Date: 04/08/2013
Time: 14:45 - 15:45 (13:45 - 14:45 GMT) & 16:45
- 17:45 (15:45 - 16:45 GMT)
Aircraft: EuroFOX - G-UFOX
Lee on Solent
It's quite windy today, and I'm off on a trip on
my own. I decided that I should pick an airfield with a runway reasonably into
wind and Lee on Solent seems to fit the bill. They have had a bit of a change
there, with the arrival of Sapphire Aviation and I have heard good things. Also,
it is Cowes Week, which my brother is competing in - might get a bit of a look
at that.
All checked out, and I line-up at the bottom of
21. The wind is reasonably strong as I open the throttle and I go to push the
stick forward to lift the tail and suddenly realise (just in time) that I'm
already in the air. With the wind and being solo, the angle of climb is amazing.
I head down the familiar route to the south-west, between the Boscombe MATZ
and the Southampton zone. Across the New Forest I turn towards Beaulieu rather
than my usual path to Hurst Castle. Out over the Solent I can see numerous boats
sailing around. I have no idea is any of them are my brothers boat Zingara and
I'm not keen on going too low (just in case!!). After a bit of a loop around
Cowes entrance, I join downwind for LoS circuit. Approaching the ground on final,
I an feel the gusty wind, but the landing goes OK. From the south end of runway
23 I have to follow the lengthy trek around three quarters of the airfield to
get to Sapphire and get marshalled into a parking spot.
I sign in and get some tea and a pain-au-chocolate.
I sit down and chat with Irv and his wife. I know Irv from Popham, but it seems
he lives local to Los and just came to use the cafe. Very pleasant. I'm still
trying to get used to the idea that I don't have to rush back, as it is (partly)
my plane and mine for the rest of the day.
Eventually,
I'm on my way home. I take off on 23 and head straight out into the Solent with
an turn to avoid a glider. I head back over Cowes, but the sailing seems to
have finished for the day. I continue on past Osbourne House, then the Spinnaker
Tower on to Hayling Island where I drop down a bit to see my fathers and brothers
houses. Then back to Popham via Butser Hill. Finish off with a couple more circuits.
A nice flight.
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I head down the familiar route to the south-west, between the Boscombe MATZ
and the Southampton zone. Across the New Forest I turn towards Beaulieu rather
than my usual path to Hurst Castle. Out over the Solent I can see numerous boats
sailing around. I have no idea is any of them are my brothers boat Zingara and
I'm not keen on going too low (just in case!!). After a bit of a loop around
Cowes entrance, I join downwind for LoS circuit. Approaching the ground on final,
I an feel the gusty wind, but the landing goes OK. From the south end of runway
23 I have to follow the lengthy trek around three quarters of the airfield to
get to Sapphire and get marshalled into a parking spot.
