Netherthorpe Training
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: England that central part of Britian between Ecosse and Occupied France
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sad to here of Harry Andersons ill health; i learned at EGNF in the 70,s and hung around for a decade or so,only recall him playing with magnets in the tower,great place once upon a time,not just the tower,
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 32°55'22"S 151°46'56"E
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You've got quite a choice with flying schools at the following airfields all within a reasonable range.
Netherthorpe
Sandtoft
Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood
Gamston
With Netherthorpe being the closest, you'll be in safe hands with the instructors and if you intend to go further it would probably be a good start going somewhere local and then seeing how you get on.
Doncaster Sheffield would give you the big jets experience (or more likely no big jets, just a vast expanse of concrete as they seem to be very quiet these days).
Sandtoft is a very friendly and active airfield, so you can easily absorb the aviation atmosphere whilst waiting to fly.
Gamston, a little more corporate, but a friendly airfield nethertheless.
Netherthorpe
Sandtoft
Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood
Gamston
With Netherthorpe being the closest, you'll be in safe hands with the instructors and if you intend to go further it would probably be a good start going somewhere local and then seeing how you get on.
Doncaster Sheffield would give you the big jets experience (or more likely no big jets, just a vast expanse of concrete as they seem to be very quiet these days).
Sandtoft is a very friendly and active airfield, so you can easily absorb the aviation atmosphere whilst waiting to fly.
Gamston, a little more corporate, but a friendly airfield nethertheless.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: England
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As a 450 hr PPL holder I can thoroughly recommend Pheonix at Netherthorpe. You will get good continuity, its friendly and the rates are competitive. Like Mad Jock said, the instructors will look after you and the size/layout of the strip will help make you a better pilot.
Wherever you decide to go, good luck and I hope you enjoy it.
Gene
Wherever you decide to go, good luck and I hope you enjoy it.
Gene
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
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Learning to fly from a short strip makes you very aware of your aircraft's performance and will help you fly accurately from day one. As Netherthorpe is one of (if not the) shortest licensed airfield in England, it will help you when operating elsewhere from private strips in the future. 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK
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I will second Phoenix flying school, they have great instructors there. I did my PPL there and i'm currently doing my IMC training with them. I have never had a complaint about that school nor the airfield. As previously stated you do get to know your aircraft's performance better. It's also good practice for very precise landings. I can say that I can comfortably land the aeroplane, where I want to land it, and that it is a skill that doesn't come too easy (at least for me).
Alex
Alex
Join Date: Jul 2006
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haha Doncaster Robin Hood has a PA-28 and a C-150 if I recall, it's probably an ideal place if your intending to go onto the airlines. But as mentioned before, if your in it for a Hobby, Netherthorpe is very close to you and will give you very enjoyable flying with a social scene to partake in.
Sir George, whilst Sherburn is a great place to fly into, it's probably over an hours drive, if not more from the OP unfortunately.
Sir George, whilst Sherburn is a great place to fly into, it's probably over an hours drive, if not more from the OP unfortunately.
Join Date: May 2001
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Some people like C150's and others (myself included don't).
Personally as an instructor who has given hundreds of trial flights its worth the extra to have a 4 seater and to take another 2 people along to share the experence. It gives another 2 people a share of the views but also give quite a bit of scope for banter. They can also take photo's of the trip.
You do need a med cert but it all depends on which license you want to go for.
If you are going for a day only flying in the UK licsense (NPPL) your doctor can do it.
If you want the international license which you can add to you need to go to an approved medic. (PPL)
If you are only learning to fly as a hobby you need to do a fair bit of reading to work out what you actually want to fly. The PPL will cover you for most things with very little hassle but is more expensive than some of the other options which are more restrictive.
Now not implying anything about the schools that have already been mentioned but a recuring theme with flying schools is they have a habit of going bust. Please don't pay anything up front for a discount unless you can afford to loose the lot. Cessna schools (ie ones that use cessna as there training aircraft) I would be very wary of because there has been some compulsory engineering work been issued for most cessna types which is very expensive.
Other aircraft types you need to have a look at are microlights weight shift where you sit in a bath under scaffolding polls and canvas (but great fun apparently and very cheap in the grand scale of things)
3 axis microlights which are diddy fixed wing aircraft but can out perform the lower spec fixed wing aircraft.
To be honest sitting down with a "new" student interested in flying going through all the options would take an hour with a whiteboard.
Personally as an instructor who has given hundreds of trial flights its worth the extra to have a 4 seater and to take another 2 people along to share the experence. It gives another 2 people a share of the views but also give quite a bit of scope for banter. They can also take photo's of the trip.
You do need a med cert but it all depends on which license you want to go for.
If you are going for a day only flying in the UK licsense (NPPL) your doctor can do it.
If you want the international license which you can add to you need to go to an approved medic. (PPL)
If you are only learning to fly as a hobby you need to do a fair bit of reading to work out what you actually want to fly. The PPL will cover you for most things with very little hassle but is more expensive than some of the other options which are more restrictive.
Now not implying anything about the schools that have already been mentioned but a recuring theme with flying schools is they have a habit of going bust. Please don't pay anything up front for a discount unless you can afford to loose the lot. Cessna schools (ie ones that use cessna as there training aircraft) I would be very wary of because there has been some compulsory engineering work been issued for most cessna types which is very expensive.
Other aircraft types you need to have a look at are microlights weight shift where you sit in a bath under scaffolding polls and canvas (but great fun apparently and very cheap in the grand scale of things)
3 axis microlights which are diddy fixed wing aircraft but can out perform the lower spec fixed wing aircraft.
To be honest sitting down with a "new" student interested in flying going through all the options would take an hour with a whiteboard.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Yorkshire
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sherburn has got to be one of the best in the north in my opinion but depends if you think its too far.
I dont buy in to this whole if you want to fly airlines fly from an international airport thing. You can get your licence and go land at manchester ringway if you want. It makes no odds.
Yorkshire has some great flying and all the places mentioned will suit your needs. To learn to fly. Go visit a few.
I think sherburn has it all, sandtoft has fewer aircraft and is quieter but its still a great airfield. Netherthorpe has the most challenging runways but phoenix have a great set up too there. You just need to visit a few and see which clicks with you.
I dont buy in to this whole if you want to fly airlines fly from an international airport thing. You can get your licence and go land at manchester ringway if you want. It makes no odds.
Yorkshire has some great flying and all the places mentioned will suit your needs. To learn to fly. Go visit a few.
I think sherburn has it all, sandtoft has fewer aircraft and is quieter but its still a great airfield. Netherthorpe has the most challenging runways but phoenix have a great set up too there. You just need to visit a few and see which clicks with you.
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Texas and UK
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Thats rather cryptic of your Uncle's trainer - I presume that it might reference Sandtoft in its old ownership of 52nd Street - the guy behind that made money installing sound systems into night clubs.
Sandtoft now is a nice place, great club and cafe.
Sandtoft now is a nice place, great club and cafe.
Join Date: May 2001
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I certainly do not want to be in a bird with a dodgy MOT
Fine by me, the microlight boys on here have offered to shoe horn my fat arse into one of thier baths and its on my list of things to do as well.
Gliding is also cracking fun if you get the chance.
I think your main issue is going to be finding a school with an instructor with a dry enough sense of humour.
Enjoy!!!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Texas and UK
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Mad Jock is safe from the fun of gliding, sadly the love of food and drink (plus being tall) helped me achieve a response of muted laughter followed by - "your too fat, we can only fly up to 16 stone and 6' " when I inquired at my local gliding club a few years ago. I suspect MJ may get the same response.
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Don't know I will tell you when I find out. I presume much the same as when your to fat and sit on a shetland pony.
Fixed wing pilots have for years been advising folk of the inherent danger of getting in one of those contraptions nobody listens.
Gliding is cracking, no need for an engine, the folk that are good at it can keep them up for hours (alot long than my bladder can last). Only issue with thermals is when an eagle or something big objects to you being in thier's. Last time I went gliding a buzzard shat on my canopy which I reckon shows great skill on the part of the buzzard being able to hit a moving target like that.
Fixed wing pilots have for years been advising folk of the inherent danger of getting in one of those contraptions nobody listens.
Gliding is cracking, no need for an engine, the folk that are good at it can keep them up for hours (alot long than my bladder can last). Only issue with thermals is when an eagle or something big objects to you being in thier's. Last time I went gliding a buzzard shat on my canopy which I reckon shows great skill on the part of the buzzard being able to hit a moving target like that.
Join Date: Jan 2010
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My feet touched the ground when trying to sit on a Shetland pony - no good...
I started off my flying with gliding, fantastic fun but then I discovered food and at the time I could not afford both (or at least in the quantities which seem needed) Got a Silver C though
I started off my flying with gliding, fantastic fun but then I discovered food and at the time I could not afford both (or at least in the quantities which seem needed) Got a Silver C though