Where to go..?
 

Hi everyone,
I've managed to achieve the miricle of getting an afternoon off work on Monday and thought I might go flying for the afternoon - not too far but somewhere interesting.. I fly from Manston, if anyone has any suggestions of good places to go that are relaxing to get to (and easy to find) then I'd be grateful. Also I'm thinking of changing my base.. I fly from Manston as I said but currently live in Thames Ditton in Surrey - a 2 hour drive from EGMH! It would be nice to fly from somewhere a bit nearer sometimes.. any suggestions? Oh, if it helps I fly Heli's too, and it needs to have a good quality runway to get small Jets in.. But I really hate busy places.. ;)

[This message has been edited by pinky (edited 22 September 2000).]

I think Bourn has about 600 meters of runway but there is considerable over/under run area, I'm not sure if that is useable for jets.

There is always LeTouquet, that must be almost Local for Manston. I tried Tussous le Noble the other week and found it a nice place. Short taxi ride from Versailles, not busy.

I started a thread a couple of weeks ago asking for ideas, you could always check that out (Not Le Touquet again....I think)

What lives we lead eh? Does anyone else pinch themselves occasionally as they ask questions such as "where can I take my small jet?", "where can I fly to with the kids this weekend?". I started out as an Electrician, worked my butt off overseas, got into computer Networks and now, every so often, look around and think "Not bad for an Electrician". I now get paid to sit and think about things....Tee Hee.

Pinky

Would Fairoaks fit the bill for somewhere a bit more local to you?
www.alanmann.co.uk

Are you still working in the city (saw the Ash Bash write up in 'pilot') or have you jacked it all in for the ATPL?

Nice photo BTW.

Try North Weald - long runways, pretty quiet and plenty of interesting aircraft to check out...

Seriously, what type of aircraft are you flying? Duxford is good. Old Buckenham does a good lunch and Shoreham is not a million miles away from Brighton, which can be entertaining if the weather is good!

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'd forgotten about Northweald. I believe a couple of my friends have some jets there already too so that might be the place..
I've only been to fairoaks once, in a Jet ranger so I can't remember what the runway was like.. I'll go and check it out, infact I might even go there on Monday..!
ANO, don't believe everything you read - most of what was written about me was absolute nonscence. I am still in the City though and will stop at Christmas to persue my ATPL :) ( Thanks for the comment about the photo.)

pinky

Sorry to hear about the misrepresentation. Seems you were the victim of journalism's golden rule. (Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.)

Anyhow, all the best and good luck with that ATPL

Not to worry.. it made me sound quite cool really!

Thanks for the luck - I need all I can get ;)

New Bloke, I know just what you mean. It hit me when I phoned some friends to ask if I could land a helicopter in their field. A year ago I never dreamed I could be literally dropping in for lunch. It was another world.

But the other side of the coin is that it's amazing how quickly you get used to it. Sometimes now it just seems completely normal, and I have to remind myself how incredibly privileged I am.

Pinky,

so how come they have not let you go yet?
What you flying?
If we are talking jets and fast, why not Reims, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Dinard???

regards

Skua

get in your kite and get down to compton abbas. EGHA for those wise in the ways of the GPS. The european yak club are having a formation weekend this sat and sun, there will probably be some stragglers on monday. If not, ask for jez (not me) and get a ride in a -52 for some close formation, tailchaising and some combat. Most exciting flight ever was the first combat sortee. Usually get some test pilot fly past or some army navy chopper showing off to the public (if its not the police helicopter doing it)

Apart from that its a great airfield. 800m grass, tasty crosswind and windshear.

Pinky and All
You'd be welcome at White Waltham choice of 6 runway directions and max 1200m of grass. regret restaurant closed Mon and Tue. I'll be there Sat AM to go to North Weald and Sunday (to go seaside somewhere) of w/e 23/24th September.
Check out their website on www.wlac.co.uk and mine (site under construction) www.gbrnu.co.uk.
Blue skies and long runways!!

Okay Pinky,

Where did you go?

In all honesty - I didn't go anywhere, I decided that I was so far behind in my ATPL studies that I'd better spend my afternoon doing that instead http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif But I feel far better for it. I'm flying on Sunday morning but just Heli practice so not going anywhere in particular.
I had a look at the White Waltham web site - very interesting so I think I'll fly over there sometime soon and have a look around..
Aside from that, are there any other interesting airfields between London and Oxford that anyone can think of?? I really want to buy into a group of some kind - just something small and affordable as I have a lot of hour building to do for my commercial so it'd be interesting to check out somewhere with some group flying efforts.. :)

Go across the channel with £ 40 drawback from customs for the fuel in the average light aircraft and a few cheap bottles when you get there why fly in the UK ? calais is not a very good trip as it is to far from town but le touquet and ostend are worth a try.

Hey Pinky...
Sherburn in Elmet this Saturday hould be good

Hey Pinky...
Sherburn in Elmet this Saturday should be good for a trip out.
Not too busy except for half a dozen loony Pprune Planes! :)