Rayne Hall Farm (Essex) fly in and charity day 25-7-2015

[andygolfer]

my very local airstrip held it's local fly in charity day in aid of the Essex Air Ambulance yesterday and used the event to officially open the new clubhouse. Unfortunately the strong crosswinds for most of the day meant that many of the aircraft booked in did not make it (although some of the crews still drove to Rayne to support the event) but the evening saw the wind drop and with it quite a bit of flying. I was offered (and accepted) a flight in Skyranger G-ZSKY and got another aerial view of my home village and the surrounding area. Here are a few pics:
QuikR G-OTOP was up and down more often than the trousers on somebody who had a bad curry the night before (G-ZSKY was equally active)
0110 QuikR G-OTOP by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

9984 QuikR G-OTOP by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

7328 Skyranger G-ZSKY cropped by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

7332 Skyranger G-ZSKY by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Pa.28 Arrow G-BBZH was moved from it's long term parking place for the day and ended up in a bit of a purple patch (well almost!):
9600 Piper PA 28R, G-BBZH by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Ce.150 G-ATEF
9743 G-ATEF Ce.150 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr


9767 Ce. 172 Skyhawk, G-BHUJ by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

G-GWYN brought in a 2nd pilot but they departed separately as the latter bought Ce172 G-BHMS which had been resident at Rayne for many years
9936 Ce.172 G-GWYN by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and G-BMHS taxiing out , possibly for the last time
0026 Ce.172 G-BMHS by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

a poignant moment for the previous owner as he watches G-BHMS departing along with G-GLYN
0036 G-BMHS & G-GWYN departure by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and G-BHMS leaves Rayne, i wonder if it will ever return (I've no idea where it's new base will be)
0049 Ce.172 G-BMHS by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and Rayne resident Thruster G-MVDF about to depart on a local flight
0069 Thruster G-MVDF by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and a silhouette of G-OTOP against the evening sky:
9946 QuikR G-OTOP by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

hope you like them, C&C welcome

there are a few more in my flickR album https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545 ... 838534178/

Andy

[mach one]

nice selection, i like the QuikR G-OTOP

you get to see some interesting GA at these local fly inn,s

[andygolfer]

nice selection, i like the QuikR G-OTOP

you get to see some interesting GA at these local fly inn,s

I really enjoy these small events. I gave the club a canvas of one of my pics for the new clubhouse (and a larger on of 2 Lancs at Clacton to auction) and some complained that I hadn't taken pics of THEIR planes and would I like to do so and I did 2 more about a month ago (when I did the first microlight flight) and then more of the owners felt left out. I suggested that landing shots at the far end next to the runway would look nice with the trees and purple borage in the background and they readily agreed so it really was a win-win situation. I could have had at least 2 more flights yesterday but asked if I could leave it for another day. Also 2 of the guys want air to air pics of the aircraft so I guess that will mean I have to make a further 2 flights at least, it's a good job I like flying in these little craft!

The 2 Lancs canvas made £55 for the air ambulance so I was quite pleased with that!

[mach one]

good result with the two lancs canvas

the chance to shoot some air to air will be nice, next time you will have to get a photo of everything that moves

[andygolfer]

next time you will have to get a photo of everything that moves

I did that yesterday even an outbound A320 from Stansted

[Paultojo]

Nice set Andy

[PorkScratching]

Lovely shots Andy. It's great you've struck up a good relationship with your local airfield. I'm not surprised though - I've flown from Rayne a couple of times and they're really friendly there. One flight was down to Lydd and back in G-BMHS, so sad to hear it's departing for good. By the sounds of things I suspect you'll be learning to fly soon!

[andygolfer]

thanks Nick.

I've known a couple of them for some time as well as the owners (the daughter lives in my road), it's a great relaxed atmosphere there. They have just built a new clubhouse as the old portacabin was starting to fall to bits so it's quite smart there now.

I don't think I will be learning to fly, too old for that now and hard to justify the cost to the wife. When I tried it in the past (and gliding which I did for a while)I didn't find it very relaxing seemed to spend all the time looking for other aircraft and watching the controls rather than enjoying the scenery, much prefer being the passenger and taking some photos.

[PorkScratching]

That makes sense Andy, it's not for everyone, and you have the perfect situation at Rayne where plenty of pilots want to take you up. I must admit that a mid-air is the one thing that worries me when I fly, and I do keep a very good lookout indeed.