On Friday night at 10.45pm Dave Skertch was roused from his slumbers by the phone. "Ian is stuck in Copenhagen with a faulty Aeroplane. He is dreadfully sorry but he won't
be able to make it tomorrow" said Anne. Discussion with Ian later revealed the brake accumulator of the 757 had been fixed just in time to leave Copenhagen with a scratch 2-man crew before the airport
closed. They were on the runway and rolling when they were called back. Apparently even the Bashers Day out would not soften the hearts of ops at Heathrow who had run out of night landing slots. Ian is the
only Basher cleared to fly G-TASH, we were down to 2 aeroplanes.
Next morning things went from bad to worse, for weeks there had been a fixed unstable weather pattern, fog in the morning would give way to poor visibility and low
patchy cloud, turning to thunderstorms and rain in the afternoon. Met web on this morning gave no cause for hope. The Bashers turned up, prepped the 2 aeroplanes, and sat in the clubroom in a sense of
deepening gloom. A mobile was found which would accept international calls (Thanks Gwyn) and in due course it was found that Le-Touquet was giving 250metres fog BKN 300ft and Alderney little better. As Dave
called around it seemed that everywhere from Wales to the borders was closed in, except for Shoreham and Lydd. It was agreed that we would try for Lydd, at least we would have been somewhere.
The IMC rated Pilots took the left seats with the intention of attempting to get "on top" just underneath the controlled airspace at FL50, or fly through it to the coast where they could climb still
higher. Fully loaded and in the hot damp still air both aeroplanes just got off and climbed slowly through the murk. At 1500ft they entered IMC and climbed a little uneasily through the broken cumulus tracking
Goodwood VOR breaking out eventually at 4700ft whisking through the tops. As they crossed the coast the clouds abruptly stopped revealing the coastal towns under a layer of murk. The Bashers tracked along the
south coast beacon bashing from VOR to VOR, while the cheats in Bash no doubt "backed up" their visual navigation with the GPS. From time to time we would hear of aircraft turning back from France,
we had little hope.
Above: The Bashers waiting at Lydd for the fog in France to clear
In quite acceptable VMC the Bashers arrived at Lydd, and while Lydd tried to charge Dave £60.00 for a landing fee (Dave took several minutes to recover from the shock), Gwyn was
looking closely at the weather. "I think its clearing," he said so a flight plan was filed and the Bashers adjourned to the restaurant. Over coffee it was agree that we would go over to Le-Touquet
and take a look, if the weather was no good we would turn round and return to Lydd for lunch.
With Kevin now at the controls of G-BASH the Bashers set heading out over the channel in pleasant VMC. As the FIR boundary was crossed fog could be seen forming underneath and
pulse rates quickened just a little. Gwyn requested a special VFR clearance from Lille information. The Bashers pressed on. As they coasted in they were greeted with an extraordinary sight. The fog stopped
exactly over the beaches. It even continued along the river beside the airfield, but the runway was clear. The Bashers landed in perfectly acceptable VFR although the ATIS was still giving SKT 300ft.
Above: Dave Skertchly looks worried about the fog over the river at Le-Touquet
Since most of the Bashers had forgotten their passports they feared they may not be allowed in to France, but customs simply logged them in and let them go. The FBO offered to
refuel the aeroplanes while they were at lunch and they could pay before leaving.
Some debate ensued about where to go for lunch. Dave Leddy complained bitterly (as every year) about having to walk to get his dinner, but the Bashers just plodded on through the
delightful wooded suburbs and in due course found the town and a suitable pavement café. As the Bashers sat in the sun they noticed that Morgans and other vintage sports cars including a Buggatti were passing
by, there must have been a rally. After a pleasant lunch and walk back to the airfield, the bills were paid and the flight plans were filed.
The aeroplanes were started up and then shut down again. French ATC were sticking to letter of the law on this one, and they demanded their half-hour to file a flight plan. The Bashers sat and sweltered in
their lifejackets for 10 minutes. In due course they were cleared to depart.
After departure they tracked Seaford and Goodwood VORs back to Popham. Early fog was again forming over the channel, and wisps of fog could be seen forming in the valleys around
Petersfield. After a couple of passes for Photographs they landed back at Popham at 7.00pm. They had made it against the odds all thanks to Gwyn's experience.
