June's event commemorates the life of our most Senor member, John Crockatt, who passed away in April this year, just two months short of his 102nd birthday. John was an active member in his 90s and had led a very full life. He saw service in World War II as a Merchant Navy radio operator and learned to fly in the 1960s at Woodvale. He was one of the earliest private pilots to gain a full Instrument Rating, and flew regularly both in the UK and in the USA. As a Directror of Sketchleys, the well-known UK Dry Cleaners, on his many business trips abroad, he very often occupied the right hand seat in the twin engined aircraft his company used. Although not licensed as "pilot flying" on these trips, he helped with navigation and radio. Now he has a permanent home somewhere beyond the skies.

The event is a replication of a flight John made many years ago as a newly qualified pilot in a Cessna C172, an American aircraft first introduced in 1956. It has since become one of the most popular light aircraft in the world. The flight commences at Liverpool Airport, EGGP and flies anticlockwise round Manchester's Control Area (CTA) via Oulton Park Racing Circuit, the pretty Staffordshire town of Leek. At Leek, turn north and just before reaching Huddersfield, prepare for a landing at one of the UK's more interesting small airfields - Huddersfield Crosland Moor EGND. From Crosland Moor, you will fly west, passing Rochdale and Bolton to land at Woodvale, John Crockatt's home airfield for a number of years in the 1950s and 60s.

The flight may be made on any day in June, but if you would like to celebrate what would have been John's 102nd birthday, then make the trip on June 7th.

The route given above is approximate, the only fixed points being the departure from Liverpool, the landing at Crosland Moor, and the arrival at Woodvale. So feel free to explore a little wider around the spectacular scenery  from Leek northward. Caution: Be aware of several very high T.V. transmission masts in the vicinity of the airfield.

Crosland Moor is a small privately owned airfield located 1.5nm south-west of Huddersfield town. The airfield was established by the entrepreur Sir David Brown (1904-1993), of David Brown Tractors fame. (He also owned Aston Martin and Lagonda cars.) He flew a de Havilland Dove, registration G-ARDH, from the airfield. The airfield is now run by former professional motorcycle road racer James Whitham. The runway 07/25, is part asphalt (500m), part grass (250m). The asphalt section has an upward gradient of around 1 in 30 to the west. Landings are always westwards (uphill), and take-offs eastwards from 07.

There is a Club datasheet for Crosland Moor, but also have a good look at the Crosland Moor Airfield website.

Check the connection software for any ATC on line when you fly.

Take care not to let our Teamspeak chat cut across ATC. Stop any conversation immediately the R/T comes alive, then continue if "he wasn't talking to us". This is difficult because when transmitting on Teamspeak you can't hear the R/T. So be brief on Teamspeak, and be aware that ATC might be trying to get through. If anyone hears an R/T message which seems to be being ignored, just say "ATC is calling G-CIXN" if you have identified the callsign, or "ATC is calling us" which is a cue for everyone to be quiet on Teamspeak until ATC call again (which they will). Remember too that if asked to "Stand By" by ATC, you do not reply - not even "Roger", but simply wait until you are called again.

Remember also that there may be several different ATC frequencies in use, and you may not be able to hear when communications are taking place. Make sure you have set and know how to use a Teamspeak mute switch.