Following a bright idea from Tony Driver, member Kevin Bryan of Unreal Aviation kindly modelled a chair and spectator for the Club so that members could sit and watch the Sywell Airshow on 11th July, and also see other members sitting in their chairs watching.  In order for the spectator to be easily moved, he was modelled as an aircraft, and indeed could actually fly, although it was not intended that he should.
Unfortunately, after making enquiries, it turns out that such creations are not permitted under VATSIM rules, so cannot be used.  If you have downloaded the file (now withdrawn) , you can still fly a chair, if that's what makes your day, but in the privacy of your off-line flying, please! 06/07/07

On 4th February this year, among the busy life of the club - with new events, new members, formation flying, the endless struggle to get FS to run on members PCs, and a few more members grappling with FSX, we forgot to give ourself a 3rd birthday party. We had the virtual cake made too! 31/03/07

At his interview with Astac International (see below) Thomas wowed them with his skills so much that not only did they confirm his work experience place, but they offered him a job for the summer holidays. Well done Thomas! 26/02/07

The new club complex consists of an old WWII RAF dispersal hut which has lain empty for many years, but which was taken over some time ago by the CIX VFR Club, with the intention of turning it into club offices.

However, thanks to a large prepayment by the organisers of the Sywell Airshow for the appearance of the 2-4-CIX Display team at that display in July, and a healthy bank balance ( Mr Brown's tax collectors were beginning to take an uninvited interest) the management team decided the time was right to develop the site.

We purchased some old portacabins and secured the services of that well known construction company, "Bodgit & Scarper", who have constructed a clubhouse with members bar (The Forum Club) and  erected a new hangar. 02/06/07

Although it is consistently the biggest selling "game" software package worldwide, one does get the impression that there have been far more complaints in the web forums from the "it's not a game, it's a serious hobby" fraternity about FSX than about previous versions. One club member said of flying into Carcassonne, "Another bare airport in a barren desert. At times like this I can't help thinking FSX takes away more than it adds." Maybe pilots would be more accepting if the aircraft aerodynamics had been remodelled accurately alongside the pretty effects such as wet runways and reflections off smooth surfaces.. 04/01/07

The Club has had a very busy autumn, in spite of the bad flying weather (we can turn it off if we have to, which you real pilots can't!). The Biggin night move to Friday proved very successful and Biggin Hill experienced a sharp increase in movements. Club members were often joined by a number of other aircraft making a very busy environment at times.

We made a lot of new members welcome - some 20 individuals from literally all over the world - Australia, South Africa, and recently Finland. The total membership is now over 110.

Christmas saw one valliant member join in with the Finnish VATCC's annual "Visit Santa" event, and some members have started practicing for the 2-4-Cix aerobatics performance we have agreed to put on for Sywell 2007, next July.

The forum continues to be very lively, with often 20 posts in a day. We launched a quiz in October, and finally, Yes folks - finally - the extension to the members bar was formally opened on December 5th, accompanied by much ribald comment about chairs and sculptures. If you want to know more, you'll have to join the club! 04/01/07