The Best Day Ever!!!

Looking out of the window, the weather was looking perfect, warm, sunny, cloudless and blue… Since being at KSEE last September, I had missed the sights of this! Arriving at Barton at 11.00 AM, the flight planning was finished with a quick calculation of the winds and the required HDG’s. Luckily for us, we didn’t need fuel or ‘roads where we were going’, as Barton was getting very busy. It looked like every man and his dog wanted to get up today. Departing at 12.00, we used RWY 20, one which up to date, I had not had the pleasure of using. Short, but well maintained, with lovely views of the Manchester Ship Canal on climb out.


Departing the CCT on downwind, me and my princess tracked around the MCR Class D zone, and up over the peaks of Derbyshire. Flying overhead Huddersfield Crossland Moor, the destination was Breighton, the home of the Real Aeroplane Company, an interesting and greatly anticipated collection. Approaching Knottingly, near Pontefract, we were treated to the real sights of the British power industry; the cooling towers of Southern Yorkshires power stations. With the steam slowly rising in the heat and little wind, they were very pretty.

Apparently, Breighton is a notoriously difficult airfield to spot from the air, but knowing that the old RAF base lay just to the North, it was a relatively easy spot. The only confusing part was the distinct lack of RWY definition and markings. Joining on the live side, due to the warning that aerobatics were taking place on the dead side, I joined downwind for RWY 11 grass. The CCT was straightforward enough, although short finals were a little hairy coming in over the hedges. I kept her a little high as I had never visited before, but watching from the ground, some of the locals were extremely close to the hedges and touched down a lot earlier than I managed to.

Only when we were on the ground did we realise that we had landed straight in the middle of the ‘Auster fly in day.’ Strangely enough, they had failed to mention this when calling for PPR and it was not advertised in any of the national press. Anyway, it turned out to be spectacular on more than one front. Just a word of note, landing at Breighton is like flying through a time warp, back to the 1940’s. For me it was amazing, the place has bags of character and was oozing with personality and charm. As soon as we stepped out of VA, we were treated with a very rare and emotional site, a full aerobatic display from a North American P-51D Mustang. This was totally unexpected, and was truly amazing. It was like a personal display, standing right on the RWY, no barriers and no rules about flying over the crowd. With no restrictions on the display, it was a moving performance from one of my personal favourites. I couldn’t have asked for more, it quite simply made the day…

The flight line and hanger displays added to the immense spectacle. Full of Chipmunks, Bucker Jungmeaister’s, Extra 300’s, Piper Super Cub’s and more, there was more then enough to keep the eyes entertained. Further displays from a range of aircraft, we made even more enjoyable by bacon, sausage and egg butties, yum. I must have spent about three hours just staring at the spectacle which was the Mustang, viewing its curves and offerings from within touching distance, but not daring to touch. Unfortunately, we had to leave just after half four, due to the fact that they would not accept card for fuel. Luckily, Sherburn-In-Elmet was only 11 miles away. A short hop later and we were on short finals for Sherburn. This is not one of my favourite GA airfields, due to the ‘factory like’ appearance and feel which it presents. Taking on a full loading of fuel, we departed for Crossland Moor just above Huddersfield. This is one of my favourites. It’s different in every sense. Not only is it located 630ft AMSL, but it is surrounded by quarries, which provide a mixture of varying sink levels… The ‘terminal’, which is actually a static caravan, is great. There’s nothing better than sitting on the terrace outside with a brew watching the planes land on the uphill slope!

After a chat with the locals, and also with the pilot of a Barton based C150, one which I had considered a share in last year, we ‘toured’ the farm strip and found a ‘secret’ hanger. The aircraft here were unreal for a strip of this location and size. Tucked away were a Pitts, a C182 and a wonderful Piper Arrow III. The evening flight back to Barton was pleasant, and I managed to fit in three full stalls and a PFL, these were things which I had been planning on carrying out for the past month and I am glad that I finally had the chance to do so. Unfortunately, the PFL only got down to 700ft AGL due to the presence of an RAF Sea King, which was operating in the local area. As I had visual with it, I thought best to call off the PFL and head back to base.

Arriving OH for RWY 20, the CCT was relatively empty and the approach was well judged, with a nice smooth landing. All in all, it was a remarkable day. It had been a lot more than your average days flying, not that any flying trip is average, but this one had created a life long memory. An excellent, could not have been better time at Breighton, some very nice flying, three land away’s, 2.5 hours PIC, and I even got to practice some emergencies. It just goes to show that the best days come when they are least expected. Jacqueline, my passenger for the day said that 'she had just had the best day in her life', something which the smile on her little face seemed to mirror!