Organised by Evert Schraverus & Ian Matterface

The annual European fly-in took us this year for the first time to France, where we had a varied, interesting, and thoroughly enjoyable visit to the little airfield of Marmande. This is close to the famous wine region of Bordeaux and lies within sight of the spectacular Pyrenees mountain range that marks France’s border with Spain. No fewer than 27 Grummans flew in to Marmande during the weekend, including one French aircraft F-BUOV, flown by a non-AYA member who was astonished to find so many planes like his already there.

He was presented with an AYA membership form and should, we reckon, be a member by the time this appears in print. Even though Europe is becoming more unified these days, each country still uses its own registration system, and the Grummans present included a couple on the American N registrations, some Belgian 00-registered, Danish (OY-), French (F-), German (D-), Swiss (HB-), Italian (I-), and G- registered planes from each country within the U.K.: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.