QSY On-Route: Rotors, Wings & Wheels @ Halfpenny Green 16-09-2012

After yet more 'should we, shouldn't we go' debates we eventually decided to make the trip down to Halfpenny Green for their 'Rotors, Wings & Wheels' event. Another modest turnout on the aviation front I suspect thanks to generally low-key advertising & a front of poor weather moving in from the north, a modest collection of classic cars and WWII era vehicles had gathered along with a handful of cockpit sections. It was certainly better attended the event last year but I feel still considerably smaller than the event from a couple of years I went to here.

The organisers had clearly gone to some effort to get attractions for the more 'casual visitor' with a small collection of fair-ground type attractions (hook-a-duck etc) & displays from a collection of local large model aircraft groups. There was also a series of singing acts of which it must be said some were a lot better than others! Generally the aviation side of the event seemed to be a little forgotten amongst the other attractions of the day, maybe another reason for a small turn out of visiting aircraft? The lack of helicopter pleasure flights also seemed to be a shame, I think a short hop around the circuit for a modest price would have paid for itself with the number of people there. Although the local Air Scouts didn't miss out on the opportunity for fund-raising with a BBQ selling bacon / sausage rolls for £1 & bacon / sausage & egg rolls for £1.50!

A local war re-enactment group demonstrated some of their period firearms

Lee Enfield .303 Rifle

M1 Garand

Some of the WWII era vehicles that were present on the airfield

Land Rovers

Willys Jeep

GMC Truck

There was also around a dozen classic cars tucked away on the airfield

Ford Grand Torino

The airfields own Land Rover

Studebaker Starlight, which I'm told is ultra-rare

Volvo 1800 as used in 'The Saint'

Various classic motorbikes

Steam Traction Engine

There were some aviation attractions present aside from the visiting aircraft

The model flyers did several displays, although sadly too far away to get pictures. I think hi-vis jackets are a must in the model flying community!

Boulton Paul Overstrand Cockpit Mock-Up

The Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group were present at the event, along with a few others in a smaller capacity

And of course the aircraft...

3786 Phantom F-4

D-ELSR Robin

G-AKWS Auster (RT610)

G-ASRO Piper PA-30 (RT610)
G-ATFF Piper PA-23 (Stored)
G-AWEL Fournier RF4

G-AYZH Taylor Titch
G-AZMZ Rallye (Stored)

G-BFLU Cessna 152
G-BHAA Cessna 152
G-BHNO Piper PA-28

G-BKBV SOCATA TB10
G-BLZH Cessna 152

G-BMYU Jodel

G-BNDT Colibri
G-BNSL Piper PA-38

G-BPUA EAA Sport Biplane
G-BREP Piper PA-28
G-BSTR AA-5

G-BTUB Yak 11

G-BYMC Piper PA-38 (Fuselage)
G-BYTM MCR01

G-CCSL Quik
G-CDVV Bulldog (XX626)
G-CDYY Pioneer 300
G-CEAN Ikaurs C42

G-CEIE CTSW
G-CFDN SkyRanger

G-CGSU Cassut Racer

G-CHAP Robinson R44

G-CHJW Quik GTR
G-CJBC Piper PA-28
G-CUTE MCR01

G-GFIG Cessna 152
G-GMSI SOCATA TB9
G-HEOI EC135
G-HILS Cessna 172
G-ILSE Corby Starlet
G-IRED Ikarus C42

G-JAAB Jabiru
G-JADW Ikaurs C42

G-JIMH Cessna 152

G-KCIN Piper PA-28
G-KSVB Piper PA-24
G-LBRC Piper PA-28
G-LINE As355
G-MHMR Quantum

G-MJIA Solo Striker

G-MMFS Tiger Cub
G-MYKZ Mini-Max
G-OAAA Piper PA-28
G-OCCL Diamond DA40
G-OSOD Quik GTR
G-PHYZ Jabiru
G-PLAJ Jetstream 31 (Stored)
G-POPY SkyRanger
G-SAMC Ikaurs C42