Isle of Man

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="045085a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Golf Mike Bravo going around...</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Golf Mike Bravo going around..."><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Golf Mike Bravo going around..."><U><B><IMG SRC="03b0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM1"><U><B><IMG SRC="03e0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="down" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>     </B><A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bembridge"><U><B><IMG SRC="02f0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Check outs and Bimbles"><U><B><IMG SRC="0300e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="046d2e83.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="6cda0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bembridge"><U>Bembridge</U></A></div> <div> <B>Isle of Man</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Check outs and Bimbles"><U>Check outs and Bimbles</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shobdon"><U>Shobdon</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="First Passenger"><U>First Passenger</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back in the 40"><U>Back in the '40</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Flyer Magazine Bash"><U>Flyer Magazine Bash</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kemble"><U>Kemble</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shotteswell and Goodwood"><U>Shotteswell and Goodwood</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id156.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Night Training 1"><U>Night Training - 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id157.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Night Training 2"><U>Night Training - 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id158.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Touch of HEVN"><U>A Touch of HEVN</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id159.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Night Training 3"><U>Night Training - 3</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="On to the 10"><U>On to the '10'</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Getting used to the 10"><U>Getting used to the '10'</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abbeville"><U>Abbeville</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Duxford"><U>Duxford</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hazy Sunday Afternoon"><U>Hazy Sunday Afternoon</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Avranches"><U>Avranches</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A little Jodeling"><U>A little Jodel-ing</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id203.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sywell"><U>Sywell</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id204.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Compton Abbas"><U>Compton Abbas</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back to Bembridge"><U>Back to Bembridge</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rochester"><U>Rochester</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id207.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sleap"><U>Sleap</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A look at Leicester, more Jodelling and "><U>A look at Leicester, more Jodelling and back to Sleap!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id210.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Bonus Bimble"><U>A Bonus Bimble</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#CCCCE4" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Isle of Man</I></div> <bR> <div> Friday 13th May 2005</div> <div> <IMG SRC="65bc20d0.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="525" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="0">I had the day off today and went on a club flyout to Ronaldsway, on the Isle of Man. There were 8 people split between 3 planes -- TB9, TB10 and DA40. I flew out as passenger in the DA40, with Joe as pilot.  The weather was best described as "sporty", with Easterly winds 09015G20 on the ground, and 07030 at 2000ft. The cloudbase was round 3000 ft, with tops around 4500ft, although reported CAVOK further North. A warm front off the South coast was becoming occluded and moving slowly Northwards. The route was Enstone DCT SWB DCT LYNAS DCT IOM DCT EGNS. (LYNAS is a reporting point just off Anglesea). Planning for this flight also involved filing a flight plan, and contacting Special Branch. Alistair and Ben, the two instructors, had sorted out the paperwork, and all that remained for us to do was activate the flight plan when we were ready to go, and we could do this over the radio.</div> <bR> <div> Alistair and Bill, a student, had left in the TB9 some time before us, and we taxied round to the hold behind Ben in the TB10. During the engine run-up, one of the magnetos was running roughly, and so we spent some time trying to clear it. By the time we were happy, Ben had backtracked and departed.</div> <bR> <div> Although it was quite cloudy, there were lots of gaps, and once  we were clear of the circuit and on track, we climbed through a gap in the clouds to Flight Level 45, which placed us above the bumpy air for the most part and very little to do in the way of cloud dodging. On the radio we spoke to Birmingham, and then handed over to Shawbury. Past Shawbury, there is a section of Class A that extends down to FL45, and our route would take us right through it, forcing us either to descend below it or divert around. We’d heard Ben in the other aircraft accept RADAR vectors around it, but since there was significantly less cloud around now we elected to descend to 3500 ft and maintain our track. </div> <bR> <div> Once we were well clear of the airspace we climbed back up to FL55 in readiness for the 40nm sea crossing, and changed frequencies to Valley RADAR. I think we may have woken them up, since there was a long pause before they responded to our calls (or possibly they were tied up on another frequency). Anyhow, Ben and us were the only people talking to them on the Radar frequency. It was remarkable how the clouds simply stopped at the coastline! Not long after coasting out, we overtook Ben’s TB10, which was flying 1000ft above us. Halfway across the Irish Sea, we changed frequencies again to Ronaldsway Approach, and were asked to report airfield in sight. At first we could only spot the Isle of Man through the haze by the tell-tale fluffy clouds above it, but soon, land and then runways were visible. We were given a right base join for runway 08, and landed pretty much on the numbers. Unfortunately we then had to taxi the entire length of the runway to park at the Manx Flyers apron. Ben was close on our tail, and the extended taxi forced an orbit. The trip took 1.3 hours, averaging about 143kts (ground speed), and peaking at 174!</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM1"><U><IMG SRC="65ca0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM2"><U><IMG SRC="65da0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM3"><U><IMG SRC="65ea0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM4"><U><IMG SRC="660a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM5"><U><IMG SRC="661a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> Click on the thumbnails to see a bigger version.</div> <bR> <div> With everyone safely down, booked in, landing fees paid etc. we decided to set off into town for some lunch. The chap at the airfield was kind enough to loan us a Fiesta, and we split into two groups for the short drive round the coast. Once in town we spent some time looking for an eatery, and ended up at the Bowling Green café, which, strangely enough, was by a bowling green. We sat outside in the sun while we ate and drank, and then had ice creams. Later we explored further and spent some time sitting on one of the beaches watching windsurfers and throwing stones at bits of driftwood.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM6"><U><IMG SRC="662a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM7"><U><IMG SRC="666a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM8"><U><IMG SRC="663a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM9"><U><IMG SRC="664a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM10"><U><IMG SRC="665a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> Click on the thumbnails to see a bigger version.</div> <bR> <div> Coming back, it was my turn to fly. This formed part of my "check out" on the DA40, so it was logged as P/UT, "Differences Training" (I still have to do some stalls and circuits before I'm cleared to fly it solo). Alistair, my old instructor was in the right hand seat, and Bill, another student was passenger and photographer in the back. Joe flew back in the TB9 to “add experience”. The DA40 is a big brother to the Katana, making it very similar to fly, although rather more complex. It has a constant speed prop, meaning there's a blue lever to worry about as well as the usual black and red. It also has a full IFR panel, with a whole bunch of instruments I'd not used outside Flight Simulator - DME, ADF, GPS-slaved RMI etc. (the DI, being slaved also didn't need constant correction against the compass). Oh, and it has twin wing tanks too, so regularly changing tanks was another new experience. </div> <bR> <div> Flight plans filed and activated, we all taxied back to the hold for runway 08. Three club aircraft all in a row: TB10, TB9, DA40. Once again there was some rough running from that magneto, and once again we spent some extra time trying to clear it. Take off from 08 (my first "After the departing aircraft line up" instruction) was straight out over the Irish Sea. Unlike the Katana, where the climb is performed at full throttle, the DA40 required prop RPM and manifold pressure to be set to a “climb” level, and then set again to “cruise” once we’d reached our desired altitude. We stayed relatively low at 3500 ft to minimise the headwinds so as not to run short of fuel, and very quickly we overtook the other aircraft. </div> <bR> <div> The route back was the inverse of the outward route. We stayed with Ronadsway approach as far as the mainland (we had heard one of the other planes going to Valley and then coming back after they had got no response. Being Friday evening, presumably they were all down the pub…). After coasting in, we changed to London Info and maintained a listening watch.  Much of the earlier cloud over the mainland had disappeared, leaving just a few clouds at around 4000 ft. Once we were away from the Welsh hills and approaching Shawbury, we gave them a call, and again got no response, so we went back to London Info. Dropping down to 2000 ft for the last part of the flight, we were again bounced by low level gusting winds, and the left base approach to 08 was “interesting” with some windshear  on short final.  Flight time was 1.7 hours, giving us an average speed of 110kts.</div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM11"><U><IMG SRC="667a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM12"><U><IMG SRC="66aa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM13"><U><IMG SRC="668a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IOM14"><U><IMG SRC="669a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  </div> <div> Click on the thumbnails to see a bigger version.</div> <bR> <div> Cans of Stella all round, followed by a curry in Chipping Norton rounded off a very nice day.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>