Ludham and Weybourne

[The Dead Side]

Hi All,

I'd appreciate it if anyone could offer some up-to-date information regarding (either or both!) Ludham and Weybourne airfields. I'm hoping to fly into both on Wednesday.

A Weybourne google returns a few historical pages, however no airfield information, nor are they in Pooleys or Lockyears. Does anyone have any experience of flying there?

Ludham has a website, however this seems to be fairly dated - they also have a pooleys entry. Any other relavent info would be great.

Thanks in advance,
DS

[Justiciar]

Ludham is just up the road from me. It is a privately owned field (its actually concrete - about 800 meters from memory). The web site used to have mobile numbers for the owners from whom you can get PPR. There is not usually a problem with permission. The westerly runway approach is offset to avoid the blister hanger at the end.

I know nothing about Weybourne.

[Zulu Alpha]

Weybourne is part of the Muckleburgh collection

The Muckleburgh Collection - UK's largest privately owned working Military Museum (http://www.muckleburgh.co.uk/home.htm)

Nice strip and nice people. Gave me a lift to and from the strip in their GAMA goat last time without charging.

[wsmempson]

Weybourne is fine, although I would ask first of all what you're planning to go in there with? Potentially quite a tricky strip if neither the pilot nor the aircraft are big on short-field landings. The east/west runway is about 360m and the north/south runway just over 600m. However, the southerly runway is uphill and has a hillock at the end, which might make a go-around tricky; the northerly runway slopes downhill, into the sea. A pilot who had been warned of the strips foibles, landed a stampe upside down there, a couple of years ago...

[Zulu Alpha]

I took a Piper Arrow in there two up a few years ago and have since landed there in an fast taildragger without flaps.

It seemed quite an easy strip to me, but check it out on Google earth etc. for yourself.

[flybymike]

A pilot who had been warned of the strips foibles, landed a stampe upside down there, a couple of years ago...

You mean rather like this....?

YouTube - ‪Plane Lands Upside Down / Craig Hosking's Pitts S-2 "Double Take"‬‏

[wsmempson]

....and I took an Archer in there, and didn't have too much trouble either. However, I still wouldn't describe Weybourne as an easy strip; with the wind from an inconvenient direction, it has real 'gotcha' potential!

[The Dead Side]

Thanks for your replies chaps. Sounds like Weybourne may be a nice challenge, but I'm only stopping off on the way - if it's a tricky wind or adverse situation, I'll have no qualms in carrying on straight past.

[Danscowpie]

If Weybourne presents a challenge you'd rather not encounter, you may wish to consider Cromer.
Northrepps Aerodrome (http://www.northreppsaerodrome.co.uk/)

It has its own idiosyncracies and challenges, but it really is a great place to visit and they can't do enough for you.
Weybourne is a short taxi ride away and still well worth the visit just for the collection of stuff they have, its all a question of getting Ludham, Cromer strip and town done before you have to leave.

It really would be worth spending a couple of days up there if you can spare the time, Chris Gurney, the "Big Cheese" at Cromer will let you know what's hot and what's not.;)

[tmmorris]

I nearly got caught out on my one and only trip to Weybourne - the downhill runway being the issue. I couldn't work out how the blessed C152 kept floating. After a go-around and lots of swearing, I worked it out...

Tim

[Phil Space]

I nearly got caught out on my one and only trip to Weybourne - the downhill runway being the issue. I couldn't work out how the blessed C152 kept floating. After a go-around and lots of swearing, I worked it out...

Tim

And the lack of horizon towards the sea does not help.
The slope is quite interesting.

Did you enjoy the museum Tim?

[Phil Space]

Justicair
Ludham is just up the road from me. It is a privately owned field (its actually concrete - about 800 meters from memory). The web site used to have mobile numbers for the owners from whom you can get PPR. There is not usually a problem with permission. The westerly runway approach is offset to avoid the blister hanger at the end.

The hangar is at the end of the runway. Hence the available runway is reduced.

[alphaalpha]

Weybourne is easy enough in a crosswind. You can land uphill, approaching from the sea - towards the hump (i.e. the roughly 17 direction); then depart downhill, towards the sea, on 35. The strip is in Lockyers. Pay your landing fee in the museum. Fill in your movements in the caravan. There's a pub for lunch in the village, as well as a cafe at the museum. Nice place to visit.

Years ago, it took me three attempts to land on 17. I had got the local wind from Norwich ATIS; it was southerly, but not very strong, so an approach for 17 seemed very sensible.

On the first attempt, slightly fast, and realised I was too high, so went around. On the second attempt, concentrated hard, turned final at the correct height and speed, but still ended up too high, despite a glide approach, so went around again.

On the third approach, super concentration; slightly low starting final; soon realised glide approach was needed; touched down slightly long and used all of the short-grass, damp runway to stop.

What was the problem -- a big CB just off the coast which turned my head wind into a significant tail wind. The windsock looked right, and agreed with Norwich, but I read it 180 degrees wrongly.

Nevertheless, well worth a visit.

Alan.

[tmmorris]

Windsock? As I recall, there's just a weather vane, which I too misread.

Tim

[Blink182]

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/cirrusvfr/Aviation/IMG_0375.jpg

Climbing out in a L/H circuit after departing from the short uphill Rwy 21

[windy1]

Some years ago now since I visited in a Pup 100 hp and a C172. I agree the need to take care with downward sloping N-S runway and the hill on the approach. 2 other things gave me some anxious moments:

1 There were some BIG rabbit holes: not much prop clearance on the Pup

2 After spending time in the museum don't be surprised if the wind is completely different to your arrival. Its a seriously coastal airfield with the associated offshore/onshore winds which tend to be stonger than over land. We departed right on the crosswind limits skipping over those rabbit mounds.

[alphaalpha]

Tim: I was at Weybourne about two months ago and the windsock was close to the caravan - you can't see it in the picture, though.

Alan.

[flybymike]

Can someone clarify for me whether the runway slopes upwards or downwards towards the trees?

[alphaalpha]

The trees towards the top of the photograph are on Weybourne Hill and runway 17 slopes up towards the hill and the trees (stop end of the runway). The slope over most of the runway's length is not very great, but it is steep right at the touchdown end of 17.

Alan.

[flybymike]

Many thanks. :ok:

[herman the crab]

Can confirm that the windsock was there and flying this afternoon when I passed!

HTC