Autobiography

the flight planning for the entire trip and all the
elements come together with winners for each
section and then an overall winner.
The first time I entered I came 36th out of 60;
a good result considering it was my first rally.
The next time I finished fifth, and over the
next five years I followed this with second,
second, first, first and second.
After winning the Malta Air Rally in 1980, Ralph
and I readied ourselves for our return trip
home, with Ralph taking off before me. We had
often experienced being telepathic at times
throughout our lives and it was never stronger
than it was on this day.
Our first leg was Malta to Cannes on the south
coast of France, where we were to refuel
before flying on to Biggin Hill. It was a
beautiful day, and the take-off and the climb
into the cruise was uneventful. Ralph and I
were on a private frequency, which enabled us
to talk to each other and at the same time
remain in contact with the control tower at
Bastia as we overflew Corsica. I knew Ralph
was some 20 miles ahead of me and I was
gaining on him when I had a radio call telling
me he had a problem, and was having to put in
right rudder to keep the aircraft straight and
level. I was mildly concerned, but it hardly
sounded serious and I told him to let me know
if it got any worse.
He was flying a twin-engine six-seater Aztec PA
28, which I had previously owned, and wanted
to know if it was something I had previously
249