The helicopter chap Xrayalpha refers to was me. Sorry to hear you are having trouble Valve Guide. For me its just a case of swinging around Strathaven which is hardly much of a detour. I do take on board all points raised here, but at least I got a coffee from Xray and no bad feelings ...I think. Xray has a point in that we want to remain safe and if doing a little detour assists that then surely its worth it. With regard to bumpy in the hills I thought those 3 bladed Enstroms were supposed to be great for that unlike my 2 bladed robbie.

Thanks for the coffee Xray, remember if I can help you out with any printing let me know. Incidently one of your guys, well a microlite anyway flew over my house today from west to east at about 300ft, time 12 noon!!! Doesn't bother me but not good practise. It was red, maybe they're all red who knows!

No, you're not.:}

Well had our meeting and all seems to be ok. Mrs X apologised and we have increased the ATC awareness and will fly VFR not above 3000ft. Take your point BVGS and yes the Enstrom is far better than Robbies in turbulence, better all round I'd say but then I would.

Xrayalpha, just a comment from ATC which you may wish to comment on. They have said that they think it totally irresponsible for any form of aircraft to be flying just outside controlled airspace without speaking to them, even just to say we are operating at XYZ at altitudes of ABC so that they can inform other trafic who don't mind "control" to be aware of the possible dangers in that airspace. One of the dangers pointed out in using Safety.com is that due to its nature there is no conformation that your call has been heard or that 2 people talk at once both thinking they've been heard. Mrs X agreed to call the each and every day to tell them when they were active and when they had finished. ATC advised that I call on their microlite freq and advise of my routing etc before going back to ATC for FIS. Bottom line tell as many as you can. Sounds sensible to me but perhaps not to you if you don't like the "control" aspect.

Final point to BVGS. How are your blades, hear they are delaminating all over the place and the crap I here about Enstroms at least we don't have a 12 year life and our blades last at least 3 times as long as the robbies if they ever meet there 2200 hours.

Thanks for asking my blades are fine!! Sorry you have a problem with Robbies and with regard to the blades not lasting how's your turbocharged engine, going to make it to its 1500 hour overhaul.........don't think so?? I think they all have their problems just in different places. Fly safe.