April 4th & 7th - Training session #3 at Little
Gransden
The unlimited team moved to
Little Gransden for the third training camp. After all the beautiful
weather we have had recently, the gods decided enough was enough and
that they should have their fun watching the pilots trying to train
under low clouds and in very strong and bitterly cold winds!Although the weather prevented the flying of full
unknown sequences, Eric Vazeille never-the-less spent a great deal of
time on what I call "happy snappers!". Snaps on up lines, down lines,
forty-fives up and down, negative and positive. But there is no doubt
that this constant practice on snaps is paying off. It is more a case of
stopping them than starting them
 correctly......."Don't
use zee ailerons to stop"......and Eric's familiar, "Zee left foot more"
is still there, but now interspersed with, "more separation" and "punch
the panel with the stick and release like a spring!".
Richard Gee came to join the proceedings from day one,
and put up very creditable performances amongst his more experienced
peers. Richard later said that it was, without doubt, the most useful
flying he'd done in years! He went on to say that he thought the BAeF
input is already making a huge difference to unlimited aerobatics here
in the UK.
Steve Green progressed the necessary admin actions
regarding agreement for the use of the Requena airfield in Valencia as
the team's last training camp and acclimatisation site; collating copies
of aircraft documents and licences etc; with Dave Cowden briefing on the
BAeF subsidies with regard to entrance fees for pilots and support
staff. Suddenly the competition doesn't seem so far away now.
The team agreed to take Ian Trask along as their
official mechanic at the worlds in Spain. Ian (using video equipment)
and Phil Atlee helped myself and Steve to assist Eric in formulating
post flight critiques. Richard Pickin and son Michael flew in to Little
Gransden on Saturday in their Bücker
Jungmann. Michael got a few minutes in the air with Eric during one of
the breaks.....lucky boy!
Sunday's weather improved significantly enough for the
team to do some sequence work. In spite of the odd problems created by
the weather, the whole team were in good spirits and looking forward to
Elvington next weekend.
The next (and last UK) camp will take place at
Wickenby, commencing on the 1st June through to the 4th inclusive. I
look forward to reporting to you again following that camp.
Graham Hill
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