The five Group-A pilots and their passengers had a series of wonderful flights on last Saturday's Great Scottish Poker Run: Perth - Oban - Colonsay - Fife - Perth.

The weather was severe clear and the company was to the same standard.  Even the Scottish Information air traffic controllers offered them good luck in the poker game whilst they were on their approach to land at Oban.  Saturday was the first time that most of the team had visited Colonsay and they reported that the strip is well paved, and more than adequate at 500m.

Meanwhile, the five heroic young Microlight Team pilots and their passengers aboard their simpler, fun aircraft enjoyed an excellent day's flying in the opposite direction - turning east towards the friendly airfields of Fife.  After taking on tea and biscuits at Kingsmuir, near Crail, the squadron headed over the River Forth to land at East Fortune for lunch before turning back via Stirling to Strathallan.

The poker competition was handily won by Ian Ferguson and Victor Marsh, with Ian taking home a beautiful book on the Spitfire.  His two pair found no contest from any of the others - not even Dave Martin, the Microlight Team's top poker player, who took home a book about the Vulcan on the back of a measly pair.

Next year, who will come in with a flush?  (Other than wee Davy, the taxi driver and bar owner on Colonsay, of course)?

Saturday, April 10th

Who says a bit of luck won’t improve one’s flying?

Twice planned in 2009, and twice cancelled due to weather, this event will now take place on April 10th.  Gentlemen, start your engines. At about 10:00 hours on April 10th, SAC members and guests will be treated to a skydiving display by the Skymasters Skydiving Team from Strathallan. Shortly after that, participants in the Poker Run will lauch and have a great opportunity to polish up their skills in both pilotage and poker.

The Mission:

• Two groups of aircraft each fly a multi-stop cross-country route, departing EGPT in the late morning and returning before tea-time.
• At each of five stops (including EGPT), pilots will pick a card from a deck of 52.    You know the drill: “Pick a card – any card.”
• At the end of the afternoon, the best poker hand will win an enormously valuable prize.  This could be a new Bentley.  Or it could be something else.
• This will be followed by drinks and a BBQ at the SAC Clubhouse.
• The two groups of aircraft will be :
  • The M-Team – Microlight & slower aircraft
  • The A-Team -  Quicker aircraft
• The M-Team aircraft will fly a smaller circuit (about 100 nm), drawing a card at each stop -
• Perth – Kingsmuir – East Fortune - Strathallan – Perth.
• The A-Team aircraft will fly a wider circuit (about 220 nm)  –
• Perth – Oban – Colonsay - Fife – Perth.
• Weather alternate:  Perth – Longside – Fife – Cumbernauld - Perth (c. 220 nm)
• On arrival back at EGPT, Poker hands will be compared, the winners declared, and the hugely expensive awards presented.  We expect to have one M-Team winner, and one A- Team winner.
• This will be followed by a BBQ feast fit not only for a new Bentley owner, but also for lesser mortals.

• £3 per person – to defray BBQ expenses.
• £3 per participating aircraft - to recover the cost of cards and prizes.  This revenue will be topped up from the Club’s general funds, if required, to acquire the Bentley.
• Your fuel and landing fees.
• Your suntan lotion.
• Your new Ray-Ban sunglasses (to go with the Bentley).