Tue Jun 27, 2017 6:56 pm
#1543423
First flight/trip to Alderney via Brimpton which was necessary since it's one that has a Cert of Agreement to fly to, and return from, the Channel Islands.
Filed flight plans and GAR forms for out and back via SD. I printed off 2 copies of the Alderney GENDEC from the link that was sent me.
No passports required but photo ID and a GENDEC copy needed to get back onto the apron later. All wearing HiVis. Landing fee 12.75 GBP (Europa) (AVGas only 1.16 although I needed none).
20min flight to Brimpton from base to meet the requirement and don life jackets then 1hr to Alderney. Activated the flight plan with london info. Then to Solent while routing west of their zone, back to london after coasting out who required an estimate for FIR (glad I'd added a waypoint for it and it was a named point), then to Gurnesey to enter their class D for special VFR to Alderney.
Long crossings are appreciated by my wide who likes the still air. and lack of turbulance. The fact that the Europa Mono has classic foam wings and has been proven to float well is comforting.
Vis poor near IOW /Needles but improved rapidly. Fair amount of shipping to land ahead of.
Gurnesey passed me to Alderney who advised 08, I asked for 13 grass which was granted but there was little wind in anycase.
All helpful in the office. A map/guide was available and having unpacked the bikes, trundled off to circumnavigate the island and explore in clockwise fashion, Gannets rock being the first port of call. Followed the road round to all the beaches in turn and explored. Little traffic, reasonably mild hills (one long). Had lunch on a terrace at Braye overlooking the beach. Corblets beach seemed the prettiest, we should have stopped longer and swam. Perfect sand and all the beaches deserted. No sign of the train. Endless forts. Little traffic. Everywhere beautiful. Lastly the cobbled St Annes (not so good for small wheeled bikes). Looked over the coast from the green at Butes Lane and then trundled back. Why hadn't we been before? Next time we will take binoculars, swim and laze on a beach a bit.
Office changed my flight plan depart time for me, and gave me a squark, level and direction to depart. Back at Brimpton (landing £7.50) was met by a kindly crowd and a free cup of tea while we waited to see if Special Branch would come and check us over. They didn't, so homeward.
Alderney route by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
DSC09795 (1) by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Murky at IOW coasting out; should we proceed? Auto Pilot seemed unphased.
DSC09800 (1) by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Alderney with Gannet colony to the RHS, impressive boiling water all around.
DSC09804 (1) by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Is that the airfield?
DSC09810 (1) by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Gannet Rock
DSC09815 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
DSC09825 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Yep, that rock again
DSC09861 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Crabby (not the wife)
DSC09840 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Fort Clonque from Fort Tourgis
DSC09867 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
DSC09875 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Fine sandwiches at the 'First and Last' Braye
DSC09888 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
The Odeon, not sure what was showing, probably been used in a few films mind.
DSC09880 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Corblets beach - best for a swim in my view
DSC09893 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Fog horns (or venturi tubes)
DSC09902 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
The Capital - St Annes, complete with offices of local paper!
DSC09904 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
DSC09908 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Departing
Filed flight plans and GAR forms for out and back via SD. I printed off 2 copies of the Alderney GENDEC from the link that was sent me.
No passports required but photo ID and a GENDEC copy needed to get back onto the apron later. All wearing HiVis. Landing fee 12.75 GBP (Europa) (AVGas only 1.16 although I needed none).
20min flight to Brimpton from base to meet the requirement and don life jackets then 1hr to Alderney. Activated the flight plan with london info. Then to Solent while routing west of their zone, back to london after coasting out who required an estimate for FIR (glad I'd added a waypoint for it and it was a named point), then to Gurnesey to enter their class D for special VFR to Alderney.
Long crossings are appreciated by my wide who likes the still air. and lack of turbulance. The fact that the Europa Mono has classic foam wings and has been proven to float well is comforting.
Vis poor near IOW /Needles but improved rapidly. Fair amount of shipping to land ahead of.
Gurnesey passed me to Alderney who advised 08, I asked for 13 grass which was granted but there was little wind in anycase.
All helpful in the office. A map/guide was available and having unpacked the bikes, trundled off to circumnavigate the island and explore in clockwise fashion, Gannets rock being the first port of call. Followed the road round to all the beaches in turn and explored. Little traffic, reasonably mild hills (one long). Had lunch on a terrace at Braye overlooking the beach. Corblets beach seemed the prettiest, we should have stopped longer and swam. Perfect sand and all the beaches deserted. No sign of the train. Endless forts. Little traffic. Everywhere beautiful. Lastly the cobbled St Annes (not so good for small wheeled bikes). Looked over the coast from the green at Butes Lane and then trundled back. Why hadn't we been before? Next time we will take binoculars, swim and laze on a beach a bit.
Office changed my flight plan depart time for me, and gave me a squark, level and direction to depart. Back at Brimpton (landing £7.50) was met by a kindly crowd and a free cup of tea while we waited to see if Special Branch would come and check us over. They didn't, so homeward.
Alderney route by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
DSC09795 (1) by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Murky at IOW coasting out; should we proceed? Auto Pilot seemed unphased.
DSC09800 (1) by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Alderney with Gannet colony to the RHS, impressive boiling water all around.
DSC09804 (1) by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Is that the airfield?
DSC09810 (1) by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Gannet Rock
DSC09815 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
DSC09825 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Yep, that rock again
DSC09861 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Crabby (not the wife)
DSC09840 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Fort Clonque from Fort Tourgis
DSC09867 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
DSC09875 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Fine sandwiches at the 'First and Last' Braye
DSC09888 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
The Odeon, not sure what was showing, probably been used in a few films mind.
DSC09880 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Corblets beach - best for a swim in my view
DSC09893 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Fog horns (or venturi tubes)
DSC09902 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
The Capital - St Annes, complete with offices of local paper!
DSC09904 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
DSC09908 by Graeme Bird, on Flickr
Departing
Last edited by Birdyboy1 on Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.