30 May 2005 The Grand opening of the Sandown Airfield Restaurant and
Clubhouse
The Grand opening was announced a
while ago of the new restaurant and club house for Sandown airfield to be on 30
May 2005. All landing fees were waived and a wings and wheels day was
offered to all who attended.
We and a few friends decided to
support the airfield on their special day. We flew in our Cessna 170B,
Paul in his Bulldog, John and Steve in the Tiger Moth, Berndt and Paul in their
Condor and John in his Auster. It was going to be quite a party.
We flew over Portsmouth and on to the
Island, past Bembridge and onto enter the overhead above Sandown. The new
clubhouse was very visible and several aircraft had already arrived. We
descended and joined the circuit travelling downwind and landed on runway 23.
We landed and we met John
with his Auster. We were joined shortly by our friends and we enjoyed a
drink and some food in the new facilities. Sadly John had to leave early
but the rest of us decided we would walk down to the beach. So off through
the lanes, past Shanklin railway station and down to the beach. Then along
the front to Sandown where we stopped for a well deserved ice cream.
Refreshed we set off back to the
airfield up through the town, over the railway and through the golf
course. One final drink and the set off back home. Time for a quick photo
shot over the Solent.
Then up past Butser Hill, Alton,
Lasham airfield, no gliders seemed to be about and off home.
We were glad we supported the
airfield and very pleased to have been joined by so many of our
"flying" friends for a most enjoyable day.
