| 17 December 2007
- Isle of Wight - Sandown then Popham |
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| Two years ago on
17 December on the anniversary of 100 years of powered flight we landed
Sandown and then White Waltham. Gosh where have those two years
gone? |
| This time we
arrived at the airfield and found fog rolling over the hills. Oh no
had we made the long journey for nothing? We telephoned Sandown and
discovered they were in sunshine and clear skies, so we prepared AY and
prayed. By the time we were ready and had fully checked the plane,
we attempted to start her. I think she saw the fog and so oh
no. Not like her she usually starts first attempt. Anyway, by
the third attempt the fog was definitely dispersing, she fired and after
suitable run ups we were on our way. |
| We headed South
and soon the Island was in sight. We flew past Portsmouth and could see
the Spinnaker clearly. Jan had recently visited the Tower and
climbed to the crows nest. |
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| We decided to fly
around the island as it was so calm and visibility great. The little
estuaries on the North side of the Island showed up well. |
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| We circled around
the Needles, the cliffs looked so white. |
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| Then we headed
along the South of the Island until we were within range of Sandown.
We had already made an initial call before we left the mainland so knew
the runway and airfield details. We called up again giving our
intention to joined the circuit and land. All the runway was
available for use, despite the recent rain, but it was suggested we landed
high up the runway and to the right hand side. We landed safely and taxied
to the pumps and filled up with fuel. |
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| We then moved the
plane to the requested parking place conveniently outside the
clubhouse. |
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| We paid landing
and fuel fees in the Tower and then off for wonderful bacon baps and
coffee. We met a friend we had not seen in a while and
chatted. He has now given up flying and moved to the Island and
bought a vintage car. He and his fellow enthusiasts meet regularly
at the airfield. We popped out to the car park and looked at the
cars, they were wonderful. |
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| Then sadly the
time had come to leave so we took off for home. On the way we
listened to Popham, they were very busy and we discovered that our friend
John was there with his Tiger Moth, so we landed to say hi. |
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| After coffee and
a chat Martin helped start the Tiger Moth and then walked with its wing
onto the runway. We took off for home shortly after. |
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| Once again we
were grateful for a December flight and remembered two years ago when we
went to Sandown and White Waltham and all that had happened in 102 years
of powered flight. |
| Yes, we are old,
but not quite that old. Happy Christmas to everyone. |
