Originally Posted by
phiggsbroadband
...I then realised that all that was between me and the 3000ft drop was a thin 1/16 inch of alloy sheet...
That sounds familiar. My earliest flying experiences were in the open cockpit of a T21 Sedberg glider and I can still recall looking over the cockpit rim and thinking that there was about 3/32 of an inch (that shows how long ago it was) of plywood between me and eternity.
Originally Posted by
TelsBoy
...Additionally I have the opportunity to fly a motor glider which I am taking up, just £45/hr, great fun.
Group A is old hat, regulated to hell beyond any pleasure by E-arse-A...
Is the motor glider you're flying not an E-arse-A type? Most of them are but can probably be maintained relatively cheaply under the aegis of the BGA as CAMO.
To the OP, I kind of see you at that time of life when financial, social and family demands can be high but for whatever reason it seems to me that you're not flying enough to get past the nerves and gain confidence. Perhaps you might explore some of the lower cost options like LAA permit aircraft, a share in a group, TMG, microlight, some of which would put many group A's to shame, or gliding. Any one of these activities will be more stimulating and rewarding than the occasional hour in a club rental and are more likely to put a smile on your face.