Sandtoft fly-in and family day - 10/08/2013

The annual Sandtoft Fly-in is rapidly becoming one of my favourite events in the aeronautical calendar. Not only is it close to home, but also the number and range of visiting aircraft improves all the time.

Throw in the unparalleled access for photography and good food in the Sky View cafe, and I am one happy little aerophile.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the enthusiasm and hard work of the Sandtoft staff and as always, a big thank you to them all.

Helicopters featured prominently amongst this year’s visitors and Police Aviation Services’ McDonnell Helicopters MD900 Explorer G-LNCT was first to grace the newly-mown grass, most of which was blown over the assembled photographers and into a nearby ice-cream van. (“Would you like a flake or cuttings with your cone, sir?”) ‘CT is operated on behalf of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance and generally uses the callsign ‘Helimed 29’.





A type I haven’t seen flying for a long time, and one I’ll always associate with the TV series M*A*S*H, is the Bell 47, so it was nice to see G-GGTT dropping in. This particular machine is an Italian-built Agusta-Bell 47G.





Another type that also comes under the McDonnell Helicopters umbrella is the Hughes 369E. The colour scheme of N7NP does much to enhance the sleek lines of the airframe.





Breighton-based Aerospatiale SA342L Gazelle, HA-LFQ, previously served with the Irish Air Corps as 241, having been delivered in 1981 and serving until 2007, when it passed into private ownership. It wears a large roundel-type decal commemorating the 2012 World Helicopter Championships held in Russia.





First of the fixed-wing visitors was ARV Super 2 G-BWBZ.



Adding another whiff of kerosene to the air with a spirited display was BAC Jet Provost T4 G-BXLO, resplendent in RAF markings as XR673.







I can't think of many aircraft types that have three different undercarriage arrangements, but the Europa Aviation Europa is one of them. G-PTAG has a tricycle layout; G-BVOS was assembled as a ‘tail dragger’ while G-LABS has an unusual monowheel/outrigger set up.







For most of the day, there was a stiff crosswind blowing across the runway and this certainly tested the landing skills of more than one or two pilots. Here, Piper PA22 Colt G-ARNJ and 1946-vintage Auster V J/2 Arrow G-BEAH show some reluctance to reconnect with Mother Earth. Incidentally, the Auster is fitted with a Continental C85 engine rather than the usual Gipsy Major.





Take-offs, too, could be lively, as demonstrated by Avtech Jabiru UL G-RYAL.



A couple of unusual paint jobs now. The scheme on the tail fin on CZAW Sportcruiser G-KRUZ is, to me, very reminiscent of Alitalia in the early 1960s, while the scheme worn by Reims-Cessna FR172 HB-CIU can, I think, be fairly described as striking. Although Swiss-registered, this aircraft is based in the UK.





Portuguese Air Force markings adorn DHC1 Chipmunk Mk20 G-UANO, which is rather appropriate really, as the aircraft was licence-built in Portugal by OGMA.



Two types new to me were the TL 2000UK Sting Carbon G-CGLZ and the futuristic-looking AutoGyro Calidus G-CGLY.







The Best Off Sky Ranger is growing in popularity in the UK, with nearly 200 examples currently on the CAA’s aircraft register. Three examples were at Sandtoft, namely G-CDLK, G-CFMI and G-XLAM.







Sandtoft is home to a few microlight aircraft that have previously eluded my camera, so it was good to capture Mainair Blade 912 G-FERN and Thruster T600N Jab Sprint G-BZJC. The Thruster did manage to disgrace itself by popping its nose wheel tyre on landing, blocking the runway for a short period.









Finally, to finish off this selection, a picture of the wonderfully named Tipsy T66 Nipper G-AWJE. Slingsby Aircraft built this particular example.