LB group member Neil had provisionally booked 3 days in late October to fly away somewhere. What are the chances of a decent weekend that late in the year? As it turned out, the weather was fantastic.

Neil and his twelve year old son, Kian, chose to head to Sandown, on the Isle of Wight and stay there for two nights. There is a Premier Inn only a five minute walk from the airfield and this could be booked with a last minute cancellation option – handy if the weather is critical!

The fuel tanks were filled to the top as this would give enough fuel for the whole trip. After some final setting up of the new 8.33kHz radio, the pair set off, turning at Westcott to get around the Luton and Heathrow airspace. The Luton frequency was monitored, using the listening squawk, then after the WCO turn, Farnborough was contacted for a Basic service. Benson MATZ was advised to be ‘inactive, as its the weekend’ but the advice was stay clear of the ATZ.

Farnborough were giving clearances through the Odiham MATZ. Initial cruise was at 3000ft QNH but after Basingstoke, a descent was made to 2500ft to slip under the Solent CTA (base 3000ft) to the East of Southampton. Solent radar were contacted, gave a squawk and were very laid back – ‘Report crossing the coast’. Routing over Portsmouth Harbour was very scenic, then a frequency change was requested to contact Sandown.

There are really no issues crossing the Solent without lifejackets – it is very narrow so there is always the option to easily glide into Lee-on-Solent, or continue across to the Isle.

The circuit at Sandown was busy so an orbit was carried out before slotting in behind a Cessna 152. On final approach as he vacated, it was like approaching Heathrow! There was already someone else, a Chipmunk, turning final just behind. The strip was fine, rougher than Little Gransden but all clearly marked. Vacating between cones, we were marshalled into a parking slot. Paying up in the tower, it was £12 landing fee and £10 per overnight parking. All very relaxed.

That afternoon, after the hotel check-in, a walk down to Sandown beach was in order. T-shirt weather in late October! The next day, it was a visit by taxi to Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s former holiday residence.

For the trip home, LB was now parked all alone, with all the other weekend visitors being long gone. On departure, a trip around the coast and past the Needles had to be done! 1500ft was maintained for this as the Solent CTA comes down to 2000ft near the North West of the Island.

A visit to Popham was made on the way home. With their frequency of 129.805 successfully used, it proves that the new 8.33kHz spacing radio works a treat! Runway 03 was in use there so no offset approach procedure today. Quite choppy approaching over the trees but it was a nice, smooth grass runway. For the final leg, a strong northerly wind made for a long drag home but, again, beautiful weather and an uneventful arrival back at Little Gransden. LB performed without a hitch and was rewarded with a good wash before being put to bed in Hangar 2.