Time: 12:55 - 13:35 (11:55 - 12:35 GMT)

Aircraft: EuroFOX - G-UFOX

Old Sarum

Ian and I were hoping to go to the WestonZoyland fly-in today, but the weather isn't co-operating. There is a fair amount of rain around so we have to change our plans for somewhere a little more local. Old Sarum seems to fit the bill.

Ian is going to fly the outbound leg and after the checkout, takes off on 21 and climbs out towards the south west. But not too much of a climb, because the clouds stop us getting much above 1500'. I still find the excellent visibility on the EuroFOX (particularly downwards) makes it feel like we are lower than we really are, so this feels like we are really low. In fact we have to fly around each of the downpours in a snaking course. At one point we are forced to go through a bit of rain - it seems our doors are not very watertight at the leading edge. Joining from the deadside, he circuits round to runway 24. The wind is coming a bit from the left, but the width of the runway allows Ian to land at an angle to it - a perfect touchdown!

Tea and bacon butties in the cafe. There are loads of would-be parachutists waiting for the cloud situation to improve before they are allowed to go up and jump. We go and have a look at the museum but it's a little more expensive than we are prepared to pay, so we just look at the external exhibits - indeed we have to shelter under one when it starts to rain again.

My turn for the homebound leg. Quick checkover and we're off on 24, then a left turn down towards Alderbury. The cloudbase has risen and now we can reach over 2000'. Indeed, as we pass Chilbolton we can see a big gap in the clouds over Popham. I decide to open the throttle to climb up through the gap to have a look above the clouds. It's a glorious view.

Not the flight we had intended but very enjoyable.

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