CD’s report
It is an inexplicable characteristic of the typical Brit that we always
blame “the weatherman” (i.e. the meteorologists) not only for undesirable
weather but for even the smallest error in their forecast. That same Brit
forgets that weather forecasting is just that: looking into the future, and
therefore unpredictable.Except at
Sandtoft. When our Maker made planet Earth he decreed, “let there be warm
places and cold places. Except Sandtoft, which shall always be cold”.
Perhaps He knew that several million years later the British Aerobatic
Association would create a trophy called “The Icicle” and so need an
environment to match. It certainly matched this year. From the warmth of
indoors the spring sunshine and sheep shaped clouds looked positively
inviting, but from the judging line the 16 gusting 26 knot westerly factored
a chill through each and every layer of “warm” clothing.
But aerobatics is all about selflessness,
and judges must be just that, for in consideration for 42 cups of coffee, 12
cans of pop, 35½ sandwiches, and a
tin of Crawfords Chocolate Selection they squinted into the sky for around 7
hours to bring joy and gloom to 20 dedicated pilots.
What can I say? As a contest it was as
predictable as the cold. An airfield bleak and deserted at 0725 was by 0730
humming with numerous individuals scurrying about their duties for a
briefing at 0830, a first flight at 0930 and a final flight at 1700. Apart
from the results, interim incidents were equally predictable in their
typicality: a canopy lanyard snapped, a tyre deflated, judges asked for
coffee, debris appeared in a cockpit, judges asked for more coffee, pilots
asked for a free break, mobile phones were lost, fuel tabs were overlooked
and folk held long conversations with acquaintances whose name they had
forgotten. At 1730 the CD thanked all who had contributed to the days
activities and read the results whilst Sandtoft Managing Director Les
Scattergood presented the awards to the deserving winners listed elsewhere.
| Eventually the
scurrying ceased, and the scene reverted to the same bleak deserted
airfield it had been just 12 hours before. Only the sun had moved,
from one horizon to another. And a lonely Jet Provost burned some
expensive circuits… |
Cast, in order of alphabetical
appearance:
Jen Buckenham: The Scorer
Eric Marsh: The Director
Les Scattergood: The Operator
Steve Todd: The Judge
With special thanks to the good folk of
Sandtoft, the kind volunteers of BAeA, and especially our intrepid aerobatic
pilots.
The End
This has been an Eric Marsh – BAeA
Production |
 |
|
