First Flying Lesson!
Discussion
w8pmc said:
Well that didn’t pan out as expected.
Set off for Blackpool Airport (80 mile round trip) in plenty of time to arrive early, but upon arrival was told the cloud base was too low & wind speed too high, so I’d need to reschedule.
I guess it was too too much to ask that they got in touch to inform me of this before I started my journey. Just typical that the last few days have been perfect weather, as will the next few days.
Re-booked for next Saturday, so fingers crossed the weather behaves & I’ll be sure to call the Flying School before setting off.
I’m surprised they didn’t get you to phone in the morning first tbh.Set off for Blackpool Airport (80 mile round trip) in plenty of time to arrive early, but upon arrival was told the cloud base was too low & wind speed too high, so I’d need to reschedule.
I guess it was too too much to ask that they got in touch to inform me of this before I started my journey. Just typical that the last few days have been perfect weather, as will the next few days.
Re-booked for next Saturday, so fingers crossed the weather behaves & I’ll be sure to call the Flying School before setting off.
Definitely phone before heading off next time.
Sorry for not saying this before, I just assumed it would be part of the information you’d been given.
tty weather too.Condi said:
I did one a few years ago, simply "to have a go".
Hate to say it, but I was really underwhelmed. Years of watching Top Gun had elevated my expectations of flying to somewhat beyond doing 90kts in a 1970's Cesena 152 at 3000ft.
It's reassuring mechanical, and flying is just simply physics. Weirdly at no point was there much adrenaline and excitement. The pro's will probably say that a flight without adrenaline and excitement is a good one 
but I didn't, unfortunately.
Part of me does want to go back and do my PPL as a stepping stone to something more exciting later on. When you start skiing you don't throw yourself straight down the black run at Kitzbuhel do you?
Try a go in one of these - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra_EA-300Hate to say it, but I was really underwhelmed. Years of watching Top Gun had elevated my expectations of flying to somewhat beyond doing 90kts in a 1970's Cesena 152 at 3000ft.
It's reassuring mechanical, and flying is just simply physics. Weirdly at no point was there much adrenaline and excitement. The pro's will probably say that a flight without adrenaline and excitement is a good one but I didn't, unfortunately.Part of me does want to go back and do my PPL as a stepping stone to something more exciting later on. When you start skiing you don't throw yourself straight down the black run at Kitzbuhel do you?
There used to be a place at goodwood you where could have ago, not sure if they are still there. My wife got me an hour in one for a significant b'day. I already had a CPL/IR & twin rating so flying it wasnt a problem and the guy let me do what i wanted... and then pushed it way beyond what i could do. Its rated at +/-8g with two up.
Ive flown in some really awful weather and conditions done aerobatics and inverted spins with no issue but by the time we got down in the Extra i was starting to feel very green.
Bin there done that yeah, the lasting impression it left me with is it takes a certain kind of ambivilence to nonchantly film a random great unwashed driving the aeroplane you're both in , doesn't it? I mean I'm an electrician and what Joe have-a-go public often decides is clever horrifies me, but I can sit back and appreciate it on a "well that could have gone all kinds of wrong I could have casually observed and made smug observations about" level of relaxed judgement that simply isn't accessible if poor decision maker is grasping the yoke of an aircraft you're both sat in...
w8pmc said:
Well that didn’t pan out as expected.
Set off for Blackpool Airport (80 mile round trip) in plenty of time to arrive early, but upon arrival was told the cloud base was too low & wind speed too high, so I’d need to reschedule.
I guess it was too too much to ask that they got in touch to inform me of this before I started my journey. Just typical that the last few days have been perfect weather, as will the next few days.
Re-booked for next Saturday, so fingers crossed the weather behaves & I’ll be sure to call the Flying School before setting off.
About 15 years ago, I ran up over 20 hours in my logbook on PPL training. It was principally the frequent repeats of the circumstances which you describe above, along with the thought that those would always plague me if & when I got my licence, which made me give up and not take it any further. I do still miss it at times, I always look up when there’s a light aircraft overhead, but it ended up feeling like too much effort (and disruption) for too little reward. Set off for Blackpool Airport (80 mile round trip) in plenty of time to arrive early, but upon arrival was told the cloud base was too low & wind speed too high, so I’d need to reschedule.
I guess it was too too much to ask that they got in touch to inform me of this before I started my journey. Just typical that the last few days have been perfect weather, as will the next few days.
Re-booked for next Saturday, so fingers crossed the weather behaves & I’ll be sure to call the Flying School before setting off.
We bought the FIL a trial lesson from Blackpool a few years back. He was pleasantly surprised that after the briefing he got to taxi, take off and land. Not sure if it was Westair he mentioned it was a father and son outfit. But from his experience I'd use the same place if I ever chose to have a go he said there was no clock watching and the instructor was happy for him to take his own gopro and filmed for him as he flew.
w8pmc said:
Well that didn’t pan out as expected.
Set off for Blackpool Airport (80 mile round trip) in plenty of time to arrive early, but upon arrival was told the cloud base was too low & wind speed too high, so I’d need to reschedule.
I guess it was too too much to ask that they got in touch to inform me of this before I started my journey. Just typical that the last few days have been perfect weather, as will the next few days.
Re-booked for next Saturday, so fingers crossed the weather behaves & I’ll be sure to call the Flying School before setting off.
Congratulations, you just learned and passed your first flying lesson: "Pre-flight Begins Before you Leave Home". Set off for Blackpool Airport (80 mile round trip) in plenty of time to arrive early, but upon arrival was told the cloud base was too low & wind speed too high, so I’d need to reschedule.
I guess it was too too much to ask that they got in touch to inform me of this before I started my journey. Just typical that the last few days have been perfect weather, as will the next few days.
Re-booked for next Saturday, so fingers crossed the weather behaves & I’ll be sure to call the Flying School before setting off.
The great British weather can really put the kybosh on things. And not just in the winter - even in the summer there can be conditions that are unflyable for a student such as it being too hazy or the cloud base too low, even if it looks like a perfect day from the ground.
Fingers crossed for the next attempt. Enjoy!
Teddy Lop said:
Bin there done that yeah, the lasting impression it left me with is it takes a certain kind of ambivilence to nonchantly film a random great unwashed driving the aeroplane you're both in , doesn't it? I mean I'm an electrician and what Joe have-a-go public often decides is clever horrifies me, but I can sit back and appreciate it on a "well that could have gone all kinds of wrong I could have casually observed and made smug observations about" level of relaxed judgement that simply isn't accessible if poor decision maker is grasping the yoke of an aircraft you're both sat in...
Your comments aimed at me?nute said:
Your comments aimed at me?
They weren't "aimed" at anyone, what about them makes you think so?It was an account of my amusement at the contrast of how laid back my instructor seemed just leaving me to drive the plane while he played with my cameraphone, against how much alarm/danger - probably most people - attach to flight.
48k said:
Congratulations, you just learned and passed your first flying lesson: "Pre-flight Begins Before you Leave Home".
The great British weather can really put the kybosh on things. And not just in the winter - even in the summer there can be conditions that are unflyable for a student such as it being too hazy or the cloud base too low, even if it looks like a perfect day from the ground.
Fingers crossed for the next attempt. Enjoy!
This is why I did most of my skydiving in Spain & Arizona: In the UK, if you ring before you leave to check the weather, they'll tell you it looks ok, even if it is not, otherwise you won't go and they miss out on business for the day if it brightens up.The great British weather can really put the kybosh on things. And not just in the winter - even in the summer there can be conditions that are unflyable for a student such as it being too hazy or the cloud base too low, even if it looks like a perfect day from the ground.
Fingers crossed for the next attempt. Enjoy!
Teddy Lop said:
They weren't "aimed" at anyone, what about them makes you think so?
It was an account of my amusement at the contrast of how laid back my instructor seemed just leaving me to drive the plane while he played with my cameraphone, against how much alarm/danger - probably most people - attach to flight.
Ok, just that it was right after my post and not addressed to anyone else. Thanks for clarifying.It was an account of my amusement at the contrast of how laid back my instructor seemed just leaving me to drive the plane while he played with my cameraphone, against how much alarm/danger - probably most people - attach to flight.
CAPP0 said:
w8pmc said:
Well that didn’t pan out as expected.
Set off for Blackpool Airport (80 mile round trip) in plenty of time to arrive early, but upon arrival was told the cloud base was too low & wind speed too high, so I’d need to reschedule.
I guess it was too too much to ask that they got in touch to inform me of this before I started my journey. Just typical that the last few days have been perfect weather, as will the next few days.
Re-booked for next Saturday, so fingers crossed the weather behaves & I’ll be sure to call the Flying School before setting off.
About 15 years ago, I ran up over 20 hours in my logbook on PPL training. It was principally the frequent repeats of the circumstances which you describe above, along with the thought that those would always plague me if & when I got my licence, which made me give up and not take it any further. I do still miss it at times, I always look up when there’s a light aircraft overhead, but it ended up feeling like too much effort (and disruption) for too little reward. Set off for Blackpool Airport (80 mile round trip) in plenty of time to arrive early, but upon arrival was told the cloud base was too low & wind speed too high, so I’d need to reschedule.
I guess it was too too much to ask that they got in touch to inform me of this before I started my journey. Just typical that the last few days have been perfect weather, as will the next few days.
Re-booked for next Saturday, so fingers crossed the weather behaves & I’ll be sure to call the Flying School before setting off.
This is typically where you end up. This is my thread!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
DrDeAtH said:
I shall sit back and await the OP having his own episode of Aircrash Investigation ... 
Thanks
Not long now, so will THIS time call Westair first thing on Saturday to check the weather's playing nicely & hopefully be in the air around midday.
Can't say the timing's all that good given the England vs. Scotland game tomorrow is absolutely one that can ONLY be viewed in a pub
So lesson went ahead on Saturday as agreed & decided that morning to upgrade to a 4 Seater Cessna so the wife & youngest son could accompany me (the latter of those 2 passengers didn't have the best time).
Was as expected great fun, but defo harder work than I expected. Overall flying time was closer to 1hr 15min as Blackpool had Covid related ATC issues (open for an hour & then closed for an hour), so we managed to get as far North as Ambleside & then a low level path down the centre of Windermere, before tracking out over the coast at Ulverston across to Fleetwood & then back into Blackpool.
Other than the final approach & landing, all control was me which was a huge shock, as i never for a minute imagined I'd be responsible for the take off & so much of the flying. Even had a couple of shaper turns, climb & descend around some onerous clouds.
Weather was ok visibility wise, but was a bit breezy at 3-4k ft & cloud base was around 4k so had to stay in the breezy air & of course this lead to youngest son having a very unpleasant experience & some post flight cleaning being required.
Defo something i want to do again, but wouldn't take passengers next time as that defo added to the stress, but did mean some great video & photos were taken (although as the wife took them on her iPhone, she used the wrong bloody format so can only post the couple she didn't take on here).
Was as expected great fun, but defo harder work than I expected. Overall flying time was closer to 1hr 15min as Blackpool had Covid related ATC issues (open for an hour & then closed for an hour), so we managed to get as far North as Ambleside & then a low level path down the centre of Windermere, before tracking out over the coast at Ulverston across to Fleetwood & then back into Blackpool.
Other than the final approach & landing, all control was me which was a huge shock, as i never for a minute imagined I'd be responsible for the take off & so much of the flying. Even had a couple of shaper turns, climb & descend around some onerous clouds.
Weather was ok visibility wise, but was a bit breezy at 3-4k ft & cloud base was around 4k so had to stay in the breezy air & of course this lead to youngest son having a very unpleasant experience & some post flight cleaning being required.
Defo something i want to do again, but wouldn't take passengers next time as that defo added to the stress, but did mean some great video & photos were taken (although as the wife took them on her iPhone, she used the wrong bloody format so can only post the couple she didn't take on here).
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff