This trip was originally planned for the 14th March, but I guess it was rained off.

E-mail records show that we had planned that for the Fenland leg, (pilot's first) myself (Rob) and Steve M would take the 172 (Xray-Kilo), Dave and Ann would take the Cherokee (Tango-Lima), Steve R and Nick would take a 152, Jane and Nic would take another 152, and that Jim would be Mike's passenger in his own PA28. Whether this is what actually happened I don't know, it was a long time ago, but I did fly Xray-Kilo with Steve on the charts!

I can't remember anything about the journey up. I guess we talked to Mildenhall and I guess it was uneventful. I do remember that I used the unlicensed 26 runway as the wind rather demanded it. Typically, Xray-Kilo refused to land in that much wind and I was considering a go around if she didn't put her wheels down soon. Are aircraft female to women?

Juliet Mike, with Felsted water tower; and undoubtedly a shot from around Fenland

A change of seating for the next leg. The pre-trip record shows: Xray-Kilo: Ann and Steve R; Tango-Lima, Nic and Dave; 152, Nick and me; 152, Steve M and Jane; and Mike and James in a Cherokee. Again I don't know if this is fact, but I did fly with Nick in a 152.

Off to Old Buckenham then, and surprise, Marham are active. Don't know what they doing but the lady on the radar was very helpful even though she had five Circus aircraft doing their utmost to create confusion.

Wisbech perhaps? and The Wash

We get to Old Buckenham and for some reason I get the circuit direction wrong, even though I have the aerodrome plate, hot of the internet and acknowledge the joining instructions. I finally realize on our pseudo-downwind as Nick is getting suspicious and I re-check. Sorry Nick. We tell Old Buckenham that we will turn it into an overhead join, but he says never mind join final. So we slide down, over the hay stack on the old runway, and touch down on the active and trundle to parking.

The Nene, I should think; and Delta-Yankee, an Aerobat

Burgers! If you have not had a burger at Old Buckenham, go there!

And so we lumber back into the air, somewhat heavier, and set course for Elmsett, near Ipswich. This has a strange approach as it is in the MATZ for Wattisham, so down to the A12/A14 junction south of Ipswich and north west into Elmsett.

Rain clounds; Steve R

It's just the Circus on Wattisham frequency as not surprisingly they are out. That is until we get to Monewden, when a controller suddenly springs onto the frequency, announces that Wattisham is now active for an incoming VIP and all aircraft are to check in. So five Circus aircraft do so, at the same time! It sorts itself out and we are soon off frequency and onto Elmsett, who are also out!

Delta-Oscar, a 152; and unidentified clowns, all at Elmsett

A certain amount of jockeying for position occurs as various aircraft are looking to locate Elmsett, find downwind or final, and execute an approach.

All down, and we can't find 'control'. This turns out to be a shed of some sort, unmanned. We donate some landing money and head back to Andrewsfield changing back to our original seating.

Delta-Oscar departs Elmsett; as does Foxtrot-Charlie

I taxi down to the hold and zip in front of Jim. Ha-ha! revenge for being cut up on a glide approach recently! But what is this, Jim gets his pilot to turn onto the runway before I get to the threshold, and off he goes. Drat!

I follow Jim's aircraft back to Andrewsfield, an easy journey and no worries.

and it rained as I drove home!

So there you have it, another fun day out.

[Text: Robert, from memory] [Photos: Robert, who has no memory of taking them and found them while tidying up his hard disk!]