One Year On

I've been a pilot for a year now. That seems like both no time at all and an eternity. In that time I've joined a non-equity share group, flown 20hrs PIC, had the group bought, been round the Isle of Wight three times, visited Kemble, Turweston, Thruxton and seen the demise of  'my' aircraft.

I was listing those airfields and realised it should be more - that was my original plan but I seemed to chicken out of vistiing other airfields and my recent flights have taken friends and family on a tour of the Isle of Wight. I pledge to visit more airfields in the next year.

I've been thinking about Lee on Solent, Bembridge, Elstree, Cranfield, Redhill, Haverfordwest and of course France! I also want to fly more grass strips.

The non-equity group I joined at Blackbushe worked very well for me. Flying about once a month meant that the costs were pretty reasonable. The aircraft was a PA28-161 G-CGDJ that was a lovely smooth aircraft. Not so fast or shiny, but very sound. Sadly she came to a sad end in Perranporth in August when she struck the ground and caught fire and was gutted.

Poor DJ

Happier times at Kemble 

or Over the Needles

Or Turweston

The group are currently looking to buy another PA28 which seems to be well under way. In the meantime I've joined the Blackbushe Flying Group which has about 7 aircraft. It's normally much more expensive than the DJ group, but the owner, Dan, has cut us a deal. So here I am with G-BOOF - today's adventure!