Decided on either Cranfield or Tatenhill, both being fairly local airfields that I have not yet visited. Tossed a coin, and Cranfield won.
I had arranged to take my neighbour with me (my regular flying colleague), and the previous evening, he was ‘yes – tell me when and i’ll be ready’. So we settled on a 08:00 Sunday morning start. I was knocking on his door at said time, then at four minute intervals until 08:20 and out a note through the door on the off chance he woke up.
Got to the airfield just as it was opening, pulled G-OMNI out and gave her the A Check. Waited around until 09:30, still no show from the neighbour, so climbed in and took off.
The Arrow climbs very well indeed with one on board and full tanks and I was soon at 4000’ on a clear, crisp day in the early light. Gloucester were not busy and they handed me on (no freecall – wow!) to Brize as I navigated the VOR from Gloucester to Daventry. I have to say I had my head in the cockpit a lot trying to find my way around the avionics – could I find the DME? Could I buffalo!
At Daventry, gave Cranfield a call. They seemed busy and I was a bit phased by their seemingly brusque question ‘state your business’ – ‘….errrr – just a brief landaway for a £100 bacon sandwich!’.
Told to report at Woburn. I had expected to be routed by their VRP’s as that is what it says in the AIS. So took some speed off and bumbled around the west of Milton Keynes until I was at about the right bearing and distance from the airfield. Not sure I know what Woburn looks like, but I had to be over it, so called my position. Routed for a direct downwind join to 21 with left hand circuits with four in the circuit.
Descended to 800’ QFE, called downwind. Circuit was uneventful and made a nice landing if I say it myself. Yes, these PA28’s are nice to land. Instructed to take the first right exit as someone was pretty close behind. Parked up near the tower beside an HS125 (?) jet.
It was a lovely day until I had to pay the landing fee - £31 odd – OUCH!!! I knew it would be around this and I had put off going to Cranfield until now because of it. Well, I don’t plan to be back here again – not that they will care as Cabair seem to keep them very busy.
Checked out the bacon baps in the Café Pacific. Yep – pretty good. Had a brief wander around the airfield in lovely sunny and clear weather. What a busy place, with more flying schools than you can shake a stick at.
Started up and took off at about 11:15. Same route back. This time I found the DME. I know this sounds silly – how can he not see a DME? Well, when it is combined as a small digital window with a second VOR that is switched on with what looks like a heading bug knob on the VOR itself – that’s how! Phew – big sigh or relief. Now I have both VOR radials and DME readings – EEEH - LUXURY LAD!
Straightforward standard overhead join into Gloucester for 22 right hand circuits. Good approach and, well, if not a greaser like at Cranfield, still a reasonably gentle ‘arrival’.
I spot my neighbour while taxiing in – hard not to see him in his Montreal Canadians hockey shirt! I shut down and tot up the cost – a mere £305 for 0.8 there and 0.9 back (excluding the Cranfield landing fee)! This club hire stuff is killing me.
Oh – apparently its my fault that the neighbour was not up for not ringing to doorbell, shouting, throwing gravel at the window, waiting longer, coming in through the back door etc.!? I did ask if they had this great new invention in Canada yet – we call it the alarm clock! Maybe he just waits for the sound of timber crashing to the ground as beavers get going in the morning!
I am bored writing about such mundane bimbles, but at this price, it's all I can afford for now until the share gets going again.
