The Best PPRuNe Fly-In EVER 2. Sywell, Sat 05th October 02.
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
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Having volunteered to do a head count, these are the people who made it into Whirly's Little Red Book (in the order I have them):
Eveepee, Aerbabe, Whirlybird, Cheshire Cat, QNH 1013, Genghis the Engineer, Stampe, MikeSamuel, Who Has Control?, Sennadog, Wickham, Wickham's friend, Evo, FlyingForFun, Keef, TheKentishFledgling, LowTimer, Girl Flyday, Bottiebump, LowNSlow, Andy (who's forgotten his PPRuNe name), Whisky Kilo Wanderer, Blue Robin, Bill (who doesn't have a PPRuNe name).
I have no idea if that's the same as Aerbabe's list or not, but 24 people ain't bad. But next time, can the organiser or whoever suggests it please tell the airfield we're coming!!!
I had a really good day. When I realised that a straight line from Wolverhampton to Sywell went straight through the overhead of Birmingham Airport, I decided to go that way if they'd let me. I was a wee bit worried, as I don't have good memories of Birmingham - got lost in their airspace as a very new PPL, and last went through their overhead just before a rather expensive overspeed incident in January 2001. So I wondered if Birmingham was jinxed for me. But today was wonderful - cleared into the zone with great city centre views, then cleared straight through the overhead with no problems at all. The way home was straight into the teeth of a 20-25 kt headwind, so I decided to go around Birmingham low level to avoid the worst of it - didn't fancy trying to cross Birmingham at 1000 ft. It was a pleasant and not too bumpy flight back, with wonderful vis.
Eveepee, glad you enjoyed the R22 flight, and thanks for giving me the opportunity to show off a bit with a towering takeoff! I'll try and explain it all s l o w l y next time, really I will.
Overall, a Good Day. When's the next one?
Eveepee, Aerbabe, Whirlybird, Cheshire Cat, QNH 1013, Genghis the Engineer, Stampe, MikeSamuel, Who Has Control?, Sennadog, Wickham, Wickham's friend, Evo, FlyingForFun, Keef, TheKentishFledgling, LowTimer, Girl Flyday, Bottiebump, LowNSlow, Andy (who's forgotten his PPRuNe name), Whisky Kilo Wanderer, Blue Robin, Bill (who doesn't have a PPRuNe name).
I have no idea if that's the same as Aerbabe's list or not, but 24 people ain't bad. But next time, can the organiser or whoever suggests it please tell the airfield we're coming!!!
I had a really good day. When I realised that a straight line from Wolverhampton to Sywell went straight through the overhead of Birmingham Airport, I decided to go that way if they'd let me. I was a wee bit worried, as I don't have good memories of Birmingham - got lost in their airspace as a very new PPL, and last went through their overhead just before a rather expensive overspeed incident in January 2001. So I wondered if Birmingham was jinxed for me. But today was wonderful - cleared into the zone with great city centre views, then cleared straight through the overhead with no problems at all. The way home was straight into the teeth of a 20-25 kt headwind, so I decided to go around Birmingham low level to avoid the worst of it - didn't fancy trying to cross Birmingham at 1000 ft. It was a pleasant and not too bumpy flight back, with wonderful vis.
Eveepee, glad you enjoyed the R22 flight, and thanks for giving me the opportunity to show off a bit with a towering takeoff! I'll try and explain it all s l o w l y next time, really I will.
Overall, a Good Day. When's the next one?
So close, and yet so far!
There are a few photos at www.hnye.com/sywell.htm - although I haven't got around to adding any captions or naming the culprits yet! But if anyone would like to suggest anything or remind me of who's who... (you can email me at [email protected])
Great to see you all - and many thanks to Bill for the flight over from Wellesbourne, and Andy for chauffering me around. And yes, I'll definitely be back to have a another attempt at flying the AN-2!
GF
Great to see you all - and many thanks to Bill for the flight over from Wellesbourne, and Andy for chauffering me around. And yes, I'll definitely be back to have a another attempt at flying the AN-2!
GF
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Thanks to all for a good fly-in, nice to meet up with faces and aircraft to match the Pprune Names.
Good run back to Heathfield, with thirty MPH of tail wind, made up for the struggle heading north. !:45 up, 1:15 home, the delights of the slow end of the market.
Good to see you all, Safe Flying.
Richard W.
Good run back to Heathfield, with thirty MPH of tail wind, made up for the struggle heading north. !:45 up, 1:15 home, the delights of the slow end of the market.
Good to see you all, Safe Flying.
Richard W.
Join Date: May 2002
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Got the Triumph out for the "brisk" ride through the lanes to the Strip. Checked the Cub out, set off at 10:00. Bennington to Grafam Water, bit of a headwind ground speed 45Kts, hang a left at Grafam (we were 'I Follow Roads' mode). Due west at 1400 ft ( I get nose bleeds at anything over 1800 ft ;-), good job as the viz didn't look too good higher up) Landed on 25 slight crosswind. Nice to say hello to the few people I had corresponded with and met some for the first time. We had to shoot off as an 'urgent' fishing trip required my driving skills. Was given 33 for departure stronger wind this time with a bit of crosswind. Got back in half the time. Nice day, lovely place. Good to meet the PPRUNE crowd, The old SuperCub puts a grin on yer face, what a nice way to spend a Saturday
Last edited by Crossedcontrols; 5th Oct 2002 at 20:25.
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TKF, glad you enjoyed yourself, only disappointed we couldn't get enough height for a few gentle aeros - still, next time, eh?
Mike Samuel and AB, sorry I didn't get you airborne, I seem to have been surprisingly busy flying during the day. We don't have to wait for a fly-in as it's practically no distance between Sywell and Coventry.
I didn't get to talk properly to lots of people - Ghenghis, sorry I had to cut and run when you wandered past but I had already primed and turned the prop and you know how big radials like to hydraulic lock...
Next time, everyone! Thanks for coming!
Mike Samuel and AB, sorry I didn't get you airborne, I seem to have been surprisingly busy flying during the day. We don't have to wait for a fly-in as it's practically no distance between Sywell and Coventry.
I didn't get to talk properly to lots of people - Ghenghis, sorry I had to cut and run when you wandered past but I had already primed and turned the prop and you know how big radials like to hydraulic lock...
Next time, everyone! Thanks for coming!
Join Date: Sep 2002
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FFF - many thanks for the trip in the Europa, although trying to make me do a PFL was a bit harsh... 
and as for
Priceless - if anyone thinks that there is a more beautiful aeroplane, they haven't seen a sight like that 
Oh, and did someone come from Goodwood? Somebody was heading back that way when we left, wondered if they were PPRuNers...
and as for
Forgot to mention that we were treated to an excellent sight as we headed past Reading. Concorde on climb out above us going out of Heathrow - must have been a good omen.
Oh, and did someone come from Goodwood? Somebody was heading back that way when we left, wondered if they were PPRuNers...
Last edited by Evo; 5th Oct 2002 at 20:50.
Wycombe & "Wycombe's friend" (Nigel)
Good to see/meet so many of you, what a great way to spend a day (always makes me wish I could do more of it ).
Me flying G-PLBI on the way up - Wx for us actually not too bad - 'base about 1700' QNH (but reasonable vis underneath) as we approached Sywell, just a few bumps and a bit of x-wind on 25 (they changed to 33 just after we landed)
Departed back to EGTB at 1515L - lovely viz and base about 3000' on the way back, but climbed up to 4500' as (Nigel) did some "voluntary" IMC between DTY & WCO - good practice, but always nice to "break out" after 10/15 mins of solid grey. Groundspeed of 140kt (thanks to that tailwind) was a bonus and got us back to Wycombe nice and quick.
AB - thanks for the invite to the CovBash, not going to be a go'er
for me, due family commitments - hope you have a good'un.
CC - keep those colourful old Jumbo's trimmed, hope something comes up at Virgin (so to speak!)
Evo - sorry, didn't get time to show you around 'BI - think you left before us.
Cheers all
).Me flying G-PLBI on the way up - Wx for us actually not too bad - 'base about 1700' QNH (but reasonable vis underneath) as we approached Sywell, just a few bumps and a bit of x-wind on 25 (they changed to 33 just after we landed)
Departed back to EGTB at 1515L - lovely viz and base about 3000' on the way back, but climbed up to 4500' as (Nigel) did some "voluntary" IMC between DTY & WCO - good practice, but always nice to "break out" after 10/15 mins of solid grey. Groundspeed of 140kt (thanks to that tailwind) was a bonus and got us back to Wycombe nice and quick.
AB - thanks for the invite to the CovBash, not going to be a go'er
for me, due family commitments - hope you have a good'un.
CC - keep those colourful old Jumbo's trimmed, hope something comes up at Virgin (so to speak!)
Evo - sorry, didn't get time to show you around 'BI - think you left before us.
Cheers all
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Hope you guys had a great day yeasterday. Sorry I couldn't be there with the An-2.
When you're landing over five tonnes of metal with a 13 foot fin at less than 35 kts, the cross wind limits are THE cross wind limits!!!!
We also, unfortunately, had a prop bending incident with a student solo yesterday just before intended departure time. (note: the student saved the aircraft but an instructor and the fire crew combined to bend the prop recovering me beloved Robin 2160). Under the circumstances, I was tied to the Club for the day.
Thanks to my much abused, long-suffering Ant co-pilot, "Grease it on" Bill for:
a. Phoning me with the wind at Sywell when he got there confirming I should not have gone.
b. Getting his good old workhorse GY80 out to get BlueRobin and Girl Friday to the ball on time.
After several pints of guiness last night, he has agreed to get himself a pprune name. And those that arrived in the chaos here yesterday can come back any time for a go in the Ant.
Hope to FINALLY meet some of you at the impending Cov Bash (AerBabe, why do we need a hotel room?? It seems from your recent photo that everyone shares yours )
When you're landing over five tonnes of metal with a 13 foot fin at less than 35 kts, the cross wind limits are THE cross wind limits!!!!
We also, unfortunately, had a prop bending incident with a student solo yesterday just before intended departure time. (note: the student saved the aircraft but an instructor and the fire crew combined to bend the prop recovering me beloved Robin 2160). Under the circumstances, I was tied to the Club for the day.
Thanks to my much abused, long-suffering Ant co-pilot, "Grease it on" Bill for:
a. Phoning me with the wind at Sywell when he got there confirming I should not have gone.
b. Getting his good old workhorse GY80 out to get BlueRobin and Girl Friday to the ball on time.
After several pints of guiness last night, he has agreed to get himself a pprune name. And those that arrived in the chaos here yesterday can come back any time for a go in the Ant.
Hope to FINALLY meet some of you at the impending Cov Bash (AerBabe, why do we need a hotel room?? It seems from your recent photo that everyone shares yours
)
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Like Sennadog I knew I forgotten to mention something in my last post - On arriving back at North Weald WHC and I were just in time to see TWO Mustangs lining up and taking off together...Perfect end to a great day.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Wycombe - next time We were looking at the met and decided to head back South before it got any worse. Turned out not to be too bad and we zipped along into better weather thanks to about 25-30kts of tailwinds. Of course if we had waited longer we would have ended up with OVC004 or something...
Was going to ask you if all was OK at Wycombe - on the way up to Sywell we changed from Farnborough and gave them a call, but were told to stay clear and change to Brize Radar because an emergency was in progress. All ended OK I hope?
We were looking at the met and decided to head back South before it got any worse. Turned out not to be too bad and we zipped along into better weather thanks to about 25-30kts of tailwinds. Of course if we had waited longer we would have ended up with OVC004 or something... Was going to ask you if all was OK at Wycombe - on the way up to Sywell we changed from Farnborough and gave them a call, but were told to stay clear and change to Brize Radar because an emergency was in progress. All ended OK I hope?
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BRL
Who sez I WASN'T kacking!! Mind you, it was no scarey-er , than at Popham when we got cut up by that old buffer in a 152 on very short final...twice.
Actually, I'm beginning to get a bit of a U/C complex... I was meant to going to play with an EMB170 last week in Jeremy Clarkson mode but the A/C hadta go back to Brazil... why? Yep some problem with the U/C...But look on the bright side now I'll have to go to Brazil to do it...
Who sez I WASN'T kacking!! Mind you, it was no scarey-er , than at Popham when we got cut up by that old buffer in a 152 on very short final...twice.
Actually, I'm beginning to get a bit of a U/C complex... I was meant to going to play with an EMB170 last week in Jeremy Clarkson mode but the A/C hadta go back to Brazil... why? Yep some problem with the U/C...But look on the bright side now I'll have to go to Brazil to do it...
Official PPRuNe Chaplain
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A great day out! Having emerged from a busy Sunday morning, I've downloaded the pix from the camera and uploaded them to a website near you.
http://www.jillings.dsl.pipex.com/sywell.html
I'm not into this hi-tekk webpage authoring stuff, so apologies if they are a bit big and just stuck on the page. The originals are several times bigger!
tKF and I had a great flight home, not talking to anyone (we chatted to nice radar folks all the way in). With tailwind, we had over 150 knots on the DME at times.
PS: Girl Flyday and WhirlyBird - didn't see you in the congregation this morning, but it was a bit crowded. Sorry if I missed you.
http://www.jillings.dsl.pipex.com/sywell.html
I'm not into this hi-tekk webpage authoring stuff, so apologies if they are a bit big and just stuck on the page. The originals are several times bigger!
tKF and I had a great flight home, not talking to anyone (we chatted to nice radar folks all the way in). With tailwind, we had over 150 knots on the DME at times.
PS: Girl Flyday and WhirlyBird - didn't see you in the congregation this morning, but it was a bit crowded. Sorry if I missed you.
And a good time was had by all!!!
I was glad that I finally made it. Easy to spot the Ppruners, they were the noisy bunch gawping out of the windows at some of the interesting arrivals in the slight breeze(!) down 33.
Good to see familiar faces Whirly, AerBabe, FFF and TKF and also to put faces to the Pprune names like WhoHasControl, Keef, Girl Flyday, Wycombe and everybody else
I'm sorry that I didn't get to chat with all the bods I would have liked to and I would have loved to take anybody who was interested for a whizz around in the Auster but I was eating into my baby sitting budget as every minute ticked by. The circumstances will be better next time I'm sure as long as the "next time" is when I'm in the UK
The return journey South was a lot quicker than the transit North to Sywell due to the aforementioned breeze. It was also the first time I've had to power the Auster onto a mainwheel landing. OK, what really happened was that I didn't realise I was down until I hit the first bump and then put the tail down! Taxiing crosswind also required full left rudder and pretty much full left brake. Ah free castoring tailwheels doncha just love them
Good to see familiar faces Whirly, AerBabe, FFF and TKF and also to put faces to the Pprune names like WhoHasControl, Keef, Girl Flyday, Wycombe and everybody else
I'm sorry that I didn't get to chat with all the bods I would have liked to and I would have loved to take anybody who was interested for a whizz around in the Auster but I was eating into my baby sitting budget as every minute ticked by. The circumstances will be better next time I'm sure as long as the "next time" is when I'm in the UK
The return journey South was a lot quicker than the transit North to Sywell due to the aforementioned breeze. It was also the first time I've had to power the Auster onto a mainwheel landing. OK, what really happened was that I didn't realise I was down until I hit the first bump and then put the tail down! Taxiing crosswind also required full left rudder and pretty much full left brake. Ah free castoring tailwheels doncha just love them
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Wow, what a great day!
It was brilliant weather when Evepee & I left North Weald. We had a twin engined pax jet go over us, just passing Luton, I'm sure he was a lot higher that he looked. I discovered at that point that my camera batteries were flat!!
Just passing Bedford, at a steady 100kt ISA & 70-80kt gnd speed, we met the first wisps of cloud. Down we go! Sywell was giving 1300' cloudbase so asd we only had 10 miles to run we pushed on, weaving around the villages. My join was messy to say the least but the tea was well worth it. It took an hour to get up.
Great to meet you all and such a wide variety of aircraft too. Evepee kept disappearing, every time I looked round, she seemed to be climbing into someone's aircraft. And guess who ended up carrying her handbag
We left at 3:00, after Keef, FFF and before Genghis (I think). Liberal application of flap on the take-off got the Koli-bear off quickly and the journey back only took 40 mins. We landed just before a JP turned finals and as we put the aircraft to bed, 2 P-51Ds taxied past for a formation take-off.
Aerbabe, you should have come back with us, or was it you in the back seat of one of them?
Looking forward to the next one and the Gatbash
It was brilliant weather when Evepee & I left North Weald. We had a twin engined pax jet go over us, just passing Luton, I'm sure he was a lot higher that he looked. I discovered at that point that my camera batteries were flat!!
Just passing Bedford, at a steady 100kt ISA & 70-80kt gnd speed, we met the first wisps of cloud. Down we go! Sywell was giving 1300' cloudbase so asd we only had 10 miles to run we pushed on, weaving around the villages. My join was messy to say the least but the tea was well worth it. It took an hour to get up.
Great to meet you all and such a wide variety of aircraft too. Evepee kept disappearing, every time I looked round, she seemed to be climbing into someone's aircraft. And guess who ended up carrying her handbag
We left at 3:00, after Keef, FFF and before Genghis (I think). Liberal application of flap on the take-off got the Koli-bear off quickly and the journey back only took 40 mins. We landed just before a JP turned finals and as we put the aircraft to bed, 2 P-51Ds taxied past for a formation take-off.
Aerbabe, you should have come back with us, or was it you in the back seat of one of them?
Looking forward to the next one and the Gatbash
Evo....
There was a "local standby" at Wycombe before we left for Sywell, after a PAN from a passing PA28 - not sure what his problem was, but he diverted in and landed with no problems.
Based aircraft were holding in the cct/overhead to let him in.
This was at about 1045 - 1100, so is probably what you heard.
Cheers.
PS Any chance of a trip in the Katana sometime - will swop you a ride in the C172SP!
Based aircraft were holding in the cct/overhead to let him in.
This was at about 1045 - 1100, so is probably what you heard.
Cheers.
PS Any chance of a trip in the Katana sometime - will swop you a ride in the C172SP!
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Good days flying and a good days turn out. I was in my PA28R 'JI from Blackbushe via Stapleford. Thames have me SVFR through zone to OCK on way back which was fun! Followed by a day in Le Touq yesterday so a pretty good weekend!
A2
A2
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Sorry we missed all the fun.
As Longfinal said earlier, in Blackpool we had 700' OVC all the way up to FL030. Luckily the good weather you all enjoyed made it up here just in time on the Sunday for when the wife had me decorating...
My only consolation I suppose is that having seen the photos, the two best looking blokes didn't make it....
As Longfinal said earlier, in Blackpool we had 700' OVC all the way up to FL030. Luckily the good weather you all enjoyed made it up here just in time on the Sunday for when the wife had me decorating...
My only consolation I suppose is that having seen the photos, the two best looking blokes didn't make it....
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Arrgghh!!
Just typed a long message describing my day, and my web browser crashed!
Not going to re-type the whole thing - suffice to say I had a great day. I'm really pleased that Evo, Eveepee and Cheshire Cat enjoyed the Europa, just wish I had time to go flying with everyone who wanted a ride. And I wish the day had been long enough that I could have spent hours chatting to everyone who was there. Sorry to everyone I didn't get to say any more than a quick Hello to - mainly those who turned up a little later.
We need to arrange another fly-in, maybe for next spring? But I'd like to suggest that the next one is an overnight one - that way I may actually get to talk to everyone as well as doing a load of flying!
FFF
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PS - AerBabe, I think there was one aeroplane missing from your list, although they didn't stay long. Andy, an occassional reaader of PPRuNe but not a poster, decided to come along with two of his friends whose names I've forgotten after I told him about the fly-in on Saturday morning. Aircraft was G-TAMR, a C172, from White Waltham.
Just typed a long message describing my day, and my web browser crashed!
Not going to re-type the whole thing - suffice to say I had a great day. I'm really pleased that Evo, Eveepee and Cheshire Cat enjoyed the Europa, just wish I had time to go flying with everyone who wanted a ride. And I wish the day had been long enough that I could have spent hours chatting to everyone who was there. Sorry to everyone I didn't get to say any more than a quick Hello to - mainly those who turned up a little later.
We need to arrange another fly-in, maybe for next spring? But I'd like to suggest that the next one is an overnight one - that way I may actually get to talk to everyone as well as doing a load of flying!
FFF
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PS - AerBabe, I think there was one aeroplane missing from your list, although they didn't stay long. Andy, an occassional reaader of PPRuNe but not a poster, decided to come along with two of his friends whose names I've forgotten after I told him about the fly-in on Saturday morning. Aircraft was G-TAMR, a C172, from White Waltham.
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Good to meet a few of you on Saturday. Sorry, didn't get round to talk to many; couldn't hang around long as had other commitments that evening.
Sywell was nice. Not been there before. RWY 33 a bit short for an underpowered Cherokee; glad there were no others on board!
Hope to see you at the next fly in.
Sywell was nice. Not been there before. RWY 33 a bit short for an underpowered Cherokee; glad there were no others on board!
Hope to see you at the next fly in.