Netherthorpe Training
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Netherthorpe Training
Is any one learning to fly at Netherthorpe with Sheffield Aero Club? I've heard that one of the instructors has a bad attitude. I've been down and TBH wasn't made to feel very welcome. Before I spend lots of my money I'd like some feedback, positive or negative.
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i think that it could be said that every club has an instructor with a bad attitude at some point, but more often this is probably down to the perception of the student particularly if they have just had a bad lesson etc. However, i'd say that ill experiences are few and far between. From personal experience, i think netherthorpe is one of the friendliest airfields i've been to. It might also be noteworthy to say that there are two flying schools on the airfield so shop around...
I have flown with Nick (Riddin I think was his surname...?) from SAC, and he was very good; haven't met any other instructors. The restaurant at Netherthorpe is certainly great, and you'll definitely learn to land well there!
One or two of the club members are certainly best avoided though
One or two of the club members are certainly best avoided though
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Why use SAC when Phoenix is cheaper and at the same airfield?
Just been checked out at Phoenix today on one of their 150s by the CFI, I'd suggest you speak to him rather than SAC.
Phoenix Flying
Just been checked out at Phoenix today on one of their 150s by the CFI, I'd suggest you speak to him rather than SAC.
Phoenix Flying
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Phoenix
Thanks for the advice, I wasn't aware there was another school - went to Phoenix yesterday and signed up. Cheaper and seemed to be a very freindly bunch.
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Liam, Well done but if that was you doing glide circuits in a Cassna over a certain village yesterday, do the locals a favour and close the throttle a bit less rapidly - the backfiring was causing consternation. 
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Not guilty. But I did look up at said aircraft and think the same
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I learned to fly at netherthorpe sac many years ago and without wishing to give myself away ,spent time (years)there in various forms,Committee run clubs always seem to have problems
i visited a few years back, nostalgia!! and was asked if i was a member i explained i live 300 miles away i used to be i was told in a officious way it was a members club
i was rescued by a old flier and former student of mine who new me/and some of the Phoenix boys. hardy the attitude for my first visit in 15 years my flying there been between 20 and 35 years ago
but all in all i understand they are not a bad bunch #
the phoenix guys i know to be very hospitable and no committee s**t
Tony at Gamston is a great chap
your choice! still a great airfield
i visited a few years back, nostalgia!! and was asked if i was a member i explained i live 300 miles away i used to be i was told in a officious way it was a members club
i was rescued by a old flier and former student of mine who new me/and some of the Phoenix boys. hardy the attitude for my first visit in 15 years my flying there been between 20 and 35 years ago
but all in all i understand they are not a bad bunch #
the phoenix guys i know to be very hospitable and no committee s**t
Tony at Gamston is a great chap
your choice! still a great airfield
Last edited by much2much; 12th Jul 2010 at 18:26.
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There's been political difficulties at EGNF for years; it appears that some of the more recent issues revolved around a competitor setting up and rather cheekily expecting their staff/students to be able to use the other members' club facilities, without providing any facilities of their own.
This has made some "traditional" club members rather "overprotective". I have been told a few times in the last few years that I could not use the clubhouse facilities or order food without being signed in by a club member. On one occasion I produced my own membership card and asked where the signing in book was.
This has made some "traditional" club members rather "overprotective". I have been told a few times in the last few years that I could not use the clubhouse facilities or order food without being signed in by a club member. On one occasion I produced my own membership card and asked where the signing in book was.
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yes i gathered that but i was a genuine visitor a member in the 70/80s and instructed there on and off for several years , and hired the odd aircraft later ,it seemed a little in -hospitable as i had looked forward to the visit ,as it was ,once idented i had i lovely evening with old acquaintances, and made some new ones something i would hope to be able to repeat 
as i hold/ held some affinity for the place
perhaps a return to the tinned ham sandwich,s in the old club house would elevate the problem
although the beer was awful only improved i recall by the temp time in a shed with bottled ale,
as i hold/ held some affinity for the placeperhaps a return to the tinned ham sandwich,s in the old club house would elevate the problem
although the beer was awful only improved i recall by the temp time in a shed with bottled ale,
Last edited by much2much; 12th Jul 2010 at 19:18.
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I flew into Netherthorpe a few months back after it was recommended to me by a friend for somewhere good to go for a Sunday lunch. My thoughts....I can certainly recommend the Sunday lunch, however, was slightly put off by how unwelcome I was made to feel by those that were clearly "locals/members". Needless to say I have not flown there since, which is a sad thing to have to say!
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Like many of the previous comments I have found SAC to be unfriendly, it was as if they didn't want my business the instructors being very off hand and SAC members being unwelcoming. The approach at Phoenix was totally opposite but the atmosphere from SAC spreads over the whole airfield. I went to Gamston for my re-validation.
That was some time ago but subsequent visits have shown no change and the current correspondence seems to back this up.
Gamston is far more friendly and very good to fly from.
That was some time ago but subsequent visits have shown no change and the current correspondence seems to back this up.
Gamston is far more friendly and very good to fly from.
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old instructors
I learned there on/off from 1994-1998 whatever happened to Les Antrobus, Harry Anderson who used to hit me with his ruler, and Geoff er hum...Terry, Martin, the days of skipping over to Gamston to get fuel because of the politics (boy were those intense days) then start the flying lesson memories of coming on my two stroke cz125 at night for the nav lectures in winter - great
I learned there on/off from 1994-1998 whatever happened to Les Antrobus, Harry Anderson who used to hit me with his ruler, and Geoff er hum...Terry, Martin, the days of skipping over to Gamston to get fuel because of the politics (boy were those intense days) then start the flying lesson memories of coming on my two stroke cz125 at night for the nav lectures in winter - great
Harry emigrated to Canada over ten years ago now, & him & Mary used to do Volunteer work ferrying patients to hospital for appointments, Now ill health has stopped that.
Harry never carried on his flying when he left for Canada.
I always found Netherthorpe OK in them days but haven't been since Harry left.
Cheers Trev
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Visited Netherthorpe a couple of years back. Bit of a grunt when taking the landing fee but no further communication from anybody. As my fellow aviator said as we left "Good old Yorkshire hospitality. Don't think I'll bother visiting again".............and we haven't.
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i am training at netherthorpe currently, not sure which instructor you are refering to as far as the bad attitude. The instructor i am training with is excellent, he also runs ground school sessions which i have attended and cant fault the training! SAC is more expensive than phoenix, i cant comment on what phoenix offer as i havent spoken to them over there. I do beleive the phoenix a/c are better kept as they belong to them and are maintained in house which is why the hourly rates are lower than SAC. I suggest you come down and have a chat to both and make your decision. The staff that work at SAC are a friendly bunch and always open to questions or a general chit chat. On a few occasions i have been waiting in reception for my instructor to land and they have offered to make me a coffee while i wait!!
hope this help's
hope this help's
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I've also trained at Netherthorpe fairly recently and I enjoyed it a great deal. I think relations have thawed a little with Pheonix, but SAC never seem to have got a handle the stupid politics there. It imploded again fairly recently, and between that and various other reasons they seem to have almost completely changed their instructors in the last few months.
On the plus side that probably includes the one with the 'bad attitude'. There was only one instructor there who I avoided flying with, as I had a lot of issues with his teaching style. But there is no question that he knew stuf, and I know other students who loved him, so horses for courses and all that.
Nick Riddin is still there as far as I know, but he was very PT anyway. He's great and I would have liked to fly with him more but the schedules and the weather meant it never worked out that way.
I've also been to Gamston (half the old SAC staff seemed to be based there now anyway), and I did find it really friendly and welcoming. However, for me, the best thing about learning at Netherthorpe was the confidence it gave me. I felt that once I'd mastered landing there, I'd be ready for anything, and I wouldn't have got that from Gamston.
Kindupnorth: who's doing ground school there now?
On the plus side that probably includes the one with the 'bad attitude'. There was only one instructor there who I avoided flying with, as I had a lot of issues with his teaching style. But there is no question that he knew stuf, and I know other students who loved him, so horses for courses and all that.
Nick Riddin is still there as far as I know, but he was very PT anyway. He's great and I would have liked to fly with him more but the schedules and the weather meant it never worked out that way.
I've also been to Gamston (half the old SAC staff seemed to be based there now anyway), and I did find it really friendly and welcoming. However, for me, the best thing about learning at Netherthorpe was the confidence it gave me. I felt that once I'd mastered landing there, I'd be ready for anything, and I wouldn't have got that from Gamston.
Kindupnorth: who's doing ground school there now?