At last – a really good one!

Flight that is, yesterday. First I had to finish sorting out the issue that prevented me flying last time but that didn’t take long. I lost some time because the field is so wet we can’t get cars in and I therefore had to walk everything I needed in on the special trolley I’ve made. Then I had to take MYRO’s covers off and stow them safely away before I could fuel up and fit the radio and GPS kit, and also the weather that was supposed to have cleared by mid-day was taking much longer than expected to do so. So it was 1.40pm before I eventually took off, heading west towards where the brighter weather was coming from. The vis and cloud base were not that brilliant but I knew they’d be improving while I was flying, and so it proved.

I’d planned a flight the evening before taking me just to the north of Tonbridge and then across to Edenbridge in the Gatwick CTA, right on the edge of the Gatwick TMA. Strictly not above 1500ft in that area and then great care needed not to infringe the TMA after turning and heading more or less due south. I then planned to turn and head south-west when abeam Forest Row to head down to Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill before then turning to head back via the south of Uckfield.

I more or less followed the planned route, out towards Edenbridge past the southern-most tip of the Bough Beech Reservoir where a regatta was taking place in the bright early Spring sunshine with a brisk south-westerly breeze filling out the sails. In the event, I decided to cut across the most distant south-west corner of the route, staying some way to the east of Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill and it was lucky I did, because in the end even after having done so, at 1 hour 45 minutes the flight was just about on the limit of MYRO’s endurance with the single tank. After landing I only had about 5 litres left in the tank and if I hadn’t cut the corner, I might well have been running on fumes by the time I’d arrived back at the field. Definitely not a good thing!

The flight turned out to be fantastic, probably the best I’ve done in MYRO so far. The weather and vis became almost perfect for the time of year and the views were spectacular. As I flew southwards along the edge of the Gatwick TMA the sun suddenly broke through and I could see Gatwick in the distance to the west. Then somewhere down to the south-east of Gatwick, in the Forest Row area I think, I flew over a beautiful castle with moat, maze and adjacent medieval buildings around a kind of courtyard or village square that I didn’t even know existed! It almost looked like a film set. I must find out where it is and see about visiting it on the ground some time. I also came across a lovely little Blubell Line steam engine chuffing along in the Spring sunshine hauling a train of beautifully painted old carriages, a gorgeous sight in the Sussex countryside and a bit further on over the Ashdown Forest where the ground rose up towards me I could see the faces of walkers looking up to watch me as I flew by them.

After turning over Uckfield to head back north-east, I had the wind on my tail and began to zip along over the ground, comparatively speaking. After Bewl Reservoir had passed on my right, pretty soon I was calling up on SafetyCom to join overhead for a landing back at Linton, which went off safely and well.

I had to hurry a bit to get MYRO tied down and covered up because I’d been invited to dinner with some very close friends. After driving home, feeding the dog, showering and taking him for a walk all at break-neck speed, I just made it on time. We had a lovely evening which finished with a few glasses of the bubbly that I’d taken along with me, by way of celebration. The reason is that today is my birthday. It’s one of the Big Ones, although I won’t say which one. I’m just so glad that I was able to celebrate it with such lovely friends and after yesterday’s marvellous flight, it is certainly one I will remember for a long time. Yes, a really good one indeed.