…flying. Deep sympathy also to Kevins partner Tina, family and friends. Kevin was an excellent instructor and a brilliant controller. He will be sadly missed by all.

In memory of our fellow Grumman pilot

Norman was a regular attender of European Fly-Ins.

He died from a stroke after a forced landing accident in his AA1B EI-CCY at Galway Airport Ireland in the winter of 1994.

Five years later in 1999 a new award “The Norman Whisler Trophy” was presented for the first time to his wife Colette in recognition for the efforts he and Colette made in attending past events. Many of these flights were made in IFR conditions in their little plane.

This award is to go every year to the person who has made the most meritorious flight in attending the fly-in, not necessarily the longest flight.

1. Awarded to the most meritorious increase in the levels of imcompetence.
2. Awardees must hold the Grumpy Trophy (herein and thereaftermost called “The Trophy”) until the Grumpy Executive (Herein and everafterwards to be known as “The Executive”) can be convinced that a new holder has accomplished a successfully doodoo (Herein to be referred to as a “a small problem”)
3. Incumbents are responsible for inscribing their name (no telephone numbers please) and the date of acceptance on the back (The use of indelible felt tip pens is acceptable)
4. This award has already witnessed some truly horrendous sights and has already gone through some torturous take-offs and landings without too much suffering. However in event of any future damaging experiences on no account must repairs be undertaken upon “The trophy” (Small paint chips may be touched up if necessary (The paint to be used may only be Humbrol “Evening Dust – Parkestone Front Gate – Silver Hammerite No.3”.
5. Fixtures to walls, bulheads, deck heads or carpetted floors must be tactfully achieved. Recourse to 6 inch (15.24cm) nails or cyanoacrylate based adhesives is prohibitted.
6. Holders are responsible for all postage, haulage, avgas, landing fees any any other costs involved in the handing over of “The Trophy”
7. “The Trophy” is to be washed monthly and only with pure soap and water. It is to be lightly dusted weekly (no wire brushes allowed within 2 fathoms of “The Trophy”)
8. Each Sunday the holder of “The Trophy” must stand in front of the “The Trophy”, bow solemnly and intone, “I have sinned. I have lots to be grateful for.” Whilst holding in their right hand a glass (full) of Grimbergen beer (Herein and aftwards to be known as “The Flyers Tipple”). During this ceremony sobriety is not essential.
9. “The Executive” retain the right to expand, contract, change, dribble, waffle on ad finitum, in any regards to these rules and others, at any time or place yet to be decided and may, in any event, make up their mind as to anything.
10. The initial award was made at the Grimbergen Fly-in 25/26th August 2001 to Grumpy Red.