I did my PPL there in 1980 then instructed for 2/3 years, before getting my CPL etc and moving on......wonderful times, playing pool all day with the engineers from Barton Moss when the weather was cr*p, a few pints at the Ship most nights......

Anyone out there around at the same time?


Dave H

Frank Pilkington .... Archie Grice et al. :}:}:}

Hi

This is Gerry used to work at Northern Exec on the south side 1972=Move to main Airport 2000 I am sure I will know u

Still in touch with Roly B if you remember him or Paul Cooperman and a few others

Let me know if you need any help trying to contact anybody

I started a Where are the Northern Exec forum a couple of years ago



Gerry

Cooperman here ( Hi Gerry!). Was on the desk and doing all the duty runner stuff 1990-1992. Just seen in the New Year in Patong and operate home in a couple of days. Was in touch with Ian Sixsmith but not for a while now. Martin Pailthorpe was on the ops before me and see from time to time.
Would be interesting to hear what everyone else is doing.

Archie Grice!! He was my PPL examiner in 1980.....if memory serves me correctly I got a partial (is that how it was termed?!!), think I failed my tight turns!!!!!

John Keywood (I later joined him at Mon, he left there in the early 90's tho), John Christopher, Nigel Moll, Lee Hannam........all instructors there at the time

PW Cooper mentions Ian Sixsmith - a name from my distant past (although not at Manch). Does anyone know how he is these days?

I flew with MFS(or MAFG as it was known when I started training in 1974)up until around 1990.I know LH and NM went on to commercial licences as did P1FEL with whom I shared quite a few trips in WD,JX,DC etc.

Lee's dad was also a Dave H!He was still flying until quite recently.

Yep, I remember Lee's parents bringing him his sunday roast over in the car at the weekend when we were instructing together.....how jealous was I!!!!

Last I heard of Nigel, he was at Manx.....many years ago now tho....those reg's bring back memories, did my 1st solo in WB in 1980!!





Dave H

WD for me.At Sleap.Under the supervision of the recently sadly departed (Capt)Ron Robinson.He also supervised my solo long cross country in DC and joined in the celebrations at The Ship.

Came across Dave and Lee H at Oulton Park last year.Lee has now given up on car racing despite being quite good at it.

Hi all,

My mum & dad, Ray & Jean started MSF off and I grew up there washing planes with Charlie, the mechanic, and then working in the school.....Dave H was my instructor!!
I remember Lee, Nigel, Nils, Archie, Ron & Frank K....omg that takes me back!
Just be doing some googling and came across pics of G-BMSF (Tomahawk) and G-AVWD (Cherokee).
I hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!

Giles M

Hi, if I recall correctly, Ray M, Frank P, Frank K, and Brian ? started the 'Manchester Advanced Flying Group' circa 1972/3 with a Piper Apache based in the old red brick office of hanger 522 overlooking the south side apron at Ringway. They then started flying instruction with a PA28 G-AVWD.

G-BBDC, G-AXJX, G-AZWB joined the fleet over the next few years.
Approximately 1976, they changed the name to The Manchester School of Flying, MSF and Apache Air Taxi was formed (could have been Apache Air Services) with a PA30 Twin Comanche G- AYFT and soon after another G-AYAD. In addition registering the name 'Manchester Helicopters'.

Approximately 1978 the first PA38 was flown across the Atlantic by Hillia Duboi who was about 70 years of age at the time, came out retirement to ferry G-BMSF into EINN, night stopped (at that time most Tomahawk's were crated into Oxford for assembly, but not the MSF Tomahawk). The following day when he came to start up G-BMSF for the last leg of the ferry flight from EINN TO EGCC G-BMSF had a massive Mag drop delaying the arrival by another day. All a distant memory, so forgive me for errors or omissions.

I recall sometime 1983 Ray M was one of my passenger on a Manx flight into Ronaldsway, I drove Ray to his bungalow in my old banger, which was the last time I saw Ray.

After Manx I believe Nigel Moll was in management at British Regional then BA Cityexpress. He's now DFO at Aurigny here in sunny Guernsey, and hopefully will give me a job soon!

an absolute gentleman, which is rare in this industry these days, send him my best regards.

p1fel.....was just talking to my dad, Ray M, tonight and read him your message. As soon as we go to the bit about the Isle of Man, he remembered you instantly and was amazed about the amount of stuff you remembered....he sends you his best wishes!

Giles M

Hi Giles, please reciprocate my very best wishes to Ray, an absolute gentleman. Hope he's keeping in good health.
Was Charlie the retired chap from the Wilmslow area who cleaned he aircraft part time and drove then a VW Beetle? If so, another wonderful gentleman.
Paul