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CD's Report
With 16 pilots entered, we knew that we were going to have a busy day at
Little Gransden for the third and final Loop day of 2009. The TAF was
forecasting 600ft and 4km viz. clearing early morning, so the BAeA team
 and
14 of the pilots assembled for a 9.30 briefing. Unfortunately three of the
four
aeroplanes were stuck at other airfields and Little Gransden was still sitting
in 600ft and 3Km. Kester used his Edge to burn some Avgas to see if he could
create enough global warming to clear the
 murk. He reported a cloud base of
1500 ft so the two Extras and the CAP10 were summoned from their airfields
only to arrive and find a cloud base of 900ft. (If Kester offers you a used
altimeter, then be slightly suspicious). Wyton weren’t very helpful saying
that they didn’t think it was going to clear at all and the TAF pushed the
time for it to clear out to between noon and 2pm. So
 we had 30 people all
wandering about peering into the gloom. Andrew Barlow and Chris Burkett did
a great job coaching groups of frustrated budding aerobatic competitors. It
was shaping up to be one of those days where it stays murky all day,
everyone was putting on a brave face but the disappointment was obvious. However, at about 1.00 we got a report that the weather and cloud base was
much better just 5 miles to the south. So, with the brief complete and 4
aircraft ready we decided to use the time to let the pilots get some
 practise, even if they couldn’t fly a critiqued flight in the box. The first
3 pilots were airborne and heading south in search of some clear sky at
about 1.30pm …. and then our optimism was dampened when it started to
rain!!
The rain proved a
blessing in disguise as the cloud base rose and for the first time we could
see blue skies to the south but Little Gransden
 was still stuck with a
frustrating 800ft and haze to the North. The first 3 pilots returned without
being able to fly in the box, but as Ron in his Pitts returned, the base of
the murk lifted and the judging team of Phil, Wixie and Howard were quickly
summoned and with umbrellas were able to critique the beginners sequence in
the rain. The plan then slotted into place, the weather improved, the sun
came out and the Loop day was underway, albeit 4 hrs late; you could sense
the relief and excitement. Phil O’Donoghue had
 suggested setting up 4
separate training areas, one for each aircraft so this speeded up the
proceedings and after Mark kindly allowed us to fly until 7pm we calculated
that each pilot could fly two flights as planned…. Game on!!
After a horrible morning
in the gloom and the rain, the afternoon couldn’t have been more different.
Hot sunshine with families and friends sitting out on blankets watching the
flying. A lovely garden party atmosphere. However, for the pilots, things
were much more serious. Luke and the Cambridge Aero Club boys had been
training hard. For most of them the challenge was seeing what it was like to
fly a competition
sequence in the box with judges and their fellow pilots watching.
 Other pilots had varying levels of experience. By 4.30 the
training flights were complete so Mark treated everyone to a display in his
new Extra 330SC, finishing by hovering in front of the audience.
Then we started flying
the Beginners sequence in front of the judges.
The standard of flying
was very high, positioning was noticeably good and we didn’t have anyone
heading off in the wrong direction. Perhaps the morning spent talking with
the coaches helped. Flying was finished by 6.30 and within a few minutes,
Jen had produced the results. Scores were very good, with 4 pilots scoring
over 70% and Mike Imlach in 12th place managed to score 43% with
his first flight in a Pitts.
First place went to Matt
Summers flying Adrian Willis’s Extra 200 with Jonathan Duke only 4 points
behind in the Cambridge Extra 200. Throughout the field there were many
places separated by only a few points; they’ll have to come to another
competition to see if they can move up a few points next time. We’re looking
forward to seeing you again.
Last but not least,
thanks to all the helpers who made the day run so smoothly. There is a lot
of unseen hard work and running around (or sitting down in the case of the
judges) which often goes unnoticed and I have received several emails
thanking you for making it a great day. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I
did.
David Jenkins
Event Director |
