Sambro Flying Super Hero Action Flyerz, Ironman

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And then, there’s Druskininkai, a bumpy strip in the spa town where half of Eastern Europe ‘takes the waters’. Druskininkai sits close to Belarus, and as you tune into Flight Information, you share the frequency with Belarusian MIG pilots on their training sorties. During those years, he gained a vast amount of experience in the good, as well as the ‘rough’ way. Around 2002, realising that there was a need for a school teaching specialised Bush flying courses, was when Bush-Air was born. We also take a look at the apartments for pilots and mechanics that Everts makes available if required. “If you are unhappy with your accommodation, you can also stay here with us,” the 61-year-old suggests.

Then there is the bustling harbour at Cowes with its massive ex-Saunders Roe seaplane hangar, Queen Victoria’s Osborne House, numerous sandy beaches, towering cliffs around Ventnor and the gently rolling downs inland – it is still Hampshire after all. There haven’t been any new flexwing types, apart from the nano-trikes, on the market for some time so this can only be good. The new Indian-produced P&M Quik-R was supposed to be coming as well – I didn’t see it arrive, but it is vitally important that production of the Quik family of flexwings is continued – you only had to look around to see the massive popularity of this type. Well… as for me… I’d like to fly a DC-6. At least fly with me. Is there something that could be done…?” I ask cautiously.Right-hand orbits at present position, please, you will be cleared for the approach after the Wizzair Airbus on short final’ is something that my UK friends would plaster all over Facebook. Here, it’s a routine occurrence. The following year it was held at Sandown and the ‘modern Spamfield’ (to use Olympic terminology) was born, and I haven’t missed many over the years. So where does the name ‘Spamfield’ originate? It all came about because the PFA Rally at Cranfield was cancelled in 2001 due to foot and mouth disease, so some wag came up with the name, and thought it might be a good idea to hold a similar event on the Isle of Wight, but for microlights. Visiting any of these fields in an Auster, with its unhurried cruise and two-and-a-half-hour endurance, is ‘proper’ adventure. To me, that’s what makes aviating worthwhile. We take our photos and films and watch the aeroplane and its plume of smoke for a while. Then it’s quiet again.

Behind him, the large windows give excellent views over the airport. And, all the ‘old sweethearts’ are barely a stone’s throw away on the runway. So you guys want to write a story about us. In Europe they love old aeroplanes, don’t they?” We nod, eagerly.

While sharing one last beer, Keith, Kirk and I chat. We all agree that we got what we came looking for – and more. Like the 750 pilots that have previously taken CC’s Bush flying course, we felt safer, more skilful, and confident and had acquired a much better knowledge of our aircraft and more critically, our personal ability. Winds were up to around 15kt straight down the runway. CC set orange cones and racing flags on both sides of the runway to create an imaginary competition line. While the technique was going to be similar to what we have been practising, we would add an extra step this time. It was time to use the flaps differently! The next day it’s actually already early morning, but it’s still dark, the sun hasn’t really risen yet. When we climb out of the Pilatus PC-12 at Galena Airfield, our nose hair freezes after just two breaths. Some of these nuts and bolts did look a bit tired – but everything seemed functional, and the price was very reasonable.

Dan’s ethos is simple – airfields are for flying and flying should be fun, he has no time for pomposity or red-tape” Be glad it’s not even colder – you’d be frozen solid by now,” says Rob, laughing, as I hold my immobile fingers between my thighs for warmth, which after a few minutes work again. In the past, aircraft from the same club would all park together and the car-borne members would bring the BBQ and gazebo – the ‘Zoy Boys’ (Westonzoyland Micro club) spring to mind. I’ve often wondered if it was one of those MIG pilots who forced the Ryanair Boeing to divert to the Belarusian capital Minsk, just so that the arrest could be carried out on one of its passengers, the independent journalist Roman Protasevich?

The ‘something like a Cub’ turned out to be an Auster Arrow, one of only six airworthy Arrows in the world. It had spent most of its life in Germany before moving to the Danish equivalent of Old Warden. The guy who was selling the aircraft – a retired factory director – swapped a pristine pre-war motorbike for it.