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The Grumpy Gang

The Grumman Aircraft Pilots Association European Branch

Having previously enjoyed such a good weekend in Genk, good weather, good food and as always good company, we were hoping our rather later than normal date for our European fly-in would provide us with the desired solid ridge of high pressure. The distances flown by many of our attendees, while not as great as our US cousins, generally mean that they may have to fly through not one but often several weather systems which spin out from the Atlantic. That's why we Brits are fixated by weather!

Friday dawned just as predicted, cloud at 200 feet and viz of 1500 metres (why is it that we mix our measurements?). André Everaert correctly read the weather and took the opportunity to arrive on the Thursday evening. Peter Wendelboe and Birthe Kofeild also gave up the idea of flying the last leg and caught the Eurostar to Waterloo from Lille to arrive one day early. Two experienced pilots with premonitions. Two aircraft on the ground, mine already there, 33 to go.Pretty soon it became apparent that the low pressure system had moved through the UK and settled right across the Channel, France and the Low Countries effectively blocking out any arrivals from the continent.

This brings back memories of an old news headline indicative of our island mentality, 'Fog in Channel, continent cut off. Although weather for Stansted, the nearest TAF station, suggested that the weather would clear locally, the depression blocked most domestic and virtually all continental arrivals.

In short order we were receiving messages from all across continental Europe and the UK reporting of difficulties being experienced and new plans being made. Our European director, Jörg Trauboth , Martina, his wife and Peter Ruwe took the commercial route from Frankfurt. Peter Romeikat and his wife Vilja arrived from Hamburg although that was always planned. Hasty rearrangements and pickups made, our other intrepid flyers turned into intrepid drivers. Soon there were arrivals from the four corners of the UK, all our intended arrivals from the continent being well and truly blocked.

The prospect of a fish and chip supper obviously provokes great exploits! During the course of the afternoon our numbers grew and despite the abominable weather all around, in flew Grumpy Yorkies George and Mary Brown, by a circuitous route from Eddsfield in their well camouflaged Glastar G-GERY. Following shortly was our very own Mr. IFR, Phil Wadsworth. That made five aircraft on the ground, one of them my own.