I was always led to believe the Banjo was the hight of decadence :E











Fly the dream fly 500

'Blimey! I take my hat off to all you 'self improvers'!

I'm glad I took the easy military option!:)

Have been obsessed with helicopters all my life , programs like Skippy and The Whirlybirds stirring my original interest .Started using parts from model planes to cobble together semi successful flyings model helicopters at about age 12. Went on to afford proper Rc helicopters , great fun. About 1996 after saving for a couple of years working overtime etc went to Sloanes and got my ppl h in about six months thanks CH staying at The Aviator what bliss ( I had to commute from Scotland ).
About four years ago after a bit of a struggle ie lots of extra tests and money for same I got my class 1 medical and started a correspondence course with Bristol but with the pressure of running my own buisness It was slow slow progress, then came along the kids which are great along with supportive wife but no nearer CPL H .Having fun in the meantime though lots of flying experience approx 500 hr mark inc turbine time.
Then June 2008 got medical suspended with I have to say a surprisingly compassionate letter from CAA. Lots more tests and money and at least initially the specialist assured me I wasn't going to drop dead but still no medical.
The week before Christmas my wife asked what I would like for Christmas and I replied my medical.That night at our staff night out got a call from the specialist said CAA had advised him they would be prepared to allow class 2 medical with annual test. Happy Christmas to me ! .
Got class 2 renewed that week and on 23/12/08 got renewed licence so back beloved flying again .
NO chance of ever getting a class 1 so no CPL but ho hum I can still fly .
Story so far
R.

Rinker..good on you!

Following the thread keeps reminding me of all the little set backs along the way,2 weeks after passing all my exams the CAA informed me that I had "right bundle branch block with left axis deviation" oh no :\ 18 months of study and heartache down the pan :ugh:.Luckily got checked out and all was ok apart from being trousered for £750.00 from a heart specialist who confirmed I was in good working order!

Like I said at the start, setbacks have been numerous!!

Enjoy your flying

Yeah I remember very easily failing a class 1 before it all got started. but perserverance , paid, even if it was a breathtaking bit of brinkmanship that pulled it off, and an allegiance to the USA doc that cleared me, that I will never forget.

WRT to the quote below;

I have to comment, and to quote a recent quote, - I don't want to burst your bubble - , but knowing one of the said SKIPPY pilots very well, that your command of the English language and memory recall would have to put him well in the shade.

Fable has it that he had two words to remember, one each of which was taped in big letters to the toes of each of his shoes.
standing by for the mortars.

Anyone fancy a Lotus Exige........then I could afford an intensive course of training!

Started PPL(H) in 1998, obtained in 1999. Then onto CPL which I obtained in 2004. No work but told if I do ground crew and some running about work in 2005. Did base check in March 2005 then medical withdrawn due to heart problem. Class 1 (OML) issued in 2007 then that was withdrawn early 2008.
Lots of work done on my heart and both my consultants have written to CAA to say that I fit to fly or anything I want.
Now living in the US and I will never give up, I will fly again!!!
I must say that all this time my wife Dawn has been my no.1 supporter and financial backer.
Also thanks to all who have helped me so far.
I am now 48 so getting on abit.
Happy new year
Jarvy

Hi whirlygig, guess the old military pilots had a really easy time getting into the flying game in the dim distant past around the late 60’s and into the 70’s. An invitation from Uncle Sam to join a rather exclusive club. Free flying lesions and beer money and then off to play in Nam. The clock it seems has repeated itself with the young lads presently involved in the military and enjoying the opportunity to fly free.


Outhouse.
:ok:

The Long Road (Short Version)
 

My road started in England after I failed the 11+ and was told that I could only be a blue collar worker. No GCE then for secondary school students, so not many options.
Joined the RAF as Boy Entrant Airframe and after service worked at BAC on Concorde. BAC was affiliated with Bristol and West Flying club and for 9 pounds an hour I got my PPL. (Before you think 9 pounds cheap I was only gettin 21 pounds as an Inspector and that included 30% night shift allowance)
Sold all I had and headed to US with 300 pounds.
Arrived in NY in December 70 and had a Greyhound bus ride to California. ( The only good part of the bus ride was carnal knowledge of my first US female somewhere between Ohio and ? ) " I just love your accent" , anyway I digress.
Gained CPL (A) at Sierra Academy in Oakland and ran out of money.
Took a job as a mechanic in a local hanger ($2.50 per hour), managed 50 apartments and painted apartments in my spare time.
1973 and forward saw a downturn in pilots and the fuel shortage was looming.
Along came a guy from Bristows who had arrived in Oakland to hire helicopter pilots ( Jack Brannan ) get your helicopter licence he says, we will hire you as soon as you arrive back on the old sod.
Well worked at the local school (Astrocopters) for pennies but one weeks work would get me one hour of flight time. Following my CPL(H) I worked and scrounged a hundred hours and went back home cap in hand.
Bristow then proceeded to tell me that I needed a UK CPL. Well I had hitch hiked to Redhill so I can assure you their was noooooo money.

With my last 3 pounds 10 shillings I place an add in the sponsership section of Flight International. 7 days later I was waiting for a validation on my FAA licence so I could fly for a company in Northhampton.

Well the rest is history and here we are 40 years later, 14,000+ and still loving it.

For you young guys coming up, never loose track of your goals, they are achievable if you want them bad enough. Times can be tough, but you can make it happen.
Like I said this is the short version, a lot happened along the way to get me here today, but that maybe is for a later date.

Hi Outhouse, I hope you're not being as serious as I wasn't? :}

Cheers

Whirls

Hi guys, new member here. I was just wondering that with a few of you you have gone through the PPL only to fail the Class 1 medical (or have it revoked due to unforeseen circumstances) is it a possibility to do the Class 1 medical at the outset of training? How long is it applicable for before another one must be done?
I can't find any details for this on the CAA website and I think it might save me some potential heartache to see to this aspect of training as early as possible.
Thanks.

My understanding is you can try to obtain a class 1 at any time, it is valid for 5 years ,however if you are flying class 1 it has to be revalidated every 12 months but if you are not flying commercially you can downgrade to class 2 as long as you keep that current. If you revalidate the class 1 within 5 years with your local caa approved doc you don,t need to go back to Gatwick.

hope that helps:ok:

Nehp2 thanks!
By my reckoning then I should be able to have a Class 1 medical (to make sure that I will be able to pass) then take up to five years to qualify before having to do it again. If I pass CPL before then and start work then I would have to renew it annually. Suits me.

Hi Whirls,
Never serious just poking the ants nest, have fun.

outhouse
:sad:

I went and got my class 1 before undertaking ppl(h), got that, went and got ppl(h) and have just let it lapse while doing cpl(h) groundschool, I believe you need it to undertake cpl(h) flight training, if not certainly for cpl skills test.

An itial Class 1 is done at Gatwick, thats valid for 12 months, you can exercise class 2 privilages for 60 months, you only need it revalidating by an approved body. I know a doctor around the corner who will do mine when I need it, far less involved in revalidation than the initial, i.e no ecg's etc on reval, but it all depends on your age.

How old are you Rudiger?

Expanding slightly on the post above, you can exercise class 2 priviledges for 60 months (5 years) IF you are under 30. Over 30, it drops to 2 years, then 1 year when you hit 50.

"Expanding slightly on the post above, you can exercise class 2 priviledges for 60 months (5 years) IF you are under 30. Over 30, it drops to 2 years, then 1 year when you hit 50."

Exactly as I stated: but it all depends on your age.

How old are you Rudiger?

R44

Id be concerned about your eye sight if you can't see it clearly says hes 27 under his name :p

Dave

:ugh::ugh:LOL, dont tend to look at the info bit.... but i'll get them tested again......:8

Hi guys, thanks for the useful advice (and sorry for somewhat highjacking the thread). I'm 27 so think I'll be heading down to Gatwick sooner rather than later.