The Holy Grail?
why would you not consider me to be discussing anything but approved establishments within the JAR community?
I wonder how many have encountered FIs on Spanish JAA licences, who have no Restriction on their FI rating, they are required to administer it themselves!
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 300 miles south of EDI
Age: 55
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Regarding 18 Greens & SAS' mention of DEFTS at RAF Barkston Heath, civilian FI courses tend to be available if there's spare capacity alongside the military task.
The training is second-to-none. A meaty variable-pitch 260hp Firefly M that'll do brakes-off to 10000' in under 10 mins. Full inverted systems, +6/-3g, with some pretty gyroscopic aerobatics thrown into the G/H sorties if you so wish. Instructors hold mil A2 or A1 cats, are often ex-CFS examiners, and have a huge amount of experience. It's a disciplined and very punchy environment, but the flying is great fun, demanding yet rewarding.
A wealth of knowledge & war stories in the crewroom as well. Not every flying school has two instructors current on WW2 piston fighters!
Captain Tim Wooltorton is the man to speak to at Barkston, he's the Chief Pilot.
Do it, you won't regret it.
The training is second-to-none. A meaty variable-pitch 260hp Firefly M that'll do brakes-off to 10000' in under 10 mins. Full inverted systems, +6/-3g, with some pretty gyroscopic aerobatics thrown into the G/H sorties if you so wish. Instructors hold mil A2 or A1 cats, are often ex-CFS examiners, and have a huge amount of experience. It's a disciplined and very punchy environment, but the flying is great fun, demanding yet rewarding.
A wealth of knowledge & war stories in the crewroom as well. Not every flying school has two instructors current on WW2 piston fighters!
Captain Tim Wooltorton is the man to speak to at Barkston, he's the Chief Pilot.
Do it, you won't regret it.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: U.K.
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I can think of many things I'd prefer to flick than a firefly, however none are available for an FIC course! If DEFTS are running courses. I'd be there like a shot if I was about to do my FIC again.
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Holy grail? I consider myself very luck to have had two of the very best. I finished last year after a year and a half part-time. I had two instructors, and two aeroplanes.
Stuart Hill at Prestwick Flying Club did 60% of my course on the de Havilland Chipmunk. A true professional in every sense of the word - years of experience and a committed light aeroplane man. His course is highly personal, friendly yet professional. Stuart's course is part-time. The Chipmunk is f*&^ing expensive but really makes you think about what you're doing (you can't point/touch from the rear cockpit!) It's also baltic in the back seat during most of the Scottish year.
Lovat Fraser at Tayside Aviation did the other 40% - I needed to finish full-time due to pressures in my 'proper' job. Again, a committed light aeroplane man, and again a true professional. Very similar to Stuart but the Tayside course differs in emphasis in places (Stuart does nav, Lovat doesn't), and techniques (the Tayside course uses a checklist, Stuart's very keen that the checklist is in your head!); Stuart uses CSA from low key in PFL's, Tayside closing the throttle on base. Both men are however very open to discussing alternative techniques and methods.
I used the Grob Heron for the final part - a lovely aeroplane, in some respects better than the Tutor. It scores over the Chippie in having a heater too. A superb confidence-builder for spinning as well.
Stuart's busy I know with FIC part-time at the mo but you could try contacting him via the Club. I've heard from Lovat that he's fully-booked until August!
They seem to be your choices in Scotland at the moment - both will deliver nothing other than an outstanding, satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable course. I have to say as a professional engineer who's done BSc, PhD, ATPL's and the CPL - the FIC is easily the hardest yet most satisfying piece of training/education that I've ever, ever done.
Stuart Hill at Prestwick Flying Club did 60% of my course on the de Havilland Chipmunk. A true professional in every sense of the word - years of experience and a committed light aeroplane man. His course is highly personal, friendly yet professional. Stuart's course is part-time. The Chipmunk is f*&^ing expensive but really makes you think about what you're doing (you can't point/touch from the rear cockpit!) It's also baltic in the back seat during most of the Scottish year.
Lovat Fraser at Tayside Aviation did the other 40% - I needed to finish full-time due to pressures in my 'proper' job. Again, a committed light aeroplane man, and again a true professional. Very similar to Stuart but the Tayside course differs in emphasis in places (Stuart does nav, Lovat doesn't), and techniques (the Tayside course uses a checklist, Stuart's very keen that the checklist is in your head!); Stuart uses CSA from low key in PFL's, Tayside closing the throttle on base. Both men are however very open to discussing alternative techniques and methods.
I used the Grob Heron for the final part - a lovely aeroplane, in some respects better than the Tutor. It scores over the Chippie in having a heater too. A superb confidence-builder for spinning as well.
Stuart's busy I know with FIC part-time at the mo but you could try contacting him via the Club. I've heard from Lovat that he's fully-booked until August!
They seem to be your choices in Scotland at the moment - both will deliver nothing other than an outstanding, satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable course. I have to say as a professional engineer who's done BSc, PhD, ATPL's and the CPL - the FIC is easily the hardest yet most satisfying piece of training/education that I've ever, ever done.
