It's been a long time since I blogged, but I wanted to put down a few thoughts about today's trip to Dunkeswell. My flying recently has been a bit haphazard, both from a regularity point of view and a being out of practice. To that end I'm trying to fly much more, exploring the country by air.
I have a couple of medium term aims which include visting France and a sight seeing flight over the Lake District with some friends. To that end I'm extending my range with flights to airfields I haven't been to.
I chose Dunkeswell today for a couple of reasons. Firstly it's far enough to make a decent flight and secondly it has a reputation for excellent home made cakes.Exhibit A: the carrot cake. Highly recommended.
Dunkeswell is a lovely little airfield, well worth a visit. I'll certainly be returning, for more cake and more practice.
Flying from Blackbushe I had to pass the Boscombe Down / Middle Wallop MATZ areas. I chose to do this at 4000ft since the weather was lovely and it's one less complication - not needing to ask for permission. The air was also much smoother up there, so a good choice.
Once I reached the airfield my challenge began. Low cloud and turbulence added to my load at this point. Firstly I spent 15 minutes at Upottery disused airfield talking on Dunkeswell Radio and trying to work out which runway was which. Being a radio service I was on my own, how they must have laughed and shaken their heads. It wasn't until I saw another aircraft as I turned 'final 22' that I realised I was in the wrong place. On reflection I was in a left hand circuit for Uppottery's former runway 20. I was ignoring the fact that Sky Demon was showing I was outside the ATZ, there was not other visible traffic and the whole place looking exteremely broken!
It was quite a relief and startlingly simple once I reached the actual airfield, although the chaos of no control was quite a thing at such a busy airfield. I ended up going-around because one aircraft decided it was time to take off despite my 'Final' call. Listening to the radio over cake I saw several such clashes.
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