'The Flying School' Documentary on Channel 5...
Carbonfibre-based lifeform
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Well done Steve! 
You've broken the back of it now! The rest of it is all fun since it all involves flying. The solo qualifying cross country may seem daunting, but if you do it with your instructor first and get familiar with the route, the landmarks and the airfields you'll be landing at then it should seem like much less of a hurdle.
Once you've been to an airfield once, got the hang of the joining procedures, the circuit, the taxiways and the holding points then it's always much less stressful when you go back there next time.
Going along as a passenger with other PPLs can be a good idea too when you're training. There's no pressure and nobody is judging you, but it can be a good chance to practice navigation, listen to (or help with) the RT calls and generally get used to being further away from home base. I certainly found it useful when I was training.
Please keep posting as you keep progressing through the training. There were quite a few students last year who were recording their progress - see sennadog's thread asking about the class of 2002.
PS - sorry I missed you on Friday. I did fly past Wycombe but had to press on so didn't have the time to drop in.
You've broken the back of it now! The rest of it is all fun since it all involves flying. The solo qualifying cross country may seem daunting, but if you do it with your instructor first and get familiar with the route, the landmarks and the airfields you'll be landing at then it should seem like much less of a hurdle.
Once you've been to an airfield once, got the hang of the joining procedures, the circuit, the taxiways and the holding points then it's always much less stressful when you go back there next time.
Going along as a passenger with other PPLs can be a good idea too when you're training. There's no pressure and nobody is judging you, but it can be a good chance to practice navigation, listen to (or help with) the RT calls and generally get used to being further away from home base. I certainly found it useful when I was training.
Please keep posting as you keep progressing through the training. There were quite a few students last year who were recording their progress - see sennadog's thread asking about the class of 2002.
PS - sorry I missed you on Friday. I did fly past Wycombe but had to press on so didn't have the time to drop in.
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Cheers Holdposition
Having just watched this courtesy of Holdposition (cheers HP - I owe you one), I think its the best bit of reality TV I've seen.
Best of luck Mr Teddy on your QXC - this was my favorite part of the course. Then again, I didn't have Luton to contend with
Best of luck Mr Teddy on your QXC - this was my favorite part of the course. Then again, I didn't have Luton to contend with
Well done on your progress so far Mr. Teddy. I've yet to see the video but have been assured that it is shuffling through the system towards me 
PS Don't listen to bcfc , Luton are very heplful. Well they've helped me a lot over the past few years
PS Don't listen to bcfc , Luton are very heplful. Well they've helped me a lot over the past few years
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I didn't mean to imply anything derogatory about Luton - When you see the tape LownSlow, you'll know what I mean.
I can supply a tape made by Holdposition if anyone is interested.
-bcfc
I can supply a tape made by Holdposition if anyone is interested.
-bcfc
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Thanks Again
Thank you once again to all those who have responded to my latest progress report...I am really pleased I was introduced to this site as it is a great source of encouragement.
Fly Stimulator...sorry you were unable to make it to Wycombe last Friday...perhaps some other time.
Regards,
Steve.
Fly Stimulator...sorry you were unable to make it to Wycombe last Friday...perhaps some other time.
Regards,
Steve.
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Mr Teddy - hi there! I just read your earlier post - it sounds like you've been given a bit of a rough ride if they portrayed you that way (I'm getting my copy of the tape from Fly Stimulator at LFAT this Saturday 
). We all, by definition, go through mistakes etc. while we are learning! Obvioulsy you're not going to let any of this put you off!
You'll have your license before long, I'm sure. I also fly from Wycombe (BAFC) and work in the City (near St. Pauls) so if you want to meet for a beer or lunch to discuss anything, then please let me know.
I'd also encourage you to think about coming along on our trip to Lubeck in May - would be a great way for a newly minted PPL to gain experience, within a group setting, of flight on the continent over this coming May Day bank holiday weekend - taking in Belgium, northern Germany and probably a little bit of Denmark.
Send me a PM or email [email protected] if interested mate,
Andy
). We all, by definition, go through mistakes etc. while we are learning! Obvioulsy you're not going to let any of this put you off!You'll have your license before long, I'm sure. I also fly from Wycombe (BAFC) and work in the City (near St. Pauls) so if you want to meet for a beer or lunch to discuss anything, then please let me know.
I'd also encourage you to think about coming along on our trip to Lubeck in May - would be a great way for a newly minted PPL to gain experience, within a group setting, of flight on the continent over this coming May Day bank holiday weekend - taking in Belgium, northern Germany and probably a little bit of Denmark.
Send me a PM or email [email protected] if interested mate,
Andy
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Saw the documentary!
Thanks Fly Stimulator for the tape you loaned me at Le Touquet - watched it tonight and really enjoyed it!
MR TEDDY - I thought you did well!
Found it hard watching the young girl go around twice on 1st solo - yikes!
Really enjoyed watching all the different people take their trial lessons - such a different range of responses, makes me want to take up instructing for the fun of it
Best to all,
Andy
MR TEDDY - I thought you did well!
Found it hard watching the young girl go around twice on 1st solo - yikes!
Really enjoyed watching all the different people take their trial lessons - such a different range of responses, makes me want to take up instructing for the fun of it
Best to all,
Andy
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Also just seen this. Mr Teddy, you came across very well, I thought. So what - you made a mistake - you're not perfect. Nobody is. I honestly think that if the program makers had wanted to portray you as an idiot they could have done a much better/worse job.
Good luck with the training - looking forward to seeing the mandatory 'skills test passed' post.
Good luck with the training - looking forward to seeing the mandatory 'skills test passed' post.
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Thanks to the good auspices of tKF, I managed to watch this around 10 days ago, but have been out of the country on business since.
Steve - I reckon you were doing just fine and congratulations on your progress since! You should soon be one of the class of 2003!
The ATC Screamer really got on my t*t$ - the instructor really earnt his pennies on that one!!
Steve - I reckon you were doing just fine and congratulations on your progress since! You should soon be one of the class of 2003!
The ATC Screamer really got on my t*t$ - the instructor really earnt his pennies on that one!!
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I disagree abou the "ATC screamer" - I kind of felt sorry for her (well, kinda - until they explained she was a prison officer 
) and it helped to remind me that some people really are that scared of flying, which is hard for us that just love it to understand!
) and it helped to remind me that some people really are that scared of flying, which is hard for us that just love it to understand!
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X COUNTRY QLFYR DONE AT LAST
At long last I completed my Cross Country Solo Qualifying flight on Tuesday 24th June! The trip took me from Wycombe to Cambridge, then onto Leicester and finally back to Wycombe.
The flight went well and was essentially uneventfull. The vis from Cambridge to Leicester did start to deteriorate around 15:00 but not sufficiently to hinder my progress even though there are few ground features along this portion of the route.
I finally returned to Wycombe with a sense of triumph and relief....so now it's hopefully just knuckling down for a week of GFT revision and basic instrument training around mid July and just maybe I might be approaching the final hurdle to my licence!!
The flight went well and was essentially uneventfull. The vis from Cambridge to Leicester did start to deteriorate around 15:00 but not sufficiently to hinder my progress even though there are few ground features along this portion of the route.
I finally returned to Wycombe with a sense of triumph and relief....so now it's hopefully just knuckling down for a week of GFT revision and basic instrument training around mid July and just maybe I might be approaching the final hurdle to my licence!!
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Well done Steve!
Funnily enough I was just wondering the other day how you were getting on, so it's good to know you're still at it and getting close to the licence.
Keep up the good work!
Funnily enough I was just wondering the other day how you were getting on, so it's good to know you're still at it and getting close to the licence.
Keep up the good work!
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Great stuff mate, well done.
Do you think you will be done in time to bring teddy to our fly-in at Compton Abbas at the end of August??
Do you think you will be done in time to bring teddy to our fly-in at Compton Abbas at the end of August??