Woke up nice and early and checked the weather forecast, which was promising good, flyable weather. But a look out of the window told a different story, that cloud looked very low.
I did consider going up IFR, but the Cessna was booked, so I was stuck with VFR in the Europa. Still, I drove down to the airport and did all those pre-flighty things that we have to do, while waiting for the cloud to lift.
Eventually, decided to give it a go. Gave MikeS an ETA for me to collect him at Coventry, taxied to the runway and took off. At 1500' I started getting into the cloud, and had to level off, but I still thought I'd be ok. But over the course of a few minutes, the cloud pushed me lower and lower, and the ground was getting higher and higher. Before long, I was down to 1200' - I knew I was coming up to the Stokenchurch mast, and decided that turning back would be the better option.
Safely on the ground, I called MikeS, and then spoke to Kolibear and Eveepee. But forgot (or didn't think) to call Coventry ATC, who were expecting me! Luckilly, I'd parked just outside the window of the operations room, so that when they called White Waltham, Vicky, who answered the phone, could tell them that she was pretty sure I was safe since she could see my aircraft out the window!
Anyway, I spent a very pleasant day sitting in the bar at Waltham, chatting to a student pilot who was hoping to do her QXC. Gradually the cloud started to lift, and by early afternoon it was looking very pleasant. Too late for me to make it to Sherburn, because I had to get back for a birthday party that night, but definitely flyable.
It wasn't much longer before my new, excited friend was sent on her QXC, to Sywell and Thruxton. I had to stop reminiscing about my own QXC and various other fun logbook entries, and I also headed up, and to the west, to position the aircraft for another group member who wanted to fly on Sunday and was convinced the weather would be better out west than it was in London. I left the Europa at Garston Farm (a very nice farm-strip near Lyneham, with a nice smooth 800m grass runway, if anyone's interested) and got a lift back by road with the guy who I was positioning the aircraft for. An enjoyable day, even though I didn't make it to Sherburn, and my North of England chart has still never been used in anger.
Oh well,
FFF
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Last edited by FlyingForFun; 9th June 2003 at 17:06.