Seamus300

There is that problem. A PA28 followed a Microlight in at my club a few weeks back, didn't see him at all and basically crashed into the back of it, fortunately no one seriously hurt. I think some people forget how slow they fly too, I've had to go around on finals a few times because some loon is flying up behind me at about 140knts when I'm doing about 55.

Good radio work should avoid this happening but it isn't difficult to miss calls, especially somewhere quite busy like Sywell where you can have several planes in the circuit at the same time.

Still love it to bits though!

Pete Croney

Deano

I was told the RAF monitor the radios at the airfields en route, so were probably expecting to see us.

Seamus and I have been mailing off line. Sounds like circuits are going to be fun

Pete Croney

Bit of an update...

I've taken the plunge and started taking propper lessons towards getting my license

Had loads of help from Seamus300 (Sean) who has just bought his own flexwing microlight (post a picture up Sean) and a couple of other people who have general flying and gliding experience.

I'm doing my course at Medway Microlights http://www.ravenmad.co.uk/ based on the Isle of Grain, on the south side of the Thames estuary.

If you see a wobbly looking microlight with a black pod and black wing, over Grain, Canvey or Southend, it may be me, so give us a wave

Pete Croney

Another update for the guys who asked me to keep them up to date...

I got signed off for solo flight on Tuesday

If you thought your first drive after passing your test was exciting, it has nothing on your first solo flight.

I have 14 hours in my log book now and need to complete at least 25 with two solo cross country flights in there as well, before I can take my full license test (GFT). All being well, I should have a full license by Christmas or early Jan.

Brendan Hughes

Thanks for keeping us up to date Pete - what, me jealous

I'd love to learn to fly, whether microlight, gliding, or private plane, but I'm not sure I'd trust Portuguese instructors - or nearby air traffic. People's attitude to safety over here is a shrug.

Good luck with the next steps!

Brendan

Pete Croney

Hi Brendan

There are some english run schools in Spain and Portugal.

http://www.gerrybreen.com/ is on the Algarve.

Now you have no excuses

Brendan Hughes

Pete, I think my wife will want words with you

dsmith

Ahhh First Solo. I'm 99% sure I didnt breathe once for mine - and that was in plane with proper wings not an old carrier bag strapped over some tent poles

Pure Neat adrenelin. It never cesed to amaze me that I probably had about 25 hours driving with an instructor/parents before I "solo" in a car and yet I had just 8/9 (Cant find my log book to check) hours in a light aircraft.

Hadnt seen Pete's repsonse above - but at 600kts and with the number of small airfileds around - thats an awful lot of frequency changing to keep up with people who are just on local tower frequencies doing circuits.

Deano

Pete Croney

Dean I know what you mean

I hadn't realised just how much a difference being one up would make to the overall weight. I gave it full throttle to take off and the thing just screamed up at a ridiculous rate of climb. I was fighting the bar back in, thinking it would stall but it was still climbing with the bar right in.

I quickly learnt that you don't need WOT for long, one up and now I realise that mad RoCs are just part of the fun of being on your own

sempers

Picking up on an earlier comment, Pete, what sailing was it that you used to do?

- Mark.

Seamus300

WIndsurfing to Microlighting, the only way to go

ariel

Liked the pics. Well done on your first solo. For anyone interested in the gerrybreen link he has been doing it for many years and started in hang gliding. Can get very windy there in the afternoons but you'll get some lovely flying in. Note for those interested in hang gliding it is possible to fly if you heavier than 14 stone but first you have to find an instructor.
It's the annual show at Telford this weekend and all sorts of aviation on offer.

Pete Croney

Mark

I speed sailed for Tushingham. In those days, the team was Nick Luget (world record holder at the time), Peter Hart, Jill Benbow and me. Best speed was 38.86kts at West Kirby, but I suspect I wouldn't even qualify with that these days.

I was pretty keen and sailed 3-4 days a week, but wasn't big (heavy) enough to get podiums.

Thanks Ariel

Seamus300 is working on Flylights stand at Telford and I'll be there saturday afternoon.

There are a lot of similarities to the two sports, its all about controlling your path through the air.

sempers

Ah.. just curious as I sail pretty seriously in fixed rig boats: 49er, aussie 18footer (until recently - unfortunate split with the other two!), and dabble in wobbly rig technology (very poorly!)

Have often heard gliding likened to sailing in 3d, never thought about microlights.. Guess it's a very similar rig control

- Mark.

Seamus300

Not sure I'd call it working, more like casually helping out if they need it. We are helping them set up on Friday afternoon though, payment last year was a curry so it has to be worth it!
Looking forward to the show, credit card polished and at the ready!

dsmith

Found this picture of the shed (Cessna 150) I did my first solo in @ 17. (i'm on the right)

Golf Zulu-Uniform. Thought it was going to break everytime I got in it.




[Edited by dsmith - 12/13/2002 12:59:46 PM]

Stephen Read

ATC Flying Scholarship perchance?

Did mine at Dundee in '87!

Passed my PPL(A) at 17 too BEFORE my driving licence which I only passed on the third attempt!

At the time I was working 40hrs at week at £1 per hour to pay for each hour of flying! Seemed reasonable at the time!

Quickly got bored of flying Cesspits though (not to mention the working in a supermarket to pay for it part!).

Did a little paragliding in the Alps last year. Microlights and Ultralights could rekindle my interest but they are banned in Switzerland for some reason

Had one Microlight flight from Insch near Aberdeen many years ago and it was one of my most memorable aviation experiences. The instructor was mental and we were chasing hare's down the hillside and following Forrestry commission paths at below tree height!

dsmith

CCF but yes a Flying Scholarship. In fact I had the full 6th Form Scholarship and was all for joining after university but it didnt work out - Options for change limited University cadetships for the crucial couple of years.

Deano

Pete Croney

Nice pic Dean. Did you get your PPL? Iam reading into your posts that you were in the RAF (?).

Weather permitting I'm meeting up with Seamus300 tomorrow and we are both taking up digi cams, for some aircraft to aircraft photos. Will post them up if the weather lets us fly.

Stephen Read

Deano, I was hoping to get a commission in the RAF but mild short sightedness meant it would have been the back seat only and while it would have probably been a blast dropping all those bombs on everyone , I wanted the front seat or nothing.

Tried to join BA but but that time I just wanted to finish uni so missed the cut. Thankfully. Not sure I'd have enjoyed it that much and they don't get paid that much - compared to tube drivers anyway!

These days I try to kid myself that accountancy was a good second choice .

Seamus300

Damn weather....
Sat at Flylight for quite a while on Saturday and it was a complete no go, couldn't even see across the airfield.. Try again next weekend then Pete (third time lucky)?
Good luck with the exams tomorrow!
Sean

dsmith

I was in the Cadets @ School (Senior Cadet ) and had an RAF 6th Form Scholarship. You had to do the full 3 day officer selection course (at Biggin Hill at the time) complete with all aptitude and leadership tests. It gave me a little bit of money for sixth form (went straight to school fees) and the Flying Scholarship which was 30 hours flying at a civilian flying club.

Mine was @ RAF Swanton Morley, where the Norfolk and Norwich Aero club fly from. Lovely Huge grass airfield which was shared with Gliders.

The commitment of the 6th form scholarship was a) join @ 18 or b) go to university. I went to Uni and applied for the University Cadetship but that year I thik there were only a couple awarded instead of the usual 100 or so. Joined the University Air Squadron and did some more flying. Mostly from RAF Leeming and strangely Swanton Morley again because we had a summer camp there.

To be honest (and my instructors were ) although I was a perfectly safe and competent pilot it took too much of my concentration to be that - not really leaving enough left to do the 1001 other things a fast jet pilot has to do. At the time it was fast jet pilot for me or nothing and although I stayed in the Air squadron all through University (you had to be invited to stay for the 3rd year I seem to recall) by the time it came to the end I'd decided to go elsewhere.

I had an absolutly superb time in the University Air squadron. It has left me with a real appreciation of gratitude for what the forces do etc. Several friends did join up though, one sadly died in a Tornado a couple of years back. I'd love to get back into flying but lack of time and budget have prevented it.

Deano

Pete Croney

Fingers crossed for this weekend Sean.

I have mailed you and I passed Air Law with 90%, today

Dean, there was a really good couple of pages in yesterday's Telegraph about the US 391st squadron, working in Afganistan. Hero's indeed.

subevo

got my microlight licence in 1992. for the flexwing type .(handglider wing)the way your taught to fly trains you to be always imagining an engine failure so that if it does happen(very rare) it dosent come as a shock and you have already assessed a suitable landing area.the glide angle is amongst the best of any aircraft and at 2000feet gives you plenty of time to choose where to land.the advantages of this type of microlight are.
easy to dismantle wing and store at home in the garage thus no hangarage costs.short take-off and landings thus any suitable field will do.therefore no landing fees .many microlighters own their own land so it is free to fly about without incurring costs.

Pete Croney

Hi Subevo

Where do you fly in Scotland and what aircraft do you have?

Any pictures for us?

Seamus300

Morning Pete, how did you get on yesterday?

Pete Croney

Hi Sean

I flew Monday and (you'll hate me) again today

Here's some pics




The one with the power station was taken at 3000ft and you can make out Southend pier in the distance. The other one is over the marshes was at 2000ft and my flying club is just along from the ponds, between the marshes and the fields.

To say it was a good days flying is an understatement. The cloud in the picture was the only one I could find to fly around. Definitely an Oakley day

Pete Croney

Whoops, I got the heights and the pictures around the wrong way.

With regard to the safety thing, I could turn off the engine in the lower picture and glide all the way to the Thames in the distance, or land in any field on the way there.

In the top picture I would make any of the fields beyond the power station or turn around and go to Isle Sheppey, behind the camera.

dsmith

I'm not jealous. really I'm not. its just the light making me looke bright green

Deano

MarkO

I'm jealous. Very jealous.

Pete - how much does it cost to get going - lessons, plus the m'lite itself? I'm thinking that buzzing around the highlands might be quite spectacular, and might make a good alternative to a sportscar. Could even be a good way to cut the commuting time if I get this job in Glasgow.