Today's Pilot Fly-in

[bar shaker]

... was actually really good. I was very impressed by the number of types in attendance and who could have wished for better weather.

How pleasant is it to fly somewhere in predominately un-restricted airspace too? Or have I spent too much time in the SE?

bs

[fireflybob]

Yes I agree it was a great day and fantastic to see so many aircraft at Nottingham - must be a record I think.

[futurshox]

I had a thoroughly excellent day! Was lucky enough to be given a wonderful flight and I've never seen the visibility so clear in my life. You could see for miles! Returning to the airfield, it was covered in aircraft - a really good variety of types turned up. The burgers were tasty, too ;)

[ozplane]

Agree with the other posters about the variety of aircraft types. I wonder how long it takes to polish that Beech 18. It doesn't half concentrate the mind when 4 microlights in loose formation arrive on the scene when you're on short finals. However I did think some of the radio work was a bit, shall we say, lengthy in such a busy environment.
WRT controlled airspace, I was bumping along in the turbulence at 1400 feet to dodge the EM zone and I noticed the Melton Mowbray airfield. Is it still active on PPR or has it deteriorated sufficiently to prevent it's use? I've got some friends in the area and it would be a convenient base.

[bar shaker]

ozplane

Microlights arriving in groups were requested to come in, in loose formation, in the tower's morning brief.

[Dave Unwin]

Just a quick 'Thank You' from Steve, myself and the TP team to everybody who attended our Fly In at Tollerton. Early indications suggest that we bust the 200-aircraft mark, raising a substantial amount of money for the Breast Cancer Awareness charity in the process. Thanks must also go to the Panhandlers and everybody else who gave up their time to help make the event such a success. See you next year?
Dave

[Warped Factor]

Flew up from WW and was impressed by the number of a/c there.

Not so impressed that I forgot to take a hat with me and am now a nice shade of red :\

WF.

[ozplane]

Thanks for that bar shaker. The micros certainly did what they were asked to do. Not often you get a King Air and a flexwing in the circuit at the same time. I think I saw 5 aircraft on final at the same time at one stage. Amazing what PPLs can do when they're trusted to behave.

[javelin]

Excellent meeting, saw the others from the Aeronca Clan, chatted with some of the RV guys and met a couple of other aquaintances.

Best part bar none was the Air Traffic chap on the radio. Just enough, no excess chat, no controlling, clear and concise.

I'll be back for a spot of lunch this summer :ok:

[fireflybob]

Yes I think credit has to go to everyone involved in this event including organisers, marshallers, those on the A/G, and participants.

As has been said previously it is amazing what can be done when you rely on people's common sense and the mark one eyeball!

I also think a special thank you should go to those manning the A/G facility - they were professional ATCOs from elsewhere who have more than a passing interest in General Avaition and their prescence make a huge impact on the organisation and safety of the whole event - Thanks Very Much guys!

I really hope this will become an annual event at Nottingham which is a fantastic GA airfield which needs this sort of promotion.

[Dave Unwin]

Good to hear that everyone had a great time and yes, the controller did an excellent job (I was in our Beagle 206, G-FLYP). Latest from Tollerton is that 247 aircraft came in, if we get the same weather next year let's try and do even better! Photos and a full report will appear in our next issue.

[bar shaker]

Dave

We have some cracking hi res digi pics of the flight up. Let me know if you are interested.

bs

[futurshox]

Talking of pictures, I've been slaving over a hot scanner this evening. Here's a few choice gems amongst the visitors:

A glorious Beech 18:
http://futurshox.net/planes9/to-beech18.jpg

Bell 47:
http://futurshox.net/planes9/to-bell47-gbfef.jpg

Immaculate Luscombe Silvaire Deluxe:
http://futurshox.net/planes9/to-luscombe-gakui.jpg

Rearwin Skyranger:
http://futurshox.net/planes9/to-rearwin-skyranger-grwin-2.jpg

Waco:
http://futurshox.net/planes9/to-waco-gbwac.jpg

A posse of Aeronca Champions :D :
http://futurshox.net/planes9/to-aeronca7.jpg

Nottingham - look at that visibility!
http://futurshox.net/planes9/to-nottingham.jpg

[DubTrub]

ozplane:

Melton disused is just that.

Market day once a week, plus a fence across the middle make it suitable for dire emergencies only.

Then again, everything is for sale, but I do not know the current owner.

[Evil J]

Thanks for the nice comments. I was the duty A/G operator and for my part really appreciated the standard of flying and airmanship displayed...it was a credit to the GA fraternity and certainly made my life much easier than it could have been.

As someone has pointed out I am an ATCO by trade (at an airport not too far from Tollerton) and have been doing the odd bit of A/G at Tollerton for over a year now-I would like to echo the earlier comments that it was a great day (if for no other reason than everyone arrived and departed safely!) and hope that TP will see fit to make the event a regular Nottingham occurance.

If anyone is interested or bothered there were 8 infringements of East Midlands controlled airspace and I am informed that none of them were paperwork-worthy...to put that in persepective a normal CAVOK Sunday would see 8 to 10 infringements.

Thanks to me mate Matt who helped out in the tower, manning 122.8 (thanks BMAA!), answering the phone, giving briefs and being general whipping boy- thanks also to a certain other ATCO who gave me a break just when I needed it (you know who you are!!)

Good job people; lets hope for some positive press coverage....and hope to see you next year

[ozplane]

DubTrub, thanks for the update on melton Mowbray disused airfield. Looks like Tollerton and a taxi to visit my chums.
Evil J. Interesting to hear the comments from the ground and I'm pleased that you felt we'd behaved ourselves. WRT the zone infringements I nearly got caught out by the requirement to stay below 1500 ft when inbound from the South under the EM stub and then having to climb to 2000 ft to call overhead Tollerton. Is this the reason for the infringements with people staying at 2000 ft through the stub?

[Dave Unwin]

Hi All, sorry for delay in replying, have just spent a most enjoyable five days away from it all,(ie no computer or phone) flying my sailplane around the Black Mountains. The best fun! Also got to fly the great Pawnee 'Old Gasper' for the first time in months - wonderful old crate with bags of character.

Bar Shaker (cool name!)- would love to see those pics, can you email me at my office? Thanks.

Futureshox- great pics- wasn't that Beech 18 gorgeous!

Evil J - thanks a bunch mate, you did a fantastic job. As Ozplane observed, rare to see a flexwing and a King Air in the same circuit. I owe you a beer (or three!)
Thanks again to everyone who came, I hope you all enjoyed the day as much as Steve and I did.

[futurshox]

I've finally finished scanning the rest of my pictures. The full list is here:

futurshox pictures (http://futurshox.net/aerolistbyshow.php3?event=116#116)

But here's a couple more for tasters:

http://www.futurshox.net/planes9/to-hughes500-gjive.jpg

http://www.futurshox.net//planes9/to-pegasus-quantum-goamf.jpg

[bar shaker]

Great pix Futureshox.

I flew up with the flying windsock that is G-THAT.

You will never ask Jeff where he is, whilst both enroute ;)