PFA Rally 18-20th Aug (Kemble)

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20 years

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BBC weather is telling us that Friday looks a bit tricky with multiple scattered showers, but Sat and Sun look more promising.

This is the 'new look' Back-to-basics event which aims to reverse the loss-making trends of the last two weather blighted events. The August date is a change from the usual July slot, which as fate would have it, was wholly flyable.

I will chug down on Friday in the Cub if it looks possible, but do not want to flounder round in the murk. Any other forum members going along? This weekend also features the Moths at Woburn (Sun only) and historically they almost always get good weather for their event.

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 16,832

Any other forum members going along?

The picture I've always had of the PFA Rally is loads of earnest blokes with fibreglass sandings under their fingernails wandering around a nightmare line up of tat stalls surrounded by a million earnest spotters with sticky Ian Allan books.

Never been tempted to take the Colt there. Minimal all round vision doesn't sit happily with some of the tales I've heard of chaotic arrivals and circuit joins.

Best fun is to be airborne in the SE and tuned to London Info. Absolute hoot, definitely not to be missed.

Anyone been? Am I wrong?

Moggy

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 650

I think that you're being a little unfair. Although its true that funny things seem to happen to people who lock themselves in their garden shed for five years and only come out once a year for the rally ;)

Don't be put off by legendary tales of avian chaos. Hopefully it'll be busy, but no worse than say, arriving for Great Vintage Flying Weekend. All arrival information is on the PFA website; www.pfa.org.uk Even as a low hours pilot, I've been told by those in the know that so long as you stick to the instructions its pretty straightforward.

I would have found out first-hand by taking the Luton in, but having now sold her, I'll (hopefully) be hitching a ride, then hungrily wandering around the 'planes for sale' section. Vendors of nice classic two-seat taildraggers form an orderly queue here please! :D

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20 years 3 months

Posts: 1,452

The picture I've always had of the PFA Rally is loads of earnest blokes with fibreglass sandings under their fingernails wandering around a nightmare line up of tat stalls surrounded by a million earnest spotters with sticky Ian Allan books.

Never been tempted to take the Colt there. Minimal all round vision doesn't sit happily with some of the tales I've heard of chaotic arrivals and circuit joins.

Best fun is to be airborne in the SE and tuned to London Info. Absolute hoot, definitely not to be missed.

Anyone been? Am I wrong?

Moggy


I flew into Cranfield in 1990 with some friends and although the Mark 1 eyeball was in constant use, in my humble and inexperienced opinion, it didn't seem that bad. Arrivals were to be familiar with the joining instructions (Cardington's hangars I seem to remember), told to check the latest weather/traffic/information message and the only call they were allowed to make (emergencies excepted) was to call finals for the hard or grass runway as appropriate.

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20 years

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G-ASML, did you make it? The reason I ask is that one of the original Minors was there, G-AMAW I think. Not looking bad for it's age, I wonder if it flew in?

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20 years 3 months

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What was the verdict on the weekend?

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19 years 8 months

Posts: 1,953

Never been tempted to take the Colt there. Minimal all round vision doesn't sit happily with some of the tales I've heard of chaotic arrivals and circuit joins.

A bit late for this year's event now. But I had always wanted to do the PFA by air, just to get a tick in the box as it were. Did that PFA and Cranfield, and at Kemble. Wouldn't do it again by air - if I desperately wanted to go again, I'd go by road as arriving by air just doesn't deliver anything extra for me.

Procedures set out in the AIC work well up to a point. However, on each occasion we flew in to the rally (both locations) there was some muppet who had seeming decided that the joining procedures did not apply to them and that they could join straight in on final, or that they need not take the recommended route but would go waaaay wide. The ensuing chaos resulting from the other compliant flyers trying to make it all work out behind or ahead of the idiot whilst still trying to fly within the AIC on each occasion resulted in go-arounds, etc.

Direct experience of non-compliance with the PFA AIC, along with repoted TRA busts, are the two things more than anything else that makes me wonder how some people actually manage to get pilots' licences.

Andy

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20 years

Posts: 3,031

What was the verdict on the weekend?

I was there Saturday (manning the VAC stall) and it was ok.
The first one I'd been to since 2000 and obviously not a great number of aircraft because of the weather and few from across the water again for same reason.
Trade area seemed very cramped.
Marshalling left a lot be desired.

Member for

21 years 1 month

Posts: 1,029

Arm waver,

good to meet you on Saturday - turnout was better than I had hoped for considering the weather (both forecast & actual) but I hope the event did not loose too much money for the PFA. Perhaps the move from July was not such a good idea?

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20 years

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It good to meet you too. Glad Oshkosh went well.
I heard said that they needed 70,000 people through the gates to break even but I cannot substantiate that figure.
I caught up with a number of VAC members too. So nice as you don't get much chance when arm waving!

A rumour at Woburn said the PFA chose that weekend as the Moth Club always have nice wether... :D

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20 years 2 months

Posts: 476

Went Sunday,and agree with AW ref marshalling(almost tempted to take bull by horns and get my gloves out at one point???)
Not the busiest of Rallys(maybe weather,maybe not),but from a spotters PofV still "made" 130 so well satisfied.
Her's hoping the sums add up and we can all do it again in better weather next year
Colin
Oxfordshire Aviation Group
www.communigate.co.uk/oxford/oag

Press & Sponsorship Officer
8th Abingdon Air & Country Show...6th May 2007
www.abingdonfayre.com

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 289

I was there on Friday. It was good to see lots of shiny new aircraft. Manning a stall inside a tent meant rain was our friend, sending everyone in to see us! Damn shame for the event as a whole though.

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18 years 6 months

Posts: 179

I was there the entire weekend. Indead not as many visitors as previous years (due to the weather obviously).

Though there were some interesting planes (Hurricane, Porterfield, Austers, Luscombes, ...)

Sadly only one Nipper...

Still made around 500 piccies, so it wasn't that bad.

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Went Sunday,and agree with AW ref marshalling(almost tempted to take bull by horns and get my gloves out at one point???)

So was I - I was even asked!!!!
Watch this space is all I will say at the mo OAGy... Watch this space... ;)

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Some piccies...

Thought I'd stick them here for a change...

Member for

20 years

Posts: 3,031

last ones...

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Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 35

Nice to see a picture of the Champ included in your selection, after years of driving to PFA Rallies it was nice to finally fly into one.

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 650

BBC weather is telling us that Friday looks a bit tricky with multiple scattered showers, but Sat and Sun look more promising.

This weekend also features the Moths at Woburn (Sun only) and historically they almost always get good weather for their event.

Glad to see Propstrike's weather forecast was spot on. Just as well Peter Vacher's Hurricane made such a good umbrella! :D

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Member for

18 years 6 months

Posts: 179

Nice to see a picture of the Champ included in your selection, after years of driving to PFA Rallies it was nice to finally fly into one.

Indead nice to see your Champ there. It was the first time I ever saw it.

some of my piccies