Aero Expo
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Hi Whirly & Co
I will be along on Sunday... Hope that you are going to be there Whirls. I have heard so much about you..
I'm also a short blonde lass... I will be wearing a bright pink(ish) top with silver earings. So I will be noticeable big time.
... .
Will you be wearing your helicopter brooch and earrings if you come Whirls?
Anyone else that wants to chat to me. Feel welcome to do so. I don't bite!
Patricia
I will be along on Sunday... Hope that you are going to be there Whirls. I have heard so much about you..
I'm also a short blonde lass... I will be wearing a bright pink(ish) top with silver earings. So I will be noticeable big time.
... .Will you be wearing your helicopter brooch and earrings if you come Whirls?
Anyone else that wants to chat to me. Feel welcome to do so. I don't bite!
Patricia
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No earrings if I'm flying; they dig in with a headset. 
OK, when and where shall we all meet? I have a slot for 11.50, so won't actually get on to the site till after 12.
OK, when and where shall we all meet? I have a slot for 11.50, so won't actually get on to the site till after 12.
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Please don't get me wrong about this, I am delighted that the UK is having an aviation do this year (other than Helitech) and good on those who arranged it but...
I was about to book a slot then checked the runway length - 735m (with minimal wind) leaves me little leeway for landing my Mooney and I can't be bothered to hand fly all the way up from Cornwall in my R44.
A different field with a published IAP and a longer hard runway would certainly have made the show more attractive for me.
It might also have made the show accessible to other types that need more runway such as VLJs.
SB
I was about to book a slot then checked the runway length - 735m (with minimal wind) leaves me little leeway for landing my Mooney and I can't be bothered to hand fly all the way up from Cornwall in my R44.
A different field with a published IAP and a longer hard runway would certainly have made the show more attractive for me.
It might also have made the show accessible to other types that need more runway such as VLJs.
SB
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Whirlybird - I will be arriving at around 1230 ... I don't know the layout or the best meeting point.. I will certainly be recognisable with the bright top..
Any suggestions accepted
Astral
Any suggestions accepted
Astral
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Looking at the TAFs, I think the chances of us flying in are slim, but I'm off to the airfield to meet my student, so we'll see. If I make it, let's try to meet at 2pm at the Gasco stand (outside in one of the tents); do their preflight challenge while you're waiting. I'm wearing navy cargo pants and a checked top with bits of embroidery.
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735m (with minimal wind) leaves me little leeway for landing my Mooney and I can't be bothered to hand fly all the way up from Cornwall in my R44
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All in all was great. Saw the mammoth cessna caravan and the huge pc12. Was intresting to see most of the aircraft from piper and cessna. The woman at the British Airways hangar was very helful and friendly. 
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Short blonde woman, about 40?
I have been reliably informed (by the other half, and also lorraine, who was doing booking in/taking money etc for BAFC) that there were only 30 planes in all day on Friday (and only 4 wanted refuelled) so I'm not surprised if it seemed quiet!
Pity that the battle of britain memorial flight (lancaster and a spitfire, I hear) couldn't make it over but, at the time, Wycombe was too busy with mostly departing ac...and the viz was decidedly dodgy!
All in all though, yesterday was a good day to go. Although I hear it didn't start well...one of the early ac in to Wycombe went off the runway (06 I believe). Some interesting moments too...I'm assuming anyone else who was around heard about the dog left in the car?
I have been reliably informed (by the other half, and also lorraine, who was doing booking in/taking money etc for BAFC) that there were only 30 planes in all day on Friday (and only 4 wanted refuelled) so I'm not surprised if it seemed quiet!
Pity that the battle of britain memorial flight (lancaster and a spitfire, I hear) couldn't make it over but, at the time, Wycombe was too busy with mostly departing ac...and the viz was decidedly dodgy!
All in all though, yesterday was a good day to go. Although I hear it didn't start well...one of the early ac in to Wycombe went off the runway (06 I believe). Some interesting moments too...I'm assuming anyone else who was around heard about the dog left in the car?
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As far as I'm aware, it was ok...I know they didn't have to smash the car window as whoever's car it was had left it unlocked. Maybe the North Weald guys left it with someone? I didn't hear about whether they'd found its owner, certainly!
e owner(s) though.
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Aha, evening steve! I'd been hoping one of "you lot" would know...and I didn't have the energy to text mr. cooling! Glad to hear the dog was ok though...
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I managed to get to the Gasco stand at 14.25 ... Bit late I know... I did keep my eyes open for you Whirly.. The preflight challenge was good.. It took me a little while to get into the mindset of having to think that what I will find would be over the top, rather than the little things you might find normally.. I managed to miss the split pin on the main wheel!
I had my number two son in tow.. He was a little sharper than me... He is on the way to gaining his commercial qualifications.. He wasn't impressed with the 'toy' microlights. He loathes them. But the Cirrus SR22 he really loved.
My number one son couldn't attend. He was on standby for the day. Such is the life of Cabin Crew... And no! He isn't gay!
Aviation certainly runs in the family.... As for the gathering ... The weather was with us. It had something for all and it was a very friendly welcoming atmosphere.. Although I did notice a few of the 'big boys' stands were abandoned... Which is a shame really. As I always say that today's enthusiast / enquiring mind, is likely to be tomorrows Pilot / Client / Employee / Employer. So it is worth talking with everyone and staying open. Strange things do happen.
Astral
I had my number two son in tow.. He was a little sharper than me... He is on the way to gaining his commercial qualifications.. He wasn't impressed with the 'toy' microlights. He loathes them. But the Cirrus SR22 he really loved.
My number one son couldn't attend. He was on standby for the day. Such is the life of Cabin Crew... And no! He isn't gay!
Aviation certainly runs in the family.... As for the gathering ... The weather was with us. It had something for all and it was a very friendly welcoming atmosphere.. Although I did notice a few of the 'big boys' stands were abandoned... Which is a shame really. As I always say that today's enthusiast / enquiring mind, is likely to be tomorrows Pilot / Client / Employee / Employer. So it is worth talking with everyone and staying open. Strange things do happen.
Astral
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Astral Flyer,
I wasn't there. I left a party early on Saturday evening, had an early night, got up early to check weather etc. It looked pretty marginal, but I went down to the airfield, met my student, and we had a mammoth briefing - he's only done local navs so far, but wanted to do everything if he could. By then it was still very hazy with a 500 ft or so cloudbase. I phoned Wycombe, who reported about the same. So Chris drove to Wycombe, and I did what all flying instructors do on such days - hung around and had a good moan with all the other people hanging about looking at the sky.
But I've gathered from several people that it went well, and that there were more people than on Friday. So...maybe next year.
I wasn't there. I left a party early on Saturday evening, had an early night, got up early to check weather etc. It looked pretty marginal, but I went down to the airfield, met my student, and we had a mammoth briefing - he's only done local navs so far, but wanted to do everything if he could. By then it was still very hazy with a 500 ft or so cloudbase. I phoned Wycombe, who reported about the same. So Chris drove to Wycombe, and I did what all flying instructors do on such days - hung around and had a good moan with all the other people hanging about looking at the sky.
But I've gathered from several people that it went well, and that there were more people than on Friday. So...maybe next year.
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"There is an M20J based at Booker and it doesn't seem to have a problem operating from there off the hard and another one comes in for maintenance no probs."
Well good for them! and good for the PC-12 crew! Mine is an M20R (long body). I have been in to places with short runways before but would need to be pretty light to get in and out. I am also very spoiled having flown in to Oshkosh a couple of times and sun'n fun and been at Friedrichshafen this April and heading for Paris Airshow later this month.
I would need all of 700m and having 35m as a fall back is just too tight a margin for me - it's just my personal preference. I understand that Fairoaks (which has more runway than Booker) has had 2 Mooney overruns in the last few years (they told me after I landed).
With short (less than 800m for my Mooney) or grass runways I much prefer the chopper but there is no autopilot and over an hour each way would have been a little wearing.
I went to Polzeath instead on Sunday (with the family in the R44 landing at Roserrow). We did the Royal Cornwall Show at Wadebridge on Friday afternoon using the private landing site there so I have been pretty busy basking in the sunshine at this end of the country.
I hope the show was good.
Happy days
SB
Well good for them! and good for the PC-12 crew! Mine is an M20R (long body). I have been in to places with short runways before but would need to be pretty light to get in and out. I am also very spoiled having flown in to Oshkosh a couple of times and sun'n fun and been at Friedrichshafen this April and heading for Paris Airshow later this month.
I would need all of 700m and having 35m as a fall back is just too tight a margin for me - it's just my personal preference. I understand that Fairoaks (which has more runway than Booker) has had 2 Mooney overruns in the last few years (they told me after I landed).
With short (less than 800m for my Mooney) or grass runways I much prefer the chopper but there is no autopilot and over an hour each way would have been a little wearing.
I went to Polzeath instead on Sunday (with the family in the R44 landing at Roserrow). We did the Royal Cornwall Show at Wadebridge on Friday afternoon using the private landing site there so I have been pretty busy basking in the sunshine at this end of the country.
I hope the show was good.
Happy days
SB
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There was almost nothing at High Wycombe that could not be seen at any other aeroplane show in the UK, anytime in the last few years.
Very very little changes in this business from one year (or even decade) to the next. At least 90% of the stuff there is exactly the same as it was when I started flying 7 years ago.
It's a good day out for kids, and to meet up a few people.
Aero 2007 (Friedrichshafen) was much bigger but the extra bits were mainly ultralights (hangars full of them) and the usual bizjets. Virtually all the R&D today is going into the non-CofA market. The range of certified GA piston planes is so small these days that you can walk around the whole worldwide product range in a few minutes. All that Cessna/Piper/Mooney have really done in the last many years is bolting in a G1000 - and it does look tacky indeed in a 1950s airframe when they haven't even bothered to re-shape the steam-gauge panel to take advantage of the smaller possible size. Cirrus and Diamond are relatively modern but everybody knows what those two have on offer; no need to go to an airshow to see an SR22 yet again.
I am suprised a Mooney has problems with 700m. Perhaps different models differ; there are a number of old Mooneys based at Wangen-Lachen (LSPV) which is 500m. My TB20 gets airborne in (optimally) about 300m at MTOW, tarmac, sea level, and 500m is fine.
Very very little changes in this business from one year (or even decade) to the next. At least 90% of the stuff there is exactly the same as it was when I started flying 7 years ago.
It's a good day out for kids, and to meet up a few people.
Aero 2007 (Friedrichshafen) was much bigger but the extra bits were mainly ultralights (hangars full of them) and the usual bizjets. Virtually all the R&D today is going into the non-CofA market. The range of certified GA piston planes is so small these days that you can walk around the whole worldwide product range in a few minutes. All that Cessna/Piper/Mooney have really done in the last many years is bolting in a G1000 - and it does look tacky indeed in a 1950s airframe when they haven't even bothered to re-shape the steam-gauge panel to take advantage of the smaller possible size. Cirrus and Diamond are relatively modern but everybody knows what those two have on offer; no need to go to an airshow to see an SR22 yet again.
I am suprised a Mooney has problems with 700m. Perhaps different models differ; there are a number of old Mooneys based at Wangen-Lachen (LSPV) which is 500m. My TB20 gets airborne in (optimally) about 300m at MTOW, tarmac, sea level, and 500m is fine.
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I much prefer the chopper but there is no autopilot and over an hour each way would have been a little wearing.
Oh well, I suppose it depends what you're used to...which in my case is long hours in the R22.