Bickmarsh - 29th August 2013

Bickmarsh airfield is located just south of Bidford-on-Avon in Warickshire - I had only been here once before and that was back in 2002.

Brand new and still under final construction was Vans RV-8 G-XRVB - the owner was working on his aircraft and told me that he hoped to make the first flight within the next month or two - he's been working on this project for 9 years. There are currently 59 examples of the RV-8 registered in the UK.

Long term resident is Piper Pa-25-235 Pawnee G-BVYP - this is operated by the Bidford Gliding Club. This Pawnee was built in 1965 but didn't arrive in the UK until 1995 - since then it's always been based at Bickmarsh tugging gliders. By the end of 2012 this aircraft had flown over 4800 flight hours.

Older than the Pawnee is Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe G-LUST - this example was built in 1947 ( 66 years ago ) . This classic aircraft came to the UK in 1989 from the USA and had previously flown as N2065B. The Luscombe 8 series is very popular here with 72 examples currently registered in the UK.

G-ATOI is an example of an early Piper Pa-28-140 Cherokee dating from 1966. It was imported new by CSE Aircraft Sales at Oxford-Kidlington and since then has operated with more than ten owners and has clocked up over 8100 flight hours. With over 140 Piper Pa-28-140 Cherokee currently on the UK register this example is perhaps the 5th oldest.



Steve

Bournemouth Hurn - 21.4.10

Bournemouth Hurn airport is a large airfield with many hangers and based operators scattered around the airport. There is a very good mixed range of aircraft to be seen here ranging from airliners, biz jets, general aviation and some older warbirds too.

Eurocopter EC 120B Colibri c/n 1463 wearing Bournemouth Helicopters titles by the engine. This smart helicopter was built in 2006 and delivered as F-HAAL. It was first registered in the UK in June 2007 as G-MKII operated by Bournemouth Helicopters - however they changed the registration to be G-SKPP in January 2010.

Piper Pa-28-161 Cadet c/n 2841015 was built in the USA in 1988 and was first registered in the UK as G-BPJP in December 1988. For many years this aircraft was based at Oxford Kidlington airport before arriving at Hurn in 2001. This aircraft had flown over 11,000 flight hours by Dec 2008.

G-CBLE Robin 2120U c/n 364 was built in France in 2002. G-CBLE was first registered in the UK in April 2002. Between 2004 - 2009 this aircraft was based at Cardiff airport.  By Dec 2007 this aircracft had flown over 2,000 flight hours.

Hurn is home to several multi engine flight training schools, among them is CTC Aviation who operate a fleet of four examples of the Diamond DA 42 Twin Star including G-CTCF c/n 42-045 shown here. This modern twin was built in Austria in 2005. I often here these CTC aircraft on my radio doing flight training and operating on the airways over the South West of England.


Steve

Blackbushe - 27.10.09

Blackbushe airport offers good views for aviation enthusiasts with low fencing and wide views across the aprons

Cabair operate a flight training school here and operate a mixture of Pa-28, Robin HR200/120 and AA-5 aircraft.



G-FNPT Piper Pa-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III c/n 2842163 was built in 2002 and delivered to the UK as N5346Y becoming G-FNPT in October 2002. Cabair have bases at several UK airfields with a home base at Elstree.

G-WAVN Robin HR200/120B c/n 344 was built in 2000 by Robin Aviation at Dijon, France and originally delivered new to the UK as G-VECA. It joined the Cabair fleet in 2007 having previously operated with a flight training school at Wellsbourne ( G-WAVN - Welsbourne Aviation ).

The type was first built in 1971 - production ceased at Dijon in 2004 after approx 370 aircraft had been built. Production rights and jigs were subsequently sold to Alpha Aviation of New Zealand.


External LINK to Cabair website

G-FBKB Cessna 510 Citation Mustang c/n 510-0126 is operated by Blink Ltd at Blackbushe. This new bizjet was built in 2008 as N826CM and became G-FBKB in August 2009. Todate Blink operate a fleet of 7 Cessna 510 jets.

Blink operate as an air taxi company across Europe. The Citation Mustang offers seating for 4 passengers in 2 + 2 seating.

To read more about Blink visit their website via


http://www.flyblink.com/