100 Hours...

After just having a new cylinder fitted, VA needed a good running in. A process which would require a normal climb and departure, before reducing the power to 75%, which worked out at around 2100RPM for the first hour of flight and then varying between 65-75% power, between 1800-2100RPM for the second hour of flight. Realistically, this was not a problem, all it meant was that another element of workload was placed upon my mind. The route taken would therefore have to accommodate for a flight time of at least two hours. I decided to stay out of the vicinity of controlled airspace, just in case a problem did develop and we potentially became a hazard to other aircraft operating in the area. The route was set, the Lake District it was. The plan was to track North West from Barton towards Wigan, before turning North to Lancaster via Preston. A quick hop over Morcombe Bay would lead us to Grange-over-Sands, our low level entry point to the Lakes and beyond. Tracking along Windermere, we would then turn around Ambleside and return via the Northern tip of Coniston Water and Walney Island, before crossing a stretch of the Irish Sea and then tracking the coast down via Blackpool, Woodvale and Walney. The final leg would see VA turn Eastwards towards Wigan and then return to Barton. Apart from the obvious ATZ's around Barton, Blackpool, Woodvale and Walney, the only controlled airspace in the vicinity of the flight path, would be the TMA's of Manchester and Liverpool.

Arriving at Barton at 08:30 was a necessity due to the fore casted strong winds and reduced vis which the afternoon could bring. Taking off at 09:00, the flight went spot onto plan. The weather was great, very warm with little cloud below 3000ft and very light winds. The only problems experienced were by the ever increasing haze, which was apparent on the return via Walney. Not having the full power of the Continental engine, meant that we could not venture as far up into the Lakes as I would have liked to, due to the obvious problems of altitude. Anyway, the top and bottom of it is, that the engine performed nicely and after the two hours of running in had passed, I opened her up and once again felt the full power available under the hood. Its amazing how much power 2500RPM actually gives, when you have been flying around on 1800-2100RPM for the previous two hours.

A smooth landing back at Barton, via an overhead join for RWY 09, led to the end of the three hour test flight. The wind had just picked up to a noticeable force, but still nothing that could not be handled. Although this had technically been a test flight, to me it felt more than this. It was another fantastic opportunity to experience the beauty of the English countryside and the thrills of flying across different terrains. Today was also a milestone in my personnel flying career, due to the fact that i passed the 100 hours total time mark. It is amazing just how close to you these areas are, when you are able to fly...