Mount Airey
MOUNT AIREY: Private airfield (Aka and see also SOUTH CAVE)
Note: This picture (2017) was obtained from Google Earth ©
Notes:Pictures by the author unless specified.
Operated by: 2000: Mr L E May & Son
Flying club: 2003: Humberside Police Flying Club
Location: E of South Cave parallel to and north of A63 trunk road 9nm W of Hull
Period of operation: 1990s to -
Note: This map is reproduced by the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runway: 2000: 07/25 723x20 grass
NOTES: In my third picture the Cessna N883DP can be seen. (See comment below). I had originally captioned it as N8830P - ooops!
PERSONAL MEMORIES
In May 2003 I was given the job of moving the Jodel D.120 G-BDDF from PRIORY FARM in NORFOLK to MOUNT AIREY. Previously I had declined moving Jodels as the one-piece wing was just to long to fit inside the body of my truck. However, I had long suspected that a Jodel wing could be fitted by having it secured on shoring bars about six to seven feet up, with the canted wingtip protruding underneath the rear flap, which could be left open.
As this job would take two days to complete, it being just too far a distance to do in one day, I suggested to the owner that with some time, ingenuity and perseverance, if could be accomplished. And he agreed to give it a go. Fortunately at both ends there were enough willing hands to manage lifting the wing in and out. To my dismay, at the first attempt with the wing simply resting on a 'bolster' of blankets placed around the shoring bars - it fitted perfectly!
Needless to say, on the drive up from PRIORY FARM I had hours to reflect on the thousands of pounds of revenue I had previously turned away. Heh ho, such is life. But - when it comes to moving aeroplanes, you simply cannot take chances.
ANOTHER JOB
For another job, in February 2012 I was tasked with collecting the damaged Kolb Twinstar G-MYOR for transport to WING FARM (WILTSHIRE). Expressing doubts that I could reach the airfield due to the recent heavy snowfall, (and having delivered a Jodel here previously - so I was familiar with the narrow access lane), I was assured that the lane had been cleared - which it had. Unfortunately another heavy fall of snow occurred during the night, and it proved impossible to maintain traction.
Even employing a largish four-wheel drive tractor to tow the truck failed to solve the issue, so I had to admit defeat and reverse back onto the road to load the aeroplane. This was the only occassion, (I am quite certain about this), in around a quarter of a century when I failed to get my truck close enough to an aeroplane to facilitate easy loading. In the end it was brought down bit by bit suspended from a tractor with a telescopic jib.
Brian Mellor
This comment was written on: 2017-09-02 21:11:31The reg is N883DP, not N8830P.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Brian, Many thanks. I shall amend this straightaway. Best regards, Dick
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