UniformCharlie
At last - Swansea (Tuesday, 14 June 2005)
So here we were. I guess there were a few people in our club who thought we would not make it. But we did! First again, looking after GT, ie refuel.
Then off to find Robin, the ops mgr. First one where I put my foot in it. I had a completely different person in mind when I had spoken to him over the phone to arrange hangaring for GT. And I was blonde enough to tell him. Well, I think he did not mind, hope the "Maggi-Fix Currywurst" made up for it. He arranged for us to put GT in the hangar with the local planes. I had already arranged for the hire car from Day's Rental to be brought up to the airport. Thanks a lot Neil! So that left us with about 25 mins to fold the wings and get our stuff out of the plane. And for a minute or two for some hangar chat ...
... where I had my second blonde moment that day. Sorry, Gary, it must have been your sunglasses 
. I would have liked to find a hole in the hangar floor to disappear into, much to the amusement of LP who was enjoying himself tremendously. Anyway, these two blonde moments of mine made LP's day and he was already scheming how to weave them into future conversations.
We got it done in time and as we were chatting to the receptionist, our driver from Day's pulled up outside. Usual efficient handling of paperwork by Neil and his crew in the office and off we went in our Ford KA. Joe is right, it's a bit like taking part in a cart race.
We had access to a house in Killay. So our first pitstop was Tesco's in town to get some basic food. Luckily LP and I seemed to have a similar taste and ideas of how to stock up for a day or two. And finally some Rioja for Clint and Sonia. The Rioja never made it there as we found some German wine in the house, which we thought to be much more appropriate, but could not have brought from Germany ourselves for weight restrictions.
On our way out of Tesco's we walked past the newspapers and there it was ... a face I knew, and the name matched. LP was a bit suspicious after my performance of (not) recognising people and associating wrong names to their faces. But a fellow SFA member had made the headlines:
Back at the house just about time for a shower, dig out a road map and the directions Clint had sent and off to their place up the valley. Me driving, LP doing the navigation. Well. I do drive fast, but we were still 20 mins late 
.
Very nice evening and Clint and Sonia's place. As Clint is building an aeroplane there was plenty to talk about and look at. I am sure there would have been much more to talk about had we had more time.
But they both had to get up early in the morning and we had planned to do some flying in the morning. Up to Snowdonia. So back down the valley to Killay. No directions and navigation required. I remembered the way we had come.
Final leg to Swansea (Tuesday, 14 June 2005)
So we took of from Redhill and I could swear that I saw the London Eye to my right. Correct me if I'm wrong. Can you see the Eye from above the hills around Redhill?
Lovely Flight Information chaps on the radio again, letting us through their pink bits. Farnborough first, where we were politely asked - with lots of apologies - if we could, again possibly, slightly adjust our course to make way for a photo flight. Yep, sure! No problem. Tried to locate the AAIB (British equivalent to the Flugunfalluntersuchungsstelle in Braunschweig- whow nice one) from the air, but no luck.
Farnborough (EGLF)
On our way to the next pink bit - Lyneham - we passed VRP Marlborough with another little local dwelling.
With it being called Marlborough I first thought we were flying over Blenheim, but it couldn't have been as we were south of the M4.
Next on our pencil line was Lyneham, a RAF outfit, where I had seen months ago - from a Sainsbury car park - biiiiiiig bombers doing circuits in formation. Cool. We asked to transition the zone, but ATC was a bit non-commital on that one. Just when the big fat line came up on the GPS, tellling us we were about to enter a special user zone - the controller came on again and cleared us. I had already started to shift uneasily in GT's very uncomfortable seat and was wondering whether, and if so how, to suggest to LP that maybe we should, or rather wouldn't it be a good idea to possibly check whether we CAN actually follow the pencil line. So with Lyneham to our right we moved on to Bristol Filton.
In the early stages of our planning we had considered Filton a possible alternate. But when I checked they would not have motorgliders. Since then I have learned: we are not a motorglider, we are an SF25. Posh! Sounds a bit like A380, wouldn't you think? I bet they wouldn't have had that one either!
Ahead of us another piece of water, this time separating England from Wales - the Bristol Channel - with its two bridges:
New A4 Severn Bridge
Not very far to go now. Just ahead of us was Cardiff. I have been to Cardiff quite often recently and particularly liked the newly-developed dock area: Cardiff Bay. All it took was to mention this to LP and he ask the ATC chappies if we could do a bit of sight-seeing. Yeah, sure, go ahead, just report overhead Millenium Stadium. I was gobsmacked.
The gleaming roof in the back/left is the new cultural centre built with materials from Wales- to its right the red brick building is the current National Assembly for Wales (hello Paul!) To the left of that - with the oval bits on the roof - is the new Assembly Building. In scaffolding to the left again is the Pierpoint Building which houses the National Assembly's Information Centre. Right at the bottom on the left, the Norwegian Church. And the bit on the right that looks like an abandoned piece of oversized hosepipe is the Information Centre, not sure though for what, the Bay, maybe?
D-KDGT, overhead Millenium Stadium
Very close to Swansea now. Just the wide expanse of Corus' Port Talbot steel plant in front of us. Tried to ring Clint as we were flying over who said was slaving over a hot computer at the time.
And now Swansea Bay. Roughly sketching out to LP on the map how to approach. Coming in on the 28 with Mumbles on the left. We were both straining our eyes for the field. I had a roughish idea, but there were two options. I got quite excited when I saw it first. LP somehow did not appreciate my enthusiasm and kept mocking me right into final. Needless to say he'd done better landings, ha! Well, as they say: what goes around comes around *sorry LP, but it had to be said ... ... it's your turn when we get to Shoreham!*
Swansea (EGFH) 28
England here we come! (Monday, 13 June 2005)
With British soil under our wings we were handed over to Lydd Information. And we had a whale of a time with the guy and his carrot on that frequency. *Don't know what it is but there are lots of bunnies and carrots involved on this trip ... sorry folks, insider joke 
* Anyway. God, did he take his job seriously. I could see him in front of me: clean shaven, crisp uniform shirt, freshly-sharpened pencil poised and everything under total control. "Lydd Information. D-KDGT. Pass your message." I cracked up everytime he asked someone to "pass" his "message" in his ever so wonderful Queen's English. It was hilarious.
In turns we pointed out to each other the little cottage dwellings of the locals. Here's an example:
Not sure if you can see the long drive and the outdoor pool.
Coming back to the Flight Information Service in the UK. They are professionals, they know what they are doing, you get worthwhile information and they do what they can for you. So at least that's where the landing fees of 12 to 15 pounds Sterling go to. There was always something going on on these frequencies. When one G-bladeebla was informed about a motorglider in their 2 o'clock position you knew that the next call was for you to let you know that something was moving in your 10 o'clock position. Also here, like in Germany, Belgium and France, no problem moving through the pink bits on the map. I guess LP's RT was the key to it all .
I had punched Redhill's reporting points in the GPS, in our case Godstone Railway Station, so our approach was quite professional. We actually were where we said we were. After our initial call they guy on Redhill TWR said that they already had our details and knew who we were. When asked whether he had the field in sight, LP said that it must be the bigger one of the green open spaces ahead of us. Yes, sure, keep going and you'll see the runway markers shortly. And we sure did. Lush green runways - well, England after all.
We first looked after GT. She was thirsty and had her second dose of Avgas for the day. From a bowser, like a real plane *sorry GT*:
Then we went up to the TWR for a chat and a brew (British English for coffee or tea):
LP, Fred Carter and Fraser Hay
Guys you were great! Just some of the help and support that we received: internet access, use of phone, taxi-call, ride across to the hangar, free hangarage, superb brews and a very nice and relaxed atmosphere. The real world of Redhill is as professional and nice as promised on their website.
The hangar we had already been offered in a phone call from Germany a few days earlier was nearly empty. So plenty of space for GT - but ... the hangar doors were not wide enough, so we had to fold at least one wing. Ever so glad we had practised it at home. So, night night GT:
When Fraser took us back to the TWR they even had our hire "cars" ready:
Only joking ... but it would have appealed!
If you're ever staying overnight in Redhill, DO NOT GO ANYWHERE NEAR GATWICK! STAY IN REDHILL! We should have stuck to our initial plan for a B&B in Redhill. Instead, heaven knows why, we went for a hotel in Horsham or something like that *I prefer to forget the name*. No more details than just this photo of the view from my room. Package tourists' cars parked in the hotel yard. The rest I leave to your imagination.
Finished the evening off in a nearby plastic pub with standard food, but a few good pints.
Still brilliant weather the following day. Planning the onward flight over a cooked English breakfast and back off to the airfield. Reassembled GT under the comments of some chopper pilots ... "Does it only fly in circles when it has it's wing down?" ... and finally said good-bye to the TWR crew. Take-off and bye-bye. Hope to see you again some time, boys! Your are great!
One little episode though, for the folks back home: When walking from the hangar to the TWR we walked across "a bit of green". We were then POLITELY asked whether we could POSSIBLY, on the way back, PERHAPS use the tarmac taxiway, but only IF IT WAS CONVENIENT and DIDN'T MIND. We had walked straight across their third runway! LP and I pictured a similar situation at our home field, had it happened under the eyes of one particular person on the TWR: "Get your f*** b*** a**** off that f*** b*** runway and report to TWR immediately". All of it of course over the tannoy! Jawoll, Herr Flugleiter! Can you hear the heels clicking? 
Across the water
And now came the interesting bit. Crossing the channel on our second leg to Redhill. We made a beeline for Calais, passing Lille on our right and Merville Calonne on our left. Good thing we did not have to land in Lille. I was in charge of getting the VFR approach charts together. So I looked on the ICAO chart for Lille's location indicator: LFQQ, hmm or is it LFQO, or maybe LFOQ? Very difficult to decipher on that teensy-weensy print. I found LFQO on the internet. Wonderful. So there we are. I printed out the chart marked Lille Marcq. Only to find out - LATER IN THE AIR - that there are two Lille aerodromes: Lille Lesquin (LFQQ) and Lille Marqc (LFQO). Oooops. It became quite obvious when the runway layout did not match. Anyway, this is Lille Lesquin (LFQQ):
This bit of Belgium is not too exciting - countryside-wise at least. So I played with the VORs to establish more or less exactly where we were, so when Flight Information asked LP for our position we never had to say "I'll call you back" - as I remembered only too well from the RT course a while ago.
Meanwhile the sun was burning down relentlessly and under the hood of GT you feel like under a burning glass. We had a bit of an argument whether I should get the suncream out of my bag. I guess LP preferred to put up with half an hour of me dragging out and rummaging around my bag to half a week of me moaning about my burnt arms. LP, you were right! I did need the suncream! Thanks for making me put it on!
After St. Omer - we both saw it at the same time: WATER! THE CHANNEL! Well, at least I found it extremely exciting. We could already see the White Cliffs of Dover across the water:
But before we got there, there was more to see:
Calais Dunkerque (LFAC) ...
... which I refer to as "Le F***"
Coquelles Eurotunnel Terminal
Calais Town Centre and Ferry Port
By then we we climbing to 4500MSL ... just in case our - by then trusted - Limbach decided to take its ball away - and hopefully we could then glide ashore.
Crossing the water with the other side in view in front of you is very reassuring. But also, there were lots and lots of ferries - so if we would have really had to ditch, we would have probably hit the steel hull of one of these boats, rather than the water.
The weather was brilliant. It was fantastic!
A few more impressions of this - at least for me - overwhelming part of the flight:
The shoreline towards Ramsgate
SeaCat fast boat from Dover to Calais
Cliffs east off Dover
Ferry leaving Dover port
No we didn't!
... return the hire car and leave Swansea! Not for a looooong time to come.
Anyway, when we had refuelled in Charleroi - you can't pay cash or by card so we had the bill sent to WW - we sent off for our long walk to GAT. Very impressive. Everybody in uniform shirts. Security checks. With walkie-talkies. Up some stairs. Down some stairs. Makes you feel really important. But we first needed the ... well, you know what's. So off we went to our respective doors with the little lady and the little man on it. We both re-emerged laughing our heads off! Both of us had virtual "Close Encounters of the Strange Kind". When I was washing my hands a very little girl walked in, planted herself next to me and with a very serious face told me "Il faut que je fasse pipi". "Aahhh, ehmm, oui, ehh tres bien. Tu sais comment le faire?", I enquired. "Mais oui!" she replied full of indignation. In short: "I have to have a wee". "Ahh, ehmm, fine, do you know how to do that?" - "Yes, of course!!!" Something similar must have happend to LP next door, with the only difference that he did not understand the little boy who kept rabbiting *ooops * on about ... probably the same subject as the little girl. Well, it was very funny at the time and we kept laughing about it for a while.
So back we went ... uniform shirts, walkie-talkies, stairs, etc. ... to the place where we could file our flight plan:
Now I know what it's called, the flight plan: PLAN DE VOL. It was not in the aviation mini-dictionary that I had copied from WW. But we eventually got there. LP filed our flight plan to Redhill. The more or less obligatory one hour before it can be activated (you will see later that it can be done differently) gave us time for a bite to eat and a coffee.
Ah, and something else happened in this office. Something that left me extremely nervous for a brief moment. When we wanted to pay for the landing fees, we were told again that they can't be paid for neither in cash or by credit card. Only on invoice. Crikey, what are these fees gonna be like!!! So I carefully asked, "C'est combien l'aterrisage?" "Cinque quarante-cinque." I held my breath. Five forty-five. But where does the decimal point go? Behind the first five or the second one? It must be horrendous if we can't pay cash! So I carefully wrote 545 on a piece of paper and the nice gentleman put a comma after the first five! What a relief 
. "BUT ... " he said, "there's VAT on top of it!" Oh well, what the heck!
Nice stroll down to where GT was waiting for us and we got ready to take off again.
But not before the necessary paperwork was done:
It's time ...
... to tell the tale.
Ok, so you know we made it to Redhill. We made it even further an are now in Swansea. In fact, we are planning our departure already. LP is just sitting over the met reports and working out the wind. (He is using yet another sheet of these expensive Jeppesen forms ) Lines are on the chart. GPS is programmed. But it's p*** down!!!! Shock horror.
But let me retrack.
We took off on Monday with a delay of about 20 mins. We said good-bye to Alex on the tower over the radio and settled down to an intended 3 hrs flight. Originally we had planned to refuel in Calais, but we had adverse winds of about 15 knots blowing straight on GT's brighly-polished nose. So we had Charleroi (EBCI) down as our pitstop. I had tried to phone the airport before we took off, but AIS Frankfurt only came up with a number that got me to Ryanair!!! or to a phone where you needed to have a touchtone to get connected further. At least it gave me an opportunity to practise my French with the Ryanair lady. She blankly refused to give me any phone number for ops or twr. Merci bien.
Our line on the map led us past and slap-bang through a couple of pink spots. And god, was that fun! EDFH (Frankfurt-Hahn) was first. No problem, had done that myself before. And then the exciting bit, at least I thought - ETAD (Spangdahlem). All it took was:
GT:
Spangdahlem Tower
D-KDGT
TWR:
Spangdahlem Tower
D-KDGT
go ahead
GT:
request to transition zone at 3000
TWR:
present position
GT:
south east of field
just left Hahn control zone
TWR:
request approved
report entering zone
A-10 in circuit
GT:
entering zone
TWR:
report leaving zone
GT:
leaving zone
So that's how close we were:
After that we spoke to Luxemburg approach, then to Belga Info Mil as the civilian guys were just having their coffee break and the frequency was dead.
En route were quite a few EB(D)s and EB(R)s but we did not have to go around any of them. Asking politely whether we could cut across always did the job. One area was active "but only up to 1500MSL" and we were were WAAAAAAAY above it at, well, hmm, just about 2500MSL!
And then finally we spoke to Charleroi. When you come from the south/southwest you go straight across the town and the field is in the north. Not an easy one to find. But if you look out for the usual things like hangars and an open stretch in the otherwise fairly densely-populated area you obviously can't go wrong.
Easy landing ... well at least that what it looked or rather felt like ... apart from the fact that I got a cramp in my right leg the moment we touched down and was dead-quiet (unusual for me) - until we had taxied to the fuel station.
More later ... We are ready to return the hire car and make our way to Swansea airport.
We made it
We just landed in Redhill. GT hangared. Refuelling in Charleroi due to strong headwinds. Absolutely fabulous. Crossing the Channel was a dream!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely fabulous.