Essex Microlight Club

Our next club meeting is Monday 14th April, at 7pm for 7-30 at Stewarts Bar, Western Road, Billericay.

A Perfect Winter's day

By Pete Croney

The winter weather was alternating between wet and wet with lots of wind, so the 28th of November was a revelation. I arrived at the airfield to find cloudless blue skies, no mist and the windsock hanging motionless.

I pulled Charlie Mike out of his newly completed hangar and he fired up on the obligatory third pull. The plan had been to meet up with Paul Knight and Malcolm Perry at Bob Napp's field in Stock, where fellow Medway member Alan Roche is now based. Tony Turner, a Thruster and Bell Jet Ranger owner (!!), would be joining us for the trip. Unfortunately Tony was held up at work, so I decided to go over to Paul's strip at Elm Farm, Wickford. If Paul was ready, I would wait overhead, if not then I would go in.

Remembering that he had a 912 to warm up, I should have realised that he wouldn't be ready.

At Paul's Strip

Paul had said that his strip was approx 250m and this was the shortest field I have been to. As there is no fence or hedge at the threshold, I thought I would practice a short field landing and was very pleased to use approximately a fifth of the strip. After a quick chat with the strip owner, I then grew a beard waiting for Paul's 912S Blade to warm up. Eventually we were away and what a day it was. A gentle tailwind helped us along and we slipped through silky blue skies for approx 30 minutes until Andrewsfield was in sight.

Paul's Blade

I had called up for joining instructions. "Right hand circuit onto 09 left, QFE 1002" was the reply. The "left" bit was a bit puzzling but I was certain that he had said right hand circuit, so that's what I repeated and that's what I would do unless corrected. Paul also called up and got the same response. I decided to join downwind and called when in position at the start of what I hoped was the downwind, whilst Paul headed for the field to join overhead. I thought this strange, as he was crossing the downwind to do so. I continued on the downwind, calling Base and Final all without getting a bollocking. This was good, I decided. As I turned final, all became clear. The runway is split into a left and right half. Use is alternated, to protect it through the winter months. Its a long strip and one where you just carrying on flying until the ground gently reaches your wheels. I chuckled thinking about how I had about 20 times as much runway as I needed.

Paul eventually appeared, having done a left hand circuit.

En-route to Andrewsfield

What a great airfield Andrewsfield is. Our landing fee was a paltry £5 and the clubhouse included a good restaurant and bar. We ordered breakfast sandwiches (which were nearly as good as Suzie's') and retired to the patio with our coffees to enjoy the winter sunshine.

Suitably full we said our farewells and departed for the Blackwater. The C152 that we followed down the taxi path was being used for a lesson. Unfortunately when it got to the hold, the pre flight briefing began. Or so it appeared as we sat there what seemed like an age. Either way, I was now in serious need of a shave. Eventually I informed the tower that I was ready for an IMMEDIATE departure and would jump in, if the Cessna didn't mind. The Cessna heard me and kindly said that they didn't mind, so off we both went, back into the dark blue sky.

Being a week day, we knew that the Blackwater would be reasonably devoid of boats and walkers, allowing us to do some low flying along the sea walls. The sea wall here is very similar to the one at St Mary's Marsh, used by Slippery and Alan in their training. Picking up the wall just east of Heybridge, we stayed at 50-60 feet until we approached the edge of the Bradwell TRA. Keeping the wall below the aircraft required every bit of the allowed performance and we banked our way along for approx 7 miles. We did see a couple of walkers, but each time we had plenty of time to safely peel away and maintain 500 feet separation.

Climbing up and heading back west to my strip, it really struck me that the world is a beautiful place, its just that not many people get to see it the way we do. If they did, I'm sure it would be a friendlier place too.

Charlie Mike back in bed.