Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
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By shortwing
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#1782328
matthew_w100 wrote:In all seriousness I heard someone doing a practice SRA into Gatwick the other day. I don't know how big he was, but he was giving a reg not a callsign. Is it possible this would be an option or would they turn their noses up at a single? Or charge airliner money?



I did this about a month ago, no charge, SRA to 26R followed by a visual approach to 08L. Very accommodating, however when I called last week the controller said they were not allowing approaches. Worth a try?
#1782465
johnm wrote:Gloucestershire and the Aviator is up and running again


JAM open 1300-1600 for (takeaway, picnic tables) tea and nibbles after lunch ? Oh, and some old aeroplanes to look at .. :wink:
#1782534
I wouldn’t go anywhere near Bournemouth for your training. I had a business visit today. 1 hr. from engine start to takeoff. It took nearly 40 minutes at the hold for ATC to depart 8 GA and one F20 jet aircraft. At one point a gap of 9 minutes between departures. Ample time between some landings to get a slick departure.
Never seen such inefficient ATC.
Start up a pain too, not ATC fault initially, as handing company omitted to pass departure details to them. No phone signal in aircraft, ATC refused to take details on Ground freq. ( pretty simple, VFR clearing NW to destination. )
Taxi back to ramp, phone handler, start up again and join the 1 hour queue. Not my day!
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By skydriller
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#1782546
Oldfart wrote:Never seen such inefficient ATC.
Start up a pain too, not ATC fault initially, as handing company omitted to pass departure details to them. No phone signal in aircraft, ATC refused to take details on Ground freq. ( pretty simple, VFR clearing NW to destination. )
Taxi back to ramp, phone handler, start up again and join the 1 hour queue. Not my day!


Handling & departure details or you go nowhere?....Sounds like a really fun place to fly...
#1782732
Well, for the record, Bournemouth were utterly helpful and courteous, I got my approach in, then went to Lee on Solent. Sausage roll and cheesy chips walking one way down the beach, then a 99 the way back. The plan worked.

May need to try out some of the other suggestions mind you.

G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer on Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By T6Harvard
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#1782735
Iceman wrote:Indeed, I flew in to Headcorn a few weekends ago and nearly ended up with a £4700 hamburger as I contemplated whether to take a 40 minute ride in the Spitfire that was doing rides :lol:.

Iceman 8)


MrT6 flew in one of the Biggin Hill Spitfires last summer.
I had a ride in the 'chase plane' for formation photos. We paid less than that, I think about £3.5k for 40 mins, inc 5 of us in the sky van. We have go-pro from both a/c, including the victory roll over Brands Hatch.
For us that's a fair chunck of money but it was a.m.a.z.i.n.g and we are still buzzing 12 months on.

For those who hate the idea of a 2-seater Spitfire, this was M. ixT, converted to a trainer by Vickers in the 1950's.
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By Iceman
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#1782754
T6Harvard wrote:We paid less than that, I think about £3.5k for 40 mins, inc 5 of us in the sky van..


Hence my caution, and for once, I was glad that I wasn’t impulsive. Spending that sort of money, I really needdd to do a bit more research.

Iceman 8)
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By Hooligan
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#1782771
lutonwho wrote:Weren’t they converted into two seaters for the Irish Air Force as trainers, or have I got that wrong?
LW


There are four 2 seaters at Biggin Hill, all original Vickers conversions. One is the 2 seat prototype Mk VIII G-AIDN, the other three are all ex Irish Air Corps TR.IXs. One has been in the US since the 1960s and was flown by Bill Greenwood until a landing collision with a ground-looped Hurricane did quite a lot of damage a few years ago. Bill sold it on to Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar last year; they are finishing the repairs and should have it flying punters in due course.

Duxford has an original Irish AC Tr.IX as is Caroline Grace's well-known example. Five Irish 2 seat survivors from (I think) nine originals is an excellent batting average.

The other three flying in the UK are all modern conversions and are largely new build airframes from scrap or accident remains. There is at least one more being rebuilt at present.

The Fighter Collection used to fly an ex Indian AF Tr.IX that had been de-converted to single seat Mk.IX - back in the 1980s selling rides in warbirds to the public was not an option!
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By T6Harvard
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#1782811
I have to be honest and admit that when I booked the Spitfire flight I was hoping MrT6 would be too chicken and I'd get to do the ride! I got the consolation wing to wing view and later (elsewhere) had my Harvard aeros for about 15% of the cost :mrgreen:

Iceman, if you check Trip Adviser you get a pretty good idea of what's on offer. We were particularly impressed by Fly A Spitfire at Biggin Hill because they included everything in the price, right down to free drinks, a bunch of souvenirs, a lovely large framed certificate signed by pilot and client, and most importantly the Go Pro footage of client's face and forward view, and view from Sky van of Spit alongside etc. Everyone was so professional, so helpful and so eager to please.
Ooh, and the price included a tour of the 2 hangars for hubby and 4 guests, with a brilliant guide that was fabulous!

MrT6 was also impressed by his driver, ex-Royal Navy Sea Harrier pilot Don Sigournay, who did an excellent briefing and took onboard his reticence with regard to aeros, but still gave an unforgettable demo of how smooth the old girl is (and he snuck in a wingover as a compromise when hubby turned down a loop).

Message me if you want any more details but when I next (cough) have £3+k to spare I wouldn't hesitate to do it.

Apologies, have rambled on, but we are still grinning and have the 2 best photos enlarged on canvas in pride of place.
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#1782883
Inspired by this thread, rather than a semi wasteful orbit of east angular, I called at short notice, for a practice approach at Norwich (on sat)
I wasn't sure who to talk to so the very helpful guys in ATC firstly confirmed they could accept me and dealt with the details by contacting Saxon for me. (Doh, should have known that)
The flight was hampered by a radio issue that Norwich ATC assisted with but thanks to their cheerful, calm, professional manor, I managed a usable approach to minimum and flew home contented.
Thanks Norwich. :thumright: