LOOP Features

Andrewsfield - Compton Abbas Fly-out

BAD weather across the Channel forced Andrewsfield's Heelan's Flying Circus to cancel its planned fly-out to Holland at the end of the summer. Instead, the four-aircraft group decided to head to Compton Abbas.

Circus member Richard Trott, told LOOP, "The original plan to visit Ostend had been changed to a trip to the pleasant airfield at Midden Zeeland a bit further up the coast.
"But on the day, over France, Belgium and Holland the cloud base was low and vis almost non-existent! A rapid re-plan was in order.

"It was quickly established that the south-west of the UK was reporting CAVOK and the prevailing wind was from the west so a new destination was found - Compton Abbas."

The Circus had invited me to fly with them so I happily hopped in the back seat of the 172 with Shane Hoppings and Nick Ferris my pilots for the day.

Two Cherokees, a Cessna 172 and a Europa flew in convoy from the Essex airfield over the QE2 bridge, Brands Hatch and on towards Seaford. We then passed along the south coast through Shoreham ATC, before heading to the Dorset airfield.

It wasn't as straightforward as the pilots had hoped. Richard explained, "First job was locating the airfield, thankfully aided by a white strobe beacon. Second was identifying the noise abatement circuit, which most of us failed by misinterpreting the scale of the Pooleys diagram and ending up north of Shaftesbury!
"Third was completing a smooth landing in front of a huge crowd enjoying the atmosphere and fine food; a job made harder by a severe updraft from the hill the airfield is perched on... I think we all just about got away with it!"

A local air ambulance helicopter did a low-level flypast, while a stunning Tiger Moth and Stampe duo gave us a great photo opportunity on the ground.

Back at Andrewsfield, we watched a Messerschmitt 108 land, which had apparently spent the afternoon dogfighting with Spitfires, before heading home.

Richard concluded. "We never got to Holland but had a great day out regardless. Rumour has it that Heelan's Flying Circus may look to join up with other flying groups soon to share experiences."
W: www.andrewsfield.com

Register for LOOP

Find a school/club

Book Flying Lesson

Buy an aircraft

Sell an aircraft

LOOP Features

Andrewsfield - Compton Abbas Fly-out