Fixed wing microlight training near Luton
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hunsdon have an Ikarus C42. Good place. http://www.hunsdonmicrolightclub.info/
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Luton, UK
Age: 41
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Genghis, I fully appreciate what you are trying to say as you are clearly far more experianced than myself.. and yes its certainly true, that I am another one who has simply fallen for the eurostars shiny new looks and modern image. To me the thruster looks very old and thats something that does put me off, but thats just me and my taste. I dont doubt its still a good aircraft and is safe to fly.
Everyone will have their own reasons and priorities for choosing what to learn on.
Everyone will have their own reasons and priorities for choosing what to learn on.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisbech
Age: 44
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting that the discussion so far has centered around type of aircraft, once you start training you'll soon find it's how well you get on with the instructor that's the most important thing not how shiny the aeroplane is 
Another factor that may or may not be important to you is the social side. learning at an airfield with an active flying club can be a lot of fun, plenty of laughs, a chance to learn from other pilots plus the occasional offers spare seats in different types all add to the fun of learning
Another factor that may or may not be important to you is the social side. learning at an airfield with an active flying club can be a lot of fun, plenty of laughs, a chance to learn from other pilots plus the occasional offers spare seats in different types all add to the fun of learning
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Age: 54
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've got to admit Genghis is spot on, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
When I was looking for what I wanted to learn in, and where, I was looking at instructors (did I feel I got on with them) and planes. I was completely wowed by the eurostar, in comparison to not just other microlights, but cessnas etc.
is this the right decision? For now, yes. The right decision is the one that makes me want to go back. Will this be the right decision in 10 lessons time? Who knows, but I can make that decision then. The one thing I was sure of is that at the very beginning, before I have any knowledge of planes, feel for them, etc, the one thing that mattered to me was whether I wanted to go back for the next lesson, and still felt like a schoolboy!
Beyond that, I suspect that I will end up leaning towards something older once I know better. I regularly read posts by a Rans S6 flyer (is it Andrew?) and that he makes it sound like that is the right thing for me in the end.
But hey, whats wrong with making a decision on gut feel if it engages you?
I know one thing. Once I have more experience, I will be coming back to this forum, looking for advice from people like Genghis, Rod1, rans6andrew etc, (all who are VERY sound in their outlook, give good advice, and should be listened to) but for now, I'm happy!
IPZ
When I was looking for what I wanted to learn in, and where, I was looking at instructors (did I feel I got on with them) and planes. I was completely wowed by the eurostar, in comparison to not just other microlights, but cessnas etc.
is this the right decision? For now, yes. The right decision is the one that makes me want to go back. Will this be the right decision in 10 lessons time? Who knows, but I can make that decision then. The one thing I was sure of is that at the very beginning, before I have any knowledge of planes, feel for them, etc, the one thing that mattered to me was whether I wanted to go back for the next lesson, and still felt like a schoolboy!
Beyond that, I suspect that I will end up leaning towards something older once I know better. I regularly read posts by a Rans S6 flyer (is it Andrew?) and that he makes it sound like that is the right thing for me in the end.
But hey, whats wrong with making a decision on gut feel if it engages you?
I know one thing. Once I have more experience, I will be coming back to this forum, looking for advice from people like Genghis, Rod1, rans6andrew etc, (all who are VERY sound in their outlook, give good advice, and should be listened to) but for now, I'm happy!
IPZ
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Luton, UK
Age: 41
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree with everything thats been said. IanPZ, yes this is for now just my gut decision.. but also a decision made based on advice I got from a lot of people who have already flown in the eurostar from this forum as well as colleagues and friends. After the trial flight I will know firstly if I enjoy flying in that aircraft.. If thats a then I will see if I am happy with the instructor as well. I realise I need to get on with him/her for me to benefit fully. Both of those are key factors right now for me. Fenland Flyer, thats a very good point too about the social side of things. I never thought about that before so I will try and get more information from the clubs about that.
At the moment I have a trial lesson with flycb peterborough on sat (weather permitting) and then another one next week at exodus airsports. I will make the choice after the 2 lessons to go with one of these 2 schools. There is another place which Alan mentioned but its looking unlikely because they do not train in microlights.
I will always listen to the advice of the experienced people here such as genghis et al. Theres no doubt about that, and I want to thank all of you again for taking the time to help me. Im taking everything in believe me! I think as IanPZ said, I want to get my own experience in the trials first and see if I am also blown away like he was.. If I feel like a schoolboy again.. if I also have the desire to go back and do it once more.
then I will see if I am happy with the instructor as well. I realise I need to get on with him/her for me to benefit fully. Both of those are key factors right now for me. Fenland Flyer, thats a very good point too about the social side of things. I never thought about that before so I will try and get more information from the clubs about that. At the moment I have a trial lesson with flycb peterborough on sat (weather permitting) and then another one next week at exodus airsports. I will make the choice after the 2 lessons to go with one of these 2 schools. There is another place which Alan mentioned but its looking unlikely because they do not train in microlights.
I will always listen to the advice of the experienced people here such as genghis et al. Theres no doubt about that, and I want to thank all of you again for taking the time to help me. Im taking everything in believe me! I think as IanPZ said, I want to get my own experience in the trials first and see if I am also blown away like he was.. If I feel like a schoolboy again.. if I also have the desire to go back and do it once more.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Age: 54
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Chas, do wymcombe air park just charge for lessons, or do you have to buy into the syndicate before you can start, and then only pay for the actual instructor and wet time?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Luton, UK
Age: 41
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello
On sat i went down to peterborough all excited because the instructor there assured me the flight will be on in the morning. However, once I got there I was told its cancelled due to high winds but he insisted to go ahead with the "introductory flying day" anyways and talk about the course, the syllabus and costs etc. So we spent a good 2 hrs going through it all.
He then took me down to the bar area to buy me some lunch and did his very best to make me sign up haha. I didnt as I wanted to do my trial flight first to see if I liked it. Also I had major concerns about travel time as it took me 1.2 hrs to get there that day.
He didnt seem to happy about my concerns and that I didnt want to sign up and pay somethign up front. He didnt feel 1.2 hrs travel time was too much.
He took the money off me anyways as he said this was their policy. He rescheduled my trial flight for the coming saturday.. So i guess ill be traveling there again to do the flight. I honestly doubt I will be using them as my school and leaning much more towards Exodus which is just 20 mins away. Having said that, Peterborough business airport is very nice with 2 long fully lit concrete runways. Exodus is a small 330m grass strip which I have been assured is fine for the eurostar! I just think the distance is too great to travel to pborough.
Oh well, so no flight yet. I have a trial booked at exodus on wed afternoon but the forecast isnt looking too great. Then I have the trial at peterborough on sat which I have to do really because Ive paid for it. I just wish the instructor there would have told me before I drove all the way down that we wont be flying in the morning so I didnt have to spend money on petrol and the money for the "flying" day!
On sat i went down to peterborough all excited because the instructor there assured me the flight will be on in the morning. However, once I got there I was told its cancelled due to high winds but he insisted to go ahead with the "introductory flying day" anyways and talk about the course, the syllabus and costs etc. So we spent a good 2 hrs going through it all.
He then took me down to the bar area to buy me some lunch and did his very best to make me sign up haha. I didnt as I wanted to do my trial flight first to see if I liked it. Also I had major concerns about travel time as it took me 1.2 hrs to get there that day.
He didnt seem to happy about my concerns and that I didnt want to sign up and pay somethign up front. He didnt feel 1.2 hrs travel time was too much. He took the money off me anyways as he said this was their policy. He rescheduled my trial flight for the coming saturday.. So i guess ill be traveling there again to do the flight. I honestly doubt I will be using them as my school and leaning much more towards Exodus which is just 20 mins away. Having said that, Peterborough business airport is very nice with 2 long fully lit concrete runways. Exodus is a small 330m grass strip which I have been assured is fine for the eurostar! I just think the distance is too great to travel to pborough.
Oh well, so no flight yet. I have a trial booked at exodus on wed afternoon but the forecast isnt looking too great. Then I have the trial at peterborough on sat which I have to do really because Ive paid for it. I just wish the instructor there would have told me before I drove all the way down that we wont be flying in the morning so I didnt have to spend money on petrol and the money for the "flying" day!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Zeddie,
Light Sport Flying Club at Wycombe Air Park may well be a good option for you as you live in Luton. They operate four Eurostars and offer training for the NPPL (M) licence. The way it works is that you pay for training by the hour up to solo standard and then buy into a syndicate to continue the training, paying group wet rate for the aircraft plus an hourly rate for the instructor.
Have a look at their website http://www.lighsportflying.co.uk
Light Sport Flying Club at Wycombe Air Park may well be a good option for you as you live in Luton. They operate four Eurostars and offer training for the NPPL (M) licence. The way it works is that you pay for training by the hour up to solo standard and then buy into a syndicate to continue the training, paying group wet rate for the aircraft plus an hourly rate for the instructor.
Have a look at their website http://www.lighsportflying.co.uk
And don't pay for any significant flying up front if you can avoid it - this is universal to all flying, microlights or otherwise. The business is just to unstable to risk your money to somebody else's safekeeping.
G
G
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Age: 54
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ghengis. I took that to heart from your, and others posts I had read here. When I went to speak to Exodus about it, they actually said exactly the same. They would rather people pay on a per lesson basis, and as such, they offer a minimal discount for paying up front.
Their logic was that paying a large sum sets expectations of lessons, and ends up with the pupil feeling cheated when lessons are cancelled due to bad weather etc. Paying on a per lesson basis keeps the interest and engagement.
Funnily enough, I had the opposite experience to Zeddie this week just gone. I got to the airfield for my lesson, and the weather was marginal. The instructor offered me the option of cancelling, or going through the pre-flight briefing then, and seeing how the weather was when we had finished. We did the briefing, and the weather was still not up to much, so he said we'll cover the briefing again in summary before we fly this week.
I asked how much the lesson was since it was cut short, and he said "nothing. The briefing is part of the lesson."
Seems good to me. I get to cover the briefing twice, which gives me time for stuff to sink in this time, and then apply it next time, and no charge until we fly.
Fingers crossed that Thrusday stays fine enough for me to actually apply the stuff covered in the briefing!
Their logic was that paying a large sum sets expectations of lessons, and ends up with the pupil feeling cheated when lessons are cancelled due to bad weather etc. Paying on a per lesson basis keeps the interest and engagement.
Funnily enough, I had the opposite experience to Zeddie this week just gone. I got to the airfield for my lesson, and the weather was marginal. The instructor offered me the option of cancelling, or going through the pre-flight briefing then, and seeing how the weather was when we had finished. We did the briefing, and the weather was still not up to much, so he said we'll cover the briefing again in summary before we fly this week.
I asked how much the lesson was since it was cut short, and he said "nothing. The briefing is part of the lesson."
Seems good to me. I get to cover the briefing twice, which gives me time for stuff to sink in this time, and then apply it next time, and no charge until we fly.
Fingers crossed that Thrusday stays fine enough for me to actually apply the stuff covered in the briefing!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Luton, UK
Age: 41
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Genghis, thanks for the advice. I will not pay a large sum in advance even with the associated discounts that club seem to have. It was to his detriment because I was being pressured to pay and sign forms with the promise of a free flight case, books, flight computer and what not.. when i didnt even take a trial flight yet! When someone pressures me I dont like it.
Exodus sounds great IPZ. I cant WAIT to fly!! Enough chatting.. I want to fly!! lol
Exodus sounds great IPZ. I cant WAIT to fly!! Enough chatting.. I want to fly!! lol
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have flown a few hours in a Eurostar and rate it highly. The cockpit visibility is unsurpassed.
