It was a fine day, sunny and warm, so following the
usual greetings, checks and refreshments, the first destination in our
sights was Great Oakley, with Steve & Sam joining Wingco and Laura taking up
rear gunner in XK. The short hop took only 10/15 minutes, and we were
arriving in close formation. What a lovely airfield! The owners are
obviously keen aviators and have put a great deal of effort, thought (and
funds) into this picturesque site.
Well worth a visit and your
support.
No GPS for this man. Shane
checks the weather.
However, time being of the essence today, we have a
quick drink & chat with the owner and then remount and ready for the off –
Old Buck for lunch – Mustang Burgers whoppeeee!
Unfortunately, Wingco wants to do a remake of the
‘Flight of the Phoenix’, feigns a problem with the warm start procedures on
DH, resulting in an unscheduled breather – 1.5 hours! What a nice place for
it to happen though, ponds, swans and an Extra, playing in the sunshine.
DH goes on strike. Wingco
sits it out.
Lying under the wings of our aircraft, DH cools off
with it’s cowling removed – Wingco likened the situation to his time in
Spits in ‘41 – ding ding ding SCRABBLE!!!
Swans on patrol. Shane's
organic feet.
Successful start up, off to Old Buck, we all arrive as
the local parachutist club dispatch another bunch of victims over the
Norfolk skies (why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly serviceable
aircraft baffles this Ed!), we hold orbiting over Snetterton race track
awaiting the call.
The Orwell Bridge. Snetterton
Race Track.
All canopies down safely we join and land, luncheon
with Martin Shaw (that’s Judge John Deed, Laura!), we watch the usual array
of beautiful aircraft, and another set of victims from the parachute
fraternity vacate their aircraft at around 7000ft (nope still don’t get that
one!).
Serviceable aircraft. Serviceable
parachute.
After the burgers, chips and ‘sarnies’ – weight &
balance recalculations in one or two of the aircraft, we have quick switch
around - Steve R joins Shane & Laura in XK and Nick navigates for Wingco &
Sam. Alan remains with Jaen for further valuable instruction on Circus
etiquette. Heading for Earls Colne we have decided that time had caught up
with us and we would have to take a rain check on Rochester. After being
well shepherded across the MATZ’s of mid-Norfolk, by our friends from the US
Lakenheath, we arrive safely into the circuit at Earls Colne.
Beautiful aircraft 1. Beautiful
aircraft 2.
On the dubious guidance of his Co-Pilot, Shane finds XK
on a fairly short final approach – due to some bizarre doglegging exercise
around houses on final, which no one else seemed to worry about! Hey-ho, 40
degree of flaps, 55kts approach speed the reliable C172 soon has it in hand,
and arrives on schedule - ‘now I know what it must have felt like to be a
Stuker Pilot’, well maybe Mr R or just welcome to the world of Cessna and a
quality STOL aircraft!!!!
'STOL' aircraft at Earls Colne. Not
so STOL aircraft.
Following some confusing ground maneuvering, provided
by a combination of Shane and the man behind the desk, the Circus forms a
line on the perimeter. We pay our landing fee and grab a quick drink (is it
still free with the landing fee? says Jaen – not one to miss an opportunity)
before switching around and onward to Stapleford for our final visit of the
day.
Nick takes controls of XK, with Sam & Steve riding
shotgun, Shane & Laura join Wingco in DH. Still, the instruction continues
for new boy, Alan, in TL.
The River Roding, on the edge of Stapleford. Stapleford
itself.
On to Stapleford, we should have seen it coming; by the
way XK & DH have to pick their way through various stray aircraft seemingly
struggling with position between Stapleford and North Weald ATZ’s.
However, this is old ground for the seasoned Circus
performers! Definitely recruitment opportunities for some future members
here, there were all manner of clever exploits.
Cometh the man, cometh the moment, Alan finally finds
his Circus wings, and under expert eyes, TL approaching on base leg,
performs a perfect low pass over DH on short finals. DH arrives at
Stapleford, closely after XK. After several ‘go-rounds’ TL finds a slot in
amongst the glide approaches and various circuit manoeuvres of the local
residents, to put down.
Andrewsfield. XK
after a hard day.
Not wishing to encroach on the fun that was obviously
being had by all, we decide to pay up and leave the residents to it and we
make for home, all back to original seats, Shane at the helm, Nick as first
officer, Laura cabin crew of XK, Wingco in DH, with Steve on the IQue and
Sam relaxing in the rear, Jaen takes control of TL, with Alan reflecting on
his coming of age.
Well done Team, a good day had by all - time for bed
‘BOING’ says Zebedee!
[Text: Shane] [Photos: Shane, Nick, Wingco, but mostly
Laura, click here to see the them all]
