Author Archives: AIB

Paragliding World Record Broken

We are sure that all our paragliding customers will be interested to read that a new world record has been set for paragliding. The record was broken in Brazil on the 9th October 2015 by three residents of that country – Marcelo Prieto, Donizete Lemos and Frank Brown with the first two taking to the sky using Ozone Enzo 2s and the later using a GIN Boomerang 10.

The launch got under way from Tacima in the north east of Brazil quite early in the morning at 6.20am. 11 hours and 20 minutes later the three paragliders had travelled an incredible 513km. This breaks the previous paragliding world record achieved by Nevil Hulett back in December 2008 when he achieved a distance of 502.9km in South Africa.

For the majority of the exciting journey the three travelled close together and it was felt that this played an important part in them being able to break the world record that has yet to be verified. In fact, the three all managed to land in the same field having completed their epic flight. Apparently, during the first hour in the air, the winds were quite light but for the remainder of the flight racing speeds were achieved no doubt aiding progress considerably.

For anyone that has taken part in paragliding, you will be aware just what a wonderful achievement travelling such a distance is. The effort required in being able to keep in the air for such a long period of time is substantial.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have arranged suitable insurance for many people that enjoy paragliding. So, if this is something that you are looking into perhaps because your existing cover is coming up for renewal or you are new to this exciting sport then why not get in touch with one of our experienced team on 02380 268 351 who will be delighted to discuss your requirements and arrange a competitive quotation.

Going Skiing This Winter? – What To Take With You.

Skiing It will not be long before the winter season is upon us. For those of you that enjoy skiing you may be looking forward to a week or two holidaying in a delightful ski resort either in the likes of a country in Europe such as France or Italy or perhaps further afield in Canada or the USA.

Whether you are an experienced off-piste skier or are planning your first skiing expedition on the more sedate nursery slopes there are a variety of things that you will want to bring with you. Some of the items you will take on any overseas holiday but some are exclusive to being required on a specialist skiing holiday.

To avoid the embarrassment of discovering that you have forgotten to bring one or more items with you, we thought that you would find the following list of things to pack a useful document to refer to when packing your suitcase.

Essential Holiday “Documents”

• Passport/Visa.
• Airline/train/coach tickets
• Debit and credit cards plus cash
• Driving license if you are going to be hiring a car or driving your own vehicle
• Holiday accommodation details including directions/map
• Travel Insurance to include winter sports cover
• Ski hire details

Ski Clothing

• Waterproof ski trousers, jacket and gloves
• Ski socks
• Hat
• Fleeces
• Thermal trousers and tops
• Goggles and sunglasses
• Neck warmer

Ski Equipment

• Skis and poles
• Ski boots
• Helmet
• Water bottle
• Rucksack
• Probe, shovel and transceiver for off-piste skiing

General Clothing

• Underwear
• Fleece/jumper
• T-shirt
• Trousers/jeans
• Socks
• Gloves
• Coat/jacket
• Scarf
• Boots/shoes
• Nightwear
• Swimwear

Sundries
• Toiletries including makeup
• Sun protection
• Mobile phone/charger/overseas plug adaptor
• Reading materials
• Chocolate bars
• Medicines
• iPad
• Camera
• Wrist/knee/ankle supports
• Snow chains for those of you driving a vehicle
• Hand and boot warmers

We do hope that the above list takes the strain out of deciding what to pack to take on your skiing holiday and avoids the embarrassment of forgetting to bring something important with you. Why not print the list and use it to tick off the items as you pack them.

Whilst most people will enjoy a trouble free skiing holiday there are some that will be unfortunate to have their break shortened due to suffering an accident on the ski slopes. Should you be one of the unlucky ones, it is important that you have suitable travel insurance in place to cover most mishaps. In this respect, here at AIB Insurance, we can arrange extremely competitive high quality winter sports cover to give you peace of mind. So, why not give one of our experienced team a call on 02380 268 351 and we will be pleased to discuss your travel insurance requirements.

Inside Air Force One

It probably does not come as a surprise to read that the President of the United States of America is flown around the globe to meet world leaders of other countries in a private plane. It is a Boeing 747-200B, designated VC-25A that has been specially adapted to provide the President with luxurious travel, the office facilities of the White House together with a huge focus on his safety.

To be exact, the term Air Force One is actually the air traffic control sign of any aircraft that has the president on board. However, the plane has become accustomed to being known by that name. There are in fact two VC25-A’s that are used by the President with tail codes 28000 and 29000.

The plane is longer than a hockey ring and taller than a six storey property. It can be re-fuelled mid-air if required. It covers an area of 4,000 square feet on three floors.

Whenever a new president is elected then a new pilot is chosen to fly the presidential plane. There is also a steward on board who sees to his personal needs.

There are two kitchens that are capable of providing food for up to 100 people where they can cook anything to meet the most discerning of palettes. The conference room that has a 50-inch TV screen can also be used to provide formal dining.

The President has his own large office where he can meet other world leaders and members of his staff that accompany him. He has a command centre at his disposal enabling him to respond to and deal with crisis situations.

In the event of the President requiring medical attention, there is a medical area on board with an operating table with a doctor and nurse in attendance.

He has his own personal quarters for him and his wife that includes a lounge and en-suite bedroom with two beds, toilet and shower. There is even room for an exercise bike if required. His staff also have their own accommodation and there is a secretaries office.

Obviously protecting the President is a priority and Air Force One has some sophisticated safety equipment. For instance, the plane is thoroughly checked over before take off, flares can be used to detract heat-seeking missiles, there is technology to provide protection from a nuclear electromagnetic pulse. There are secret service agents on board the plane who would, if necessary, shoot an intruder on sight. Fighter jets can quickly be called upon to defend the President’s plane.

So, as you can see, the President of the United States of America is well looked after whilst on board Air Force One.

Brad Pitt Buys German WW11 Motorcycle For £250,000

Brad Pitt, who has starred in many movies including Fury – a World War 11 drama, is reported to be a collector of war memorabilia. He has recently added to his collection by purchasing a rare vintage three-wheeler German WW11 motorbike dating back to 1942.

Apparently, he has paid about a quarter of a million pounds for this vehicle that was utilized by a German reconnaissance unit in the Second World War. It is one of only 500 that are believed to still be in existence and was used in Crete travelling over deserts and mountains. The motorbike was sold at auction when the Germans left Crete. Later it was sold to a collector who has recently sold it to Brad Pitt.

It is believed that he owns a number of motorcycles with one of them being an Ecosse Titanium that is purported to be one of the most expensive motorbikes in the world selling for in the region of $300,000. It is a work of art that would catch the eye of anyone happening to see it passing by. It is extremely powerful with a 225 bhp supercharged engine. His son, Maddox, received a Suzuki DRZ-125 dirt bike as an eleventh birthday present to be ridden on private land.

The German motorbike sounds like it is quite rare so presumably it has increased substantially in value since being used in World War 11. It will be interesting to see if its value goes up even further as it now has the added benefit of being owned by an A-rate film star that, if Brad Pitt should ever decide to dispose of the bike, may well add a further premium to its worth.

There are a number of other well-known celebrities that own motorbikes including George Clooney, David Beckham, Justin Timberlake and Tom Cruise,

Here at AIB Insurance, we have insured many expensive motorcycles so if you would like to discuss your requirements in this respect why not speak with a member of our experienced team on 02380 268 351.

1,000mph British Built Car Revealed

The Bloodhound supersonic car, that has taken around eight years to design and build, is being put on show for a few days in London. It has been manufactured in Bristol with a view to breaking the land speed record in 2017 and hopes to achieve a speed of over 1,000mph over a dry lakebed track that is twelve miles in length and two miles wide in South Africa at Hakskeen Pan.

The current land speed record was set back on the 15th October 1997 by Thrust SSC when a speed of 763mph was achieved in Nevada at the Black Rock Desert. The driver of the vehicle at that time was Wing Commander Andy Green and he is expected to be in the seat of the Bloodhound when it attempts to break the record.

In 2016, it is to start testing runs at Newquay Cornwall Airport at speeds of around 200mph to make sure that the software and electrical systems are all functioning correctly. It will then be taken to South Africa for further testing where it is hoped that it will get up to 800mph.

To help this supersonic car reach a record breaking speed it will use a combination of a Rolls-Royce Eurofighter Typhoon EJ200 jet engine, a Jaguar V8 engine and a rocket motor from Nammo of Norway to achieve 135,000 thrust horsepower. It should be capable of covering one mile in a mere 3.6 seconds and hopes to reach 1,000mph in just 55 seconds.

Bloodhound is 44 feet long, 8.2 feet wide and 9.8 feet high. The cockpit has been manufactured incorporating layers of carbon fibre to provide as safe an environment for Andy Green as possible. It has a 6.5 feet high tail fin to give it added stability. It has three separate braking systems and hundreds of sensors that will enable the technicians to monitor its performance. The solid wheels are made of aluminum revolving at 4 x quicker than those on a Formula One racing car. The floor has been made with steel to cope with the dust from the ground that could be travelling at 1,000mph as the particles hit the underneath of the vehicle.

The car is being displayed at London’s Canary Wharf. However, tickets to view the Bloodhound have been sold out well in advance.

AIB Insurance wishes those involved in the project every success in their endeavour to break the land speed record in 2017.

17 join Lotus on Apprentice Scheme

Lotus has recruited 17 new apprentices, with another eight to join by the end of the year, to work across all divisions of manufacturing – inclusive of trim, paint shop and vehicle assembly – as part of its largest apprenticeship scheme to date.

The 17 new apprentices are supported by the training specialists Poultec Training Limited and bring the total number of staff working at Lotus to 1137, with another 85 staff to be recruited by the end of 2015. The majority of these new staff are focussing on increasing the production of Lotus sports cars including the new Lotus Evora 400 and the latest versions of the Elise and Exige.

Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer for Group Lotus plc, explained, “A number of our staff who now hold senior management positions at Lotus started out as apprentices. A solid education in engineering and manufacturing is the perfect starting point for a successful career in the automotive industry. Through this apprentice scheme, we aim to provide opportunities and seek to tap into the rich pool of local talent to foster the next generation of Lotus employees.”

Neale McArdle, Training Director, Poultec Training Limited said “We are delighted to be working with Lotus to deliver the Apprenticeship Programme. The strength of our relationship will undoubtedly benefit the programme and, of course, the apprentices themselves.”

On the back of the recent launch of the much anticipated Lotus Evora 400 and new versions of its iconic models Elise and Exige, demand for Lotus cars has grown, with a 55% increase in global sales (FY 2014/15 compared to FY2013/14). This has been coupled with an increase in the number of Lotus dealers the world over during the last 15 months – from 138 to 193.

Lotus has been recruiting for sports car production ramp up with the target of 225 new staff to join Lotus by the end of 2015. So far, over 140 staff have joined the Lotus manufacturing operation at Hethel. Combined with the recent introduction of 11 new engineering graduates, Lotus moves closer towards the target of employing 1,222 people by the end of 2015.

In recognition that skilled workers are essential to the growth of the economy, the UK Government has a target of creating 3,000,000 apprenticeships starts by 2020. At a local level, the Apprentices Norfolk Network (ANN), a service provided by Norfolk County Council, supports local business and providers to maximise opportunity and effectiveness. Lotus’ future business objectives are in parallel with this and the company actively seeks to support young people by offering a viable alternative to full-time education with on the job training and mentorship.

Thanks to our friends at The Lotus Forum for the story: http://www.thelotusforums.com/

Lotus Festival of Speed 2015

The Lotus Festival 2015 was always destined to be a great event with over 1,000 various Lotus cars driving through the busy gates of Brands Hatch over the weekend of the 15th & 16th August.

With the sun shining and a packed race timetable including the Lotus Cup UK, Elise Trophy and the high-end FIA Lotus Cup Europe it was a surprise to see the weekend had time to fit in the Red Arrows making a flyby appearance.

Sunday afternoon saw a collection of Classic F1 cars take to the track including a Lotus 21, Lotus 101 and V12 engined Lotus 102. More excitement and noise was added with 2 Benetton F1 cars (the B190 and B193) and 2 700bhp Lola 3000 F1 replicas. Anniversaries in full bloom with the Esprit entering it’s 40th year, 25 years since the venerable Lotus Carlton was launched and 20 years since the popular Lotus Elise was launched. These displays were able to drive around the track on Saturday lunchtime between the races, and a lap of the GP there is a real treat!

The car clubs put on an excellent show, bringing well over 150 cars between them and make a fantastic display for all tastes from the classics of the Historic Lotus Club to specific clubs for the Seven, Excel, Vx220, Carlton and Cortina along with more general Lotus clubs from all over the country such as the East Anglian Lotus Club, Lotus Drivers Club and North Kent Lotus Group.

Lotus dealers from around the country were in force with 7 in all making their way to Kent for the Festival. The rest of the trade village were busy all weekend with a variety of stands selling everything Lotus related for visitors who had travelled from around the UK and Europe.

Back again for the 2015 Lotus Festival, Lotus owners had the chance to show off their beloved Lotus by taking part in the ‘Show and Shine’ competition. The competition was run on Sunday 16th August with four age-based classes: Pre-1974; 1974-1995; 1996-2008, Post 2009.

Competitors had the chance to contend for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in class trophies, along with the coveted title of ‘Overall best in show’. Prizes were awarded based on overall appearance & condition, taking into account whether a car is restored or original. The winners were chosen by a special team of Lotus judges.

Spaces for the Show and Shine contest were limited, with only 10 cars permitted to enter each class. The competitors cars were specially displayed within the Brands Hatch circuit throughout the Sunday.

The winners of each category were:

Pre-1974: Bill Holloway | 1967 Elan S3 S/E DHC
1974 – 1995: Jonny Pittard | 1981 Esprit Turbo
1996 – 2008: Paul Hanniford | Exige S2
Post 2009: David Devine | Exige S 240
There was much discussion between the judges over the ‘Overall Winner’ but in the end the decision was made in favour of Bill Holloway and his Elan, which he’s recently restored having owned the car since 1978.

For those who attended the festival may have spotted the AIB stand located not to far from the entrance. We at AIB thoroughly enjoyed the Lotus Festival and it was fantastic to meet some of our clients and some potential clients! The weekend was well spent talking all things Lotus, handing out flyers and goodies and the parade lap last thing on the Sunday evening saw 100 die hard owners showing off their pride and joy. BRING ON NEXT YEAR’S LOTUS FESTIVAL!!!!

Hypothetically, The Top 5 Most Costly Movie Motor Crash Insurance Claims

If you like watching films involving fast motors and huge crash scenes then you may have wondered just how much it could cost to replace and/or repair all those damaged vehicles and property. Well, you may be interested to read that IST CENTRAL, a car insurance company, has done some research into this as part of a staff training exercise into assessing claims. It has put together what it thinks, having made certain assumptions, could be five of the most expensive crash scene incidents to have taken place on the big screen.

1. Elwood Blues in The Blues Brothers (1980) – £5 million

The numerous car chases caused not only substantial damage to property but would also have resulted in many injured people submitting claims for personal injury. It is estimated that the insurance company may have had to pay out in the region of £5 million. Furthermore, Mr Blues could have seen his car insurance premium rise to about £250,000 per annum.

2. Steve McQueen in The Bullitt (1968) – £3 million

It is estimated that Steve McQueen’s Ford Mustang FT Fastback with a 325 bhp caused in the region of £3 million worth of damage to other cars whilst driving at breathtaking speeds around the streets of San Francisco in what is reputedly one of the most famous car chases ever seen in the cinema.

3. The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008)- £2 million

Damage to the underpass and vehicles was estimated to be in the region of £2 million although it would have been The Joker that would have been held responsible for the cost as it was his use of a bazooka from the side-door of a truck that caused the mayhem rather than the superhero Batman.

4. Will Smith in Bad Boys 11 (2003) – £1 million

Although the Ferrari 550 Maranello being driven by Mr Smith in Miami was not damaged, other motorists’ vehicles were not so lucky in the action packed film that grossed over $273 million.

5. Charlie Croker in The Italian Job (2003) – £210,000

A coach carrying gold was left literally hanging off the edge of a cliff resulting in a claim for £200,000 although, if a recovery vehicle had had to be called, this could have added an extra £10,000 to the bill. Mr Croker could also have seen his car insurance premium increase to a staggering £30,000 per annum.

Whilst here at AIB Insurance we have come across some extremely interesting claims on a number of clients’ car insurance policies, none have quite captured the imagination like any of the above – yet!

Is This The Most Expensive “Kit Car” Ever Built?

There surely can’t be many kit cars that could fetch in the region of £800,000 but that is how much a 1928 Bentley 4.5 litre Drop Head UP2100 could go for. This one had been broken down and its parts stored for many years until it was recently painstakingly rebuilt.

Apparently, Stuart Wallace, who died in 2014 at the age of 75, purchased the classic car back in 1962 for £280 but he was unable to meet its no doubt significant running costs as he was then a student. So, he dismantled the vehicle part by part taking numerous photographs and keeping a detailed record of them, storing the bits in a house in Richmond.

Following Mr Wallace’s death, a relative brought in experts who discovered the cylinder block in the hall, headlights under a bed, the car’s bodywork was in the garage, the clutch on the stairs and there were numerous other parts carefully stored in boxes. A team of people spent several months rebuilding this wonderful vintage vehicle to a point where it could be driven once more. The only new parts that were required were some pieces of wood for the bodywork.

The Bentley that is in good condition is currently on display at the Medcalf Collection in Liss, West Sussex and is available for sale. This two-seater model has done 39,000 miles. Only eight of these vehicles were built and this is believed to be the only one to have survived. So, if you are interested in this classic Bentley that has a wonderful history, you may wish to contact the Medcalf Collection.

Here at AIB Insurance, we insure many high-value vintage vehicles as well as a variety of kit cars so why not get in touch with one of our specialist team on 02380 268 351 to discuss your requirements and obtain a competitively priced classic or kit car insurance quotation.

Introducing Tony Johnson, Our Newest Team Member

We are pleased to welcome Tony Johnson, who joins our team in Eastleigh as one of our Insurance Consultants.

Tony has a decade of industry experience, having worked for insurance broker firms in Portsmouth, before moving to Swinton’s in 2013 – initially working in Waterlooville before moving to the Fareham branch.

Tony, who lives in Fareham supports Manchester United Football Club, he was born 9 weeks premature, he hates sponge (??!) likes strawberry flavour things but not strawberries and has met Mike Tyson, Kat Von D and Sir Alex Ferguson.

AIB Office Manager, Nigel Gould, said,

“Another great addition to our team in Eastleigh. Tony has the experience to help us further expand our client bank and offer exceptional customer service levels to our new and existing clients.”