Black Acre Farm
BLACK ACRE FARM: Private airstrip
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: About 1nm WNW/NW of Holt which is on the B3107. Roughly 2nm NE of Bradford-on-Avon town centre
Runway: 18/36 480 grass
NOTES: Initial info source AAIB report EW/G2010/09/15.
The AAIB do not apportion elements of blame to incidents and accidents, which is both laudable and understandable. In this instance I would guess the pilot was probably being a tad reckless (?) trying to take-off in such a classic aircraft, the DH60G Gipsy Moth G-ATBL, given a 10kt gusting to 15kt crosswind?
Today, generally speaking, pilots of such classic types do not have much experience of flying these types in other than generally calm conditions. For easily understood reasons as they are valuable vintage aircraft. Indeed, when these types are being flown for example by the Shuttleworth Trust at their exemplary air shows, I have noticed the Moths always being moved around for take-off and after landing, with 'wing-walkers'.
A BIT OF HISTORY
However, this type was certainly not treated with 'kid gloves' in the early days. After the first DH60 type first flew, (a Cirrus Moth), on the 22nd February 1925 it wasn’t long before the Gipsy Moth version was selected by several now famous aviators for immensely significant flights. The obvious example being Amy Johnson flying from CROYDON to Australia of course. The far more difficult, dangerous and adventurous example being Francis Chichester attempting to fly from New Zealand to Australia in a float equipped version.
But, in every case I’ve read about, they always, unless in an emergency, took-off and landed directly into wind?
ENDNOTE
As always in this 'Guide' if anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
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