Flying Farmers land in Fermanagh to visit farms

But for some, it goes beyond tractors and machines on the ground. A group of landowners also take to the skies to monitor crops and livestock, to survey their farms, or to simply commute from one farm to another where they are quite some distance apart.

William Graham, (right), and Gail Graham, (second left), with farmer friends, Alf and Jill Oliver on their flying visit to Co.Fermanagh.

For members of the Flying Farmers Association, they usually have an airstrip on their own land which makes flying very accessible.

A group of up to 17 aircraft flown by members of the Flying Farmers landed in Fermanagh recently for a two-day break, visiting farms and places of interest.

Roger Bell, one of the experienced members of the group from Northumberland, is a retired farmer. He grew up on a family farm where his father was a pilot as were his brothers.

Martin and Annette Gosling from Essex with their Robin 4 seater DR400.

Flying a small, Aeroprakt plane built in Ukraine, Roger had the Ukrainian flag draped over the seats when he invited me over to look at his aircraft parked on the apron at Enniskillen Airport.

He explained how the Association now has around 700 members from all over the British Isles including Northern Ireland the Republic of Ireland as well as in a number of countries worldwide.

The UK group organises a European tour each year and this year was to Northern Ireland and Sligo. The group of pilots accompanied by passengers from all around the UK flying mostly single-engined Cessnas, Pipers and Robins as well as two twin-engined aircraft, first touched down on the Isle of Man before continuing to Newtownards Airport to spend the first two nights of their tour, visiting vegetable growers and other farmers in that region before flying on to Enniskillen Airport and staying in the Killyhevlin Hotel for two nights. They visited a number of farms including the dairy farm of William and Gail Graham, Tamlaght.

Flying Farmers waiting to take off on their forward journey from St.Angelo Airport to Sligo.

After spending two nights in the county, the group of aircraft left Enniskillen Airport for the short flight to Sligo Airport for a further two nights.

Roger explained that most of the pilots had their own airstrip and complied with the 28-day rule that means they can have no more than 28 days of departures in a calendar year without seeking planning permission.

Roger says his light Aeroprakt aircraft is very economical, taking off after 100 metres, landing on 200 metres and with a tank capacity of six hours flying time at around 90 knots, using 15 litres an hour.

“It is a privilege beyond description to be able to fly like this,” he said.

Roger is a frequent flyer and is very keen on visiting Ireland where he has many friends.