Flying

Cheryl bought me a one hour trial flying lesson for my 50th birthday. I waited for suitable weather and used it in Jun-2001 and was immediately hooked. I started having lessons and passed my test on 4-Oct-02. 

I learned to fly with Truman Aviation and there are details of this excellent flying school, their aircraft and my experience with them on my Truman page.

After passing my test, I had an endless list of victims (sorry Passengers J) who wanted to fly with me (and they still do so they must have enjoyed it) and I took most of them in the club's Cessna 172p.

On 1-Oct-03 I finally bought a 1/5th share in a Piper Cherokee Warrior II - G-FLAV which is not only a really smart aircraft but has opened up flying for me with the freedom to go almost wherever I please now (no minimum hire charge if I need the plane for the whole day or wish to stay overnight).

On 20-May-04 I took and passed my IMC rating which will enable me to overcome most of the bad weather problems. Without the rating it is very difficult to plan an overnight trip since the English weather is so fickle that I cannot guarantee to be able to fly home on the intended day.

Jan-05 I acquired my night rating after an intensive week of flying in really tough cross winds (it was the week before the gales struck Britain). I did this with Dick Flanagan at Gamston Airport in Retford.