This year and next year
This year was good. After more than 10 years "training", (at Ringway, Chester, Barton and Luton) I passed my skills test in Feb - flying out of Luton.
I moved to Kingston upon Thames and joined LTFC at Fairoaks & "converted" from a 1999 Warrior with twin GNS 430s to a 1968 Cherokee 140 (with a VOR but no DME) and discovered the Fairoaks "local area" and learned how to leave the big boys at the big airport up the road alone (unlike one of our unfortunate number who strayed a bit and stopped LHR for 10 mins).
Had a few flights around the south coast on glorious summer days and an LTFC cross channel checkout to Le2K. Lately my flying's been confined to scurrying down to Fairoaks as soon as the sun comes out, to look for a free (sorry vacant ... wouldn't free be nice !!!) aeroplane and keep current in the circuit or down and around Guildford.
I've bought a GPS and more or less discovered what it can do for me.
Last thing for this year is to go to Tenerife for Christmas and hope I can fly there.
Next year ..... If I don't get to fly in Tenerife this year, I am there 'til after new year, so maybe I can start the year with a scenic tour around Mount Teide.
I want to "convert" back to the 172 at Fairoaks, although I have a fair few Barton 172 hours already.
Will I do my IMC & night ??? Well I have had a fair bit of practise whilst at Luton ... Skill test took almost 12 months 2 perform because of weather restrictions so did a fair bit of dual night and real IMC and ILS's and PRAs. Although Fairoaks isn't really a night and IFR place (non FMI aeroplanes and nothing else either) the additional skills and maintaining their currency might save my ass some day so I should ....
The main thing is to use my hard won license as much as I can and get as far as I can. France again, the deep South West, up to the East and the North. ... maybe as far as Scotland.
Above all there is only one real goal in my aviation in 2003 .... to enjoy my flying as much and as often as I can.
Sooo .......... to all the usual suspects on this forum .... All the best for Christmas and a Happy New Year and I hope YOU get what you want out of flying next year.
Dave G
Last edited by Dave Gittins; 8th December 2002 at 22:46.