| 11 May 2009
Gerry Humphreys flying Vans RV7 Reg EI HUM
Gerry Humphreys, from Limerick is a retired RAF Harrier pilot. From when he was very young he dreamed about planes and as a teenager flew model aircraft. His father was a farmer but had been an RAF pilot during WW2. Gerry studied Aeronautical engineering at Queens University in Belfast in the 70s. He learned to fly with the RAF as a member of the Queens University Air Squadron. Gerry first flew solo at 17 and has flown almost 7000 hours in all sorts of aircraft ever since; from gliders and microlights to military fighters and business jets. Gerry flew fast jet fighters for most of his career in the RAF with over 2500 hours in Harriers (he had to eject from one when the engine stopped). Places included the Falklands, Belize in Central America, Northern Iraq, and Norway; he also flew from Navy Carriers. His wife was also in the RAF and they often worked together.
These days he breeds Organic Beef on the family farm in Limerick (where he also has an airstrip). He is the Chief Pilot for Pacnet Air, a private aviation company based in Shannon and is also an instructor at the Limerick Flying Club in Coonagh. He is currently teaching his 15 year-old son to fly.
Gerry will be displaying the Vans RV-7 aircraft with Registration EI HUM that he built himself from a kit imported from the USA. Vans aircraft are the most popular 'homebuilt' kits in the world and so far over 5000 have been built, of which over 500 are of this type - the RV7. This is the first vans aircraft kit to be built and flown on the Irish register. The project took 5 years of Gerry's spare time to complete. The cow scheme is mainly for high visibility, as you see contrast more than colour against most backgrounds. As this is a small fast aeroplane it is important that it should be easily seen. That is also the reason for the smoke system and the strobe lights fitted to the tips and tail.
The aircraft is a 2-seater powered by a 5-litre 150 HP Lycoming air-cooled engine driving a fixed-pitch aluminium propeller. It cruises at over 180 mph and can take 2 people over 800 miles without stopping – eg Connemara to Geneva. As well as that it is very strong - stressed to +6 and - 3 ‘G’ so is fully aerobatic. The aircraft also has an impressive short field performance and can operate from most small airfields. The visibility from the bubble canopy is superb and the handling is almost as good as a Harrier!
Gerry will perform combinations of loops, rolls and spins demonstrating the agility and speed range of the aircraft.