Not Le Touquet again...
 

So, been there, done that, and Deauville, then did it again, then once more. I've booked the plane for the day next Saturday and fancy going somewhere a bit more unique than LFAT or LFRG. I may try LeMans but if someone knows a good interesting destination PLEASE let me know.

It doesn't need to be in France, just somewhere where the Wife and I can go, have a nice lunch, look around, then come home.

Any suggestions.....

I know just how you feel...
I was supposed to be off to the Western Scottish Isles tomorrow for a couple of nights but my pal's wife has put her foot down (not the first time).
So... out on my own tomorrow and off to work instead on Monday.
Perhaps it isn't just about the place but who you see when you arrive... if this forum takes off you never know a little "rally" would make Le T more enjoyable.
Ostend isn't bad for chocolates.

Ostend (EBOS) or Antwerp (EBAW). From Ostend you can get to Brugge with a 15 minute train ride, which should keep the other 'arf amused.

[This message has been edited by bookworm (edited 19 August 2000).]

Great lunch at the airport restaurant in Abbeville - and very reasonable too. Certainly not Deauville airport price!!

Channel Islands are good fun...JSY/GCI both good for a day or weekend.

Cheers
007

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Hear all....see all....say n'owt !

Don't bother with Seething!
Dropped in today for lunch... completely dead... not even any orange juice, lemonade and 2 snickers for my dinner.
Last time I called in (last August) they had a BBQ on the go and people were coming and going.
What a difference a year can make!

Just 15 miles to the west of Seething is Old Buckenham (£8 to land) - great club house, great food. BUT Avgas at Seething is 9p a litre cheaper with a £5 suggested landing donation!

I use both frequently Seething for motion lotion and OB for coffee/food.

SnR

the dutch fields are worth visiting: Middel Zeeland, Hilversum, Texel, etc. Most have QFE=QNH, which makes life simpler!

Dieppe is a friendly field (2 hours notice for customs I think). They will tell you an excellent restaurant in town which rebates you the cost of the 10 minute cab, and last time, the owners' wife drive us back to the field.

How about Toussus (LFPN)? Handy for Paris and 10 mins in a taxi to Versailles. I rent and have found going over in the late afternoon and returning the following morning keeps the FBO happy as I'm not hogging the aircraft all day.

Hmmm
Toussus-Le-Noble looks good. Might check that out.

I have done a quick plan on "nav box" and it can be done in 2 hours from Redhill. A day in Paris with the other half should be just what the doctor ordered. I had better get a french half mil, anyone know what the Paris TMA looks like?

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

[This message has been edited by New Bloke (edited 22 August 2000).]

for LFPN you really need to buy the larger scale Paris TMA map. Getting into LFPN unless you come in from the West, is a bit of a nightmare, first time round VFR. There are one or two strange reporting points, you get funelled in very low (1500' QNH), and things happen very quickly after passing Pontoise. Additionally there are several small fields near the route between Pontoise & LFPN that can throw up some traffic into your face.

The RER from Versailles is about half an hour, and the taxi from the airfield is about £8.

Bon chance!

Thanks Skua,

I have ordered the "France 3" chart that covers paris, hopefully it will avive before Saturday. I couldn't see the "Paris TMA" chart. I will look at other websites.

I was planning comming in from the north but I could aways swing to the west and come in from there.

Would Lille approach hand me off to Paris or to Le-Noble? Do you know if the airport has customs?

Cheers.

Seem to remember that Calais was a nice change (turn left instead of right at Griz Nez.)Short wqalk into village for steak frites etc.

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There is no gravity;earth sucks

I would strongly reccommend Alderney. Not too far, cheap fuel, gorgeous little island.
Fab day out.

Great Ideas Chaps,

This Staurday we will probably go to Toussus, then next week we may go to Alderney, any more suggestions gratefully recieved.

WHy go to France? There are a lot of great places to go at home. Not much choice if you fly a PFA Cub these days as the French don't like us any more!

I agree with stiknruda, Old Buck has good food and a great atmosphere.

White Waltham is always good for excellent food, good chat at the bar (for the non-pilot) and interesting aircraft.

Haverfordwest (West Wales) has a new cafe/restaurant, beautiful scenery and some WW1 replicas in the hanger.

Sandown has a basic cafe but is a pleasant airfield. Go to Specialist Flying's place there. They have better food and nice planes. There is the added bonus of a trip around the Isle of Wight.

Compton Abbas has a nice cafe / restaurant with outside seating so you can watch people trying to deal with the dip in the middle of the runway!

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When the wheels stop turning you're high enuff. CubTrek. To slowly go...

LFPN has customs throughout its opening hours, I believe. I don't always bother speaking to Lille. Beauvais and Pontoise are both helpful on the way down. Caen are useful if coming in from the West (with a radar service, but are only open during the week).

Get the Toussus ATIS ASAP before your arrival.

Have fun, and I hope the CB's are fewer than are promised over mainland UK for tomorrow!

Final tip: be sure to get the fast RER into town from Versailles, there are several that stop at loads of stations.

PPPS: there is an excellent pilot shop in the tower, where you can buy French maps more cheaply than Transair (not difficult).

[This message has been edited by skua (edited 25 August 2000).]

Depends which way you want to go. I can recommend Glenrothes for the restaurant (proper food not just burgers etc.) and Oban for the sheer beauty of the place. Have you tried Duxford or Old Warden on a non-airshow day ?

Well, I went to Toussus and thanks Skua, the CBs were less than predicted on the way there. On the way back we were VFR on top all the way over the channel, we buggered about for a bit until I found a hole and popped down through it right over the Railwayway line that leads to Redhill. (thanks Mr Garmin) We then had a white knuckle trip for the next 20 minutes between 1000' and 700' until we crossed the M23 and still couldn't see the airfield. I was just pouring on the coals to divert to Biggin and the ILS, when out of the murk I saw Redhill (thanks any Redhill ATC that read this, putting all of those lights on really helped). An unforgettable day, the worst landing in my life but a memorable trip.

We all said that Toussus is the best place we have been on a day trip.