Flying makes the country so small
Discussion
I had a wee excursion on a seaplane at the weekend, first time on a plane that wasn't an international holiday.
We took off from Loch Lomond, headed South towards the Clyde then West out to sea, over some of the Inner Hebrides then back to Loch Lomond. We were only out for around and hour but the trip would have taken days by car and boat, I couldn't believe how much of Scotland we covered. I want to do it again and again. Now looking at some kind of flying as a hobby. What's the best way to start? Microlight of my own or some sort of club/share for something a bit bigger?
We took off from Loch Lomond, headed South towards the Clyde then West out to sea, over some of the Inner Hebrides then back to Loch Lomond. We were only out for around and hour but the trip would have taken days by car and boat, I couldn't believe how much of Scotland we covered. I want to do it again and again. Now looking at some kind of flying as a hobby. What's the best way to start? Microlight of my own or some sort of club/share for something a bit bigger?
The traditional way to learn to fly was in a standard American "spam can" such as a Cessna 150/152 or a Piper PA28 Cherokee. You can still go sown that route and there is nothing wrong with that.
However, over the past 30 years, a whole new era of light aircraft has emerged and a lot of it is to do with new technology materials, engines and instrumentation. Also, the "microlight" world has grown up and many aircraft that are classified as "microlights" because of their weight are pretty much fully capable light aircraft - akin to 1950s era Austers and Piper Cubs.
A number of schools in the UK will even teach you to fly in a 1930s Tiger Moth.
However, over the past 30 years, a whole new era of light aircraft has emerged and a lot of it is to do with new technology materials, engines and instrumentation. Also, the "microlight" world has grown up and many aircraft that are classified as "microlights" because of their weight are pretty much fully capable light aircraft - akin to 1950s era Austers and Piper Cubs.
A number of schools in the UK will even teach you to fly in a 1930s Tiger Moth.
Nanook said:
vanordinaire said:
I had a wee excursion on a seaplane at the weekend, first time on a plane that wasn't an international holiday.
We took off from Loch Lomond, headed South towards the Clyde then West out to sea, over some of the Inner Hebrides then back to Loch Lomond. We were only out for around and hour but the trip would have taken days by car and boat, I couldn't believe how much of Scotland we covered. I want to do it again and again. Now looking at some kind of flying as a hobby. What's the best way to start? Microlight of my own or some sort of club/share for something a bit bigger?
Glasgow Flying Club.We took off from Loch Lomond, headed South towards the Clyde then West out to sea, over some of the Inner Hebrides then back to Loch Lomond. We were only out for around and hour but the trip would have taken days by car and boat, I couldn't believe how much of Scotland we covered. I want to do it again and again. Now looking at some kind of flying as a hobby. What's the best way to start? Microlight of my own or some sort of club/share for something a bit bigger?
I was on the LL seaplane a year or so ago, last year for our anniversary my wife bought my a voucher for a flight in a Piper PA-28 Warrior at Glasgow Airport. Had loads of fun, and thinking about going back and taking half a dozen lessons or so to see if it's really for me, then perhaps going for my PPL.
Got back from the annual radial hoon to Glenforsa and Plockton last week, ranging up to Ullapool, nipping across to Inverness to drop off a couple of mates who had to take the BA shuttle home early, enjoying some of the best weather yet in 10 years of the annual Scotland bash. Enjoyed Islay, Coll & Colonsay in previous years, landed on Staffa (not in the Yak, R44 deemed more suitable), and gutted I missed the year the Nanchang attempted to set the Westray / Papa Westray record.
Even the notoriously high-viz fetish at Oban seems to have calmed down in the past couple of years, and if the fuel is a tad more expensive that less remote spots, there are always free Jammy Dodgers and tea.
Make a point of visiting Glenforsa on Mull - hotel right next to the airstrip, fantastic food, run by an aviator (with a recently acquired shiny Stearman parked outside....)
So, to recap. Do it.
I would say that flying doesn't make the country small - it makes it feel bigger, and reassuringly beautiful, with far more stunning countryside and landscapes than you'll ever see from the ground. It just makes distances easier and quicker to cover. No better way to travel and appreciate how lucky we are.
pushthebutton said:
I haven't ever flown a microlight but, the more I think about it, the more fun it seems. I'm sure it'd be cheaper than a full fat aeroplane and more wind in your hair.
You can get 'aeroplane' microlights now. The one I fly (C42) uses just over 10 litres an hour at 70kts.My dad is a pilot and owned planes and helicopters
Yet he loves his microlights more
He's had a thruster an xair a jabiru and now a rans s6 and he's buying a ikarus c42 shortly
He says microlights are far more fun than planes and helicopters so I'd start with microlights
He's setting up a flying school next year as he's just done his instructor training
Yet he loves his microlights more
He's had a thruster an xair a jabiru and now a rans s6 and he's buying a ikarus c42 shortly
He says microlights are far more fun than planes and helicopters so I'd start with microlights
He's setting up a flying school next year as he's just done his instructor training
eharding said:
Do it - you have some of the best (if most challenging) flying territory in the UK on your doorstep -in aviation terms - and it would be a shame to pass up the opportunity if you have it.
Got back from the annual radial hoon to Glenforsa and Plockton last week, ranging up to Ullapool, nipping across to Inverness to drop off a couple of mates who had to take the BA shuttle home early, enjoying some of the best weather yet in 10 years of the annual Scotland bash. Enjoyed Islay, Coll & Colonsay in previous years, landed on Staffa (not in the Yak, R44 deemed more suitable), and gutted I missed the year the Nanchang attempted to set the Westray / Papa Westray record.
Even the notoriously high-viz fetish at Oban seems to have calmed down in the past couple of years, and if the fuel is a tad more expensive that less remote spots, there are always free Jammy Dodgers and tea.
Make a point of visiting Glenforsa on Mull - hotel right next to the airstrip, fantastic food, run by an aviator (with a recently acquired shiny Stearman parked outside....)
So, to recap. Do it.
What he said. Doing my PPL (blog on this forum, or a link in my profile) has been the best thing I have done so far. My only regret was not doing it sooner Got back from the annual radial hoon to Glenforsa and Plockton last week, ranging up to Ullapool, nipping across to Inverness to drop off a couple of mates who had to take the BA shuttle home early, enjoying some of the best weather yet in 10 years of the annual Scotland bash. Enjoyed Islay, Coll & Colonsay in previous years, landed on Staffa (not in the Yak, R44 deemed more suitable), and gutted I missed the year the Nanchang attempted to set the Westray / Papa Westray record.
Even the notoriously high-viz fetish at Oban seems to have calmed down in the past couple of years, and if the fuel is a tad more expensive that less remote spots, there are always free Jammy Dodgers and tea.
Make a point of visiting Glenforsa on Mull - hotel right next to the airstrip, fantastic food, run by an aviator (with a recently acquired shiny Stearman parked outside....)
So, to recap. Do it.
eharding said:
Make a point of visiting Glenforsa on Mull - hotel right next to the airstrip, fantastic food, run by an aviator (with a recently acquired shiny Stearman parked outside....)
You've just re-enforced my decision to learn to fly. The Glenforsa was my local 30 odd years ago (though I could reach it by motorbike from home back then). I'd love to fly out to Mull and land there. Is that within reach on a microlight from the mainland, or would it need to be a 'real' plane?vanordinaire said:
eharding said:
Make a point of visiting Glenforsa on Mull - hotel right next to the airstrip, fantastic food, run by an aviator (with a recently acquired shiny Stearman parked outside....)
You've just re-enforced my decision to learn to fly. The Glenforsa was my local 30 odd years ago (though I could reach it by motorbike from home back then). I'd love to fly out to Mull and land there. Is that within reach on a microlight from the mainland, or would it need to be a 'real' plane?Some video of the Glenforsa fly-in last weekend... http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=...
eharding said:
vanordinaire said:
eharding said:
Make a point of visiting Glenforsa on Mull - hotel right next to the airstrip, fantastic food, run by an aviator (with a recently acquired shiny Stearman parked outside....)
You've just re-enforced my decision to learn to fly. The Glenforsa was my local 30 odd years ago (though I could reach it by motorbike from home back then). I'd love to fly out to Mull and land there. Is that within reach on a microlight from the mainland, or would it need to be a 'real' plane?Some video of the Glenforsa fly-in last weekend... http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?
f=1&t=100350
Really like the look of the biplanes in the video.
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