Where to go
Flying for flyings sake in the local area can be a great experience for your passengers but pretty dull for yourself.
'Think Foreign' would be my advice.
It is simplicity in itself to arrive early at the airfeld, with a flightplan already filed and cram some excitement into the whole day rather than an hour or two in the middle of it.
Short range weather forecasting is pretty good these days.
It is surprising how many pilots - often with considerable experience - have never flown across La Manche.
My passion is the Southampton - Cherbourg trip. However, the Dover - Calais route and lunch in Dieppe following a spectacular flight down the coast takes some beating.
I don't profess to be an expert but have gone foreign many times over the past 27 years of flying.
If anybody Midlands based wants me to hold their hand on their first French trip, I work for myself and can usually drop what I am doing during the week.
HP