Compton
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 40
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From: Surrey UK
Compton
A couple of us flew in Compton Abbas from Blackbushe on Friday and hung about for a while, had lunch etc. Has to be the friendliest, most approachable (sic) place I've been to. All sorts of interesting aircraft kept flying in too. Great...
Anyone else visit anywhere new that's worth recommending ?
Anyone else visit anywhere new that's worth recommending ?
Why do it if it's not fun?
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 12
From: Bournemouth
Have to agree - it's definitely a favourite of mine. Great place to take non-pilot pax for their first ever light aircraft flight, too - not only is it a beautiful airfield with friendly staff and good food, it's also a nice distance, some good scenery on the way, I don't have to get too busy on the R/T to pay attention to my pax.
I need to find an excuse to go back there!
FFF
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I need to find an excuse to go back there!
FFF
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,856
Likes: 75
From: uk
FFF,
Have you been there since the falconry has been there? If not, you now have your excuse. I popped in there last week and sat and enjoyed a superb demonstration of low flying. I believe that they lay them on regularly during the day.
Have you been there since the falconry has been there? If not, you now have your excuse. I popped in there last week and sat and enjoyed a superb demonstration of low flying. I believe that they lay them on regularly during the day.
High Flying Bird
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,297
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From: Old Sarum ish
If anyone except FFF needs an excuse to go to Compton Abbas, I might be moving to a place 15 min away in a month ish. It's going to feel like the other side of the world because most of my friends are in the Midlands. Please please please fly down and say hello and rescue me from being trapped with my parents... 
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
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From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Aerbabe,
If I can afford it and get an aircraft, I'll fly into Compton. I still remember it fondly from when you and I flew in there for fuel. Lovely little airfield. You lucky sod; you'll be able to have it as your home airfield!!!!
If I can afford it and get an aircraft, I'll fly into Compton. I still remember it fondly from when you and I flew in there for fuel. Lovely little airfield. You lucky sod; you'll be able to have it as your home airfield!!!!
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 302
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From: N.E. Derbyshire, UK
Pulse1 -
Odd question perhaps, but isn't it a little strange to have a Falconry at (or very near) an airfield? Birds of the feathered and propeller-driven variety don't mix too well, and I would have thought it impractical to NOTAM the times of every flying display. Just curious as to how they make this safe for all, especially the birds of prey...
Odd question perhaps, but isn't it a little strange to have a Falconry at (or very near) an airfield? Birds of the feathered and propeller-driven variety don't mix too well, and I would have thought it impractical to NOTAM the times of every flying display. Just curious as to how they make this safe for all, especially the birds of prey...
Guest
Posts: n/a
I did my PPL there and i remember the approaches well 
!!
The falconry centre is there so that all the normal birds which might flock there are right royally scared off!
Its much better to have just two big well trained birds than a couple of hundred pigeons etc...
Tom
!!The falconry centre is there so that all the normal birds which might flock there are right royally scared off!
Its much better to have just two big well trained birds than a couple of hundred pigeons etc...
Tom
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,856
Likes: 75
From: uk
big al,
I noticed that the falconer had a hand held radio so would be aware of most aircraft movements.
Aerbabe,
Is that 15 minutes by air or road? It takes me about 25 minutes to drive to Compton from the south. A great place to live and infinitely better than the Midlands. I moved there from Bedford. However, it is known as a career trap. Few want to move away to improve their career prospects.
I noticed that the falconer had a hand held radio so would be aware of most aircraft movements.
Aerbabe,
Is that 15 minutes by air or road? It takes me about 25 minutes to drive to Compton from the south. A great place to live and infinitely better than the Midlands. I moved there from Bedford. However, it is known as a career trap. Few want to move away to improve their career prospects.
High Flying Bird
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,297
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From: Old Sarum ish
Pulse1 - that's 15 minutes by road (I'm guessing by looking at the map). I'm only moving there because I'm living with my parents at the moment and they're buying a place there. As for careers, well I'm young enough that the job is more important than where I live... Although having said that I have some very good friends in the Midlands and access to a very reasonably priced chipmunk (gotta get my priorities right!).
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,856
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From: uk
well I'm young enough that the job is more important than where I live...
Still, if you fancy some boring C172 flying while you're "stuck" there. let me know.
Joined: Mar 2003
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 225
Likes: 21
From: London, England
I fancy flying down to Compton Abbas. Does anyone know a good route to take from Biggin Hill?
I guess Guildford, Midhust VOR then through the Solent CTA...It looks a little daunting to a low hourer like me!
I guess Guildford, Midhust VOR then through the Solent CTA...It looks a little daunting to a low hourer like me!
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 191
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From: London, England
NineEighteen
Don't be daunted, as an (as you put it) low hourer you need to keep practicing the planning, navigating and RT skills that you made such an effort to learn to get your licence or you will get rusty very quickly.
I did Shoreham - Compton as one of the legs of my QXC, including the transit over Southampton. If my instructor though I could do it then I'm sure any PPL should be able to do it.
PhilD
Don't be daunted, as an (as you put it) low hourer you need to keep practicing the planning, navigating and RT skills that you made such an effort to learn to get your licence or you will get rusty very quickly.
I did Shoreham - Compton as one of the legs of my QXC, including the transit over Southampton. If my instructor though I could do it then I'm sure any PPL should be able to do it.
PhilD
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Posts: n/a
NineEighteen
Good question - I suggest routing via Petersfield because it is a good landmark and a good distance from the Solent zone to get yourself sorted out if you are at all anxious about the R/T. You can always hold over Petersfield while you wait to get your call in.
As a matter of interest, can anyone tell me what height Solent would normally expect to clear you Bishops Waltham - Romsey? And can anyone tell me what makes Bishops Waltham a good VRP?
I've flown there twice now and there is nothing meaningful there at all!
Cheers
SD
Good question - I suggest routing via Petersfield because it is a good landmark and a good distance from the Solent zone to get yourself sorted out if you are at all anxious about the R/T. You can always hold over Petersfield while you wait to get your call in.
As a matter of interest, can anyone tell me what height Solent would normally expect to clear you Bishops Waltham - Romsey? And can anyone tell me what makes Bishops Waltham a good VRP?
I've flown there twice now and there is nothing meaningful there at all!Cheers
SD
High Flying Bird
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Old Sarum ish
Pulse1 "if you fancy some boring C172 flying while you're "stuck" there. let me know"
Thanks very much for the offer, would love to. I'll give you a shout when I get down there. Looks like there may well be an autumn fly-in developing too... And C172s don't have to be boring.
Thanks very much for the offer, would love to. I'll give you a shout when I get down there. Looks like there may well be an autumn fly-in developing too... And C172s don't have to be boring.
