The long anticipated morning finally arrived, everyone gathered early at the three departure airfields looking forward to the longest sortie of the year so far.

Up to Tatenhill, then down to Gloucester and then back to our respective departure points.

With the walk rounds all done and fuel tanks filled it was time for a last coffee and a comparison of flight plans and plogs. Slight worries about the visibility were confirmed when a quick call to Wing Co at North Weald revealed that Richard had made the 4 mile trip from Stapleford to join them but had reported conditions to be (at best), extremely poor. Oh! Well another coffee and a half hour wait for the sun to burn off some of the haze.

Consulting the buttie directory

11am. at Andrewsfield and hunger is starting to get the better of 12 section, the call of the bacon buttie is starting to cloud our judgment. Steve asks for a weather report from Carol who is airborne, she reports hazy but flyable with approx 10kms. Tummies rumbling, we are all agreed that it’s good enough for us to go. Peter then asks has anyone spoken to Tatenhill? W-h-o-o-p-s! Steve beats Rob to the call and cobblers, they only have 1500 metres and they forecast no improvement!!

A quick change of plan is required. Where can we go, to the East? Well, Old Buckenham seems favourite, a prompt call and we are back in business, they even have fools throwing themselves out of a plane with nothing more than a cotton sheet and ropes to hang on to!

Old Buck approach. Bob's J-430

As there are now only two legs, a revised seating plan means that Rob & Peter go in G-ASUD and Steve, (brave chap) elects to join Bob in the Jabiru, as his first passenger!

With flight plans done, the most direct route was plotted so that food could be had as soon as possible. At last we were ready to go.

Wing Co is advised of our imminent departure and plans are made at North Weald for the crew of XK to meet us there.

After an uneventful flight 12 section were at last enjoying coffee and bacon rolls amid the throng at Old Buckenham. A quick call to Nick revealed that the mechanical gremlins had beset the North Weald crew, Shane, Nick and Wing Co had been forced to abort the trip with something faulty in the engine compartment causing the prop to stutter and stop.

Stearman. Departing Old Buck.

Food consumed, another plane load of daredevils wearing back packs took to the sky, why on earth would you jump out of a perfectly serviceable airplane?

Bentwaters. Woodbridge.

Peter had plotted a scenic route for both aircraft back to Andrewsfield, and upon our triumphant arrival we were greeted By Wing Co, Nick and Richard who had made the pilgrimage to Andrewsfield by car!!

Nick, unhappy, & Steve. Bob, happy, & G-JABU

Unfortunately the longest trip of the year so far, had turned into the shortest but, the traditions of the circus were gallantly upheld by 12 section……

[Text: Bob]

[Photos: Pete, & Rob, click here to see the them all]