Day 1 Leg 4 - A Hop Skip and a Jump

After lifting west bound up the Tyne and making a right turn for an overhead crossing of Newcastle International Airport, we were asked to hold whilst a 737 landed on the main runway, ten minutes later we landed for our overnight stop at the Linden Hall Hotel, a welcome respite from a long but fruitful day.

Newcastle International airport

Day 1 Leg 3 Humberside to Newcastle - history unfolding Robin Hood Bay and James Cook's Birthplace

The river Tyne from 800ft

Leaving Humberside the lighthearted traffic controller entertained us and looked after us in a similar way to Anglia Radar - these people really do earn their money and are a second pair of eyes in the sky. Whilst passing danger zone (D306) we were told that it had not been active for some years but was still being treated as a danger zone in order to deal with unexploded ordnance - why keep aircraft at bay when houses are being built so close nearby..? Our approach to Newcastle and our next refuelling stop led us on a magic carpet ride from the estuary of the Tyne to the heart of the city passing the derelect dry docks right up to the iconic bridges and the redundant docklands area. The promise of Newcastle City Airport with its published ability to accommodate up to 50 helicopters proved to be something of an education.

By the way Robin Hood's bay was really special as was Staithes, the birthplace of Captain James Cook.

Robin Hood's Bay!

Staithes, Captain James Cook's birthplace

Day 1 Leg 1

With an 8.30 start, blue skies, clouds at 2,500 feet and an 8 knot wind from the south, things were looking good for the start to an amazing trip. Taking off from Sowley foreshore, tracking along the coast past the familiar Portsmouth Spinnaker Tower, we were on our way to the first refueling stop at Manston close to Ramsgate on the Kent coast. But first we were treated to spectacular views of the south coast in all its glory. Brighton Pier and the marina led us towards the unfamiliar view of the channel tunnel, giving us a totally different perspective which immediately led us to the White Cliffs of Dover and looking to our right, France and all of the activities in the channel. Manston was interesting, the man with two table "table tennis bats" ushered us to a parking spot next to a 737, later arrivals were two military helicopters from Germany, the pilot of one was heard to be having a discussion with air traffic who informed him that he had just flown through the middle of a live firing range. ATC said he was lucky as he passed through between the rounds being fired! The first leg took an hour and fifteen minutes.