Helimutt - great idea!
"People, my intention, I started this thread for some light hearted replies"
It was a long time ago, but some buttock clenching trips you never forget!
The aircraft, a Whirlwind 7, no stick trim, no throttle govenor, no stabalisation, a basic panel, an even more basic radio, no power and a critical dislike for anything less than 220 rrpm.
The weather, gales and low cloud.
The place Portland.
The mission to get back to Culdrose for the weekend!
I had just achieved the basic instrument rating but had never done it solo - I was that inexperienced. I took off and in the Jungly tradition intended to low level it along the coast. Unfortunately the Lyme Bay ranges were active so I had to go inland for the first bit. Approaching Hardys monument at about 100ft, WHAM into fog. Fog in front and fog behind. No option but to pull full power watch the revs and remember where the artificial horizon was.
I shall never forget the first 2000ft of that climb! Trying to get an instrument scan going, control the rpm, keep straightish and make a radio call asking for radar assistance and incidentally talking to my maintainer down below who was asking stupid questions. I think I got round to getting the ball in the middle about half way up!
Eventually I got it going in the right direction, passed out of radar cover and DR navigated down to where Culdrose approach could pick me up and bring me in for a GCA approach.
I felt quite proud of having achieved that flight but the consequences of not achieving it...........................
Did I learn anything from the trip? Yes - plan ahead if you are going into cloud, and secondly avoid it at all costs if you can. Frightening chickens is so much more fun.
PS what is SPIFR??