Paginatitel

The Grumpy Gang

The Grumman Aircraft Pilots Association European Branch

We had 2 enjoyable days on Majorca, meeting up with the group that had flown directly from the UK and being entertained handsomely at Jörg and Martina's beautiful villa one evening. Edouard gave us yet another spirited rendering, this time of a song he had composed specifically in honour of GUMAT 2, truly a man of many talents.

We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways on Sunday. John Collins and I returned to the UK on Tuesday having spent one day on the ground at Poitiers because of bad weather. I am sure that Jörg would have found a way around the bad weather that sat over northern France that day, but then he was not there to inspire us and we were back to our old cowardly habits! We were rewarded by flying direct to our home base at Thruxton in the south of England the next day, enjoying the most perfect weather a pilot can hope for.

So, we are now left to savour the many memories of the most exciting flying that many of us have ever undertaken. I am sure that all of us will wish to thank Jörg Trauboth for the hard work that he put into planning the tour and for the sense of purpose and leadership that he displayed in overcoming the challenges we faced. Without his drive and determination the tour might not have materialised.

To our other flying companions I would say "thank you" for the great company and sense of comradeship that we shared for those 10 exciting days. May we meet again.