May Evening Run - 2006 ........  

HUGH AND HIGH

8th  May 2006

'Onward and upward' we shouted from our Austin Sevens - all seventeen of them - as we sought to gain altitude over the Meon Valley.   We had taken off from Bishop's Waltham Air Park at nineteen-thirty hours and were now flying in line- ahead formation around the area marked as South Downs on our charts.

We left the empty Hangers to starboard shortly after take off, and then circled around Wheely Farm where sadly we saw no wheelies.   Drawing some uplift from the Tumuli we rose higher, and turned back into the sun towards Warnford.

With sticks pulled back as far as they would go we zoomed up to an altitude of seven hundred feet^'A', and found Old Winchester Fort on our starboard wing tips.   A hard right-hand 'G' inducing turn at Teglease Farm (whatever a Teglease may be) saw us start the long smooth dive back to lower levels.

For a few super moments it was possible to see the Isle of Wight on the horizon, as well as the flares at Fawley Oil Refinery, and the Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth, all away to port.   During this part of the flight we encountered the Red Baron coming at us from out of the sun, and all pilots may claim one red propeller painted on their cowlings.  Actually he kindly gave way into a lay-by to let us all through, and had laughter all over his face.

So the squadron returned to base at Blacksmith Airstrip and the whole flight landed without loss.   On this last point it was a close run thing.   Two of our aircraft went to the wrong assembly point prior to assembly, though returned to Bishop's W just in time for take off.  ( memo to Spanner - read the blxxdy instructions).  ( I was checking on the drop zone!   -  Spanner)

And finally; no report on a Solent Run would be complete without mention of Convoy Rules - OK.   Hugh has solved the problem for all time.   You have to have the 'breaker-downer-person' as second in the column, and then arrange for the breakdown to be in an uphill single-track lane.   The whole hum-ding-shooting-match screeches to a halt in about twenty seconds, and all your problems are over !   We learned this from the Red Baron - there is nothing a German Officer cannot do!   

Honestly Hugh, it was a most superb flight, all the pilots said so after we touched down.   Many, many thanks.   Please take two house points and a flying cross.

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