Andrewsfield    EGSL

Date of visit = April-July 99

Pilot: = Gerard Clarke

e-mail = gerardclarke@blackstonechambers.com

Field Report = My experience of Andrewsfield has been gained in the course of training for my PPL. I see it more from the air than from the ground, as my training aircraft lives at nearby North Weald.

Andrewsfield was one of the first of the many USAAF bomber bases in East Anglia. It is now a small, and in my experience quiet and friendly flying club. The grass strip 09/27 is divided along its length into a left and right runway. Hares frolic along its margins, and lots of lazy birds sit around nearby. Rather like the crows in 1970s cult cartoon classic Rhubarb and Custard, the birds are there mostly to mock your flying rather than to do any themselves (perhaps they should join a flying club and sit in the bar!)

There is a small rise about half way along the strip, which means that you cannot see the far end of the runway when lining up on 09. Lining up on 27 you can use a tree at the other end as a reference point. The taxiway for 09 is pretty rutted and bumpy in the middle.

The circuits (flown at 700 feet QFE) are invariably (in my limited experience) right hand. Climbing out on 27 you have to turn right fairly quickly to pass between two farms, and give a wide berth (on grounds as much aesthetic as noise related) to a large and somewhat tasteless redbrick edifice looking like Southfork or the Rancho Ponderosa or some such thing. Once you see the High Chaparal or whatever it's called drifting behind you, you can turn downwind. The base leg is reasonably long, and a crafty cheat is to begin your descent when the white water tower on your right is just coming abeam.

The circuit on 09 is a more regular shape, but it's quite tight. Base leg is short: start descending as soon as you have rolled out of your turn onto base. Noise abatement requires you to fly between two villages before turning final. Drag your reluctant puddle jumper over the hedrows and down to the threshold whilst your passenger (or in my case, instructor) freaks out beside you. There is usually a posh girl on a remarkably placid horse standing in the road which you cross just before the threshold. They both look at you knowing that you are insane, but remember, horse riding is more dangerous than flying, allegedly.

On the ground, the flying club has a pleasant small bar and terrace. The food is pretty good and the service is quick and friendly. Apparently Andrewsfield is or was famed for its curries but I have yet to try one (the way I fly circuits is all the gut-wrenching excitement my instructor and me require).

The flying club has quite spacious briefing and exam rooms. ATC is air to ground only on 130.55.

Cessnas and PA 28s tend to dominate the aircraft parking lot, but there are a few Super Cubs, one Bucker Jungmann in full Nazi regalia (a faintly disturbing sight amidst the tranquil Essex countryside) a groovy yellow Starduster which I once had a go in when it lived at White Waltham, at least one Yak and various homebuilds and other bits and bobs. Small boys tumble and cavort over a gently rusting Super Mystere jet fighter parked by the weather station (extra brownie points awarded if you can give them a propeller buzz cut whilst taxiing in the often crowded visiting aircraft space near the windsock).

Andrewsfield is near Great Dunmow, and a pretty Essex village called Stebbing. Approx one and a half hours by car from Central London.