Date: 07/05/2011
Time: 15:05 - 16:30 (14:05 - 15:30 GMT)
Aircraft: Ikarus C42 - G-CDMS
Fire
Reconnaissance
Forecast (once again) was poor for today - windy,
very gusty and thunder showers - not ideal. I think about binning it, but the
forecast improves marginally and a quick call to the office proves that both
Steve and Roy are still instructing, so I decide to give it a go. With the treat
of rain, I use the car - it's not that I mind getting wet on the bike, just
that it will need to be cleaned after riding in the wet. When I get to the airfield,
the cloudbase is OK and one moment the wind is gentle and the next, it is blowing
- yep gusty!
You can never really tell what it will be like,
until you actually get up in the air. My plan (if conditions are suitable) is
to fly to Sandhurst (where I live) to have a look at the damage caused by the
fires in Swinley Forest last weekend. I was at home then and there was almost
continuous sirens passing the house, so I guessed that the common was on fire.
I
get 
G-MS
out and warm it thoroughly, given it has a new engine. Once prepped, I'm off
from runway 21 and it does prove a bit bumpy. The visibility isn't brilliant
but not as abysmal as it has been recently. I head off north to where Hannington
Mast should be and eventually it comes into view. I find I am having to 'fly'
the plane, with reasonable stick movements just to keep it level, but soon get
used to it. It also needs a fair amount of right aileron, not helped by the
lack of passenger.
The
outbound
flight goes well with a reasonable offset needed to counter the side wind. I
find Sandhurst and Crowthorne and can see the blackened areas, mainly between
Broadmoor Hospital (criminal nut-house) and the Transport Research Laboratory.
There is a large area completely destroyed highlighted by a crossroads of the
footpaths. I have to be careful not to blunder into either the Heathrow zone
or Blackbushe ATZ. I try to take some pictures, but it is quite difficult on
my own, keeping the plane level, fighting the bumps and maintaining a lookout
for other aircraft, so sorry they aren't too good. Just as hard to find my house
and attempt a piccie.
I
then
head back to Popham. Along the way, I spot what looks like two private airfields
right next to each other at Bramshill - I must investigate these further. The
vis still isn't good, but the return is uneventful and I join overhead for a
landing I am happy with - think I'll put it away now!
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I
get 
G-MS
out and warm it thoroughly, given it has a new engine. Once prepped, I'm off
from runway 21 and it does prove a bit bumpy. The visibility isn't brilliant
but not as abysmal as it has been recently. I head off north to where Hannington
Mast should be and eventually it comes into view. I find I am having to 'fly'
the plane, with reasonable stick movements just to keep it level, but soon get
used to it. It also needs a fair amount of right aileron, not helped by the
lack of passenger.
