With the first HFC sortie to Gloucestershire thwarted by poor weather, hopes were high for a full turnout for the February trip to Sywell.

Early indications were that the Sywell runway had not coped well with the combination of lots of rain and construction activities for the new hard runway so a replacement destination of Kemble was planned. With heavy snow in the week preceding and the Kemble webcam showing a Gnat covered in the white stuff our chances were looking slim. TAFs for Sunday looked dreadful with poor viz and another weather system due early on.

Aylesbury. Waddesdon Manor.

As it turned out the day was bright and calm - hopes running high again. The plan was ASUD and Missus from Andrewsfield, Charles Charles, XK and NWFG from North Weald and VOID from Stapleford.

The Andrewsfield craft were covered in snow, but the runway was operational; North Weald was closed due to ice and snow; Stapleford were open but VOID had no keys! Not a great start.

Upper Heyford. Enstone.

The NW crews sat around pondering their fortunes for a while before concluding flying was not meant for them that day. The CC crew dispatched to Stapleford to check on VOID's progress and enjoy the organic fare in the restaurant.

Back at Andrewsfield ASUD managed a few circuits before feeling the cold, Missus stayed tucked up. Keys arrived for VOID and following refueling for the aircraft and the crew of Richard and Shane M it departed in search of winter scenes.

Cardington. Approaching Cambridge.

These didn't take long to come into view with Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire all visible straightaway covered in the white fluffy stuff. We routed towards Upper Heyford, Enstone, Daventry, Northampton, Cambridge and back to Stapleford. A total of 183 miles with only one other aircraft (a bright red microlight) in the air at the same time. Beautiful flying conditions, ultra smooth but really eerie with nobody on the radio and no aircraft to avoid - it was like a scene from 'Survivors'. Even Cambridge failed to reply to our call.

Cambridge. Andrewsfield.

Thankfully Andrewsfield proved life was still on earth and warned us of an active zone which we skirted round. A welcome committee at Stapleford joined the VOID crew for coffees and baguettes.

Short final, Stapleford.

So two HFC missions down - fingers crossed for better conditions as the year progresses.
 

[Text: Richard] [Photos: Richard]