Many of us do this regularly but on this occassion I got some nice photos so I thought it is worth posting them.
It was low cloud, OVC005, slightly low vis and rain in the morning in the UK. In fact a whole band of wx ran N-S
France was OK. Not VFR but above the minima for the ILS.
Metar
EGMD 270720Z 31011KT 9999 -RA SCT006 BKN009 17/16 Q1006
EGKB 270720Z 30007KT 270V330 3000 -RA BR SCT005 OVC028 00/00 Q1007
EGKA: no results found
EGHH 270720Z 31008KT 9999 FEW030 17/14 Q1008
EGKK 270720Z 32006KT 280V350 7000 -RA FEW008 BKN045 16/16 Q1007
LFRC 270700Z AUTO 32006KT 290V360 9999 SCT007 16/15 Q1009 TEMPO 4000 SHRA BKN020TCU
TAF
EGMD 270501Z 2706/2715 29009KT 9999 SCT035 TEMPO 2706/2715 7000 RA BKN014 PROB30 TEMPO 2706/2715 3000 +RA BKN007
EGKB 262000Z 2621/2623 24005KT 9999 FEW025 PROB40 TEMPO 2621/2623 6000 RA
EGKA: no results found
EGHH 270529Z 2706/2715 31005KT 9999 SCT030 PROB40 TEMPO 2706/2715 6000 RA SHRA
EGKK 270502Z 2706/2812 30008KT 9999 SCT035 TEMPO 2706/2716 7000 RA BKN012 PROB40 TEMPO 2706/2714 3000 +RA BKN006 PROB40 TEMPO 2716/2810 9000 -RA BKN014
LFRC 270500Z 2706/2715 30010KT 9999 SCT020 TEMPO 2706/2708 BKN005 TEMPO 2706/2709 4000 SHRA BKN020TCU
Windy.com showed a clear improvement after 1000Z and a clear afternoon. The TAFs were less optimistic but they always are 
Very simple route: EGKA BOGNA ADLOG LFRC FL050 IFR. This passes through the D036 etc danger areas in the Channel but these are inactive at weekends unless notamed and I checked the narrow route briefing both on the NATS notam site and with Solent during flight. There is no clearance on this route and you get no squawk. London Control won’t handle you below about FL080 and even then often not if departing to the south/west (they hand you over the Solent).
After departure into OVC005 and about 10 mins’ flying, conditions were clear.
Cherbourg
Approaching the localiser. I was initially cleared by Deauville to DIKRO. However that lies south of the LOC (shown here by the magenta line; I always set up the OBS mode to show where the LOC lies), so when approaching the LOC I asked “confirm cleared for the ILS”. She replied, with an excellent competence in conversational English “well, sort of, you are in uncontrolled airspace” and said I was Number 1 for the ILS.
Some kind of fortress; probably interesting to visit if one can
Runway just visible. The wx cleared up a great deal – as forecast by windy.com
The first Cirrus Jet I have ever seen for real
Only two planes from our group arrived. One could not get away due to VFR restrictions at weekends, and another was VFR only
In my many visits to Cherbourg this was the first time ever I saw any activity in their clubhouse. When returning about 4pm it was all locked up…
Some way behind the clubhouse are two military radars. You can hear these in headsets; they are really powerful.
The airport had organised a sort of open day, with no landing fees and a shuttle bus into town. In reality this was not the case; no shuttle bus and landing fees (€12 for 1400kg) paid normally The taxi was €28 each way. In years past various Brits kept old cars at the airport (with the battery disconnected, to reduce its discharge rate). This is obviously worth doing…
The town is quite scenic and with a lot of good shops. On Saturday there was a big street market
We popped into a rather posh restaurant, with quite a pretentious menu and even more pretentious presentation. You certainly would not get fat on this – especially as I skipped the “jelly” starter
Totally blue skies by now
An empty British phone box
Back at the airport, 1500Z departure.
A funny French TB20
Two taildraggers, adapted for people standing on top
Departure EPATI LUGIS ADLOG FL050 and a handover to Deauville at 1500ft. Deauville handed me to “London 124.6” while still way into French airspace and 50-60nm from the UK coast; maybe it works. I ignored it and stayed on a listening watch with Deauville. Then a few miles into the UK airspace I switched to listen on 124.6 and after a bit they called me up! This was really strange; I wonder what made London Info decide to do that? I told them I was on a listening watch with them and will change to Shoreham shortly.
Cloud at the UK end but good bases
Nice trip
And so relaxed compared to flying (VFR) in the UK, where I now rarely fly due to the CAA’s new hit-them-hard policy. IFR still works in the UK but is not worth doing for short trips, especially with both ends in Class G.
Peter wrote:
We popped into a rather posh restaurant,
Can you remember the name of this place? Thinking of popping over this weekend.
From the pictures above, this restaurant is not the best value for money.
My advice for restaurant/hôtels in France is to check google maps. Above 4, you will not be disappointed. Above 4,5 it will be a very pleasant experience (given the price).
Jujupilote wrote:
My advice for restaurant/hôtels in France is to check google maps.
Will do. The food there looks very pretty though
I can’t remember the name and can’t remember the nickname of the others, but would not recommend it for either food or customer service
Peter wrote:
would not recommend it for either food or customer service
Ah, righto. Google it is
Peter wrote:
Then a few miles into the UK airspace I switched to listen on 124.6 and after a bit they called me up! This was really strange; I wonder what made London Info decide to do that?
I’ve always been under the impression that it’s mandatory to be in two-way radio contact when crossing an international FIR boundary?
Yep, interesting. Maybe he recognized the reg and wanted to say hi to the Famous Peter
Jgmusic, please report if my advice worked for you !
I’ve always been under the impression that it’s mandatory to be in two-way radio contact when crossing an international FIR boundary?
That is country-dependent.
Jujupilote wrote:
please report if my advice worked for you !
I will!
