| Status: | Active, not currently accepting new members |
| Organiser: |
Frank Matthews
|
| Organiser: |
Brian Brett
|
| Group email: | Aviation group |
| When: | On Friday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm 4th Friday |
| Venue: | Members' Homes |
We give talks on a range of topics on aviation combined with relevant visits, such as the one below.
On the second Friday in May 2025, the group finally completed an outing first scheduled for a year earlier. In May 2024 members had booked to fly on a ‘Dragon Rapide’, a 1930s’-era aircraft, from Duxford, near Cambridge, over London and back to Duxford. Very shortly before the due date we were informed that the weather was too bad to permit flying. A second booking for a few weeks later was also cancelled at short notice due to an ‘unserviceable aircraft’. So, fingers crossed, we tried again.
Our flight took off on time, but we immediately turned back at Duxford because of engine trouble! Not to be beaten, after just over an hour’s delay, the company – Classic Wings – produced a replacement aircraft and we were off. The aircraft in which we flew was built in 1945. Being constructed largely of plywood it was very noisy in the cabin and our genuine Art Deco seats were anything but comfortable. However, each seat was next to a very large window so we had plenty of good photo opportunities.
It was a beautiful warm and sunny day, giving us perfectly clear views of the countryside which was swathed in yellow and white from the many fields of rape seed and the networks of hawthorn hedges. After about a half hour we arrived over central London. We flew at a height of 1500 feet so London buildings seemed close enough to touch. Of the many landmarks we identified the Olympic Stadium, London City Airport, the Dome, the Shard, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, St Paul’s Cathedral, major railway stations, and many others.
After our 20-minute birds’ eye view of London we set course for Duxford for another gentle cruise over the Spring countryside, to land back at the airfield about 90 minutes after leaving. Overall it was an exhilarating trip, with many thanks due to Dave Robson who handled all the extensive admin for us. A Great Day Was Had By All.
© Frank Matthews, who took these great photos as they were flying over London
Last updated 17 March 2026