I would be the first to admit that my flying may not extend to every corner of the envelope. No aerobatic itch needs scratching, I have no rotary-wing desires and I cannot reconcile the cost/benefit argument of a twin rating. For me, the pleasure comes from flying itself and I mostly fulfil that passion touring the UK in my 1947 vintage Cessna.
Flying vacations, over the years, have provided many opportunities to add to the list of interesting places, across the channel as far east as Geneva and south to Spain and central Portugal for instance or the USA, where I’ve enjoyed some spectacular journeys and sights, in an environment so completely different to flying at home. An early log-book entry, on my first touring trip in California in a rented Cessna 172 in 2009, produced quite an unusual combination. Breakfast at Big Bear Lake (airfield elevation of 6,752 ft and the highest airport I have ever flown myself into) then on to Furnace Creek airport in Death Valley, sitting at 210ft below MSL, for a night stop. The surreal sight of the altimeter winding down below zero on the approach was interesting, to say the least. At that time I could not imagine flying any lower. However, circumstances would prevail that would eventually beat this by a considerable margin.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2020-utgaven av Pilot.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Hybrid-Electric ‘Hawaii Bird' Makes First Flight
Electric aviation company Ampaire flew its second technology demonstrator on 10 September. The aircraft is a refined version of its Cessna 337 ‘Electric EEL’ hybrid-electric power conversion.
Rare Rearwin
Made in tiny numbers by Piper and Aeronca standards, the beautifully-engineered Rearwin Skyranger proves to be a delight waiting to be discovered
Dr Hill's new helicopter
You’ve seen pictures of concept helicopters before, and most of them never rose from the paper… but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. It’s the Hill HX50, and the designer describes it as a ‘disruptive’ entry into the small helicopter market, offering a step-change for the better in safety, performance, comfort and elegance.
Make mine a turbine!
To say aviation and turbines is a happy marriage is true−albeit mainly in the airline, business aircraft and helicopter world. Light aviation, especially the ultralight segment, remains essentially a turbine free field−apart from noble exceptions, in the form of single-engine jets and ‘experimentals’.
Industry experts say...
Representatives from a selection of Approved Training Organisations look forward to the future of Commercial Air Travel and prospects for professional pilots after the pandemic
Flight training
News from the clubs, schools & ATOs
First airline job
... won and lost after just eighteen months in the right-hand seat. Reflections on the rewards of the hardest work in a lifetime
Safety Matters
Safety Matters and Safety Briefs are based on the AAIB Bulletin and UK Airprox Board reports, with additional material from the US National Transportation Safety Board.
Donegal wins ‘most beautiful airport' - again!
Donegal in Ireland has been named as the ‘world’s most beautiful airport 2020’ – for the third successive year – in a major vote by more than six thousand ‘flying fans’. The award is given as part of the annual Scenic Airports poll conducted by private jet booking service PrivateFly.
Come to Sweden!
A French pilot retires to Sweden, where he enjoys great weather, blissful flights and barbecues – and invites British flyers visit this GA-friendly country