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The AYA Fly in at Marmande 2002

Above: Dave Skertchly, Dave Leddy and Chris Sellen over La Manche.

It was the culmination of 4 years work, one more trip and the Bashers would qualify as really Grumpy, and the mysterious right of the chicken would be revealed to the initiated. On the Friday however it seemed as though all hope had faded. Even Plymouth Military Radar was warning against crossing to France due to thunderstorms forming in the channel. On Saturday things were looking up but the forecast was still dodgy for the rest of the week, Dave Leddy was concerned that he may not get back on Sunday and he would miss work (shame). Instead of Marmande the Bashers settled for Caen with intention of doing a recce for the Bash Group fly out to Dieppe.  

 Above left: The Bashers were at last awarded Grumpy membership, Right: Chris and Dave after a beer in the tower on arrival.

At Caen the Bashers re-fuelled and Chris suggested to Dave that he need not plan the next leg since it was only 20 minutes up the coast to Dieppe, "Just follow the GPS needle" urged Chris. Dave was suspicious, but was outnumbered, so an hour and a quarter later he joined on right base at Poitiers, it was too late! With G-BASH now filled with fuel it was only a little over an hour to Marmande. As they approached they could see that the apron was packed with aircraft, it was not until they landed that they realized that they were all Grumman's. 30 Grummans in all attended from 8 countries, a record for an AYA Europe event. In addition AYA'ers had flown in from Australia (Judy and Tom Lashmar) and America (Ed and Pat Manning) making this a worldwide event. G-BASH was the oldest AA5 present! 

Above G-BASH refuels at Poitiers, Below: G-BASH on the apron at Marmande.

 
     
Above left: The AYA meal in the Hangar, Right Michel Metheraud presents his Grumman Gateaux, Below The Bashers with Rosalinde and Clemens Linnebur who flew in from Montpellier.

Despite the Bashers unplanned arrival the Orion Escadrille  fitted in some extra seats for the AYA supper. The menu was superbly French, with salmon salad starters followed by l'entrcote steak cooked French style with spices, in the Hangar, by our very own French Chef, Monsieur Metheraud. For sweet he had prepared a Gateaux with a Grumman on it, great. All this was washed down with local Bordeaux wine drunk from plastic cups, true luxury to drink such fine wine from a plastic cup! Despite turning up late the Bashers were presented with 2 bottles of fine Côtes du Marmandais, Chateau Soubiran, by the Aero club host Dominic Covre.

Most meritorious flight was awarded to Martin Walker (with his Girlfriend Elaine) who flew from Scotland and arrived at the dinner in a kilt, but others had flown from Denmark, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

The Bashers were generously driven back to their hotel via the scenic route by Ed Manning who was visiting from the USA with his wife Pat. Ed promised to visit us a Popham next year.

Above left: Despite their epic journey the Bashers still did not discover the tale of the chicken, but found out who was responsible, yes Ni Thomas, Right: This colour co-ordinated version was found on a Belgian AA5.

On the Sunday Morning the Grumpies headed out for a Picnic, while the Bashers headed for home. Just half an hour to the North they ran into low cloud and rain, and Dave Leddy wisely decided to divert to Riberac, pulling off a superb landing up the hill. The local flying club made them coffee and the local CFI flew a circuit and reported the cloud-base to be 800ft. Dave Skertchly,  decided to have a go at getting on top, but despite a downwind, downhill take off into the valley, he was soon forced to turn back through lack of weather information at the destination. So it was back to Marmande. 

Clemens helped to get a met chart which gave little hope but the met was expected to improve. After a whip round to get cash for fuel Chris headed North. All to soon even Chris too ran into the murk again and he diverted to Royan. By the time the weather had cleared there were no airfields open for fuel so a stop overnight in Royan was inevitable.

Above centre: G-BASH at Riberac after diversion number 1 of 3.

Above Left: G-BASH holed in at Royan, Right: Chris and Dave sizing up the smallest helipad in the world, open the doors and passengers fall into the harbour! Above centre: The weather which stopped the Bashers ST-SC 005-030 and they still tried!

Next day the weather was bright and clear, with full tanks and a good weather forecast from Luc Maze at Royan they headed North. Angers was shown as being in the middle of a danger area, although the locals seemed to take no notice, but the intermediate stop was made at Laval, where Chris then took the controls to Caen. To get over a French military route Chris climbed to 3000ft insisting all the time that he was VFR.

 
  
Above left: G-BASH at a deserted  terminal at Laval Right: Chris insisting that he is VFR.

After a "Fromage" or "Jambon" sandwich in the new terminal at Caen, the Bashers again headed north across the channel braving the thunderstorms at FL50. The transit from Goodwood to Popham was bleak and bumpy but they had made it home just one day late. John Wrayton was there to welcome them home with coffee ready and waiting as the bashers sheltered from the rain.