Date: 18/5/2008
Time: 14:50 - 15:40 & 16:30 - 17:20
Aircraft: Ikarus C42 - G-CEAN
Sandown IOW
Sandown has long been a target of mine and today I am going for it. My PLOG is all done and it is mainly a route I have done before, and indeed I have seen the airfield from above.
After the checkout, I'm off on 03 and then down on the usual route to Butser Hill and then down to Hayling Island and gain some height to cross the Solent. Passing over the Bembridge zone I can then descend for an overhead join for Sandown. I follow someone else who goes quite a long way downwind, and hence had to do the same. My approach was OK, but the landing wasn't the best. There was a blustery crosswind coming off the sea that unsettled me, but at least it was completely safe - otherwise I would have gone around.
I book-in and make a cup of tea, and look around their clubhouse restaurant - or at least what's left of it after it burnt down. I chat to a couple who had just returned by taxi from a day on the beach, and got into their motor-glider to fly home. I guess that's one of the advantages of having your own aircraft.
Time to set of again and I take off, do a loop to gain some height, then over Bembridge and the Solent. I do my usual decent though Chichester Harbour entrance, up the creek towards the sailing club, then north back home.
Another flight ticked and I enjoyed today.