FLYER Exhibitions
This morning heralded a day of glorious weather and after only 45 minutes rather than two and a half hours on the motorways I was calling up Gatwick Approach after routing past Farnborough on the flight down. ATC could not have been more helpful, simply positioning me North of the North Terminal and then allowing me to land at the strip between arriving and departing aircraft from 26L.
Above: Approaching Gatwick from the North.
Above: I made an effort to enjoy the view as I positoned myself for finals only a few hundred feet above the apron, thinking nowhere else could you strip fly above a major airport,.... LGW is superb!
Above; Once down, you would not believe you were so close to such a big airport. The field next to the runway seems so tranquil and serene.
Above: Although if you floated too far down the strip you would find yourself hitting a Shackleton amoungst many other historic aircraft!
Above: Slightly out of sequence, but to give you the understanding of how close the strip is to the main runway, here is the strip looking back after turning north on departure, running between the trees down towards the museum aircraft.
Above:The collection for an individual enthusiast is amazing. This view is of a Percival Sea Prince, Buccaneer and Hunter.
Above: Here's a Harrier.
Above: And something to fit underneath a Harrier wing that I never knew about, namely a rescue pod where the individual gets into the pod and is flown home under the wing! Apparently only a prototype!
Above: Especially for forumite Bratty, one of his Lightnings which should be getting ready to fire up soon!
Above: Then there was one of the ugliest but most amazing carrier aircraft, the Fairey Gannet. As I approached I could hear a strange noise from the engine and found a nest of baby crows inside the propellor area:
See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qjIboa__Ys
With only my phone for a camera, I was not able to show the inside of the museum with extensive collections of aircraft engines, model aircraft and avionic equipment. Again, truely astounding to have such a private collection.
Above: By co-incidence, I had spotted a small strip on the way in, just to the west of Redhill. I asked Peter about this and he said it was his other strip at Dovers Green. Deciding to drop in there on the way back, I called up Gatwick Delivery and requested a Long Haul clearance to the other strip! Again, following a sterling service I was cleared to depart between traffic and headed off for my two minute flight.
Above: At Dovers Green, I found some WWII pill boxes guarding the strip and unfortunately also experienced a recurrent starting problem, which Peter kindly assisted with by driving up to assist with a jump start.
Above: So Peter Vallance, please take a bow, you are an aviation star. I would heartily recommend G-BLEW taking a visit down there, as there is easily an article's worth of aviation interest surrounding Peter. Not least the enjoyment of flying into the museum, plus the fact that a greater awareness of his facility really deserves airing.
For anyone going on holiday from Gatwick with time to spare or wishing to visit, please see his website at http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk
All the best
AF
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