Today's Pilot Fly-in
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: Essex, UK
Today's Pilot Fly-in
... 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
How pleasant is it to fly somewhere in predominately un-restricted airspace too? Or have I spent too much time in the SE?
bs
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Suffolk, UK
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 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Ashwell, U.K.
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.
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.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Lincolnshire
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
Dave
Last edited by Dave Unwin; 14th June 2004 at 16:23.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Ashwell, U.K.
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.
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 967
Likes: 43
From: 30 West
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
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
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,991
Likes: 8
From: UK
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.
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.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Lincolnshire
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.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Suffolk, UK
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:
Bell 47:
Immaculate Luscombe Silvaire Deluxe:
Rearwin Skyranger:
Waco:
A posse of Aeronca Champions
:
Nottingham - look at that visibility!
A glorious Beech 18:
Bell 47:
Immaculate Luscombe Silvaire Deluxe:
Rearwin Skyranger:
Waco:
A posse of Aeronca Champions
: Nottingham - look at that visibility!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: UK
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
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
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Ashwell, U.K.
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?
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?
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Lincolnshire
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.
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.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Suffolk, UK
I've finally finished scanning the rest of my pictures. The full list is here:
futurshox pictures
But here's a couple more for tasters:
futurshox pictures
But here's a couple more for tasters:
