A Farewell to Coventry Airport by Kevin Arblaster

This article is written by Aerobility Flyer and Coventry Local Kevin Arblaster…

“In November 1989. I was on a visit from Walsall Tech to Coventry Airport. For the life of me, I can’t remember the reason for the visit. However I remember seeing a young chap get into a Cessna 152, and thinking to myself “That looks fun!”. I can also remember visiting the pub just out side the Airport’s main gates.

This morning, some 37 years later, I woke up preparing for my own flight, piloted by me, back to Coventry Airport. I checked the METAR/TAF (the weather forecast) for the day. Only a thin band of weather just passing through, behind it was blue with isolated showers, but with a chance of high winds.

I messaged friend and fellow pilot Dave Burns, who was going to accompany me on the flight. We discussed the forecast and agreed it was flyable. A few hours later we met at the airfield. As I stepped out of my van, I noticed the wind was let’s say….very sporting.

I was going to be pilot in command so I briefed Dave on the pending sortie. The initial plan was to land have a cup of tea and fly home. However, after we reviewed the weather, the best option was to do a ‘touch and go’ which means we would land, keep the aircraft rolling down the runway and take off again back home. If this was all the weather was going to allow us to do, then touching the Coventry tarmac one last time was better than nothing!

In no time we were aboard the aircraft Able04 or ‘Foxy P’ to her friends. As we hurtled down the runway at Tatenhill Airport and got into the blue, we set course southeast.

We saw a few rain cells, nothing to be concerned about except the one south of Coventry, it was rather dark, however, moving east and clear of our path - maybe somehow it knew we had a special mission in mind.

North of Nuneaton, we contacted Coventry Information on the radio. We were told that the active runway was 23 and we made a direct approach, preparing the aircraft for landing.

As I came onto the final approach, I could see the PAPI lights indicating 1 white light and 3 red lights -meaning I was a tad too low. So as I arrested my decent and the lights soon changed to 2 white 2 red… perfect. “ABLE04, Final for Runway 23, Touch and Go”. Soon the aircraft main wheels touched the runway, we took one moment to look around and savour the final view of the airport from the ground and then it was flaps up, and full throttle. Airborne again, we set off for home and said our final goodbyes to Coventry as it drifted out of sight.

And there’s the sad part. After this Thursday the 11th of June, Coventry Airport will be no more. It’s sad that I will be one of last pilots to land there, but i’m honoured and pleased to have known this airport in full operation. Over the last 20 years, I’ve known friends who have worked there, have completed their first solos and even passed their pilot’s licence tests there.

So, farewell EGBE, you will be missed, but will remain in the memories (and logbooks) of many pilots for years to come.” - Kevin Arblaster

Aerobility Aircraft - ABLE 04, Also known as ‘Foxy P’