Devon & Cornwall trip 1st & 2nd August 2017

[graham]

I had a couple of days down in the west country and as I didn't have a huge amount to do, decided to fit in a few airfields. The weather throughout the two days was appalling, very wet and windy.

First stop on the way down was Dunkeswell, which I hadn't visited since March 2015. I asked in the clubhouse if it would be OK to drive around the other side of the field where the hangars are and was given full access. The perimeter track doesn't get any better though, there are some axle busting potholes in various places. Unfortunately, due to the terrible weather, almost all the hangars were firmly closed but there were at least a few frames dotted around the field. These are the ones new to me..

G-
ASZE - BEAGLE A61
BKVM - PA18 WEARING US ARMY 115684
BPZM - PA28
BZNK - MS315
CBSL - YAK52 CREAM & RED "67"
CEPX - C152
CIDD - 7ECA
DGST - BE55
DIGS - H369
HFCL - F152
PPLS - C152

WG469 - DHC1
NC33543 - STINSON V-77

PA28 G-BTON is sat there, rudderless, prop-less and looking very unloved.

One query here was a blue and yellow Stearman wearing "217" if anyone can help please?


Next stop was Bodmin, another spotter friendly field, they do now ask for ID and require you to enter your details into their book, after which, go where you like although you do have to ask permission to enter the maintenance hangar. New for me were...

G-
BHDX - F172
BKIT - TB-9
BLMP - PA17
CKCL - C182
LSJE - JABIRU
RCED - AC11

Next stop was Castle Air at Trebrownbridge, right by the side of the A38, hangars here surprisingly open but impossible to ID anything inside. Two choppers sat out side didn't need either were A109A G-MDPI and A109C 2-HELO. Around the back, and a new arrival since my last visit here was the body shell of A109 SP-HXA, thanks to Mark (bizfreeq)for tying up the reg for me.


More to follow including photos

[jargon]

Hi Graham

Couldn't spot a Stearman with those numbers on G-INFO for exemption markings, but there is one undergoing a change ownership so that's a possibility. Less sure about the US registered ones in the UK but nothings popping up with that number. Could also be a recent restoration they were hard at work on them at Enstone when we visited

John

[bizfreeq]

Graham
The Stearman is more than likely G-CIJN coded 317 which i think lives there or of not it was certainly there towards the end of last month.
Did you try asking in the office for a look round at Castle air? They've always said yes when I've asked in the past (though it was around 3 years ago last time I visited)

Cheers
Mark

[graham]

Many thanks Mark & John, it's a typo on my part, the Stearman should indeed be "317" so cheers for the tie up.

[graham]

OK, photos from wet and windy Dunkeswell....

IMG_8418 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8419 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8420 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8421 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8422 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8423 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8424 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8425 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8426 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8427 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8428 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8429 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8430 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8431 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8432 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8433 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8434 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8435 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8436 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8437 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8438 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8439 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8440 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8441 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8442 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8443 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8444 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8445 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8446 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8447 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8448 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

[brizewatcher]

Thanks for posting Graham! Handy as well, heading down that way tomorrow and was planning to pop into Bodmin on the way in.

[graham]

Morning B W

I should have said that at Bodmin, go into the clubhouse via the patio doors and walk up the stairs to your left to the tower, they are fine with that and you can ask in there. Just have your driving license handy for ID. I've never known them to deny access in my many visits there, although it's sometimes iffy whether or not the guys will let you into the maintenance hangar although the doors are usually open anyway.

One other point is that now the new Temple section of the A30 dual carriageway is open, when you exit the lane that leads from the airfield, you can no longer turn right onto the A30 towards Launceston as they have blocked up the gap in the Armco. You can only turn left towards Bodmin.

[graham]

Some shots from Bodmin, the residents are well documented here so I've just posted those I made on my visit. There's no shot of G-RCED as she was right at the back of the maintenance hangar

IMG_8457 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8461 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8467 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8468 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

IMG_8471 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

[graham]

The Polish A109 SP-HXA at Castle Air

IMG_8477 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

[graham]

The remainder of the trip is a bit of a non starter really. On the Wednesday I had to do a call in Penzance so nipped out to the airport whilst there. Two new tarmac runways since I last called but the weather was so atrocious that all flights to/from the Scillies had been cancelled and there was nothing parked up anyway. I don't need any of the Skybus fleet but I don't have any photos of them either so it was a bit disappointing. Sat there in the layby and saw nothing in 40 minutes. Then to Culdrose, the "viewing area" was fogbound, to the extent that a Navy Merlin went over me at less than a hundred feet on finals and I couldn't see it. So much for summer in the Duchy.....