FLYING ADVENTURE

Well, you have to admire the indefatigable British spirit, as it certainly shone through at the 75th Anniversary LAA Rally this year. Considering the demographic, most of us should be looking for a quiet life watching the box or doing a bit of gardening. Not a bit of it, with around 800 arrivals still making it the busiest fly-in in Europe. As usual, the walk across the airfield takes anything up to an hour simply chatting with people not seen for so long. Remarkably most people also managed a degree of social distancing throughout the whole of the event.

I did feel a little sorry for Eryl Smith, the new Rally Chairman, who had to hit the ground running with more balls to juggle than arms. But heigh-ho, I guess it goes with the territory. Also, well done to Chris Thompson and Below Bodmin Airfield is an ideal location for a holiday break in Cornwall. his team, who made the ‘air to ground’ radio work so much simpler than the old FISO system normally in place. In fact, a big well done and thanks to all those involved in helping out.

As for my part, I got my usual stints at the Speakers’ Corner lectern, extolling the wonders of touring to the converted and unconverted alike. It was good to meet so many who possess the appetite for discovery which, after all, was what originally put the Great in Britain. Even CEO Steve Slater was smitten by exciting tales of glorious flights to lovely locations, and has booked a cross-Channel trip next season in his soon to be completed Piper Cub.

Although my passion for touring lies on the other side of La Manche, this year’s features have intentionally been kept closer to home for obvious reasons. I’m hoping to move it up a notch or two in the new year. The rules for UK Permit aircraft are changing, along with our relationship

with Europe and deciphering the regulations is difficult, unless, that is, you choose to go to France!

The French have excelled themselves in deciding to accept any combination of licence and medical that’s valid in the UK – though that ruling only applies to permit aircraft, which has to be reason enough to fly one; but believe me, France is a pretty big place.

Chatting with some of the RV boys, they have chosen Corsica as next year’s fly-out destination, which is daring enough to scratch the itch, but without actually leaving France.

I can see a little Jodel making the trip, although, in the absence of an elastic band, it may well need a bit of help from the Mistral in keeping up. Aeroplanes were made for travel, so let’s start making plans for next year. Historically, landing in France without a customs official in sight has been a non-event. Nowadays though, without the freedom of movement we had as members of the EU, the number of days we are allowed within the EU is limited and having just managed a few days away, I thought I’d pass on a cautionary tale. It felt more like a homecoming and, as a first evening away, it was thrilling to be once again sat on the terrace of a nice restaurant in St Omer – the relaxed atmosphere in the warm sunshine was like a much-needed balm. The next day’s flight to Amiens involved a certain amount of shower dodging, made eminently worthwhile with familiar, traditional French dishes like, ficelle Picarde, moules marinière and crème brûlée in the company of a group of friends alongside the River Somme. Quite fortuitously, we even managed to catch the Cathedral’s last light show of the season, giving us a true sense of well-being. frenchweekendbreaks.co.uk/page/chroma-amiens.

All was going well until attempting to depart from Albert (LFAQ), one of the few remaining customs airfields in the area. After jumping through the hoops of the now partially scrapped and questionable UK Covid rules, with as good a forecast as one could hope for, the whole weekend felt like a breath of fresh air… except my passport hadn’t been stamped inbound and, with all the adamantine flexibility one expects from customs officials, they wanted verification as to when I had entered the country. The two officers were devoid of conversational titbits, a smile or even the facial expressions that often transcend language barriers and my poor attempt at levity fell on deaf ears.

It would be easy to fulminate and for those that tour regularly, be warned, things aren’t quite what they used to be. The situation was eventually resolved, but only once the required proof was provided and the atmosphere and dynamic changed, leaving me free to go. I’d suggest keeping copies of your flight plan or finding a method of proving entry should you encounter something similar.

As things stand, a passport isn’t yet required to get into Cornwall and, you may laugh, but that’s not as ridiculous as it may sound. The county has a certain amount of autonomy and independence, having never actually had an Act of Union incorporating it into England. You are more likely to see the flag of St Piran rather than that of St George, so ‘Cornxit’ could still be a possibility!

After taking power, the regnant Henry VII imposed Above Padstow is a delightful seaside town with a reputation for good seafood. additional taxes on the Cornish to fund ongoing campaigns in Scotland, and in a cathartic response, thousands of them banded together to march on London. On 17 June 1497, the two sides met cheek to cheek, jowl to jowl at Deptford, outside London, in the Battle of Blackheath. The protesters were outmanned and outgunned by the King's men and were duly defeated. As a result, the taxes were abolished, but over 1,000 Cornishmen had perished.

Cornwall is known as Kernow in Cornish and has a language unique to the ‘horn’ or ‘kern’ of England. It is bounded by the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tamar that separates it from Devon. Much as I’ve seen Lands’ End and Lizard Point from the air in good weather, it's also on the to-do list on foot.

The rugged coastline and coastal paths lend themselves for a return to nature, battling the elements – needless to say, followed by a pint or two by a roaring log fire in one of the local hostelries. The airfield of Bodmin is worthy of note, as it has unwittingly become an ecological success in creating a traditional hay meadow. And what have they done to achieve this ‘tree-hugging’ status? Well, not very much as, apart from cutting the runways, the rest of the land has remained more or less untouched and pesticide free for decades.

As outlined in LA’s last issue, by chance Ian Benallick, the Botanical Recorder for Cornwall, noticed wild orchids at Bodmin and as a result the airfield’s flora and fauna has drawn the positive interest of various organisations and universities.

Jay Gates is the manager and Bruce Abbot their CFI at the airfield, the latter from personal experience, I can verify sets a very high standard. Another Bodmin local is Aeronca driver Pete White, who remains one of their most enthusiastic exponents of aviation – I’m sure if you cut him, he’d bleed either avgas or 15W50 multigrade. Pete organises many events and tours, and gives talks in the local schools hoping to guarantee the future of GA. More recently, he has been joined by Ellie Carter, who is not only significantly closer in age to the school kids, but also provides living proof of a success story. At 14 years old she became the youngest glider pilot in the UK, and on her 16th birthday, the youngest powered pilot. bbc.co.uk/ newsround/47613030. The club is member-owned and refreshingly has many

Above right The west coast path offers stunning views along its 630 miles.

Below Port Isaac is best known as the Portwenn, the location for TV’s Doc Martin. youngsters, without a grey hair in sight, actively learning to fly. This may be due to the way the club promotes aviation within the local community but could also be partially attributed to the very favourable hourly rate of the RV-12 added to their club fleet a year or so ago.

The town of Bodmin is about 10 minutes away by car, or there's a bus stop (Nos 76 and 890) in the layby at the end of the lane that leads to the airfield.

For ease of exploring, a call to the aeroclub or an online search should produce the numbers of car hire companies, putting the whole of Cornwall at your feet. bodminairfield.com/

In general, food in Bodmin or the immediate area is pub-style food, sometimes with a slight twist to justify the higher pricing. Diner 31 is the airfield restaurant and works well if you only want a bite to eat without going into town. Open Wednesday – Sunday 01208 821419. The Blisland Inn has menus on a blackboard, less than 10 minutes away by taxi and about an hour’s walk. They serve pub food with umpteen mugs hanging from the ceiling as décor the cost is around £20 per head. The Inn, Blisland, Cornwall PL30 4JF. Jamaica Inn The same buses that go to Bodmin will also get you to this built in 1750 coaching inn, but going in the opposite direction. In days gone by, due to its remote location, it was a popular smugglers’ haunt and is named after the local Trelawney family, who served as Governors of Jamaica during the 18th century. The Inn, with an interesting museum of smuggling artefacts, is also a hotel but is fairly pricey, rooms starting at around £145. Bolventor, Launceston PL15 7TS 01566 86250 jamaicainn.co.uk/

The Old School House is a B&B in nearby Cardinham and is a good choice if you visit the airfield for an event and are not camping, which is permissible. It’s a couple of miles away, making it a 40-minute walk, although so far I’ve always been lucky enough to get a lift, one way at least. Averys Green, PL30 4EA. 01208 821303. White Hart Inn is in the heart of Bodmin, with basic pub rooms at realistic prices that won’t break the bank. Around £65 per night. 2 Pool Street, Bodmin, PL31 2HA, The Bodmin Jail Hotel is also in town and allows spending time in gaol without actually doing time. You can stay and eat, but it’s not cheap, with rooms at over £220 per night. Constructed in 1779, it was very modern and forward-thinking in its day. Starting life as a debtor’s prison, it finally closed in 1927, but only after 55 murderers and burglars had been duly executed. Scarlett’s Well Rd, PL31 2PL 01208 822822 bodminjailhotel.com/

The area is one where the cost of car hire can be easily offset by the savings on hotel rooms. The other alternatives are, on foot, by bus, on a steam train or by bicycle. Bodmin and Wenford Railway, the steam train runs a 13-mile service through the picturesque Cornish countryside from Bodmin General, near the centre of town, to Bodmin Parkway. It is made even more nostalgic when everyone is adorned in period costume. The train also links up with the Camel trail or can be used to visit Lanhydrock House. bodminrailway.co.uk/ The Camel Trail is a cyclists’ paradise, although it is also used by walkers and horse riders as it has no traffic and follows the Camel River along the old disused railway line. The total length is about 18 miles, stretching from Padstow to Bodmin Moor, although the 11 miles from as far as Bodmin are reasonably flat. A leisurely day cycling along the trail, enjoying the remarkable scenery and stopping off every now and again, has all the appeal of Richmal Crompton’s rather naughty and unruly Just William. padstowcyclehire.com/camel-trail/ Lanhydrock House and Garden is a grand Victorian manor house set in 1000 acres of parkland, consisting of 50 rooms and very much in the Upstairs Downstairs tradition, bringing to life the differences in lifestyle, especially when venturing from the formal rooms to the servant's quarters. The well-kept gardens are a tribute to the gardeners. nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock Bodmin Keep was built in 1859 to provide accommodation for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. These days it is Cornwall’s Regimental Museum, housing collections from Waterloo to the Berlin Wall. Fans of military memorabilia will spend hours exploring the packed rooms, but even the average tourist will need a couple of hours to complete the tour. bodminkeep.org/ Dowr Kammel is Cornish for the geological ria that’s called the Camel Estuary in English. It’s where the trail culminates in an area of outstanding beauty, with prolific birdlife and opportunities for a little safe wild swimming. Bodmin Moor is a bleak, remote, windswept moorland dotted with pretty villages and ancient sites with numinous qualities, making it a magnet from hikers to those searching for the supernatural. During the ages, there have been many who have lost their way on the moor, resulting in dire consequences. Even now, with no light pollution it’s seriously dark at night, so much so that the area has been designated a ‘Dark Sky Park’ for stargazers.

To further enhance its paranormal mystique, there have been numerous reported sightings of the ‘beast of Bodmin Moor’. It is reputed to be a big black, panther-like cat with yellow eyes. In 1995 the government ordered an official investigation into its existence, which concluded that there was no evidence of a big cat on the moors. However, in true political style, the addendum stated that there was also no evidence to refute its existence either. South West Coast Path runs a total of 630 miles and encompasses the whole of the Cornish coastline. For those that enjoy walking holidays, the area is ideally suited, for the rest of us a day or so, armed with a picnic and the Atlantic blowing away the cobwebs, is a welcome tonic.

The opportunity for a spot of ‘spelunking’ is possible beneath Tintagel Castle, wherein lies Merlin’s Cave with its legendary links to King Arthur. https://www.englishheritage.org.uk.

The scenery is nothing short of stunning and its beauty easily enjoyed on mild, sunny days, although the forces of nature that shape the landscape can only be fully Above Way mark stones on the expansive Bodmin Moor. Photo:

appreciated when the winds are howling, and the rain is teeming. southwestcoastpath.org.uk/ Portwenn is somewhere that doesn’t really exist, although it is still possible to visit. It is actually the fictional village portrayed in the TV series Doc Martin, although in reality the filming is done in the pretty fishing village of Port Isaac. Unfortunately, the tiny village alleyways and attractive layout have made it a victim of its own success, as it gets pretty gridlocked in the summer months. Padstow is a place with everything going for it, a pretty harbour, nice beaches, attractive cottages and an absolute Mecca for foodies, with Michelin starred restaurateurs Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth leading the way for seafood lovers. Once again, the volume of tourists puts a lot of pressure on what is only a small town.

Conveniently this month, both LA (in September issue) and FLYER have free landing vouchers for those that would like to visit before winter sets in. For more detailed info or specifics on Bodmin or Cornwall in general, try The Bodmin Information Centre, Shire Hall, Mount Folly Square 01208 76616 bodminlive.com/information/bodmininformation-centre/ Finally, with wall-to-wall sunshine, the weather couldn’t have been better for the last of the season’s ‘Meet the LAA’ days, hosted by the Kent Strut and held at Headcorn (EGKH). Yet again, there was that easy atmosphere where the blend of familiar faces mixed with new acquaintances made the hours fly. It was good to meet Filip Lambert of Lambert Mission fame, who had flown in from Belgium especially for the event. Striking up a rapport, we have made tentative arrangements for a fly-out next year and those who would like to come along will be most welcome. ■

Martin Ferid is a Class Rating Instructor / Revalidation Examiner, specialising in advanced tuition and confidence-building flights in your aircraft throughout Europe and the UK. These adventures can be taken as simple day trips or a few days at a time.

Browsing through the ‘favourite destinations’ on the website below should inspire tyro and experienced pilots alike. For amusement, try the ‘bit of fun’ section on the ‘contacts’ tab. For a confidence boost, a biennial flight, or for some long-distance flying, we can make it fun too! Email: lightaircrafttraining@yahoo.com Tel: 07598 880178 Website: lightaircrafttraining.co.uk