Anyone been to Pilling Sands?

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

All being well I'm planning to fly into there in the Chippy on Wednesday. Has anyone got any advice to pass on?

SSD

[Pilotage]

- Check the tide tables.

- Land very flat with some power, you've plenty of length to use but small ripples in the sand can destroy ground effect so that's your best way to make a creditable landing.

- If the local microlight school is operating from there, the duty instructor will probably have marked a "T" in the middle somewhere just after the tide went out. If they are operating, there could be several aircraft flying circuits on different bits of the sands, so keep a VERY good lookout, then pick your own quiet bit of beach.

- Look up and phone one or two of the local microlight clubs, they'll be most current on the conditions since they often fly in there. They'll also know if there are any special rules applying at the moment.

P

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Thanks, Pilotage. there's a fly-out from Barton to Pilling on 17th to celebrate something or other :) , so they should be expecting us.

SSD

[Genghis the Engineer]

Might be worth speaking to the CFI at the microlight school at Barton, odds are he's probably flown into there.

G

[gingernut]

Have you checked out this month's trim tab ?

[tonyhalsall]

SSD - Is that you Chris??

Aside from what will evidently be a good turn out - check out the 'bomb craters' all along that beach, they are fascinating - turns out they are abandoned cars that have been swallowed up by the tide over the years and there are LOADS of them. All you can see is the car roof at the bottom of a hollow. Question is - are they abandoned stolen vehicles or have people been caught 'in flagrante?'

Hope you all have a good day - I won't be there!!

boo hoo

Tony

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Genghis - Chris Copple will be consulted. I'd have done so on Saturday but he wasn't around.

Gingernut - that's how I found out about it.

Tonyhalsall - No, I'm not Chris (but my wife is:) )

If all those cars got stuck (or were they abandoned?) how firm is the sand? Are there soft bits you need to know about?

SSD

[bingoboy]

The sand is very firm up near the front. The cars are mainly a bit too far out - sort of closeish downwind (thats probably why they are still there - they do take a good few tides to actually sink).

There is plenty of room but up at the Eastern end there are lots of sneaky channels which look insignificant from the air but would really ruin your day so don't be a hero "going for the numbers type". There is soooooo much beach if ,as I think they'll be on Wed, the tides are right.

Would suggest maybe a precautionary flypast but you'll probably see other folks wheel marks.

Enjoy

ps don't know where the refreshments are but the fish and chips from up the western end are v good.

[S-Works]

Anyone want to share any coordinates for this place for a midlands visitor?

[Genghis the Engineer]

Top of Pilotage's post.

G

[LowNSlow]

Don't forget to give the Chippy a good hosing down with fresh water after splashing it with salty sand.................

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Yup, and I'm taking a brush with me to brush the sand off my shoes before I get back in for the return flight. Sand in the flight controls? Not a good idea:(

SSD

[freefallfun]

Don't forget that our Parachute Drop Zone (Black Knights Parachute Centre, Cockerham) is close to Pilling Sands. We always appreciate a call on 129.9Mhz "Cockerham DZ" to check if we're active :-)

Thanks,

FreeFall Fun :-D

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Noted, FFF. We didn't get there yesterday due fog, but I intend to fly in sometime so I'll make sure I give the Black Knights a call.

SSD