|
Went to the Charity Flying Day yesterday.....a day of two halves!
Turned up at Eggesford from home some 60 miles away at 7.45am to find the airfield covered in mist and with very low lying fog. Not what I was expecting at all, after checking virtually every web based forecast site the day before - even the drive up was nice, except the last four or five miles. We of course expected it to clear within the hour and then it rained. Not something that was needed. It stopped, it rained again, the fog lifted and then came back and then it rained again. Having had a visitor in the form of a Super Cub who was also trying to get to Yeovilton and couldn't get through, by 11am things werent looking very good at all.
But at Yeovilton, we were constantly being told it was superb. Lovely clear blue skies and nothing at all like we were having a few miles down the road. Then it started to clear, not much at first and Dartmoor, which can be seen from the airfield was just about visible (it helped if you knew what you were looking for!). It may be ok to the East where we were going, but would it be ok upon our return? That really wasnt a risk worth taking. Yeovilton kept ringing us saying that they wanted to see us and people were asking where we were. So, going by my persistent so called knowedge of what the weather was meant to be doing and not what we were experiencing, we decided to give it a go. The Super Cub left infront of us by ten minutes (Broussard's take a little bit of time to warm up) and as we didnt hear from him on frequency again, we went for it.
Weather was a little patchy for the first ten minutes with the remainder of the fog and low cloud disappearing, but by the time we got to Tiverton, it had cleared. The only problem then was to get to Yeovilton before the display started at 12.30. This we just managed and as turned off 04, the Piston Provost started its aerobatic sequence.
Weather at Yeovilton was superb and for once, very hot. Not something a lot of us are used to. Hospitality as ever was superb and after we had our lunches, we then started giving rides. In all we flew 39 people (flying four each time) and had a wonderful day as per usual. Four gentlemen arrived from Duxford, just wanting to fly the Broussard - thats dedication.
Other types available included the world's oldest flying Dragon Rapide, a Gypsy Moth, Stampe, various Tiger Moths and Chipmunks, a Cap-10 and the Piston Provost. This proved to be the most popular aeroplane there (I wonder why?) and trade for this was rather brisk. As you got one flight in with your original ticket and then could purchase others for £50, it was a type collector's dream day out.
I had taken some money along to try and get something new, but as I was virtually working all afternoon, finding passengers, getting them in and out (sometimes with running changes) it was virtually impossible to get a charity flight in. By the time we had stopped flying, the rides were winding down and in the end it was too late even after a few discussions with staff and helpers. But it is a good day out and all for a worthy cause. I'll go back again. Provost for £50....bargain.
Flight home was lovely, cept for that big yellow thing in the sky right infront of us getting in the way - we're not used to that this year. We made two flypasts at a Army display at Okehampton camp on a very extended downwind leg of about 10 miles and then was back by 6.15. I managed to arrive back in deep darkest Cornwall by 9.30 - the end of a very successful day.
The Eggesford Broussard was built in 1960 (as No.208) and first saw service in Algeria until withdrawn back to France where she remained until 1978, when it was based in Berlin, flying around the French Sector, avoiding the RAF Chipmunks going the other way. Demobbed in 1983, she went through a series of private owners before being purchased by Aerosuperbatics at Rencombe, where she was painted up as a St.Ivel Shape yoghurt (I kid you not) - yellow, purple, red, etc etc. Displayed on the airshow circuit dropping an all female parachute team, thats how she got the lovely registration G-YYYY. The 'Y's of course showing the individual parachutists with their arms outstretched on the toggles. Been to Eggesford now for a number of years and the for the last three back in the markings she wore when she entered service.
Best wishes,
Martin
Sorry no photos as am a little unsure on how to post them.....successfully.
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
