Lydd
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Lydd
Could anyone out there tell me what Lydd is like, and clubs there and if any of you fly out of there?
Tried search, but as its disabled.....
Cheers guys, thought it could be a good place to stop over on the way to France
Tried search, but as its disabled.....
Cheers guys, thought it could be a good place to stop over on the way to France
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Great place for a stopover on the way to france as you can fill up with tax free fuel!!
it can be a bit gusty because it is only a few hundred yards from the sea. Not a bad restuarant and very helpfull reception staff.
it can be a bit gusty because it is only a few hundred yards from the sea. Not a bad restuarant and very helpfull reception staff.
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Lydd can be a slightly bleak spot on a windy day, but I like the field itself.
It is notoriously hard to spot from the air, so have a look at some of the pictures of the following sites to get an idea of what you're looking for. There's an exclusion zone around Dungeness which comes very close to the circuit, so you need to take a little care.
Two useful web sites are the ones for Lydd Airport and the Lydd Aero Club.
The club is a friendly spot and any visiting pilots are welcome to drop in.
One very good reason for stopping at Lydd if you're on your way to France is that they will sell you fuel VAT-free if you're leaving the UK. Comes to the same in the end as doing the fuel drawback yourself, but saves all the paperwork.
By the way, if there's a strong crosswind you can simply request the use of the unlicensed runway 14/32 - it is not often used but remains available if you want it.
It is notoriously hard to spot from the air, so have a look at some of the pictures of the following sites to get an idea of what you're looking for. There's an exclusion zone around Dungeness which comes very close to the circuit, so you need to take a little care.
Two useful web sites are the ones for Lydd Airport and the Lydd Aero Club.
The club is a friendly spot and any visiting pilots are welcome to drop in.
One very good reason for stopping at Lydd if you're on your way to France is that they will sell you fuel VAT-free if you're leaving the UK. Comes to the same in the end as doing the fuel drawback yourself, but saves all the paperwork.
By the way, if there's a strong crosswind you can simply request the use of the unlicensed runway 14/32 - it is not often used but remains available if you want it.
Thread Starter
Thanks for the info guys, I have'nt heard great things about Lydd (a few years ago) from vbarious people. But I think that was under a different management. Had a look on the website (thanks) and it seems like a lot of work is going on there? Is it quite busy like Shoreham?
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LYDD
It's an even better place to stop over when you are half way to Le Touquet and are refused landing for a couple of hours!
But the all day breakfast alone is worth the visit. It's on a par with Henstridge, see theBacon Buttie thread for more info.
Rgds. FPG
But the all day breakfast alone is worth the visit. It's on a par with Henstridge, see theBacon Buttie thread for more info.
Rgds. FPG
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Not nearly as busy as Shoreham.
Some had problems with one of the people who used to man the radio at Lydd in the past. Personally I liked his style, but there you are.
FaPoGai,
Ah, the somewhat last-minute NOTAM for their airshow last year perhaps? I was amongst the people waiting at Lydd that day too.
Some had problems with one of the people who used to man the radio at Lydd in the past. Personally I liked his style, but there you are.
FaPoGai,
half way to Le Touquet and are refused landing for a couple of hours!
if I can see it ! 
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Lydd
Personally, I'm not a fan of Lydd. I went there on my QXC, and got a b**locking from the bloke in the tower because I didn't call downwind, when I definately did.
I cross the channel fairly regularly now, and use Lydd for traffic information and have had a very good sevice recently, so maybe the personnel has changed.
It's not worth stoping at Lydd for fuel if you pay a wet rate. Much better to pay the duty, and claim the drawback, so you get the money yourself rather than the group/club.
I cross the channel fairly regularly now, and use Lydd for traffic information and have had a very good sevice recently, so maybe the personnel has changed.
It's not worth stoping at Lydd for fuel if you pay a wet rate. Much better to pay the duty, and claim the drawback, so you get the money yourself rather than the group/club.
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Tango Oscar,
I am not sure that is the case. Every club I have rented from (which is quite a few!) and filled up tax free has refunded the fuel at there own pump rate. The few times I have been via Lyd in rented aircraft rather than my own I have paid tax free but been refunded club pump price.
I also travel to Guernsey in the twin on a regular basis and we fill up there tax free and always get refunded at local pump prices. Makes a lot more sense than the time waiting for C&E to process the paperwork and cough up the lolly!
I am not sure that is the case. Every club I have rented from (which is quite a few!) and filled up tax free has refunded the fuel at there own pump rate. The few times I have been via Lyd in rented aircraft rather than my own I have paid tax free but been refunded club pump price.
I also travel to Guernsey in the twin on a regular basis and we fill up there tax free and always get refunded at local pump prices. Makes a lot more sense than the time waiting for C&E to process the paperwork and cough up the lolly!
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Bose-x
You may well be correct. I've only rented from one club, and only been a member of one group (my current group). I never went cross chennel with a club aircraft, but I definately remember other members filling out drawback forms. My group only reimburse what the receipt says, so I always go for the expensive stuff, and have the hassle of claiming back the money from C&E.
I agree it's better to get the duty free stuff if you can get reimbursed at the 'normal' price.
You may well be correct. I've only rented from one club, and only been a member of one group (my current group). I never went cross chennel with a club aircraft, but I definately remember other members filling out drawback forms. My group only reimburse what the receipt says, so I always go for the expensive stuff, and have the hassle of claiming back the money from C&E.
I agree it's better to get the duty free stuff if you can get reimbursed at the 'normal' price.
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Tango Oscar
This is a VERY BAD thing to do; at best it betrays the trust the plane owners/operators have in you (because you are returning the plane with some fuel on which the reclaim cannot be done again until sufficient UK-purchased fuel has been put in to displace all the fuel with which you came back), and at worst they will in honest ignorance do the reclaim again and risk getting turned over by HM Customs.
I had two people (both instructors) do this to me before I discovered its popularity Fortunately nothing happened.
Any owner/operator with half a brain will have a rule prohibiting renters from doing their own drawback claims. He should of course pass on the saving - few if any schools do this because it's handy extra profit....
The exception to the above might be if you are doing a long enough trip abroad to use up the whole tank contents out there, and the owner agrees.
Also the current drawback rate is 0.281 which gives you a better return than simply not being charged VAT.
Much better to pay the duty, and claim the drawback, so you get the money yourself rather than the group/club.
I had two people (both instructors) do this to me before I discovered its popularity
Fortunately nothing happened.Any owner/operator with half a brain will have a rule prohibiting renters from doing their own drawback claims. He should of course pass on the saving - few if any schools do this because it's handy extra profit....
The exception to the above might be if you are doing a long enough trip abroad to use up the whole tank contents out there, and the owner agrees.
Also the current drawback rate is 0.281 which gives you a better return than simply not being charged VAT.
Last edited by IO540; 5th Mar 2004 at 03:20.
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Also the current drawback rate is 0.281 which gives you a better return than simply not being charged VAT.
If you fill up at Lydd you only get VAT free fuel on what you put in (which will possibly cover the landing fee).
however
If you claim back drawback you claim it for the capacity of your tanks if you departed full (and you'd be a schmuck not to).
More money back, plus no extra landing fee paid out
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There was some french dude on the Lydd radio in the summer 
The english guy had to take over...!!
Lydd is lovely - restaurant is nice! Make sure you are familiar with the airfield and how to join..its rather unusual and there are quite a few danger areas close by. Lydd can also be hard to spot on some days coming from the west.
The english guy had to take over...!!Lydd is lovely - restaurant is nice! Make sure you are familiar with the airfield and how to join..its rather unusual and there are quite a few danger areas close by. Lydd can also be hard to spot on some days coming from the west.
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Did my PPL QXC landing at Lydd a couple of years ago. Everything and everyone was fine.
On another occasion, on a choppy day, I had to land there after a passenger had puked. I call up on the radio, explaining the situation (I didn't have PPR), and they did everyhting could to help, even providing me with a bucket, sponge and disinfectant to clean out the plane.
As for the tower, they have always been friendly.
Watch out for the non-standard join into the circuit though and , yes, keep well away from Dungeness power station.
On another occasion, on a choppy day, I had to land there after a passenger had puked. I call up on the radio, explaining the situation (I didn't have PPR), and they did everyhting could to help, even providing me with a bucket, sponge and disinfectant to clean out the plane.
As for the tower, they have always been friendly.
Watch out for the non-standard join into the circuit though and , yes, keep well away from Dungeness power station.
Chilly Monster is right, of course, about the drawback. Im afraid there is a lot of "duff gen" in the earlier posts!!
If you refuel you will ONLY get the "duty free" on the quanitity you buy and NOT the whole lot.
I suppose there is some convoluted way that you can claim the balance from HM Customs, but god knows how!
The simple way to get it all is, of course, to claim it all fom HM Customs. It is simpler than you think, and it always comes in a few weeks.
UV
If you refuel you will ONLY get the "duty free" on the quanitity you buy and NOT the whole lot.
I suppose there is some convoluted way that you can claim the balance from HM Customs, but god knows how!
The simple way to get it all is, of course, to claim it all fom HM Customs. It is simpler than you think, and it always comes in a few weeks.
UV
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IO540
In our group, we always assume the last person to cross the channel has claimed the drawback, and we keep an accurate record of fuel uplifted. So its easy, you just claim on any fuel that has been uplifted since the last foreign flight(upto full tanks). Our Robin holds 242 litres - which makes full drawback £68. Over an hour's worth of free flying !!
In our group, we always assume the last person to cross the channel has claimed the drawback, and we keep an accurate record of fuel uplifted. So its easy, you just claim on any fuel that has been uplifted since the last foreign flight(upto full tanks). Our Robin holds 242 litres - which makes full drawback £68. Over an hour's worth of free flying !!
Chocks away!
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I have never had problems with anything about Lydd - other than finding it of course! (Would make it a lot easier if the LYD VOR was on the airfield!)
A couple of year's ago I flew there on a grey, miserable Sunday lunchtime. I was probably the only plane flying that day. Went into the "Biggles Restaurant" and it was packed out. Full of ex-RAF WWII peeps by the looks of their moustaches! They were having a reunion WWII get together. Great atmosophere!
There are some great photos of the cross channel car-carriers from the 60's flying to Le Touquet.
A couple of year's ago I flew there on a grey, miserable Sunday lunchtime. I was probably the only plane flying that day. Went into the "Biggles Restaurant" and it was packed out. Full of ex-RAF WWII peeps by the looks of their moustaches! They were having a reunion WWII get together. Great atmosophere!
There are some great photos of the cross channel car-carriers from the 60's flying to Le Touquet.
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Lydd is an odd place. I remember going there 2-3 yrs ago and they were saying it would close for 2-3 months in the following December because some cheap airline would use it as a base, and use coaches to ferry passengers to/from Gatwick, and it was going to be rebuilt, ILS put in, etc. Nothing has happened though, possibly because the place is so hard to get to by land.
I gather they used to have an ILS until fairly recently and then sold it. That's a shame because the absence of terrain would make it an ideal south east coast bad weather diversion; now one has Southampton / Bournemouth only.
Re the fuel drawback, it is difficult to make it completely fair. Certainly, the last overseas-flight pilot pocketing the whole drawback is great for him (the drawback can pay for the whole flight!) at the expense of subsequent flights.
I gather they used to have an ILS until fairly recently and then sold it. That's a shame because the absence of terrain would make it an ideal south east coast bad weather diversion; now one has Southampton / Bournemouth only.
Re the fuel drawback, it is difficult to make it completely fair. Certainly, the last overseas-flight pilot pocketing the whole drawback is great for him (the drawback can pay for the whole flight!) at the expense of subsequent flights.