The weather was not too promising on the Sunday morning however, the pilots of Heelan’s Flying Circus gathered once more at Andrewsfield aerodrome, in eager anticipation of a trip to LeTouquet.  The cloud cover was pretty solid but with a cloud base of 1600ft the decision to visit La Belle France was made.

Although the crewing arrangements had been made some time earlier, there were some forced changes at the last minute.  The main reason being that the PA 28 Cherokee G-ASUD was having engine troubles so Steve R would fly a C152 to Thurrock whilst Rob took G-ASUD along to the maintenance unit there – Rob and Steve would then depart Thurrock in the C152 and join us at LeTouquet.  Peter was able to fly with Tony in his C150 Aerobat.

So the aircraft and crews were:

C172 G-BXXK with Shane and Nick, accompanied by Shane’s two nieces Clare and Lucy.  PA 28R G-BZDH with Richard and Steve M (Wingco), accompanied by Sam and Circus newbee, Adrian.  The three Cessnas ( G- JIMH, G-BKTV and G-BCDY) were crewed by Paul and Darren, who were also Flying Circus newbees, Steve R and Rob, Tony and Peter (Twanky) W.

After the completion of customs forms and flight plans everyone busied themselves with preparing the aircraft.  I noticed how kind we are as a group, when I lost count how many times the guys enquired how Clare and Lucy were getting on and if they needed any assistance.  The young ladies were polite and courteous and more than capable of deflecting the unwanted attentions.

The circus antics began early as Steve R and Sam attempted to taxi Tango Victor to the fuel pumps only to find that Steve had managed to plough the grass in front of the club house with the nose wheel, before becoming stuck fast.  As a few of us reached the agricultural display team – the green farrows, Steve R was overheard saying to Sam in his most authoritive voice “remember when taxiing past the display line – wave to the crowd as the nose wheel sinks to the axle – people pay good money to see such spectacle”.  Steve M, Bob H and Rob pulled the stricken aircraft free.

Steve's farrow; Wingco, Adrian, Sam and Richard in DH

In no time at all it was departure time and aircraft after aircraft taxied out to the runway and leapt skyward heading towards Southend airport. 

There have been many stories of the Essex triangle told by old bold pilots but until this trip I for one did not believe them however, several aircraft and pilots experienced strange phenomena that day, here are just a few:

Paul and Darren reported a ghostly Jet Provost performing aeros within 200ft of them as they crossed the Thames estuary.  In world war two there were stories of ghostly aircraft that guided badly damaged bombers back to base.  Perhaps this was one such encounter, perhaps Darren and Paul were in danger and this benevolent jet brought them through the Essex triangle unscathed, both Richard and I saw the ghostly jet and the proximity to which it came to shepherd the little friend to safety or as is more likely we all witnessed a fool with more money than sense not checking the skies around him before show boating!!! 

Likewise some crews experienced radio problems when talking to Southend Approach.  Wingco, on the radio in G-BZDH was heard to say Stansted Approach in his initial call instead of Southend Aproach - spooky.  Paul or Darren confirmed they were abeam Canterbury but it was heard by all as Cambridge and Wingco again subjected to atmospheric anomalies reported being overhead Borehamwood when in fact G- BZDH was overhead Boreham (some 40 Nautical miles apart).

From these incidents and others there are no doubts that a space / time anomaly exists in the Essex triangle – fellow pilots are warned to be aware of strange activities in the triangle.  The triangle seems to exist between Chelmsford to the North, Southend to the east and Rainham  in the west –  Chav central - be afraid, be very afraid.

Scenes from within the Essex triangle

The cloud base lowered as Dover VOR and the port came into view – G-BZDH being the fine Piper Arrow it is was first to go feet wet, 600ft over the channel, quickly followed by the C172 (well not too quickly, it is only a C172 after all).  It took a long time for Cap Gris-Nez to appear out of the gloom, which it did at the very same point the two GPS devices in Delta Hotel gave out the terrain warning.  Richard and Steve, Sam and Adrian, coasted southward to Boulogne but the cloud base lowered to the ground there and so the decision was made to divert.  Shane and Nick in the C172 heard our decision and likewise decided to divert.  Our diversion was to Lydd in Kent.  As we two aircraft headed back to Blighty, Tony and Peter were calling LeTouquet and advising them of 20 miles to run.  Surely that places them in Kent I thought as Richard topped out above the broken clouds as we began our cruise at 5000ft to Lydd.  Shane decided that his nieces had not had enough excitement on the first leg to France, so continued his diversion at between 600 -700ft (we have not seen Clare and Lucy since).

DH at 500ft; Lydd 03

Tony and Peter made it into LeTouquet and partook of luncheon in our usual beach side restaurant.  Not for them was the
 feeling of slight disappointment of not reaching our objective.  I am not sure what Peter and Tony had for lunch, probably not the crab mayonnaise though, as they joined us at Lydd before nightfall!

Darren and Paul, Steve and Rob in the C152s diverted to Lydd whilst in UK airspace.  Lydd was bathed in bright sunshine but what a breeze!! We who landed first watched other aircraft appear motionless as they struggled to make headway on the final approach.

Trislander and Islander at Lydd

So the aircraft, crews and passengers made their way to the restaurant at Lydd where we had our lunch.  I had not been to Lydd before, so that warranted a new aerodrome in the logbook.  Shane managed to find Lydd this time – funny though the location it’s in makes you wonder how anyone can miss it.  Perhaps Shane has found a temporal distortion akin to the Essex triangle, where once in 100 years, the Dungeness Power Station disappears from view making it almost impossible to find a very long stretch of concrete surrounded by miles of marshland.

Inside TV; Kingsnorth Power Station

The flights back to Andrewsfield were uneventful but most of us harboured a little sadness of flying down the French coast a short ways but not landing, but then again that is what other flyouts are for!!!

Great Leighs; Andrewsfield

We were very pleased that Adrian, Paul, Tony and Darren came along on this trip and hope that they become regular Heelan’s Flying Circus pilots.

[Text: Wingco] [Photos: Wingco, Peter, Rob & Steve. Click here for the rest of the photos]