Hi Dom, & welcome. Love the RC models.
Ah - Popham. My first cross country was to Popham, from my home airfield of Sandown on the Isle of Wight. It took a couple of hours in my Pterodactyl, & then I got lost en route & landed in a small paddock near a pub, several miles from Popham airfield. I walked into the pub in my flying gear & asked the way, using my quarter million air map. The landlord struggled to believe I'd landed in the little paddock, but gave directions which I followed, but from the air!
Wreford Fisher ran the field in those days (1979). Bit of a strange guy, but a great little airfield.
As to the fear of heights, don't worry too much. I hate climbing a ladder, but was quite happy jumping off Beachy Head cliffs in my early hang gliding days. It's different when you've got wings attached!
Good luck - keep us informed of your progress.
Bruce