Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
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By Tall_Guy_In_a_PA28
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1866785
Covid permitting, New Zealand is a great place to fly in the UK winter. Rental prices were much cheaper than UK when I was there in 2005. Unfortunately I suspect that even if the country re-opens next year, the pent up demand for travel will drive flight prices very high.

Florida and SoCal are both good winter destinations, but for serious hour-building why not fly between the two? Being a circular route, you could rent from anywhere along the route with international connections to the UK. Arizona or Nevada could be good starting points.

For a given region, rental prices vary more than the UK and on the whole you get what you pay for. The cheaper end will be minimally equipped and reliability may be an issue for long distance travel. At the high end there are plenty of Cirruses (Cirri?) to rent or nice glass-cockpit Cessna in the mid-range.

There is generally a premium to be paid for hire from schools which specialise in overseas students (which advertise widely in UK/Europe), conversely some others will not rent to foreigners. Some rental outfits want their aircraft back in the hangar each night, which is not conducive to wider exploration. Research is required and I would recommend the telephone rather than email to make initial contact.

The cost of living (hotels/restaurants/gas) is generally much higher in California than Florida.

Much of my SoCal flying was in the aforementioned N2525Y, which I see is now registered with a 180hp engine so hopefully less asthmatic. I was told-off by ATC because I could not maintain the minimum IFR climb-rate in the San Diego Class C!
#1877991
Hi all,

I'm also considering going to the USA in winter time Jan/Feb/Mar to do some hour building.

Does anyone know if San Diego would have decent weather for VFR flying around that time of year?

And if anyone could recommend some outfits to rent aircraft from in California, I'd much appreciate it!
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By WelshRichy
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1878038
This thread has been a trip down memory lane as I have had many a happy holiday flying a Piper Arrow III from ADP out of Brackett Field, many people on here will remember that Arrow but alas, sadly, ADP went belly up a number of years ago. One of my most memorable would have been Grand Canyon and Sedona in a day, seven hours flying in total but what a great day out and was accompanied by the late Keef and his wife. Wonderful memories.

Last time flying out of San Diego back in 2010 (N2525Y - definitely felt like a 160 having an asthma attack), had my IPC signed off the previous day. Wanted to take a trip up the coast to Santa Barbara, took one look at the sectionals and LA terminal charts and thought ah heck, too much hard work, lets file IFR. The preferred routing from Gillespie to Santa Barbara took me directly over LAX at 6,000' with airliners on departure being held at 4,000' until clear of me. All in glorious VMC. Wonderful!

California, Nevada, Arizona are all of my favorite areas to fly around, been to Florida a fair few times (I got my FAA CPL/IR in Naples) but once you've done Florida there isn't really much to entice you back. Unless it is the Sun 'n' Fun at Lakeland in Spring. I've yet to get to one of those, maybe one day plus Jack Browns Seaplane Base down the road for a ASES add-on during the same trip of course.

Definitely starting to think of how to approach the subject with my better half... I still owe her a ranch holiday with her friends that she hasn't managed to go on yet!
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By Paul_Sengupta
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1878075
I think it was in the aforementioned 25Y that I crossed LAX at 1900ft. It was supposed to be 2500ft but I was taking ages to get there having taken off from Hawthorne, so the controller took pity on me and said, "Ah, you can cross now." :D

Jan, Feb, March in San Diego? Yes, but bear in mind it can snow over the mountains in the winter (or autumn or spring!), so if you want to go up/down the length of California it's fine, but if you want to go over the mountains inland, you might have to pick your days.
#1878106
Jack Brown’s is a true flying bucket list experience.

Struggling to think of a higher fun/hour ratio than all the stuff I learned there. Landing in a lake too small to take off in on a straight line then taking off in a circle around it’s perimeter :shock: :thumleft:
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#1878158
There are some great experiences to be had flying light aircraft in various parts of the world. It can make for a wonderful holiday. There are also good lessons to learn that are difficult to come across in the UK. (High DA etc.)

However, fleeing to the sun in Northern Europe’s winter to build hours in good weather, will make you very good at…. Flying in fine weather.

There are good lessons (and qualifications!) to be learned by flying around the UK, and/or Northern Europe in winter too. Particularly if here is where you are likely to do much of your future flying in all seasons.

This is just one of many reasons why the number of hours in anyone’s logbook can be meaningless. The content of those hours might be more revealing.

Just an alternative perspective. That’s all.
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#1878219
Thanks all for the feedback.

I agree about the fine weather point! However the weather has been so poor in the UK this year I'm ready to get some proper time in

Does anyone have any recommendations of companies / places to rent aircraft from in California? I'm a bit lost as to where to start / base myself
#1889679
I've not been flying in the US myself, but everyone I know who has been has only good things to say. However: it doesn't have to be a choice between California OR Florida. A young friend and his friend flew in the US for the same reason as the OP: time building (and an adventure!) post-PPL. They flew from California to Florida and back. They also did a quick hop to the Bahamas, but they needed to rent locally in Florida for that: rentals in California are usually domestic flights only.

With my general knowledge of the North American climate, I'd say late spring/early summer would be the best bet. Late summer means the start of the hurricane season. (Having said that: I've been to Texas in March/April and there were thunderstorms, tornadoes and all sorts of nasty weather.)
#1906000
General question to anyone but I’m currently nearing completion of my PPL H. I asked at the academy where I’m learning about hour building abroad and basically was told it won’t be recognised. Is this legit or am I being told a load of bull? Cheers
#1906067
Hawker12 wrote:General question to anyone but I’m currently nearing completion of my PPL H. I asked at the academy where I’m learning about hour building abroad and basically was told it won’t be recognised. Is this legit or am I being told a load of bull? Cheers


I can't see why it wouldn't be recognised. Plenty of people hour build in fixed wing aircraft overseas, so I don't see why a helicopter would be any different.