Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2015 14:10:39 GMT -5
Well folks, it's all systems go for our west coast tip. I'll be moving my aircraft across to my Dutch pal, Wim's, airfield tomorrow where we'll load both aircraft for departure Thursday. Initially we'll be heading south-west towards Biarritz stopping once along the way to check everything's shipshape before landing at a small private airfield just short of the Biarritz CAS and overnighting in our tents.
The next day we'll head across to the coast at Capbreton where we'll then turn north and start heading up the coast at low level following the coastline. Over the next couple of days we'll keep heading north, stopping to refuel and overnight under canvas at various small airfields. We'll be heading as far north as St Nazaire. Originally I wanted to go a bit further and transit the Class D CAS of Lorient airport, but as we don't have transponders fitted they refused us permission. I think it has something to do with the fact that, unlike most airfields in France, it's not open to 'public air traffic, just military and commercial. But anyway, it'll be a great flight north, taking in the pine forests and sand dunes of the Landes, the Atlantic coast, the Gironde estuary, the salt marshes of the northern Gironde delta and much besides.
After St Nazaire we'll start heading back again via Nantes and expect, subject to weather, to get back home again on the following Monday. We postponed the trip once due to uncertain weather but this time it looks as though it will play ball and be fine all the way, a distance of something like 1500 kms.
I'll be incommunicado until then but hope to be taking plenty of video and still shots.
See ya then!
Roger
The next day we'll head across to the coast at Capbreton where we'll then turn north and start heading up the coast at low level following the coastline. Over the next couple of days we'll keep heading north, stopping to refuel and overnight under canvas at various small airfields. We'll be heading as far north as St Nazaire. Originally I wanted to go a bit further and transit the Class D CAS of Lorient airport, but as we don't have transponders fitted they refused us permission. I think it has something to do with the fact that, unlike most airfields in France, it's not open to 'public air traffic, just military and commercial. But anyway, it'll be a great flight north, taking in the pine forests and sand dunes of the Landes, the Atlantic coast, the Gironde estuary, the salt marshes of the northern Gironde delta and much besides.
After St Nazaire we'll start heading back again via Nantes and expect, subject to weather, to get back home again on the following Monday. We postponed the trip once due to uncertain weather but this time it looks as though it will play ball and be fine all the way, a distance of something like 1500 kms.
I'll be incommunicado until then but hope to be taking plenty of video and still shots.
See ya then!
Roger