Category: Trip Log

We really had picked some great flying weather for our trip to Scotland. There are not so many days you can get a VFR clearance through the Glasgow zone at FL85. We filled G-EJBI with fuel and then departed for a very scenic flight on our way to Glenforsa. Fuel has not always been available at Oban but it was this summer and the price pretty reasonable.

The Bölkow 207 really excels when it comes to a bit of longer distance touring. Up above five or six thousand feet with the mixture leaned the endurance is well in excess of five hours at a leisurely 110 knot cruise. We were able to take a straight line track from Tibenham to Oban which is pretty unusual for a VFR aircraft in UK airspace, helped by there being not so much Class A airspace in Scotland.

Mid July we flew G-EJBI to Old Warden for their evening airshow. As the flying display finishes around sunset we took a tent and stayed a couple of nights under canvas. An evening airshow and camping in such beautiful grounds is a really wonderful experience. On the Sunday we flew G-EJBI to Sandown on the Isle of Wight for a pleasant day out. Sandown is a very popular spot for visiting light aircraft but they cope well, cook a good pizza and the seaside is not so far away.

We flew four flights during June, all of which were conducted in the local area. A bad habit of mine is to rely on the fuel gauges (plus a certain amount of knowledge of the flight time since last refuelling) to determine the amount of fuel on board the aircraft. When we did our FREDA checks on a local navex and found both fuel guages pretty close to indicating reserve I was a little suprised and a little uncertain of the remaining endurance, Fortunately we were above Rougham airfield and able to pop in for a top up.

Paola, Lucy and myself had a lovely couple of days at the Bölkow and Friends Frierichshaffen fly-in. We even recieved a prize for the furthest arrival. After some lovely food, beer and wine on the Saturday evening it was time to fly home on the Sunday morning. Three up with full fuel, camping gear and our prizes, G-EJBI flew direct to Tibenham at FL85 in 4 hours and 10 minutes. The Bölkow 207 is a great touring aeroplane. On the drive home from the airfield, Border Force gave us a ring. Apparently we now need to complete a health declaration 24 hours before arrival in the U.K. Oops!

After a brief stop at Colmar Houssen it was an hour long flight to the Bölkow and Friends organised fly-in at Friedrichshafen. It was becoming a very warm day so after landing it was doors open to catch a cooling breeze. The airport has the Dornier museum and in town there is a Zeppelin museum. Zeppelins fly pleasure flights from the airfield and despite the modern variety being much smaller, they are still quite a sight.

I’m a bit behind with the Blog, so time to catch up! Early August 2020 after three Blackbushe trips G-EJBI set off for Friedrichshafen. Flying direct seemed a bit marginal so we routed to Colmar Houssen in France to clear immigration and pick up some fuel. A very early departure from Tibenham saw us arrive in France mid morning flying over a very beautiful town to a very quiet airfield.. Immigration it seemed had arrived just for our flight as they didn’t hang about after they had checked our passports.

Towards the end of July, Lucy flew Andrew and myself to Blackbushe and then on to Compton Abbas. You need a long cross country with two intermediate stops for a commercial license. Blackbushe has been an excellent destination during these Covid times, very helpful and reasonable for refuelling and any fees are invoiced a few days after your visit. Compton Abbas was its usual busy self, a very beautiful airfield and lovely lunch stop.

Mid July and a busy flying day for G-EJBI. Lucy and I did few circuits at Tibenham and then flew off to Weybourne to meet up with some other fliers from the Priory Farm Aviators. John Fielding had kindly brought along some cakes which were most welcome. Weyborne is a delightful strip but can be a bit tricky, it all depends on the wind direction. Today it was a nice into wind upslope landing on the short runway but required the longer downhill crosswind runway for departure.