This account was written by Gina Vandeleur, a friend who with my wife Charlotte, has been supporting the effort with energy, humour and determination. Thank you Gina for your huge support and for this perspective (written I think at midnight on your return home)...
Day 2 Thursday 2 May
There was a chance we could fly at 06.00 but abandoned at 04.30 as weather check suggested wind too strong on Consett Moor. The wet weather programme kicked in with a fascinating visit to the world-renowned local blacksmith at Little Newsham Forge and look at Brian Russell’s incredible work. Anybody looking for very special bespoke gates, railings and sculpture …… would be well advised to look here http://www.littlenewshamforge.com/ . Yesterday’s landing site was still blustery and wet at 11.00 so we went to Aydon Casle, Hadrian’s Wall and Corbridge Roman Museum. Highlight was late lunch at Four and Twenty Cafe newly opened in Corbridge. Completely delicious homemade food by very friendly cook – so much beyond expectations the other eateries better watch out!
17.00 and back at the landing site, Charles thought it was worth trying the 27 mile flight south (finishing off the planned 1st day) getting him down off the moor and to the second night at Little Newsham. Success, but another bumpy flight and a troubled landing as the engine failed to cut so extra stress to ensure throttle not pressed during landing.
Day 3 Friday 3 May
Another early start as added extra admin to mend ‘the machine’ and need to find a new launch site due to long wet grass and slope in wrong direction of yesterday’s landing site.
Google showed us Chris Bousfield, Auto Electrician within 5 miles but needed directions from a windows manufacturer and the local quarry before we tracked him down at home. “I’m not going to touch that” were his first words but luckily when he saw how simple the repair was he quickly performed an expert solution, gratis, and sent us on our way. Thank you Chris.
We found a good launch field although no sign of a farmer : hopefully he will enjoy his bottle of wine!
11.30 - Charles flew to just north of Wetherby : with his flight path already weaving between no-flight-zones he had to re-calculate for an extra temporary no-go-area because of a large equestrian event. Charlotte tried to stay close to Charles as the air was still bumpy and rain in the forecast at destination but soon lost ground in small bendy lanes while Charles whizzed in much straighter lines to Wetherby. I had found a good landing site but was unable to attract Charles attention and missed his fun and games with a herd of cows. He somehow managed to avert considerable potential damage to wing, lines and delicate, fragile, expensive, carbon propellers when they charged from the other end of their field to closely examine what had fallen from the sky: its hard to sex a bunch of young bullocks from above! It maybe helped warm Charles up after a very chilly flight.
On to mid-afternoon, a visit to Screwfix and a nightmare manoeuvre from car to field due to traffic and locked gates (despite OK from farmer), and Charles attempted the next stage to Barlborough Nr Worksop. After trouble with getting the engine started and several failed take-off attempts Charles got airborne only to land again after two circuits due to wetness at 100ft+ despite no rain at ground level. Now cold, wet and tired we had a cup of tea at Castle Inn, Spofforth https://www.thecastleinnharrogate.com/. Newly done, colourful and rather funky; we were given a shot glass of smarties with our tea. Everyone asks about the strange machine on the back of the car so easy to strike up conversations with all along our way.
Eventually Charles thawed and re-energised and agreed to a second attempt to fly down A1(M)/M1 to Barlborough. We found a new field with easier access but by now the wind was dying and with Charles on minimal energy reserves it nearly didn’t happen. One last attempt and he was off but with another chilly flight towards more rain in the gloaming and over built up, unfamiliar territory. The one plus was that we could drive alongside, stopping occasionally in garages for him to catch up, as his max 40 mph still not motorway speed. He looked small and vulnerable flying high to avoid a web of pylons and our respect grew. He landed in a muddy field in the rain and very last light exhausted.