Thanks Pete and Mary.
I’ve flown to a lot of airfields around the country and I’d rate Sutton Meadows
up there with the best.
Thank you for all you and the other club members do to make this such a
brilliant airfield.
Regards
Zain
On 18 Jul 2022, at 14:00, Peter Robinson <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Flyers
The airfield has understandably been a little quite during this hot spell
particularly as Mark has been away seeking the sun in Mexico.
Dave has been making the best of the weather revalidating instructors etc
The British Antarctic Survey team have been testing out new and more complex
systems for their next trip this winter and will be here again on the 26 th
July. They tell me they will be able to control / fly the drone in the
Antarctic from the office in Cambridge and plan to have a fleet of Drones to
gather more accurate data.
The hang gliders have used the thermic conditions one of whom I am told
achieved a height of 7,500 ft over Bar Hill.
The Aerotow club have been asked to host an Ariel Obstruction Trial of ADS-B
technology during August. which should prove interesting and will cause
little disturbance to our flying operations
We were somewhat disappointed to say the least with the report of Terrys Ten
airstrips ( May electronic version of Microlight flying) on Sutton Meadows
airfield giving the impression for instance that the "Power lines" ie the
20ft high electric cables more than 500 metres from the threshold away were a
major hazard and the only the facility was "a microlight school" There I have
never yet seen a report about something I know about that has been accurate!
It not great to think that after 40 + years with one of if not the oldest
Microlight Airfields and Clubs and training School run by one of the founders
of the training system, (probably the real Hieneken !,) and with all the
other activities and practical things we scored so low -- toilets hangarage
Club house with drinks ice creams etc, large seating area, 3 runways 4 acre
aircraft parking area weather information etc. But looking on the bright side
he could have awarded a 2 and not a 3.
Nigel Has not been very busy grass cutting we desperately need some rain,
peat shrinkage due mostly to the driest year yet is causing some runway
problems! 28 should be used with care !, remedial work is planned for this
autumn hopefully we will get enough rain. to make this possible.
Some of you will know we have been trialing a join height of 2000 ft and
circuit of 1000ft. in order to lessen the effect on our neighbours and to
bring us in line with other airfields plus an attempt to keep the increasing
number of aerobatic planes further away The results so far have all been
positive and has made a beneficial improvement to our impact locally, the
hanglider tug because of its difficulty in losing height quickly will join
downwind in a descending attitude. We ask you to use the new heights from now
on but be aware that there may be aircraft who have not asked for PPR who use
the old patterns, the training schools will sometimes as previously be lower
and inside the circuit, We will change the airfield plates when they next
come up for review.
As there is no collection of rubbish from the field would you kindly take
yours home with you where ever possible should help to keep the wild life
from distributing it around the place.
We hope that despite flying from such a poorly reported facilities the rest
of the summer and autumn will bring some good flying conditions to enjoy.
Thanking you for your continued support and wishing you great flying
experiences
Pete / Mary
