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AYA Europe 2002

by lan Matterface, Regional Director

I had decided that during this year's fly-in I would announce my intention of standing down as European Regional Director. They say it is always best to go out when you are on top. Little did I know how true that was going to be. After a number of years of having to battle through poor weather to attend the annual European fly-in, we jumped at Dominique Covre and Henri Faivre's invitation to return to the warmer climate of Marmande in southwest France, a pleasant oasis set in the sun-soaked wine region of Bordeaux. Perhaps we should have known better! A spider's web of lows flowing in off the Atlantic produced a cold front stretching from the west coast of the U.K. all the way down through the Bay of Biscay to the North African coast, bringing with it the threat of heavy rain, low cloud, occasional thunder storms, and high winds. In such conditions, there was little chance of

espying those English gentleman in shorts as promised by Nigel Thomas. So there you have it, the scene was set for another series of challenging flights to make it to our European event.

Those arriving early Friday were surprised to find nine Grummans already on the apron, and during the rest of the day a steady stream of arrivals made the count for the day 20. The final Grumman appeared out of the murk during the evening's meal as the sun set between black clouds turning the low western sky a deep orange. Many left the dinner table in the hangar to witness this spectacular sunset as more rain fell.

Did I mention tables? Food? Wine? Hangar? Sure did! Like 1998, the main venue for all our culinary delights was the Orion Squadron hangar, and our chef was none other than Pilot and Master Chef Michel Methereau, who again produced his now-famous Giant Paella for the Friday evening main course. Despite news coming through of other Grummans stranded at airfields in and around northern France, all awaiting a break in the weather, the rest of the gatherers spent the rest of the evening in convivial banter--I think coherent, but others may say otherwise--whilst partaking in the local grape juice.

After a light, two-hour French lunch at the field on Saturday, most of us took the coach trip out to a nearby village to visit a transport museum. On alighting from the coach we were told to be back in two hours time. From the look of the outside of the old converted tobacco factory building, many wondered how we were going to fill that time. In actuality, the timing was just about right. This museum houses three full floors of vintage and veteran European cars (and some American), agricultural machinery, steam engines, and military vehicles, including tanks and field guns. Richard North showed such interest in the exhibits that we managed to leave him behind!

(Motto: Count them off so that we can have a reasonable chance of counting them back on!)

We caught up with him later, back at the airfield, after he had hailed a taxi. Those of us who did manage to get back on the coach went on to visit the Beaupuy cellar for a tour of the winemaking process and sampling of the end product, as if we needed encouraging. During the wine tasting, each aircraft pilot was generously presented with two bottles of Cotes Du Marmandais by the extremely generous Beaupuy cellar manager.