Flying Clubs near Nottingham and Derby

[Autofly]

Well, its coming to that time of year again where my current club are going to ask me about 200 quid to renew my membership <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> - the airport is a bit far away and i could do with a change.
I'm looking to join a club at either Derby, Nottingham (Tollerton) or East Mids. Can anyone recommend a club that won't make my bank manager wet his pants and the aircraft availability is reasonable. I'm in a C152 at the moment but wouldn't mind a bash in a Warrior for a year or two.

You can't beat peoples real experiences of clubs and schools so fire away ladies and gents.

Cheers <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

AF

[Chilli Monster]

Truman at Nottingham is approx £50 per year plus a one off joining fee of the same. Club fleet if I remember rightly is 4 PA38, 1 C172, 1 PA28-181 Archer, PA34-200 Seneca. People are friendly enough, it's the same organisation that run the airfield and maintenance there so there's no problems in that department. 7 day a week operation.

Don't know the membership fees for Sherwood Flying Club, but I think they're slightly higher. Fleet of 2 PA38 and a PA28-161 Warrior. Also a Decathlon for Aero's training.

Rental prices for both clubs dual are about the same I believe (been a while since I rented I'm afraid - I have a share at the airfield now). Prices dual are approx £85 an hour for the 38's, 95 for the 28's & 172. Seneca is approx £200.

All aircraft are hangared, airfield has decent runways and no problems with out of hours ops provided it's daylight only.

CM

[muffin]

If you are in Staffs, try Tatenhill. Nice people,
nice airfield and as cheap as any around.

[QNH 1013]

Yes, try Tatenhill near Burton on Trent. Very well equiped aircraft, well maintained, and this year's club membership is GBP35. This also gets you free landings at five other airfields. Aircraft are C152s, PA28 Archer, PA28 Arrow, PA44, and Decathlon. Very friendly place, and getting more facilities all the time.

There are two schools / clubs at East Midlands. I haven't used them for a couple of years but they both had very well equiped aircraft, the hourly rates were good, and from memory annual subs are approx GBP55. Has the advantage of lighting, ILS, and open 24h / day.

Slightly further up the M1, you could try Netherthorpe. Sheffield Aero Club membership is very expensive but they have several C152 at good hourly rates. On the same aerodrome, there is also Phoenix Flying School / Club which has some smart C150's for hire and training. I think their training rates are amongst the lowest in the UK. Phoenix don't charge a membership fee, but don't have a bar and cafe like Sheffield Aero Club.

[Autofly]

Cheers for that.

QNH 1013 - in reply to you question on wannabes, Coventry. The club is a really nice place and instruction top notch but its just a bit far to go. I live N. Birmingham and have considered Tatenhill quite a few times - i've heard their Arrow is some machine!!!! The problem is i've recently got a new job in Nottingham so am looking around there. East Mids would probably be my preferance just becuase its a busy airport with controlled airspace to make it just the flights a bit more interesting :) .

Thanks for the info. Anyone else???

Autofly

[Bat outahell]

Busy airport with controlled airspace may sound interesting, but it also means "empty" time spent in the hold, or at the holding point. My vote goes to Tollerton every time.

[QNH 1013]

Thanks for the info re Coventry. Yes Tatenhill's Arrow is super and has just been repainted (as has the Seminole). They also have full airways equipment.
I wouldn't worry to much about having to wait around at the hold at East Mids. Go and talk to the two clubs (Donair and East Mids Flying School) and see what they say about it. I may be wrong but I think East Mids Flying School only charge take-off to land times. I was going to hire their new C172 last year and I think that is what they quoted that they based the times on. In the end the trip didn't happen so I didn't find out, but I was impressed with the aircraft I saw there.
A few years ago I did an IMC course with Donair at East Mids and in 15 plus hours of flying I didn't suffer any particular delays at East Midlands. I often fly from Birmingham now and the controllers there are very efficient too. The only times I've had more than a short delay are when I've requested an IFR entry to the zone and they have had a lot of traffic; in which case they usually give you an idea of the delay and offer you a quicker VFR entry.
I've faced longer departure delays at small grass airfields where 3 or 4 aircraft are waiting in line at the hold and each aircraft only starts its power checks and departure checks when it is number one at the hold !
Let us know how you get on and where you decide to go.

[Negative 'G']

Having visited all the Airfields mentioned in this thread I can certainly say that from a pure visitors point of view ALL the smaller ones appear to have their good points and ALL the larger ones have their "Good & bad" points,some observations of mine to bare in mind:-

Netherthorpe - Very short runway for loaded spamcans!Good social facilities.

Tollerton - Nice long strips of black stuff,Cafe was shut when I visited.

Derby - Lovely grass field with excellent atmosphere & runways,pity theres no cafe.

Tatenhill - Again long stripes of black stuff but a not too welcoming atmosphere on my last couple of visits .

The JEM of all the fields around that area has'nt been mentioned yet,that being HUCKNALL ..........Yes you know the Rolls Royce place with the lovely flat grass runways :) :) Every time I visit there I get a cracking reception off a bunch of truly enthusiastic "Flyers",it's just a pity that theres no cafe,but it would be worth taking butties if you could fly from a place with such a craic,and no I'm not conected with the club in any way!

As for the larger fields,well the problems have already been mentioned,Long holds,ATC hassle,usually higher rates although the plus points are all the nav aids available at such places which mean your almost certain to get home...............at any time of the day.

Good Luck...........But remember "Real Pilots Do It On Grass" :) :) :) :)

Neg G

[twistedenginestarter]

I have a similar problem with Leicester. They want nearly 200 quid and then you have to add another 100 each time you go because if you haven't flown within the last something like 28 days you need a check except this is barely distinguishable from a GFT. All the better for safety but it makes flying terrifically expensive.

I wouldn't mind that so much if you could then hire a plane that had any parts of it working in the way an ordinary person might expect.

Leicester is not the only place like this, I have to say. Why do clubs charge top dollar but run 20-year old clapped out equipment? Surely it would make sense (as it does to Easyjet, Ryan even BA)to have spanking new metal so it's always available for revenue generation?

No wonder most people get their PPLs and then after a few months hardly ever fly again...

[Autofly]

I must admit Coventry can be a pretty hectic place at times with commercial traffic but the controllers are top notch and I can't remember the last time I had to orbit anywhere. I do know someone who flies from Bristol who says the clubs know what times of the day the airport is busy so sort out their slots so aircraft are away at these times. The navaids, etc at these larger fields are good fun too. I'll never forget doing an SRA at Coventry under the foggles after about 35 hours :) :) <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> .

Neg G - isn't the runway at Hucknall stupidly long??? I've this said heard but never looked it up in Pooleys.

I must admit I agree with TES - there are alot of clubs who do charge the earth for membership and aircraft hire for 1970's machinery. Some clubs charge very little for brand spanking new kit. I know Delta-Wun-Wun flies a brand new C172's for approx 80pa. He says there nothing like getting in an aircraft and the smell of new leather hitting you.

At the moment i'm after somewhere a bit closer and a bit cheaper. Thanks for all the advice. I'll probably do some touring around (in the car <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> ) over the weekend.

Cheers
AF

[Negative 'G']

Autofly,
Make your first stop Hucknall,it has two beutifully flat Grass Runways which are approx. 700m long and VERY well maintained in lovely surroundings,combine this with the almost gaurenteed welcome that you'll recieve and the fact that it borders Nottingham and you'll hopefully be on a winner :)

It used to have a very long runway which still exists right next to the grass strips although unfortunately theres a RR engine test rig in the middle of it <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0">
I'm pretty sure that the rates are reasonable(overheard somebody once)although I'm not sure if it's only available at evenings & weekends but that might only apply for visitors.
Go on...........Have a look,I'm just as interested in the reception you'll recieve,especially coming by road.

The key to happy flying is finding a good "club" with a good atmosphere and social craic,sadly many(including myself until recently) do not find such an idilic enviroment <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> Lets hope that you do :)

Neg G

[QNH 1013]

I understand that membership of the flying club at Hucknall is only available to employees of Rolls-Royce. I think most of us would have joined long ago otherwise.

[Mark 1]

You're quite right. The Merlin Flying Club at Hucknall is only open to employees, although (thankfully) also ex-employee/members. The rates are also (much)cheaper due to it being run by the voluntary efforts of the members and the free use of the airfield, and fuel storage courtesy of Rolls-Royce.
The old 7000' tarmac runway is still sometimes used un-licensed but subject to restrictions and prior permission, but the grass is ample and in good condition if a little bumpy in places due to mining subsidence.
Anyone is most welcome to visit at weekends when the field is licensed, but check before by phone or r/t as occasionally a jet engine may be running at full power with the exhaust pointing down the runway. If you can't cope with 100mph gusts on landing, you should avoid this.

[Autofly]

Looks like i'll just be paying them a visit then <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> .

Neg G - your right about the club atmosphere being important. It the atmosphere is bad then it can often rub off when you get in the air. As part of my grand tour i'll be having a good poke around the clubs and aircraft to get a real feel for each place. I never did this when looking for a school to do my PPL and was lucky <img src="redface.gif" border="0"> .

Cheers again

Auto