A year of flying
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Norfolk
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This time last year I wrote:
Well next year is already pretty mapped out: more of the above and an upgrade of my provisional DA to a real DA
PLUS
sometime between Chrimbo and New Year I take delivery of a 40' ICAO container and spend 2004, 2005 and a bit of 2006 cutting, shaping and welding all the bits in the box together to make an aeroplane again!! And again - as I bought enough 4130, T6/T3 ally and spruce to make two!
2004
Funny how some things don't go to plan!
Okay so the project made great progress until the PFA Rally when I become involved with a rebuild of a factory built Pitts S2A. Still far too heavily involved for my liking but expect the aircraft to be out of my hangar/hair/mind by New Year! Yes, the repair work will have covered my entire flying budget but was it really worth it as I have had less time to enjoy doing what I like!?
My DA, what a saga! All the DAE's have been very helpful but it was not until I secured the services of Harpo (JH) early last month that I was happy with a routine. JH came to stay for a couple of nights and we quickly got down to a safe beginner's DA aerobatic sequence. It has an avalanche, a shark's tooth, a couple of flicks on downlines and lots of swooping and looping.
It won't knock Will Curtis off his perch OR even turn his head but it's just a bit of serious fun.
We went and flew it together a few times, JH announced thet he was happy and all I had to do the next morning was to show him my spin recovery (he would be on the ground) and then run through the sequence with him on the crowd line...
next morning - fog all day, following morning fog all day... JH had an appointment with Benjie from the Tiger Club, so I took him to Norwich railstation in the car! JH lives hundreds of miles away and won't be in East Anglia until next spring but has put me in touch with his mate PK (Kynsey) so I hope to sort this next step out within the next few weeks. Also learnt how to do tailslides with JH and Lomcevaks!
On a positive note, this year have overcome my fear of inverted spinning and have begun to experiment with Lomcevaks.
Had an amazing 7 ship Pitts fly-out to France (article to appear in your favourite flying-comic in the new year!)
And I may or may not have gone to Curtis Pitts' birthday party in Ozark, Alabama.
And I may or may not have met a wonderful girly or two!
2005
2 or 3 small airshows
work up to my formation DA with Pitts 2112
wings built for my project
Stik
Well next year is already pretty mapped out: more of the above and an upgrade of my provisional DA to a real DA
PLUS
sometime between Chrimbo and New Year I take delivery of a 40' ICAO container and spend 2004, 2005 and a bit of 2006 cutting, shaping and welding all the bits in the box together to make an aeroplane again!! And again - as I bought enough 4130, T6/T3 ally and spruce to make two!
2004
Funny how some things don't go to plan!
Okay so the project made great progress until the PFA Rally when I become involved with a rebuild of a factory built Pitts S2A. Still far too heavily involved for my liking but expect the aircraft to be out of my hangar/hair/mind by New Year! Yes, the repair work will have covered my entire flying budget but was it really worth it as I have had less time to enjoy doing what I like!?
My DA, what a saga! All the DAE's have been very helpful but it was not until I secured the services of Harpo (JH) early last month that I was happy with a routine. JH came to stay for a couple of nights and we quickly got down to a safe beginner's DA aerobatic sequence. It has an avalanche, a shark's tooth, a couple of flicks on downlines and lots of swooping and looping.
It won't knock Will Curtis off his perch OR even turn his head but it's just a bit of serious fun.
We went and flew it together a few times, JH announced thet he was happy and all I had to do the next morning was to show him my spin recovery (he would be on the ground) and then run through the sequence with him on the crowd line...
next morning - fog all day, following morning fog all day... JH had an appointment with Benjie from the Tiger Club, so I took him to Norwich railstation in the car! JH lives hundreds of miles away and won't be in East Anglia until next spring but has put me in touch with his mate PK (Kynsey) so I hope to sort this next step out within the next few weeks. Also learnt how to do tailslides with JH and Lomcevaks!
On a positive note, this year have overcome my fear of inverted spinning and have begun to experiment with Lomcevaks.
Had an amazing 7 ship Pitts fly-out to France (article to appear in your favourite flying-comic in the new year!)
And I may or may not have gone to Curtis Pitts' birthday party in Ozark, Alabama.
And I may or may not have met a wonderful girly or two!
2005
2 or 3 small airshows
work up to my formation DA with Pitts 2112
wings built for my project
Stik
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kilmacolm
Age: 47
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From the other thread I found the list of things I would like to have done this year (2004):
Well taking the above list into consideration, I have acheived not much in the way of what I had planned for this year.
For next year (2005):
Oh well I've gone and said what I hope will happen... most of last years didn't come true... hopefully this lot will instead!!!
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.
- ATPL Written Exams (at least the first module)
- FAA Multi Add-On
- FAA Sea Plane Rating
- Maybe an FAA CFI ticket as well
- A shed load of hours...
- Lots of time in America
- Find an N reg aeroplane to buy a share in...
- Above all else... safe flying.
Well taking the above list into consideration, I have acheived not much in the way of what I had planned for this year.
- I've enrolled and studying the 1st module of the ATPL Exams
- Added a Multi Addon to my FAA CPL/IR back in July
- Didn't have time whilst in Florida for a Sea Plane Rating.
- The CFI ticket went out of the window when I started the ATPL
- Flew about 100 hours in total.
- Only 20 hours or so in the USA.
- Haven't bought a share in an N reg aeroplane.
- Yes most of my flying has been safe... I hope!
- Attempted to land a tailwheel with varying degrees of success (or rather failure).
- Changed base airports from Cardiff to Swansea.
For next year (2005):
- Most importantly I will pass all 14 of the ATPL exams (fingers crossed).
- Complete the conversion course to JAA CPL/IR and FI(R).
- Will visit Jack Browns for an FAA Sea Plane Rating.
- Haven't used my Northern England chart yet so will do before the new one is due out...
- Would like 700 hours (minimum for Single Pilot IFR Air Taxi work) by the end of 2005... only 100 to go.
Oh well I've gone and said what I hope will happen... most of last years didn't come true... hopefully this lot will instead!!!
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.
PPruNaholic!
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Buckinghamshire
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Another great year!
Roll on 2005!
Andy
- maintained ~40 hrs yearly average
- nudging 200 hrs TT
- did Project Propeller again!
- mixed results with foreign trips this year... failed to get to France & Channel Islands this year as planned - we were weathered off on both attempts...
- but enjoyed a number of great flights in anda round San Francisco bay area, especially with wife & kids on hols there in August (see photo below over Golden Gate!)
- Finally started IMC rating - loving it! Should be finished in January (2 hrs to go, ground exam passed)
Roll on 2005!
Andy
PPRuNe Enigma
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Been a great year so far:
- Flew my 400th hour on my 10th anniversary
- Kept both R22 and R44 ratings current
- Did my JetRanger conversion
- . . . and survived my first PPRuNe bash !
- Build to 50 JetRanger Hours
- Round UK tour
- Juggle all three type ratings
- . . . and maybe, finally, get an answer from the CAA and get started on my Instructor's rating !
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Well, I've had a very enjoyable year all in all.
1. 91 hours flown (so far!) and hoping to get to the 100 with a few more frosty mornings and a two week holiday coming up.
2. Have owned three different a/c this year and have found a whole new world after I did my....
3. Tailwheel conversion completed in June. Suddenly realised that flying can be challenging and fun again.
4. Passed the 750 hour mark (P1)
5. Survived an EFATO and have spent many hours reflecting on the event. My theory about them is that I don't have one. When it's going to happen it's just going to happen and you will do your very best when it does.
6. Discovered Luscombes (if ONLY I'd found them 12 years ago and I could have 12 more years of REAL fun).
7. Went to a PPRuNe fly-in.
8. Went to PFA Rally for the first (and probably last time).
9. Took five kids flying to see them smile.
10. Took their Mums flying to make me smile
Here's wishing you all the very best for next year. Those of you who are going "all ATPL'ish" on us, come back now and again and remember where you came from!!!
1. 91 hours flown (so far!) and hoping to get to the 100 with a few more frosty mornings and a two week holiday coming up.
2. Have owned three different a/c this year and have found a whole new world after I did my....
3. Tailwheel conversion completed in June. Suddenly realised that flying can be challenging and fun again.
4. Passed the 750 hour mark (P1)
5. Survived an EFATO and have spent many hours reflecting on the event. My theory about them is that I don't have one. When it's going to happen it's just going to happen and you will do your very best when it does.
6. Discovered Luscombes (if ONLY I'd found them 12 years ago and I could have 12 more years of REAL fun).
7. Went to a PPRuNe fly-in.
8. Went to PFA Rally for the first (and probably last time).
9. Took five kids flying to see them smile.
10. Took their Mums flying to make me smile
Here's wishing you all the very best for next year. Those of you who are going "all ATPL'ish" on us, come back now and again and remember where you came from!!!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ready to Depart
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This has been a most odd year. I've achieved such a lot, but feel like I've done no flying at all!!
Firstly, I did my JAA CPL and IR between March and July, did my night rating in August (yes, that is in the wrong order - don't ask), and then the MCC in October.
All this flying... but hardly any of it was the fun flying that I've enjoyed in MY aeroplane! Of course, I flew 85 hours for my CPL/IR, but if you asked me how many hours I've flown this year, my initial reaction would be "about 20", because that's all I've done in the Jodel
The best part of the whole flying course this year was the MCC (with AFT incase you wanted to know). Such fun, hard work - but without any of the pressure - such is training to a fixed budget!! I really enjoyed my two weeks.
The most memorable moments though are:
1) IR Test - Initiating the go-arround from Asym ILS, looking up as the screens came down, and seeing the runway a long, long, long way away: I'd mis-read the altimeter by 1000'...
2) MCC Course: Flicking the "cabin notification" switch, and hearing a "bong" in the background. oh yeah, NOW I feel like a professional pilot!!
3) First cloud break over an 8/8th layer. It's ALWAYS sunny up there folks.
4) 20 minute flight in a friends (freshly imported) RV4; Where do I sign?
What next then? For 2005:
1) Get a job. Turboprops would be nice.
2) Buy share in RV4 (as soon as it's back on the register).
3) Aerobatics. I'm gonna get myself seriously good in that RV4! Enter a competion.
4) Try and be happy: The financial strain I'm under now is REALLY getting me down. I've never been more qualified to fly than I can now, and as a result, I can't afford to fly. Welcome to wannabe hell
Firstly, I did my JAA CPL and IR between March and July, did my night rating in August (yes, that is in the wrong order - don't ask), and then the MCC in October.
All this flying... but hardly any of it was the fun flying that I've enjoyed in MY aeroplane! Of course, I flew 85 hours for my CPL/IR, but if you asked me how many hours I've flown this year, my initial reaction would be "about 20", because that's all I've done in the Jodel
The best part of the whole flying course this year was the MCC (with AFT incase you wanted to know). Such fun, hard work - but without any of the pressure - such is training to a fixed budget!! I really enjoyed my two weeks.
The most memorable moments though are:
1) IR Test - Initiating the go-arround from Asym ILS, looking up as the screens came down, and seeing the runway a long, long, long way away: I'd mis-read the altimeter by 1000'...
2) MCC Course: Flicking the "cabin notification" switch, and hearing a "bong" in the background. oh yeah, NOW I feel like a professional pilot!!
3) First cloud break over an 8/8th layer. It's ALWAYS sunny up there folks.
4) 20 minute flight in a friends (freshly imported) RV4; Where do I sign?
What next then? For 2005:
1) Get a job. Turboprops would be nice.
2) Buy share in RV4 (as soon as it's back on the register).
3) Aerobatics. I'm gonna get myself seriously good in that RV4! Enter a competion.
4) Try and be happy: The financial strain I'm under now is REALLY getting me down. I've never been more qualified to fly than I can now, and as a result, I can't afford to fly. Welcome to wannabe hell
Join Date: May 2003
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Well this year has been a great year for me since it marked the end of a long struggle to get my class 1 medical and so allowing me to start what I have been dreaming of doing for the past 20 years.
I finally got my medical in July and so I could start making more solid plans (then just my vague thoughts before my medical)
Started my PPL at the beginning of October and since then I have got 26 hours TT with 2.5 solo. I've passed airlaw, met and aircraft gen all with >90%.
Next year I'd like to finish my PPL, get a night rating and maybe a IMC, start AND finish my ATPL exams and depending on how long all that takes start my hour building and CPL/IR course.
I finally got my medical in July and so I could start making more solid plans (then just my vague thoughts before my medical)
Started my PPL at the beginning of October and since then I have got 26 hours TT with 2.5 solo. I've passed airlaw, met and aircraft gen all with >90%.
Next year I'd like to finish my PPL, get a night rating and maybe a IMC, start AND finish my ATPL exams and depending on how long all that takes start my hour building and CPL/IR course.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Horsham UK
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Hmm well last year I whinged about some lows...not flying enough...not doing the taildragger conversion etc
This year's lows are... still not flying enough
But the highlights were....
Got the tail drag sign off (probably going to turn that into a story for a flying comic)
Added following types to log book
ATR42-500
PZL M28 (Polish built AN28)
Actually this was only yesterday. One of those 'life is good' moments. Picture the scene if you will bit claggy in Paris we'd waited all morning for the wx to get above Cat 1. Finally got off the deck just after lunch. Blatted off from Le Bourget bit of dodging around CDG do a missed approach at Pontoise then back to Le B. flying the ILS to 07 then it occurs to me..."here I am flying an ILS to minimums in an aircraft I've never flown before...over one of the world's great cities (visible through the gunk from time to time) and I'm at WORK!!!!"
But a bit of a low... asked if I wanted to go on the delivery flight to US leaving this morning Paris to Naples FL via Wick, Keflavik, Nansauraq (sp), Goose Bay, Bangor, etc but had to say no cos I've got other work commitments for this week grrrr... (could have made a good story too)
Plans for next year...
Fly more
Do AOPA aeros course
Add EMB190 to log book (for FTR)
Do an M28 transatlantic delivery (this time to French Guyana)
This year's lows are... still not flying enough
But the highlights were....
Got the tail drag sign off (probably going to turn that into a story for a flying comic)
Added following types to log book
ATR42-500
PZL M28 (Polish built AN28)
Actually this was only yesterday. One of those 'life is good' moments. Picture the scene if you will bit claggy in Paris we'd waited all morning for the wx to get above Cat 1. Finally got off the deck just after lunch. Blatted off from Le Bourget bit of dodging around CDG do a missed approach at Pontoise then back to Le B. flying the ILS to 07 then it occurs to me..."here I am flying an ILS to minimums in an aircraft I've never flown before...over one of the world's great cities (visible through the gunk from time to time) and I'm at WORK!!!!"
But a bit of a low... asked if I wanted to go on the delivery flight to US leaving this morning Paris to Naples FL via Wick, Keflavik, Nansauraq (sp), Goose Bay, Bangor, etc but had to say no cos I've got other work commitments for this week grrrr... (could have made a good story too)
Plans for next year...
Fly more
Do AOPA aeros course
Add EMB190 to log book (for FTR)
Do an M28 transatlantic delivery (this time to French Guyana)
Simplicate and Add Lightness
Join Date: Apr 2002
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It's been a strange year, this time last year I said...
I've only achieved two of those - and one of them wasn't (really) flying-related 
The highlights of the year have to be the Dawn to Dusk Challenge - which was completed despite an alternator failure, and a magical trip to L2K 4-up where everything just 'went right' for the whole day.
Lowlight is the number of hours logged - only about 40. This was mainly due to a change in circumstances which led to me changing location.
However, I am now a part-owner of a TB-10, so...
Looking forwards:
* Finish IMC.
* Have a couple of glider lessons
* Do a long international trip (Estonia?)
* Visit friends near Aberdeen
* Maybe think about a faster steed
And finally - get my front teeth fixed properly
* Have a couple of glider lessons
* Do a long international trip (Estonia?)
* Visit friends near Aberdeen
* Maybe think about a faster steed
And finally - get my front teeth fixed properly
The highlights of the year have to be the Dawn to Dusk Challenge - which was completed despite an alternator failure, and a magical trip to L2K 4-up where everything just 'went right' for the whole day.
Lowlight is the number of hours logged - only about 40. This was mainly due to a change in circumstances which led to me changing location.
However, I am now a part-owner of a TB-10, so...
Looking forwards:
- Remember to renew licence in February!
- Finish the IMCR
- Get to know my new steed
- Learn the circuit patterns at WW!
- The south of France beckons
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Alrighty then...
2004 Achievements
Passed PPL
Tailwheel conversion
First cross channel trip
Introduced to a Yak (cheers LT! )
Convinced Ms BM to come flying with me
2005 Goals
More Cubbage
Convert Ms BM into Mrs BM, and convince her that accompanying me on a 25hr hour-building jolly round the US when we're on honeymoon is actually a good idea
Finally take BM Jnr up with me for his first go
Maybe a little bit of Chipmunkery
And of course...
Keep myself in one piece so that I'm able to set myself some 2006 goals this time next year!
BM
2004 Achievements
Passed PPL
Tailwheel conversion
First cross channel trip
Introduced to a Yak (cheers LT!
)Convinced Ms BM to come flying with me
2005 Goals
More Cubbage
Convert Ms BM into Mrs BM, and convince her that accompanying me on a 25hr hour-building jolly round the US when we're on honeymoon is actually a good idea
Finally take BM Jnr up with me for his first go
Maybe a little bit of Chipmunkery
And of course...
Keep myself in one piece so that I'm able to set myself some 2006 goals this time next year!
BM
High Flying Bird
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Last year I said:
Well, I didn't do any motor gliding. However, I did finish my tailwheel conversion. I got a job... AND it was at an airfield... BUT it doesn't pay enough for much flying, and certainly not an IMC.
What I have done is:
Next year:
There's no point being too optimistic.
Next year:
- Do some motor gliding (cos it's cheap!)
- Finish tailwheel conversion
- Start IMC
- Try out some new aircraft!
- Go to more fly-ins
- Fly as much as possible...
What I have done is:
- Bought a share
- Tailwheel differences
- Microlight differences
- Logged some P1
- Logged two new aircraft types.
Next year:
- Dawn to Dusk again??
- Finish Chipmunk conversion
- Fly something exotic.
There's no point being too optimistic.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
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This time last year I was about 1/2 way through PPL training.
PPL attained April this year (2004)!
Since then, I have taken several friends on flights and convinced one to attain her PPL. (She has already started training).
The furthest I have ventured is Peterborough Connington!
Next year.....
1)I would like to get an IMC.
2)Fly abroad..possibly France.
Hope you all have a great festive season and fulfill your dreams in 2005
PPL attained April this year (2004)!
Since then, I have taken several friends on flights and convinced one to attain her PPL. (She has already started training).
The furthest I have ventured is Peterborough Connington!
Next year.....
1)I would like to get an IMC.
2)Fly abroad..possibly France.
Hope you all have a great festive season and fulfill your dreams in 2005
Join Date: Dec 2004
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This year I secured my Night Qual.
Next year I intend to fly over to Ireland;
Start my ATPL exams;
Complete an IMC Rating;
Convert onto the C172.
Good luck to everyone with their plans.
Next year I intend to fly over to Ireland;
Start my ATPL exams;
Complete an IMC Rating;
Convert onto the C172.
Good luck to everyone with their plans.
