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The story!
As one would expect, throwing things about is not amusing, and certainly not a mature pastime. Objects leaving aeroplanes in flight are generally considered to be very dangerous and only the military would do something like it because it is quite definitely a skilful and dangerous business. Because skill is involved, training takes the form of regular practice and eventually the training culminates in competition. That explains why a long time ago one could sometimes observe determined grown ups flying their kites over a toilet bowl strategically positioned at Gilze-Rijen AFB, making serious attempts to drop water bags in, or close to, this isolated target.
You now know why someone once suggested how a cheque could be presented to the RAFA Nursing Home ‘Sussexdown’ in a more aeronautically orientated manner. An unguided piece of paper, such as a cheque, leaving the aircraft that carried it, is not likely to easily find its way to the desk of the manager at ‘Sussexdown’. However, when it is attached to a parachute and released over the gardens of the nursing home, the chance of success is better, and it increases dramatically when a weight is added. Traditional Dutch items like windmills, tulips, wooden shoes were considered for this but eventually the Edam cheese was selected because of its composition and malleable weight.
In early years members of Gilze-Rijen Aero club flew remembrance missions and dropped Edam cheeses on the ‘Sussexdown’ lawn. Later the aero club of the Dutch charter company ‘Transavia Airline’ took over the honours. But in 1995 a group of amateur (private) pilots at Lelystad were trained in the art of formation flying by (ex-military) members of the “Fokker Four” demo team. They immediately afterwards took over the Edambusters duties with their motley collection of aircraft and now take part in ceremonial activities, mostly on the Dutch Remembrance Day (May 4th), the RAFA Amsterdam Branch’s Dutch Day at Sussexdown and in demonstrating cheese dropping at various air shows in support of the charitable aims of RAFA. As there is both a serious and a pleasurable element to the activities, one can also witness a responsible attitude towards flight safety and a relaxed atmosphere among the Edambusters as friends.
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