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| Weston
Underwood in the Winter | |
Many XL and Q pilots will relate to this story, it’s one of those stories that
is funny to tell now but was certainly not funny at the time. |
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all happened at our favourite farm strips Weston Underwood, it was December and
it was one of those few good flying days plus it was the "first Sunday in the
month" so we decided to head to the Lunchtime Gathering at Weston Underwood. The
trip down from Sywell was uneventful; there was not much wind a nice day in all.
We approached Weston Underwood, you could only just make out where the runway
was; you could see a number of tracks from previous landings. We landed on the
long runway next to Nigel's hanger and the caravan, I should have known something
was not quite right when we touched down and we came to a halt in just a few feet.
You guessed it, the grass was excessively long and to make things worse it was
considerably wet under foot. In a XL or Q that combination is not good news, as
everyone knows "well, except me at the time". Flying out of Sywell, with those
well-kept lawns! I mean runways, I had never given a second thought to the cables
that span between the rear wheels that are only about 9 inches from the ground,
on soft ground with the wheels sinking in, even less. The tall grass wrapped around
the cables making a great braking system. Hence stopping in only a few feet. |
| | | Weston
Underwood was so tranquil, the peace and quiet was a
joy. Phillip had arrived just before us so we had a pleasant time chatting about
flying, as you do. Time was getting on and we had our sights on Sunday lunch at
the Aviator, so we got kitted up for the return flight back to Sywell. Phillip
took off first, one up in a Quantum 582, no problem. We taxied to the far end
giving me as much runway as possible. This was going to be a challenge, two up,
full of fuel “maximum weight” in a 462 Q with an external braking system, long
grass and a drag wire | | |
| Off we went, maximum power, but
what happened to the acceleration. We had covered half of the runway, bar to the
front strut, with no speed to mention. We pass the hanger, then the caravan; it’s
time to make a decision, to bake or to carry on in hope. To brake in a Q, that’s
a joke, what brake? so there is no decision to take, it over the hedge or through
it. The hedge was getting closer and closer, there was chanting coming from me
in the front “ come on, come on, come on” you know how it goes, followed by load
screams coming from Ann in the back. The hedge was getting ever closer, if it
doesn’t lift now, we are in the next field or ditch or what ever is at the end
of the runway. Just about 20 feet from the hedge she popped off the ground and
into the air, only just clearing the top of the hedge. SH(1)T
that was close, long grass, never again. | | |
| I believe the
moral of the story is to know your “worst case” take-off distances in all conditions,
but in a XL or Q get some one to check how long the grass is before you land,
it’s much safer. | | | |
It was a smashing Sunday lunch at the Aviator, well after
I had calmed Ann down with a few shots of alcohol.She still fly’s with me you
know? | |
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