Flying Adventure
A trio of treats Martin Ferid reviews his favourite three getaways of 2019 – Badminton, Sanicole, and Gelnhausen
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ith Santa safely back at base and Christmas done and dusted for another year, let’s hope that Rudolf and Co managed to circumnavigate the globe without an antler clipping someone’s airspace and an infringement being lodged against them. In many respects, 2019 was a nondescript year, full of ‘ifs’, ‘buts’ and ‘maybes’, with relatively few highs, some lows and plenty of uncertainty. Just as some people suffer from triskaidekaphobia (freaky about the number 13), just looking at the number 2020 gives me good vibes, as it has a positive and optimistic feel. The resolve to make those dynamic changes in our lives should last for a few days at least, after which it’s anybody’s guess. Some years ago, I saw a great motivational billboard poster that said: If you carry on doing what you’re doing, you’ll get more of the same. When hopes are high, we aspire to be more like Vitruvian Man, Da Vinci’s 1490 AD mathematical and artistic aim at perfection. Eat healthier? Drink less? Lose weight? And naturally, for the aviator, fly more! Unfortunately, when resolve is at its highest Newton’s third law kicks in like a perennial plant, events take over, forces conspire, and for most of us, well, it just doesn’t happen. Work, family duties and technical issues collude with whichever of the weather gods you believe in Þórr, Indra, Zeus, Jupiter or Seth,
Main Horsemanship of the highest calibre is on display at the Badminton Horse Trials.
and no doubt a few that I’ve missed, ensuring that when the pilot is otherwise committed, the weather appears to be fine and vice versa. Organising a flying event of any kind is risky, as the weather not only has to be reasonable at the location but also in as many outward directions as possible. As the pilots on our ‘fly-out list’ are based all over the country, at times we end up the lone aircraft to make it, whereas others prove to be extremely popular, it is just so weather dependent. One of the best examples of the past year was the opening of the ‘new’ restaurant at Calais airport, Vol Au Vent (+33 3 21 19 34 48). I’d met Frederick, the current incumbent, at his other restaurant in Ardres and assured him that, as the date got closer, I would see if we could generate some interest, as Calais is one of the few remaining customs airfields and anything that keeps it going is a good thing. Having had positive responses from 10 aircraft, I booked a table accordingly, knowing that on most occasions people tend to drop out as the date draws closer. Come the day with wall-to-wall sunshine, not only did nobody drop out but a total of 30 LAA aircraft turned up to a packed restaurant, with 14 squeezed around our table for 10. Those of you that are new to touring and have joined us on some of our little jaunts, I hope the thrills were worth the sleepless nights and that it has opened a whole new world for you. As for the numerous, almost
22 | LIGHT AVIATION | January 2020
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