I recently logged the 100th hour in my logbook, since first setting out in the R22. It wasn’t much of a celebration, not in comparison to the qualifying cross country, first solo, or the skills test.. but it was still a milestone in its own right. In fact it marked that I almost have 2/3rds […]

This one had been a long time coming. I grew up around the 206, more specifically two of them. G-BEWY and G-MFMF (below) were pivotal in my youth, they were the first helicopters I ever spent considerable time around when they were turning and burning. I was 12, shaved head, in Helicopter Museum overalls, watching […]

Earlier in the year, I flew into the Historic Helicopters open day at Chard on what must have been the windiest day of the year so far. There I met John and Adrian, die hard helicopter enthusiasts, and as it transpired, helicopter owners.. of an original Saunders Roe Skeeter (be it not a flyable one!). […]

The Planning Another whistle stop weekend to pack in as much flying as possible! I had to formally revalidate on the R44 this weekend now my licence had arrived back with the endorsement on it, ‘if you haven’t flown an aircraft in the last 28 days, you need to do at least half an hour […]

As with all of these adventures, they start off from a crazy idea or a funny thought.. then develop, until someone either poopoos the idea or they take it seriously. I often use my instructor as a keenness buffer, where he either curtails my ambition if an idea gets too far fetched or he rides […]

I joined the helicopter museum when I was 12, knowing nothing about helicopters. I remember, meeting Steve Whittaker the restoration manager, the rain was absolutely pouring down outside, and he walked into the café, in fisherman’s waterproofs that were bright yellow. He was so welcoming and we sat and chatted over a cup of tea.. […]

It was an early start at Gloucester, departing by 0900h to get in the air. PPR for Yeovilton had been sought prior and a quick phone call to let them know we were departing was made. We booked out to the south with a time en route as an hour and fuel endurance as two. […]

Sunday started even colder, the outside registered -3 on the drive upto Gloucester. The intention today, was to take 2 friends up to Lake Vyrnwy (https://www.lakevyrnwy.com) and pop into Shobdon on the return leg. Company policy states that self fly hire to Lake Vyrnwy isn’t permitted so Doug came along too.  After a very chilly […]

Saturday morning was fresh, with snow still on the ground covering the South West of England. The plan for the day was to take the R22 into Urchinwood Manor; a private site just under and to the south of the Bristol Airport 27 climbout (http://www.urchinwoodmanor.co.uk). We would then head across into Wales and seek out […]

I was straight back into the cockpit after Christmas, the 2nd January to be precise. I had last flown around 12 days earlier in my PPL skills test in the R22 and was now setting out to fly the R44. I was lucky enough, at this stage of my flying to already have close to […]