New here, just joined....

[Stewie1982]

I couldn't find anywhere here for introductions....
Anyway, I've just joined the forum and thought I'd just do a quick hello!!!
My name is Stewart, 31 years old and currently driving an artic for one the major supermarket on nights and thinking about doing my PPL with the ultimate aim of eventually flying commercially.....
I've got to airfields close to me that have flying schools - Popham and Blackbushe.

[flybymike]

Welcome to the forum. You will soon learn to sit down, shut up and do what you are told...;)

[Stewie1982]

Just like where I am now then lol
Piloting is one aspect of aviation that I'm looking at, would like to do something airside or maybe in ATC......

[superq7]

It's alright Stew he's only joking, if you want some fun try JB ( jetblast )

[Sir George Cayley]

Stew, welcome - I'm always filled with hope to hear of someone giving flying a go.

This forum is like all the rest; good bad indifferent or ugly. You'll soon spot the players but roll with any punches and remember you have a vast Encyclopædia at your fingertips so just ask. (But do a search first as you are unlikely to find a question never asked)

Some of us live vicariously through others endeavours so some updates from time to time will feed our habit.

SGC

[Stewie1982]

I'll be popping down to Blackbushe on Sunday to talk to a flying school there, and get an idea of costs etc

[Plainchox]

...Also, Goodwood have got an open day/open weekend on 5th/6th October, they have a flying school there. You could have a look at their website - it's not that far from you.

[Blues&twos]

And something else you'll learn is that there is never one answer or common ground to what you might think is a no-brainer question.
"Should I attempt to land with my eyes shut?"
Will elicit at least fifteen different opinions. All of them absolutely correct, of course.

[thing]

Welcome aboard Stewie!

[John R81]

Welcome

And go for Helicopter - much more versatile than driving a plank. Quite cool to drop into a restaurant / hotel, park on the lawn for lunch then lift back home.

Enjoy:ok:

[Johnm]

Go to forums.flyer.co.uk and select the student forum and you'll get good advice. In particular regular poster Sir Morley Steven is an instructor at Blackbushe and Irv Lee is at Popham and is a highly experienced instructor examiner.

Welcome to aviation have fun!

[mary meagher]

Aw, Stevie, 8 replies from petrol heads, and nobody mentioned gliding?

It is a very economical way to understand the basics; a one day course in October at my club (Shenington) would set you back £125. with at least six launches, professional instructor. Many professional pilots started by gliding, many still enjoy the sport when not being airbus drivers...

Or you can spend a lot of dosh getting a private power license, and then what do you do with it? mortgage the house to cover professional training, only to discover that jobs just now are scarce indeed.

[chevvron]

They have microlights at Popham and they work out cheaper than gliding, especially when you look at what you would pay at Lasham.

[cumulusrider]

Not sure that microlights are cheaper than gliders once you are cleared cross country.
In a Discus club glider - launch £35.50 soaring cost £37.20/ hr max 2 1/2 hrs chargeable.
So a 2.5 hr flight would cost you £131.50 after that it is free! A typical soaring flight on a summers day can easily be 5+hrs Ok you have to join the club as well.
The expensive bit is the training.
If you would like to visit Lasham and have a look at the setup I would be delighted to show you around. PM me

[BroomstickPilot]

Hi Guys,

While I agree wholeheartedly with what you say about the many delights of gliding and microlight flying, this is not what Stewie1982 wants.

If you read his first post, he is interested in ultimately going commercial and these categories of flying will contribute little to that end.

Once he's flying his Airbus, then will be the time to take up gliding or microlighting to remind himself what real flying was all about.

Regards,

BP.

[Stewie1982]

Cumulusrider, I'll drop you a pm a bit later when I've been to bed for a few hours :ok:
Broomstickpilot, it may not be what I want, but gliding sounds fun!!!

[Kelvin_C-J]

Hi Stewie,

New member here myself.

My two cents, having done some gliding and some GA flying:

Gliding - much more like 'natural' flying - no noisy fan on the front (or rear!) yet unless it is thermic or you can find sources of lift - a typical flight is around 5-10 minutes.

GA flying - you can stay up longer, not as thermic dependent (some microlights will thermal quite nicely) - not quite 'like the birds' as gliding but I would argue in terms of flying - you get more out of it (while you may have to plan to be landing every few minutes, that need not be the actual case - as it may be with gliding).

Generally - gliding is more of a club / community scene - unless you have a motor glider, you won't be able to go flying on your own.

However - as noted by others - neither of those will get you where you would like to be commercially.