Flying from Roche Barton Airfield

Sunday, April 24th 2022 at Roche Barton Airfield.

Cornwall airfields and airports serve the region well. On this short flight, I use the upgraded Roche Barton Airfield as a base to explore some of Cornwall's mining operations. Come along to see some of the open cast mines to the south. I'm flying the microlight, Whittaker MW6 for this trip. The weather was a bit better when I took off.

Come along for the ride.

The Airfield

The Woodland Barton Farm Airfield was where it is depicted in MSFS2020 but has clearly been moved. I suspect its location was shifted to make way for the wind turbines that are now clearly visible, close to the A30.

A crash report in 2020 indicates that Roche airfield was in use in august that year when a pilot crashed a Groppo Trial on approach. The aircraft experienced a sudden loss of height from 30 ft and landed heavily short of the runway, colliding with a gate post and hedge.

I can't find anything online about the move. If you know about it, please comment and share what you know.

Get your upgrade for Roche Barton Farm Airfield here.

Local Landmarks

The wind turbines close to the A30 are a mile or so north of the airfield, making it easy to locate.

You can find the Wheal Martyn Clayworks, British Lithium Pilot Plant, and the South Terras Mine close to the airfield. A little further away there is the site of a Roman fort near Tregony, and a few miles to the North West is Cornwall Airport at Newquay.

Landmarks include the Castle an Dinas St Columb Major earthworks, Hensbarrow Beacon, and the St. Austell Viaduct.

What other local features, visible from the air, might make flying from here, more interesting? Share what you know in the comments.

The Whittaker MW6

The aircraft was designed by Mike Whittaker and supplied as plans for amateur construction.

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Wingspan: 9.98 m (32 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 15.24 m2 (164.0 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
• Gross weight: 390 kg (860 lb)
• Powerplant: Rotax 503 twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, 37 kW (50 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

• Maximum speed: 148 km/h (92 mph, 80 kn)
• Cruise speed: 102 km/h (63 mph, 55 kn)
• Stall speed: 56 km/h (35 mph, 30 kn)
• Rate of climb: 2.5 m/s (490 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 25.6 kg/m2 (5.2 lb/sq ft)

The MW6 is available for MSFS as a free download, here.

Do you have narrated YouTube videos of simulator flights from Cornwall airfields? Send me a link or post it in the comments. I'll add those I like to this site.