It IS good value. 2 Days... full briefings, de-briefings, 4 flights in total. It is enough to allow you to go away and practice, and do so safely, includes breaks and how to joins safely. And each sortie usually has a tailchase to end with, just for FUN! Also includes my personal favourite - formation take off and landings and how to do them safely. The standard of instruction is exemplary, they teach the RAF based SOP's. No - Im not connected with them but I am a very very satisfied customer from several years back
After completing the basic course and having had a lot of fun putting what I learnt with my formation buddy into practice, Ive been back and done the intermediate formation course at UH too. (if anyone wants to go do advanced formation at UH with me, drop me a PM).
It enabled me to do some special things. This is one of the highlights of my flying to date, leading in a 2ship formation to an airshow. Here we are landing at Waddington, Im leading with with Paul Sengupta as my 2.
Moli wrote:...if that means paying for a different aircraft type and for a well respected brand name in this particular field of instruction, I am happy to make an informed decision and pay the going rate.
Moli is right, but arguably doesn't fully capture the key issues.
What is anybody paying for here?
Experience of a something different? No - you can do that almost anywhere.
The 'delta' operating cost of a new aircraft type? No.
A brand name? God help us, No.
What you are paying for - and what you want, surely? - is knowledge. From the Instructor's brain into yours.
Knowledge is rare. Credible knowledge is even more scarce.
So knowledge is valuable.
The hourly operating cost of a Bulldog is irrelevant to how you should value the cost to you of a course such as this.
Disclaimer: I know Greeners. I have met some of the other Instructors, and I have some general knowledge of their background, expertise and teaching skills. I have paid for an experience flight in a UH Extra 300.
That's the full extent of my involvement with the company.
The main thing that UH have going for them (aside from good marketing) is the quality of their military instructors. I did the basic formation course with them, mainly with Roger Milburn who was great. I would recommend them to anyone.
I have some ideas about doing basic formation training at Redhill, lead by an ex-military instructor, if there is a market for it. Is there?
QSD wrote:I have some ideas about doing basic formation training at Redhill, lead by an ex-military instructor, if there is a market for it. Is there?
I did my formation training with ex and current military instructors. Not at UH, but somewhat more independently and in my own aeroplane...being fortunate that I own such an aeroplane...though formation flying was one of the reasons I bought a Bulldog in the first place.
I suspect there is a demand for this, but it's a bit more logistically challenging as you need pairs of people coming to you in pairs of similar aircraft.
If you're a member of Skysport, they also do formation training weekends in the Bulldog (and Pup).
I suspect the UH training is a bit more structured though.
Formation training was probably the single most attention grabbing, not to mention white knuckle stick grabbing, thing I've ever done in an aeroplane. Possibly in anything, anywhere. The concentration is immense when you first start. You *will* get a sweaty back! It does get easier though with practice. Ridders will tell you that I can do it reading a newspaper! (I wasn't reading The Times, I was folding a map!)
FG probably still remembers my radio calls which often consisted of "Two's in" very closely followed by "Two's out" - especially on the first few turning joins that probably appeared more like strafing runs
I would like to mirror Ridders' views completely. My LinkedIn recommendation for Mark Greenfield reads: “Mark taught me formation flying. His skill in conveying critical information in a high-tension situation is nothing short of superb. His technique ensured a steep learning curve and a relaxed confident student.
Mark is tireless in the running of his business, with an apparent bottomless pit of ideas for promoting advanced flying skills, thus creating a safer flying community.”
I'm glad that you got sorted Moli. I was very tempted by the invitation yesterday, but weekdays would have been difficult for me. I look forward to your report.
Iceman
You are still dangerous! You can be my wingman anytime.
FLYER Exhibitions
The concentration is immense when you first start. You *will* get a sweaty back! It does get easier though with practice. Ridders will tell you that I can do it reading a newspaper! 
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