Stage 1 guides you from the bustling maritime and trading roots of the Humber Estuary and the proud industrial and shipbuilding heritage of Teesside and the North East, up to the independent spirit of Northumberland, historically forged through border conflicts and castle-defended shores. The journey begins at North Coates Flying Club, visits the Spurn Point Lighthouse spit and a delivers a challenging touch-and-go at Hollym Airfield’s cliff-edge grass strip. Continuing north, you’ll navigate the sheer white chalk cliffs and seabird colonies of Flamborough Head, stop at Bridlington Aerodrome (if you can find it), track past Robin Hood’s Bay directly over the gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey, and perform a low approach near Redcar, before utilising the 14th-century ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle as your final turn inland toward a full-stop arrival at Eshott Airfield. Formerly RAF Eshott, the airfield was born during World War II as a home to the No. 57 Operational Training Unit (OTU), where hundreds of pilots trained on Supermarine Spitfires before active service.

Atlantic Open Water: Substantial over-water transit across the Minch and northern Atlantic. Ensure life preservers and emergency gear are noted. Hebridean Weather: Fast-moving frontal systems roll in off the Atlantic. Monitor pressure trends and cloud bases around Cape Wrath. Stornoway Arrival: Active civil/military airport; establish contact early with Stornoway Tower for circuit entry.

Barra Beach (EGPR): Unique in the world, flight ops here are dictated by the tide. The sand surface is firm but uneven. Keep your speed up on the T&G and watch for deep water patches. High Terrain on Skye: The approach into Broadford (EGEI) places you near the towering Cuillin mountain range. Downdrafts and mechanical turbulence can be severe here. Comanche Performance: The A2A Comanche 250 handles the crosswinds brilliantly, but keep an eye on your mixture setting and carb heat during the long descent into the moist sea air crossing the Hebrides.

The Sound of Mull: Between Skye and Oban, keep the high terrain of Mull off your right wing. It's a gorgeous visual corridor that naturally funnels you toward the OBN NDB. Islay Approach: As you descend toward EGPI, you'll cross the Sound of Islay right over the northern coast. A perfect excuse to overfly the Bunnahabhain distillery—just picture a dram of Stiùireadair waiting for you after shutdown. Machrihanish (EGEC): Built during the Cold War as a diversion base for nuclear bombers, this runway is comically large for the Comanche. Aim for the numbers, or you'll be taxiing for a very long time!

Prestwick (EGPK): Known globally as the only place in the UK Elvis Presley ever set foot. The runway is enormous, so a touch-and-go in the Comanche will feel like you've barely used any pavement. Turnberry T&G: As you track South from Prestwick, you will fly directly over the famous Turnberry Golf Course. Use the TRN VOR right on the coast as a primary visual and radio waypoint. North Channel Crossing: The water crossing to Northern Ireland is relatively short (about 20 miles of open water), but keep an eye on your engine gauges. The A2A Comanche is reliable, but over-water legs always warrant a slightly richer mixture and close monitoring of cylinder head temps!

Giant's Causeway Approach: After rounding Fair Head, drop your altitude down to 1,000 ft or lower (terrain permitting). The famous hexagonal basalt columns look incredible in MSFS, but they blend in from higher altitudes. Keep your eyes peeled right on the shoreline. Belfast City (EGAC): The approach over Belfast Lough gives you a fantastic view of the Titanic Quarter and the massive yellow Harland & Wolff cranes (Samson and Goliath). Engine Management: Pushing the Comanche up the Antrim Coast means dealing with the prevailing Atlantic winds funneling down the North Channel. Keep an eye on your mixture and carb heat as the sea air here is dense and damp.

The Mourne Mountains: Slieve Donard is the highest peak at 2,790 ft. You'll want to be comfortably at 3,500 ft to clear the ridges safely before you drop down over the Irish Sea. Isle of Man Terrain: After your T&G at Ronaldsway (EGNS), be extremely careful turning north. Mount Snaefell sits right in the middle of the island at 2,036 ft and can be shrouded in cloud. The Solway Firth (EGSA): Kirkbride is a brilliant ex-RAF field. As you approach from Whithorn, the Solway Firth reveals some of the largest tidal mudflats in the UK. Keep an eye out for the visual references, as the runway can blend into the surrounding agricultural land!

Morecambe Bay Crossing: Heading south from Cark to Blackpool, you cross wide expanses of tidal sands. Keep a good visual check on the coastline and utilize the Blackpool VOR to keep your track tight. Blackpool Tower: During your approach for the T&G at EGNH, you'll get a classic view of the Blackpool seafront and tower just north of the field. Caernarfon Approach (EGCK): Situated on the Menai Strait with the peaks of Snowdonia looming right behind you, the scenery here is breathtaking. Watch out for mountain rotor and wind shear if the breeze is blowing off the high ground.

Cardigan Bay Danger Areas: The air navigation corridor between Llanbedr and Aberporth runs parallel to military danger zones (EG D201). Keep your track strictly along the coastline. Strumble Head Turbulence: Tracking around Strumble Head (STU VOR 113.10), strong Atlantic winds strike the sheer cliffs of Pembrokeshire, causing localized turbulence. Maintain at least 2,500 ft until turning inland toward Haverfordwest. Swansea Plateau Approach (EGFH): Swansea Airport sits at 299 ft elevation on a high plateau right next to Rhossili Bay. Be ready for sudden sea breeze shifts on short final.

Severn Estuary Crossing: Routing from Cardiff (EGFF) south over the mouth of the Bristol Channel toward Dunkeswell gives you great visual views of Steepholm and Flatholm islands. Keep an altitude of 3,000 ft during the water transit. Dunkeswell & Bodmin: Dunkeswell (EGTU) sits at 839 ft elevation on the Blackdown Hills, while Bodmin (EGLA) sits at 650 ft. Watch for moorland turbulence in the Comanche on windy days. Land's End (EGHC): Perched right on the granite cliffs of St Just, Land's End is exposed to open Atlantic weather. Adjust your final approach speed to account for gusty coastal winds!

Lizard Point & Falmouth: Early in the leg, you'll round the southernmost point of mainland Britain at Lizard Point. Truro (EGHY) is a very short grass strip—ideal for testing short-field landing procedures in the Comanche. The Jurassic Coast: Between Exeter and Bournemouth, hug the coast closely. The red sandstone cliffs of Sidmouth, the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks, and the narrow spit of Portland Bill are iconic visual landmarks. Bournemouth Approach (EGHH): Bournemouth has a full commercial CTR/CTA. Maintain good visual awareness over Poole Harbour and prepare for potential commercial traffic on short final for Runway 08/26.

Solent CTA & Portsmouth Airspace: Solent Radar (120.230) provides ATS along the Solent corridor. Keep clear of the Portsmouth naval restricted zones and Solent Controlled Airspace. Beachy Head & Seven Sisters: Rising over 500 ft sheer out of the Channel, Beachy Head creates severe lee-side updrafts and rotor in southerly/southeasterly surface winds. Maintain at least 2,000 ft along the cliff line. Dungeness Peninsula & Lydd (EGMD): Lydd sits on a flat, gravelly shingle spit protruding into the Channel. Look out for Dungeness Nuclear Power Station restricted area (EG R045) immediately southwest of the airfield.

White Cliffs & Dover Straits: Tracking along the cliffs past Folkestone and Dover (DVR VOR 114.95), enjoy spectacular views of the English Channel shipping lanes and the French coastline in clear weather. Thames Estuary Crossing & Airspace: Crossing the estuary from Rochester to Southend places you near Southend CTR/CTA and London TMA boundaries. Maintain close radio contact with Southend Radar (130.775) and stay below 2,500 ft. Clacton Arrival (EGSQ): Clacton is a classic coastal grass strip located just south of the town center right behind the seawall. Watch for sea breeze shifts when turning onto short final for Runway 18/36.

Suffolk & Norfolk Coastline: Tracking north from Clacton, keep a close watch for coastal RSPB nature reserves and historic lighthouses at Orford Ness and Happisburgh. Crossing The Wash: Direct transit from Little Snoring (EG21) across the mouth of The Wash to Skegness saves 20 NM. Maintain 2,500 ft over the water gap. Welcome Home to North Coates (EG90): Your final approach to Runway 05/23 brings you right back over the salt marshes where your UK circumnavigation began. Congratulations on completing the entire UK coastal tour!