This was my friend, Dan’s first flight with me for some time. We rocked up and pulled the plane out, low on fuel so I had to refuel. Without ado, we were off on runway 27, then after noise abatement, heading south for a transit of Lyneham. Lyneham advised me that D125 was active, so I would have to go around the danger areas blocking a direct route (and also unfortunately blocking an orbit of Stonehenge).
Routed across the western edge of Lyneham and just clear of Colerne to Warminster. Then left turn to track the main road east to an inactive Boscombe Down. We did spot Stonehenge and got some photos – small isn’t it? Joined Old Sarum overhead for 24 with right hand circuits. Did a decent landing with plenty or runway left and parked up.
We ordered food and of course didn’t get what we ordered – you know how you get the feeling that no matter how often you repeat yourself and a person acknowledges, they will still get it wrong? Well, it was one of those. At least the airfield café was doing a healthy trade with a big party having a nice large lunch with wine – almost like France this.
Nice airfield (for grass) and bust too! Lovely old hangars and a really eclectic mix of aircraft.
Time was pressing so we saddled up and took off. Bit of a crosswind for runway 24 (300 / 10kts) and it was a bit bumpy in the take-off run. So I got the wheels off the ground and held in ground effect while we reached climb speed, then off we went towards Compton Abbas. At 2400’ with nine miles to run, we had a ‘spot Compton Abbas’ competition (while of course keeping a lookout for other traffic). Blow me if Dan didn’t get it first – it can be a swine to spot from certain angles.
Then we set course direct for Gloucester with a transit of Lyneham. Just passed Kemble, we spotted a ‘line’ of gliders, close, but not so close that avoiding action was required – just a waggle of the wings and a careful eye on them. And for good measure, one orbiting the ridge at Cheltenham – so advised Glos Approach of the glider traffic for the benefit of other aircraft.
Got a direct left hand base join got 27 – nice people at Gloucester. I was descending to circuit height in an extended left base, go the speed down, then down with the gear. Gear in transit light, delay, delay, one green, two now, and……nothing! Oh Sh*t! Recycle gear – one, two,…..nothing! I am on long final now so advise Gloucester that I am having trouble with my gear indications and would like to break off approach to try a few things. They helpfully suggest a low fly-past so they can ‘eyeball’ the gear – fine. While I am closing in, I ask my passenger to dislodge and swap the gear bulbs (fairly easy in an Arrow – sometime it is a bulb that has gone and this would show that). He does this and still no dice – left main gear shows no indication! So I fly past the tower and ‘go-around’. They say all the gear looks down. I cycle the gear up for the go-around and climb back to circuit height.
Downwind, I recycle the gear again with the same result – negative on the left main gear. But I am sure I saw a ‘flash’ on the left gear indicator light. I turn the plane and ask the Tower to see what the gear looks like with the binos – again, they advise that it looks normal. At this stage I am pretty sure it is a faulty switch or loose connection – maybe some guck from the grass airstrip at Old Sarum or something knocked loose of the bumpy take off run. So I decide to land and advise the Tower. They declare me ‘priority traffic’.
I advise my experienced passenger that this is probably nothing, but to tighten his belt and brace in the flare. He does so and is reasonably laconic about the whole thing.
I do the usual approach and final checks and come in at the normal approach speed. Tower advise the gear still looks OK. I go for it and flare, but a bit ‘wing down’ towards the right so the right main touches first. This is what happens, I hold the left off as best I can, but it touches….and holds! I start to brake to make the first intersection, but the Tower advise me to roll to the end as there is an airport fire-truck following me along the runway! Wow, an escort!
We taxi the long way back. Needless to say, immediately we clear the runway, the left main green light comes on and stays on! On the way past, we give the tower a ‘thumbs up’ and taxi to parking. I close down and have a very long and audible exhale of breath. Dan reassures me and tells me that he was sure we weren’t going to die, because in his dreams he always dies screaming – and this time no-one was screaming! Thanks Dan!
I have a look at the gear and there is nothing visibly wrong. Phil from one of the flying schools obviously heard the radio calls on the school scanner and ambles over. One of his school aircraft is an Arrow 2 and he has a look. He can’t see anything wrong and also thinks it must be a loose connection.
I look up and see a Gloucester fire brigade truck pull up and onto the airfield. Standard procedure the airport firecrew tell me. I have to say I am extremely impressed with Gloucester Airport. The tower, the firecrew and the county fire brigade are very much on the ball – well done guys – top marks!
I write up the problem in the tech log and we head home. I stop at Dan’s for a beer (of course) and we both decide it is better not to tell the other half’s – after all, it was just a loose connection.
I email the group and ask for the plane to be checked out by our MO before anyone else flies. I ring the two members who were due to fly tomorrow and suggest that they shouldn’t until we get it checked.
Quite an exciting trip all in all. I have to say, I was 80% sure it was a loose connection or a claggy micro-switch, but the 20% was of course nipping away at my thoughts in the circuit.
As the old saying goes ‘anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’!
