Aspiration to fly vintage planes

[C8PPO]

I started my PPL a while back and subsequently stopped, with about 15 hours in the book, for a variety of reasons. I'm seriously considering starting it up again, but if I did, my aim would be to get to a point where I can fly and enjoy vintage/warbird planes, potentially anything from a Tiger Moth to a DC3. Whilst (I think!) I can afford to learn and fly, I'm not in a position to throw unlimited cash at this aspiration. What I'd like to know is, where do I find out more about where & how I can get rated for, and fly, this sort of plane, once I have the licence? I'm aware of the Vintage Aircraft Club - is that a good place to start?

Thanks.

[Fat Albert]

Hi, obviously the first thing to do is complete your PPL and then do your tailwheel rating, eithr on a historic aircraft, or something more modern

Following that there are a number of clubs in the UK where you can fly Tiger Moths (Cambridge and iubson spring to mind) Piper Cubs, (Sibson & Clacton) Harvards, ( Goodwood & Sywell) and Chipmunks (various)

The Historic Flight at Coventry Airbase are about to launch a new scheme whereby you can subscribe to a particular aircraft and receive instruction/rent it at reasonable rates. The Chipmunk there seemed quite competitive with other Chipmunks available to rent. The scheme extends all the way up to the Meteor T7 if your pockets are deep enough!

There are also plenty of groups around the country around some pretty special old aircraft, many of which are operated on a permit so are actually cheaper to fly than club spam-cans.

Take a look at the Flyer Forum:
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=3&si...
and AFORS for shares being advertised
http://www.afors.com/index.php?page=browse&cat...


Just on that first page of AFORs there are Luscombe, Chipmunk and Nanchang shares advertised, the opposite ends of the Vintage aircraft spectrum!
good luck!

Edited by Fat Albert on Monday 3rd October 13:00

Edited by Fat Albert on Monday 3rd October 14:30

[C8PPO]

Interesting, thanks v much!

[eharding]

Fat Albert said:

Take a look at the Flyer Forum:
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=3&si...
and AFORS for shares being advertised
http://www.afors.com/index.php?page=browse&cat...


Just on that first page of AFORs there are Luscombe, Chipmunk and Nanchang shares advertised, the opposite ends of the Vintage aircraft spectrum!
good luck!

ROFL at Bob's attempt to post a picture of his 'chang on AFORs.

[Fat Albert]

I thought perhaps he was trying to demonstrate it's propensity for upside-downedness

[eharding]

Fat Albert said:

I thought perhaps he was trying to demonstrate it's propensity for upside-downedness

No inverted fuel or oil systems in the 'chang. Three seconds in that attitude and everything would go horribly quiet

[Fat Albert]

Oh, I assumed they had inverted systems! Did the Yak 18A that it was based on have inverted systems, or was that the same?

[eharding]

Fat Albert said:

Oh, I assumed they had inverted systems! Did the Yak 18A that it was based on have inverted systems, or was that the same?

Not sure, but I think the the original 18A did indeed have inverted systems, which the Chinese decided not to replicate in the Nanchang.

The CJ6 was never intended as a fully aerobatic platform - take a look at the rudder - but performs positive-G figures adequately - just don't try floating through the top of a loop, unless you want some coughing and farting from the donkey.

[Fat Albert]

Thanks
Here is a better picture of the 'chang when it visited Conington a few years ago, something about it creates a stirring...(or is that a James May-style Fizzing?)


Back on Topic, there were shares advertised a couple of years ago for this French 'Beauty'* based at Spanhoe which I thought seriously about, as it is something very different from the run of the mill fare:

• Some French Aircraft can challenge your sense of taste somewhat.....

Edited by Fat Albert on Monday 3rd October 15:27