Re: Christmas Flying
Faced with limited choices (Sleap, which we like because of the cafe) closed from lunchtime - supposedly, Wellesbourne ditto, Turweston supposedly closed all day, etc, etc, we came down to chosing between Wolverhampton, Conington or Wycombe Air Park. We did Conington last year between Christmas and New Year, we didn't realise Wolverhampton had reduced their charges (and wouldn't have gone anyway once we'd found out that the cafe was closed - "Is the cafe open?" was on our list of PPR questions!), so Booker it was.
The aeroplane flew as if it was on rails - trim and then it would pretty much amble along hands off with no deviations in direction or altitude, no bumps - it seemed to be one of those super smooth winter days. Vis was a little limited southbound due to the sun (yes, it was sunny all the way), but EGNX-EGTB is easy as its just EGNX-DTY-WCO and then visual Princess Risborough-GoldenBall-EGTB. And whilst early listening to Wycombe tower suggested the wind had increased since we phoned and was gusting to 25kts, it was absolutely straight down 24 and in the event just caused a few minor lumps on short final over the M40. The guy in the office said "Do you need to pay a landing fee?" to which we replied "Well we don't NEED to, but if you want to collect one we are prepared to pay", a nice lunch followed, and then we had an equally uneventful, smooth and predominantly sun-lit trip back to EMA.
One odd thing though. We must have become visual with and passed more aeroplanes than I have ever experienced in a one hour flight in the past ten years. If most GA airfields were closed, where did all the other aeroplanes come from, and indeed where were they going?
Anyways, a nice way to finish 2005 with one last hour logged each way on the last day of the year.
A