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The reason that the EAA can be as big and corporate is they have many more members than the PFA.
Every year I get to hear the same old complaints about the PFA and the rally. Well if you think you can do better then come along and show us how it's done! Rather than moan about the lack of an Airshow, find a sponsor for it.
I've been working at the rally for about ten years now, it's hard work but I've got to know some really smashing people and had some really good times.
If you want to go to a corporate bun fight go to the SBAB show at Farnborough. The PFA to me is all about people. The rally is the best way for like minded people to get together and shoot the breeze about strip flying, scarf joints or whatever your particular preference is. Speaking entirely for myself I think that the rally is a good balance between the facilities required for the number of people who turn up and the informal atmosphere of a fly in. ;)

Rod 1
For goodness sake don't let them hear you call it the students union they'll clap you in irons. Apparently it was decided that students union had sinister political overtones so it's the Cranfield Students association:rolleyes: Still whatever they call it they keep good ale at good prices. I'll be one of the rumpled fat Hairy ones there!:D

PFA Rally
 

I think I'll be flying down for the three days from Prestwick. Probably coming in a Piper Cherokee along with one other Cherokee, a Bolkow Junior BO208C, Prototype Bulldog, Robin 200 and a few others. Being a student, exams finish just before the Rally so I think I'll be spending a lot of time drinking beer while I'm there. Hopefully meet some nice girls too! Hope the weather is good for the weekend.

JS:)

Never had a problem with the grass runway at Cranfield - should suit most taildraggers/lo speed microlights.
If in doubt use the tarmac - probably about three-quarters of arrivals use the tarmac.

Main points that require absolute concentration are around Toddington services on the M1 and as you establish on finals a sensible speed required whatever you are flying - once witnessed a chap join finals in a Beech Baron doing about 140 kts! His go-around was a bit interesting.

Is it worth arranging to meet at the CSA bar at 13:00 on each of the opend days.
Wear a rolled up copy of the Times on yor lapel, and have a rose under your arm ?

CC

PS Where is the CSA bar ?

PFA Rally
 

For those of you who want to know where the Students Association is look for building 114 grid H14 on the map. It's not far from the big glass library building.

http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/visit/crancampusmap.pdf

:)

Anyone going on the Friday? Better still, anyone flying in on Friday with a spare seat? :D
Would think about flying in myself, but I'm too scared :( I've seen it from the ground and it's far too intimidating for a new PPL... well this one at least! :eek:

We're flying in on the Friday (Keef plus David The Boatyard) but that's from Southend on Sea International (EGMC) which might be a bit far. Seat's there if you want it, though, AerBabe. You know what I look like now...

Aerbabe,

I'm probably flying in on the Friday, in an R22 from Wolverhampton, and could do with an extra pair of eyes. I'll decide definitely in the next day or so. E-mail or phone me over the weekend if you want to come.

PFA Rally
 

Whirly bird

Good idea for the extra pair of eyes. We'd be delighted to see you and if this is your first visit, please read the AIC. If you have been before, please note that the HELI procedures have changed and if you follow those for previous years, you'll end up in the new exhibition area!!

Chilli Monster- Whilst I agree with most of your comments, we are ALL there to enjoy ourselves, so You overflying traffic which inadvertently calls - if you call you WILL NOT get short shrift- just be told politely to go elsewhere!! Though you should of course have been aware what's going on in the forst place!!!

Seriously though guys, read the AIC, follow the procedures and you should have no problems. AND of you are arriving in a moderately "fast" aircraft, try to give yourself plenty of room behind the one ahead. And those of you who try to cut in ahead of the fast guys , give ' em a bit of room. They are trying to get in as well as you.

And remember 400m of grass is not too long - any doubts , go for the hard runway.

Enjoy the Rally

Ed



;)

Ed set

The comment wasn't meant to be literal - hence the emoticon at the end :)

But seeing as I won't be there this year then it doesn't really matter anyway.

CM

I'll be there from Fri am, camping in a blue VW syncro van (look for pole with Multi coloured windsock on top), call in for a cold beer as I'm there for the weekend with the brother in law who is flying down from Huddersfield in his Jodel..

C YA'll there

VEEPS :)

Ed set,

Thanks. I haven't flown in before, but I spent today reading the AIC and looking at both the chart and the OS map trying to work it all out. It looked OK, but I'd prefer to have someone else along if possible. Though I've been told not too many helicopters fly in and it should be OK doing it alone; do you agree?

PFA Rally
 

Whirlybird
Quite true. Only about 20-30 helis in 2000, so you shouldn't meet too many others en - route, though watch out for the microlights and others who will be using the grass runway. Just keep to your heightband, and all should be okay.
Enjoy
Ed:rolleyes:

Thanks for the offer Keef... but you're right, it's a tad far :)
I will be coming anyway, even if it's by Fiestair :D

Thanks for all the replies.

Just out of interest - there isnt anyone flying from Stapleford (EGSG) to the rally is there? If so, dont happen to have a spare seat do you?

I should (hopefully) have my PPrune cap / badge by the time the rally arrives!

Stik... are you going to be there Friday? Will our paths finally cross, or are we doomed to forever orbit on the downwind of life? :D

Yup, I'll be there sometime Friday. As I now have corrobaration that you are a "babe", I fear that I must confess that I am not a babe-magnet! Shame:(

There is generally a whole line of Pitts Specials, mine is the one parked next to a purple tent!
Depending upon the bank balance - I'll either be there first thing Fri or just in time for TFIF sundowners outside the beer tent.

Failing that - find the ugliest, noisiest bunch of fat dwarfs in the beer tent come drinking time and ask them where the Pitts chaps are and they'll probably point to each other, in which case look for the ugliest and that'll be Stik!!

See you there hopefully. And having met me, should you see me during the entire w/e looking harassed or bored, your mission is to rescue me!!

READ THE AIC AND WORK OUT WHICH APPROACH THAT YOU WILL "PROBABLY" USE - THEN MEMORISE IT, should save you a lot of hard work.

On my first arrival at the Rally - years ago, when Pontius Pilate was still to do his first x-country, I was cut up on approach by a chap in a fast yellow biplane. I slowed down from 65mph to 50mph and still landed after he'd cleared....

the point being -

It can be quite hard work arriving with 2 or 3 pairs of eyes in the cockpit - the single seat guys (fast or slow) are doing it on their lonesomes so don't get agitated if you get cut up - just accept it and make the best out of the situation.

Stik

AerBabe - no problem. Dave the Boatyard was looking forward to meeting you, but I'm sure we can still arrange that. We offered your seat in G-UTSY to the next person in the list, and it's gone now.

Stik - I bludgeoned Whirlybird into introducing me to AerBabe at Popham. AB was being very shy and retiring and coy (and introduced me to the delights of reproduction ... by algae). But I can happily confirm that she qualifies for the soubriquet - by my standards, for sure.

Looking forward to it Stik, although I can't stay late on Friday, as I've got to get to the Peak District that evening. So I'm afraid that if you're bored over the weekend you'll have to rely on your merry band of fellow ugly dwarves (your words) to sort you out.

Keef, erm, who's Dave the Boatyard?! :confused: And as for algae... well you did ask :D

Promise not to do it again :o

Dave the Boatyard
 

Well, AerBabe, he's one of the six of us who share the fine G-UTSY. You'll never guess what he does during the week when he's not out flying...

He was sad not to make Popham, and is very much looking forward to meeting you at the PFA Rally.

- - - - -

Yes, and I was fascinated by the algae.