DX Shows at Risk

[jimbob1194]

Saw this on Look East last night, but I couldn't find the link on the BBC page, so gone with this one:

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Royston/MP-calls-for-Heydon-Grange-wind-farm-plans-to-be-scrapped.htm

Watching Look East last night, the owner of the land said he now regrets doing the deal. I sure hope nothing goes ahead.

James

[lanemiker]

James,

I could not agree with you more. I certainly hope this company does not go though with the plans for this wind farm either.

Lance

[jimbob1194]

It was said on Look East that it would affect mostly "fast jets". So Tiffie, F 16, Hawk etc.

James

[Petedcollins]

heh u think that will stop the CAA?

too easy for them now...

[MicrolightDriver]

It was said on Look East that it would affect mostly "fast jets".

Was that the opinion of anyone 'official'?

[DamienB]

It was said on Look East that it would affect mostly "fast jets". So Tiffie, F 16, Hawk etc.

Yes, RAF fast jets are famous for their low level flying at airshows eh...

Chill - Duxford displays not at risk - just NIMBYs dragging in all possible reasons to object to a wind farm. And why not.

[nigelblake]

Volkswind UK Ltd German energy company

I can see the "Hun tries to ground the Spitfire again" headline in the Mail!!

[jimbob1194]

It was said on Look East that it would affect mostly "fast jets". So Tiffie, F 16, Hawk etc.

Yes, RAF fast jets are famous for their low level flying at airshows eh...

Chill - Duxford displays not at risk - just NIMBYs dragging in all possible reasons to object to a wind farm. And why not.

Didn't see it like that at first Damien. But I totally agree with you after that point.

James

[MicrolightDriver]

Lowestoft and Clacton airshows ( to name just two examples that I can think of straight away ) are both in closer proximity to massive wind turbines than Duxford would be under this proposal.....

[A380FWWOW]

Volkswind UK Ltd German energy company

I can see the "Hun tries to ground the Spitfire again" headline in the Mail!!

[SEMAE]

Hi

I went to Duxford today to meet up with friends and take a few snaps.

The villagers at Hayden have put up a blimp which represents the height the turbines will be. It can clearly be seen from Duxford airfield. Went to Hayden on the way home. They have posters all over the village saying 'no to Hayden windfarm.' Took a few snaps of them and the blimp.

Blimp is just north of the village and south of the A505 but the actual location the turbines may be can be seen on the attached link. Open the PDF file, then scroll down and you will see the bit that refers to aviation. Scroll down a bit more and you will see a couple of maps. Enlarge the maps to 100 per cent to see them properly. The location of the proposed turbines are numbered 1 to 11 and circled in red.

I am not surprised they have nimby thoughts!

http://www.scambs.gov.uk/documents/retr ... ent=908833

Martin

[DamienB]

So to demonstrate against an eyesore, they've put up... an eyesore? What a bunch of self-pleasuring hicks.

[SEMAE]

So to demonstrate against an eyesore, they've put up... an eyesore? What a bunch of self-pleasuring hicks.

Three images. First one as seen from the airfield. The blimp is just above the aircraft as a dot in the sky. I had to darken the dot so it could be seen in the image but if you were there it would be clearly visible to the naked eye

The other two images are on the road to Heydon from the A505. The last image is perhaps exaggerated as it was taken at a higher vantage point and nearer to the village.

I assume the height of the blimp represents the max height of a blade in the upwards position. Difficult to see if it would affect jet operations during display and I have no idea.

[DamienB]

That looks like far more of a hazard to aviation than a windfarm. No NOTAM mentioning it - I wonder if they've bothered asking for CAA guidance/permission to put that up?

[MicrolightDriver]

There's a NOTAM on the NATS AIS for it now - looks like tomorrow's its last day in any case.

[Ringo]

Morning all.

I am a member of the Action Group (http://www.stopheydonwindfarm.com) which is opposing the proposed wind farm at Heydon Grange.

I wanted to confirm that, with regards the balloon, we did indeed get full CAA permission to fly it. The hardest thing was getting the public liability insurance to cover us for any accidents. No doubt you will receive notification at the appropriate time but we intend to fly the balloon again. This will probably be in May or June - the downside of flying it in February was two-fold: (a) the weather often prevented us from flying it; and (b) the dark mornings and evenings meant that people would not see it on their journeys to/from work.

If anyone has any info which might assist us in our campaign from an aviation perspective, I would be very interested to hear from you. Any effect on Duxford airshows, NATS, radar, etc? I have had a discussion on another forum shifted from "aviation" to "general discussions" because the debate veered towards general wind farm issues, so please could I ask that we keep it as close to aviation as possible?

Thanks, Ringo

[DamienB]

I should bloody hope getting insurance was difficult. As you can see from the photos the cable holding onto that balloon is simply invisible from any distance - you've put up more of a hazard to aviation than any windfarm builder could hope to. Given that your group have tried to make out that there would be negative effects on aviation at Duxford as one of the big publicity aspects of your campaign against this windfarm, why have you put up something that could endanger a less-than-attentive pilot, particularly if the visibility wasn't good? Not all pilots read their NOTAMs, even if there is one actually in place! Quite why you expect motorists to be staring at a balloon instead of keeping their eyes on the road is another matter!

[Ringo]

DamienB: we have come across each other on another forum - good to see that your general demeanour is no different from there.

We did exactly what was required of us (getting CAA clearance and public liability insurance) - what more can you ask for? If there are pilots who disregard NOTAMs (yes, these were issued for all times when the balloon was flying) and if there are drivers who are so easily distracted, I would strongly suggest that they have their licences rescinded. I would say that they are the ones endangering lives, not us. If what we were doing was dangerous, the CAA would surely have laughed at us.

I have received feedback (although I have no idea how authoritative it is) that airshows at Duxford will not be affected by the wind farm. Therefore, let's put the air show issue to bed. However, there are other aviation-linked issues on which I am seeking clarification. For example, the proposed wind farm at Linton (a few miles to the east of Duxford, but a bit further away than Heydon is) was recently rejected on appeal - this was largely due to the objections put forward by NATS. I think it is only fair that I should seek the guidance of people on this matter.

I have no doubt that you will feel the overwhelming urge to have another go, but perhaps it is time to be a little sensible?

[DamienB]

I don't see why I should be any more or less impressed with your group's bizarre scaremongering just because this is a different forum to Planetalk? I'm sorry you're not getting the support you seem to want from all and sundry, and apologies for helping to scupper your 'airshows in danger' nonsense.

As Robbo posted over on Planetalk, "t's my opinion that throwing red herrings like aviation into the pot weakens the case because each refuted argument reduces the credibility of the opposition."

If you concentrated on logical reasons for objecting you'd get more respect. As it is you just come across as simple NIMBYs thrashing about trying to make out that a wind farm will destroy Duxford's airshows, murder local wildlife, swat airliners out of the sky, get drunk and smash up the local high street and urinate through your letterboxes. Just stick to your central and most sensible argument - that the location only makes sense with a subsidy. After all, that's taxpayers' money and this government is keen to make cuts on public spending!

[Ringo]

For the last time, I am not scaremongering. I am simply trying to get some facts from people who understand the intricacies of aviation. I will happily disappear once I have dismissed avenues which will not help our cause. Airshows are now on that list, but NATS is still up-in-the-air. Do you care to make a comment on my NATS question (or would it be best for you to keep quiet so that someone else can)?

For the record, the subsidies actually come from the electricity companies (or, in other words, from your electricity bill). Your advice on how we should conduct our campaign is helpful - we are making a big point about the unsuitability of the site. However, you don't go to battle with just one bullet in your gun.

[DamienB]

And does the leccy company's money for that subsidy come from taxpayers directly or via government?

Given the high ground between Stansted and you, I don't think you'll have much luck objecting on radar grounds.

[Ringo]

Can anyone give me a decent guess at the height of a radar tower at Luton or Stansted?

I have been using a bit of software which calculates line-of-sight (taking into account all the contours between two points and also taking into account the curvature of the earth). I had a guess at 100ft for a radar tower. If this is the correct height, then there is direct line-of-sight from the Heydon wind farm to the radar towers at both Stansted and Luton.

[Vodka]

Without going into 'nitty gritty' of it all. .

Simple trigonometry and an OS map will give you your answer for height. A laser range finder may also assist your endeavor if relevant data cannot be found

I suspect if you asked the CAA they may advise you on heights but there again may not due to security grounds.

But, I too think your barking up the wrong tree with your argument on the restrictive aviation side of things.


if all else fails; area of natural beauty or find some very rare newts?

[Ringo]

Thanks, Vodka. I have all the data/tools I need to get an accurate analysis on line-of-sight. The only thing I am missing is the height at the "other end", i.e. the height of the radar tower.

Rest assured, we are using natural beauty and wildlife as part of our campaign. As I said in an earlier post, we need more than just one "bullet in our gun". In any case, if I fill up this forum with non-aviation things, the mods would swiftly close off the thread.