Monday, April 14, 2003, 15:35 UTC (5:35 pm local)

Report from Blackbushe, England, by Karl Hipp

After our great reception and lunch yesterday at the Blackbushe airport, we retired to Dave and Jen Buttle's home in the English countryside.  After a few pints of Guiness at their home, we went to the Queens Head, a local pub.  There we met up with Rob and Avril Stadie who own a Comanche 260 and are both instrument rated pilots.  Also joining us were Dennis and Bridget Doubleday, Aerostar owners; John Vaghatsi; and John and Joan Varndell, who own a Saratoga that John flew in the London to Sydney Air Race.  The Queens Head is a typical English pub; lots of beer and large servings of food. I have been there several times with the Buttles and have yet to be disappointed.

Today, we removed the ferry tank from 56Y to store in Dave's garage while we attend the Macon fly-in and tour Europe.  John, Dave, and I then embarked in Dave's PA-39 to Leicestershire some 80 nm north.

En route to Leicestershire

The purpose of our flight was to meet up with a Comanche 260 owner, Tony Brown, with whom I had become acquainted with at the ICS convention in Galveston.  Tony owns European Center for Comanche Parts,  Sales@piperspares.com, and I had arranged to borrow two rear seats from him so that John and I would not need to transport my seats across the Atlantic. 

Tony Brown with Dave and John at Leicestershire

Sign-in book and landing fee receipt, Leicestershire

We toured the local Aero club which was originally built as part of  the airport for use during WW2.  Many of the English airports, including Dave's home field of Blackbushe are WW2 vintage.  Most all English airfields have tight-knit Aero clubs that are extremely active.

Tonyand Dave at The Leicestershire Aero Club

John, Karl, Dave, and Tony - Leicestershire Aero Club

Couple at lunch - Leicestershire Aero Club

This is where Tony keeps his Comanche 260

Tony's hangar at Leicestershire, circa WW2

By the way, it is legal in Europe for a pilot with an American license to fly a British registered aircraft while in British airspace.  Dave allowed me to fly his PA-39 from Leicestershire back to Blackbushe (I had flown Dave's plane one other time a couple years ago to Guernsey. And when the Buttles visit us in Colorado, Dave flies my Miller Twin.  Last fall, after the Reno convention, I needed to deliver them to Denver International for their return to the UK via British Air, and Dave piloted 56Y into DIA.  This was a unique experience for him since GA aircraft are banned from the major airports in Europe).

While I managed to find my way back to Blackbushe okay without busting into any controlled airspace, the landing was "less than magnificent".  After inspecting Dave's airplane for damage (just kidding; the landing wasn't that bad), John and I installed Tony's seats--bright red velour--which I am sure my Judy will agree goes well with the rest of the dark gray leather interior.

We are now back at Jen and Dave's home, drinking pints of Guinness.  John and I will spend the night here before meeting up with Barbara and Judy tomorrow in London.  Three days of no flying!  I don't know if we will be able to cope.