Gloucester had manfully stayed open throughout the snowfalls and had the main runway, 27/09 fully cleared. The other two runways and most of the taxiways, were however uncleared, so there was a lot of backtracking on the main runway - never mind, at least they were open. There was minimal to nil wind, so no nasty crosswinds for taildraggers.
We checked the plane out, booked out and primed and primed and primed. About 14 primes on the mixture and two attempts to start saw the Lycoming cough and spluuter into life - no terribly convincing, it doesn't like the cold!
We held at A2 while we did the power checks and allowed time for the oil temperature to rise to 40 degrees. Once it had, I called for departure on 27. Take off was good and we climbed rapridly in the cold air and headed east climing to 2200'. As we neared the Cotswold ridge, 2200' started to look optimistic and I dropped 100'.
The cloudbase was lowering while the uplands of the Cotswolds came towards us. I ducked again to 1700' and got below the cloudbase and proceeded towards Little Rissington. Well, we found it eventually and had it not been for the large hangars, I would never have seen it - it was covered completely in a very thick blanket of snow - so no landaway I guess!
The weather to the north looked good with some sun as we found a large 'hole' in the low cloud. I couldn't resist it, so up we went and were easily VMC on top by 3000'. I continued climbing to 4500;' to get a decent view of the undercast and headed west again.
We were virtually overhead Gloucester again where we found a smaller but big enough hole to get back down again. I dropped to 2000' and stooged around while I collected the ATIS and waited for a training flight to get back to the overhead. I called up and was given a standard overhead join for 27. Although I allowed the Cessna to get within two miles of the airfield before we were within 5, we still seemed to catch him in the overhead. I allowed him to get well ahead and took a wide descent, keeping him in sight all the way.
Well, I should have guessed that it was a particulare flying school as the circuit they did was incredibly wide, so I had to go wide to stay behind. I turned final and lost him in the ground clutter. I stayed out wide about 1.5nm before thinking of turning on final, when I spotted a Cessna at about out height, but further out - I could not believe he was actually in the circuit, but blow me down, there he was. I slowed down and went as wide as I dared, but by 1nm final, I was too close, so I called the tower and they gave me a go around.
This I did and was warned about another training Cessna (same school different plane) just ahead - oh no, here we go again! ATC took pity on me and advised me to turn downwind tighter to the runway (than their 1.5 nm!). This I did and became number 1 - phew! Why the schools teach such HUGE circuits, I really don't know.
Nil wind and a good approach saw a good landing and I backtracked due to there being no cleared taxiways. Parked up and shut down.
Really nice flight and we were gone 1.3 hours just bimbling around for the hell of it.
One of the other group members took the plane off my hands and he told me he couldn't find anywhere else nearby that was open.
Next flight is an all day booking once I get back from Canada. Hopefully, I can try for Old Buckenham and Tibenham.
