Had my first flying experience (pics)

That looks like great fun. I've got a voucher from work for an introductory flying lesson. Must remember to book it before the voucher runs out.

[Bri w]

Nice one Thulfi!

I had the pleasure of going in the glider tow a few times at Booker, near High Wycombe. And have had a good few flights in my mates glider. The weirdest thing with gliders is the silence, and its just beautiful!!!

I would blow chunks srsly.

[anna]

Glad you had a good time, the pilots licence isnt the expensive bit, its keeping current that´s the money bit later

Syndicates for planes, gliders etc are very common, the only problem is when someone within the group mis-treats them and then the repair and insurance bill is also split between syndicate members.

[Essex of Essex]

Just for the record, you can't learn to fly by finding a chap with an aircraft and paying for the fuel You will need structured lessons at a school, and the pilot has to be qualified to give instruction, an experienced pilot is not automatically qualified to do so.

The whole thing is very addictive, motorcycling in 3 dimensions

Well I just saw your 1st picture and got a bit excited as it's a picture of a very familiar sight having just lived the last year of my life at Cranfield. 'Your' aeroplane is G-RATE, right?

Originally Posted by Essex of Essex

Just for the record, you can't learn to fly by finding a chap with an aircraft and paying for the fuel You will need structured lessons at a school, and the pilot has to be qualified to give instruction, an experienced pilot is not automatically qualified to do so.

You can always learn, it just won't count towards anything. Plus this guy isn't a qualified instructor, so even if I were to get a licence I couldn't log up hours flying with him. Still great fun going up with him though until I eventually save up and do an intense course in the states. As anna correctly mentioned though, it's the keeping it current and trying to log up as many hours as possible after obtaining the licence thats the costly part.

Originally Posted by Bri w

And have had a good few flights in my mates glider. The weirdest thing with gliders is the silence, and its just beautiful!!!

This guy really recommended gliding as a cheap way of starting to learn to fly, plus it helps subsidise future flying lessons. I'd love to have a go in a glider, especially as you rightly mentioned that they're completely silent. What a feeling that must be.

Originally Posted by MrTom

Well I just saw your 1st picture and got a bit excited as it's a picture of a very familiar sight having just lived the last year of my life at Cranfield. 'Your' aeroplane is G-RATE, right?

Yep it's a G-rate. Actually it flys a lot smoother than one might imagine. Did you head out to the airstrip much then?

*deleted, wrong thread

[yorkie_chris]

An idea I've had for ages is a homebuilt plane.
Hopefully I'll have the money to do it one day!

If not for the law I'd have done it already

One to wet your whistle
http://www.ar-5.com/rgoyer94.html

I've just got into gliding, if there is an airfield near you just pop along all gliding clubs welcome kean newcomers. At the club i belong to anyone can turn up and have a basic lesson (no such thing as just a pleasure flight in gliding you have to learn something if you go up) ours is about £40 for 2 winch launchs and as long as you can get the instructor to stay in the air each time.
My club is based at upavon and the empire tesr pilot school send all there pilots there to learn to glide as part of their training.

It is awesome fun and the launch feels like accelerating my ducati whilst on crack.