Distance you travel to Fly
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Distance you travel to Fly
Merry Christmas all!
I am curious to know how far you all travel to get to the airfield you most frequently fly from?
The reason i ask is that i am looking to join a syndicate and at present am only only half an hour away (23 miles) from the airfield in question which is fine, but i will be moving further away (50 miles min, therefore 1 hour min) in 6 months or so due to a job change. I am still keen but can't help wandering whether it will be too far to travel on a regular basis.
Thanks
Jonnoboy
I am curious to know how far you all travel to get to the airfield you most frequently fly from?
The reason i ask is that i am looking to join a syndicate and at present am only only half an hour away (23 miles) from the airfield in question which is fine, but i will be moving further away (50 miles min, therefore 1 hour min) in 6 months or so due to a job change. I am still keen but can't help wandering whether it will be too far to travel on a regular basis.
Thanks
Jonnoboy
Join Date: Oct 1999
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I live 2 hours / 135 miles from where my aircraft share is based. I'm in a job which requires me to work some weekends.
End result - I've not flown it since the 10th of October (IMC renewal)
Draw your own conclusions
End result - I've not flown it since the 10th of October (IMC renewal)
Draw your own conclusions
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK,Twighlight Zone
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I live about 300 metres from mine (and a 1000m tarmac runway and another 700m grass half a mile away) during the summer generally, in the winter it lives at its permanant hangar which is about 15-20 mins drive (car or bike!). When we get a hangar here it will be here all year round.
We also have another airfield about 2 miles away that has both tarmac and grass and POL which I am able to use.
The best part of looking out the window on a summers evening is the opportunity of walking up to the plane and off we go!
We are very lucky I have at least 6 airflields and strips that I am able to use within 5 minutes of home and a further 4 that are within 20 minutes.
I am impressed by the dedication of you guys who drive a couple of hours each way to fly. I could not imagine being that far away from mine as it would ceratinly curtail my flying hours.
We also have another airfield about 2 miles away that has both tarmac and grass and POL which I am able to use.
The best part of looking out the window on a summers evening is the opportunity of walking up to the plane and off we go!
We are very lucky I have at least 6 airflields and strips that I am able to use within 5 minutes of home and a further 4 that are within 20 minutes.
I am impressed by the dedication of you guys who drive a couple of hours each way to fly. I could not imagine being that far away from mine as it would ceratinly curtail my flying hours.
Join Date: Apr 2003
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I have found my limit is 1 hour. I tend to fly most of the day touring, so 1 hour to the airfield works well for me. On the two occasions I tried for more I was very tired on the way home and if the weather was marginal I tended not to go, with the result my yearly hours fell by 1/3.
Rod1
Rod1
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About 10 miles - 15/20 mins - from my home airfield.
However, I am currently in the process of choosing a school at which to do a Flying Instructor Rating. I seem to have narrowed it down to two. One is at my home airfield - very close and convenient. The other is about 90 miles - an hour and a half - away. I'm not sure whether or not the advantages of the second school are sufficient to warrant travelling such a long way.....
I am extremely jealous of anyone who answers this question by saying that they live at their home airfield!
FFF
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However, I am currently in the process of choosing a school at which to do a Flying Instructor Rating. I seem to have narrowed it down to two. One is at my home airfield - very close and convenient. The other is about 90 miles - an hour and a half - away. I'm not sure whether or not the advantages of the second school are sufficient to warrant travelling such a long way.....
I am extremely jealous of anyone who answers this question by saying that they live at their home airfield!
FFF
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I do a 75 mile round trip to mine (Bristol International) it takes 45 minutes each way, why I do this I will never know lol, Filton is only a 15 minute drive for me, and Gloucestershire Airport is only 30 minutes but is further than BRS, ah well, I blame the missus for buying me the trial lesson at BRS a few years ago 
Dean.
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It takes me just over an hour. But that's because I don't have my own transport.
So there's a 20 minute walk to East Croydon, then a tram ride to the end of the line at New Addington, a 10 minute wait for the bus service that only runs every half hour, then a short bus ride to Biggin Hill.
Coming back is usually longer as I have a tendency to leave just five minutes too late for a bus, with a long wait for the next and nothing to do in the meantime.
So there's a 20 minute walk to East Croydon, then a tram ride to the end of the line at New Addington, a 10 minute wait for the bus service that only runs every half hour, then a short bus ride to Biggin Hill.
Coming back is usually longer as I have a tendency to leave just five minutes too late for a bus, with a long wait for the next and nothing to do in the meantime.
Join Date: Oct 2001
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About 15 minutes for me.
Generally the decider about whether to go flying or not boils down to can I be arsed to spend 20 minutes each side of the flight getting her out, in and the paperwork completed!
I don't mind that sort of thing, but my pax get agitated once the fun is over... and I can't get her back in the hangar by my self.
Generally the decider about whether to go flying or not boils down to can I be arsed to spend 20 minutes each side of the flight getting her out, in and the paperwork completed!
I don't mind that sort of thing, but my pax get agitated once the fun is over... and I can't get her back in the hangar by my self.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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I live about 30-35 minutes' driving time away from Redhill, which isn't too bad but I really envy people who can walk to the airfield or drive just 10 minutes. Fairoaks is probably a smidgen closer to me, but the roads are slower so it still takes about half an hour.
Join Date: May 2003
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15 minutes for me at present. Come the summer I may be looking for for a share somewhere but will restrict the choice to within 45 minutes. I know how depressed I get driving just 15 mins to find the aircraft 'unavailable' or the weather turned.
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AIRWAY,
The syndicate i am looking at is based at Stapleford. I currently live in Hatfield and is not too far, but will be moving to Cambridge soon. I would have thought that the time taken from there would be about 50 mins also. How do you find driving that distance? looking at some of the replies, it seems not far from average!
The syndicate i am looking at is based at Stapleford. I currently live in Hatfield and is not too far, but will be moving to Cambridge soon. I would have thought that the time taken from there would be about 50 mins also. How do you find driving that distance? looking at some of the replies, it seems not far from average!
PPRuNe Co-Pilot
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Hi jonnoboy,
driving from London to Stapleford sometimes can be quite a challenge traffic wise, but i tend to fly early morning the weather is more stable. Has for the 50m drive it“s not a bother at all if there“s no traffic.
I have a friend who also live“s in Hatfield who is doing the PPL at Stapleford as well nice area.
Good luck with the re-location
driving from London to Stapleford sometimes can be quite a challenge traffic wise, but i tend to fly early morning the weather is more stable. Has for the 50m drive it“s not a bother at all if there“s no traffic.
I have a friend who also live“s in Hatfield who is doing the PPL at Stapleford as well nice area.
Good luck with the re-location
Join Date: Apr 2002
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65 Miles each way. There are airfields closer to home, but nothing as nice as the one I travel to. Worth every mile, good job I like driving. Just hoping for the weather tomorrow to take myself down there.
Join Date: Nov 2002
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I drive 50 miles each way (Gravesend to Manston) or at least I did before the £££ ran out for my NPPL :-(
I didn't find it too bad as the drive down helps me get into the right frame of mind exercise(s) I'm going to do and the drive back helps me unwind.
Anyway the facilities @ Manston are so good it's worth the trip.
I didn't find it too bad as the drive down helps me get into the right frame of mind exercise(s) I'm going to do and the drive back helps me unwind.
Anyway the facilities @ Manston are so good it's worth the trip.