Home.

Getting his pounds worth......

I have come to know Brain a little more over the last 7 days as a man who has his own mind, holds an innocent view of the world, and comes at the world with binary logic. But the most interesting thing is, he has an open mind, and listerns without interferance from his ego to what others have to say. That is a real skill. I like Brian. I am pleased he chose to fly with us.

Oh, I almost forgot, this is Brian getting his money's worth out of a £1 stool from ASDA. I understand others paid nearly 4 time as much....

I starting with the man in the mirror...

Tonight's flight help me learn a little more about myself. The lesson was "get home itist" nearly added a knotch too its bed post. Not that we nearly bit the dust, its just that our decision making was all a cock. I also learned that folk critique others based around their own fears. I have decided to watch out for this and make sure I dont fall into that trap.

Fly UK 2010. I am now ready to move on....

Strathavon - Ince (Liverpool)

2hours 55 minutes pain pleasure and mixed weather, we are now one leg
from home..

Strathavon

Another night on the floor in the hanger! Woke with a bad back and low cloud now clearing! The truck south starts...again!

Oban - Home bound

Plockton - Oban a difficult flight and very tricky cross wind landing
all down safe ... Just

Barra - Beach Landing

Now that's is what you call a flying experience, 26 Miles of Water (at the narrowest point) 20Knt winds and a landing on a Beach! Berra's licenced Aerodrome only appears at low tide, the opening hours today were 1400hrs to 1630hrs, after that....its closes and sinks under water.

The long water crossings seem longer than the Channels crossing simply because the channel is peppered with boats and ships, the waters here are deserted.

The group split in two on the return journey, some flying directly back the long way over the water, to Plockton and the others flying North to Stornaway via Bembeckular.

We just now off to fly Loch Ness - The Great Glen

10,280 feet over Isle of Skye

A personal highest!

Barra ! - Beech Landing

We are at the beech airport! Wind 20Knts! 13 miles of water and a
danger zone behind us!

Bute - Islay - Colonsay - Glenforsa - Sky - Plockton

Bute - Islay 30 minutes
Islay - Conalsay 30 minutes
Conalsay - Glenforsa 45 minutes
Glenforsa - Sky 1hr 07 minutes
Sky - Plockton - 15 minutes

Highlight: Speaking to Charlotte on the phone while I flew over the wale and across to Conalsay.

Today made all the effort worth while...tommorrows mission is to fly at midnight, is soo lite here...keep you posted...

We are off to the Outer hebradies tommorrow....

Glenforsa - Cream Tea...

The view over the loch is spectacular landings smooth and a warm welcome. Refueled with both mo gas and "Tobermory" we head on to Plockton... the Airfield manager lends us his car to pick up the fuel and supplies, I am planning a little surprise with tonight's splash! There is one resident aircraft at Glenforsa a retired instructor from Netherthorp.

A must see airfield!

The group this year is bigger than usual and our ability to make decisions has been a little longer, with some open and frank conversation clearing the air and making today run alot more smoothly...

Colonsay !!!

Laurie - Daryl - Dave make it too the island of Colonsay, a small island north of Islay. The breaches were breathtaking and deserted, the island scarcely inhabited. Just of the South Coast on the 5 mile water crossing we spy a whale swimming the cristal clear waters....just breathtaking ;-)))

The Airfield has one runway 02-20 winds light and variable but because there are 3 flights a week to this island its airfield boasts a firetruck!

There were no landing fees and a warm welcome from the locals who all arrived in minutes...

Islay - for lunch?

The Plan changes ... Today so far we have have visited Bute - Gigha - Islay where we met Duncan the aiport manager and his staff, a great welcome and a fantastic airfield. Off now to Colonsay - Glenforsa - Plockton

Tuesday Morning - Bute

Waking this morning on a very sunney Bute, leasurely packing while
Dave Baker runs for fuel with the barman from the local (only) pub.

Ross is still suffering from "Montezoumas' revenge" and is being sold
a clean pair of underpants by his brother as I type!

Plan today is ....

Bute - Gigha - Genforsa - Plockton

Island of Bute

Arriving at Bute tonight we bump into the Royal Navy Rescue heli
broken down! Darryns machine lost a coolent pipe which was easily
fixed, while jonney flew the navy crew!!

Strathavon - Bute
1 hour 10 minutes
Highlight - seeing the islands in the sunshine!

Reminder - Decision Making!?

At the end of a busy day flying over 6 hours, the decision to land while coming in "too hot" did not bite too hard...I over shot the end of the runway. A short narrow strip with a strong cross wind, high silage grass at Carlobs and the information to "Land in the middle" meant that I landed half way down....too hot (70mph) and could not stop at the end running 30 meters into the silage grass, I am pleased to say that the over run was smooth.

Day Three - Carlobs - Strathavon

Carlobs - Strathavon
1 hour - 35 miles ;(
Highlights: The whole group is back together at Strathaven, weathed in due to low cloud.

Martin & Andy made it to the target Airfield at Oban becuase they left early. Our group hindered by a great nite in the Ramsey Hotel where the celibrations for most was the end of a day of the villages celibrations with a Scottish music festival's, took in a leasurely Scottish Breakfast and took time to mend some heads! The second wave of folks to leave made it to Strathavon and got stuck listening to "Anecdotes and Stories " making decisions through doubt and uncertainty rather than.... We watched the F1 Grand Prix which ended at 1500hrs, did not make it past Strathavon, minded to keep the team together we stayed, lets hope this is not a "Dornoch" Moment.....time will tell how long we are here for..

I am getting annoyed with the size of the group we flying in, one pushing to race off and reach conclusions quickly, the other half with a slower approach to decisions but with an eye for the whole week and the prise of the western isles! May be the outer Hebrides!

The news is it should be clearing tomorrow.....watch this space...

Tonight we are camping in the hanger!

DAY TWO - Northampton - Edinburgh

Northampton - Manchester Barton.
2hrs 30 Minutes
Highlights: Jodderal Bank - Manchester Low Level Corridor

Barton - St Michaels
1hr 05 Mintes
Highlights:: Meeting Jim Orange farther of 14 kids 10 boys and 4 Girls.

St Michaels - Kirkbridge
1Hrs 30 Minutes
Highlights: Morcombe Bay / Lake District

Kirkbrige - Edinburgh (Carlobs )
1.20 Minutes
Highlight: Extream Turbulance - Bundting the Aircraft over the 2,500 foot TME..

Today I cried..

Dirk on the left is Goodstuff (Gustave) brother, I met him in 2007 at Swansea airfied after he was diagnosed with a brain tuma. When I first met him, becuase I knew of his illness I expected something different, I dont know what, may be some self pity, may be somone who was having phsical diffoulcty, the truth is I expected that people with Cancer seem to try hard to hang on....but wiht Dirk I metsome one who was completely at ease with who he was and what had happened to him. I can best describe him as being annoyed he has a brain tumor, but during those first flights around Wales and up to Ince I got to know him and understand just a little about his life.

Over hopeful is how I would decribe most people I knew with Cancer, but Dirk is not over hopeful but resigned to make the most of every chance that comes his way. So in 2006 he was diagnosed with the Tumor and Julie & He now have a beautful son Jack born on the 29th of Feb 2008 , and another child on the way.

Meeting him again today was a shock, he walks with Sticks and a Frame, and is or seems to be at one with the progressive nature of his tumor. " Its like someone is blowing bubbles in a milkshake in my head"

In planning todays flight we were worried about his fits and medication, a fit in an microlight would be life threaterning. But wiht Jonney's experence and planning a way was found.

I found myself with a tear in my eye, in part self pitty in part frustration that I did not meet Dirk earlier....

Northampton - Manchester Barton 2hrs 11min

Fly UK - Day one Hayling Island - Sywell

Arriving at the hanger its blowie, its always is on the first day of FLYUK, I dont think I have ever left the south of the UK with less than 20mph winds! I overloaded the trike and took too much gear as usual so a re pack tommorrow in in order!

Flight tonight over Sliverstone was the highlight, of perhaphs a slighly dull bore through the skys to the start point.

Splashing when we landed, tent pitched and we are now at the Sywell Hotel, pie and beer, and free wireless!

DAY ONE - Thorney Island - Sywell Nothampton

Saying good bye to the kids today was tough, its become a language of goodbye they have had too much of this week. They said good bye to some innocence (difficult circumstances) this week at School but worse still Bethany & Emily's best friends Mia & Yvonne are moving out to America, there Dad is VP of something for GKN and on a 3 year project to Dallas. The good byes last night were painful to watch. As a parent one's instinct is to try and protect your kids from any hurt, however there are times when that's not possible, nor desirable, as they take one more step in growing up.

Fly UK 2009 - Counting Down - Tuesday

Essential maintenance complete, oil changed new plugs, a good look over the trike and detailed look at the wing, check lists printed and laminated. A pile of camping equipment in the car is being slowly loaded into the car.

Completing my ICE documents tonight, I have to prepare for the worst and plan for the best. How do you plan to say good by to the kids? Like I might not see them again? or like I will see them next week? The truth is its no more dangerous to fly around the UK in a microlight than it is to travel to London in the car. So why to I feel differently about saying "see you later" on Friday night than I do when I rush off to work in the morning? What is it about flying that brings you to terms with your own mortality, when compared to taking the car to Tesco's (Whoops....Waitrose ;-)

"I began to feel like I lived on a higher plane thant the sketics of the ground; one that was richer because of its very assocation with the element of danger they dreaded, becuase it was freer of the earth to which they were bound.

In flying, I tasted the wine of the gods of whch they cound known nothing.

Who valued life more highly, the aviators who spent it on the art they loved, or these misers who doled it out like pennies through their ant like days?

I decided that if if I could fly for ten years before I was killed in crash, it would be a worthwhile trade for an ordinary life." - CSA

Isn't life a question of perspective?

Near or far, high or low, skinny or fat, smart or stupid…isn’t life a question of perspective?

 

Thorney Island Fly in - Vitial Statistics

Vital Statistics!


Visitors 105
Movements 210 (approx)
82 People Flown for Air Experience.
Funds Raised Total£3530.79 just over the target up £1000.00 compared to 2008

We are working on ideas for 2010 to give the event a dynamic feel! more later....watch this space! Thanks to all the visitors that make this possible ;-) Thank you to all the Army folks who helped make this event special for the visitors. The one thing that always surprises me is the generosity of the giving, be that time or money in a world with so much suffering its easy to become conditioned to expect the worst. This weekend we experienced the best!

Thorney Island Fly in

Short Field - Up Hill - Down Wind Video's

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcus-hunt/3573502687/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcus-hunt/3573475217/in/photostream/

Darelle - Daryl

Flying to the Isle of Wight with the boys and girls at the weekend we popped into the Crab & Lobster at Bembridge where we met "Darelle"who reminded me of me! I have to admit that I have a Face Book but will only add friends called " Daryl Cornelius" there is one I can find in the UK do you know any, potential members?!

Take off out of Bembridge and "BANG" something went through the prop, the airframe shuddered! An immediate turn back, PAN PAN and a down wind hot landing, it seems the Oil Cooler cover came lose and went through the prop, no damage and so off back to Thorney!

Thonry Wife's Day...a risk woth taking?

The Wife's of Thorney Island serving soldiers took to the base yesterday, rock climbing, camping driving the armory, shooting and finally flying! A gang of 8 pilots flew 35 people around Thorney and Hayling Island and what a blast it was, for both the pilots and the passengers.

That takes the total to around 70 new microlight experiences in the last two weekends. So how many pilots fly people, I know for many years I flew solo and avoided flying others, but inspired I find its double the fun....and so now I take people for me, not as I had seen it before...for them!

Bird Stock - Isle of Wight...Marcus Photo's

Bird Stock - Isle of Wight...

Over the 700agl hills swoop down into the Vally on idle, base leg over the field and cross the woods, turn onto finals, 30 foot above the cops and 10 foot above the three phase pylons half way up the field. This landing I should mention is down wind, up hill. Over the wires bar in dive for the deck, Full power to climb up the hill and land up hill while climbing and rounding out with speed, the final deck run was 60 meters up hill to the trees, that sixty meters was so steep the touchdown at 60mph decayed before the apex. Welcome to Bird stock Isle of Wight!

Doing that once my heart was in my mouth, once over the cops your committed, the hill was so steep that once on finals your not going to be able to clear the hill there was no option to abort beyond long final. Even if you did, the hill beyond was going to bite. No room for error, and no turning back. Each and every flight I was asking my self is this the right decision to land, is it the right decision to continue to fly people from this field? So there were no accidents or incidents. Does that vindicate the decisions I took? I don't think so. I don't think it was a good decision to do that twice let alone 34 times.

In the saddle when I eyed the field each time I turned finals I was asking the question, does this look right? where am I going if it stops now? Will this amount of energy get me and the passenger over the wood? May be asking the questions is evidence of conscious decision making, may be asking the questions only highlights I was in the wrong place from the very start, if I have to ask these questions about a landing site again, is it the wrong location.

That weekend was about celebrating a friends 50Th Birthday Party, I recall the rounds of 18Th and 21st Birthdays! Now were all on the way there, with decision making like that will I make it?

I flew that field 34 times that weekend, none any less scary that the first, worn out by the intense concentration my bank Holiday Monday did not start until 1200hrs! Thank you Gary & Sarah for a weekend to remember, I loved every second and met and flew great people, beleive me the pleasure was all mine.

Help 4 Heros

The work load for this event is becoming huge! we now have donations over the half way mark and and the total number of Pilots over 100 booked to visit, good weather and its going to get very busy! Great! ;-)

Project X

It took its second step today! Hoora!

Freedom Comes in Many Form's

Tonight we are at a coarse on how to update a Joomla web site. The Hampshire Microlight new site is written using this! How is that freedom? Its freedom for me because for the last 4 years I have been updating the Hampshire web site, solo. I knew it was a bind , but not how much until I sat with Dave, Paul & Sandra and they took over the load.

The next session will see 3 others trained by Andy at the Hayling Island Internet Cafe, followed by much discussion and organization, all part of the master plan to spread the load and more importantly let as many people as possible contribute to the life of the club.

Freedom through sharing might be seen as a loss of control or a blessed release.

Mission "Bognor"

Brian and Cliff set off, bound for Bognor no special reason but a chance to take a few shots of a construction crane and site Cliff has worked on. 40 minutes later the are back with the captured shots, and great they are too!

Having spent the time & £20 getting the shots perhaphs they can sell for a small return to the construction company or the Architect or the building owners? But no! the law that related to Microlight flying prohibits financial gain, why?

Well I don't know why not? It may because the ariel photo folks who charge £500 a hour get upset at 20 pounds an hour flying?

Is it because the pilots or machines are see as somehow sub standard? Or may be it's because the authorities are unable or unwilling to write a law that differentiates between paying passengers , flying cargo , teaching & taking photos.

Is it's time to change laws that are practically unworkable?

Magic my son!

Taking my time to stroll the line at the "Popham Trade fair this year" I manage to fly the latest offering's from P & M Aviation. While I enjoyed flying the latest "hot ship" at 120mph (VNE) the experence did not compare to the sheer fun of flying the "Magic Laser" a single seat two stroke 40hp, podless!

Roots flying, no pod, no radio, and altimeter well not one that i could see! But who the hell did needs a altimeter? Take off and climb out of the circuit and I was at 1000 feet. Not high but way to high to fly this tree top flyer!

Down the the gold glow of the oil seed rape, looking through your toes at the rape bushging the front wheel, sweeping turns and swoops around the trees, pfl's from 250 feet popping over the hedge and stopping in 75 meters of meadow grass, that's flying I wandered to the wide open
spaces forgetting all of my troubles for an all too short 40 minutes.

Flying in tee shirts it was a wonderful experence, a low pass down runway 21 and final circuit to land, vfr, real vfr non radio, in a busy circuit it's time for lots of the V!

Touch down watching the grass trough my toes I think it must be illegal to fly this machine on Tarmac ;)

Grinning I taxi back, rejuvinated!

Spring is in the air! Sunday 26th April 2009

 

 

Weather Divert - Old Sarum

Sunday flying in the sun in hampshire turns into rain in Wiltshire! We were heading for Compton Abbas where the flyin today was for Naomi House, the charity the hampshire club is suppporting this year, but alas we have to divert to old Sarum.

Free landing fees for a weather divert and Sunday lunch yummy!

Big Helmets?

Flying at the weekend with Richard and his Dad I am reminded that I was not adventurous at all..when I first was awarded my license.

I recall a long trip was to the next airfield that was Dunkerswell to Westonzoyland, map reading all the way, getting lost over the Somerset levels while skipping field to field climbing over the hedges.

The talk was of GPS a new device that might cause more accidents as if two pilots took off one from Dunkerswell, the other from Westonzoyland they might meet half way at the same height and crash! No! We really did have that conversation in the club house fearful of these new devices!

Is that how I treat new technology in my life now, with fear? Is that how I approach new flying challenges now?

Bench of Peace