Last week I flew to Cambridge, an exciting trip! The goal was to visit my aunt who lives downtown Cambridge, and celebrate her birthday (somewhat belated). I planned for this trip already in July, but in that weekend the weathergods prevented any (VFR) trip between the UK and the continent.

We arrived at 9.30 at the club, and start to collect the neccessary items: life jackets, tie-downs, aircraft papers, etc. We brought some drinks and food for during the trip, next to the overnight suitcases.

I had updated my navigation plan from the one I created in July already at home. The customs form was faxed to Cambridge airport operations the day before, and on my way to Rotterdam I had called dutch customs, which is needed for any direct non-Schengen flight.

The weather forecast was fine for Saturday (disregarding some scattered showers and isolated CBs), but Sunday would be tricky as some front was crossing UK from west to east. However, if we would leave early there should be no problem.


Blankenberge (Belgium) from 1300 feet

The intended route was Rotterdam along the coast to Oostende and Koksijde (on the south side of the Belgium coast), then cross the channel (coasting-out is the right word), and in the UK via overhead South-end, Earls Colne to Cambridge.


White cliffs of Dover, mid-channel at flightlevel 50

The weather in the UK was beautiful with some scattered clouds in the 3000's, and we were switching between London Info, and the tower frequencies of our waypoints. The most beautiful remark from air traffic control was London Info with a message to all stations (airfcraft): "Please have all a very good lookout, you are with many up there". Brilliant.


Near Southend

At Cambridge airport, Marshall's, we filled the aircraft up for the next day and pay the landing fee + parking for the night (29 GBP in total). The fuel was actually very cheap, and I saved some 37 euro's on the total rental price.



We took a taxi to get to my aunt's house, and went into town for a lunch (one of my favourites is jacked patato with coleslaw and cheese) and a stroll.


Center of Cambridge

We had a great dinner at her place, cooked by living-in summer student Naima and went to bed quite early for a saturday. I did not have trouble sleeping though.

On sunday it was different weather. Already when I woke up, the rain was pouring down, and clouds were low. The effects of the front had arrived much earlier. I called the flying club that my reservation needed extending, and that was not much of a problem.

We decided to lunch at home, and after went to airport. The sky was clearing, and the cloud were climbing at about 400 feet per 30 minutes.


Pre-flight check at Cambridge airport (EGSC)

After an hour of waiting I decided to take off. There might be some problems underway over the channel and over Belgium, but if it wouldn't be possible to cross the channel, we could always wait it out in Southend.

The channel was indeed, full of clouds and low visibility. But Ostende had broken clouds at 3000 and 10KM plus visibility so I decided to cross.


My mother can fly!

Nice flight, but a busy one, being the only on board with a flying license. Having a GPS is a neccessity on these trips, it helped greatly in re-assuring the position, as well as answering the continuous "what is your ETA for ..." questions from London Info!