Flying For Fun
 

I'm going to be there in Annie the Auster on Sunday 3rd. Anybody else going then? Post here and let me know and I'll pm you my mobile number.

I'll be there behind the counter of the PFA shop as usual. I'm the gormless one that can't work the till and doesn't know where anything is ! :rolleyes: ;)

I shall be there all weekend, hiding in the background somewhere (probably in the vicinity of the owners clubs section).

G

I'll be there from Thursday to Monday. Hopefully out on the field in the sunshine! Looking forward to another great event.

Weather permitting, I'll be flying there...twice!!!! On Friday in a C150, on Sunday as navigator/passenger in a Jet Ranger. Lucky or what? Look out for a short tatty looking blonde, who'll probably be persuaded to help out on the BWPA stand. Or shall we all arrange to meet, maybe? Time, place?

I'm meant to be working that day. :(

I'm plan to be there on at least one day, and may even go for two days. I was going to ask if somebody could post the list of talks in the Forum tent, but I've just spotted that they've added it to the website. Looks as though I'll definately be there on Saturday.

Brooklands

Just had a quick change of plan due to family circumstances so I'll be there on the Saturday instead. See y'all there then.

Is there a meeting point set up? The beer tent would be a bad idea methinks given that I can resist anything but temptation!

Flying for Fun
 

If anyone is still trying to find accomodation nearby Kemble have a look at the PFA site and under Hangar Chat there is a number to ring for local accomodation at The Firs in nearby Ashton Keynes.

Remember to wear your Pprune badges
 

Guys,

If you are going to Flying for Fun, remember to wear your Pprune badge so we can all recognise who to approach.

You do have one, don't you?

Shame!

Broomstick.

I shall be there the Friday...unfortunately, the plane is required by others elsewhere after that.

You might find me in The Ogri Club after Dark! If you don't mind good beer and loud bands!

I'll be there definitely Friday and Saturday and Sunday with a bit of luck probably in PA28 G-AVGD but could be PA28 G-AXIO, I'll be the one wearing a black waistcoat and Ozzy bush hat. <:-))

I was reading the AIC late last night - and so might have missed something.

Am I correct in thinking...Inbound: You fly your chosen route towards the relevant holding point. Having listened to the ATIS to get the correct runway & other details.

You then fly around the holding race-track pattern until you can safely slot into the approach with the a/c in front? You may have to go around the racecourse more than once. I presume you do this at circuit hight?

You then fly onto the approach - and when wings level you call up a brief radio call (to the relevant frequency). And that's the only radio call you actually do? Nothing from further out? Nothing advising where you are when inbound?

:confused: Or did I miss something

I'll have to look at it again now I thought that the racetrack was at 3000 ft, but apart from that you seen to understand the AIC the same way I do, which gives me confidence as this will be my first time flying in.

I haven't looked at the AIC for exact heights etc, but roughly speaking, that's it. I flew in last year, and there was hardly anyone around, so I flew to the Water Tower, followed the route, made my one radio call, and landed. However, it was a showery day, which probably put off a lot of people; I know it's sometimes quite crowded. But it's not as daunting as it sounds.

Count me in !

Should be there on Sunday, with a very very important passenger. ;)

G :cool:

Should be there on one of the three days in what will probably be the only Orange/white twin there

Topcat,
yes you have interpreted the AIC correctly, except if you need to go around one of the "holds" then the recommended height is 1500ft to 3000ft QNH for the Malmesbury assembly area for the hard runway, and not above 1500ft QNH for Northside for the Grass runway. It is quite likely that you wont have to go around the hold at all, just follow the aircraft infront (assuming they are following the procedure correctly!) onto the "downwind" leg

Correct on your interpretation of only having to make one radio call on final. And dont expect anyone to talk to you to say "cleared to land" You are already cleared to land unless you are told otherwise. The runway may not be vacant, possibly aircraft ahead slowing down or at taxi speed vacating the runway. There is an exemption to allow you to land with the runway occupied- but of course dont if you think you cant slow down before hitting the aircraft ahead!
The procedure works very well and allows a high number of aircraft to land without incident and without a saturated radio frequency!

Anyone needing to call PFA Ops by phone at Kemble should note that of the numbers in the AIC only 01285 771177 should be used. The other number 771076 doesnt work. Unfortunately Kemble changed their phone system and removed this number but didnt tell PFA or spot it when they checked the AIC.
The advanced info number 771310 also doesnt work, but the fax number is OK.
Note these numbers are only for operational use-ie Non Radio briefing, Customs/immigration clearance, weather checks for incoming pilots etc, not for general enquirys!

Also note that no slots are required. You can arrive whenever you like, the AIC shows operating hours when the TRA and arrival procedures are in use, outside that time the airfield is still open using 118.9 for air to ground, or outside the air to ground times just make blind calls. PFA airfield operation starts 1800 local Thursday, usually 100 or so aircraft will have arrived by dusk Thursday.

Looking forward to a great time!

All going well, I should be arriving on Sunday morning between 08.30 and 9.30 at some stage, if you're gonna be there drop me a PM

FFF05 Inbound Procedures
 

Ur pretty much right bout the holding procedures TC450, from Malmesbury, do the racetrack thing anywhere between 1500' and 3000' QNH, then when u want to approach, fly onto left base not above 2000' QNH with landing lights on (if used). The rest, as u said is right as far as I can see!
From Northside, racetrack clockwise not above 1500' QNH, then peel off onto the appropriate base leg for the rwy. same radio procedure, but no l/light. Ill b there on Sat and Sun, look for ancient orange/white C152! Well it's cheap!
JW

Having flown in for the last three years, I'm driving to this one.

Not the best way to arrive, but as I'm a little rusty and also have some bulky items for the flea market it seems a good plan. I'll be there Friday and Saturday, so if anyones meeting up for a beer in the evening ... count me in :ok:

SS

I'm flying in Friday morning and out on Saturday afternoon/eve in lovely, blue and white, Fournier RF4 G-BHJN.
Never met any PPRuners but if I spot any badges in the beer tent I'll pluck up the nerve to say hello.
Go Smoke.

My Friday plans have run amok, so I'll now be going Sat...but probably need to be away before the airspace closes in the afternoon.

I shall be there from tomorrow afternoon and out on the airfield supervising air cadet marshallers for the whole of the event.


Can I make a plea - of the 160 air cadets that are coming -i t will be the first time that a lot of them will have been exposed to an event of this scale. Although there is an amazing depth of experince, some of the older ones having now been to the event for five or six years - be patient with them, we are only trying to help and its a good a place as any to start them thinking about taking part in aviation as a whole - and then someone can buy me some beer afterwards.

Now what about the weather.......................

Regards

Bletchleytugie

I'll be there on Saturday, with a couple of other people.

I've read the AIC and it sounds complicated. If the Fairford MATZ turns into a TRA, then that will mean we'll have to come from the north rather than the east.

I'll be there in the Magnolia Pitts, probably arriving Sat around lunchtime. Will be camping out under the wing (no chance of rolling over then!) with a couple of other Pitts drivers. May even find my way into the beer tent at some point.
Hope to meet a few of you there (not that I'll know any of you to look at you)

Pitts2112

You'll know me, you old Brit you!

Will definately be there tomorrow (Saturday), but I'm driving in so don't have to worry about the AIC. Hopefully I'll spot some of you, but I'm not very good at remembering faces.

Brooklands

Gloucester are offering free landing fees to any visitors buying fuel en route to/from Kemble this weekend.

Might save a few hours waiting for the bowser at Kemble!!

I got up early this morning, looked at the TAFs, and decided I didn't believe them! I was convinced the warm front would come in earlier than expected, so I drove to Kemble. There was a fairly low cloudbase all day, and rain starting and increasing from midday onwards, so I'm glad my aviation intuition was working well, and even more glad that I listened to it! Nice to meet Genghis and Taildragger; if any other PPRuNers were there, I missed you. I might be back there again on Sunday, so look out for me...description elsewhere on this thread, if I remember rightly. :)

Flew in yesterday afternoon at around 1500, and out again this morning.

Good things - reduced fee, fewer un-aviation related tat-vendors, friendly welcome, good marshalling.

Bad things - fewer stalls than last year (I reckon), less to see and do than on previous occasions, more spotters than flyers, no discernable difference in style from the "Rally".

The weather obviously put a lot of people off on Friday, and as I departed today into a 700' cloudbase there were only a small number of PFA types on approach with relatively little inbound traffic evident.

Hopefully better weather will lift the mood a bit.

2D

Camping under the wing, 2Ds? ;)

tKF

Sadly not! I was partying the night away a few miles south of Kemble! :D

I wish there was some way of getting an accurate weather actual and forecast at FFF. On Friday evening it was 2000ft here in East Anglia and for most of the trip but the Brize and Gloucester TAF/METAR said 700 ft (and Kemble is 400ft) so that means 300ft cloudbase. Decided not to go as I had a 1 hr trip and didn't want to have to divert or come back home. But it sounds as if lots of people did get in. I assume this meant it was actually OK or did lots of people scudrun?

What about a webcam?

Still hopeful to be going tomorrow, Kemble might not be the problem, getting back in here might be. They are giving a lot of CB activity for the day here tomorrow.

And we even went to the hastle of getting fuel and oil this evening :mad:

Posting on Pprune BB because I got to this one first

[Rant on]
For my first PFA Rally event in five years, I arrived at Kemble as a passenger in my 1941 PFA aeroplane registered in my name...it cost me £10, plus £5 for my flying buddy the pilot, also a co-owner of the plane. Why the difference?

I have to suggest that I was not too impressed. A bit like the actors paying to go on stage. I shall not bother again. I shall attend other events.
[/Rant off]

[Glowing report on]
But may I commend the PFA arrival procedures, which worked a treat, and the Kemble ATC folk who appeared to manage the arrival & departures with great professionalism.
[/Glowing report off]

Missed seeing you Rob. Flew in this morning, 2000 ft most of the way so no problem. It looked far worse than it was.

I suspect the AIC had the same problem. 20 pages IIRC containing such gems as avoid flying over villages and there's no need to call for a transit of the Fairford MATZ (which didn't exist as it wasn't activated by NOTAM, and even if it had been would not have been CAS in any case). Anyone who hadn't been there before would have been frightened out of their wits by the sheer volume of paper. Put it on a diet please!

Despite the rebranding it was difficult to see much difference. Failed to notice any great presence on the part of the BMAA, the hang gliders or the paramotors, or indeed much of a presence from the flying clubs, training organisations, AOPA or the non-PFA fraternity. No more spamcans than normal (all scared witless by the AIC no doubt). Good to see some stuff to amuse the kids though it wasn't really the weather for a family day out. After previous events Ultimate High seemed to have shut up shop for the weekend and didn't even have an aircraft on show.

Flying home was interesting, 1200 to 2000 ft most of the way, though I gather those heading north were finding things a lot worse.

The closure of the airfield for two hours for displays was OTT IMHO.

Marshalling was excellent as were the procedures and it was gratifying not to see the large fleet of expensively hired-in 4x4's that have (dis)graced previous rallies.

Mike

Sorry, Mike, I did not express myself correctly: The AIC was fine, as were the procedures (and so was the marshalling, good show, chaps). My harrumpt is with the charges.

After 5 years, I could see no difference in the branding, other than pre-1939 drivers got in free (harrumpt...mine is 1941)

Foreign pilots get in free (what, even in a spam can? that really takes the Micky!) Harrumpt!

To be fair, that French delta homebuilt-thingy was worth seeing...hope he gets the "most meritorious flight"

That Flitzer was nice...hope he gets the silver.

Edit: silver as in "goes home with the gong"...should be gold, really

Was flying in from Wolverhampton, got as far as Stroud and found the hills blocking Kemble from the north, east and west were rather higher than the cloudbase! With viz around the 2k mark and narrowly avoiding northbound aircraft materialising from the murk, decided to wait it out at Gloucester. After a few hours, and another attempt to get the a/c cleaned in the showers over the ridge I decided to head home. Plan on heading North tomorrow, better luck that way maybe!
Glad some people got in though, hope it was fun!