This is the story of owning and operating a 1993 Beech Bonanza A36 in the UK and some of its adventures and flights. I have owned this plane for over six years now.
Today I took a friend to a meeting in Cromer, near Norwich. I had initially decide to go into Little Snoring as the strip was longer than several strips I had been into in the Bonanza but on the day of the trip I noted that Cromer strip had recently been lengthened (actually moved elsewhere) and despite what my 2 year old AFE guide said, this was now 665 metres. I also noted that the wind was blowing straight down the main runway at 18 knots. A far cry from my last crosswind landing with similar wind.
We decided to give Cromer a go with the option of a diversion to Little Snoring or Norwich at worst. The flight was lovely and uneventful both ways and the landing at Cromer was an absolute peach to restore my confidence in putting the Bonanza A36 on the ground.
Now Bonanzas are not reknowned for leaping off the tarmac but I had calculated with zero wind we would need about 450 of the 665 metres, in the event we needed possibly about 300 to get away.
Back at Blackpool I got another chance to practise my crosswind technique with an 18 knot wind that was giving me 10 knots across. This landing was much more succesful than my one two weeks ago and was quite smooth.
In summary Cromer is a lovely little strip that I wouldnt want to go into on a calm, sunny, warm day, fully laden with the family and bags so I will probably not go there too often but I heartily recomend it to anyone who fancies a day out. The trip into Cromer was a fiver in a taxi and the landing fee was £6
