Fleet Air Arm Squadron ‘Fly In’ 14th May 2016
And bust it very nearly was thanks to the management or should I say the mis-management of the airfield at Elvington.
I originally booked our ‘Fly In’ way back at the beginning of the year when our flying programme was first produced for 2016. Talking with the airfield manager back in January he was very enthusiastic and keen to see us. No problem at all he enthused, just PPR on the day with the aircraft details and we look forward to seeing you all.
Shortly after this I was deployed back to sea aboard one of the Royal Research vessels out into the wilds of the Atlantic. As the voyage progressed I was in email contact with museum making arrangements for our visit and at the same time emailed the airfield just to keep our name and visit in their minds. The silence of no reply from the airfield should have probably rung alarm bells but I put this down to either (a) having the wrong email address or their general lack of administration support. The airfield, although as we know is very large but only plays a small part in Elvington Parks land-portfolio.
Immediately on my return to the Uk I phoned Elvington Park to confirm our visit.
“Oh” said the young lady I spoke to, “You won’t be able to land as we are having some maintenance done on the runway!”
Rather than sound off a broadside shooting the messenger I went on the charm offensive explaining my predicament, smooching, my voice thick with treacle and honey!
She obviously melted to my dulcet tones replying,
“Well, it’s a long runway, I’m sure we can accommodate you but the Estate Manager will have to ok this and he’s not in the office until tomorrow. I’ll give him your number and have him call you first thing tomorrow.” The following day being Friday 13th the day before our Fly In.
Not prepared to wait until he called me I started to call his number from 0830, eventually getting to speak to him just before 0900.
Of course he recalled speaking to me earlier in the year and then went into overdrive full on waffle mode trying the cover up his faux paux. Then it turned out that it wasn’t runway maintenance that was the problem but a motorcycle racing event taking up the whole of the runway. When I questioned him as to why this had not been mentioned at the time of my initial enquiry he reverted back to max waffle mode couldn’t understand how this clash of events had occurred, blah, blah blah. The cynic in me reckons it was down to money, isn’t it always? No doubt he earned a hefty fee letting out the full runway to motor cycle enthusiasts set against the possibility of landing fees from a half dozen or so aircraft! However, he felt confident that speaking to the organisers they would pause their activities to allow our aircraft to fly in.
Speaking to our Senior Pilot Tim, it was decided to re plan for landing at Church Fenton and that myself and my aviator friendly girlfriend would do the honours with land transportation. Crisis averted.
Ex RAF Church Fenton station HQ, now Leeds East Airport.
Naturally I appraised the Elvington airfield manager of our new arrangements. He in turn was most disappointed explaining that he’d arranged with the race organisers to allow a slot for our landing. This I took with a pinch of salt. Quite how a race can be stopped then re-started assuring participants of their correct placing in order of the race is beyond me! Well unless it’s Formula one with a flashy Mercedes AMG and strobes going around the circuit. I couldn’t quite see this happening at Elvington with some week-end bikers!
Speaking to the manager at Church Fenton all was in order and the landing fee was £5 less than Elvington, bargain, or so I thought! There was an unexpected sting in the tail that came later that evening when I took a voice mail on my landline from the General Manager of Church Fenton who explained that the airfield Duty Manager I had spoken to omitted to tell me about the £5 per hour parking fee!!! The first two hours being free!
By this time we were committed to using Church Fenton so leaving things as they were hoping that in the morning by speaking directly to the airfield manager I might solicit some discount on the parking fee. Three aircraft arrived at 10:00 hrs, Tim & Paul in Tim’s Jodel. Tony Gibson in his Murphy Rebel and new member Chris Wright along with William Waterfield in Chris’s recently purchased TB10 from its previous owner Cmdr. Ade Orchard RN.
Aircraft line up at Church Fenton, Leeds East Airport.
My co-pilot set off with Tim, Paul and Tony for Elvington whilst I waited with Chris and William for the impending arrival of Simon and Knuts Thomas whose Piper Arrow soon appeared on final approach. After landing and shutting down my heart jumped to my throat as I saw Simon and Knuts walking towards me across the apron loaded down with so much luggage they looked as though they would be staying for a week. I wasn’t looking forward to explaining to Simon the parking charges!!!
A crest fallen Simon was dumb founded to say the least and unfortunately the airport duty manager was nowhere to be seen. We agreed to get over to Elvington rather than hanging about and that Simon would negotiate later by telephone regarding arrangements for his planned overnighting until Sunday. Later Simon spoke to the Church Fenton duty manager and negotiated a reduced overnight fee which included secure hangarage. So he was reasonably pleased with that.
After mustering for coffee, linking up with those that had come overland, Denis & Margaret Woodhams along with Simon & Knuts friends, Ian & Sue Cameron, we set off to explore the wonders of the aviation heritage of Elvington. Sadly John and Helen Marriot had been unable to make the trip.
For those who have never been it really is a must, the original station buildings are stuck in a time warp. The custodians have turned back the clock with the refurbishment of Elvington in to a living museum using voice recordings where ever possible. Wander into the ground floor of the watch tower and listen as to how the Met Officer and staff calculated the weather for the coming ops both over the airfield and the target for the night. On the upper floor listening to how the 1940’s Air Traffic Control marshalled the aircraft ready for the forthcoming sortie. Look across the airfield and imagine the great lumbering giants of the Halifax and Lancaster’s taxying ready to line up and depart. With the life like models (well almost) dressed in the uniform of the day standing by at their various duty posts, it’s so easy to step back in time and feel the atmosphere of the era. Talk to the locals and they’ll tell you that on a calm summer’s evening as dusk approaches, if you listen very carefully you can hear the ghostly sounds of merlin engines as they struggle to lift their charges and bomb loads into the still night air. Close your eyes for a moment and the shadow of a heavily laden Lanc will pass overhead causing a shiver down the spine as it momentarily blocks out the sinking sun causing a brief drop in temperature. Wish the ghostly airmen luck before coming back to the present.
Wander through the main hangar and see the superb selection of aircraft there with eager staff willing to give you a brief on each aircraft’s history.
Outside there is a RN Gannet mistakenly, according to Tony, decaled with the wrong Squadron designation. Then only ‘old hands’ who had served aboard ‘Ark Royal’ would know that.
Stand in awe at the massive shapes of the Nimrod and Victor Bomber later to become a tanker.
Walk through the Bomber Command room and silently weep at the huge human cost with the offensive, 55,000 aircrew, almost half the Bomber Force wiped out during those dark days on WWII. Watch the documentary film of some of those who served explaining the events.
I could go on and easily fill this edition of the ‘Buzz’ with the various exhibits at Elvington!
After a morning of aviation nostalgia we again mustered in the 1940’s style NAAFI for a hearty lunch, with a choice of Beef Stew and Dumplings or Lasagne, with chips of course! Good hearty warming comfort food but at 2016’s prices!!
After lunch off we wandered again in an attempt to walk off the scrumptious grub, some even enjoying an ice cream from the Elvington shop. All too soon it was time to transport the air crew back to Church Fenton.
An enjoyable day of aviation heritage with good company and although we probably didn’t see everything, that would take at least two solid days we found time to briefly ‘Swing the Lamp’ before departing. Denis Woodham’s telling us a tall black doggy story but then that’s for another time!!
L to R
Chris Wright, William Waterfield, Kathryn, Anthony Stevens, Tony Gibson, Margaret& Denis Woodhams, Tim Nicholas.
No idea what had happened to Simon, Knuts, Ian and Susan!
© HM Stevens
