Flying Adventures

A fun and challenging day in the Channel Islands with Chris Blythe to renew my IR(R)

Having done some training on farm strip flying earlier in the year to gain confidence in short field techniques in GPTSI, I got to know the folks at Farm Strip Flying. The original plan was an weekend in the SW centred around Bolt Head, camping and a brewery. However the weather was against us and we ended up just doing a days flying to farm strips around Croft Farm and the Cotswolds, followed by a BBQ.

A brilliant days flying despite the weather and a fun crowd of real tail draggers. Tricycle gear allowed if you can take the banter!

Airfields visited: Home farm Ebrington , Berrow, Ledbury, Milson, Croft Farm

Friday the 13 Sept. Must we really call it the end of the season ? Anyway the annual picnic was held at Oaksey Park. many thanks to Laura and all for organising and bringing lots of food.

A perfect sunny day.

Plan was to do France, but the weather was a against us. So we met in Duxford and then on to Seething where we received a great welcome. A nearby Airbnb was easily bike able. Bungay Folk Festival provided a day of entertainment in the sunshine, after watching the Tour d’ England rush by. Weather on the way back was challenging. Waited most of the morning for the cloud to lift to 1500 ft.

A few days back to what’s become my favourite airfield, Amboise Dierre. Checked out L’Aigle for lunch on the way home. Followed by a dash to the LAA Rally via Top Farm.

Crepe Suzette

A week in France

Tours

La Rochelle

Chateu Bournzieaux

Le Mans

Sat 13 July outbound from Popham weather ok, a bit gusty over northern France and some cloud dodging done around Caen at 2500 ft. First time in Tours, airport was welcoming and the parking not as bad (gravelly) as reviews in Skydemon suggest. Fuel is by Total card but not self service. A very nice exec lounge (which appears Euro 11 on the invoice). Cleared for take off ahead of an Easyjet flight. Did some chateaux viewing on way out. Tours ATC very accomodating in giving a transit back throiugh their zone .

La Rocehlle. It was getting very gusty by the time we arrived and cloudbase at 1800 ft. Glad to get the plane tied down. The airport is a dream for GA. Just self park and exit by the gate (noting the code to get back in again). 3 nights in La Rochelle rented bikes and enjoyed the waterfront and beaches.

The back to Chateaux Bournzieaux for the second time this season. This time they were full. Stayed 2 nights. RV8 also arrived G-RVOM Clive and Yola in from Hardwick airfield, Norfolk.

Customs at Le Mans as arranged, they just showed up for us. Weather getting worse as approaching UK but stayed above the clouds at 4500′

Private Video of the trip

12 days, 9 flights, 18 hrs hours of flight time. What a blast!

I joined the Raduno for the first time. A biennial event organised in Italy by Ricardo. many thanks to Ricardo for a brilliant event!

This year the destination was L’Aquila (LIAP), at 2200ft in the heart of central Italy Abruzzo region and in the middle of the Apennines.

The weather outbound over the cahnnel was very challeging with Simon Keeling putting many off. At least 5 pilots went by airliner!

I left early via Chateauroux (excellent for customs). Met up with Mark Saunders and we went on to Cannes for the night. Then 3 days on Corsica (Calvi) followed by an aborted trip to Elba (weather) on the way to L’Aquila. Lots of socialising and new friends, good food and even a bit of culture visting the Castle of Rocca Calascio.

After the Raduno I was in no rush to get back so flew southwest to Sardinia. Tortoli (reccomended by Marco over dinner). It proved to be a well placed airport right next to some amazing beaches. Not much going on so PPR essential.

Then, over the Sardinian mountains and a long sea crossing , staying at 6500′ most of the way to Avignon for the night. Following day I was refused landing at Chateauroux on the way back, provided an oportunity to do a diversion into Amboise to get new customs paperwork sorted. Ended up routing via Le Touquet, with a record 23 min turnaround before heading back to Popham.

Private video of the trip 16 min 18s https://youtu.be/Jd4-xOUxUV8