First sortie of the year is preceded by two weeks of snow, ice and rain. Turweston’s website had been saying closed due to snow for nearly two weeks. BUT, as I pull back the curtains, the first blue sky of the year, whoopee! The cast assemble at Andrewsfield and North Weald and what a turnout.

Arriving at North Weald I was expecting to be P2 in the “Katana” for the outbound trip, but Russell’s steed had been beset by tech problems. It seems one of the group had suffered a tail strike. The tail fairing had been removed and sent to the menders, but unfortunately had not been refitted. So the Katana was going nowhere. Fortunately a quick call across the airfield to Diarmuid got Russell a seat in the back of XK.

At Andrewsfield, Jo was busy doing an hour of circuits to clear the water off the runway before joining Mike & Shane for the trip. All planned, fuelled and ready for the off, we departed our respective airfields at just after 10.00 for the short trip to Turweston. The Andrewsfield contingent routing via Haverhill and Milton Keynes, the North Weald crews via Bovingdon, Henton and on to Silverstone for a long final to runway 27. As we departed North Weald we saw the hanger 11 warbird collection on parade, (more later).

The trip up was very smooth even at only 2000 feet, with the visibility good, but not great. Farnborough North was very busy radio wise, but this did not manifest itself into lots of aircraft as they were covering as far down as Manston and Redhill on the same frequency. Overhead Buckingham Nick positioned to go overhead Silverstone before following their runway 24 which sets you up directly onto offset finals for Turweston. At about a mile from the threshold the P51 Mustang from North Weald joined the HFC and asked if he could do a run & break for a tight circuit to land. ATC acknowledged, but advised him CC was on short finals. The Mustang then asked CC if it was OK to pass down the starboard side. We agreed, but were not quick enough to reach the cameras as he sped past us about 50 yards away. Quite a sight!!

CC was first down closely followed by the rest of the gang. After watching the Mustang park up, a mini Mustang taxied by. Landing fees paid it was time for lunch. They had a burst pipe in the café, but the staff did sterling work with the bacon & sausage baps. We pretty much filled the end of the café, and in the confusion they cooked one too many bacon baps. Unsurprisingly Shane & Mike quickly grabbed the offending bap and downed it with typical HFC aplomb !!

A quick tour of the hangers revealed some really interesting types; Richard was in seventh heaven as he peered into the Cirrus hanger filled with SR20’s and 22’s. Oh for a lottery win and an SR20 would be his….. !!

Loaded back into the aircraft it was time to depart. CC stole a march on the normally first out of the blocks Mr Sarling, which proved a stroke of luck. The downside of the wet weather, meant a long backtrack to a very small power check area. Diarmuid followed CC, but the Missus was held at the 09 hold to wait for us both to depart. An uneventful flight back, a following wind and 120+ knot ground speed meant we were back parked up and shut down a mere 45 minutes later.

A great little trip to start the season.


[Text: Bob] [Photos: No photos! Cameras to be held in hand at all times in future]