Yesterday was a rather busy day. It started with the doorbell ringing at 06:15 for an airfield matter.
08:30 meeting 2 of my team for briefing prior to flight to RAF Syerstone where the Global Stars to were flying a display for the National Air & Space Camp Families Day 2026.
My self and wing man Chris Burkett departed to meet the other pair airbourne for our display at 13:49. On route dodging showers which luckily were not thunderstorms as forecast.
I had to refuel quickly and get back to Gransden, have a bite to eat and jump in my “time machine” the RV7 with Ian Austin and fly to Denham.
Once at Denham we preflighted the PC12 taking on board 800lbs of fuel parked up and waited for our passenger who had a business meeting at Blackpool.
Pax arrived, a briefing on the expected weather and off we went. RW24 at Denham is 700 meters. With 30′ flap rotate speed is 75 kts, turning North and staying below 1000ft QNH until clear of the LHR CTR then commencing a climb while contacting London ATC. We had filed for 18,000ft as our cruise altitude to Blackpool with on route time of 40 mins.
We climbed at approx 2000fpm stopping at various levels on the way up as directed by ATC.
Whilst high above the cloud it matters not if your at 5,000 or 19,000 above the cloud you don’t get and additional sensation of height.
Approaching Blackpool we broke cloud at 12,000ft and could see the Isle of Man whilst 12 miles out. At my reckoning thats approx 67nm away.
With our passenger away we paid landing fees of £1100, briefed the return flight and departed.
I hand flew the entire flight from start to end. Landing back at Denham with a little less spare runway that i would like. Reverse thrust and brakes worked well !
Next was secure the aircraft, jump in the RV7 and return to Gransden landing 20 mins after sunset.
A long day.
