My flying and aircraft photos

[captainflynn23]

Hi guys,
Im new here and decided i'd post some of my pics from flights (I've got my Private Pilots License ) and also some general aircraft pics too.
The pics are mine and i'd appreciate it if they are not posted elsewhere. I'll continue to update the post as time permits.

So just a quick intro of myself - i'm 27, live in Milton Keynes and i've been flying light aircraft since the end of 2003. I have wanted to be an airline pilot since I was about 2yrs old but have recently wondered if its really what I want as aviation has changed too much for the worse over the years. I'm currently unemployed but do have a voluntary job.

Anyway, with the intro out of the way, on to the pics..

British Airways B757 G-CPET in the retro livery worn for the B757 retirement from British Airways. Taken on November 6th 2011 as G-CPET made the final BA B757 landing..



I took this set of the same balloon back on 28th Sept 2011 just west of Milton Keynes, I was in a Beech 19A Musketeer..







RAF West Raynham..



Former RAF Tempsford



Former RAE Bedford, now Bedford Autodrome..



Caldecotte Lake, Milton Keynes



Milton Keynes



Milton Keynes and the SKY Personnel balloon..



This was taken in March 2011 when XS458 was having an engine test. This Lightning performs fast taxi runs on specific dates throughout the year..



Also taken in 2011 at Cranfield..

[captainflynn23]

Hey,
Thanks for the message of inspiration and positivity. As you say, most airline pilots moan, and then you look at sites like pprune and wonder why anyone bothers becoming a pilot.
I think what bothers me is the way the airlines call the shots now. It just seems like Ryanair (and others) have come on the scene and really wrecked the T's and C's of the job. There arent many industries that say 'fork out 70K and you MIGHT get a job' I'm waiting for the day when the airlines turn around and say 'we dont pay our pilots anymore, its a voluntary job they do on the side of a paid job they have elsewhere' haha

It might not sound like it, but I do love flying and aircraft. I think over the past year i've just noticed that im only 2 and a half years off of 30 and i'm nowhere near where I had hoped i'd be regarding the training. Last week I started an application process to become a special constable and if all goes well and if I get accepted and enjoy it i'd look into becoming a full police officer instead and maybe fly for fun. If I dont get accepted i'd continue to try and slug it out with the flying and see where I get. As I said, it might not sound like it, but aircraft and flying are my most favourite things really.. anyway, a few more pics..

Taken at Helitech, Duxford, September 2011, a spitfire taxies out as a DH Tiger Moth comes into land..



The Bowl, music venue, Milton Keynes..



Former Twinwood Farm airfield..



Currently at Cranfield on maintenance is one of the forumla 1 management BAe 146's..



M-TEAM departing Cranfield on June 21st 2011..



The Starry Beech 99 N899AG in for maintenance at Cranfield on September 10th 2011..



M-KELY which is kept in the IAE hangar at Cranfield..



After a formation flight on 21st June 2010 me and my friend was enroute back to Cranfield and saw a virgin balloon near Cardington airship sheds..



Although now I fly from Cranfield, I actually learnt to fly while living in Cornwall for a few years.. this is St Ives in September 2005..



Taken as a backseat passenger after a flight to Lands end and routing back to Perranporth, passing Hayle, Cornwall, Sept 2005..



Passing St Agnes, on final to runway 05 at Perranporth in Sept 2005..



Flying around Truro, 2005..



C47 at Duxford, taken on my K800i Phone



RAF Helicopter at Helitech, Duxford, September 2011..



The Greater Manchester Police helicopter at Helitech, Duxford, Sept 2011..



Atlantic Airlines B737-300F G-JMCL at Coventry, Sept 29th 2011..

[captainflynn23]

Hey Mr Dave, what is it that you fly? I have never flown over N.Ireland but I can imagine it must be really nice! Im glad you like the Cornwall pics. Cornwall can be beautiful for flying, but also challenging when its windy!

Heres a few more to add..

RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall, August 2005..



An124 UR82027 of ADB at Nottingham East Mids Airport in late 2006..



DH Tiger Moth G-AOBO at Perranporth, August 2005..



Taken on my K800i phone outside Asda, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, in 2009, was this Westland Wasp..



Living near Stadium MK means that i'm not far from Bletchley Park.. and therefore I get to see the BBMF a few times a year during their flypast.. heres the Avro Lancaster..



Heres the French Air Force A340 at East Midlands in October 2009 with an EasyJet A319 on final approach to runway 09.



Heres the big Antonov An225 at East Midlands Airport in October 2009..



A virgin atlantic B747-400 G-VHOT 'Tubular Belle' departs Heathrow in March 2010..



Cambridge Marshall's Airport, September 2010..



Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Sept 28th 2011..



Cranfield College of Aeronautics Scottish Aviation Bulldog taxies in..



XS458 Lightning at Cranfield. Used for fast taxi runs. Here she is sitting in the snow in Feb 2009.



A nice livery on this Beechcraft, N58YD at Cranfield in April 2011..

[captainflynn23]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for the comments, they are well recieved, thankyou kindly

pacman1, I think that the lightning gets regular maintenance and has currently undergone some big maintenance if I recall correctly (something to do with the way its started up) Its taken good care of really. Although sadly the rules won't allow it to fly in the UK.

Eric MC, I quite like MK I've lived in London, Cornwall and now I live in MK and find its a happy medium.

Vieste, Where abouts did you used to live?

Wolves wanderer, did you used to bring an aircraft in for maintenance? Patriot recently left cranfield for Coventry.

ETOPS Many thanks for the comment I must addmit that you are right really. Flying is amazing and very enjoyable. Thats one thing that i'll always agree on. I think sometimes the industry itself is just vulnerable and always seems to have alot of bad times and now all the training cost is put on the student pilots it means theres too many getting their wings and outweighing the jobs. It annoys me abit.
I think what i'll do is carry on flying, and as you said, most pilots had careers before flying. Perhaps i'll continue trying to get into the police and if in future years I still have the flying bug to go further then I might well try and go for it if finances and circumstances permit.
What is it that you are currently flying?
You are right, I will stay clear of PPrune! I spent so many years avoiding that site until about a year ago when I had a casual look..argh, mistake.

Fat Albert Yeeeeeeah its G-AWFZ Since i'm unemployed Tony sometimes keeps me up in the air In June 2010 we did a great formation flight with a chipmunk and a pitts special. I had control for nearly the whole flight while he was taking pics. I hadnt done formation flying before but I have to say its right up there with my first solo and the day I qualified for the PPL. I've got 80hrs now, so still a young'en really.
I know the flyer forum, sometimes I have a look on there but havent yet signed up! I think Tony is a member there.

Speaking of Conington, I did a flight into there back in 2008 but we (me + a bonus aviation instructor) landed and as the weather was windy we decided we'd put the landing fee on a tab and just backtrack and head back to Cranfield. A nice airfield.
Where abouts is your Rallye kept? I've only ever seen one close up (G-BUKR) and that was in 2004 at truro in Cornwall. Another used to tow banners around Cornwall alot. They look great, especially the wing with its flaps and slats.

Just a few more pics ...

F15 at Lakenheath



USAF KC135 tanker, RAF Mildenhall..



Dakota C47/DC3 G-AMPY at coventry on the day I flew on her in 2008..



Heres the plane that I have taken my recent aerial shots from, Beech 19A Musketeer G-AWFZ..



The Pitts special we flew in formation with. G-FARL at Little Gransden



A bonus aviation PA28 in the bonus hangar at Cranfield..



Xscape and willen lake in the background which is where you can go on balloon flights from..



CMK looking from above Wolverton or there abouts..



Looking south, you can see Furzton lake.. and also Stadium MK, which I live near.

[captainflynn23]

Thanks guys

Fat Albert, I never knew that there was different Rallyes as such with regards to propellors used etc. Good luck with your training to the movable pitch prop! Rallyes do look good! I havent seen any since I left Cornwall in 2007. They seem to be few and far between or maybe i've been unlucky and not noticed any while i've been at Cranfield.
I'll have a look on google maps for that airfield Nice little dog, by the way

haha Yes, good photo!!!! Atleast he has a ....smile... of some sort going on there. I remember him selling that Ercoupe. I never actually did see it sadly but certainly wish I had.

Wolves Wanderer, thanks for the info Are you still flying now or not?

eharding, I think I saw a few pics online with comments regarding to the previous owner and his displays. They sounded impressive. I did notice the C/N of this plane was 1. Is this the first one built?

Zippee, thanks so much The DC3 flight was amazing! I loved it so much It was back in 2008 at coventry when ClassicFlight (air atlantique) were doing their final year of pleasure flights with the DC3 (Due to stupid EASA regulations regarding to passenger flights and a pressurised cabin) You can still do pleasure flights from Coventry with ClassicFlight, but in a DH Dragon Rapide, which is another good type

ETOPS, Thats really impressive! Do you fly the -300 only or the 200 too?

Heres G-LUXE of FAAM and direct flight being put back into the hangar at Cranfield after an engine run..



G-KELZ in the bonus hangar, Cranfield..



Beech Bonanza N657BW

[captainflynn23]

Ah yes I understand. You dont fly to heathrow, do you?

Yes I understand totally, flying isnt what it used to be

[captainflynn23]

No problem mate, ask away I don't mind I'll continue to chat with you all and add pics along the way too, so feel free to ask anything you like

[captainflynn23]

You make a good point actually. I suppose you are right really. I dont want to eventually one day think 'why didn't I just carry on?' You are also right in that alot of pilots do moan but none of them change careers! Thanks mate

Perranporth airfield in around 2004 or 2005 (when I used to fly from there)



China claypits in St Austell, Cornwall, in 2004, when enroute from Truro to Bodmin for maintenance in C152 G-TFSA.



Turkish government A319 at LHR, Nov 6th 2010..



Vueling's MTV A320 at Heathrow, Nov 6th 2010..



This Saab Lansen is no longer at Cranfield and was dismantled and move out earlier this year. I believe it's now been put on display in Wolverhampton..



Air France A380 at Heathrow. Taken on my birthday, June 12th 2010..

[captainflynn23]

Yeah it was at Cranfield for quite a long time. It had its wings intact etc but I took this shot during its dismantling before it was transfered for display elsewhere.
The reg is G-BMSG if you're interested.

[captainflynn23]

Just thought i'd add a few more

Bletchley Park Harrier.



Britannia Flying Club (Thomsonfly) Mooney..



Ex BA flying club Tomahawk in the Blue Poole world tails livery. At Cranfield when it belonged to TA Aviation in 2009.



Aviogenex B737-200 approaching heathrow in cloudy and wet weather..



Taken in September as we returned home to Cranfield after a long days flying..

[captainflynn23]

Wolves wanderer thats great to hear! I bet that its alot of fun! I want to do some flying over Liverpool eventually, I want to take a pic of Anfield from the air (Yep, you've guessed it, Liverpool FC fan here)
I've only ever flown in an R44 helicopter! I bet the Twin Squirrel feels massive compared to a robinson!

Inkyfingers, there sure is! I take it you have flown the approach in to the runways there? Runway 09 was always good fun for landing and 27 was always an interesting departure if there was abit of wind! I always found runway 05/23 fun to take off of, its so long and was always interesting to see how high you could get before reaching the airfield boundry!

[captainflynn23]

Wow that does sound like high stress! Although it must be incredibly fun at the same time
I'd love a pic of Anfield! I really must visit Liverpool one day and fly over the area too!

[captainflynn23]

Hey,
The B757 has always been a firm fave of mine. I was born in 1984 and so pretty much grew up seeing the B757's daily aswell! I always thought they had a real good look about them and loved the vorticies coming off of the flaps (very photogenic)
G-CPET was put in to that livery for the final month of B757 service with BA. It was infact that Negus livery that the original batch was delivered in.
Seeing endless A320 series at LHR doesn't compare to the endless B757's we used to see in the 80's and 90's!