SkiFlyBri

SkiFlyBri

Listen to the Wind....

Weathered in at St Omer the welcome could not be better or the winds worse. I am sitting here listening to the hanger doors rattle in the 35 - 45 mph winds. Certainly not flying weather, so we brew 3 in 1 from Kenco and look again at the weather maps, synoptics and forecast for the days ahead.

There is a relative "lull" down to 15- 25 mph winds tomorrow, with no significant weather and so that is our chance to cross the channel and make it home. Tonight it's a waiting game with little to do save for contemplate what tomorrow will bring.

The great news is that I shall be home tomorrow regardless!!! If the weather does not play ball we will simply slip onto the ferry and borrow another favoir from one of our long suffering friends or relatives and ask them to pick us up.

Being stuck is an odd mix of expectation, frustration and time to think.

I have fueled for a 4 hour Flint home! That same flight usually takes 2 hours, And in 20 minutes I shall start to pack the trike before dinner.....and beer ro two and a night on the hanger floor! Deep joy.

As for now the coffee tastes good and Kim Wild is on the radio taking me back 25 years, what happy years they have been.

Microlight Tumble - Brian Searle

Mont Blanc

By 0915 we were working our way up Mont Blanc, above the snow line and at 10 12 thousand feet the wings, engines and propellers struggle with the thin air. The sight of the glaciers and the sheer relative size of the mountain demand respect.

Morning Megeve - off to fly Mont Blanc

Camping at Megeve

Cloud Forming

This is the cloud forming as the air runs up the slop caused by the sun heating the side of the mountain in the morning, the air of the opposite face of the valley is in the shade and air is rushing down.

Merible

Waking this morning after the excellent weather of the last few days, we are greeted with more sun low winds, todays plan was a relatively short flight of 48 miles visiting

Meribel
La Rossier
Megeve

This shot of Meribel is taken on the approach of 159 degrees to hook around to down wind. After the Altislope of yesterday these Tarmac Altiports seem a little low rent! Although the technique to land is opposite of a traditional landing in many ways. One Must only land if the wind is from behind or uphill in the direction of landing, we must keep the power on all the way down and plan to land on the very end of the lowest section of the runway. Take off's are always down hill!

First flight of the day

Heading toward L'Alps D'Huez for our first altiports of the day I simply decided last night to plan and research this location and lead myself into it, after all what was I going to learn from watching someone else doing it while I dangled around at 7000 feet?

In the big scheme of things it was an a magical moment and a walk in the park all rolled into one. The blogs pictures tell the story!

Jaques!

Beaune at Bedtime

It's been a long day, it took a long while for the rain to clear, it was a long time to get packed up and and was a long flight across the north of France to Beaune. Across the battlefields we are reminded of the past peppered with cemetery and graveyards, flags and monuments, the freedom to fly is not free.

I don't think that I have ever felt this way at the end of a days flying, I feel flat! I feel like I would have rather spent the day with the people I love, perhaps the balance is changing.

Day 2 - St Omer - ????

The plan is to truck toward the Alps, stopping at Challon, and Beaune. There we thinking about running full steam to GAP, the weather and fatigue will dictate how far we get!

Over night rain, a wet tent and a front dictate when we will be leaving, xcweather.co.uk is our reference and seems to be very accurate!

France - Day one

The goodbyes were more difficult today, I don't know why but arriving at the Hanger the aircraft was fully inspected and trusted! Loading up took a while and the fronts that passed though did so in time with the forecast. Set off at 1600hrs landing in Calais 2 hours later the crossing was easy, fun almost, as I relaxed at 5250 feet with Brian and Richard off my wing tips.

Tomorrow we planning 6 hours to Beaune ( pronounced bone ), to arrive Sunday in the Alps.
M

Preparation - Cheers Steve

Preparation tonight started with a list, as it grows I wonder if it will all fit into the trike and more importantly, if I really need it all! A well timed "gift" knocks the food shopping on the head! CHEERS Steve, you know who you are!

Today, the repairs to the flight trim systems complete and tested, the airframe and engine had one of the closest inspections I have completed for a long while. G-SA is officially ready, now the packing and checking can start while I keep one eye on preparation and the other on the weather.

Officially Excited! - Flying the Alps in less than 10 days!

Gotcha!

What your looking at here is a "Gotcha" today its howling outside, and I am preparing my machine for the French trip, between now and then, a family holiday, work commitments mean that I wont be flying, this weekend is it. There is a short list of things to do, following a flight last night over USS George Bush (pictures to follow), the wing trim failed. While fixing it this morning we had to strip the whole machine down which meant I looked at the fuel filter from both sides otherwise I might have missed this crack.

From Thorney Island we are planning to take off and head south over 58 miles of water to Cherbourg, if the the glass in this filter had failed due to the vibration, there were two outcomes, wet feet and may be a fire. Hmm!

Listening Skills

Flying tonight consisted of a series of calls to friends, arranging an evening with Charlotte while at 800 feet off the coast of Hayling Island. Facilitated by the installation of my new FlyCOM system ready for the French trip. http://www.flycom.co.uk/

How I came to order the new helmets and headsets is a muse in itself, however before I tell you about that, I have to tell you about the sheer comfort and silence of the FlyCOM system. For the last three years friends have been telling me how good they are, but I was not listening......neither was the old fella on the MicroAvionics stand at Popham!

I had to pop onto the FlyCOM stand and pick up a visor for a friend at this years Popham Microlight Fair. The reception was light hearted with a bit of banter. They knocked off £3 quid of the list price of the visor too! It's not about how much that was it's about the spirit with which they did it.

I too needed a vizor for my all in one Micro Avionics system so I popped onto their stand and was told it' £xx for the visor, this is the interchange..

Me - "thats 5 quid more that FlyCOM list how about matching their price "Smile"?
Micro - "we can't discount because we will upset our dealers"
Me - "how about upsetting your customers?"
Micro -"if we discount our dealer will get upset"
Me - "where are the dealers? They are not here to help me, one of your customers, so why are you so worried about what they think about you giving me £5 off the visor?"
Micro - "but my dealers won't like it?"
Me - "well I am one of your customers and I don't like it! The visor is a copy of the FlyCOM so I will simply buy it from them"
Micro - "Shrugges Sholders"
Me - "sigh"

I left walked back to FlyCOM I was so disappointed in MicroAvionics mean spirity & approach it seem they value dealers and not customers, how dumb is that? Especially when the dealers arent there to help...

So here I am back at the FlyCOM stand, and for the first time I was able to spend some time with Dave and his son, I tried at Popham last year, then at the Splash show but they had been so busy. It's 1630hrs and they must be tired and certainly must have demonstrated there systems 100's of times, but I got the full demo as if it were the first in the morning! It really felt like i mattered.

Head in a large helmet, and it was silent and so so comfortable, my MicroAvionics version was difficult to put on had several pressure point and left marks on my forehead. I spend some time understanding the technical differences of which there are many. The configurations and options considered, my order was placed. If I sell my headsets, radio interface, micro avionics helmet my old Lynx gear etc etc I could buy the FlyCOM system complete.

The difference was only £350 for the benefits of an all new system, COMFORT, Silence and an interface for my iPhone that worked, yes I sold my other headsets relativly speaking quickly over the next 10 days, so the numbers really worked! It was a "show offer" which made the pricing right for my toys budget, but there was no mention that I had to suffer a finaical penalty becuase a dealer who added no value to me, might be upset.

And so FlyCOM, the experts in Listening technology really did deliver, and I am delighted with the technology, the service approach and the price was right.

Thank you FlyCOM, may be now my listerning skills will improve ;-)

I suppose I need to say thankyou for the poor service to MicroAvionics, without which I may still be flying around in a helmet that felt like it was "clamped on" , and so Thank you for not listerning, as you will see else where on this  blog  manufactures are welcome to reply which will be posted verbatum.



WA - Enjoy!

Surfing the Clouds - Ningaloo Reef / Western Australia (HD) from aabz-imaging on Vimeo.

French Altiports - The Preparation - 26 days to go

Today the prep begain in ernest, 26 days to go and the compression test conducted on the engine today is in harmony with last years results and so a clean bill of heath for then pots and valves on "GCDSA" the jobs that remain..
- Remove and Clean Filters
- Balance Carbs

- Change the Oil & Filter

- Check all hose connections

- Silicon all rubber bits

- NikWax Solar the Wing (again)

- Fit my FlyCom units

Quik912 sent you a video: "Trim Speed.wmv"

	Help Centre | email options | report spam
Quik912 has shared a video with you on YouTube: Trim Speed.wmv
© 2011 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

The best piloting I have seen for a long time?

This picture is of the hole burnt in the leg if the Ozee suit belonging to Pilot Phil, it leads me to tell you how two days later I am sitting here wondering if his piloting on that day was one of the best examples of great decision making under pressure I have seen for a long time if ever! It is without doubt the best piloting I have seen by a pilot with relatively low hours ever.

Let me take you to the beginning of the bank holiday weekend, three pilots en route to a weekend away to canoe the river Wye formate in a cheveron 7 miles to run to a short strip at a campsite, it had been raining but the conditions were smooth and clear. Overflying we break from the right 2, 1, 3, I land second coming in a little hot I slip and slide across the wet grass send over shoot the end of the runway into the farmers garden, but only just! I turn to see Phil land in snake left then right and for a few moments I think I am toast, in what seems like a moment later Phil powers on and goes around. So often in a short field by the time the brakes are on you have less that a couple of seconds to make your decision.

So that in and of itself does not seem to be so special, so ask why is Phil holding an Ozee with a burn hole? Now comes the context of that go around, on the final run on for the overhead join and while in formation, Phil had a capacitor blow. If you have ever experienced that you will know the cockpit fills with smoke and surprise! I know it happened to me on take off at Thorney. Phil took this in his stride made a logical assessment of the situation, engine running, no fire, all instruments good and carried on the join, break and landing sighty hot he did not get it on the ground at any cost he decided to go around having a burning sensation on his leg, around and down for the perfect short field landing.

When I think about this, the Calm, logical, and the presence of mind I think this has to pay tribute to his understanding of , and the training he received, well done Phil.

Seven side

Landing in a cow field by the Seven. Flying we hear on radio the airfield on the Wye is wet and raining ;( the front it traveling north so we will wait it out! 3 hours sunlight and 30 miles to run all in all we in a good spot. There just happens to be a pub on the other side of the river!!

OSR - Its the season!

It’s the season kicker! Oil Seed Rape is the official start of the summer flying season, the colour, the aroma, and the joy of flying across the crop tops so bright and yellow, three to four weeks and it will be over! This coming weekend we are off to Fly and Canoe the River Wye, just can’t wait!

Bethany's First Lesson!

Beth took to the air today! 34 minutes of flight, in what can only be described as a pea soup! Never the less she did very well, keeping the aircraft straight and level, with shallow turns.

We planned a flight to Sandown but turned back at Portsmouth, and simply flew the coast. Well done Beth A* ;)

Old Sarum - Emily Arrives

So here is No2, going No1! It is quite a thing to be piloted by a person you once held in your hand! Emily was the larger of the twins, but at just over 4lbs when born at Taunton hospital 15 years ago, the first weeks of the twins life was spent in an incubator, under a sun lamp being fed condensed milk by tube and syringe. Her sister Bethany is also learning the skill of flying for the Duke of Edinburgh awards they are pursuing.

Sharing my sport with my kids is such a pleasure and privilege. The stakes are high; sharing anything you invest yourself in can be difficult. It matters how people handle things you take to be precious and important, the respect they show for what you care for matters. I should know I crossed that thresh hold again this weekend, by mistake and with an inquisitive fumble I broke something that was precious and important to a someone. The item was repaired quickly, however the lyngering affected on a friendship may take a little longer to completely bond though I am sure it will in time.

So sharing my love of flying with my kids puts me potentially on the receiving end and I feel a little vulnerable. As to Emily’s first lesson, straight and level a piece of Cake ;-) Well done Em.  

Emily's First Piloting Flight to Old Sarum

Dunsfold 2011

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaJoUmSBvFY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

M: 07595329158

OMG! - "IM" in the hanger

>
>

Morillon Take Off

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7-kBOyTxx0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

daryl@darylcornelius.com
T: 023 9246 8806
M: 075 9532 9158

Smooth Flight Home.....

Puppy Dog

Colin, (and his hair) made the sea crossing to the HMfC overseas base! Cup-o-T and a bun! It's one of his first flights since october and so a bit of flying and rigging practice will come in handy before he has his final qualifications are complete next week end.

Conversation in the club house is of the crash at Cork this week. Writing this blog my attention is diverted by a loud chap discussing how "stupid" the pilot must have been, a nice touch as the pilot lost his life along with passengers, 6 in all perished. He of coarse would not this same mistake. I must thank Mr Hindsight for sharing his wizdom and insight to the collected assembly of his non flying friends, I am sure it made him feel better about himself, although it would make no difference to how people fly, why these things happen and of coarse how the familys of Jordi Gola Lopez, Andrew Cantle will feel.

Warblington Castle Farm

Planning for 2011 has started! The BARNSTORM is BACK!

Thrill seeking psychopath

Kaye & Paul return this week full of stories of Motor bikes, Dune buggies, gyrocopters and Fixed wings. Did you know their beach is 670 acres at low tide?

These "Thrill seeking psychopath" as The Consultants at the hospital where they work in Oz, call them. Oooozzzzz life! They don’t let pettie nonsense divert them from the fact they have one life and will live it! Taking every invitation that comes there way, without a moments notice.

They live their lives according to their rules, I resolve to do more of that!! They are united in beating MS and making “this one count”, MS is a significant foe. I learned a lot about primrose oil and nerve insulation during this week more than I care to want to know, I want to shut out the information only as it relates to dear friends, I don’t want to hear how much it is going to hurt.

These two are an example of how to see the bigger picture, an example of how to walk the talk, take life’s lesson, learn and move on. I am so inspired by these people and inspired by them as a couple, they just do the doing and are great company....if I had to describe what it’s like being with them, I would simply say, we spend a lot of time laughing.

USA Flying

USA Flying

Microlight Aero Team -Formation flying in microlights

Thats Nice!

Fuel Draw Cheque arrived today, duty claimed back from our French trip! That's nice ;-)

All of a sudden its January the 18th - 1300hrs

Taking us back to the 18th January 2010

0850hrs - BA flight home

What a great few days, I learned something about myself a lot about "Rawgers wrogic" but the take off and flight back were magic the picture of Monaco out of the window was a perfect end to a little expedition.

Bettered only by the screaming passengers in the clear air turbulence 2/3rds of the way back at 31000ft Sure it was lumpy and one of the worst I have ever been in for a while, but I just did not feel any fear certainly not like others did. Perhaps I am just grateful for the life I have had so far that I don't need to cling on more than my fair share?

Or perhaps people reactions bring about an equal and opposite reaction in me! One day I must get around to growing up!

Either way, the pilots pulled the throttle back stuck the Airbuses nose up , and bled the energy out of  the aircraft, all the time it was bucking and jolting that airframe, nice job;)

1st Leg

At the port checking in the lady said, if your only going for a day trip we would recommend not traveling today, as it's very rough!

The ferry is being towed into and out of the port by tugs as it's too windly and choppy to get thought the harbour walls safely.

Deep joy!!

Thorney - Nice

Flight preparations are nearly all complete for the Thorney - Nice trip. Test flying last week threw up a resonable list of requirements starting at the ground floor they were, breaks not working on one side, nose wheel steering stiff to the point of unusable, fuel mixture rich, Radios and GPS needed fittiing with power supplys, key needed fixing, hang point renewing, engine tuning, and the machine needed a lot of love! Today Elsi got the final wing wash, engine wash and de-rig. Before that she flew, brakes not great but at least working together now so usable, hand brake fixed, she flys so well, not fast but loverley and straight, the engine did not blacken the plugs.

We still have some flight planning and packing up to do, as the final preps for Tuesday come together...

Fat Charlie Takes off!

Rigged, test run, test flown Charlie takes to the air! The machine had not been run or flown since it was purchased, and this was the telling time! It flew straight and level and was alot like flying an air chair! the wind was kind and the air smooth. A few wringles need ironing out, and two or three days fettling will see her ready for the relay to Nice! tallyho!

18th January 2010

Martin, we are flying over tomorrow, we will be dropping off a splash too you, watch over us. Calais for Moules, Campaign for Charlotte.

Farewell Tom!

Off to the Shadow Flight Centre at Old Sarum, Tom takes the "Dink" across to be looked at. Its packed away in its tin, the Shadow sets off from Thorney Island. Its been rested since dancing a dosie DOH! with an Oak tree...

Closing of the 2010 Season





Here we are Friday night, the wind has been blowing at 40mph for the last 15 hours and the weekend looks like a combination of wind and rain, with just enough space on Saturday morning for a flight of 45 miles to Old Sarum for brunch, luvvie!

2010 has been a a notable season, it did not start too well with Martins death but we did manage a few epic flights. Aberdeen to Glen Forcer was one of my favourite's, coming home to Glenforca was just wonderful and the flying did not disappoint, the only down side was a full hotel! We managed to get away to the Isle Of Man via Northern Ireland and what a wonderful experience that was too...

Phil and I competed at Popham, and enjoyed every aspect of the weekend, and so next year we will try another two or three competitions now that we have discovered the best combination of Pilot and Nav!

Again this year I failed to get any real momentum under the formation flying idea, perhaps next season!

As yet we have not crossed the water to France, that is planned for the last fly out of the year to collect Champagne 16th or 17th October if this weather keeps up we will be in for a good weekend!

I organised a fly in at Thorny Island this year that raised over £1150 for SSAAFA which was a personal highlight, great fun too see 150 aircraft and people, making new friends across the divide Microlight - LAA - A Licence.

My flying has changed this year, some of that is because I changed it as a result of the environments I found myself in and other elements are effected by others, however overall I would say it changed for the better. Better life decisions, better safety decisions and different flying ambitions.

So whats happening next year? Well we are working on plans to celebrate the centenary of a military organisation all a bit hush hush but watch this space! The Thorney Fly in we hope will be given the go ahead and of coarse Fly UK! There are two microlights to deliver to GAP and two Competitions Planned. Tally ho! Roll on 2011 Season ;-)

Decision Not

At the fly in a friend clipped the gel coat of the wing on a bush as he passed, duck tape and "toyota white" to the rescue and we thought it was fixed. A careful preflight told another story, looking not at the damage, but at the result of the damage enabled us all too see a compression of the wing at the root. Thinking one layer deeper had a positive outcome even if that was a long ride home.

Researching Decision Making....Gasco, Nigel Everett

Shark!

Hope

This is the picture that sums up touring by microlight. Last night’s cast offs, the hope of a glorious day and a glistening cuppa is just the start. Its first thing before the world wakes and fires up the rotax. It’s before we are overloaded with the endless decisions that crowd the pilots mind, it’s before we realise we have to deal with the fear, by whatever mechanism we have developed?

It’s interesting to think that we are taught and experience such a lot while we learn, but what we are not taught is what process that is behind good decisions? How do we make better decisions? What process can we used to protect ourselves and others from unwanted experience, while enjoying all the freedom and blissful joy that flying brings? Some learn though doing, some by watching others, but what logic can we use to make better decisions. I think I shall investigate that....

The 2010 Season - What did we learn?

So what did we learn from the 2010 season? Did we learn that flying is fun? Did we learn that flying bites? Did we learn how we make decisions on the ground effects if we live or die in the sky?

If anything this season I learned that flying is not important, it’s of no particular significance to our family's or mankind. Its remains a blast, a thrill and a wonderful experience, its liberating and exhilarating. However it does not make the Top Ten things I must doo before I die or die trying to do! An example might be to climb to an Everest base camp, fight injustice, build a close group of friends, love our families, or even listen to our elders and what they learned in their lives. Is flying worth the potential cost? And if not why would any Pilot take additional risk?

I did not make France this week on two counts ((I should say tooth counts)), firstly the trip never really gained momentum, fragmented commitment, fragmented timings, when Richard called to say he stuffed it in Hereford while canoeing and camping on the river Wye it was easy for me to say, actually I have tooth ache and so it was not wise not to go either, truth was I was grappling with how to say I would not be attending Blois this year for different reasons.

So that leads into waking on Sunday at Bolt Head Airfield in Devon, the alternative to the French trip, I woke with all the friends who suffered the same losses this season, we woke to scud cloud at 200 ft AGL and secondary layers at 7/8 octaves at 2000 foot with banks of mist in between, and very poor lateral viz.

These are similar conditions that killed Martin in January.

What beggars belief is that we acted like Pilots that had not learned any lessons from Martins experience, we packed up and with all that get home "itis", loaded up at 1015hrs and took to the air.

Back on the deck at 1035hrs we conclude that

- The lower cloud was lower than the legal minima

- There was a gap below the higher and lower layers
- That gap was filled with mist

- The coast skimming was doable, but not wise as the cloud was on top of the cliff at 400 foot, and with no real alternatives in an emergency.

Returning as a group we decided to leave it to the PM to fly, the forecast was for these conditions to clear in the afternoon. We booked a taxi and anticipating breakfast in Salcombe and a few hours sightseeing.

A dear friend then said "I am going to fly the coast and not go for breakfast" this hit me like a ton of bricks, how can we forget so easily? As he flew he text to say that the cloud was on the cliff tops and that after 30 miles it was lifting and he was meeting his minima, and he made it home.

I will share with you that although the outcome was positive, the "get home today itis" was well formed and so strong in his mind, that he would not see that 6 others had turned back might be an indication of a sensible decision. Get home at any cost may well have cost us another close friend, a decision that seemed too me a selfish and unnecessary, and unlearned. But how can we level criticism, he got home he made it, surely he is a hero? A devilish daring doo?

I was witness to the worst Piloting Decision I have seen. Nothing learned from then death of our friend and nothing "logical" about the take off, and nothing legal too. Its difficult to critique a flight that ended well, but I am not talking about the outcome, I am talking about how the decision to go was made, in much the same way it was made under pressure to go or to get home, and not made in the best interest of the pilot, or others he may have bumped into on the way home.

So I did have the where withal to let him know how these thoughts before he left, which was little compensation for my mind as I watched his pre-flight from the back of a taxi taking us to our rendezvous with an F.E.B.

What did I learn from this experience.....as my American Brothers would say.... "Go Figure"

Oh, and I should add that we took off early afternoon in legal viz and flew home.

Flying with Ghosts

Oh how I though it was past. As I plan to fly to France for the GS Aviation event at St Secondin I cant get Martin out of my mind. I am not thinking of my turn to check out while flying the channel from Isle of Wight to Cherbourg. As simply I will not set out on such a 45 minute flight without knowning for sure the conditions work, more I am thinking that I still miss Martin and wonder if that will ever end, and yet I am once again annoyed he died.

My kids when asked about my flying on a family holiday, referr to "Martin as Dads friend who died".

The plan next Saturday is to fly to Cherbourg early in then morning and pass over 65 mile of water, only 50 of which will be any issue, should the donky die.

I have a plan if the donk quits, I am not going to die, and will of coarse blog the result........

Martin if your reading, I shall pop a wing over mid Channel for you ;-) and I shall be thinking of you...all the way over.

Inspired? - Contact me!

http://www.matteam.com/Video/MATTEAMPROMO.WMV

Airbox responds....

Hi Daryl,


Thanks for writing. A few points for your interest:

• The only interference issue that we’re aware of is with iCom radios. This is not something limited to Airbox, but is a problem for other manufacturers too – iComs just seem to be very sensitive. Airbox can and do provide both advice and a suppressed lead for those that need it.

• On your question about the 250 map, the CAA actually supply us with the charts in such a format that the Shetland and Orkneys are cut off. We are looking at making these available for the future.

• There’s a good reason why we don’t include information about the preferences in the instruction manual. If we provided it as standard, then there’s a good chance that some un-technical customers would switch off the warning or manage to turn the backlight down to zero. This could potentially lead to an infringement where the unit gave no warning, something neither in the interests of NATS, nor in the interests of the customer. It might seem like a far-fetched scenario to a technical chap like you, but believe me it would happen if we provided those instructions. As you know, if someone wants to change backlight etc, then we’re happy to point them in the right direction, but we do always make an assessment first as to whether they are going to find it difficult, and if they are, then we always offer to talk them through it.

• As far as use of the product is concerned, I’m sure you’ve seen the videos in the support section of our website, which a lot of users find helpful.

• The Aware has been designed to be simple to operate and to give important flight information as clearly as possible. We want it to do the two things we think are most important in the VFR cockpit, namely telling the pilot where he or she is and warning them accurately and in a timely manner about controlled or hazardous airspace. We always listen to customer suggestions and I can give you a whole list of examples where we’ve implemented them, so keep them coming, but please understand that we can’t compromise the fundamental mission of the Aware.



William

Airspace Aware v Garmin, The FLY-UK test!

Back when the old king died Garmin were making GPS, they are robust and full of features, lots of buttons and a real boys toys. A good portable will see you pay 3x the cost of a good Dell Laptop with the latest technology and so when Airspace Aware arrived at circa 0.75x the cost of a Dell lap top I was interested to say the least! I was at the end of the life of my colour 295 and ready to invest, but a second hand second rate GPS from Garmin via EBay was still 1.5x the cost of that benchmarking Dell Laptop.

Just think about the Technology in a laptop for a few moments and you will see the direct comparator. Its like the Coke Comparator I use when visiting other nations! more or that later!

So, there I was at Popham, two hundred quid burning a hole in my credit card and so after the first 5 minute demo I purchased my Airspace Aware, 3 nights later I was packing up my Garmin 295 ready for posting to its new owner. For me a Zero - Zero Transaction, if you get my drift!

Fast forward to FLY UK and a 40 hour test drive around the shores of the UK with my new Aware, would I end up heaving it over the side? Re investing in Garmin (the Market Leader)?

The first thing you have to do when you buy a Aware is to figure out how to power it, the supplied Charger interferes with EVER ONES radios,  no exception that I am aware off, a simple fix is to by or make a charger that can be placed away from the Ciggy lighter and wired directly with the appropriate suppressors, they are available from the web but you have to buy them elsewhere not great customer service. I built my own from 4 quids worth of bits from Maplins.

NOTE to AIRBOX AWARE CUSTOMER SERVICE:- Offer other hard wire chargers and Suppressor options, face the problem

Fitted and functioning a BMAA minor mod sorts the paperwork, a nice touch from the BMAA its a free mod ;-) Thank you uncle Geoff & Ben.

Installed and working I found the 250 maps set a boon, easy to read and see airfield data, and in a microlight the distanced are manageable, the 500 maps had others in my groups preference so take you choice. We flew up to Aberdeen and were setting coarse for Orkney and may be the Shetlands, alas Wx did not work! Just as well really the Aware maps stop before Orkney!

NOTE to AIRBOX AWARE DEVELOPMENT:- Er? When is a 250 map not a 250 map? when it does not have all of the map on it?????? Doh! Schoolboy error...fix it or lose the hard core....France is my next mission, will I be disappointed?

Arriving in Longside (Peterborough) and chatting too the 3 other users on the Round UK I was traveling with they were complaining about Back lighting and visibility, A quick fix there is that the light and all the other settings are accessible if you start the Air box Aware with the Sim card out and access the settings, 3 very happy campers tracked on down the Great Glen!

NOTE to AIRBOX AWARE CUSTOMER SERVICE:- Its not in my manual how to set up one's preferences, up to and including turning off the sound! Simple fix lads....

Navigation setting up the device for your route is easy, and straight forward, but a couple of little things would make life so much easier...
- Ability to plot routes adding way points BEFORE, setting the final destination.
- Ability to reset the "go to" without having to scroll
- IPhone Swipe Functions......to navigate around the map
- Ability to Sleep the device without having the thing turn off when your trying to wake it again(Is it me?)

All in All I LOVE my Aware, living with it for a week with at least 2 legs of 3 hours a day and its fit for purpose and kept me out of and aware of airspace in places I have never been. However these
simple additional options would really make a good product GREAT! the things it does well are:-

- It alerts you to your location and airspace really clearly, its brill, brill, brill, this advantage is not evident flying in your local area so this device comes into its own when you need it most...
- Its easy to ready, and the moving map is very clear and works well with a map board to confirm location
- Its 0.75x the cost of Dell Lap top cost and 20% of the cost of its competitors (Well done Airbox), add the extras and its price could go up....I be willing to pay for the upgrade of new functions.
- Its light, easily mounted and works....

Did I make the right choice? for me yes, but this device needs to mature....lets watch this space.