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On one of the few good days for flying in October, and it had been predicted early enough for some of us to have a day off, 5 aircraft set
off for a days flying from various airstrips in Essex to North Weald, followed by Sandy, Beds and then Seething in Suffolk.
Here are a couple of different reports of how the day went.
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The first account is by Shadow pilot, Joe Kane:
(Joe's Shadow, click to enlarge)
So glad I took today off. Popped along to Sandy.
Sandy's 09/27 is nice & big, but the taxi-way (muddy track) runs alongside the lake. Which apart from being very tight, seemed to annoy the various anglers who gave me dirty looks as I had to rev the engine a few times - So that was a bonus - get a proper hobby :-)
Bumped into Pete, Alan & Steve. Joined them for the flight to Seething and on-route (eventually) got up to 6K to join them above the clouds (My first time). Saw my first halo with the shadow's shadow in the centre - Just beautiful!
Bloody cold though!
(Pete and Joe climbing out of Sandy, click to enlarge)
As we landed, Tony joined the circuit - what timing!
On the way back, nice & relaxing out to the coast and along down to Felixstowe where I said my goodbyes & followed the river inland.
A bit of carb icing gave me a wake up call on the way back.
I could still hear Alan & Pete discussing Pete fuel level? (5 litres wasn't it?) just as I got within a few miles of home & switched to Stansted
ATIS.
(Pete's office, click to enlarge)
Straight in, although I was going straight into the sunset which showed up every scratch on my canopy like a big spiders web.
Sandy & Seething, both really friendly.
Home, dinner was almost ready for me, can't get much better than this!
Big grin.
Joe
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This report is by Quik pilot, Al Roche:
(Malcolm's Minimax, click to enlarge)
Great days flying yesterday, Got to Crays hill about 8.25 and was fully rigged and ready to go by 9, but then faffed about with maps, petrol cans, seat belts, radio etc.
At 9.30 Steve and Pete were overhead, I hadn't even started the engine, so they dropped in for a smoke and chat with Malcom who had his plane out and was contemplating coming to North Wield with us. Had our chat and then we waited...and waited....and waited until the engine had finally warmed up. Steve's Flydat wasn't working so he just judged his temps when mine was ready.
Pete took off first Steve followed which left me on the ground with this new plane and a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach, was I apprehensive that would be an understatement.....Oh bugger just go for it, I've checked everything twice, it'll be fine. Gunned it down the runway.....yahooooo.... this is more like it. Climbed out at a reasonable rate but didn't want to push it to much, right lets play with this trimmer thingy on the right, what does this do.
In to North Wield and the biggest balloon/bounce (call it what you will) I have ever done, the back wheels touched ever so softly and It just wanted to get back into the air...This is not as easy to land as my last plane...of course I'm doing everything I have been told to do... come in at no less than 70mph and flair quite high with a small bit of power...little did I know that my ASI was under reading by about 13mph so I actually came in at somewhere close to 85mph (Slippery always told me that speed is good,
not so sure I agree with him now) and the other problem was the engine was idling at 2k so there was always a bit of push, quiet a bit of push actually...No matter it was North
Weald..a huge runway and it saved me taxiing all that way.
Had a nice breakfast, it comes a pretty close second to Stoke's. We were sitting outside when a Spitfire rumbles by the pilot gives us a wave and taxies down to the hold...Pete says something like "probably a million quids worth there" someone else said and I kid you not "I wonder what his insurance excess is". It took off and flew down the runway landing gear up and peeled off to the right...looked the dogs proverbials. After a while we decide to press on to Sandy, started up and taxied to the hold. Pete was first and called ready for departure and lines up on the runway.......next thing Annabel has closed the runway , the Spitfire had landed and lost its tail wheel, I'll let Annabel tell the story of what happened but we had to turn around and taxi to the other runway...exciting stuff this flying lark.
On to Sandy, lovely flight hands off the whole way, trying to line up for Pete to get a few photos and completely misjudging speed, height etc. zoom past and around for another go....this is so much fun.. ; - )
(Al's new Quik, click to enlarge)
Into Sandy, Steve went zooming off and was first in, Pete went in second and then it was my turn 400mtrs now its getting serious. Still unaware of the under-reading ASI, I steamed in over the trees, used up way to much runway and the revs were still giving a slight push. Got it down stood on the brakes not a lot there but it was slowing, I was thinking of cutting the engine as the ditch was looming up... Ahh! there's a gate at the end of the runway lovely, let off the brakes (might as well save them) and coast
up through the gate. Turn around and track back to the others....down safely again but not a happy bunny.
At this stage I am doing some serious thinking! What the **%$ is going wrong, how does Mr Anderson (Steve Seb for those that don't know) slow his plane down (maybe this Matrix stuff is real!! ) Does he use his Matrix Powers, raises his hand or concentrates and everything slows down ;-). What is his secret?
Anyway it was time to go to Seething, we met up with Joe Kane at Sandy purely by chance as he hasn't been on the Egroup lately, Joe decided to come to Seething with us so off we set. Pete then Joe with myself and Steve last again after waiting for engines to warm up.
(over the clouds, click to enlarge)
(passing over Newmarket races, click to enlarge)
A fantastic flight was had by all to Seething, we climbed above the cloud (plenty of holes so we were legal) worked out the ASI was misreading and got myself ready psyche up for landing at Seething, now this was different came in at 57mph indicated all lovely (really 70), I would almost say greaser...Steve probably wouldn't but I was happy. Got it sussed...The test was Crays Hill 250mtrs long, I wasn't worried anymore I had been slightly worried after North Wield then really worried after Sandy but now I was up for it. Incidentally before we were parked up Tony H-S came into circuit and we all had a nice cuppa before the last leg home...great timing Tony.
We took off at about 3.15 and headed for the coast, again another fantastic flight, hands off the whole way home, a bit of carb icing here and there but nothing to worry about. Joe left us at Felixstowe and headed for his base, Tony headed for Stoke and Steve headed for Southend. Pete and myself parted company over Malden and I headed for Elm Farm.
Malcom was still at the airfield so he radioed me and moved his plane out of the way, didn't he trust me! Right this is it....Get myself fired up and ready. Lined up and came in over the barn lining up nicely with the runway, ready for the go around. Dropped it on the numbers no bounce, no drama, a greaser but then again Malcom was there so may have a different story to tell.
What a fantastic day. This is what flying is all about cant wait for the next one.
Al
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Essex
Microlight Club
