Braga   LPBR

Date of Visit = July 1998

Pilot: = Chris Belton

e-mail = chris@yarboo.freeserve.co.uk

Field Report =First I should explain that we never intended to go to Braga, which is in the fertile, flat green area which runs the length of the Atlantic coast. What we really wanted was to fly down from Rozas near Lugo, enjoy spectacular views of the 6,500 foot mountains of the Lago de Sanabria National Park and then land at Bragança, in the NE corner of Portugal, but all sorts of problems presented themselves. The route was over high mountains all the way, about 5,500 feet. It was quite windy, with a headwind component, which meant firstly we’d have to be well clear of the mountains to be safe, and at 20+ degrees C above ISA, and with a Cessna 150 at MAUW, I didn’t think we’d make it. Secondly there was supposedly only JetA1 at Bragança, and with the headwind, which would of course increase if we ever reached these dizzy heights, we might need to refuel. Thirdly, what with the temperature and the 2,240 field elevation, I wasn’t sure we’d ever get out over the trees at the end of the runway. So we filed the FPL to Vila Real, over the slightly lower mountains to the west.

We couldn’t even manage that. We were struggling to maintain 5,500 feet, and it quickly became apparent that the wind was stronger than forecast, and a full-blown headwind. We also had to route round a massive forest fire. As my concern at the falling fuel guages increased we veered further and further towards the low ground to the west, and were very pleased indeed to see Braga, which means “knickers” in Spanish. There’s a nice little cafe there, and we were taken to an office in the hangar to file the flight plan and pay the fuel bill. It’s obviously a well-run field, and a good place to stop for refreshment.

Photos: John Hardy