Strange trial lessons
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Ireland
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At my airfield there was a rough round the edges chap with his own aeroplane who people thought might be a drug dealer. Turned out he was a drug dealer. Sometimes the stereotype is true. I remember another guy turning up for a trial lesson with two bimbos in tow. He not only looked like a drug dealer he was one, sadly 
now dead by lead poisoning.
I knew one Arab student who cut down on the hassle he experienced by simply investing in a 'pilot's' shirt complete with stripes. Made a big difference
As for trial flight weirdness, fingers crossed, nothing much so far. I've had a few who flew so well that I wondered if they were already pilots. But when I flew with my sister, she was so good I tried to encourage her to start training. She went away wondering what all this fuss is about flying a 'plane'. 'It's easy'
The worst one was a guy who kept asking questions about crashing and how safe it was. When we go airborne, he went white and sat rigidly with his hands grasping the seat. I got the message and landed rapidly, all the time trying to maintain a positive upbeat commentary. However, I was terrified he might grab at the yoke on finals, when he saw the ground rising up as he might see it.
now dead by lead poisoning. I knew one Arab student who cut down on the hassle he experienced by simply investing in a 'pilot's' shirt complete with stripes. Made a big difference
As for trial flight weirdness, fingers crossed, nothing much so far. I've had a few who flew so well that I wondered if they were already pilots. But when I flew with my sister, she was so good I tried to encourage her to start training. She went away wondering what all this fuss is about flying a 'plane'. 'It's easy'
The worst one was a guy who kept asking questions about crashing and how safe it was. When we go airborne, he went white and sat rigidly with his hands grasping the seat. I got the message and landed rapidly, all the time trying to maintain a positive upbeat commentary. However, I was terrified he might grab at the yoke on finals, when he saw the ground rising up as he might see it.
Join Date: Mar 2000
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We had a member at a certain airfield down south that no longer exists, who used to come in and hire an a/c every couple of weeks on a Saturday.
He seemed a nice chap who kept himself to himself. It turned out that he was flying a couple of miles off shore and scouting for customs and police so that the drug boats could hit the beach without interference......!
That was only part of it though, he ended up being done for murder after the Essex Range Rover murders.
He seemed a nice chap who kept himself to himself. It turned out that he was flying a couple of miles off shore and scouting for customs and police so that the drug boats could hit the beach without interference......!
That was only part of it though, he ended up being done for murder after the Essex Range Rover murders.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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I did a trial lesson with a blind person in his fourties - he lost his sight at the age of six - and of course once at altitude I handed over the controls to him. I described him what the plane was doing: climbing, descending and angle of bank. We ended up in a spiral descend each time and we both enjoyed it. 
Then we flew to the river Thames and the QE2 bridge and the whole flight I described to him where we were and what I saw.
I also did a trial flight with a very heavy person to say the least, we had to do it in an Archer (4-seater) iso a Cherokee (2-seater really). I had a hard time reaching the trim (in between the two seats) because his belley was all over the cockpit.
It is a shame so little catwalkmodels find their way to our flying club for a trial lesson
Then we flew to the river Thames and the QE2 bridge and the whole flight I described to him where we were and what I saw. I also did a trial flight with a very heavy person to say the least, we had to do it in an Archer (4-seater) iso a Cherokee (2-seater really). I had a hard time reaching the trim (in between the two seats) because his belley was all over the cockpit.
It is a shame so little catwalkmodels find their way to our flying club for a trial lesson
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Chukkablade,
Nothing is a wind-up. And neither did I mention about a chap being "rough around the edges".
I have not put all the details down about this chap since, as far as I know, he is perfectly innocent - and so why would I want to identify him publicly.
But I did work as a journalist (scum, scum I hear you cry!!!) and met a wide range of folk and developed a little instinct about when things might not be quite as they seem, so when it might be worth asking a few questions.
I say again, when you have a suspicion, it is worth mentioning it to someone - perhaps even just a family member at first. Then think about what they say, perhaps then ask a pal if you are still uncertain. Then maybe give the chaps/chapesses in Special Branch a quick call.
That's how the system works all across the country.
The government is planning to ban most of the effective cold remedies because some substance in them can be refined into crystal meth. At the moment, they rely on suppliers tipping them off when people who are not pharmacists place large orders.
Similar things happen when people who live in city centres order large amounts of fertiliser.
Or in one fraud investigation I was involved in, where unrealistically large quantities of meat were being offered in the UK at unrealistically low prices over a long period (an EU subsidy fraud involving meat that was meant to have been exported to Lebanon - as you can imagine, few EU oficials wanted to go to lebanon in the 1990s to check containers!) That started from a tip-off from people in the meat trade.
So, if criminals are using aircraft for criminal purposes (rather than for fun or legitimate work as the rest of us do) then it is people in aviation who are likely to be the first to know.
And I think we have a public duty to help the police (which also allows criticism too because that can help improve their effectiveness)
Nothing is a wind-up. And neither did I mention about a chap being "rough around the edges".
I have not put all the details down about this chap since, as far as I know, he is perfectly innocent - and so why would I want to identify him publicly.
But I did work as a journalist (scum, scum I hear you cry!!!) and met a wide range of folk and developed a little instinct about when things might not be quite as they seem, so when it might be worth asking a few questions.
I say again, when you have a suspicion, it is worth mentioning it to someone - perhaps even just a family member at first. Then think about what they say, perhaps then ask a pal if you are still uncertain. Then maybe give the chaps/chapesses in Special Branch a quick call.
That's how the system works all across the country.
The government is planning to ban most of the effective cold remedies because some substance in them can be refined into crystal meth. At the moment, they rely on suppliers tipping them off when people who are not pharmacists place large orders.
Similar things happen when people who live in city centres order large amounts of fertiliser.
Or in one fraud investigation I was involved in, where unrealistically large quantities of meat were being offered in the UK at unrealistically low prices over a long period (an EU subsidy fraud involving meat that was meant to have been exported to Lebanon - as you can imagine, few EU oficials wanted to go to lebanon in the 1990s to check containers!) That started from a tip-off from people in the meat trade.
So, if criminals are using aircraft for criminal purposes (rather than for fun or legitimate work as the rest of us do) then it is people in aviation who are likely to be the first to know.
And I think we have a public duty to help the police (which also allows criticism too because that can help improve their effectiveness)
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Quote: 'Nothing is a wind-up. And neither did I mention about a chap being "rough around the edges".
I have not put all the details down about this chap since, as far as I know, he is perfectly innocent - and so why would I want to identify him publicly.'
Right then Xrayalpha; no, I mentioned the rough around the edges part - it was my way of being polite after you slated the guy because you 'wondered how he could afford it.
In your next breath, you show us all how decent you are by not putting 'all his details down'. How wonderfully lovely of you - especially since you then state he is actually perfectly innocent, SO WHY THE BLOODY HELL WOULD YOU??
So because he is (in your opinion obviously) hailing from a lower socio economic group, you automatically jumped to the conclusion he is into the drug scene. Information you then later state that you are happy to take to special branch if you feel fit - after all, as a journo you are 'attuned' to such things.
What absolutely sanctamonious, self opinionated bull**** you are spouting here. Instincts? Harping Fishwife more like. All your train of thought based on the guys appearance and no doubt less than polished accent - because after all, if you look scruffy but talk in upper class tones, why, your just eccentric. Only if your accent is a little broader than the middle class norm are you liable for unfounded speculation and downright slander amongst the rest of the flying club - oh, and lets not forget reporting to the special branch. Unreal. The friendly face of G.A. right enough there. No wonder its in trouble in the U.K. with attitudes like that.
You just couldn't make this up. Read '1984' a few to many times while at Uni did we?
I actually have a very good friend whose brother in law is looking to learn to fly, and as we dont live so far from you Xrayalpha, maybe we will drop in. I'm sure his accent and his somewhat older car will fill you full of dread. The hotline will be practically ringing to the S.B. because if you ask him how he will afford it, he'll just smile and ignore the question.
However, the fact that he runs an old car as a day to day is to stop his lovely 120k Merc getting dinged about, and dont even start me on how reluctant he is to take the Ferrari out at peak times.
Did I mention he sold his business a few months ago for 25 Million? Oh, must have forgot. Doubt you and your mates would have heard me anywhere up tere on your high horse.
We dont all divulge who and what we are, nor give broad outlines on our financial situations to people we consider strangers, Xrayalpha, and these days, wealth is not confined to those from a traditional Middle Class background. In fact, those are the types more likely to be hurting finacially, as their traditional revenue streams did not move with the times. Lots of ordinary folk have made good in the meantime.
Books/Covers=Assuptions. And we all know how in the flying game how easy it is to end up with egg on your face if thats your modus operandi, we should check, and never assume, after all. Agreed?
Try that, see how it goes.
I have not put all the details down about this chap since, as far as I know, he is perfectly innocent - and so why would I want to identify him publicly.'
Right then Xrayalpha; no, I mentioned the rough around the edges part - it was my way of being polite after you slated the guy because you 'wondered how he could afford it.
In your next breath, you show us all how decent you are by not putting 'all his details down'. How wonderfully lovely of you - especially since you then state he is actually perfectly innocent, SO WHY THE BLOODY HELL WOULD YOU??
So because he is (in your opinion obviously) hailing from a lower socio economic group, you automatically jumped to the conclusion he is into the drug scene. Information you then later state that you are happy to take to special branch if you feel fit - after all, as a journo you are 'attuned' to such things.
What absolutely sanctamonious, self opinionated bull**** you are spouting here. Instincts? Harping Fishwife more like. All your train of thought based on the guys appearance and no doubt less than polished accent - because after all, if you look scruffy but talk in upper class tones, why, your just eccentric. Only if your accent is a little broader than the middle class norm are you liable for unfounded speculation and downright slander amongst the rest of the flying club - oh, and lets not forget reporting to the special branch. Unreal. The friendly face of G.A. right enough there. No wonder its in trouble in the U.K. with attitudes like that.
You just couldn't make this up. Read '1984' a few to many times while at Uni did we?
I actually have a very good friend whose brother in law is looking to learn to fly, and as we dont live so far from you Xrayalpha, maybe we will drop in. I'm sure his accent and his somewhat older car will fill you full of dread. The hotline will be practically ringing to the S.B. because if you ask him how he will afford it, he'll just smile and ignore the question.
However, the fact that he runs an old car as a day to day is to stop his lovely 120k Merc getting dinged about, and dont even start me on how reluctant he is to take the Ferrari out at peak times.
Did I mention he sold his business a few months ago for 25 Million? Oh, must have forgot. Doubt you and your mates would have heard me anywhere up tere on your high horse.
We dont all divulge who and what we are, nor give broad outlines on our financial situations to people we consider strangers, Xrayalpha, and these days, wealth is not confined to those from a traditional Middle Class background. In fact, those are the types more likely to be hurting finacially, as their traditional revenue streams did not move with the times. Lots of ordinary folk have made good in the meantime.
Books/Covers=Assuptions. And we all know how in the flying game how easy it is to end up with egg on your face if thats your modus operandi, we should check, and never assume, after all. Agreed?
Try that, see how it goes.
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I had a one guy whose (thoughtful) wife had bought him a surprise trial lesson. Only problem was he suffered from SEVERE vertigo! He was nearly sick just thinking about it but because it was in a heli I told him I would only go as high as he said. . . Turned out not a touch of vertigo and he absolutely loved it!
His wife didn't seem to share the joy. . . strange?
Another very large guy froze on the controls just as we were lifting. . As the a/c was rolling slowly around the left skid . . "OK I have control. . . I have control. . I have. . . LET GO!!!!!"
Won't do that again. .
His wife didn't seem to share the joy. . . strange?
Another very large guy froze on the controls just as we were lifting. . As the a/c was rolling slowly around the left skid . . "OK I have control. . . I have control. . I have. . . LET GO!!!!!"
Won't do that again. .
Join Date: May 2006
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My 1st flight as the student
On my first ever trial lesson i managed to taxi, takeoff, climb, trim for level flight, (albeit nearly level took a while!) perform climbing and descending turns, joined circuit on base, managed approach and landing!! (Bounced during flare tho as i was too fast and wasn't expecting it to feel like it did) Instructor showed at lot of faith in me and i was very grateful for that, i taxied her in and shut her down! All in all a very welcoming introduction to what i want to do most. (I'm not trying to show off I'm just being honest)
Regards,
Felix Saddler.
Regards,
Felix Saddler.
Last edited by Felix Saddler; 29th May 2007 at 16:49. Reason: added title
Join Date: Jan 2004
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One woman I took up for a surprise birthday present was so scared she closed her eyes tight and only once airborne said "can I open my eyes now"?
Another time I took a bloke up who looked very sheepish and embarrassed when he saw his instructor was female - he asked if I was qualified to do the flight so I pointed out to him that I had trained all the other instructors - he was fine after that...
Another time I took a bloke up who looked very sheepish and embarrassed when he saw his instructor was female - he asked if I was qualified to do the flight so I pointed out to him that I had trained all the other instructors - he was fine after that...
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Just renewing my FAA CFI rating and interested to see that the authorities have imposed definite obligations on flight instructors when training "aliens", namely verifying their registration, immigration and security status. Seems a lot of responsibility. And a trial flight is a training flight to me, we do EOC 1.
I do quite a lot of these so-called TIFs (not in USA but elsewhere) and recently had one which I wasn't sure about. I wouldn't go as far as calling the cops but I think we need to take precautions (I checked his ID card, which I've never done before, and in hindsight I can't see how that would help, and made him leave his bag in a locker) but he was a big bloke. Turned out to be charming and, I'm sure, harmless.
Had another once turn up who was completely plastered. We didn't go flying.
I do quite a lot of these so-called TIFs (not in USA but elsewhere) and recently had one which I wasn't sure about. I wouldn't go as far as calling the cops but I think we need to take precautions (I checked his ID card, which I've never done before, and in hindsight I can't see how that would help, and made him leave his bag in a locker) but he was a big bloke. Turned out to be charming and, I'm sure, harmless.
Had another once turn up who was completely plastered. We didn't go flying.
