What no food left, damn I had been so looking forward to a bacon butty or a burger. Oh well at least I’ll fit more easily into the cockpit on the way back.
Its Sat 30th Aug and the powers that be had decided to open up the disused airfield on Thorney Island for the weekend in order to raise money for the “Help for Heroes” charity. I’d just flown in from Deanland, parked up and managed to locate Paul and David (who had left Deanland slightly before me).
The wind on the Island was starting to get up but was fortunately still straight down the runway. That said the reports indicated that it would really slow things down on the eastward bound return leg.
Of to sign in proper and a quick walk round the parking area, lots of nice machinery on view. A few spam cans, LAA’s and groups A’s as well as a nice selection of both three axis and flex-wing microlights. The Escapade boys looked to be out in full force with quite a few lovely examples as well as a red and white C42 which looked very different in this colour configuration.
Well after this short bout of drooling it was back to CC, load in as much fuel as possible (this was going to be tighter than I would like what with the headwind), quick PFI and listen to David get clearance to taxi. Quick hold at the runway threshold and then taxi down to the road intersection to wait with David. Oh bugger they have put us on hold to allow a Yak to carry out a fly past and peel off (only thinking about the fuel) it was impressive through!
Ok David’s rolling and I’m next. There’s another plane on finals so no time to wait around on this occasion. Quick check to ensure that David was climbing out OK, apply full power and we are off. Taking off from a concrete runway into a positive headwind doesn’t half shorten my take-off roll! I’m up and climbing out towards the East. I can hear that the two group A’s that had been holding with me had also got off before the landing aircraft so I would have to be on my guard as things were getting busy around here.
The radio crackled again, “large aircraft approaching low from the East”, 15 seconds later another radio call, large aircraft possibly a Lancaster approaching from the East”. I could just imagine all the pairs of eyes in the four departing aircraft all swivelling rapidly to try and locate this historic beast of the air. Unfortunately at this point I was starting a climbing turn to the North East and couldn’t quite pick it out. That said I swear I heard it a few minutes later as I climbed up over the coast. David was about 500m ahead and slightly below, the two group A’s had just overtaken me, one either side above and below, hell its getting like the M25 up here!
OK trying to keep David in sight, up and around Chichester, keeping Goodwood airfield to my right I climb up to 2300 ft and listen in to their frequency. All sounding pretty busy, check out which runway is in operation. OK I’m flying downwind of there approach but with plenty of height separation. I can easily see aircraft in the circuit, visibility is much better now than it was earlier. Oh what’s that a Spitfire calling up Goodwood for a priority straight-in approach. Now where is he, must be well below me and off to the left. Got him, now that is impressive. Can’t be that many people (in peacetime at any rate) who have been able to say that they had looked down on a Spitfire as it cruised below them over the patchwork quilt of the English countryside – bit clichéd I know but god it looked cool!
Oh well dream time over time to concentrate. Quick check of the GPS showed that the wind wasn’t as bad as predicted and that I was able to cruise at about 50-55mph, 2000ft seemed to be the optimum height as far as the wind is concerned. David has now disappeared off to the north in order to give Littlehampton and Shoreham a wide berth. I’m going to stay in a little closer in as this is the shortest route and fuel conservation is going to be the order of the day.
Try to reach David on the microlight frequency but no luck so quick listen in to Shoreham, not a lot doing. Vis is so much better now, alongside Shoreham I can see 4 blue piston aircraft (no idea what they were) in pretty tight formation showing off to the crowds. Quick glance at the fuel gauge and the timer and all looks well. Decide to go for a straight-line approach to Deanland and look for a left base join on 06. David had kindly radioed up in advance to confirm runway in use…thanks David!
Oh that cross wind is a bit feisty. The approach to 06 always seems to take forever especially with a stiff crosswind. Lots of adjustment required, where’s that bloody centre line. I can just hear Keith voice asking me I’m I on the centre line and the answer was……no but not for the want of trying.
Over the hedge at 50 feet still fighting to hold the centre line. The hump in the runway is approaching fast, throttle off, hold it off, hold it off and I’m down. Rolling slightly faster than I would have expected given the wind, on the brakes and just managed to pull off at the centre point.
David and Paul had arrived back just before me and even had the kettle on.
The strength of the crosswind was ably demonstrated about 5 mins later when one of our colleagues had to abort his landing after a rather high bounce and an untimely gust…….it shouldn’t take him too long to clear the brambles from his tail skid!!
What a great days flying, CC put to bed, home for tea and crumpets (I wish).
Monday, September 8, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thorney Island Open for Business
I was really looking forward to taking part in my first official "Fly-in", Thorney Island East of Portsmouth on Sat 30th Augt.
I'd got my entry in, made a charity donation "Help for Heroes" and then disaster the main fuel tank on G-MVCC a Shadow C-D decided to delaminate. A frantic week followed, spare tank located (thanks David), lots of spares ordered and copious amounts fuel resistant filler applied!
I left it a bit late but by mid-morning on Sat 30th everything was back together and seemingly working perfectly. That said I wasn't going to head off West without carrying out a quick check flight. 20 minutes later and I was back and feeling greatly relieved to find that everything had held together well and no leaks had appeared.
As Thorney Island was going to be fueless and my little Charlie Charlie (CC) doesn't have the worlds greatest range an extra 20 litres of fuel was strapped into the rear compartment, final checks carried out and I was off.
It was a busy day in the skies of the South East what with the Shoreham and Bournemouth Air Shows and a sea front festival at Littlehampton all requiring their own allotted space and of course lots of traffic moving between the venues (more of that in part two).
A rather dog legged route was planned to keep me clear of all the temporary and standard danger areas and within 45 mins I could see the coast South of Chichester with Thorney Island sandwiched between the Witterings and Hayling Island. A quick call to Thorney Island radio on the microlight frequency produced...silence, bugger. Two more tries and nothing. I knew they were out there as I heard others calling in and clear responses. Nothing for it by but to check all the connections and fly a little closer. 5 mins later success, contact made and I'm heading for the overhead that sounded like it was a little busy.
For any low hours pilot, which I am, this is always the most scary part having to locate and establish a circuit at a new location especially one like Thorney Island which is going to be pretty unknown to nearly everyone taking part.
Called overhead at 2000ft and headed for the downwind side. A couple of other aircraft were in the circuit but with plenty of separation. Nice easy decent to circuit height at 1000 ft and quick call to confirm position.
Flying downwind alongside the runway showed plenty of arrivals already on site and a nice long concrete runway although the displaced threshold looked a little chopped up to say the least, will need to watch for that.
Right base established over Emsworth Channel and then onto finals for runway 12. Wind straight down the runway so just need to concentrate on my height and the centre line. I could see lots of people lined up alongside the runway so no pressure there then. I was a little low so power on, over the threshold clear of the markings, power off and round out. Nice landing for once, what a relief no embarrassing Kangarooing on this occasion. Quick check on where they want me to park and after a short cross country section I manage to squeeze CC into the line...aah that wasn't too bad.
OK so I had made it to Thorney Island without too much trouble and it looked like a damn good turn out. It certainly looked like as many people as possible had gone for the Saturday rather than risk being blown or rained out on the Sunday.
Well time to go and see who else had made it and check out the refreshments situation, oh yes and sign in and locate the designated bushes, no expense spared at these fly-ins you know!
That's part one, close encounters to follow in part two!
I'd got my entry in, made a charity donation "Help for Heroes" and then disaster the main fuel tank on G-MVCC a Shadow C-D decided to delaminate. A frantic week followed, spare tank located (thanks David), lots of spares ordered and copious amounts fuel resistant filler applied!
I left it a bit late but by mid-morning on Sat 30th everything was back together and seemingly working perfectly. That said I wasn't going to head off West without carrying out a quick check flight. 20 minutes later and I was back and feeling greatly relieved to find that everything had held together well and no leaks had appeared.
As Thorney Island was going to be fueless and my little Charlie Charlie (CC) doesn't have the worlds greatest range an extra 20 litres of fuel was strapped into the rear compartment, final checks carried out and I was off.
It was a busy day in the skies of the South East what with the Shoreham and Bournemouth Air Shows and a sea front festival at Littlehampton all requiring their own allotted space and of course lots of traffic moving between the venues (more of that in part two).
A rather dog legged route was planned to keep me clear of all the temporary and standard danger areas and within 45 mins I could see the coast South of Chichester with Thorney Island sandwiched between the Witterings and Hayling Island. A quick call to Thorney Island radio on the microlight frequency produced...silence, bugger. Two more tries and nothing. I knew they were out there as I heard others calling in and clear responses. Nothing for it by but to check all the connections and fly a little closer. 5 mins later success, contact made and I'm heading for the overhead that sounded like it was a little busy.
For any low hours pilot, which I am, this is always the most scary part having to locate and establish a circuit at a new location especially one like Thorney Island which is going to be pretty unknown to nearly everyone taking part.
Called overhead at 2000ft and headed for the downwind side. A couple of other aircraft were in the circuit but with plenty of separation. Nice easy decent to circuit height at 1000 ft and quick call to confirm position.
Flying downwind alongside the runway showed plenty of arrivals already on site and a nice long concrete runway although the displaced threshold looked a little chopped up to say the least, will need to watch for that.
Right base established over Emsworth Channel and then onto finals for runway 12. Wind straight down the runway so just need to concentrate on my height and the centre line. I could see lots of people lined up alongside the runway so no pressure there then. I was a little low so power on, over the threshold clear of the markings, power off and round out. Nice landing for once, what a relief no embarrassing Kangarooing on this occasion. Quick check on where they want me to park and after a short cross country section I manage to squeeze CC into the line...aah that wasn't too bad.
OK so I had made it to Thorney Island without too much trouble and it looked like a damn good turn out. It certainly looked like as many people as possible had gone for the Saturday rather than risk being blown or rained out on the Sunday.
Well time to go and see who else had made it and check out the refreshments situation, oh yes and sign in and locate the designated bushes, no expense spared at these fly-ins you know!
That's part one, close encounters to follow in part two!
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