Heavy Pettin' - Northwinds (Live 1985)

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Heavy Pettin' - Rock Ain't Dead

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Artwork by Brian Waugh

Artwork by Brian Waugh

G-BNZR takes flight for the first time at Newtonlands circa 1991 with Patrick Gallagher at the controls.

Not long ago I received a belated Christmas present in the form of a series of e-mails and photographs from Brian Waugh of Lisburn, Northern Ireland, about Clutton FRED Series 2 G-BNZR built in Belfast in the 1980s and early 1990s by his father Mervyn Waugh.  Mervyn went on to start another homebuilt aircraft project, a Nicollier Ménestrel, which he sold on, and he now applies his woodworking talents to building harps.  Here, in Brian’s words, is the story of the only Clutton FRED built and flown in “Norn Iron.”

Clutton FRED registration G-BNZR was built in a garage in Finaghy, Belfast, Northern Ireland by my father Robert Mervyn Waugh, known as Mervyn, who now lives in Crossgar, just outside Downpatrick.  From an early age I watched FRED being built and I know every inch if the aircraft having played a very small part in building it.  I saw FRED progress from a plank of wood right up to the first flight by a gentleman called Patrick Gallagher.  It was a great honour to have flown the aeroplane that my father built, taking her to the skies on many occasions myself.

Mervyn Waugh today with two of his beautiful harps.

FRED was hangared in Newtownards in Northern Ireland until it was put into retirement.  I remember on my first flight when i was about 19 having to go around twice on landing until I got it mastered and after taxiing back in saying to my father, "I'm glad I didn't break it, you would have killed me.”  Father’s response was priceless, "I'm glad it didn't break you, your mother would have killed me."  On an interesting side note, my mother has never watched either of us fly, or flown with us, as it makes her too nervous to watch.

My mates at University used to make the Mick when I got fed up and went to Newtownards and pushed out FRED, swung the prop and went for a jolly. My best mate since I was four years old was there one day with me as he always had an interest in flying.  He joined the University Air Squadron with me and he said he was very envious. Now after a 16 year RAF career and 13 tours of Iraq and Afghanistan flying the Hercules and Chinook, he starts long haul with British Airways next month. He never did get a PPL sorted in time to fly Dad’s FRED.

G-BNZR hangared at Netwonlands at the height of its flying career in 1996.

FRED is the sort of aircraft that you just fly, unlike anything that I had flown before, you just have to get the feel for it. Prior to flying FRED for the first time, I had lots of gliding experience in both conventional and powered gliders, many hours in the Bulldog T1 RAF trainer, Cessnas, a Piper Warrior, and a Piper Cub, among others, and my Dad's FRED by far the most fun to fly.  FRED has some unique characteristics unlike any other aircraft which I have flown.  For example, having to give it a little nudge of power just on landing to cushion the touchdown, and its different stall characteristics, just coming down with little nose drop due to the low-aspect wing. A FRED was once described a “gliding like a manhole cover” but it really is a great fun aircraft to fly.

Dad’s FRED was always very well taken care of since my Dad performed all of the maintenance as having built it he knew it best, and only by being at the controls would he be able to know exactly what might need attention.  Unfortunately, FRED came to a sad ending when my father lost his medical and it wasn't viable to keep it flying for me as I had moved away due to work commitments.  FRED was left in storage at the family home after the house was sold to a builder.  However, whilst awaiting development, the house was rented out and that is when the engine and propeller along with most of the instruments were stolen.  FRED was also pushed into the garden to suffer from the elements.

Brian Waugh in the cockpit of his Da’s FRED now in the collection of the Ulster Aviation Society.

Fortunately I am good friends with Ray Burrows from the Ulster Aviation Society just outside Belfast and FRED was donated to their collection, where it remains today in good hands.  To this day, I really feel very privileged to say that my Dad built an aeroplane called FRED and I flew it.

Brian Waugh January 2016