DECEMBER 2021

AS we all know, autumn and winter flying can be fabulous, with cold, still air, golden light and either the glorious riot of colour as we look down in wonder at autumnal forests, or at the landscape sleeping under a silvery blanket of frost and snow. And there’s no better proof of that than 22 great entries for this month’s photo comp, some of them so stunning that we’ve had trouble picking a winner. Good problem to have!

As always, the chosen few in your next MF.

Click on any of the images below to open the gallery slide viewer.

Ross Sands, by Kai Foyen. Ross Sands on the Northumberland coast by Kai, on a flight out of Athey’s Moor.

Serene skies, by Paul Turrell. “At 3000ft heading south west over Hampshire, I had the skies all to myself,” said Paul.

The balloon’s gone up, by Amanda Williams. “While on holidays in Lagos, Portugal, we were lucky enough to see this hot-air balloon taking off,” said Amanda.

Sunshine and showers, by Matt Gayton. “On a local flight from Clench Common in the EuroFox, a few heavy showers moving through made for some lovely autumn light,” said Matt.

Raring to go, by Colin Aldous. “Dave Greenly kindly took a few of us up – one at a time – in the Sherwood Ranger from Popham. We can’t thank him enough,” said Colin.

Oban, by Eddie McCallum. “Final for Oban, looking at Connel Bridge with the Falls of Lora running beneath,” said Eddie.

Lurgan Golf Club, by Ruth Devlin. A perfect day for a spot of golf, but an even better one for flying, as Ruth found on a jaunt from Kernan airfield in Northern Ireland.

Flying high, by Jenny Thompson. “Graham Daniel in his QuikR on the way from Bodmin to Westonzoyland, from our Quik GTR. There were lots of gaps between the clouds for descent,” said Jenny.

Fill her up, my good man, by Russell Tullett. “Our newly acquired Skyranger Swift being fuelled at the classic fuel pumps at Goodwood,” said Russell.

Mitton rainbow, by Greg Kirsch. “I’ve never seen the ends of a rainbow like this before. I couldn’t see the pot of gold, but what a superb day of flying,” said Greg.

Golden hour, by Jordan Payne. “The return to Westonzoyland aerodrome in my Skyranger Swift with my first passenger, after passing my GST a few weeks ago,” said Jordan.

Loch Ness, by Bob Tadman. Bob over Loch Ness late downwind right for Runway 22 at Glendoe in his EuroFox – and not a monster in sight.

Essex coast, by Tim Jerry. “Terrible vis below but fantastic above, with low cloud slowly heading onshore and beautiful light,” said Tim, who was in his Quik 912S.

Clevedon Pier, by James Mather. James on a local flight in the Skyranger Swift II from Weston Zoyland over Clevedon, to look at the Grade I listed pier from above.

Home again, by David Colley. David’s flying machine safely back to earth at White Waltham after a local poggle.

Ardkeen, by John Hughes. Ardkeen, on Castle Hill, is a Bronze Age double-ditch fort on a peninsula in the south east corner of Strangford Lough, Newtownards pilot John tells us.

A perfect day, by Fraser Simpson. “After a fortnight of no flying I was desperate to make the most of it!” said Fraser, who headed north in clear skies towards the Wash from his home airfield at Sandy in his Quik 912S.

Inversion introversion, by Aaron Mercer. “A rare VFR moment when flying into the sun above an inversion layer can give the illusion of being separated from the ground,” said Aaron.

Dave and Dave’s day out, by Dave Dollery. Daves Greenly and Dollery, plus Sherwood Ranger, on a flight from Popham to Membury.

C42s x 2, by Simon Gregory. “A pair of C42s flying from Gloucester on a local flight. ATC couldn’t decide if the pair of us in formation were Ikarus or Ikari,” said Simon.

Cub and Ranger, by Patrick Tame. “A Sherwood Ranger parked up next to what I think is the UK’s last flying Tiger Cub at Walkeridge Farm,” said Patrick.

Mark Allen, by “Random Guy”. “Me lifting out of Elstree in the Pulse SSDR to head back to Sutton Meadows, taken by some random guy,” said Mark.