The strip has been shortened by 200 metres, to make way for extra crop, but still ok for our operation. However, it did make it a little more interesting.

The first task was a short field takeoff with an obstacle clearance climb. The aircraft flight manual says 10 degrees of flap; hold on the brakes (if surface is ok), increase power to maximum, then release the brakes, rotate at 51 knots and climb at 56 knots until clear of obstacle and then resume the normal climb. For the most part this was carried out quite well.

This take off was followed by a normal 1000 ft. circuit and a short field landing. The slight tail wind caught a few out with the result that they arrived at the threshold too high and/or travelling too fast to make it a good short field landing. Once again the answer is to be set up early and in this case extend downwind a little to compensate for the tail wind to give yourself time to have full flap selected and the speed at 61 knots when you arrive at the threshold. Once flap and speed are selected we control the rate of descent with power to keep the correct perspective. If you have an approach path that is open (clear of obstacles) it may help to just slightly undershoot the approach and give yourself a better chance of touching down right on the threshold.

Instrument flying was quite good but once again not all used the heading bug to help.

The tail wind and the shortened strip also caused a few problems with the emergency landing with similar results to the short field landing. Clearing the engine once again was not always carried out.

Congratulations to Brian Harvey who won the day with 64.5 points from Ed Collins on 62 points and John Bestwick on 60 points.

Congratulations also to Margaret Collins for putting on such a magnificent lunch.