I am about to have my 14th birthday on the 26th August and will be receiving a trial flying lesson. I have been using Microsoft Flight Simulator for 7 years and must have logged about 3000 hours so far... I have also had a trial lesson last year from Southend (EGMC) in a Cessna 152 Aerobat (G-JEET) for about 1/2 hour. We took off, flew up towards Burnham, then made a left hand turn to fly along the sea front. We then made a couple of loops and barrel rolls before making another left hander to land back at Southend. I obviously needed no convincing that flying is the thing for me and I would eventually like to become a Commercial Pilot.
This year, I will be having another trial flight from EGMC and I have the choice of flying to Lydd, Manston or Biggin Hill. Which of these do you think I should take and could you give me an approximation of the flying time to each of these airfields?
Thanks for all your help
Chris Blore
Lydd is the furthest from EGMC, Manston and Biggin probably about the same distance - but Biggin has absurd amounts of traffic sometimes, and you could spend a large part of your time sitting on the ground waiting to get airborne.
I'd suggest Lydd - further, and more interesting things to see on the way.
Flying time will depend on the aircraft you use, whether you go direct or via somewhere, and the wind.
Direct, no wind, I'd expect a 150 or 152 to take about 20 minutes to Biggin and Manston, and about 25 minutes to Lydd.
But hey - why do you wait for birthdays and trial lessons? If you work at it, you can get to know a lot of friendly people at EGMC who will offer you "spare seats" when they are flying somewhere. I've taken folks to the Channel Islands before now, when I've had an empty seat. OK, you can't log it as official training time, but you may well get to pole it anyway.
For example, there's a PPRuNe fly-in at Sywell soon (look at the top of Private Flying), and I've got at least two empty seats in G-UTSY going there.
Speak to the Kentish Fledgling - he's done a fair bit of flying in his time...
Pretty much what Keef said. I'd opt for Lydd as it's slightly more interesting than the other two plus being further away it will make the flight longer. Try to go via Bewl Water as some of the scenery around there is great.
I've flown from Lydd and Manston, and overhead Biggin, and as said, Lydd will give you most airborne time, and it's also a friendly 'drome. (It will also give you good practice in "airfield spotting" - it's fairly well camoflauged, and doesn't have a sodd!ng long runway to stand out like Manston does!).
I'm in fact starting my PPL this Saturday from Manston!
Good luck whichever field you go to, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
Llet us know how you get on,
tKF
PS As Keef said, don't be afraid to hang around you local airfields! Ask owners if they want their a/c washing, ask if the hangar wants sweeping, windows want cleaning....anything!
The worst that can happen is they'll say no, but at the best, you might get some flying time in!
Kirstey, why so aggressive against Lydd? I fly out of Southend, so have visited all 3 places. Granted, Lydd is not cheap but not as pricey as Biggin, and I agree with the others that its probably the nicest flight of the 3.
1: The place just looks bad!
2: Awful Runway and even worse taxiways
3: Miserable FISOs - The Biggin ATCO being the notable exception (is he still there)
4: I've never been there and had the NDB and airfield DME working at the same time (only been there a few times I may add!)
5: Delusions of grandeur! Desperatly want to reinstate a full ATCS despite the fact they sold their ILS to Bournemouth and never repaired their posh radar when it blew into the sea. What kind of management sells off its gear then decides it wants everything back!
6: More delusions of grandeur. They want the London TMA lowered and a Class D control zone around there international airport. Amazingly enough the proposals for this were NOT recieved on April 1st.
7: A little expensive - 14 quid is incredible! for what??? cheaper than Fairoaks though!
The place is just an unkempt dump. I wouldn't want my identity to be revealed. Which is a shame - I have some lovely CAA stories about Lydd!
I always seem to travel with passengers who expect me to give a running commentary on the scenary. (Or else they are just s*** scared that I will get lost, if I havn't managed to correctly identify every town )
Anyhow, they keep asking "what is that big white erection?" every time we pass Ashford.
They don't seem to believe my wilder guesses such as "it is the portal to the second Channel Tunnel" or "its the new scram-jet spaceport for day trips to the Moon"
I did my first XC solo to Lydd (fm SND) and my major criticism is that the runway, at the time, was far too low necessitating a go around at 300' (Radio transmission at end of Stuka style dive towards threshold):
Me: G-XXXX going around
Lydd Radio: Thought you might.
Did my QXC to Lydd (and Shoreham) in May - noticed they had sorted out the runway height but also installed a "cloak of invisibility" device. Finally located the airfield by flying over it twice.
As said before - A good route & an informal airfield with a cafe & bogs - what could be finer ?
MacArhtur Glen Designer Outlet is the big white erection!
It's not a seconds place, it's all new stuff, straight from the factories! Any designer name you can think of has a shop there, and at very reasonable prices. Normally it's 50% or more of the high street prices!
Good place if you like that kind of thing (I do with mates when I'm in the mood!).
But also bad memories, as I normally end up going there with my Mum when flying trips from Lydd are cancelled
Lydd ..... installed a "cloak of invisibility" device
When I was a student pilot, I used to find that the grey runway blended in perfectly, with the same shade of grey surroundings.
Went in there a few weeks ago, with:
NAV1 "R-nav'd" off Lydd VOR.
NAV2 set direct on Lydd VOR.
DME on Lydd VOR.
The ADF on Lydd NBD.
2 x GPSs set for Lydd airport.
PLUS 4 x pairs of Mark 1 eye-balls, all looking out for the field.
We found the airport at (almost) the first attempt.
I cannot imagine why anyone thinks that Lydd is difficult to find!
Kirstey - I agree with you about Lydd... on the one occasion I've visited I too found it shabby (and hard to spot as others have mentioned, but that just adds to the fun!) and the landing fee definitely OTT! Personally would avoid unless a) fan stops and I am nearby or b) desparate for fuel!
But still, I suppose you can't like every place can you..!
Went to Lydd, yonks ago, with a Parish Treasurer who insisted on me taking him flying. I picked Lydd at random, on the basis WX to the north of EGMC was cr@p.
He saw it before I did, and had the horrors. He recognised it: it was the place he'd been tortured in his military days into parachuting from some obscene height.
We did land, and he spent the next hour or so telling me his memories of all the various bits on the ground. Quite put me off the place.
But still preferable to Biggin, in my book. Cheaper, and no vast queues for takeoff.
I still remember my QXC (1982) to Biggin. I heard ATC say "You are number 26 in the queue for takeoff." (That was before they renamed it "departure"). Fortunately that wasn't for me: it was some poor budding PPL. I'd jumped the queue by going to the tower and departing from the middle of the runway.
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