Flying Competition, Spot Landings and "Bomb Runs"

First Class Barbeque.

Free Bar for Wine and Beers.  (Contributions optional, but don't let anyone see you not adding a note or two!)

Bouncy Castle, to keep the "cadets" amused.

Proceedings start at 3 p.m. but if you want to take part in the flying competition you need to be there for the flying briefing at 14.30. To participate as a pilot, you need to be a member of Thanet Flying Club and be "Current". To be a passenger (Bomb Aimer), you need to chat up a pilot and have nerves of steel!

Each participant has to complete three circuits of the airfield. On the first two circuits, the "bomb aimer" has to drop a small weighted tube, such that it lands as near as possible to a designated target area.

On the third circuit, the pilot has to endeavour to land his/her plane as accurately as possible on a line drawn across the runway. A "spotter" stands near to this line to accurately mark the actual landing point.

Prizes are awarded in several categories:

                            Most accurate target hit.

                            Most accurate landing.

As several instructors usually fly with students, these folk are placed in a separate category from qualified pilots flying with their own passengers.

An Event Commentator provides a running commentary via a public address system, on what is happening at any time,  and all the visitor has to do is to sit back and watch the cabaret, whilst sipping a glass of wine or two.

The food is usually served at around 6 p.m. and consists of mouth-watering steak and sausages accompanied by a superb salad selection. To encourage our guests to meet each other, the organisers have skillfully arranged for there to be no waitress service for the food. Instead a novel queuing system has been implemented so that one may choose exactly what one wants, and even to choose medium rare, well done or burnt to bits styles of meat preparation.