Lydd is, in truth, a bit of a dump - and not a particularly good stop off for X-channel trips:
* Manston is a better radio service - most of the time you can get radar info so they can at least see all the other traffic (who might be working other frequencies) - Lydd can only tell you about people working them.
* Take off from Lydd, and you're faced with a dog leg towards Dover for the climb-out, or full power climb out over the sea.
* All that has been said about drawback is true. Their tax free fuel is all well and good, but you get 28.1 pence per litre back from the Chancellor if you pay full price.
* The landing fee makes your eyes water. (Hint, you can get a reduction for a training flight).
* Mobile phone coverage is lousy - you have a hell of a job using orange to call ahead for weather reports.
(Depending on where you're coming from.) Rochester on the other hand has cheap landings, cheap fuel, easy flight plan filing, broadband access in the caff, fantastic catering, is handy for Manston and is far enough away from the coast to get to flight-level-oh-my-gawd in time for the crossing without straining the engine overmuch.
Steve (bacon sarnies'r'us) R