FGUK's first flying event

[Algernon]

As we discussed earlier and elsewhere, chaps, I think now we've got a decent bit of our online presence up and running, we could organise a flying event shortly to raise the profile of the group and get all those who've shown interest to get together and fly.

How about some suggestions, I suspect a fly-in/fly-out makes the most sense - my main ambition would be to use FGCom. What are yours?

[Nemesis]

I like the idea of trying out FGCom. Not used it yet and would be good to see how it helps with plenty of ppl using it at the same time. For a venue, a nice fully built airfield would be good somewhere in the UK. I reckon an airfield rather than a a busy airport would give it a nice club feel.

[Algernon]

Jul 16, 2010 0:51:34 GMT Nemesis said:

For a venue, a nice fully built airfield would be good somewhere in the UK. I reckon an airfield rather than a a busy airport would give it a nice club feel.

I agree, not least because of lag issues associated with the AI traffic you undoubtedly run into at airports. Presumably, we'd be looking for an airfield with a reasonably long runway, somewhere in the Midlands perhaps for maximum accessability for all, and preferably (for me) with at least one ILS beacon (although I can see that going by the board early on, hehe).

[Nemesis]

Lol, yup. I'm betting there will be a few craters in the runway eventually, making any ILS beacons redundant, hehe. We'll have to have a nose around for a suitable airfield. I'll start on that mission later today if nobody else has found one.

[Algernon]

I'm looking already - I figure central/North England or the Borders region would be interesting, and convenient for pilots from all corners of the UK.

What about Cumbria? Interesting terrain at least...

[Avionyx]

Here's a nice one:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrow/Walney_Island_Airport

[Algernon]

I was there only today, on a research flight - there aren't too many airfields up there, but that's a goodie: it has some nice hills to the north, the Peaks en route for those who are travelling up from the sarf, and it's pretty when you get there. Not to mention three runways, one with an ILS approach, so it's very flexible for those (like me) who are prone to bring a 777 or something... at least for the inbound route.

I was thinking of creating a GPS flight plan taking in some of the local sights, that could be downloaded and imported into Route Manager. So we'd fly-in, do some group flying, have a natter, fly back (perhaps). Whaddyathink?

[Algernon]

Jul 16, 2010 0:51:34 GMT Nemesis said:

For a venue, a nice fully built airfield would be good somewhere in the UK. I reckon an airfield rather than a a busy airport would give it a nice club feel.

I'm trying and failing to find any well-developed airfields that aren't busy with AI traffic, unfortunately. We'll have to crack on with making them!

[Nemesis]

Walney Island it is, then Works for me, too.

Like you say, it will do until we have some built up. I was on an airfield safari today, too and only found fields with runways on them and nothing else. Even major airfields such as Duxford. As mentioned above, it certainly hilights the fact that the FGUK has it's work cut out to get the UK populated with fully built 3D airfields. I'm working on Cosford as a starting point and have a mental list of others I want to do afterwards. I'm sure with many of our future members having a go, too we can get the UK looking respectable

[Algernon]

Splendid. Should we plan something along the lines of:

• Fly into EGNL from base of your choice
  
• Participate in some Lake District-based caper
  
• Fly home again
  

...with suitable breaks for nattering and muffins, of course?

[Nemesis]

Sounds great to me. ... and the muffins are a must! Can we get them with the FGUK logo baked into the top of em, or maybe written on in icing?

[Algernon]

You can model 'em!!!

So what about a date - does next Sunday (25th) pose any problems for anyone?

[Nemesis]

Next Sunday works. Gives us a week to get the word out

[Algernon]

Alex, would the 25th be problematic for you, sir?

[Avionyx]

I think it should be fine, the 25th it is!
Any time before 7pm is the best for me, just by the by, as after that my little boy demands bathing and attention (not to mention silence to get the bugger off to sleep!)

Alex