Cholmondeley Pageant of Power 2008

[muffin]

Anyone else planning to go?

Pageant of Power - 9th & 10th August 2008

[kneedwondean]

Yes, we are taking a few helicopters up. Getting the students to fly so I can have a free day out! So far we have an R22, R44 and Jet Ranger planned. I've drawn the short straw though and am having to take a student in the 22 one way, and 44 on the way back.

[Gaseous]

Might well do. What day are you going Muff?

[JTobias]

i'm going on the 9th.

joel

[206 jock]

There both days...camping overnight, there's a scary thought.

[muffin]

Probably on the Sunday although I may switch it if the weather dictates a change. My other half has actually agreed to go with me for once.

[Clitheroe Kid]

I'll be flying down from Barton. I believe about 50 heli's are booked in already.

[Pandalet]

Is there info for pilots buried somewhere on that website, or does one need to phone them for info?

[206 jock]

I beleive they are waiting for a frequency from the CAA before sending pilot info out. If you haven't booked in, you need to beforehand.

Sounds like it could be a good helo event. Maybe the 'new helidays', which is of course still worth going to (apparently).

[kneedwondean]

The organisers are still waiting for frequencies and pilot briefs, should be sent out in the next week or so. I heard it was very nearly fully booked last week

[206 jock]

Some info sent out today, confirming around 50 machines booked in. If anybody wahts to say hello (or should that be helo?), I'll be in a white JetRanger N8040T.

[EESDL]

50 helis already booked in...........now there's a good reason to stay away!!
Hope all goes well John....shame we can't bring Chopper over (LNT away) and show off it's resplendant copter cover

[Draco]

I'll be there, but no helicopter.

I'm taking our 1946 mahogany Chriscraft, Michigan Minx, and camping onsite with the family next to the lake.

Be great to see 50 helicopters there. Looks fun.

[Overdrive]

How has this gone so far, anyone?

I may mince down for an hour or two tomorrow, if time and weather are favourable.

[muffin]

I would imagine that today has been a washout, but I am intending to go tomorrow if the wx looks better. I had a receiver running at home on their frequency most of the day and never heard anybody although I am only about 30 miles away.

[kneedwondean]

We cancelled our trip, 3 helicopters from our school planned on going but weather was rubbush. Great British summer strikes again....

[Clitheroe Kid]

A group of us flew down from Barton yesterday in an Enstrom 480 and a B206. Low cloud and showers on the way down, which cleared for the return trip. Only five heli's there including ours.

[muffin]

East Mids was giving 22 kts gusting 32 when I was about to leave so I decided it was too much for an R22 with my wife as passenger. The last thing I wanted was to put her off future trips after persuading her to go on this one.

Hope it was a good do though.

[206 jock]

I made it up from Hertfordshire yesterday (Sat) and was the only helo there overnight. About 6 helos made it: it was 'testing' but flyable, certainly early on before the weather closed in. Met a few of the Northern contingent.

Today was better: there was probably 25 helos there at one point. The pleasure flight looked to be making some good cash today!

All in all, a first class event. A good contrast to something like Goodwood, where you get treated like a cash cow just because you own a helicopter: free landing, 'entrant' badge, food all weekend. It gets my support

A few pics

[Dr Mark Cowley]

Made the trip yesterday (Sunday), an excellent day out for petrol heads and heli enthusiasts. The hospitality was spot on and many thanks to those who organised it. The odd detour required for heavy rain storms on the way back, noteable lack of R22s, perhaps a sign of the times not just the weather. I am looking forward to next year