Date: 21/6/2009
Time: 14:35 - 15:45 & 16:50 - 17:50
Aircraft: Ikarus C42 - G-CDVI
Bembridge with George
After this mornings dawn flight, I have had a couple
of hours more sleep and then I go round to George's, who has kindly invited
me to lunch. George seems to be quite excited about going flying. He then drives
us to the airfield.
OK, Bembridge isn't exactly an original destination
to take guests, but I do like the route, the wind is in the right direction
and it's always impressive to fly out over the coast. It's a bit cloudy, but
they are all quite high, so not an issue.
After
the usual faff of fuelling and checkout we are off on 26. It's not the smoothest
day, but not bad and George seems completely relaxed. I pilot down the thin
corridor between Solent zone and Boscombe CMATZ and then under 
the
2000' limit whilst over the New Forest. Once over the Solent, past Hurst Castle,
it gets a bit calmer. We round the Needles (which I always love) and head down
towards St. Catherine's Point, and George has a go with the joystick. After
the lighthouse, we head up the other side of the island and approach Bembridge
from over the sea at 1500', then from overhead turn to the north and drop down
to circuit height of 1000' to turn downwind, following the coastline past the
lifeboat station. The tide is right out and it doesn't look as pretty as normal.
A little bit of power on final and a good landing and easily off at the hard
turn-off point.
Time
for some tea and biscuits. I phone my brother to see if he's around - it seems
he is at home and asks what time I will be over his house.
After a quick checkover, we're off on 30 again.
Gaining height, we turn off from the coast across the Solent towards Hayling
Island. Once close to land, we drop down and come in above Chichester Harbour
entrance, turn west and then do and orbit around Sid's house. Then off towards
Petersfield and there is a large hole in the clouds, which we consider trying
to fly up through, but when we're at 4000' decide that they're probably a bit
too high.
As we approach Popham, we are just about to join,
when the Antenov calls that it is about to do a flypast followed by a landing
on 21 (i.e. not the current active runway). We've already had one plane damaged
by the Antenov recently and I also know how much it costs to run, so I elect
to keep up high and wait for it to finish playing before joining. Bit of a bouncy
landing, but not too bad.
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After
the usual faff of fuelling and checkout we are off on 26. It's not the smoothest
day, but not bad and George seems completely relaxed. I pilot down the thin
corridor between Solent zone and Boscombe CMATZ and then under 
the
2000' limit whilst over the New Forest. Once over the Solent, past Hurst Castle,
it gets a bit calmer. We round the Needles (which I always love) and head down
towards St. Catherine's Point, and George has a go with the joystick. After
the lighthouse, we head up the other side of the island and approach Bembridge
from over the sea at 1500', then from overhead turn to the north and drop down
to circuit height of 1000' to turn downwind, following the coastline past the
lifeboat station. The tide is right out and it doesn't look as pretty as normal.
A little bit of power on final and a good landing and easily off at the hard
turn-off point.
