New Years Day flying at The Great Orme

We elected to postpone our ‘End of Year’ Fly-In by 24 hours trying to target a more favourable weather window in between all the storms – so it was a sober New Years Eve party enabling early travel to Llandudno to make best use of the light during these short winter days…

6 pilots were able to attend and we flew well between 9am and 1pm when, as forecast, the South West winds moved to the South East and dropped off in strength.  That said, we enjoyed 25-30mph winds bang onto the SW slope whilst we flew, it started out nice and sunny too, but it was bitterly cold!  Great to be flying and to get some fresh air after all the Christmas fayre!  Just a few pictures included here from the day – big thanks to all those who travelled and Happy New Year to everyone!

The sun rises over Llandudno on New Years Day 2024 – captured from Marine Drive on my way up to the Tank Track car park before we flew – well worth waiting for!

Andy Meade was first to fly – airborne before the rising sun had reached us at the Tank Track site – with his Spitfire 24 (below)

James Archer (below) with his NA P-51D Mustang – flew well and looked great in the winter light!

Al Gorham (below) with his BAC Canberra enjoyed a successful maiden in perfect slope conditions.

John Hey’s Hawker Hurricane nightfighter (below) was one of 3 ‘Mass Build’ Hurricanes revelling in the conditions – lots of energy with these great PSS machines!

Andy Meade self launches his Jet Provost from the SW slope – superb lift all morning but no rotor or compression zone worries with the 30mph windspeed – a perfect set up!

Al Gorham enjoyed one of the last flights of the day as the winds began to drop off with his delightful Hawker Henley (below)