Member Article

Naljets and IOM TT hero break lap record

North East-based aircraft management company, Naljets is celebrating after helping motorcycle legend Tony Jefferies demolish an Isle of Man TT lap record in aid of disabled flying charity Aerobility.

Naljets’ MD Craig McLeod, along with Tony and ex-Red Arrows pilot & Aerobility trustee Andy Robins completed the circuit at altitude in a £10 million Citation Excel business jet with an unofficial lap time of just seven minutes and thirty-seven seconds, giving them an average speed of 288 mph on the 6th June 2016.

For Seventies TT works rider Tony, who won the 350cc Junior TT race and then followed it up by winning the first TT Formula 1 race, the event brought back memories of when his son David smashed the record books. David Jefferies was the first to break the 125,126 and 127 mph TT lap records, as well as the first sub 18-minute lap, along with 9 TT wins. He was tragically killed in a high speed crash at the 2003 TT championships.

Says Tony Jefferies, “I am a keen supporter of disabled aviation charity Aerobility, and through my role with West Yorkshire based motorbike dealership Allan Jefferies BMW I was asked if I could arrange an auction prize for Aerobility’s annual ball. I had asked my contacts at the TT to offer up a prize. Paul Philips TT Development Manager, kindly obliged offering a rally experience around TT circuit in a Subaru, which was won by generous bidder Andy Robins, an ex-Red Arrow pilot and Aerobility trustee. Craig McLeod and Naljets then kindly offered to provide hospitality and fly the group the Isle of Man.

“At the end of a full on day in the IOM it was time to go home. We boarded the plane and after a full blooded Red Arrows style take off, Craig surprised us all by asking air traffic if we could fly around the circuit.

“Next, we were following the circuit line with me shouting out the corner names and the jet at some severe angles at 250 knots. It was a great experience and my son Dave would be laughing his head off at our antics. It has been a record breaking week, with Dunlop and Hutchy on bikes, Higgins in the Subaru race car and Jefferies in the jet. Well done Craig, you are a star.”

Said Naljets’ Craig McLeod, “I have always loved motorbikes and when the opportunity to fly Tony over to the TT races presented itself I thought we could make a proper day of it for all.

He continued, “Team Naljets, on its mission to support Aerobility, included support from FBO Mulitflight and Manx based Private Jet Company IOM and I would like to thank them personally for their enthusiasm and contribution. We couldn’t have done it without the help of everyone involved.”

Aerobility offers those with disabilities the opportunity to experience the aviation environment, in the air or on the ground through ground simulators or specially adapted aircraft. Everybody gets the chance to fly – including disabled children and wounded soldiers.

Aircraft manufacturer Tecnam recently supplied Aerobility with the world’s first aircraft certified with special controls for disabled people, and this alongside other aircraft has given many disabled people the opportunity to fly an aeroplane and experience the exhilaration and challenges of flying for the first time. A truly life changing activity.

Andy Robins said, “The whole experience was utterly awesome… from our ‘rockstar arrival and departure’, courtesy of Naljets to having Tony Jefferies, IOM TT royalty, introducing everyone to us it was truly a day to remember.

“The lap in the pace car brings home quite how talented and skilful the IOM TT riders are and it was especially humbling to have Tony along to explain it all to us with his rare first-hand experience.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Harry Robinson .