Turweston Tailwheel PIREP
High Flying Bird
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Join Date: Dec 2000
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Turweston Tailwheel PIREP
The day started similarly for everyone - fog.
Apart from those at White Waltham who, according to FlyingForFun, had brilliant sunshine (although he couldn't go anywhere because we were all still at around 100 m vis).
Met report relays by mobile phone, through Lowtimer, FlyingForFun and myself finally indicated, late morning, that the weather was clearing northwards and we were able to get underway.
FFF and I arrived three times at around 12:45pm and as we taxied to park noticed the familiar face of QNH1013, standing with a couple of dodgy looking characters. They walked over as we stopped and the dodgy ones turned out to be Kingy and his friend Will, who had flown from the Forest of Dean in a lovely Cub.
Wanting to save as much money as possible to spend on bacon sandwiches, FFF bought a copy of Flyer from the airfield shop for the free landing voucher... When we went up to pay our landing fees though we were warned there had already been 47 aircraft movements that day and 60 was the limit. Therefore there could not be any swapping of flights.
Then it was time to refuel on tea and bacon sarnies, average waiting time being approximately 28 minutes. It seemed everyone and their distant relations had decided to descend (pardon the pun) on Turdy. As well as making it a long wait for lunch it also meant we weren't quite sure whether there were any other PPRuNers around. We thought we recognised a few aircraft, but couldn't work out who the owners were.
While the rest of us waited for lunch (except me, cos I'd brought my own), QNH1013 decided to head off to Finmere, a farm strip a few miles away ("take off, turn right and follow the road") to see if we could do circuits and flight swaps there.
Around 2:30pm Kingy and Will left to join him, whileFFF and I waited for Lowtimer to arrive in his non-tailwheel Yak 52. Unfortunately, by the time he had topped up his tea levels, there wasn't really time to go to Finmere. Instead he decided to treat us to a brief history of Yak designs.
All too soon we were gently being reminded that we only had 7 minutes until last departures from Turdy, so it was time to head off. As FFF and I left the circuit we saw a familiar-looking green cub pass beneath us.
A great day out, but next time I think we need a banner, a fixed RV point, or more people with mobile phones! See you all at Duxford, or at the Milton Keynes Bash next Saturday.
Apart from those at White Waltham who, according to FlyingForFun, had brilliant sunshine (although he couldn't go anywhere because we were all still at around 100 m vis).
Met report relays by mobile phone, through Lowtimer, FlyingForFun and myself finally indicated, late morning, that the weather was clearing northwards and we were able to get underway.
FFF and I arrived three times at around 12:45pm and as we taxied to park noticed the familiar face of QNH1013, standing with a couple of dodgy looking characters. They walked over as we stopped and the dodgy ones turned out to be Kingy and his friend Will, who had flown from the Forest of Dean in a lovely Cub.
Wanting to save as much money as possible to spend on bacon sandwiches, FFF bought a copy of Flyer from the airfield shop for the free landing voucher... When we went up to pay our landing fees though we were warned there had already been 47 aircraft movements that day and 60 was the limit. Therefore there could not be any swapping of flights.
Then it was time to refuel on tea and bacon sarnies, average waiting time being approximately 28 minutes. It seemed everyone and their distant relations had decided to descend (pardon the pun) on Turdy. As well as making it a long wait for lunch it also meant we weren't quite sure whether there were any other PPRuNers around. We thought we recognised a few aircraft, but couldn't work out who the owners were.
While the rest of us waited for lunch (except me, cos I'd brought my own), QNH1013 decided to head off to Finmere, a farm strip a few miles away ("take off, turn right and follow the road") to see if we could do circuits and flight swaps there.
Around 2:30pm Kingy and Will left to join him, whileFFF and I waited for Lowtimer to arrive in his non-tailwheel Yak 52. Unfortunately, by the time he had topped up his tea levels, there wasn't really time to go to Finmere. Instead he decided to treat us to a brief history of Yak designs.
All too soon we were gently being reminded that we only had 7 minutes until last departures from Turdy, so it was time to head off. As FFF and I left the circuit we saw a familiar-looking green cub pass beneath us.
A great day out, but next time I think we need a banner, a fixed RV point, or more people with mobile phones! See you all at Duxford, or at the Milton Keynes Bash next Saturday.
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Hi Aerbabe et al,
Glad you could make it.
I was not aware of the 60 movements per day max, so if this cramped your style; Sorry.
When we arrived back from Holland (EBAW to EGTC) the weather was brilliant and vis into sun under the inversion was not great but have seen worse.
Ciao
FD
Glad you could make it.
I was not aware of the 60 movements per day max, so if this cramped your style; Sorry.
When we arrived back from Holland (EBAW to EGTC) the weather was brilliant and vis into sun under the inversion was not great but have seen worse.
Ciao
FD
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Hey, we were there too in the world's best Chippy - the lovely red G-BCSL!! I was the fat guy in the Barbour.
We'd left Barton at 10:00 in about 5K viz which wasn't a lot into sun (the trusty GPS 111 was invalubale). Down the low level route, then from Ashcroft direct to Nuneaton over Stoke and down the Trent valley. From Nuneaton disused direct Turweston, over some ground fog SW of Rugby. Mega noise-abatement circuit at Turweston meant we almost lost the field in the haze, but SSD's beady eyes kept the place in view and we manged an arrival at 11:25.
Fuel, tea, bacon butties were orderd (estimete - 10 minutes), and I espied the flying pig (G-APYG) - another fine Chippy - on final.
About half an hour later, the butties arrived - but worth the wait. The PYG pilots had by then joined us, and their butties arrived.
A tour of the flightline, then we fired up about 1:30 for a super flight home - this time me in the back with Chris flying so I coulkd admire the view.
An excellent day out! And just 7 hours left on SL before her next 50 hour check.
SSD
We'd left Barton at 10:00 in about 5K viz which wasn't a lot into sun (the trusty GPS 111 was invalubale). Down the low level route, then from Ashcroft direct to Nuneaton over Stoke and down the Trent valley. From Nuneaton disused direct Turweston, over some ground fog SW of Rugby. Mega noise-abatement circuit at Turweston meant we almost lost the field in the haze, but SSD's beady eyes kept the place in view and we manged an arrival at 11:25.
Fuel, tea, bacon butties were orderd (estimete - 10 minutes), and I espied the flying pig (G-APYG) - another fine Chippy - on final.
About half an hour later, the butties arrived - but worth the wait. The PYG pilots had by then joined us, and their butties arrived.
A tour of the flightline, then we fired up about 1:30 for a super flight home - this time me in the back with Chris flying so I coulkd admire the view.
An excellent day out! And just 7 hours left on SL before her next 50 hour check.
SSD
Last edited by Shaggy Sheep Driver; 16th Mar 2003 at 18:52.
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Yup, I was there in what is apparently the worlds second best Chipmunk
Was very good to finally be able to say hello to SSD after many years of being on various on line forums at the same time.
WF.
Was very good to finally be able to say hello to SSD after many years of being on various on line forums at the same time.
WF.
Last edited by Warped Factor; 16th Mar 2003 at 19:28.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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I preferred the striking paint job on the "second-best" Chippy myself...
Popped over briefly as I'm a sucker for a nice Chipmunk, and ended up staying around an hour; didn't get piccies of everything but requests welcome.
Popped over briefly as I'm a sucker for a nice Chipmunk, and ended up staying around an hour; didn't get piccies of everything but requests welcome.
Join Date: Aug 2001
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SSD -
Sorry to miss you - it was a frustrating day. By the time the weather cleared beyond 2 or 3 km viz at Sywell my booked Cub was almost due to be flown by someone else, so I came over in the Yak after all but too late to meet you. Next time perhaps.
AB, FFF, lovely to meet you again, look forward to flying with you at Duxford.
Sorry to miss you - it was a frustrating day. By the time the weather cleared beyond 2 or 3 km viz at Sywell my booked Cub was almost due to be flown by someone else, so I came over in the Yak after all but too late to meet you. Next time perhaps.
AB, FFF, lovely to meet you again, look forward to flying with you at Duxford.
Last edited by Lowtimer; 17th Mar 2003 at 07:50.
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Hi Chaps,
AB, FFF and QNH, it was great to meet you all today and I'm sorry that a few of us missed each other.
We did find Finmere and swapped rides with QNH in his Jodel for the Cub. It was a shame we were the only ones to get there, but it was one of those days when no one knew what was going on!. Finmere would be a great place for another get together. It has no landing fees and unusually the owner is trying to increase movements in order to defeat a planning application by the local market.
After leaving Finmere we went a little North to have a look at Silverstone, then headed West back home with virtually no forward viz due to the sun. Kind mr. Glos App let us transit through at 1800' which helped, as did the tail wind which raised our ground speed to a stonking 72kts!.. I was glad to get back though.
Cheers all
Kingy
AB, FFF and QNH, it was great to meet you all today and I'm sorry that a few of us missed each other.
We did find Finmere and swapped rides with QNH in his Jodel for the Cub. It was a shame we were the only ones to get there, but it was one of those days when no one knew what was going on!. Finmere would be a great place for another get together. It has no landing fees and unusually the owner is trying to increase movements in order to defeat a planning application by the local market.
After leaving Finmere we went a little North to have a look at Silverstone, then headed West back home with virtually no forward viz due to the sun. Kind mr. Glos App let us transit through at 1800' which helped, as did the tail wind which raised our ground speed to a stonking 72kts!.. I was glad to get back though.
Cheers all
Kingy
SSD after seeing pics of the Chippy, I remembered seeing it in Spanhoe last autumn around September time. Were you one of the chaps onboard doing a "see how many airfields we can visit this year" trip? One chap was wearing the tattiest Irvin jacket I've ever seen. Dead cool.
Why do it if it's not fun?
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It was a great day out - just a real shame that our usual lack of planning showed a little more than we're used to, and we managed to not meet so many people. Will definitely have to fly in to Finmere some other time, though, especially if they're trying to increase their movements!
The movement limit at Turweston was a bit of a pain. It sounds like the restriction is part of their planning permission, and always has been, but it's only the last week or so (since one of the locals has started videoing their movements to show to the authorities) that they've actually paid any attention to it.
I have a couple of pics, mainly of Kingy's Cub, which I will try to post tonight, although Damien's already posted a good pic of the Cub higher up so I might not bother.
Hope to meet more of you at Duxford!
FFF
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The movement limit at Turweston was a bit of a pain. It sounds like the restriction is part of their planning permission, and always has been, but it's only the last week or so (since one of the locals has started videoing their movements to show to the authorities) that they've actually paid any attention to it.
I have a couple of pics, mainly of Kingy's Cub, which I will try to post tonight, although Damien's already posted a good pic of the Cub higher up so I might not bother.
Hope to meet more of you at Duxford!
FFF
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