New Pershore Grass strips
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New Pershore Grass strips
The two new strips are nearing completion for the June 6th airshow and we still have a few slots available for those amongst you with the capable aircraft.
We hope to extend one for next year's show to make it easier for others.
We hope to extend one for next year's show to make it easier for others.
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June 6th draws ever nearer and a few Slots are still available.
We have had two visitors in recently to evaluate the strips and no problems encountered.
The CAP. 10 which will display at the show;
Along with the Fournier which will be flying in to attend;
We have had two visitors in recently to evaluate the strips and no problems encountered.
The CAP. 10 which will display at the show;
Along with the Fournier which will be flying in to attend;
Very rough estimates based on Google Earth rnwy 33 looks to be about 270 metres and 35 a bit longer at 400 metres.
Sure GK430 will be along to give more accurate details...
Sure GK430 will be along to give more accurate details...
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Yes, back in, so some more details.
ETOPS not far off the mark as Google Earth a good guide, however, we measured with a wheel, just hope fairly accurate over the grass but make some slight allowances.
15/33 Grass - 274m with a further 49m hard run off/starter strip on the northern end. Used less than half in the Husky.
17/35 Grass - 370m with a further 49m hard run off/starter strip on the northern end.
There is an upslope on Rwys 15 and 17.
The grass strips must be used for all arrivals on the Saturday.
The Good News - Approx 585m Rwy 03/21 will be available from approx. 17:30 local time once some safeguarding actions have been put in place.
Amongst those already booked are a Cessna 152/172/180 and 182 and some nice Cubs, Austers, Luscombe etc.
ETOPS not far off the mark as Google Earth a good guide, however, we measured with a wheel, just hope fairly accurate over the grass but make some slight allowances.
15/33 Grass - 274m with a further 49m hard run off/starter strip on the northern end. Used less than half in the Husky.
17/35 Grass - 370m with a further 49m hard run off/starter strip on the northern end.
There is an upslope on Rwys 15 and 17.
The grass strips must be used for all arrivals on the Saturday.
The Good News - Approx 585m Rwy 03/21 will be available from approx. 17:30 local time once some safeguarding actions have been put in place.
Amongst those already booked are a Cessna 152/172/180 and 182 and some nice Cubs, Austers, Luscombe etc.
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How good was that?
Wow. What a day today was. Challenging arrival at Throckmorton due gusty crosswind and shortness of strip (over the trees as well). But so worthwhile as the show was great, with lots occurring in air and on ground. Piece de resistance was of course the Vulcan - so close and ground trembled.
A massive thank you to all the organisers for their efforts, and commiserations to those that didn't make it - but make sure you don't miss it next year. Magic.
A massive thank you to all the organisers for their efforts, and commiserations to those that didn't make it - but make sure you don't miss it next year. Magic.
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Thanks Curlytips.
Glad you and a few others made it despite the crosswind.
I have no idea what was going on out on the roads, however my volunteering was only in relation to assisting you all to fly in and prepare the strips etc.
As you say, the flying displays were excellent. Great to see the Blenheim, Vulcan et al, however I think Rich Goodwin stole the show
I managed to open the hangar doors yesterday, (Sunday) and we went to Brimpton which I would equally recommend.
We will try and lengthen one of the Pershore strips, if next year goes ahead and we hope to see everyone there in '16.
Glad you and a few others made it despite the crosswind.
I have no idea what was going on out on the roads, however my volunteering was only in relation to assisting you all to fly in and prepare the strips etc.
As you say, the flying displays were excellent. Great to see the Blenheim, Vulcan et al, however I think Rich Goodwin stole the show
I managed to open the hangar doors yesterday, (Sunday) and we went to Brimpton which I would equally recommend.
We will try and lengthen one of the Pershore strips, if next year goes ahead and we hope to see everyone there in '16.
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Before anyone gets too much of an idea that this was a successful event I suggest you read the event's Facebook page.
I was due to fly in. On Friday evening the organisers e-mailed everyone registered to fly in giving a weather briefing and due to the predicted crosswind suggested Gloucester as an alternative. The choice was left (obviously) to the PIC, but the e-mail said there would be a complimentary bus leaving Gloucester at 11.30 local to get there in good time by the 12.30 display start. Continue to bear in mind that this is an e-mail from the organisers.
On checking the weather Sat morning I elected to do that, contacted the organisers to cancel my slot and flew to Gloucester, arriving around 11.15 local.
Problem no. 1 was no courtesy bus and the airport didn't know anything about it. Nor did they know about the complimentary landing fee that was promised...
At 11.45 we jumped in a taxi. Problem no. 2 was that an hour and a quarter later we were still in traffic, three miles to go, the display had started but we were too far even to see it from a distance. Traffic wasn't moving, the taxi engine was off (but the meter wasn't). At this point I was worried about getting out again at the end, having a longish flight and an airstrip that closes early evening. So we turned around. Good thing we did according to Facebook reports as some weren't getting in apparently until 16.00 and then taking two hours plus to get out again from the end of the displays..
The problem appears to have been 20,000 tickets sold, supposedly an all ticket event but accepting cash on the gate, and routing all those 20,000 people up one tiny lane into one entrance with one person checking tickets. To make that worse, all of these had to be admitted in a short space of time as the gates didn't open until 10.00. I can't verify that as I didn't get there but there are enough postings on the subject and no denials.
We talk all the time about impact on the environment, noise abatement etc. The organisers had managed to gridlock every road around and stopped anyone local going about their daily lives. There was even a wedding party stuck in the traffic.
The response of the organisers has been disgraceful. There was a statement promised Saturday evening, then Sunday and it has only just been published this afternoon. The statement is a profound exercise of non-apology, quite possibly written by lawyers.
So, we had a £75 round trip taxi fare to nowhere, and tickets that we couldn't use. I'm not fussed about us particularly - we're grown up enough to deal with disappointment - but there are thousands (without exaggeration) of people out there who are completely hacked off at this event. There were loads in cars with small children, all having their day ruined.
Whilst I'm sure the flying displays were great nothing else about the day was.
Incidentally, the above is posted only to give a balanced view. I'm not having a go at those who were organising the flying in, they obviously put a lot of time and effort in to make it happen, shame they couldn't sort the crosswind out
I was due to fly in. On Friday evening the organisers e-mailed everyone registered to fly in giving a weather briefing and due to the predicted crosswind suggested Gloucester as an alternative. The choice was left (obviously) to the PIC, but the e-mail said there would be a complimentary bus leaving Gloucester at 11.30 local to get there in good time by the 12.30 display start. Continue to bear in mind that this is an e-mail from the organisers.
On checking the weather Sat morning I elected to do that, contacted the organisers to cancel my slot and flew to Gloucester, arriving around 11.15 local.
Problem no. 1 was no courtesy bus and the airport didn't know anything about it. Nor did they know about the complimentary landing fee that was promised...
At 11.45 we jumped in a taxi. Problem no. 2 was that an hour and a quarter later we were still in traffic, three miles to go, the display had started but we were too far even to see it from a distance. Traffic wasn't moving, the taxi engine was off (but the meter wasn't). At this point I was worried about getting out again at the end, having a longish flight and an airstrip that closes early evening. So we turned around. Good thing we did according to Facebook reports as some weren't getting in apparently until 16.00 and then taking two hours plus to get out again from the end of the displays..
The problem appears to have been 20,000 tickets sold, supposedly an all ticket event but accepting cash on the gate, and routing all those 20,000 people up one tiny lane into one entrance with one person checking tickets. To make that worse, all of these had to be admitted in a short space of time as the gates didn't open until 10.00. I can't verify that as I didn't get there but there are enough postings on the subject and no denials.
We talk all the time about impact on the environment, noise abatement etc. The organisers had managed to gridlock every road around and stopped anyone local going about their daily lives. There was even a wedding party stuck in the traffic.
The response of the organisers has been disgraceful. There was a statement promised Saturday evening, then Sunday and it has only just been published this afternoon. The statement is a profound exercise of non-apology, quite possibly written by lawyers.
So, we had a £75 round trip taxi fare to nowhere, and tickets that we couldn't use. I'm not fussed about us particularly - we're grown up enough to deal with disappointment - but there are thousands (without exaggeration) of people out there who are completely hacked off at this event. There were loads in cars with small children, all having their day ruined.
Whilst I'm sure the flying displays were great nothing else about the day was.
Incidentally, the above is posted only to give a balanced view. I'm not having a go at those who were organising the flying in, they obviously put a lot of time and effort in to make it happen, shame they couldn't sort the crosswind out
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One small correction Adrian, and please bear with me as I am not media trained.
I only offered what I was lead to understand would happen. I am not one of the Airshow organisers, merely a volunteer who was trying to help out and do the best for those flying in. You know only too well what good information was provided.
What happened on the roads I cannot comment on, however I believe that Vulcan to the Sky have burdened some responsibility for the congestion and have put something on their www. as you may now anticipate very large crowds wherever the Vulcan can still be seen this year.
Bear in mind that this was a pre-booked ticket event and many were in the traffic jam, MINUS tickets and on reaching the access points, this created mayhem.
The organisers were busy clearing the airfield all day on Sunday and with only a small group of family members and even today the clear up with three has continued.
Pre-booked tickets this year as last year, one of the organisers took a terrible financial hit as it poured over the county in the morning, brightened up with all displays having to be funded and a paltry crowd turned out.
Lessons will no doubt be learned and a balance found.
The official website has crashed and bearing in mind the controller of that is at work in a hospital all day, these things take time. A small number of volunteers can only take on so much at once.
I have attended this show on five of the last six years. Three years ago the weather was so ghaslty, we had to change the runway that had been prepared to a different one overnight and that on a disused airfield. Again so few turned
up. This year, probably due to it being the Vulcan's last year and dry sunny weather, the numbers were totally disproportionate to previous expectations.
I only offered what I was lead to understand would happen. I am not one of the Airshow organisers, merely a volunteer who was trying to help out and do the best for those flying in. You know only too well what good information was provided.
What happened on the roads I cannot comment on, however I believe that Vulcan to the Sky have burdened some responsibility for the congestion and have put something on their www. as you may now anticipate very large crowds wherever the Vulcan can still be seen this year.
Bear in mind that this was a pre-booked ticket event and many were in the traffic jam, MINUS tickets and on reaching the access points, this created mayhem.
The organisers were busy clearing the airfield all day on Sunday and with only a small group of family members and even today the clear up with three has continued.
Pre-booked tickets this year as last year, one of the organisers took a terrible financial hit as it poured over the county in the morning, brightened up with all displays having to be funded and a paltry crowd turned out.
Lessons will no doubt be learned and a balance found.
The official website has crashed and bearing in mind the controller of that is at work in a hospital all day, these things take time. A small number of volunteers can only take on so much at once.
I have attended this show on five of the last six years. Three years ago the weather was so ghaslty, we had to change the runway that had been prepared to a different one overnight and that on a disused airfield. Again so few turned
up. This year, probably due to it being the Vulcan's last year and dry sunny weather, the numbers were totally disproportionate to previous expectations.
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GK430, fair comment. As I said in my second post I was trying to report what we experienced as unfortunately the only losers in a situation like this is the reputation of airshows and aviation in general. I do know how much effort went in to the preparation, the pilot notes etc and it was appreciated. What happened is a real shame.
JW411, I can deal with a decent crosswind, thanks very much, in the right circumstances. But this one was gusty, way, way (as in nearly three times) over the demonstrated crosswind limits of my aircraft, going in to a short, narrow grass strip which had only recently been prepared.
JW411, I can deal with a decent crosswind, thanks very much, in the right circumstances. But this one was gusty, way, way (as in nearly three times) over the demonstrated crosswind limits of my aircraft, going in to a short, narrow grass strip which had only recently been prepared.
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Cessna 150, I forwarded your e-mail and I sincerely hope a reply will come to you from one direction or another. For those that made it to the show, and I was quite astonished at the crowds, for an advance ticket price of £10 and full internet price of £15, it was excellent value for money, let alone some excellent flying in trying conditions.
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Think you were ex GK (Laker)?
You would have known my father and if he thought I was going to try either of the strips last Saturday, he would have called me a prize twit!!
The mere fact that the Aerosuperbatic (Breitling) chaps chose not to land with their wealth of experience says it all.
As I said after the event, there are one or two bolder pilots still about.
JW411
Think you were ex GK (Laker)?
You would have known my father and if he thought I was going to try either of the strips last Saturday, he would have called me a prize twit!!
The mere fact that the Aerosuperbatic (Breitling) chaps chose not to land with their wealth of experience says it all.
As I said after the event, there are one or two bolder pilots still about.
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Bolder pilots?
As one who did make it in, I wouldn't want those who didn't go to think others were foolhardy. I think the photo I took (from the top of the slide would you believe?), shows just 9 visitors on the front row next to the crowd, and the remainder were all display aircraft - who no doubt are used to every sort of situation.
The main point about the front row was that it was virtually all nose - wheel. Tailwheelers were sensible and didn't risk things. But neither did we. Our plan was simple. We worked out that Gloucester was too far for taxi, in case we were too late the bus, and decided that Croft Farm would be straight into wind and a much shorter taxi ride.
So the plan was to make an approach and see how it went. If no chance, go to Croft Farm. After all, the met had a lot of tempo and prob, so it could have been a lot easier than predicted. In the event it wasn't that easy but it was doable by someone in good practice, and we landed off first approach.
Having been planning on attendance ever since I saw the very first news of it, I would have been thoroughly disappointed not to have made it in, but it would not have swayed decision making if the approach went to worms. There is no shame in throwing away the landing and going elsewhere.
And as a footnote, we did indeed go back to Gloucester to refuel (we needed to, because we'd made sure we were really light for landing and take off) and sure enough, no landing fee was charged.
The main point about the front row was that it was virtually all nose - wheel. Tailwheelers were sensible and didn't risk things. But neither did we. Our plan was simple. We worked out that Gloucester was too far for taxi, in case we were too late the bus, and decided that Croft Farm would be straight into wind and a much shorter taxi ride.
So the plan was to make an approach and see how it went. If no chance, go to Croft Farm. After all, the met had a lot of tempo and prob, so it could have been a lot easier than predicted. In the event it wasn't that easy but it was doable by someone in good practice, and we landed off first approach.
Having been planning on attendance ever since I saw the very first news of it, I would have been thoroughly disappointed not to have made it in, but it would not have swayed decision making if the approach went to worms. There is no shame in throwing away the landing and going elsewhere.
And as a footnote, we did indeed go back to Gloucester to refuel (we needed to, because we'd made sure we were really light for landing and take off) and sure enough, no landing fee was charged.
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Correction
Just reviewed the pic I took, and there are even less visitors, as more on front row are participants. Four nose-wheels are 2 x 172s, 1 x 182 and one Bulldog (think he was display?). Larger Cessnas have demonstrated crosswind limits higher than forecast wind, but not the possible gusts - but are very forgiving and can be flown very successfully out of limits by experienced souls...................
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No worries Curlytips, you did great.
I never used to be risk averse, but as you get older.......
My Husky is on a farm and I would have had to open four massive heavy doors which would have taken off their hinges had I tried to open them on my own that morning and probably taken me with them!
The aircraft is placarded with a 12 mph max Xwind component.
25kts never bothered me in Piper nosewheel singles at another airport with a Rwy 15/33.
There were also two Chipmunks; a Fournier flown by a pilot who had landed on the strips the previous week; a Pitts flown by a professional pilot, an Auster flown by another farm stripper; and the Bulldog flown by an A/L captain and a retired one.
We will all get another opportunity one day.
I never used to be risk averse, but as you get older.......
My Husky is on a farm and I would have had to open four massive heavy doors which would have taken off their hinges had I tried to open them on my own that morning and probably taken me with them!
The aircraft is placarded with a 12 mph max Xwind component.
25kts never bothered me in Piper nosewheel singles at another airport with a Rwy 15/33.
There were also two Chipmunks; a Fournier flown by a pilot who had landed on the strips the previous week; a Pitts flown by a professional pilot, an Auster flown by another farm stripper; and the Bulldog flown by an A/L captain and a retired one.
We will all get another opportunity one day.
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