Cluttering up a busy runway
Okay, guys, just for your amusement.
I was flying a single seat glider; from Aston Down on a wonderful day, flew all the way to GREAT YARMOUTH. North Dene airfield down there, according to my map.
Considered completing 300 k by turning an oil rig out to sea, but chickened out from that idea, and after flying up and down the beach a few times, seeing absolutely NO traffic of any sort at North Dene, set up a circuit and came in to land. Without radio, couldn't tell anyone of my intent.
As it had been a long flight, about five hours altogether, it did not occur to me to let the glider roll off the runway. I opened the canopy and heaved a sign of relief at having safely landed, when a red Landrover swung round in front of me, four guys jumped out and without a word shoved me and the glider off the side of the runway. And then they jumped back in the Rover and roared back to the tower.
Seems North Dene was used only by North Sea Helicopters. And coincidental with my arrival, for the very first time in the year, a helicopter was coming in with one engine out, and 14 people on board, thereby unable to hover and in need of the runway in the middle of which was parked me and the glider. When told about the situation I could only apologise abjectly. Ever after I do my best, when landing at an airfield, no matter how little traffic may be in evidence, to roll the glider out of the way before it runs out of energy!
Of course glider pilots landing at gliding fields are quite used to having six or seven gliders coming down at once, especially in competitions; we do have rules, and we do look out carefully, and we do talk to each other on the radio.