Date: 23/08/2012
Time: 17:40 - 18:15 (16:40 - 17:15 GMT), 18:40 -
18:55 (17:40 - 17:55 GMT) and 19:10 - 19:50 (18:10 - 18:50 GMT)
Aircraft: Ikarus C42 - G-CDMS
Redlands with
Rebecca
I need two more letters for the AlphaBet
Challenge; an R and an I - my plan for
this evening is to go to Redlands for the R. One of my nieces has also just
moved to Swindon so I sent her a message to say I was coming. I was very happy
when she agreed to meet me at the airfield.
First problem was getting PPR - It turns out Sarah
was on her way to a funeral, so couldn't take my call. She very kindly texted
me back with permission, so thanks very much for that and sorry for troubling
you at a difficult time.
I left work a little early and headed for the airfield.
Prepped the plane and soon I'm taking off on 21. I headed north west on a familiar
route up to Uffington 
Horse
- over Highclere, between Hungerford and Welford, past Lambourne and there it
is. I fly over it as usual and then turn to fly back over it. It seems the crop
circle that I have previously seen just below it has been augmented - 
someone
has added a big willy! Then I head towards the railway line into Swindon and
give them a blind call - no parachuting today to worry about. Then south, past
the double-roofed barn and there's the airfield - always a little closer than
I expect it to be. Dogleg round the barn and join base for 24 north, the longer
of the runways as there is so little wind. I taxi to the parking area and go
and sign in.
There are a number of local pilot preparing for
their machines for flight to take advantage of the evening conditions. They
are all really friendly and I have a bit of a chat. Then I call Becca and they
have just got there, so I wander round to the car park to find them. This is
the first time I have met her boyfriend Ben and we have a chat. I then offer
Bec a quick flight - she looks shocked for a moment but agrees - great.
A quick check and we trundle down the taxiway for
24 south - plenty of room to take off on this shorter runway. We head east and
I
suggest that we go to show her the horse. I ask Bec if she wants to try taking
the controls, but she declines. Over the horse from the north west (and the
big willy). Around over the ridge and then we head back - just a quickie. I
approach by the same (recommended) route a last time and land on 24 north
.
We are having a bit more chat, but I need to keep
an eye on the time - I have to be back at Popham before it closes at 8pm. Hmmm,
I think it's just a bit too tight to take Ben up; so next time. We say our goodbyes
and soon I'm trundling up the taxiway for 24 south again. Take off and climbout
is swift and gain height quickly, so can turn south. Slightly different route
back past Marlborough and Rivar Hill and then back along the valley. I keep
the nose down a bit to make up time. I initially call for an overhead join,
but there's no answer, so I change to a lazy downwind join. Progress back has
been good, so on final approach I choose to practice s-turns which I haven't
done for ages. Goes well and I touch and go and circuit for another go. This
too goes well, so T+G for one last circuit I can squeeze in. This time I bring
it in on the threshold and then complete a low hop along most of the length
- beautifully done (though I say so myself) with an occasional slight graceful
drag of the main. Great!
Return to 2012 Index
Return to main Index
Horse
- over Highclere, between Hungerford and Welford, past Lambourne and there it
is. I fly over it as usual and then turn to fly back over it. It seems the crop
circle that I have previously seen just below it has been augmented - 
someone
has added a big willy! Then I head towards the railway line into Swindon and
give them a blind call - no parachuting today to worry about. Then south, past
the double-roofed barn and there's the airfield - always a little closer than
I expect it to be. Dogleg round the barn and join base for 24 north, the longer
of the runways as there is so little wind. I taxi to the parking area and go
and sign in.
