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"Teddyfield"
Clonbullogue Southern Ireland 4-6th May 2002
How this event came about is a long story and was pretty much a joke initially until we decided to go for it. It was planned that on the bank holiday weekend in May, a group of Microlight pilots from England should get together and fly off somewhere just a little different. After a while and following a debate on the egroup, we decided it was time to spread our wings and go to Southern Ireland for some good old Irish hospitality! (Guinness)
In the planning stage we felt it only right
to do our bit for charity at the same time,
so we all agreed to take a Teddybear along
for the local children's hospital. As the
event got closer it was apparent that what
we initially thought would be a small event
had now grown and there would be 25 microlights
going from England and 50 flying down from
Northern Ireland for the trip too.
I planned my flight which would take me from the East coast of Yorkshire and would be a distance of 280 miles, via the welsh coast, including 71 miles over water! That would result in a total flight of about 5.5 hours with my 55 mph cruise speed, assuming there was no head wind. At this point I asked a relative if he wanted to come along too, which threw a whole new perspective on the event. I would now be responsible for someone else and the flight over water was risky enough, with a two stroke engine, without the extra responsibility of a passenger. I considered the dangers bearing in mind that if we did have to ditch in the Irish sea we could last no more than 1 hour even with immersion suits. I purchased a satellite locating beacon, which the emergency services can track, as well as immersion suits and life jackets etc. However in the few days leading up to the flight I decided that the risks were too high and decided to go to the event in the light aircraft I share instead.
A picture of my microlight that I decided
not to use for the trip to Ireland
Here is the plane I did use for the trip.
Its a French 4 seat aircraft called a "Rallye"
Friday 3rd May 2002
The weekend soon came around , we fuelled
up the plane and left Yorkshire on the Friday
morning about 10.30am, bound for Caernarfon
on the West coast of Wales, via a navigation
beacon near the river Trent. As we approached
the Trent the weather ahead looked poor with
a few nasty thunderstorms which resulted
in an unwelcome, but necessary detour. Having
cleared the East Midlands zone the weather
started to improve nicely. Routing towards
the Welsh mountains it was obvious that we
could not clear the top of the mountains
at 4000ft, due to the cloud so we did another
small detour to the North West coast around
Prestatyn. From then on the weather was ideal,
as we routed south down the west coast of
Wales, with the mountains to our left the
scenery was delightful. As we reported to
RAF valley our location over the Meni straights
I remember saying "well the whole trip
was worth it just for this" even if
we didn't make it to Ireland as planned.
The view of the Welsh mountains as we track
south down the Welsh Coast
By now the weather was perfect, the sun was
shining and the clouds were ideal for a sea
crossing. There were a few light clouds probably
around 6000 feet and we were leaving the
poor weather behind us, that makes a nice
change.
The approach to Caernarfon was fantastic
with runway 02 in use, we set up for our
final approach in over the sea.
The welcome at Caernarfon was not quite as
relaxed as I had expected. The coastguard
was well aware of the impending influx of
microlights and had now started to panic.
Three different coastguard stations had been
enquiring as to the number and whereabouts
of the microlights. As I had arrived first
(not in a microlight), I decided to reassure
the coastguard that we were all responsible
pilots carrying all kinds of lifesaving equipment
and the chances of a microlight having to
ditch in the Irish Sea were almost none existent!
(I said it with fingers crossed!)
The next couple of hours was taken up filing
a flight plan, ringing Manchester, the coast
guard and talking to special branch. When
the chap from special branch asked how many
passengers I had with me I simply asked if
I should include the Teddy. This was of course
just a joke, but a mistake on my part as
Teddy's are of course a well know hideaway
for carrying drugs. Anyway I explained why
there would be 25 suspicious aircraft all
carrying Teddy's and he went away to find
someone else to bother.
Here is the Teddy enjoying the sunshine at
Caernarfon 
(If you look closely you will see he is sporting
the Wandsworth, Tele-Call logo on his T-shirt)
After meeting up with two mates BJ (Big John)
and Les, from North Yorkshire, who arrived
in microlights, it was time to leave in order
to make my flight plan slot of 1630pm
The trip over the sea was relaxed and it
seemed to pass by in no time at all. Air
traffic control were superb and asked us
to route over the center of Dublin in order
to avoid Balldonell where the military have
a bombing range so naturally I obliged. After
passing over Dublin it was about 25 miles
south west to Clonbullogue, the Irish Parachute
Club. Arriving there was a welcome site and
a great sense of achievement as this was
the longest trip I had done since gaining
my licence 3 years ago.
The arrival was a little odd with a very
relaxed Irish chap on the radio who gave
me some strange instructions like turn left
when he mean right but what the heck, he
was a nice chap. The welcome in Ireland was
the best you will get anywhere, the club
had put out decorations, laid on food, refreshments,
and not to mention sitting us in a room with
a load of alcohol and telling us not to leave
until it had all gone! (It was free as well.)
On the down side there was one accident on
the Friday night when a young lady parachuting,
got things a little wrong and broke her leg.
We heard the following day that she had surgery
to insert a pin and was well on the road
to recovery.
So later that evening it was away to the
pub with the lads who had been parachuting
all day and the pilots too swap stories over
a Guinness. From there I went to a local
B&B, the cost was 20 Euros per night
about £13 and that included a full English
breakfast, or should that be Irish breakfast?
Saturday 4th May 2002
Saturday felt like it lasted for about 10
minutes. The weather was great once again,
with numerous microlights arriving and leaving
through the day. When I arrived at the airfield
about 9.00am there were already people jumping
out of planes. All day two planes took parachutist
up threw them out, then came back for another
load. I guess the last one must have been
about 9.00pm, so we then all settled in to
a BBQ, disco and bar, then it was back to
the B&B for another night sleep.
Sunday 5th May 2002
The trip back on Sunday was very straight
forward and the weather again had been kind.
I had decided that I didn't want to go back
via Caernarfon as I had the fuel capacity
to get home without a stop I should do it.
We left at about 3.30pm after filing a flight
plan of course, and flew out the same route
over the center of Dublin heading out over
the Irish Sea for Anglesey.
Left Routing back home over Dublin
From Dublin we headed out to see to cross
the 71 miles, which took about 40 minutes
.
After crossing the Irish Sea the welcome
sight of land, the Isle of Anglesey 
From Anglesey we routed across the North
Welsh coast past Llandudno, Prestatyn, Wrexham,
Crewe, Stoke then up towards Sheffield then
through Yorkshire, and in to Eddsfield (HOME).
The total time for the return journey was
3 hours 10 Minutes.
The whole weekend passed in a flash, with
everyone arriving safely and an unbelievable
army of public turning up to the event. The
national television news and press all turned
up to report on Ireland's biggest ever aviation
event. Temple Street Hospital benefited to
the tune of 3600 Euros and were extremely
grateful.
Lastly my thanks Paul McMahon, all patrons
of the Irish Parachute Club and Sacha Van
Stratten of the microlight egroup, who all
worked hard to organize the event not forgetting
Wandsworth for sponsoring the event with
a teddybear.
Kevin Taylor
www.ukmicrolights.com