Hibaldstow and Sturgate - 01/09/13

September 1st saw me make a first ever visit to the parachute centre at Hibaldstow in North Lincolnshire. This wartime airfield was a place I’d long wanted to visit, but I’d always been unsure as to whether photographers were welcome.

In the end, I needn’t have worried as a polite enquiry at the office resulted in me being granted permission to take photographs, the only stipulation being that I was not to enter the hangars. Fine by me!

Dornier Do28D2 HA-HIB was delivered to the Kenyan Air Force as 116. After leaving service, Czech-built Walter M601 turboprops were fitted to replace the original Lycoming piston engines, and the aircraft passed on to the Hungarian register in 2011.



The centre’s three other Dorniers, EC-KTC, HA-ACO and HA-VOC were undergoing routine maintenance in one of the hangars.



In another hangar was Technoavia SMG-92 Turbine Finist HA-YDF. This deceptively large Russian-designed STOL utility aircraft is one of just 22 that have been produced since the piston-engined prototype first flew in 1993. The SMG-92 version was built by Aerotech Slovakia and, like the Dorniers, is fitted with the Walter M601 engine.



As I wandered around, I was joined by a couple of other photographers and we got chatting. They told me that after visiting Hibaldstow, they were heading off to Sturgate, near Gainsborough, for the fly-in. I had to admit to complete ignorance about this event but it sounded tempting and when I got back to the car, my wife said she was quite happy to drive there so off we went!

Arriving at Sturgate, I was pleasantly surprised to see several friends in the viewing enclosure and to learn that we were free to visit the hangars. We were also given escorted access to the flight line and invited to partake in the refreshments being served in the clubhouse.

This was turning out to be a very enjoyable day and many thanks must go to the staff and members of the Lincoln Aero Club for making us all so welcome!

Parked on a stand by the hangars and looking as though it hasn’t flown in a while, is SOCATA MS894 Rallye Minerva G-CCZA, .



American–registered Cessna 310Q N218Y was previously on the UK CAA register as G-AZYM.



There is, to me, something about the Cessna 206 that makes it look like an aeroplane that wants to work. G-BFCT is a TU206F Turbo Stationair II model



Grob G115A G-RAFB belonging to the RAF College Flying Club, Cranwell.



A couple of other American-registered aircraft at Sturgate were v-tailed Beech K35 Bonanza N59VT and Piper PA24-260 Comanche C N500AV, equipped with tip-tanks and a nice line in curtains!





Another couple of aircraft types that look ‘right’ to me are the long-nosed version of the Piper Aztec, and the Cessna 336/337 Skymaster. G-BBHF is a PA23-250 Aztec E while G-BMJR is a retractable-undercarriage T337H Super Skymaster.





Home-built aircraft were well represented. G-BVIA is a Rand-Robinson KR-2, and smart looking G-IPKA is an Alpi Pioneer 300.





The Van’s (and yes, there is supposed to be an apostrophe there) series of aircraft continue to grow in popularity amongst UK homebuilders. G-BXVO is a two-seat RV6, whereas its four-seater big brother is an RV10 G-CGJP.





A couple of Stoddard-Hamilton designs were on the flight line. Glasair G-BKHW had made the short hop from Gamston, while GlaStar G-CBCL looks quite at home in Sturgate’s bucolic surroundings.