Another trip over to Shobdon on Monday 22nd July 2019 to see a friend.
This time I’m solo in the club Cessna 152. I’m starting to warm to them. I always thought they felt a little cramped, but with only one in, there’s plenty of space!
I put my bag in the back, had SkyDemon running on my iPad on the passenger seat, and my kneeboard strapped on, and I disappeared into the skies above Coventry for a morning at Shobdon.
Routing direct from Coventry to Studley, I kept a listening watch on Birmingham Radar to make sure that should I get anywhere near the controlled airspace, I could be contacted. For this short leg, there’s no real point in talking to Birmingham and getting a transit through – by the time I’d arranged it, I’d be outside anyway!
Then over to London Information for a basic service. As an AFISO, I’m amazed at how the guys and girls at London Information cope! They’re being called at all hours and relentlessly! I always hope I’m not too much of an imposition!! I did hear someone being informed they were in controlled airspace – it’s like driving past a car accident. You have to slow down and listen!
Then I switched over to Shobdon Information once I was abeam Leominster where I approached straight in for Runway 26.
I calculated my average speeds on this day…
Coventry – Shobdon. Average 71 knots, Max 85 knots
Shobdon – Coventry. Average 95 knots, Max 119 knots
That should give you an idea of which way the wind was blowing!
As always, a great breakfast and stop in Shobdon. A little bit of peace and quiet in the Herefordshire countryside!