This was a little idea Genghis/PW and I discussed at Cosford. Who's interested? Does anyone want to fly in if I can organise it? http://www.flying-museum.org.uk/

That's a deffo for the Fairy clan.

MW is about a 25 minute drive for us, and we have family membership of the museum cos it's only 1 quid a month !

Count My other half and I in subject to family commitments of course. (I will try to excape them if I can). I will pass on flying in as the school dont like aircraft on the ground for too long.

Guess I ll come along too then! ;)

I'll try, but it's a long way from North Wales. :( Flying in will depend, as usual, on wx and aircraft availability.

I will try too, but Christmas is not a good time to be requesting days off where I work. :( In the meantime I better look up some nearby caravan sites :ok:
:uhoh: I have just looked it up in my map book. It's at least six hours towing time from here:{ That's not such a good idea in winter :\ but I'll try anyway :ok:

Hey AB, I'll come!

Kingy

Hey Kingy, long time no hear! Drop me an email some time & give me all your news. :)

Affirm, I live about 10 minutes drive away and am home for Christmas, so definitely.

I don't know how Wallop are about visiting aircraft, so if anybody wants to fly into Popham or Thruxton (preferably everybody to only one or t'other) I'd be glad to offer a lift. Popham is longer and more user-friendly, but can waterlog if there's been much rain. (Alternatively Chilbolton is very user friendly, between Popham and Wallop, doesn't waterlog, and is even closer - but it's also a bit short at 410m for some people's tastes.)

DXW, there's a small caravan club site on the A343 between Andover and Salisbury which is 5 or 10 minutes drive from Middle Wallop. I'm afraid I don't know more than that, other than that I drive past the sign on my way to go shopping in Salisbury.


Incidentally, for those with children, the place has a fantastic kids-science section, as well as the normal collection of aeroplanes.

G

AB,

Very interested, especially if it could be 27, 28 or 29 Dec.

Probably driving, and could also pick up others from SW London or various airfields en route

Cheers

SD

I would be interested in a trip to Middle Wallop, 29th being my preferred day.

Saab, if the offer of a lift is still open, I will take you up on it. Alternatively, IF the weather turns out nice and IF I can rent an aircraft at short notice then I could pick you up en route (Fairoaks?) and fly to Popham or Thruxton.

TallGuy.

Tall Guy:

Considered flying in to MW itself ?

I could have sworn there was an earlier post suggesting that MW were not keen on visiting aircraft - but it seems to have disappeared!

I will do some research (unless you can save me the bother?).

TG.

The 29th is the one day I cant make as I have to go to Gatwick that day, so if the decision is to go on the 29th please accept my aplogies otherwise I will see you all there.

HelenD

The 29th was just a preference (Mrs TG is working that day so I'm at a loose end :O). I could do 27/28/29/30th but it would be nice to commit fairly soon.

Any other offers - "definitely nots" are probably more useful than preferences!

Pooleys gives the number of the Deputy CFI of the Army school so I'll try and call tomorrow and see what the situation is regarding flying in. Also a comment "Airfield very undulating" sounds like fun :eek:. I have a feeling that the Army might shut down for an extended Christmas Break.

TG

I vote 29th or 30th.

G

TGIA152 -

The wife is thinking about a holiday between Christmas and early Jan, so I might not be in the country.

However, assuming I AM in the country I would be very pleased to drive or fly to MW with you - as long as it isn't 30th.

Cheers

SD

Monday 29th December seems to be the most popular date, so let's go for it. See you all there, kids!

Sounds like the 29th then.

I'm driving past a couple of times this week, I'll stick my head around the door and check that the museum and cafe will be open. I'll leave those flying in to check airfield availability.

G

I was planning for AB and me to fly in but looks as if Redhill is only open 1000 - 1600 over the whole Christmas and New Year fortnight. :(

I'm working on 29th :{ :{ :{

It has occurred to me that I would have to leave MW by 15:00 to arrive at Redhill with sufficient light (no night rating) regardless of aerodrome opening hours. That is probably too much of a restriction so it is probably best to drive. :(

I will reserve the right to change my mind at the last minute if the weather turns out particularly nice!

Nobody wants to answer the phone at the Army Flying School (everybody out flying?), but I have confirmed that the museum is open from the 27th onwards.

TG.

Spoke to ATC this afternoon...

Station stood down over whole Christmas period until 5th January 2004.

There was some doubt as to wether ANY private/GA traffic is allowed to use MW... he was prepared to find out when I mentioned the field was in Pooleys.

So.... drivind in only I m afraid.

PW

If anyone is flying into Thruxton for this, then I can make the journey from Thruxton to MW if you need a lift - and back, too :D

It's hardly like it's out of my way . . .

Tell you what NRF, if you want to do pickups from Thruxton, I'll do them from Popham and Chilbolton. About 1100 pickup from airfields, for about 1130 at Wallop work for everybody?

G

29th @<hidden> 11:30 hours, then

I intend to go, so the offer of a lift to TGIA152 is still open.

As we'll be passing Popham / Thruxton will happily pick souls up if required.

PM me if interested.

Cheers

SD

I make the initial list then...

NR Fairy (+2), Offering a lift from Thruxton en-route if asked.
Pilotwolf
Kingy
Aerbabe
Genghis (Offiering a lift from Popham or Chilbolton en-route if asked)
Saab Dastard
Tall_chap_in_a_152

With possibles from Whirlybird, and (not posted here but I bumped into him the other day and he said he might come) LOMCEVAK.

Anybody else planning to come?

G

Penguina and Smurph said they might come with me - they only found out about it last night at the bash.

Pilotwolf saidThere was some doubt as to wether ANY private/GA traffic is allowed to use MW... he was prepared to find out when I mentioned the field was in Pooleys.

A number of us flew in for the last Military and Civil Air Safety Day so they can take civilian traffic when they want to.

Those who don't do grass will have a problem.

Jolly nice idea but I fear rather late in the day to organise now. Maybe someone could explore the possibility of a visit some time in the new year.

If you approach it with the idea of getting one of their ATC people to give a talk on the MATZ with the idea of keeping us out of their hair they might bite.

Mike

Well us rotary pilots can land on just about any surface - water is a bit awkward for the majority of us though ;)

There didn't seem much point in pursuing the fly in as they re shutdown for Christmas and New Year anyway.

AB and I ll will be driving as she has to work on the 30th in order to keep me in rum and helicopter flying! Thanks Darling:ok:

PW

And even if Thruxton is closed, there are a few other local strips - Popham, Chilbolton, Manor Farm (NW of Thruxton) and a farm strip whose name escapes me just south of the A303 from Thruxton.

In the absence of a better offer (so far!) may pop down.

Anyone want a lift from Egham vicinity?

DOC

Doc,

I was just about to give you a call about it!

'Twill be good to see you - assuming you don't get a better offer in the meantime! ;)

Have a good Christmas

Cheers

SD

Oh dear ... PW has to work tomorrow, so I'll be coming on my own.
Does anyone fancy meeting up at Popham to share lifts? And is 1100 ok for everyone to meet at MW?

11:00 is fine for me, as long as I get some work out of the way first.

11-11.30 OK?

DOC

Nice to see everyone again and finally meet Talll_guy_in_a_152. Lucky no-one was seriously thinking of flying in. As DOC.400 put it, we were driving on instruments. A nice little museum with a good mix of information, photographs and, of course, flying machines.

Unfortunately, I forgot to put my larger capacity memory stick in my camera, so I only have a few photos. I'll post them here when I get home.

Nice to meet you to, Aerbabe, and everyone else. Despite the appaling weather (IMC all the way down the M3) and a stinking cold it was a pleasant way to spend the day.

The range of my camera flash does not seem to be very good (about 2 metres!) so my pictures were a bit of a poor effort. I have tweaked them up a bit for posting ...


Saab, The Nr Fairy family, DOC.400 and AerBabe after lunch
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.holder/pics/DSCN0262.JPG

Relaxing after a sortie in the Lynx, AB, Doc (hiding), Saab and Genghis
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.holder/pics/DSCN0264.JPG

Saab takes to the skies once again, under the watchful eye of Genghis in the back seat. AB patiently waits her turn (hiding the excitement well).
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.holder/pics/DSCN0265.JPG

See you again soon (Hendon?) and a happy new year.

TallGuy.

p.s. I've just noticed that the annoying time and date stamp are wrong, making them annoying and useless:O

A pleasant day out with fellow Propellorheads!!

BTW, I think Tall Guy needs to be renamed:

'How_Does_Tall_Guy_Fit_In_A_172?'

:D

DOC

15TG2,

We are now the PPRuNe private flying time travellers! ;)

I think that I am about to have had a good time at Middle Wallop. It will be nice to have seen you all again. :ok:

Happy 2005! :)

Cheers,

SD