Fifty-four years of flying!

[India Four Two]

Last Tuesday was the 54th anniversary of my first solo flight at White Waltham in Piper Colt G-ARJC:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/730x450/piper_colt_img_4014_copy_de788d730cdbc9390e6b4e8c55e7c2e89ad 656a9.jpg

I always try to fly on or around the anniversary. This year, I decided to do something slightly different - I flew my club's whole fleet in one day!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1125x836/the_whole_fleet_1_copy_c156aa75c524bcdb48c31de3a3e1b2da977b7 780.png

I took a 2000’ tow in the ASK 21 B, with an instructor, since this aircraft is new to the club and I hadn’t flown it before. For the others, I took 1000’ tows for quick 10 minute flights. Today’s tow pilot very kindly allowed me to do one tow in the Pawnee.

The 1000’ tow in the DG-1000S turned into a great flight. Just as I was about to enter the circuit, I found a good thermal which took me to 7000’, allowing me to cruise around and enjoy the view. I spotted the ASK 21 B thermaling on a training flight and I flew over at 90 kts to join them. I joined the thermal above them and as I pulled up and started turning, I discovered I was almost wing-to-wing with an immature golden eagle, which was also thermaling! A special moment.

After about 45 minutes, I pulled the airbrakes out and descended to land, because there was one more glider to fly and my colleagues wanted to pack the hangar.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x820/hangar_img_7678_copy_d6b6f0c47349c15161e7ad36e537b52693be579 6.jpg
Everything packed away and ready for Sunday. “… when you get to use the aeroplane again, it’s an excellent landing!”

[treadigraph]

Congratulations!

G-ARJC was still current up till 2017 with an owner in Scottsdale, AZ, as N23669. The registration is currently reserved, so I wonder if it's being rebuilt.

[hiflymk3]

Yes, congratulations, lucky you. My big sis took me gliding a few times at Bembridge. Loved every minute.

[Forfoxake]

Well done. I am very envious, having only just passed 31 years!

[BoeingBoy]

Well done. You're ahead of me by four years. I too did my first solo from White Waltham in 1970 but I used the Aircoupe fleet (G-ATRY) Sadly it met its demise on the Isle of Wight in the eighties.

In November this year it will be 50 years since that flight and I hope to return to Waltham in my Archer and recreate my first solo to the minute. I still have the registration plate from TRY so will carry it on board with me.

Just hope the weather is not going to get in the way.

[John Eacott]

Goodness, that induced me to check my original logbook: Aircoupe G-AROP on 19th September 1965 from Stapleford Tawney, on an RAF Flying Scholarship.

55 years, where have they gone?


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1361/g_arop_aircoupe_first_solo_b006a34b2d69f53e72c6ee0213c297200 a1caae0.jpg

G-AROP was written off in a fatal accident April 1969, mid air with Auster J-15 G-AMVN :(

[Pilot DAR]

Congratulations I42! It's nice to be able to look back on that era of flying, and enjoy looking ahead too!

[blind pew]

Congratulations..also first solo in G,-ATRY which nearly broke off the nose wheel at Rochford Aerodrome around 1968. My thanks to two useless instructors who didn't teach me how to control a bounce. Only 52 years of solo flying and shall fly off a mountain this afternoon when the skies calm somewhat.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x973/received_2686727198235982_b11acacbc044e346ec87e2a80ac56cbb7c cc1026.jpeg
This afternoon

[eckhard]

Many congratulations and well done!

Only 48 years for me. I feel wet behind the ears surrounded by these impressive posts!
PA-28-140 G-AVYR at Elstree, 10 Aug 1972. I still remember every minute of the 10 that it took.

[Pilot DAR]

Only 43 years for me. Though, my flying club bought the first Cessna 152 in Canada. It was a rainy gusty day, and my instructor sent me first solo in it. The airplane, with 33 hours total time (of which about half would have been ferry time), had about twice my flying experience during that flight! That plane flies in private ownership to this day, with more than 15,000 hours on it. Amusingly, one of the next 152's to join the club's fleet, also in '77, is still in commercial flight training service with another local school. 'Costs more by the hour now though.....

[3wheels]

March 1964 in a glider and a few years later in a powered aircraft.

Your club fleet of gliders looks impressive...shame there’s nothing like that in the UK.

[Big Pistons Forever]

43 years since first solo in a powered airplane, 6 years since my glider first solo. I think the glider solo was the more frightening as there was a crowd by the runway and everyone knew I was an experienced powered pilot so It would have been really embarrassing if I pooched the landing.....

[sheepless]

BoeingBoy; I too did my first solo from White Waltham in 1970 but I used the Aircoupe fleet (G-ATRY) Sadly it met its demise on the Isle of Wight in the eighties.

G-ATRY also at WW in Feb 1971 - often wondered what happened to her. 35 Hour PPL course, 6 weeks starting 1st Feb. - 20 flying days, which seemed good for Winter. Nice idea to repeat for the 50th.

[cats_five]

March 1964 in a glider and a few years later in a powered aircraft.

Your club fleet of gliders looks impressive...shame there’s nothing like that in the UK.

There is at Lasham:

5xK21
2xK13
2xDuo Discus
1xFalke
3xDiscus B
3xGrob 102

4xRobin DR400
1xPawnee
A number of privately owned planes which can tow giving them up to 10 tugs when needed.

They also had 2 Skylaunch winches last time I was there

[ATR43]

Yep, forty years for me last week, courtesy of a Flying Scholarship at Compton Abbas on 8.9.1980 with the late Alec Blyth in Cessna 150 G-BDEW.
Happy days

[pulse1]

Nice to see a reference to PA-28 G AVYR. It was the first aircraft I owned a share in at Compton Abbas and I delivered her to a new owner at Earls Colne in December 2006. Unfortunately she was destroyed while parked at Earls Colne by a wayward landing 172. I started serious flying (gliding) at Dunstable in 1964 and I am still going 55 years later. However a 23 year gap in the middle disqualifies me from any record. I'm just happy to be able to still fly.

[Meikleour]

Sent solo in C150 G-ATMN by Capt "Sweeny" Todd (with the massive wartime facial scar ) on 19th. Aug. 1967 courtesy of a Flying Scholarship at Cumberland Fling Club Carlisle. 53 years and still going!

[ETOPS]

Just a mere 48 years for me - but a longer record for the C150 I used for my first solo in1972. The aircraft was G-AYGC from the LAC fleet at Barton where it is still based today - although privately owned.

[l.garey]

My first solo also thanks to those wonderful Flying Scholarships. All of 62 years ago, in August 1958 in Tiger Moth G-AHXN at Marshalls Cambridge. My seventh flight and after 5h35 dual. My first go around too! The whole scholarship only lasted 10 days, for 30 hours, come rain or come shine (we had both), but I was still flying until fairly recently.

Photo: me with G-ANFI that same week.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1214x865/cge3small_7cdf05a562d0c14be5e1149d3dbb0c2ca5d7bde7.jpg


Two months later first glider solo, also thanks to the ATC, in T31 XA282 at Hawkinge. Twentieth flight for 0h55. All those cold autumn flights lasting up to 3 minutes a go!

Thanks ATC!!

Laurence

[Forfoxake]

A mere 769 years of solo flying already on this thread!

Can we make over 1000 years before the end of Tuesday?

[ExSp33db1rd]

Ist solo 24th April, 1956. North American Harvard Mk II. 64 Years. 24th April 2006, 50 years to the day, almost to the hour, flight in a Harvard MkII of New Zealand Warbirds. They didn't let me go solo !

[Pilot DAR]

Can we make over 1000 years before the end of Tuesday?

Well, I was going to try to help a little more, as my first helicopter solo was in 2007. However, since I got my PPLH in 20098, I have not flown a helicopter solo since. Dual, as PF, yes, but not solo. It is not possible to rent a helicopter, which is why I spent two years as a helicopter student pilot, so I could fly it solo, before I lost the possibility as a license holder! So, I would have liked to add to the 769 years, but I can't really say that those additional 13 years count as "solo" flying!

769/15 pilots = average 50.8 years of flying per pilot posting, that's quite something!

[megan]

First legal flight 22/6/1962 DHC-1, solo 29/7/1962, final flight as PIC 3/6/2004, 20,000hrs. I say legal because as an airport rat had many hours prior riding/having a go with various good folk, including a left seat drive of an F-27. Sorry to bring the numbers down, can't be bothered with the costs associated now to keep the hand in, $35 for a landing the last time I took a ride.

[pithblot]

My first flight/solo 13/28 Aug, 1977 in a C150.
43 years
Happy Days!

My last commercial flight as PIC was last March.

It’s often said flying is the best job in the world and the worst career. I agree and wouldn’t change a minute of it!

Three very memorable flights (for all the right reasons) were my only glider flights - so I’m looking forward to directing my aviation interest and energy there.

pithblot

[rotorfossil]

First solo T21 at Lasham March 1957. Lots of first solos on Piston Provost, Vampires, Hunters, Sycamore, Whirlwind. Last P1 flights Europa and R22 July 2019. 62 years, 13000 odd hours, 101 types and variants. I wish I could do it all over again.

[l.garey]

A mere 769 years of solo flying already on this thread!

Can we make over 1000 years before the end of Tuesday?

769 years of SOLO flying? But they even let some of us fly with someone else in the aeroplane afterwards!

Laurence

[djpil]

My first solo was in May 1967 in the Cessna 150 in the background of this photo taken a couple of years later about to take a couple of friends in a 172. I retired from full time engineering over 10 years ago but still working part-time as a flight instructor, mainly aerobatics.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1415x985/davidgrovedalepls1969bps_d6a7b16fcf5e19147610d14fdacb25c344e a731e.jpg

[Forfoxake]

769 years of SOLO flying? But they even let some of us fly with someone else in the aeroplane afterwards!

Laurence
Without starting a certain controversy again, what I meant was years since your first solo and still flying PIC.

[Capn Bug Smasher]

I can contribute just 10 and three quarter :E years solo time. A beautiful summer day on G-BWNB at Wellesbourne Mountford courtesy of an Air League Flying Scholarship, the 12 hours of which I completed at South Warwickshire Flying School.

I'll find a photo later!

[Forfoxake]

I can contribute just 10 and three quarter :E years solo time. A beautiful summer day on G-BWNB at Wellesbourne Mountford courtesy of an Air League Flying Scholarship, the 12 hours of which I completed at South Warwickshire Flying School.

I'll find a photo later!

All contributions welcome!

[TheOddOne]

1st solo July '82 at Denham, in Rallye G-BECC, sadly rotted away. Continuously current from then. Still instructing in PA28 etc and flying for fun in a C42 so add another 38, not mega by other posts but I started late.

TOO

[MrAverage]

Although I only have a tenth of the hours of some that I know, I can get you a little closer to the thousand years you desire. 38 years since solo in a four year old PA38. Still pinch myself regularly on my way to "work".

G-EORG visited our field last summer, still in her late nineties BA ethnic paint.

We have a beautiful and extremely well equipped 1979 example on our fleet. I think of her as a nod to George.

[MrAverage]

Snap TOO! (Not only were we typing together but typing the same years) I didn't know you started at Denham, I always thought of you as a man of Kent.

[double_barrel]

Last Tuesday was the 54th anniversary of my first solo flight at White Waltham in Piper Colt G-ARJC:

Congratulations, that's an impressive achievement! I will work on matching it, but so far I can barely claim 54 weeks since my 1st solo.

[Oldpilot55]

First solo April 1981 at Glasgow Airport. PA38. Each landing was 80p. Bargain! 1200 hours now.

[Quietplease]

First solo Marshalls Cambridge 21 March 1954 T31 thanks to CCF. First power JP1 XD675 Hullavington 2Aug 1956. Flew LS4 and Duo Discus last week.
My first flight was in that Tiger at Cambridge with my older brother who did a flying scholarship.

[anxiao]

First solo glider, 1965 at Kirton in Lindsey courtesy of ATC. First solo power Carlisle 1967, a flying scholarship from the same organisation. I note there are still a few alumni from Carlisle around that time on Pprune. So 63 years burning dead dinosaurs.

Still at it, when Covid lets me get at my aircraft again.

And the man above me, "Well done that man, take his name sergeant!"

[Grayfly]

Can we make over 1000 years before the end of Tuesday?
I can only add another 45 years.

First solo 23rd August 1975, Edinburgh (now international) Airport. Sent off by Hugh Allan of Edinburgh Air Centre In C150 G-BCCC

[Capt Scribble]

Solo with flying scholarship during Summer 1973 at Halfpenny Green, military then charter until September 2019, just the 46 years.

[RetiredBA/BY]

Solo with flying scholarship during Summer 1973 at Halfpenny Green, military then charter until September 2019, just the 46 years.
First solo, 1960, T31 at Catterick, first jet solo, 1962 at Acklington. ( Thanks, Quiet please !)

Still doing it in a PA28 at White Waltham !

[Forfoxake]

If I bend the rules very slightly and include rotorfossil and Capt Scribble (who both appear to have stopped flying just last year), I make that 1389 years! Mostly in light aircraft and/or gliders.

Particularly impressed by Quietplease who went solo before I was born!

[Big Pistons Forever]

My goal is to beat the famous Canadian DH test pilot, George Neal. First solo 1935 last flight alone in his Chipmunk, 2015. 80 years of flying !

[Forfoxake]

My goal is to beat the famous Canadian DH test pilot, George Neal. First solo 1935 last flight alone in his Chipmunk, 2015. 80 years of flying !

Good luck with that!

[treadigraph]

Aged 96! How old was John Houlder of Elstree when he stopped flying? Over 90 I think? I think Ken Wallis was still flying his autogyros at 90+ as well...

[chevvron]

First flight where I handled the controls on 27 Aug 1962; Piston Provost XF680 from RAF Little Rissington.
First solo in Mk 3 XA305 (actually 3 solos to get my Proficiency Badge and BGA A & B Certificate) 7 Nov 1964 from RAF Halton.
First powered solo on 21 Oct 1971 in C150 G-ATKF from Marshalls Cambridge, sent off by the instructor who was flying that same aircraft when it had a mid air with a Varsity out of Oakington. Awarded PPL on 17 Nov 1971 about 4 weeks later (it was part of my ATCO training with NATCS).

[ChrisVJ]

14th August 1963, Unfortunately can't add the whole 57 years as I had a 29 year lay off before I built my Searey. Stopped four years ago, lack of aircraft and funds!

[cavuman1]

First handled controls: Piper Tri-Pacer, KHFD (Hartford, Connecticut, USA), 1963, Age 14
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x525/piper_tri_pacer_568607f1c679c56ec19f5eccfc08441482f6e8f6.jpg

First Solo: Cessna 152/N757WW, KSSI (St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA), 1976, Age 27
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x999/cessna_152_concorde_032ef0d0b725ccdad42aa7b7f6b590c8a303f9d8 .jpg
(The aircraft in the foreground.)

First Soaring Solo: Grob 103 Twin Astir (Caesar Creek, Ohio, USA) 1985, Age 36
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/300x172/grob_103_twin_astir_small_f222df7060c5c90fbacb1da4afbd3993c4 c8825d.jpg

At 71 years of age, my memory isn't what it used to be, but those aircraft and the day I first flew them are emblazoned indelibly in my most precious recollections. A couple of women, too!

- Ed

[Jay Doubleyou]

Surprised and delighted to see your post, congratulations! I was so pleased to see my old lady friend GARJC in your post, and find that she is still alive and well after all these years! I first flew G-JC on the 27th of April 1964, 3.5 hours into my abinitio PPL, the previous time being on sisters, GARJH GARNJ and GARJP. There were about eight Colts at Oxford at that time. I made my first solo on 14th of May in GARJG, having to do two circuits as I was eased out by a non-radio Hornet Moth! Those days were as close to the Wright Brothers as to the present day!
I didn't fly often over the next couple of decades, but spent forty satisfying years in ATC, latterly I took to flying again in GAVWN, (alas since destroyed!) a PA28R and a beautiful "Gentleman's Ariel Conveyance "

[boeing4me]

Next week it will be 51 yrs since I soloed a C-150. I hope it will be a good day to fly my Ventus to celebrate.
B4Me

[pulse1]

I believe that Neville Duke was an active pilot for 66 years and by active, I mean ACTIVE - fighter pilot, test pilot, world speed record holder etc..

[India Four Two]

I have certainly stirred up a hornet's nest of memories! My flying at White Waltham was on an RAF Special Flying Award, which was the equivalent of a Flying Scholarship for non-Air Cadets.

My goal is to beat the famous Canadian DH test pilot, George Neal.

BPF, that's my goal as well. We''ll see who gets there first! I've got a head start on you.

I was so pleased to see my old lady friend GARJC in your post
JayDoubleyou,

In 1966, WLAC had JC, JD, JG and KR (which was a bit of a dog) plus Chipmunks G-AORF and G-AOTH for spinning. My whole PPL was non-radio, including landing at Kidlington and Sywell!

A couple of women, too!

cavuman1, that allows a nice segue into the story of my fiftieth anniversary in 2016. I was working in Saigon and I mentioned to a friend of mine that it was the fiftieth anniversary of my first solo and that I was disappointed that I could not fly.

The next time I visited my friend’s bar (a good kind of friend to have), I discovered that she had looked at my Facebook page and downloaded a picture of me when I really was India Four Two and had it iced onto a cake. Here’s the cake and the presentation by Hoa and her sister Binh. It more than made up for not being able to fly. By the end of the evening, I definitely needed more than “eight hours between bottle and throttle”!


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1032x773/50_years_of_flying_cake_d2aaeb8ab8969ef233279eca04242f3d6449 99dc.png

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1044x785/50_years_of_flying_cake_hoa_and_binh_bb2ba1fe10cef3e852a05a4 f25e5b55cf11a8eaa.png

[chevvron]

I can only add another 45 years.

First solo 23rd August 1975, Edinburgh (now international) Airport. Sent off by Hugh Allan of Edinburgh Air Centre In C150 G-BCCC
I remember Hugh 'I'm shorry I was shpeeding occifer but I'm drunk and thought I'd better get home as quick as possible' Allan although Bob Drummond did my checkout there in Oct '72 in G-AWES.

[l.garey]

I42: yes you certainly stirred up some memories. Thanks for that.
You say:
My whole PPL was non-radio, including landing at Kidlington and Sywell!

Mine, in the Tiger Moths (post 20, above), was not only non-radio, but non-flaps, none tail wheel (just a skid) and non brakes, and my solo cross-country was to Luton.

Laurence

[Baz657]

21st September 1993 was my first solo (almost 27 years to the day). Stapleford (the one in sunny Essex) in one of their C152's - G-BNJC. Most instructors though that particular aircraft was a bit of a dog but I always had a soft spot.

[TLDNMCL]

Great tale India! I love to fly, but I've never done it as a driver, apart from a couple of short grips in a glider many years ago.
Wishing you many more enjoyable hops. 👋

[India Four Two]

Thanks TLDNMCL. Come to Calgary in the summer, when the COVID dust has hopefully settled and I'll give you a ride in our DG-1000S. :)
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x540/dg_1000s_c_gnim_olds_netook_img_6524_ab63a9af49e8e8c59600753 acbf077fb81fa9478.jpg

[Grayfly]

I remember Hugh 'I'm shorry I was shpeeding occifer but I'm drunk and thought I'd better get home as quick as possible' Allan although Bob Drummond did my checkout there in Oct '72 in G-AWES.
Both great chaps, learnt a lot. I also spent many hours in AWES.

[Auster Fan]

Surprised and delighted to see your post, congratulations! I was so pleased to see my old lady friend GARJC in your post, and find that she is still alive and well after all these years! I first flew G-JC on the 27th of April 1964, 3.5 hours into my abinitio PPL, the previous time being on sisters, GARJH GARNJ and GARJP. There were about eight Colts at Oxford at that time. I made my first solo on 14th of May in GARJG, having to do two circuits as I was eased out by a non-radio Hornet Moth! Those days were as close to the Wright Brothers as to the present day!
I didn't fly often over the next couple of decades, but spent forty satisfying years in ATC, latterly I took to flying again in GAVWN, (alas since destroyed!) a PA28R and a beautiful "Gentleman's Ariel Conveyance "
G-ARNJ is also still current (as is G-ARNE, which I fly) and owned by the Chairman of the Vintage Piper Aircraft Club

[ShyTorque]

First unpowered solo 1972. First powered solo 1973.

First solo while getting paid was in 1977 (Done nothing for a living but flying ever since).

Still flying as PIC for a living.

48 years from scratch to now.

[condor17]

I42 , like you , thanks to an RAF Special Flying Award at Marshalls of Cambridge , and Mr Whittaker sending me solo on 23/7/71 . Like Chevvron in C 150 , G-ATKF .
I've been privileged to enjoy 36 yrs of commercial , and thus far 10+ yrs of instructing . As well as a share in a Rollason Condor , seeing the seasons change from Wessex skies .

rgds condor.

[lederhosen]

First solo was coincidentally a Condor in 1979 just over 41 years ago. In a Cirrus group these days having flown various Boeing and Airbus models in the mean time.

[GGR155]

First solo in K4 glider RAF Upavon in 1972. Followed by first power solo in Beagle Pup G-AXCX Hawarden in 1977.

[sycamore]

First solo,Auster J1,`AIJI`,Luton Flying Club 9 July 1960..last flight ,revalidation in a 172,,20/8/20, or `ground running a Wasp helo,last week...

[Marchettiman]

I have 58 years of continuous flying (since my Flying Scholarship on the Jackaroo at Thruxton in July 1962) to add to the total.