My trip to Turweston today was ever so slightly sad as unfortunately, it is probably my last trip in this flying season. I know that that is not really a thing but it does mean that the expensive stuff often goes back inside. Another major problem with it is the fact that the days are shorter. This time next week, sunset will be around half past 5 and in the blink of an eye it’ll be 4.
Instead of complaining about the future, I’ll just say that today was quite good. There was a nice variety of aircraft including Turweston’s resident Sokol M1C. This is the only one of its type in the UK and 8 in the world. Five of these are in museums and only three still fly, as a result it is a privilege to be able to see this Czechoslovakian beauty grace the Northamptonshire sky. Another highlight was SIAI-Marchetti G-MACH. Although the SIAI-Marchetti is not as rare as the Sokol, it is still one of my favourite aircraft with clean lines and enviable speed.
As Turweston’s nearby land is used for farming, it is interesting seeing the seasons change with the crops, a while ago you may have noticed the yellow oilseed rape and later, the golden wheat. Now, the sheep have been moved and so, instead of cultivated land, there are some sheep in the background of some of the photos.
I have found that doing the new format saves me a lot of time as well and as there were no concerns raised, it shall stay.
I would also like to use the opportunity to tell you about a couple of exciting announcements.
The first is that www.aviatoruk.ga is no longer http:// but https:// due to the major server upgrades which were made yesterday by Euan. These should also mean that the server is both quicker and more reliable. As a result the risk of “carpet ignition” is significantly reduced.
The other news is that I have been published in this month’s Pilot magazine (that’s the December issue). It may not be out in the shops yet, but my copy dropped through the letterbox this morning. If you are looking to find my article and photo, look for page 64 and I am at the bottom.
These were the aircraft I saw today:
| G-AIXN | 1947 | Sokol | M1C |
| G-ASZU | 1965 | Cessna | 150E |
| G-ATEM | 1964 | Piper | PA-28-180 Cherokee |
| G-AVLT | 1967 | Piper | PA-28-140 Cherokee |
| G-AYAC | 1969 | Piper | PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow |
| G-AYDZ | 1965 | Jodel | DR200 |
| G-BCKV | 1974 | Reims-Cessna | FRA150L Aerobat |
| G-BEZF | 1974 | Grumman | AA-5 Traveller |
| G-BOBV | 1977 | Reims-Cessna | F150M |
| G-BORK | 1981 | Piper | PA-28-161 Warrior II |
| G-BXDN | 1952 | De Havilland Canada | DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 |
| G-BXOX | 1978 | Grumman | AA-5A Cheetah |
| G-BZLC | 1998 | PZL | 110 Koliber 160A |
| G-CBBS | 1973 | Scottish Aviation | Bulldog Series 120 Model 121 |
| G-CCMR | 2003 | Robinson | R22 Beta |
| G-CGLT | 2010 | CZAW | Sportcruiser |
| G-CIWU | 1991 | Mcdonnel Douglas | MD369E |
| G-EERV | 2002 | Vans | RV-6 |
| G-HALS | 2007 | Robinson | R44 Raven II |
| G-IILY | 2000 | Robinson | R44 Raven |
| G-JAEE | 2010 | Vans | RV-6A |
| G-LIKY | 2015 | Aviat | A-C-180 Husky |
| G-MACH | 1968 | SIAI-Marchetti | SF.260 |
| G-NJOY | 1982 | Piper | PA-28-181 Archer II |
| G-OBJT | 2005 | Europa | XS |
| G-OCFD | 1980 | Bell | 206B Jetranger III |
| G-OPEP | 1979 | Piper | PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV |
| G-OPSG | 2013 | Eurofox | 912(S) |
| G-SAPI | 1976 | Piper | PA-28-181 Archer II |
| G-SSTL | 2016 | Just AirCraft | SuperStol |
| G-TWLV | 2011 | Vans | RV-12 |
| G-WACY | 1984 | Reims-Cessna | F172P Skyhawk |
Gallery
