Hello guys!
Well, thanks to Skybolt and his post about Sywell, I went to visit the airfield from my base at Thruxton, during this hazy but glorious Sunday… Unfortunately indeed, I couldn’t make it on Saturday so I missed the Aeros but still, I really had a great time at this lovely aerodrome.
My route took me from Thruxton to Newbury, then Henley-on-Thames, Aylesbury, Buckingham (and Silverstone!) and Northampton. The way back from Sywell to crossing the M1 junction15, Banbury, straight down to VRP Farmoor (inside the Brize zone but I was at 3800feet), Membury, Malborough and Thruxton.
What a nice flight! It is really a shame that I was alone in the aircraft as I’m sure some people would have been very happy to come along.
Er… Alone I said?
Controller, I have a fly in my cockpit!
Well, as I was pre-flighting the aircraft at Thruxton, I kept the 2 doors open on this hot day and 2 flies entered the cockpit. I realised as I was strapping in and thought that it would be safer to make sure they got out before I started. Trouble is I just couldn’t do it: they kept on hiding behind some plastics bits… 10 min later I decided I had enough and would just have to go with the flight er with the flies!
All was well until I arrived around Henley on Thames, having to change frequency, talk on the radio, looking out with multiple contacts, noting down the time and these bl**dy flies starting buzzing all over the windscreen… Most annoying and dangerous!
Fortunately it didn’t last too long and they returned to their plastic bits, allowing me to pursue the flight nicely.
Landing, a fresh coke, a nice meal at the restaurant, a visit at the very interesting and free museum and here I am back in the cockpit, strapped in and ready to start when they came back. “No way”, I thought. I took off my yellow fluorescent jacket, as I didn’t have anything else and starting fighting with the flies.
Eventually, I managed to squash the bas*ards against the windscreen, with relief, finding myself all sweaty after these 5 minutes fighting in a sun-heated cockpit.
Did that ever happen to you? If it had been a wasp (I hate these things), it could have been really bad. Next time I will not leave the ground with anything flying but myself!
Apart from that, it was such an enjoyable piece of flying and I’ll be posting a couple of pics later this week. Thanks again Skybolt as your post decided me to 1)go flying somewhere 2)actually land away rather than flying around GA like a lost soul.
Happy flying,
Steph
By: Skybolt - 11th September 2004 at 21:22
Macky 42,
Come up to Sywell and you will fully appreciate my comments.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
By: macky42 - 11th September 2004 at 21:11
Far nicer than Shoreham which is getting a little tatty and neglected, at least it was the last time I visited.
When was that? Looked fine last time I was there, a couple of months ago.
By: Skybolt - 11th September 2004 at 20:42
Steph,
Glad you had a nice day. Though it looks a bit like Fort Knox Sywell is an aerodrome with so much history and some superbly restored art deco architecture. Far nicer than Shoreham which is getting a little tatty and neglected, at least it was the last time I visited. There is the Sywell Airshow on Sunday 26th September with a fabulous programme of items including the Warbird trio from Breighton and the Catalina. If you can do come as it will be the only airshow in Northamptonshire this year.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
By: mmitch - 6th September 2004 at 15:08
Sounds like an extra test for the PPL. Hold the controls rock steady while swatting at least two flies with your rolled up map. 😮
mmitch.
Sign In
September 6, 2004 at 9:43 am