Oaksey Park and Cefn Shepherds Hut

At a recent work trip to Brest, I was discussing the drift/steerage angles due to tidal stream and currents. I related it to flying and it transpired the operator of the software was also an aviator! (Be it of the inferior fixed wing variety). We didn’t get much time if any, to discuss flying any […]

Shobdon Food Festival

I am particularly fond of Shobdon, nestled away in the valley off the Western tip of Leominster. It was the first Aerodrome I ever did a landaway with my instructor and it was the first stop on my Qualifying Cross Country, before the onward flight to Wellesbourne and back to Gloucester. I’ve been back many […]

HeliPicnic in Weston-super-Mare

Somerset has been my playground since I was 7 after I moved to Weston-super-Mare as a young boy. I went on to live in Taunton, Yeovil, Burnham, Halse and many places in between as I grew up and started to explore and work. It’s a beautiful part of the country, steeped in aviation history and […]

Blackmore Farm Overnight Stay

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 […]

JetRanger Rating

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 […]

Craysmarsh Farm And Wellesbourne

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 Classic Motor Hub and Bidford on Avon

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 […]

Flatholm Island and Llansantffraed Court

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 […]

Historic Helicopters Open Day

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.. […]

RNAS Yeovilton and Kemble

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. […]