Flying For Fun
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I didn't make it. I'm also afraid that I didn't make that much of an effort to make it either....
The more I fly the more I get really wary of large gatherings of planes that are all converging into one place, in marginal weather and with a large variation of pilot experience levels.
I had to be back home by early afternoon and my son was desperate to go for a fly so I couldn't really say no as I am trying to encourage him to get into flying. Needless to say, we got half way to Compton Abbas and he decided he wanted mummy and that daddy's plane was really boring....
Finally I made a quick solo dash to Popham for a read of the paper and some lunch. It was beautufully tranquil.
Sadly I am at a ruby wedding celebration from lunchtime onwards today so it looks like the rally 'aint gonna' happen for me in 2005.
It's sad that so many people slate it as if it stops for good there will be a really annoying "do you remember the good old PFA/FFF Rally?" comments for years to come.
Surely if some structured comments and suggestions were placed on the PFA forum then the whole process will gradually improve. I can't help feel that people went there in readiness to moan about it this year so it didn't really stand a chance.
However, £15 quid for a stunning vintage a/c to arrive does take the mick slightly. I concur with your annoyance Rob.
P.S Anyone know who went in to the rally in a Diamond 40? I very nearly had a head on with him en route to Popham. Two seconds later we would have been modern art on Coombe hill..........
The more I fly the more I get really wary of large gatherings of planes that are all converging into one place, in marginal weather and with a large variation of pilot experience levels.
I had to be back home by early afternoon and my son was desperate to go for a fly so I couldn't really say no as I am trying to encourage him to get into flying. Needless to say, we got half way to Compton Abbas and he decided he wanted mummy and that daddy's plane was really boring....
Finally I made a quick solo dash to Popham for a read of the paper and some lunch. It was beautufully tranquil.
Sadly I am at a ruby wedding celebration from lunchtime onwards today so it looks like the rally 'aint gonna' happen for me in 2005.
It's sad that so many people slate it as if it stops for good there will be a really annoying "do you remember the good old PFA/FFF Rally?" comments for years to come.
Surely if some structured comments and suggestions were placed on the PFA forum then the whole process will gradually improve. I can't help feel that people went there in readiness to moan about it this year so it didn't really stand a chance.
However, £15 quid for a stunning vintage a/c to arrive does take the mick slightly. I concur with your annoyance Rob.
P.S Anyone know who went in to the rally in a Diamond 40? I very nearly had a head on with him en route to Popham. Two seconds later we would have been modern art on Coombe hill..........
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I concur Monocock with your being wary. We went in on Friday, followed the AIC, working okay until we were on base. Then watched a PFA aircraft, fly in on a long final, straight over the village we had been asked to avoid, underneath a Jodel on final, causing the controller to ask the Jodel to move to the right of the runway, and then land long to avoid a collision. Too close for comfort.
Don't these people read the AIC, or do they think it does not apply. I would not fly in solo, another pair of eyes is needed to avoid these idiots.
However I cannot see how the AIC would work if the cloud base is low, as you then have aircraft flying to the water tower at say 1500 ft, under the cloud base, and aircraft flying back from the race track at a similar height. I know the two routes are not exactly the same, but it doesnt allow for much seperation.
Don't these people read the AIC, or do they think it does not apply. I would not fly in solo, another pair of eyes is needed to avoid these idiots.
However I cannot see how the AIC would work if the cloud base is low, as you then have aircraft flying to the water tower at say 1500 ft, under the cloud base, and aircraft flying back from the race track at a similar height. I know the two routes are not exactly the same, but it doesnt allow for much seperation.
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Got Popham Sat morning thinking the weather was iffy. Read the TAFs and METARs and wondered what windows those reporters were looking out of becuase they didn't seem to resemble what I was seeing. The weather wasn't a complete no-go but was in the marginal "decision-making" band. Clearly worse or clearly better weather would have been a no-brainer. But couple the iffy weather with complicated procedures, unfamiliar territory (have only flown into Kemble once years ago) and a bunch of amateurs who don't read AICs, that all started to look decidedly unattractive. The final input into the decision was that it was less than an hour's drive from Popham and, while it would have been nice to fly in, once there I wouldn't have been doing anything with the airplane anyway - it was only a means of getting to the event. If the trip was going to be hard work and the drive was short, there was really no point in flying. So a fellow Pitts mate and I drove in.
Had a decent time but more because of the company we kept, as is usual with these things. The Rally is a good event, but not a great one. There was really nothing there that would have made me want to go other than the meeting up with some mates. But, then again, I'm not a builder or tinkerer, so I'm the wrong target market, I suppose. It would be a shame if it didn't happen, but there will have to be more there in the future to attract me. The stalls were somewhat thin on the ground, I thought, and didn't offer anything really very different from previous years that I could tell. A shame AOPA weren't conducting a symposium on their latest political efforts and trying to drum up membership, same with the PFA on the future of GA in an EASA world. There were a couple of talks I should have gone to but got distracted. Those may have been worth the price of admission.
Thought the Spitife Mk26 was impressive and the Alpi Pioneer 300 looked a pretty cool ship. There was some newish technology there which may represent the future of light aviation and that was good to see.
Best part of the whole event was having dinner and a wee dram of the Knob with our own Trapper69 Sat night. Great evening of story-telling and basking in reflected glory. Thanks, Trapper! That was an evening I'll long remember.
Pitts2112
PS - since it\'s supposedly the busiest piece of GA airspace in Europe during the event, it was a real piece of shortsightedness for the Met Office not to have a live weather station on the field giving TAFs and METARs, expecially since people are trying to make weather decisions from all over Europe and given the variation in weather around those hills.
Pitts2112
Had a decent time but more because of the company we kept, as is usual with these things. The Rally is a good event, but not a great one. There was really nothing there that would have made me want to go other than the meeting up with some mates. But, then again, I'm not a builder or tinkerer, so I'm the wrong target market, I suppose. It would be a shame if it didn't happen, but there will have to be more there in the future to attract me. The stalls were somewhat thin on the ground, I thought, and didn't offer anything really very different from previous years that I could tell. A shame AOPA weren't conducting a symposium on their latest political efforts and trying to drum up membership, same with the PFA on the future of GA in an EASA world. There were a couple of talks I should have gone to but got distracted. Those may have been worth the price of admission.
Thought the Spitife Mk26 was impressive and the Alpi Pioneer 300 looked a pretty cool ship. There was some newish technology there which may represent the future of light aviation and that was good to see.
Best part of the whole event was having dinner and a wee dram of the Knob with our own Trapper69 Sat night. Great evening of story-telling and basking in reflected glory. Thanks, Trapper! That was an evening I'll long remember.
Pitts2112
PS - since it\'s supposedly the busiest piece of GA airspace in Europe during the event, it was a real piece of shortsightedness for the Met Office not to have a live weather station on the field giving TAFs and METARs, expecially since people are trying to make weather decisions from all over Europe and given the variation in weather around those hills.
Pitts2112
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Agree totally that the lack of a met office on site was a big minus point. Surely in this day+age the pfa could at least have got a wireless internet connection at the booking-in tent to give up-to-date TAF's + METAR's. Looking at 8 hour old printouts pinned on a board was no use at all when people were making decisions late afternoon about whether to go or not.
Other minus points that need to be addressed....
Why no fuel after 17.30 ? People were waiting for the weather to lift and the decision to go would have been easier to make if fuel had been available later.
Why wasn't the display stopped in order to allow people to get away before the weather got worse.
The 'no radio call until on finals' is a mistake and a recepie for trouble. On my first approach I was cut up by a slower aircraft and had to go around. Second time round we followed the AIC route exactly (turn finals inside of Kemble village) and was accussed by ATC of cutting someone up who had made a straight in approach. If muppets didnt make finals calls straight-in from 4 miles and actually followed the route it would be helpful but you also need to stream the faster / slower traffic. A streaming from the VRP would be so much better and safer. Oh yes, and make sure the arrival ATIS can actually be heard properly!
A disappointing day for me and I saw no real improvement on previous years.
I'm sorry but this is supposed to be a premier event but much of the organisation has more of an air of a village fete about it. I will think seriously about if I go again next year. memo to the PFA - get a professional event manager to organise it - sure, it will cost but you'll reap the benefits of increased attendance. .
Well done though to the Marshallers who all did a great job
Other minus points that need to be addressed....
Why no fuel after 17.30 ? People were waiting for the weather to lift and the decision to go would have been easier to make if fuel had been available later.
Why wasn't the display stopped in order to allow people to get away before the weather got worse.
The 'no radio call until on finals' is a mistake and a recepie for trouble. On my first approach I was cut up by a slower aircraft and had to go around. Second time round we followed the AIC route exactly (turn finals inside of Kemble village) and was accussed by ATC of cutting someone up who had made a straight in approach. If muppets didnt make finals calls straight-in from 4 miles and actually followed the route it would be helpful but you also need to stream the faster / slower traffic. A streaming from the VRP would be so much better and safer. Oh yes, and make sure the arrival ATIS can actually be heard properly!
A disappointing day for me and I saw no real improvement on previous years.
I'm sorry but this is supposed to be a premier event but much of the organisation has more of an air of a village fete about it. I will think seriously about if I go again next year. memo to the PFA - get a professional event manager to organise it - sure, it will cost but you'll reap the benefits of increased attendance. .
Well done though to the Marshallers who all did a great job
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I do appreciate that Francis, John and Andrew from PFA Engineering manned the PFA Engineering stand for the duration of the Rally. I hope they were able to get out awhile, and look at the aircraft and get a bite to eat...certainly when I saw them they were busy answering a lot of members' questions in the Homebuilders Centre.
Well done, chaps.
Well done, chaps.
I was there for most of Sunday and it did seem much quieter than in previous years even though the wx yesterday was ok for much of the day.
Still think that £20 per person (non member coming by car) is expensive though and if, as said in a previous post, there were more spotters than flyers then maybe the PFA message is still not getting across.
Still think that £20 per person (non member coming by car) is expensive though and if, as said in a previous post, there were more spotters than flyers then maybe the PFA message is still not getting across.
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First time into Kemble and first time to the PFA Rallye. I'm glad that I had a co-pilot as there was a lot of info to assimilate and the weather was marginal. We didn't see many other aircraft until we were on base leg, when we discovered three more a/c in front of us.
The marshalling was very good, no problems with finding a parking space.
We had a go in the BA Flight Sim and made a complete hash of landing a B737 at Heathrow. Is it true that during the PFA Rally , Kemble is busier than LHR?
Our major grouse was the timing of the aerobatics from 3:30 to 5:30. Our home airfield shuts at 7:00 so even with a tailwind we would have to be airborne by 6:00 and I'm sure that we would not had been the only ones in the queue. We ended up leaving at about 3:00.
All in all, a good day. We bumped into Mike Cross, Windy Militant & A Pommie, as well as another one of our group who had driven down there.
The marshalling was very good, no problems with finding a parking space.
We had a go in the BA Flight Sim and made a complete hash of landing a B737 at Heathrow. Is it true that during the PFA Rally , Kemble is busier than LHR?
Our major grouse was the timing of the aerobatics from 3:30 to 5:30. Our home airfield shuts at 7:00 so even with a tailwind we would have to be airborne by 6:00 and I'm sure that we would not had been the only ones in the queue. We ended up leaving at about 3:00.
All in all, a good day. We bumped into Mike Cross, Windy Militant & A Pommie, as well as another one of our group who had driven down there.
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Thank you all for the positive comments on the Marshalling, i'll make sure that the feedback reaches all the cadets.
It was nice to see/meet some of you over the weekend, although due to being heavily disguised in the Queens cold and wet kit I suspect Mr Cross was the only one who positily identified me and didn't feel the need to take avoiding action!!.
One of the cadets did ask me on Friday evening why people were launching themselves into cloud - ah the inocence of youth.
Do it all again in 363 days I suppose
It was nice to see/meet some of you over the weekend, although due to being heavily disguised in the Queens cold and wet kit I suspect Mr Cross was the only one who positily identified me and didn't feel the need to take avoiding action!!.
One of the cadets did ask me on Friday evening why people were launching themselves into cloud - ah the inocence of youth.
Do it all again in 363 days I suppose
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Its interesting to compare the PFA's event with the Air Britain fly-in at North Weald, a couple of weeks ago.
That was not only free landings fees, but visiting pilots got a £1.50 meal ticket.
Approx 200 (Aerbabe will correct me) visiting aircraft and half a dozen stalls, selling trial flights to £50k Hungarian imports.
No bother from spotters but plenty there and they had a very good day too, one told me.
That was not only free landings fees, but visiting pilots got a £1.50 meal ticket.
Approx 200 (Aerbabe will correct me) visiting aircraft and half a dozen stalls, selling trial flights to £50k Hungarian imports.
No bother from spotters but plenty there and they had a very good day too, one told me.
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Had a great 4 days at the Rally, pity the weather cut the attendance but still almost 1200 aircraft was pretty good and lots of interest to see.
ZA if you wanted the Kemble weather you could always have phoned up, no forecast though, only actuals.
Glad someone spotted the 8 hours out of data weather at departures, most of the time it was within 1-2 hours of what came off the met office site. Getting the weather is a real pain though, it is a pity that the Met Office refuse to come, saying they dont make enough money- seems they sponsor G-VFWE, so dont mind making a loss there! But if whoever suggested it wants to come along next year with their laptop and printer and wireless linkup and volunteer to provide the weather then they will be more than welcome!
Dub Trub, the difference in entry fees for you and your mate were due to the Pilot getting a discount! Yes it would be nice if it was all free, but the money has to come from somewhere!
I see even the £20,000 worth of loos and showers didnt please some! (agree we need a ladies loo at South side Booking in next year!)
Dub Trub also compliments the Kemble ATC, yes, an excellent job was done by ATC as usual, but they arent Kemble ATC, but PFA volunteers from various other places, SATCO from Aberdeen, others from elsewhere.
Good to hear that the AIC procedures work, it is a pity that some people dont follow them though! Agree with Mike that there is too much though, but the CAA keep wanting more things in there- every zone incursion in the UK over the 3 days is the fault of the PFA according to them!
I quite agree that there was not much difference in FFF than the good old PFA Rally, all the good things weve had for years were there, and little of the new stuff promised (much of which had been tried before and discarded over the years) materialised, or was a success. This year there was a "professional" event organiser involved (with the exhibition area), but much of what was promised to be different didnt happen, so it was the same but just a big expense for the PFA and also quite a few P**d off volunteers. hopefully back to normal next year!
Looking forward to the 2006 PFA Rally!
ZA if you wanted the Kemble weather you could always have phoned up, no forecast though, only actuals.
Glad someone spotted the 8 hours out of data weather at departures, most of the time it was within 1-2 hours of what came off the met office site. Getting the weather is a real pain though, it is a pity that the Met Office refuse to come, saying they dont make enough money- seems they sponsor G-VFWE, so dont mind making a loss there! But if whoever suggested it wants to come along next year with their laptop and printer and wireless linkup and volunteer to provide the weather then they will be more than welcome!
Dub Trub, the difference in entry fees for you and your mate were due to the Pilot getting a discount! Yes it would be nice if it was all free, but the money has to come from somewhere!
I see even the £20,000 worth of loos and showers didnt please some! (agree we need a ladies loo at South side Booking in next year!)
Dub Trub also compliments the Kemble ATC, yes, an excellent job was done by ATC as usual, but they arent Kemble ATC, but PFA volunteers from various other places, SATCO from Aberdeen, others from elsewhere.
Good to hear that the AIC procedures work, it is a pity that some people dont follow them though! Agree with Mike that there is too much though, but the CAA keep wanting more things in there- every zone incursion in the UK over the 3 days is the fault of the PFA according to them!
I quite agree that there was not much difference in FFF than the good old PFA Rally, all the good things weve had for years were there, and little of the new stuff promised (much of which had been tried before and discarded over the years) materialised, or was a success. This year there was a "professional" event organiser involved (with the exhibition area), but much of what was promised to be different didnt happen, so it was the same but just a big expense for the PFA and also quite a few P**d off volunteers. hopefully back to normal next year!
Looking forward to the 2006 PFA Rally!
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Cubflyer
Made it to Kemble on Saturday and, given the weather, wasn't quite able to follow the AIC directions.
I'd echo the problem with the out-of-date TAFs and METARS. Surely it would have been possible to wire up a link at the booking-out tent, or even just a fax from Kemble Tower to give the current info.
I thought the arrangements were fine and the price OK. ATC as slick as ever. The twitchers seemed to be enjoying themselves. Parts of the display were great, esp given the cr*p weather.
Downsides:
1) ATIS inaudible
2) For sale park was limited and the flea market was much worse than previous years - probably due wx.
3) No real focus to the day
I'll go again, but mainly to support the PFA rather than because it is a spectacular event
Made it to Kemble on Saturday and, given the weather, wasn't quite able to follow the AIC directions.
I'd echo the problem with the out-of-date TAFs and METARS. Surely it would have been possible to wire up a link at the booking-out tent, or even just a fax from Kemble Tower to give the current info.
I thought the arrangements were fine and the price OK. ATC as slick as ever. The twitchers seemed to be enjoying themselves. Parts of the display were great, esp given the cr*p weather.
Downsides:
1) ATIS inaudible
2) For sale park was limited and the flea market was much worse than previous years - probably due wx.
3) No real focus to the day
I'll go again, but mainly to support the PFA rather than because it is a spectacular event
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Got there on Sunday morning around 09.30a.m, surprised how quiet it was. With 4 of us looking out the window we didn't spot any traffic until we were almost on the " base " leg if you want to call it that. A little bit daunting coming in at 100mph+ and the Robin in front is doing a mere 70kts, trying to stay behind it was interesting to say the least.
Surprised how many marshallers there were, they marshalled us in nicely beside a Seneca V on the hard standing.
Thought it would have been busier with more aircraft but still there were more than enough to keep anyone happy, Was more than impressed by the Elite Twister display.
Made 2 landings in the 737 sim, the second one was more of an arrival rather than a landing.
Good show for all, and hopefully be visiting next year again
Surprised how many marshallers there were, they marshalled us in nicely beside a Seneca V on the hard standing.
Thought it would have been busier with more aircraft but still there were more than enough to keep anyone happy, Was more than impressed by the Elite Twister display.
Made 2 landings in the 737 sim, the second one was more of an arrival rather than a landing.
Good show for all, and hopefully be visiting next year again
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Robin,
it may well be possible to have some kind of link to something at the booking in tent. But there are no telephone lines within a few hundred meters. I guess some knid of wirelesslink might work, if someone has the technology and equipment to let us borrow!
Fax has been thought of, but problem due to no phone lines!
ATIS seemed to be variable quality, I'll pass on your comments!
Aircraft for sale is dependent on who turns up with an aircraft they want to sell. The guys running it said they had more than usual. A friend of mine was selling a very nice Glastar, didnt you like it??!!
Didnt get to the fly market.
Not sure what you mean by "no focus" does there need to be a focus? what do you want? serious question.
I thought the focus was all the aircraft flying in and there in the parking area for you to see. The biggest collection of aircraft in one place in Europe each year (3rd biggest in the world) All different types, aircraft that you could build, restore or buy yourself, some equipped with the latest technology, some back to basics. Plus meeting up with lots of likeminded people , old friends and new, its a big social event too. Then there is the exhibition area if you want to buy something or see some new kits on display.
This is what its all about.
it may well be possible to have some kind of link to something at the booking in tent. But there are no telephone lines within a few hundred meters. I guess some knid of wirelesslink might work, if someone has the technology and equipment to let us borrow!
Fax has been thought of, but problem due to no phone lines!
ATIS seemed to be variable quality, I'll pass on your comments!
Aircraft for sale is dependent on who turns up with an aircraft they want to sell. The guys running it said they had more than usual. A friend of mine was selling a very nice Glastar, didnt you like it??!!
Didnt get to the fly market.
Not sure what you mean by "no focus" does there need to be a focus? what do you want? serious question.
I thought the focus was all the aircraft flying in and there in the parking area for you to see. The biggest collection of aircraft in one place in Europe each year (3rd biggest in the world) All different types, aircraft that you could build, restore or buy yourself, some equipped with the latest technology, some back to basics. Plus meeting up with lots of likeminded people , old friends and new, its a big social event too. Then there is the exhibition area if you want to buy something or see some new kits on display.
This is what its all about.
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Cubflyer,
After the disappointing experience in 04 it was decided that the PFA Rally had to be revamped and that one of the ways to do this would be by 'embracing all of GA'
This obviously did not happen and that was painfully clear to see.
To then state that the PFA Rally is really only a gathering to meet up with some buddies and look at some homebuilts is akin to saying that you did not want any changes in the first place.
The PFA will have to make up its mind on what it wants, either to truly be the biggest GA event in Europe or a national PFA homebuilt strut meeting.
To struggle on in the current format is a recipe for financial loss to the PFA and unsatisfactory for punters and exhibitors.
Two other points:
1. The AIC is too convoluted, long and the routes complicated and potentially dangerous.
To force everyone in an horizontal and vertical straight jacket is asking for trouble. And by making the routing complicated people get put off to come in or just do their own thing. The people that have worked these routings out have more faith in the ability of the average PPL to aviate and navigate than is justified by the demonstration of airmanship of a fair few of the participants.
2. Not having current up to date weather available in this day and age is inexcusable.
After the disappointing experience in 04 it was decided that the PFA Rally had to be revamped and that one of the ways to do this would be by 'embracing all of GA'
This obviously did not happen and that was painfully clear to see.
To then state that the PFA Rally is really only a gathering to meet up with some buddies and look at some homebuilts is akin to saying that you did not want any changes in the first place.
The PFA will have to make up its mind on what it wants, either to truly be the biggest GA event in Europe or a national PFA homebuilt strut meeting.
To struggle on in the current format is a recipe for financial loss to the PFA and unsatisfactory for punters and exhibitors.
Two other points:
1. The AIC is too convoluted, long and the routes complicated and potentially dangerous.
To force everyone in an horizontal and vertical straight jacket is asking for trouble. And by making the routing complicated people get put off to come in or just do their own thing. The people that have worked these routings out have more faith in the ability of the average PPL to aviate and navigate than is justified by the demonstration of airmanship of a fair few of the participants.
2. Not having current up to date weather available in this day and age is inexcusable.
Thread Starter
My friend and I arrived on Saturday and the only traffic we saw were two aeroplanes leaving the area and eventually one that joined the “racetrack” behind us.
The ATIS took every ounce of concentration to hear as it was extremely faint even when we were within 5 miles of Kemble.
The AIC was a pain. Does the EAA publish recommended routes to Oshkosh? Surely it would be enough to rely on pilots to find their own way to Kemble and only have a laid down procedure for the circuit and holding area? Most people manage to avoid MATZs and CAS in their day to day flying, why can’t they do it on Rally weekend?
The Marshallers were brilliant, plenty of them and precise with their directions. Well done lads and lasses.
The displays were good to see but the commentary on the various types could have been a bit more comprehensive.
There did seem to be a greater presence by the lit manufacturers which was encouraging. Good to see the Wilksch diesel being fitted to various aircraft. The 120 hp version would make a great replacement for my Cirrus…..
Apart from the displays and the fly-bys I think it differed from the PFA Rally of 2004 in name only. As with robin, I will be going next year out of support for the PFA rather than a great desire to be there. Until the PFA can get the rest of GA involved then the event will remain as the national “strut” meeting which is fine for a lot of people. However, I’m sure there were quite a few non-pilots who, in addition to possibly being interested in building / buying an aeroplane, might conceivably be interested in learning how to fly it! Has the London Airshow pipped FFF as the place where Flying Clubs make their presence felt? Obviously the events are aimed at a different congregation but there must be overlap there which could be exploited?
TAFs and METARs are available on a mobile phone. Surely somebody could subscribe to the service for a week?
Anyway, see y’all there next year for a lamb burger and fries (Welsh and delicious, the burger that is, I’m just Welsh!)
The ATIS took every ounce of concentration to hear as it was extremely faint even when we were within 5 miles of Kemble.
The AIC was a pain. Does the EAA publish recommended routes to Oshkosh? Surely it would be enough to rely on pilots to find their own way to Kemble and only have a laid down procedure for the circuit and holding area? Most people manage to avoid MATZs and CAS in their day to day flying, why can’t they do it on Rally weekend?
The Marshallers were brilliant, plenty of them and precise with their directions. Well done lads and lasses.
The displays were good to see but the commentary on the various types could have been a bit more comprehensive.
There did seem to be a greater presence by the lit manufacturers which was encouraging. Good to see the Wilksch diesel being fitted to various aircraft. The 120 hp version would make a great replacement for my Cirrus…..
Apart from the displays and the fly-bys I think it differed from the PFA Rally of 2004 in name only. As with robin, I will be going next year out of support for the PFA rather than a great desire to be there. Until the PFA can get the rest of GA involved then the event will remain as the national “strut” meeting which is fine for a lot of people. However, I’m sure there were quite a few non-pilots who, in addition to possibly being interested in building / buying an aeroplane, might conceivably be interested in learning how to fly it! Has the London Airshow pipped FFF as the place where Flying Clubs make their presence felt? Obviously the events are aimed at a different congregation but there must be overlap there which could be exploited?
TAFs and METARs are available on a mobile phone. Surely somebody could subscribe to the service for a week?
Anyway, see y’all there next year for a lamb burger and fries (Welsh and delicious, the burger that is, I’m just Welsh!)
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Does the EAA publish recommended routes to Oshkosh?