Trikepilot Social

24th June Carlisle to Ince Blundell

It was Tuesday morning;  we all had a headache, and aircraft were buzzing around on the apron. My back was aching as I am not accustom to inflatable beds, in fact camping was starting to piss me off, and flying from point to point without seeing any of the local area was not the way I had envisaged the tour.

So it was back to reality, I stumbled out of the tent and found a alcove by one of the old hangars and left my watery mark arrrrrrrh that’s better, then someone said that near the control/offices there was a wash room (oh shit), so I crabbed my towel and wash bag and started to wonder off to the bogs, “oi… you, get a fucking HiViz vest on!!!” sorry mate, I dived into my tent and got correctly suited and booted.

After making myself look ravishing, and whilst walking back to Gunny, I saw that folks were starting to line up for fuel, so I my return I awoke Alex and both him and I started to pack up the plane. However, once Alex, John and I had finished packing,  there must have been four other aircraft in the queue. No worries I thought, it will only take a little while and we will be done too, which we were. However, during our refuelling the Army Air Corps arrived, in a Brace of Puma’s, and all movements came to a standstill.

Me being me, gets on the blower (Radio), and contacts ground. “Ground G-CFGT, Radio Check and departure information, G-CFGT”,…. “G-GT, Ground readability 5, unfortunately there will be no movements whilst the Army are on the apron, hold position, …. “Ground, G-GT why!”……” Ground, G-GT Carlisle –SOP (Standard Operational Procedures)”, …. “Ground, G-GT, Roger”…

So for forty minutes, all six aircraft baked in the sun, whilst the poxy Army got refuelled, if they had been the RAF, I am sure this would had not been the score…. Once they were refuelled, I contacted ground again, and they gave us permission to taxi for departure, both John and I in our respective aircraft taxied off to Delta 1, to hold, no sooner, had we held at Delta we were given permission to line for an immediate takeoff, I lead the way, taxied onto the runway, and found that john had an problem with his radio again, and had to return to the apron. I by this time was doing 160 knots down rwy 07, (well, you know what I mean). John then made a transmission to me stating that he would see us at INCE BLUNDELL, I confirmed this and took a heading and followed the M6 to Liverpool.

We sort of tracked off to the right of the M6, over flying loads of hills and flew down valleys etc. However, the wind was a little too strong to fly too low so both Alex and I opted for a height of 2500ft which seemed to be the best for smoothest air.

As we got nearer to Liverpool, we banked right and headed for the coast, and out of the blue appeared INCE BUNDELL, the ground radio said that the rwy 11 was in use, and the wind is gusting 10 to 18 knots, so I expected a bumpy approach. We turned onto final and I requested Alex take hold of the training bars, and assist when I requested, the wind was sort of blowing from the west, and it felt more like 20 gusting 40 lol.

Anyhow, we landed and headed off the grassed apron where we were met by the local club, who offered us a Joe and biscuits, (lovely). Alex had arranged for his Dad, Sister and her Husband to meet us at the airfield, which they did, we had a photo shoot, and then Alex went and spent some time with his folks, whilst I used the clubs PC, to take a look at the Met. During this period I met two blokes Paul  and Neil who flew a skyranger, I had seen them on the trip, but had not spoken to them, however, being that they were now cornered, I made a heading for them, and sat down and started to enquire what they thought of the run to Swansea, as I did not think it was feasible due to the front moving from the west. To my amazement, they agreed, and told me that the best thing to do would be to head for SHOBDON, which is located near Leominster. I said that sounded great, they also said that the café there did  a cracking breakfast too, well sounds like a plan to me then.

On Alex’s return, I told him of the plan, he agreed too, and Introduced he to the lads. By this time john had landed and was clambering out of the Quantum looking somewhat fucked off to say the least.

“What’s up mate, I enquired”, ….. Well you know I had the radio problem back at CARLISLE, “Yep”… well we fixed it, well I didn’t he said, the chap from the microlight school did, but ATC would not let me change channel, they wanted me to keep contact with them, and if that was not enough, the passed me on to London whilst in-flight. They thought I could squawk, when I told them I couldn’t I had to keep calling up all the way here, man it was stressful GT, stressful.

By this time someone had handed John a Joe and he started to look better, so I told him that we would be heading towards SHOBDON, john enquired, are we going through the Manchester VFR Route, Yes mate.. I said,  you will have to lead with GPS and keep us in the middle of it boss, …. No trouble GT john said, you follow me through it.

24th June Ince Blundell to Carlisle

A little after 1800hrs we took off for SHOBDON, flew through the VFR Route, at around 1000ft, and tracked to our next destination. As we arrived at SHOBDON it was just starting to get dark, and the sun was setting, ATC was closed so we all landed, pitched camp and made our way to the local pub, were Bill (an ex RMP) and his Mrs made us a load of sandwiches and said the bar will stay open as long as you want to drink…. So the next day, yes reader, we awoke with another sore head…. Oooooh shit, where’s that resolve!!!!

Next instalment, in a few days, just needs to find my flight diary for the last few days.

GT