Flight Report three

Flat calm on inflation, very severe gusts when upright. They were so severe we didn't think we could get off. Considering ripping out; when she stabilised and we managed to take off. Another twenty minutes of turbulence at 1000ft AGL, gusts from the front, left and right before everything settled down. Forecast wind was from the North-West, we expected a good track down to Winchester. Fat chance, wind was from the North-East. When airborne called Thruxton AG, Boscombe Approach and Middle Wallop Tower - not a sausage! By astonishing good luck we found ourselves passing through a small gap between the two ATZ's - unbelievable.

Just as well. We heard the roar of an aero-engine and watched a light aircraft take off from Middle Wallop. We flew over the railway line between Salisbury and Andover at 600ft AGL just as a train came along. Bill had his camcorder and got a perfect shot of it approaching and moving past us with it's horn blaring as we waved like mad. Mike flew most of the time with no problems, We were approaching Porton Down Danger Area so went down and landed with a three yard drag.

We had a lovely greeting from Judith and her two children (Hannah and Thomas) who wanted to know why we hadn't landed in their field. It was Bill's first flight and he enjoyed it.