Arrival at Goodwood was a tiny bit confused - my deadside plan was a bit scuppered when Goodwood Information were kind enough to inform me that there was an aircraft operating on the deadside. A quick conflab with Barrie and we opted to join downwind. My other problem was identifying the various runways which are all grass. I was pretty happy with the landing - slower short final and really, really keep the nose wheel off for as long as possible. Once on the ground, taxiing to park was simply across whatever grass was between the runway and the parking. We were directed to row 2 - just in front of the Boultbee Academy hangar - Spitfire, Tiger Moth and Harvard all on display in the sun behind us!
Time for some photos, to pay the landing fee and a cup of tea.
The return flight was a bit less smooth. They check out at Goodwood from the plane, not by phone which was a bit different, more like Kemble. My take-off was a bit more precipitous than planned - I should have stayed in ground effect for longer and not climbed away so steeply. One stage of flaps, full power held on the brakes and keeping the yoke back a little were clearly all a bit much for me. As I climbed to the overhead we heard the Spitfire call for airfield information - shame I'd have love to follow her down the runway or seen her in mid air. Some fluffing of radio work to Farnborough and light mocking from them (Squawk 0448 might be a bit difficult). With all of that excitement I missed my navigation reference on the way back. Transiting Farnborough to the East and re-joining Blackbushe were better. My landing went well until the last moment when I was caught unprepared for a gust which lifted us off again. Very untidy.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the experience . The plan is once more with Barrie then it's my turn to land away solo!
