Been for a lovely flight today. No problems whatsoever:
The dust particles are upper level (greater than FL100) and has affected jet traffic only. Jet engines suck in raw air into their engines and spit it out the back again, the "raw" air reaches moving parts of the engine - piston engines have air filters (unless carb heat on) so not affected (by smaller particles - ok at high level (which they cant operate in anyway) they could be).
No my windscreen has not been damaged, all the paint is on the propellor and leading edges still have paint on them. Checked the air fliter on landing - clean as a whistle.
Usual storn in a tea cup with Sky News making things sound like the apocalypse is upon us...
Even was cleared straight across controlled airspace even though its all supposed to be closed..
It does seem that the election is as predicted so boring that the reporters have got over excited AGAIN and poo'd their pants....