Post by viscount on May 2, 2010 20:54:40 GMT 1
North Wales Strut of the LAA Annual Fly-in.
Caernarfon Airfield, Sunday 2nd May
For the second year running the North Wales Strut Fly-in at Caernarfon was spoilt by the wind. This year worse than last, although again the day was bright and sunny, with clear visibility, but a stiff cold wind from the north put off many potential visitors. With the wind from 040 degrees and 20kt gusting upto 30kt, runway 02 was in use ie landing over the right hand bend in the approach road. A few of the landings looked to be heading towards disaster, while other pilots landed smoothly. A local Cherokee pilot showed off by landing on the lead-in zone arows and turning off onto 08 - a matter of yards.
Caernarfon was once a really friendly, relaxed, welcoming place to visit. The alterations since the new hangars have been built, makes the place more of a prison - with the public behind 8 foot wire high-security fencing, where once there was a 3 foot picket fence with a little garden gate in it. Photography from the public viewing area - forget it, don't even try! As a local enthusiast put it "Sadly the high vis vest culture has struck here with a vengance".
The lack of visiting aircraft was made up for in part by a Car Club gathering of (mostly) Sixties cars and scooters in part of the car park.
Log covers the period 1130-1525.
Aircraft visiting Sadly just these 9 recorded:
G-ATDO Bolkow Bo.208C Junior, approx 1115-1400
G-BILS Cessna 152, called from Mona for fuel, 1418-1440
G-BLCM SOCATA TB-9 Tampico, landed 1436
G-BLHM PA-18 Super Cub 135, approx 1115-1400
G-GCDB Cirrus SR.20GTS, 1303-1348
(G-LION)/R-167 PA-18 Super Cub 135 R.Neth A.F. colours, approx 1305-1415
G-NWPS Eurocopter EC.135T N.Wales Police, called for fuel 1340-1400 approx. Calling 'Police 29'
G-OIHC PA-32R-301 Saratoga II dep 1402
G-TALE PA-28-181 Archer, 1420-1530
Aircraft resident/longer term visitors
G-AZCL Beagle 121 Pup 2, parked out with cockpit covered
G-BAGR Robin DR.400/140, several local flights
(G-BZNT)/red 51 Aero L-29 Delphin, cockpit covered. Parked out for over two years now.
G-CBXJ Cessna 172S, several local flights
G-CCTT Cessna 172S, several local flights
G-CGHM PA-28 Cherokee 140, several local flights
G-NAAA MBB Bo.105DBS, Bond/N.Wales Air Ambulance, active
G-NELI PA-28R Cherokee Arrow 180, parked out with cockpit covered
G-OKYM PA-28 Cherokee 140, parked out
G-RVRA PA-28 Cherokee 140, parked out. Still in Ravenair red/yellow - unsure if a regular visitor or a resident.
N2086P PA-23 Apache Geronimo, local flight. Unusual squared tail
Hangars
I did not attempt access. The old, original hangar was open, but only the aero club section of the four new hangars was open, viewed across the airfield from the beach.
The former CAMCO (the original) hangar now contains the microlight schools. At least 6 rigged flexiwings and another two pods could been seen from the public viewing area. Also logged two nose-on Flight Design CTSWs, one being G-CEGL (which when I look it up is an Ikarus C42), while further back was a RAF2000 Autogyro G-YROJ.
In the Aero Club section of the new hangars was a Beech Bonanza.
No doubt about it, I enjoyed the fly-in at Kenyon Hall Farm the day before far more, but I always enjoy the setting of Caernarfon on a clear day.
Caernarfon Airfield, Sunday 2nd May
For the second year running the North Wales Strut Fly-in at Caernarfon was spoilt by the wind. This year worse than last, although again the day was bright and sunny, with clear visibility, but a stiff cold wind from the north put off many potential visitors. With the wind from 040 degrees and 20kt gusting upto 30kt, runway 02 was in use ie landing over the right hand bend in the approach road. A few of the landings looked to be heading towards disaster, while other pilots landed smoothly. A local Cherokee pilot showed off by landing on the lead-in zone arows and turning off onto 08 - a matter of yards.
Caernarfon was once a really friendly, relaxed, welcoming place to visit. The alterations since the new hangars have been built, makes the place more of a prison - with the public behind 8 foot wire high-security fencing, where once there was a 3 foot picket fence with a little garden gate in it. Photography from the public viewing area - forget it, don't even try! As a local enthusiast put it "Sadly the high vis vest culture has struck here with a vengance".
The lack of visiting aircraft was made up for in part by a Car Club gathering of (mostly) Sixties cars and scooters in part of the car park.
Log covers the period 1130-1525.
Aircraft visiting Sadly just these 9 recorded:
G-ATDO Bolkow Bo.208C Junior, approx 1115-1400
G-BILS Cessna 152, called from Mona for fuel, 1418-1440
G-BLCM SOCATA TB-9 Tampico, landed 1436
G-BLHM PA-18 Super Cub 135, approx 1115-1400
G-GCDB Cirrus SR.20GTS, 1303-1348
(G-LION)/R-167 PA-18 Super Cub 135 R.Neth A.F. colours, approx 1305-1415
G-NWPS Eurocopter EC.135T N.Wales Police, called for fuel 1340-1400 approx. Calling 'Police 29'
G-OIHC PA-32R-301 Saratoga II dep 1402
G-TALE PA-28-181 Archer, 1420-1530
Aircraft resident/longer term visitors
G-AZCL Beagle 121 Pup 2, parked out with cockpit covered
G-BAGR Robin DR.400/140, several local flights
(G-BZNT)/red 51 Aero L-29 Delphin, cockpit covered. Parked out for over two years now.
G-CBXJ Cessna 172S, several local flights
G-CCTT Cessna 172S, several local flights
G-CGHM PA-28 Cherokee 140, several local flights
G-NAAA MBB Bo.105DBS, Bond/N.Wales Air Ambulance, active
G-NELI PA-28R Cherokee Arrow 180, parked out with cockpit covered
G-OKYM PA-28 Cherokee 140, parked out
G-RVRA PA-28 Cherokee 140, parked out. Still in Ravenair red/yellow - unsure if a regular visitor or a resident.
N2086P PA-23 Apache Geronimo, local flight. Unusual squared tail
Hangars
I did not attempt access. The old, original hangar was open, but only the aero club section of the four new hangars was open, viewed across the airfield from the beach.
The former CAMCO (the original) hangar now contains the microlight schools. At least 6 rigged flexiwings and another two pods could been seen from the public viewing area. Also logged two nose-on Flight Design CTSWs, one being G-CEGL (which when I look it up is an Ikarus C42), while further back was a RAF2000 Autogyro G-YROJ.
In the Aero Club section of the new hangars was a Beech Bonanza.
No doubt about it, I enjoyed the fly-in at Kenyon Hall Farm the day before far more, but I always enjoy the setting of Caernarfon on a clear day.
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