Flying in style into 1930s (From Witney Gazette)

Flying in style into 1930s

9:00am Wednesday 13th September 2006 in Witney By Maddy Biddulph

WHILE a 1930s dress, matching handbag and shoes is not a normal pilot's uniform, Amanda Harrison wanted to get into character for the 75th anniversary of the Schneider Trophy air race.

The 31-year-old TV editor from Brize Norton donned the unusual outfit - discarding a wig at the last minute in case it blew away in the wind - for the event in the Isle of Wight on September 3.

Financier and flying fanatic Jacques Schneider launched the first Schneider Trophy air race in 1913 - an international contest between Britain, France, and Italy, with a £1,000 prize.

Since then, it has attracted some of the world's best pilots, but also including newcomer Miss Harrison, pictured, who shared her single-engine Cessna 182 plane with BBC presenter Chris Packham.

The corporation was filming the competition for a new programme, due to be screened on television this week.

Miss Harrison came 27th, out of 50 international pilots, despite only have 100 hours piloting 'air time'.

She was one of only two women competing in the race.

She said: "I didn't think I was competitive, but once I got up in the air, there was no stopping me.

"The whole experience was magical, and Chris Packham was gorgeous.

"He was really into it, and has done quite a lot of flying.

"He didn't know anything about me, and I only have a private pilot's licence."

The pilots flew five circuits of a course taking them over the busy Solent shipping lanes between Cowes and Portsmouth.

Miss Harrison, whose South Mere home overlooks the runway at RAF Brize Norton, said: "The sailors must have been a bit shocked when they saw 50 planes coming their way."

She first got the bug for air racing five years ago, while she was training for her private pilot's licence.

Since then, she has flown a variety of planes and has taken part in competitions all over the country.

She next hopes to complete her commercial pilot's licence, which she is half-way through, before working for an airline.

Miss Harrison, who completed the course at a speed of 139 knots in her 210-horsepower plane, said: "Air racing is fantastic fun, as well as being very demanding.

"This started out as a competition for the fastest planes in the world flown by the best pilots.

"Even though there are different rules now, there is still a sense that this event is something very special."