Post by viscount on May 1, 2010 21:44:45 GMT 1
Lancashire Aero Club's Celebration Fly-in, Saturday 1st May
With good weather, took at quick trip to Lancashire Aero Club's new grass farm strip, just entering its second year of use, at Kenyon Hall Farm, not far from Newton-le-Willows/Golbourne, a mile or so east of the M6, although known as Wigan by the LAC.
Very much a club affair, I was the only paper and pen spotter there - however I was made very much welcome, provided with free mug of coffee, burger and event tee-shirt! I parked my car in the customer car park of Kenyon Farm Nursery and Pick-your own, crossed the road diagionally, then walked down a rather muddy track/public footpath to reach the (initially) out of sight strip. Event weather was excellent, with near calm conditions and excellent visibility. Although high clouds gathered during the afternoon, the rain forecast for 3 - 4pm held off completely. I got home with a red face due to exposure to sunshine.
The grass strip itself looked good having been recently cut and rolled. The strip, which is aligned 23/05, runs slightly upslope and undulates. Surrounded by fields of oil-seed rape, just starting to show yellow flowers it was a photogenic setting. Aircraft parking space was limited. During the winter LAC have positioned and restored a portacabin to act as a club house - complete with a bright roof to aid airstip identification.
I was there 1130 until 1555, and logged all 23 visitors. This was a little less than the end-of-season fly-in last year when a record of 26 was set. The majority are commonly seen, but with a wide variety of types, good weather and friendly welcoming atmosphere, I was pleased I went along.
Roughly in order of arrival, although the first 8 arrivals were already present when I got there.
G-CCEZ Easy Raider J2.2, from Barton, arr 0930 (first in), dep 1513
G-BLTM Robin HR.200/100, from Barton, dep 1451
G-SKIE Steen Skybolt, from Barton, dep 1509
G-AWVA Cessna F.172H, from Barton, dep 1333
G-ARMR Cessna 172B, from Barton, dep 1400
G-CFXK Flylight Dragonfly (single-seat flexiwing), from a very local strip, dep 1335 (same pilot/owner as G-CCEZ!)
G-BYNM Mainair Blade 912 (flexiwing), from Ince, dep 1229
G-PLAN Cessna F.150L, from Barton, dep 1255
G-BUZN Cessna 172H, from Barton, arr 1204, dep 1434
G-BOIL Cessna 172N, from Barton, arr 1206, dep 1428
G-PAWL PA-28 Cherokee 140, from Barton, arr 1208, dep 1354
G-AJEE Auster J/1 Autocrat, from Barton, arr 1210, still present 1600.
G-FKNH PA-15 Vagabond, from Woodvale, arr 1221, dep 1426
G-ASZV Tipsy T.66 Nipper 2, from Ashcroft, arr 1228, dep 1504
G-SBKS Cessna 206H Stationair, from Sleap, arr 1301, dep 1425
G-SCPD Escapade 912, from Ince, arr 1407, dep 1538
G-MZGS CFM Shadow BD, from Ince, arr 1412, dep 1535
G-BZGZ Pegasus Quantum 15-912 (flexiwing), from Ince, arr 1413, dep 1537
G-BYBO Medway 44XLR Eclipser (flexiwing), from Ince, arr 1413, dep 1536
G-CDKF Escapade 912, from Barton, arr 1446. dep 1520
G-JLAT Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar, arr 1449, still present 1600
G-EZZY Evektor EV-97 Eurostar, from Stretton strip, arr 1450, dep 1539
G-CBVR Skyranger 912, from Ince, arr 1455, dep 1528.
I've got lots of decent photos - really must get my PCs joined together sometime soon.
Hopefully I'll be there again in late June for a Summer Solstice weekend fly-in and end of season fly-in in October.
Thank you LAC for making me feel so very welcome.
Noted overhead flying from/to Barton, or in the Low-Level Corridor:
G-WAGN (1225 N-S) Stinson 108 Voyager
G-CENE (1256) & G-CFDP (1240 & 1500) both Barton based Flight Design CTSWs
G-GFEA (1243) Cessna 172S
G-OEDB (1300 S-N) PA-38-112 Tomahawk
G-DOIG (1355) CZAW Sportcruiser
plus a number of Liverpool and Manchester airliners
With good weather, took at quick trip to Lancashire Aero Club's new grass farm strip, just entering its second year of use, at Kenyon Hall Farm, not far from Newton-le-Willows/Golbourne, a mile or so east of the M6, although known as Wigan by the LAC.
Very much a club affair, I was the only paper and pen spotter there - however I was made very much welcome, provided with free mug of coffee, burger and event tee-shirt! I parked my car in the customer car park of Kenyon Farm Nursery and Pick-your own, crossed the road diagionally, then walked down a rather muddy track/public footpath to reach the (initially) out of sight strip. Event weather was excellent, with near calm conditions and excellent visibility. Although high clouds gathered during the afternoon, the rain forecast for 3 - 4pm held off completely. I got home with a red face due to exposure to sunshine.
The grass strip itself looked good having been recently cut and rolled. The strip, which is aligned 23/05, runs slightly upslope and undulates. Surrounded by fields of oil-seed rape, just starting to show yellow flowers it was a photogenic setting. Aircraft parking space was limited. During the winter LAC have positioned and restored a portacabin to act as a club house - complete with a bright roof to aid airstip identification.
I was there 1130 until 1555, and logged all 23 visitors. This was a little less than the end-of-season fly-in last year when a record of 26 was set. The majority are commonly seen, but with a wide variety of types, good weather and friendly welcoming atmosphere, I was pleased I went along.
Roughly in order of arrival, although the first 8 arrivals were already present when I got there.
G-CCEZ Easy Raider J2.2, from Barton, arr 0930 (first in), dep 1513
G-BLTM Robin HR.200/100, from Barton, dep 1451
G-SKIE Steen Skybolt, from Barton, dep 1509
G-AWVA Cessna F.172H, from Barton, dep 1333
G-ARMR Cessna 172B, from Barton, dep 1400
G-CFXK Flylight Dragonfly (single-seat flexiwing), from a very local strip, dep 1335 (same pilot/owner as G-CCEZ!)
G-BYNM Mainair Blade 912 (flexiwing), from Ince, dep 1229
G-PLAN Cessna F.150L, from Barton, dep 1255
G-BUZN Cessna 172H, from Barton, arr 1204, dep 1434
G-BOIL Cessna 172N, from Barton, arr 1206, dep 1428
G-PAWL PA-28 Cherokee 140, from Barton, arr 1208, dep 1354
G-AJEE Auster J/1 Autocrat, from Barton, arr 1210, still present 1600.
G-FKNH PA-15 Vagabond, from Woodvale, arr 1221, dep 1426
G-ASZV Tipsy T.66 Nipper 2, from Ashcroft, arr 1228, dep 1504
G-SBKS Cessna 206H Stationair, from Sleap, arr 1301, dep 1425
G-SCPD Escapade 912, from Ince, arr 1407, dep 1538
G-MZGS CFM Shadow BD, from Ince, arr 1412, dep 1535
G-BZGZ Pegasus Quantum 15-912 (flexiwing), from Ince, arr 1413, dep 1537
G-BYBO Medway 44XLR Eclipser (flexiwing), from Ince, arr 1413, dep 1536
G-CDKF Escapade 912, from Barton, arr 1446. dep 1520
G-JLAT Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar, arr 1449, still present 1600
G-EZZY Evektor EV-97 Eurostar, from Stretton strip, arr 1450, dep 1539
G-CBVR Skyranger 912, from Ince, arr 1455, dep 1528.
I've got lots of decent photos - really must get my PCs joined together sometime soon.
Hopefully I'll be there again in late June for a Summer Solstice weekend fly-in and end of season fly-in in October.
Thank you LAC for making me feel so very welcome.
Noted overhead flying from/to Barton, or in the Low-Level Corridor:
G-WAGN (1225 N-S) Stinson 108 Voyager
G-CENE (1256) & G-CFDP (1240 & 1500) both Barton based Flight Design CTSWs
G-GFEA (1243) Cessna 172S
G-OEDB (1300 S-N) PA-38-112 Tomahawk
G-DOIG (1355) CZAW Sportcruiser
plus a number of Liverpool and Manchester airliners