Taifuntour England and France in a few words
14.04.2006 - 20.04.2006


( D-KFDI and D-KKGG )
Text: Urs Gerigk
Translation: powerglidertaifun.de
Images : Henk Dumont, Manfred Garben and Urs Gerigk

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Im April 2006 two Taifuns (D-KFDI and D-KKGG) have made a seven day trip from Germany to the Scilly Islands (UK), Guernsey (UK), Belle Ile (F) and back again.
You can read a daily update, made by our webmaster during the flight itself, elsewhere on this site.
Here a short flightreport written by Urs Gerigk, one of the participants, accompanied by some images made during the flight.

Friday 14.04.2006
7:45 h Oehna (EDBO) - 10:11 h Bielefeld (EDLI).
Started after a low has passed by, with strong headwinds (up to 60 km/h). Visibility was great, but throughout the flight was very bumpy.

10:41 h Bielefeld (EDLI) - 12:28 h Geilenkirchen (ETNG).
Talk with Henk and Erich on flight towards the Channel coast.

Departure at Geilenkirchen (ETNG) 14:51, along Weert (EHBD), Gilze-Riien (EHGR) towards Midden-Zeeland (EHMZ) 16:28.

Departure in Geilenkirchen with approaching rainfall. 30 km East of Antwerp (Belgium) rainfall became stronger and stronger, so we headed North to Gilze-Rijen-Airbase (The Netherlands). There we encountered very nice weather and we flew along towards Midden-Zeeland.
Our sleeping facility was clean and simple, but we enjoyed a very good dinner and the next morning a very nice breakfast was being served. Landing fees at Midden Zeeland : 17,50 €/plane, parking fees: free.

Saturday 15.04.2006
Midden-Zeeland (EHMZ) 9:37 h towards Calais (LFAC) 10:44 h,
along the Northsea coast across COA VOR, FP Oostende-Brugge (EBOS), FP Koksijde (EBFN).

Along the Belgian coast, passing the harbour of Zeebrugge.

No rain, partially very hazy, visibility 5 to 8 km. Because of very bad weather and low clouds we had to postpone our flight across the English Channel until the next day and landed at Calais (F.). Landing fees Calais: 9,60 €/Plane, Parking fees: none.

During the evening and in the night a front passed by Calais. We spent the night in a very ordinary „Hotel“, in which we just closed our eyes. The city, the weather and our dinner were not that great. Breakfast at Calais airport next morning partially compensated as it was typically French and good.

Calais townhall during rainy weather.

 

Sunday 16.04.2006

09:18 h Calais (LFAC) via Dover(DVR), Lydd (EGMD) to Shoreham (EGKA) 10:32 h,
Landing fees 16,50£. Low ceiling, visibility partially only 5 km.
Above The Channel visibility was o.k. (about 8 km). As a result of the hazy atmosphere, the border between water and sky at the horizon was difficult to see though.

Crossing The Channel, the border between water and sky at the horizon was difficult to spot.

 

The same hazy circumstances allowed us to see little to nothing on the flight along the English coast across Lydd and Eastbourne. It was not until Brighton we were able to enjoy satisfactory views again. Approaching Shoreham, via a nordly route around Brighton was not that impressive because of low ceilings and meager views.

Tower at Shoreham airport (EGKA).

 

At Shoreham airport we were welcomed in a very friendly way by a spotter, who was employed at the airport. After we had lunch we took off to continue our flight.

Shoreham (EGKA) 13:36 h to Exeter (EGTE) 15:15 h, via Bournemouth (EGHH).
Landing fees 16,50 £. Flight along English Southcoast during good weather circumstances.

Portsmouth harbour with Spinnaker-tower.

 

Harry's rocks on the English coast Southwest of Bournemouth.

 

Actually we only planned to make a short stop at Exeter on our way to the Scilly Islands, but we learned that the islands' airfield is closed on Sundays, so we had to spend the night in Exeter.
Downtown Exeter is a nice place to visit, good kitchen ran by an Albanian and a Polish cook! Next morning a superb breakfast (the classic English kind).

Monday 17.04.2006
10:00 h Exeter (EGTE) along Plymouth and Lands End to the Isles of Scilly (EGHE) 11:50 h.
We commenced the flight after a low had passed with excellent visibility and high ceiling, but the closer we got to Lands End, the lower the ceilings.

At Lands End the ceiling was at 1300ft, with a visibility of 8 km. When leaving the English mainland behind, most of the clouds disappeared and almost 30 kilometers before reaching the Scillies we were able to spot the islands.
After an aerial sightseeing tour around the islands we made a somewhat rough landing on the hilly curved concrete runway 33.
Superb weather and a great stay at a private B&B. This evening Henk demonstrated his photographic skills by framing sunset with his digital camera.

Tuesday 18.04.2006
11:00 h Start at the Scilly Isles.
With a low pressure area on our tail we departed from the Scillies. At the main runway we encountered 20 kts. Crosswind, so we decided to take the short 530 m runway (1/2 grass - 1/2 concrete, curved like a cat's back).
All heavy stuff was thrown overboard (whiskey, water....). Henk demonstrated his courage and took off first! At the transition of concrete into grass, halfway on the runway, he already was airborne. Until Lands End we crossed the sea in a tranquil flight. On the English mainland we faced low ceilings and lots of metal in the air! Along the coast we continued our tranquil flight towards Plymouth.

After our departure in Plymouth we headed for „Starter Point" to cross the English Channel for Guernsey, about 120 km of water. At Guernsey very good circumstances to go for final.

Spent the night in a very neat B&B near Saint Peter Port harbour.

Wednesday 19.04.2006
10:57 h Guernsey(EGJB) along the French coast to Dinard (LFRD) Landing: 12:28 h.
During this flight we sighted Mont Saint Michel out of the sky (because of the restrictions we had to stay at least 2 km from Mont Saint Michel). Flying weather and circumstances were very good.

After departure from Dinard (LFRD) 13:38 h we prolonged our coastal flight from St. Malo to St. Brieuc. After that we went Southward across Bretagne to Biskaya and landed on the isle „Belle Ile" (LFEA) 14:57 h. Bretagne had medium ceilings and in the end we encountered some rainfall.
When we reached the coast of Biscaya the weather got better again.
After visiting Sauzon harbour we spent the night in a little hotel in Sauzon.

The planned refuelling landing in Saumur (LFOD) was not possible, because the gas station attendant had to do lunchbreak 5 minutes before we landed!
Therefore, we immediately continued our flight to Blois (LFOQ) through the CTR of Tors (LFOT) and landed at Blois at 10.56. This transit flight took place with military low flights going on. Extensive lunch and refuelling.

Blois (LFOQ) 12:46 h to Dahlemer Binz (EDKV) 15:55 h under good conditions.
Saying goodbye to Henk and Erich. Continuation to Leverkusen (EDKL) (16:17 h - 16:49 h).

Urs Gerigk,
translation powerglidertaifun.de