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bulldong
1,239 posts
72 months
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It's all about helicopters!
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mrloudly
2,163 posts
104 months
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Having owned also G-AVLN the handling reminded me very much of my Europa, delightful ;-)
Andy M
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6fire
362 posts
20 months
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Damn you all. I gave up GA a few years ago to save money. Seeing these pictures and hearing the stories of first solos and the like makes me think I might have to explore a revalidation of my SEP rating.
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Breadvan72
10,228 posts
32 months
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Go microlight, or PFA type on a permit, as the mainstream GA stuff is expensive these days. Regulatory costs, and fuel costs, are making what people used to assume incorrectly was a rich person's hobby into a genuine rich person's hobby. I have a share in a classic Brit GA type on a C of A, and it is getting too costly even for lawyer wages.
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Fat Albert
944 posts
50 months
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Group flying seems to be the way to go, flying club rental is getting darn silly and is too restrictive for flying to be really fun
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Breadvan72
10,228 posts
32 months
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I fly in a group. Even group flying is becoming more costly because of maintenance costs artificially increased by regulatory overload, and fuel costs.
Usually, the famous rule of the three Fs is the true and correct rule in all things, but, in light aviation, renting is not such a hot option these days.
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Fat Albert
944 posts
50 months
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I noticed that you are advertising for new members again G
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Breadvan72
10,228 posts
32 months
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We always are, as there is a plan to go to nine. I prefer a smaller group, but I can see the sense of the plan. The best group that I was in was three blokes with a Cap 10b. The other two blokes were aerobatics instructors, so I was one jammy and well looked after PPL. Notably, the instructors each mildly broke the aeroplane in minor ways, but I never did. We had gone to five members by the time that I had to sell my share to pay some tax. Four or five is a good group number. How many on your Rallye?
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Fat Albert
944 posts
50 months
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We're down to two in our group which is great for availability, especially when we get the other Rallye back through its Annual!
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Breadvan72
10,228 posts
32 months
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In other words, you have your own cool French aeroplane. Git.
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6fire
362 posts
20 months
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Fat Albert said: Group flying seems to be the way to go, flying club rental is getting darn silly and is too restrictive for flying to be really fun I used to have a share in a group, it was a PITA if I'm honest. Wasn't much cheaper than rentals and the availability wasn't great either - with 7 of us in the group every sunny evening/weekend was booked as quick as a flash. The frustration of cost and availability was one of the reasons I stopped flying. I did consider buying an aircraft and starting my own group, but the recession was beginning to kick in and I was made redundant. I think groups work if you have a low cost type aeroplane and low group numbers. If I go back to flying, I think it'll be either a 3 axis microlight that I own, a small group with a permit to fly aircraft or a slightly larger group with two permit to fly aircraft - i always thought it would be nice to have a tourer and a sport aircraft. By the way did I read that you used to fly the mighty Hercules? If so, there's a fair chance you've taken off with me in the back and landed without me.
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andytk
1,540 posts
135 months
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Dr Jekyll said: The old aviators debate. Do I stay poor by spending all the money I earn flying for a hobby, or by going professional and possibly earning nothing at all. Believe it or not, this was one of the reasons I deliberately chose to obtain an NPPL M, rather than a full JAR PPL. This prevents me from getting delusions of becoming a CPL as virtually none of the hours can be counted towards a JAR PPL and or a CPL. I've now obtained my NPPL SSEA rating as well.  All I need now is a (share in an) aeroplane... Andy K
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LimaDelta
1,730 posts
87 months
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Another 1:30 of solo circuits today. First break in the weather for over a week and looks like the last flight I get before going back to work. Light winds but pretty bumpy. A couple of nice landings but one which just wouldn't sit down and took up half the rwy. Anyway, managed 9 touch-n-goes (touches-n-go?) before brain fade hit and the weather started to close in. Still have 15 mins solo circuits to do before I can do my solo nav stuff, but didn't want to push it too much today. 2:45 PIC  14:30 total
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magpie215
Original Poster
1,909 posts
58 months
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sounds good LD.
I too managed to get some air beneath me today.
Dual circuit for currency then a solo trip to the North to build my solo time.
Todays route took me north of Blackpool basically along the M6 to Kendal then across to Ambleside then Conniston east towards Arnside then back towards Fleetwood for landing at Blackpool.
Basically just the skills test to go now :-)
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JW911
724 posts
64 months
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Breadvan72 said: We always are, as there is a plan to go to nine. I prefer a smaller group, but I can see the sense of the plan. The best group that I was in was three blokes with a Cap 10b. The other two blokes were aerobatics instructors, so I was one jammy and well looked after PPL. Notably, the instructors each mildly broke the aeroplane in minor ways, but I never did. We had gone to five members by the time that I had to sell my share to pay some tax. Four or five is a good group number. How many on your Rallye? It depends what you use your aeroplane for. We have 10 in our Yak which is fine for availability as it rarely leaves base for more than forty minutes at a time, although I believe it's heading up to Scotland again for the annual long weekend of hooliganism next month. It also keeps the (higher) costs down to a more sensible level. i.e. knock a zero off each bill!! If you have a tourer, availability starts to become an issue especially if you want to take the machine away for a couple of days. I would say a maximum of four in a group is best - at a push six.
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mrloudly
2,163 posts
104 months
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JW911 said: Breadvan72 said: We always are, as there is a plan to go to nine. I prefer a smaller group, but I can see the sense of the plan. The best group that I was in was three blokes with a Cap 10b. The other two blokes were aerobatics instructors, so I was one jammy and well looked after PPL. Notably, the instructors each mildly broke the aeroplane in minor ways, but I never did. We had gone to five members by the time that I had to sell my share to pay some tax. Four or five is a good group number. How many on your Rallye? It depends what you use your aeroplane for. We have 10 in our Yak which is fine for availability as it rarely leaves base for more than forty minutes at a time, although I believe it's heading up to Scotland again for the annual long weekend of hooliganism next month. It also keeps the (higher) costs down to a more sensible level. i.e. knock a zero off each bill!! If you have a tourer, availability starts to become an issue especially if you want to take the machine away for a couple of days. I would say a maximum of four in a group is best - at a push six. We used to have a "half hour jolly no booking required rule" in our syndicate. If you want to do a quick half hour and the aircraft is free, take it. The logic behind this was if anybody with a booking turned up after you'd removed it from the hangar, happy days or if you'd already left, the booked member would get a warm, fuelled aircraft ready to go on your return. I used to love turning up with a booking and she wasn't there, no hangar lugging required :-)
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R1_NUR
550 posts
119 months
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Our group consists of 2 and it works really well. It would be nice to reduce the costs a bit further but being on LAA permit the running costs are not too bad. And now we have ditched a Magneto and fitted Electronic ignition even the fuel costs have improved. 
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Extra 300 Driver
5,153 posts
115 months
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We have just about the limit in our Cirrus group. Running cost are low but if you want it on a weekend then you have to book weeks in advance, and then its always going to be OVC600!!!
I can get it anytime during the week, but then this means flying on my own most of the time, which I find boring.
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bulldong
1,239 posts
72 months
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Extra 300 Driver said: I can get it anytime during the week, but then this means flying on my own most of the time, which I find boring. Kind of like skiing alone.
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eharding
6,397 posts
153 months
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R1_NUR said: Our group consists of 2 and it works really well. ...and the other half of your group has just spammed the UKAerobatics email list with his entry for Elvington... 
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