Compton Abbas

[speedbird591]

Latest UK airfield to get the ORBX treatment is Compton Abbas in Dorset. Some beta shots here:

http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/ ... ton-abbas/

I only mention it because I've a feeling that this is where Dave Farrow flies from so he may be interested in seeing the shots.

BTW the very high resolution Elstree was released a couple of weeks ago and they sneaked in a release of Popham last week. Busy boys

Ian

[dfarrow]

Ian , that is wonderful , exactly right . The green fuel igloo with white door has only be been at CA for about 8 weeks ! That could be me sweeping the apron , but the beer gut and white hair is missing .
However , .......I'm really disappointed 'cos the best looking parts of CA are missing ... That's Margaret , Emma and Laura [ my bosses ] and Vicky [ in ops ] .... not to mention Sasha [ the airfield dog ] !
When's it coming out for Fs9 ?.... or horrors have I to go to the dark side ? And does the big hand of God throw you at the ground [ as it did today ] when there's a Southerly wind curling over those trees ?
Well if anyone is visiting we've a friendly excellent restaurant 0930-1730, with the best views in Daarset .... and a runway.... trial lessons R US , Pa28s and C42 .. Wot more do you need ? Well... lots of hills nearby for Paragliding , RC model gliding , Motorbike school , drovers roads [ green roads ] along the hill tops for bikes /M bikes /walking / skiing [ you'll have to walk back up ], lots of hill forts , views from the Needles to Glastonbury Tor , and of course Blandford brewery . Mods. if we're BBC like , please edit !

Got to sign off and go back to photos .

BRgds dave f .

[speedbird591]

When's it coming out for Fs9 ?.... or horrors have I to go to the dark side ?

Oh, David! What are you like? FSX is no longer the dark side. It's bright and cheerful and all your old chums are there having a good time. The dark side is now P3D where I and a few other evil entities lurk and plot in darkened rooms. Ah hahahahaha....

Here are some more pictures of the beta EGHA

http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/ ... p3d-views/

Here's something you can help with, Dave. Paul K, who used to post here, has posted a question over at ORBX about the strobe light at CA and whether they will model it. Apparently there's some confusion about it's frequency and ORBX are awaiting confirmation from the airfield manager before they can model it. The mast is already in situ awaiting the answer. Perhaps you could remind them? It would be a shame if that feature didn't make it to the release. Here's the thread: http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/ ... obe-light/

Well, I have to say, after reading your post and looking at the pics, I think CA looks absolutely charming. It's not all that far from me and I've seen it a few times from the A350 and have been mountain biking in Cranborne Chase which is just to the east. So - this lovely little place with the friendly cafe and lovely staff and airport dog? Is it open to the public? Could one park there, go for a ride and come back for a bit of tea and cake and watch the action? Or is it members only? Perhaps it's not too late to take flying lessons? Any decent instructors? Or is it just you?

Ian

[dfarrow]

Ian , I'll get onto the orbx site , and chk it out . Probably have to wait 'til this pooter blows up B4 getting Fsx or is it P3D ?... sounds like an Orion .. does it rumble like 4 big T/props .
CA is open 0900-1800 S , and 0900-1700/dark winter .. only closed Christmas .. It's raison d'etre is cake 'n aeroplanes . Big car park with overspill along runway . Best to book Sunday lunch time , possibly Sat as well . Probably ok to drop in am or pm . We gets lots bikes , M/bikes , mud pluggers , car clubs , walking clubs , family celebrations [ often with trial flight in the Tiger Moth ] Week end in hols / good wx is teeming . Coaches often during the week . Lots park , then walk ride B4 eating/drinking . Suggest you let ops know if u r parking .. riding .. then eating . When wx good the patio fills up quickly .
Instructors .. we have a plethora for , PA28s , microlights , Tiger Moth , the Micro and Tiger boys/gurls are good .. can't vouch for all PA28 guys , couple are good , one is dodgy , very dodgy . We've 2 youngers in there and looking for another ; rest have their bus passes . http://www.comptonabbasairfield.co.uk/

The strobe mast used to be an NDB , 349.5 if I remember right . For years now it's been a white strobe , at the top of a big mob. phone mast . [ Bit difficult to see from the South , the wood is growing fast with all this rain ] Frequency ? It just flashes, perhaps every 3 seconds . But I'll time it next time I'm there , and let you know ... having trouble finding Orbx thread now I'm registered with them .. not such an easy site as this .

Hope to see you there , will get hose ready to wash the mud off !

ATB dave f

[speedbird591]

Ian , I'll get onto the orbx site , and chk it out ... having trouble finding Orbx thread now I'm registered with them .. not such an easy site as this ...

Sounds like you find technical things a bit challenging, Dave

Once you're logged in, you'll see a section named 'General Discussion' and the thread about the strobe light is in there. Here's a direct link (although you still need to be logged in to see it).

http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/ ... obe-light/

I've just checked and the airfield is just 30 miles from me and I already know what a stunning landscape it is around there. Almost spectacular for southern England. And it sounds like a really lively place. I'm definitely going to have to check it out but if it's as busy as you make out then I'll use it a destination for the bike. Park up over the Chase somewhere and cycle up some hills to the airfield for some tea and cake and a look at all these lovely women (and dogs and aeroplanes) and cycle back. A perfect day out - I'm looking forward to it already

And maybe I'll take some piccys for the boys

EDIT: Just checked the link and found that you've been there already! You managed it all on your own. I suspect you're not as incapable as you'd have me think, Dave

Ian

[dfarrow]

Ian , Yep got there in 't end ...came to pooting late , only in last 10 yrs , 'n like most aviators once we've learned it , we're resistant to change .... 'n pooting thought processes are different . Bit like I'm not an engineer , they have different processes again . Best I can do is an amateur fitter .. take one bit off , put identical new bit on ! Am a Naarfick boi , and a tractor driver with wings ... so tend to break things [ should work for BSI and 'the kite mark ] ... Luckily , Very luckily , married an engineers daughter , 'n 80% of what I break ... She mends !

Lastly , on the heavy metal ..if it ain't Boeing I ain't Going ! Airbus might be ok for younger flyers , but it's got Trident wings [ cracks ? ] , fuel system , hydraulics ,RATs , auto throttle does not move actual throttles [ therefore no visual / hand movement cues of power set ] , FMC sets off on modified route without executing [thereby allowing check of new route for wx , correctness etc]
Side stick is not a prob [ a Chippy or left/right side of normal yoke ] , but it gives rate commands to the ailerons , elevators , whereas others conventional / fly by wire [FBW ] give control surface deflection commands [thus the pilots are using deflection to give the rate they need ] Youtube vids of A320 cross wind landings ! Just realised this is a bit heavy so apols , and it's not 1st hand knowledge as not flown FBW . Best we had was 'pooter fuel injection , and if that packed up we just switched to carburetters . Typical pilot really ... if it's bust switch it off... 'n revert to a glider guider . On a personal note if you remember '' Uncle Ronnie '' in SEP and his RAFA collecting tin ? .... '' Every thing automatic has a manual back up '' , not least the slide thingy at door 3 .

Park at CA and do a circular route , got lots of choices then , up / down / along /around .

ATB Dave f .

[speedbird591]

On a personal note if you remember '' Uncle Ronnie '' in SEP and his RAFA collecting tin ? .... '' Every thing automatic has a manual back up '' , not least the slide thingy at door 3 .

Yes I can still see him doing the suggestive arm/fist gesture now! The funniest quote of his that I remember was when they were doing the ETOPS testing for 767s and somebody asked him if he thought it was safe to fly twins across the Atlantic. He said, in his best Welsh accent, 'Put it this way. The only reason I don't fly in 8 engined aircraft across the pond is because they don't build them!'

In other news, Dave. If you pop back to the ORBX forum you'll see one of the developers has replied to your post and thanked you for your input. He's already spoken to Emma and reckons you might just be able to see your lovely bosses through the glass in the building! He also asks you if there's still an NDB at Compton Abbas.

Ian

[dfarrow]

Ian , I'll do that , and look more closely . Uncle Ronnie certainly made learning easy , and just to let you know one of our students is mid 70's . Mind you there's 2 retired skippers who've been mates since B4 Laker days ; they go for a bimble together every 2 weeks , and take their old flight engineer mate . He always sits in the back , and eats chicken ; whilst they swop seats in the front . That's a 92 year old in ' t back and 2 80 yr olds in front ! We've got a lot to live up to .

Rgds dave f .

[dfarrow]

PS Ndb went years ago , replaced by the strobe .

Dave

[dfarrow]

Bit late , but it's official... Spring has arrived with good flying wx ; and Compton has switched on the strobe ...flashes every 2 seconds !

ATB dave f .