LAI

I have very recently bought my first ever aircraft (for a training organisation that a few of us have recently started up) and, whilst looking through piles of old documents etc. I got to thinking about the history of the aircraft over the years.

All I can say is it's amazing what you can find on the internet nowadays, including some old pictures of her from when she was new (1970!).

Anyway, a bit of a long shot I know, but I thought it would be fun to start a thread and see if anyone in the PPRuNeosphere has flown our aircraft. It would be great to hear some stories of her past life. From what I have discovered, she has spent a large proportion of her career in training organisations, starting off at Oxford Air Training School, then moving up to Manchester School of Flying for many years.

So, if you have ever flown PA-28 G-AXJX then perhaps you could tell us about your time in her!


A photo from her early days with CSE/Oxford

piperboy84

One of things that strikes in this photo from what I assume is the 70's or 80's is that the FBO/school that operated those aircraft had them painted and in their fleet colours and livery (I don't think that was standard Piper finish). This may give an indication as to the economics of GA then compared to now. I doubt any school would go to such lengths considering the margins nowadays.

JW411

Just a word of caution; I bought my first aeroplane and leased it to a flying club when I wasn't using it. The club went bust and I got stuffed with £2,500 worth of unpaid landing fees and parking fees (which are tied to the airframe and not the club - unlike fuel). Then I discovered that the club had an account with a nearby airfield and that cost me another £1,000.

ETOPS

Used to fly the MSF Cherokees but in 1974 - so just missed 'JX

They used G-AVWD..



And G-BBDC..

LAI

It's definitely an interesting colour scheme piperboy! A good point too, though as far as economics go, Oxford were (and are) one of the largest commercial training organisations in the UK. So they could probably afford it better than the average GA club!

JW - what a sorry state of affairs to be dumped in. In my case, the training organisation and aircraft owners are all the same people, so the buck stops with us on both sides (for better or worse!).

ETOPS - some nice looking aircraft there. I wonder if they are both still flying?

1 to go

LAI, Thank you for the photograph of the PA28-140, it brought the memories flooding back and I went searching in the cupboards to find my logbooks, as I did a CPL & IR course at Oxford in 1969/70. Sadly I did not fly your aircraft as I finished the single engine stuff in November 69 but I flew G-AXJV on my last cross country from Oxford to Halfpenny Green and return on the 30 October 69.
Progress in professional flying was much easier in those days. I finished the course in February 1970 and immediately got a job on a DH Dove from there I moved to BUIA, Tradewinds, Britannia, Kuwait Airways, Emirates and Airbus retiring after a full career at 68.
Good luck with the aircraft.

Buttino

BBDC currently lives at Earls Colne, my instructor owns it!

ETOPS

And 'VWD still going strong with over 40 years flying!!

LAI

1 to go, no problem. It's nice to reminisce sometimes and thank you for sharing yours. Sounds like you had a very interesting career! I have sat in the cockpit of a Dove (climbing over the spar in the middle of the cabin was interesting!), but never flown in one. 'JX is now based at Kemble with us, so not too far from where she started her career!

Buttino and ETOPS - it's nice to know these aircraft are still going strong. I often think it's amazing that there are still so many of these 40+ year-old aircraft in regular use. Imagine if there were the same proportion of similarly aged cars on the road, for instance!