Bored of Surrey.

Helicopters

Problem is that proper 'copters cost load of dosh. Much cheaper are Robinsons, all of which eventually crash and burn, killing all occupants. Even Robinsons require complete nut and bolts rebuild every 2000 hours, costing a very reasonable £30k.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.FairlineOwnersClub.com>Fairline Owner's Club</A>
 
Go for it, you'll love it, even if you only do it a few times for fun. My advice is, try taster of powered, microlight, and gliding before you make a choice of what you'd like to take further. They'll all be a real hoot, and you might be amazed at what you enjoy most.

Oh, and paragliding and hang gliding too, but that involves huge amounts of driving to hills that weather forecast say point in right direction and sitting there all day, and aren't many in this part of the world, so not best choice long term, as you end up driving all over country to best sites.

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide
 
Had a 1 hour helicopter lesson earlier in the year at Cambridge (it was a birthday present from SWMBO). The experience was absolutely fantastic, and I immediately thought "I must get a licence", but then I thought about it a little more.
Before we took off the instructor had to fill it up, and move it. Then he checked it over ready for take-off. During the flight he was constantly on the radio getting permission to go anywhere, and I am buggered if I could understand what they were saying. When we landed he had more checks etc. So I have now decided that I will have a couple of "lessons" every year to get the buzz (and hopefully get better), but leave all the mundane stuff to the instructor, and just enjoy it.

Hope this helps.

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I fly in the bloody paraffin budgies every week, you wouldn't get me in one of the noisy b's on my spare time, stuff that! Nice boat for me, when the weather is shit, at least you can have a beer whilst waiting on weather, no fun sitting in the cockpit of a heli, rather sit on the aft deck, with a beer/wine etc.

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Yeah true, but the workers on the Woolwhich ferry probably don't go boating in their spare time either!

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I wouldn't be too sure of that, know a lot of merchant skippers/crew who sail for pleasure, but not many commercial pilots who fly for pleasure.

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Christ, now your saking something.....let me think......right, out of here to the bottom of the road. Turn right and carry on down to the mini roundabout. Turn right passed the little shop on the green, carry on and follow the road across the downs. straight over the rundabout and on to the next one. At that one take the second exist and follow that road into town. You'll go passed the fire station and cop shop. At the lights do a left. Next set of lights do a left and then left again. You can park anywhere along that road. Woolworths is through the little lane. As you come out onto the high st it should be right opposite you.

Pick me up a 1/4 of pick and mix while your there...ta

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Barry, save yourself a lot of time, expense and danger by buying Microsoft's Flight Simulator for your PC. With a decent joystick it's awesome - I'm a sad anorak when it comes to planes as well as boats, but after a short while you'll be bringing a 737 down in dreadful weather, guided by full Air Traffic Control in 1/2 mile visability for a full ILS landing at Heathrow!! Upgrade to "Captain Speaking" when youv'e sorted the basics, and I promise you it's just like the real thing - you will be hooked. At £29.99, it's got to be worth a try?

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Did my ppl in '73 - at the time it was the greatest thing etc etc - you will enjoy a trial flight (and aeros) if you get a clear day...........
If you havent got MS combat flight simulator and force feedback perhipherials then I can let you have them if your PC spec is reasonably powerfull - equally the basic flight simulator can be fun (for 10 minutes). Bit like the real thing really............/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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I did my PPL(H) 5 years ago, great fun and bloody expensive - £13k and didn't have to pay V.A.T(did the NVQ).

Also, a personal question, how much do you weigh?

If more than 15 stone, then forget the R22.

However, if you learn to fly in a Robinson R22, then you can probably fly anything, they're damn twitchy little bu66ers!

Read "Chickenhawk"!!!

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Just be careful about doing PPL in Florida.

Flying the plane is the easy bit. Much more difficult is RT and navigation and then combining all three at the same time. Problem with US is that although you can get PPL will this turn you into a good, safe flyer back in the UK. If you are not careful you will end up spending the money you saved on familiarisation lessons back in the UK.

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I was thinking more fixed wing to be honest - not quite 15 stone, but not far off!!. Agreed about the Robinsons, if you go into the Air Accident Investigators site, there's at least three damaged every month!

Sorry, this is getting non boaty.

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