Visiting Compton Abbas - Routing?
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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Camping? My motor is covered in frost as I sit and type this!
I was just thinking of destinations for the summer.Although there are SOME brave enough for it.
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Not as far as I am aware but Shaftesbury is only a five minute taxi drive away, plenty of hotels and pubs and the home of the Hovis Ad or Two Ronnies. Great field to visit, fantastic views and great people running the show. The Yak Display Team are based there and often out and about so watch out!. Also look out for events this year. I understand they are hosting two Piper open days, the Jungmann Tea Party (fly-in) and a Big Boys Toys Day (i.e. Sunseaker, Aston Martin, Piper etc will be there to show off their hardware). Found the details at www.insuring.aero
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TB - just remember why your learnt to fly and to enjoy your flying. Compton is not difficult to find and if you are unsure of anything then call ops and they will be very happy to answer any questions.
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Crikey. The bloke only asked for help on a routing.
I for one applaud the precision and accuracy of his communication. Better than all this long-winded stuff that leads to confusion. BPK, BKY, BNN - these mean one thing and one thing only.
And, if I were navigating around that particular airspace, I'd make damned sure I was following a VOR radial and not tracking to some mis-identified lake inside someone's zone.
Now, how about we all calm down and focus on more important things like world hunger and global warming (or, heaven forbid, answering a fellow pilot's question and helping pass on our infinite wisdom) instead of bashing a bloke because he said "BNN" instead of "Bovingdon".
Jesus Christ, what is the ******* world coming to?
By the way, "Duncan", I'm sorry to see you were so traumatised by this use of an abbreviation that you felt the need to sign up to the site purely to criticise. You and your buddy "Knight Paladin" really need to get out more.
I for one applaud the precision and accuracy of his communication. Better than all this long-winded stuff that leads to confusion. BPK, BKY, BNN - these mean one thing and one thing only.
And, if I were navigating around that particular airspace, I'd make damned sure I was following a VOR radial and not tracking to some mis-identified lake inside someone's zone.
Now, how about we all calm down and focus on more important things like world hunger and global warming (or, heaven forbid, answering a fellow pilot's question and helping pass on our infinite wisdom) instead of bashing a bloke because he said "BNN" instead of "Bovingdon".
Jesus Christ, what is the ******* world coming to?
By the way, "Duncan", I'm sorry to see you were so traumatised by this use of an abbreviation that you felt the need to sign up to the site purely to criticise. You and your buddy "Knight Paladin" really need to get out more.
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Makes me sad when i see guys or girls brush off GA like it is a means to an end
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At weekends and public hols, listen on 122.75 (Salisbury Plain Ops), and a continuous tape will tell you if you can cross the Plain without collecting howitzer shells on the way!
Join Date: Sep 2002
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My 2c worth.
I'm based at Popham and tend to avoid CAS when going to either Duxford or CA.
From Duxford I'd go Woburn, Oxford (aim for Cowley which is on the eastern edge and easy to spot) Newbury, Chilbolton (Radio telescope, easy to spot) Alderbury VRP, Compton Abbas
That's a low level VFR route with nothing complicated about it and good ground features.
At a weekend you're unlikely to get an answer from Boscombe so it will be blind calls inside the CMATZ to let their flying club know what you're up to.
If the weather's good you can then start trying to cut some of the corners to shorten the route.
Try to be approaching CA from the Northern side. There is a large dark wood running along the south side of the a/d and a strobe beacon which shows up well against it.
I'm based at Popham and tend to avoid CAS when going to either Duxford or CA.
From Duxford I'd go Woburn, Oxford (aim for Cowley which is on the eastern edge and easy to spot) Newbury, Chilbolton (Radio telescope, easy to spot) Alderbury VRP, Compton Abbas
That's a low level VFR route with nothing complicated about it and good ground features.
At a weekend you're unlikely to get an answer from Boscombe so it will be blind calls inside the CMATZ to let their flying club know what you're up to.
If the weather's good you can then start trying to cut some of the corners to shorten the route.
Try to be approaching CA from the Northern side. There is a large dark wood running along the south side of the a/d and a strobe beacon which shows up well against it.
From Duxford I'd go Woburn, Oxford (aim for Cowley which is on the eastern edge and easy to spot) Newbury, Chilbolton (Radio telescope, easy to spot) Alderbury VRP, Compton Abbas
That's a low level VFR route with nothing complicated about it and good ground features.
At a weekend you're unlikely to get an answer from Boscombe so it will be blind calls inside the CMATZ to let their flying club know what you're up to.
That's a low level VFR route with nothing complicated about it and good ground features.
At a weekend you're unlikely to get an answer from Boscombe so it will be blind calls inside the CMATZ to let their flying club know what you're up to.
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I haven't been through that VOR-VOR corridor under Stansted yet, but I'd thought simply following the A10 from Royston - M25 junction (remembering to duck under the 1500 zone) would be safer - much better visual clues and avoids everyone else who will be using the beacons.
I'd also have thought it was safer than tracking the VORs - personally, I'd be wary of relying on using VORs as turning points unless equipped with a DME.
Just my two'penneth worth anyway.....
I'd also have thought it was safer than tracking the VORs - personally, I'd be wary of relying on using VORs as turning points unless equipped with a DME.
Just my two'penneth worth anyway.....
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Alderbury VRP
Join Date: Sep 2004
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I did a load of training at Compton Abbas a few years ago and reckon to have approached it from most angles and weather conditions. It is notoriously difficult to find, especially from the South (coming back from Bournemouth).
Actually, I reckon the easiest is directly from the East, round the SE corner of the Boscombe zone, then past Salisbury. If you follow the gently rising ridge, you'll find Compton Abbas at the top of it.
The GPS of course washes all these issues away. I guess all the posters above (and me!) just like to do it the old-fashioned way, looking out of the window and feeling some sense of achievement when you find your goal. Any mug can punch in the co-ordinates and hit 'go to'.
TheOddOne
Actually, I reckon the easiest is directly from the East, round the SE corner of the Boscombe zone, then past Salisbury. If you follow the gently rising ridge, you'll find Compton Abbas at the top of it.
The GPS of course washes all these issues away. I guess all the posters above (and me!) just like to do it the old-fashioned way, looking out of the window and feeling some sense of achievement when you find your goal. Any mug can punch in the co-ordinates and hit 'go to'.
TheOddOne
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Alderbury VRP is easy to spot if you know what to look for.
Approaching from Chilbolton you'll be flying along a shallow valley. On your left will be an ammunition depot. It has a narrow-gauge railway loop running round it with sidings disappearing into the base of the ridge on your left. To your right is another ridge. Salisbury Cathedral will be readily visible in your 2 o'clock.
Crossing the end of the valley in front of you is the main Southampton-Salisbury road and there is a very distinctive road bridge crossing it. That bridge is at the southern end of Alderbury village.
Approaching from Chilbolton you'll be flying along a shallow valley. On your left will be an ammunition depot. It has a narrow-gauge railway loop running round it with sidings disappearing into the base of the ridge on your left. To your right is another ridge. Salisbury Cathedral will be readily visible in your 2 o'clock.
Crossing the end of the valley in front of you is the main Southampton-Salisbury road and there is a very distinctive road bridge crossing it. That bridge is at the southern end of Alderbury village.
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Routings
Sorry, but it appears to me as if people have lost the ability to read a chart !
Not wishing to sound arrogant but it is not that difficult to plan a trip, the info is all on the chart and if the pilot needs a little help about negotiating a zone then a quick call to London info would suffice.
Part of the joy of aviation is the pre flight planning. Get the chart out on the floor and find a green chinagraph to mark the route. (Green is the only colour not used by the map makers for lines)
Ten minutes and you should have your route.
Back to basics and improve those map reading skills.
Now where was I ? Oh yes, temporarily unsure of my position.
Hello Croyden , Hello Croyden.
Not wishing to sound arrogant but it is not that difficult to plan a trip, the info is all on the chart and if the pilot needs a little help about negotiating a zone then a quick call to London info would suffice.
Part of the joy of aviation is the pre flight planning. Get the chart out on the floor and find a green chinagraph to mark the route. (Green is the only colour not used by the map makers for lines)
Ten minutes and you should have your route.
Back to basics and improve those map reading skills.
Now where was I ? Oh yes, temporarily unsure of my position.
Hello Croyden , Hello Croyden.
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Not wishing to sound arrogant
To the OP (whoever the hell you are, I've lost track now)... just point your aeroplane straight at Compton from Duxford. Seems like asking for help is verboten together with using abbreviations. When the CAA ring you up for a chat you can just tell them that your map reading wasn't up to skill and people on the internet were too up their own arses to help.
How shameful of you to ask for a little help! I can't believe everyone's not perfect at everything.
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pilot needs a little help about negotiating a zone then a quick call to London info would suffice.
