Andy Tobias's Flying page

This is my "Flying Page."

For details and prices of Aviation Medical Examinations please click on this picture...

In 1972, at the age of 16, I went on a week's residential gliding course at Challock in Kent. The weather wasn't very good, so I had only about half a dozen winch launches over the entire week, but I did learn to drive the tractor used to herd sheep off the runway.

By 1986 I was living in Perivale, and started flying radio control models at Horsenden Hill and Northwick Park.

It was only in 1990, when I moved to live near Shoreham Airport, and had started flying models with the Sussex Radio Flying Club, that I even considered full size flying.

My first flight was on 26/09/1991 in a PA38 (Piper Tomahawk), G-SION operated by The Mercury Flying Club, and I realised that I was well and truly bitten by the aviation bug. I started my PPL training in PA38s but changed to C152s when the club got rid of their Tomahawks. I did most of my training in a C152, G-BSDO but when Mercury folded, I transferred to "Air South" run by John and Jenny Pothecary. Keith Warren, who had been the Examiner & CFI of Mercury Flight Training (and who had taken me for my trial lesson in G-SION) also moved to Air South, and it was he who examined me for my GFT in G-BMTB on 28th November 1992.

A few years ago I happened to fly into Enstone, and saw G-SION looking very sorry for itself. I saw G-BSDO at Sandtoft in 2009, resprayed and very pretty. I think G-BMTB is still at Shoreham.

After getting my licence, I spent several years flying the minimum hours necessary to maintain legal currency before coming to the conclusion that I would only fly regularly if I bought a part share. The first plane in which I owned a share was a taildragger, a PA15 Vagabond, G-BOVB which was a great deal of fun. Long after I had left the group I understand that VB had an engine failure after take off. Fortunately no one was injured, but the aircraft was badly damaged and has not, as far as I know, flown since.

Although I enjoyed my time with the Vagabond, after about 70 hours of handswinging props (and it was particularly difficult to start when hot), I decided that the next plane I part owned would have an electric starter.

After the members of this group went our separate ways, and the plane was sold, I bought a 1/30th share in share in the Southern Strut Flying Group’s Shoreham based C150 G-AWRK. This made for very cheap flying, but with the size of the group, availability was limited and long trips difficult, so I subsequently bought a share in a TB10 G-BLCG. I flew about 90 hours in this, and went as far afield as Holland.

If you want to have a look at the details of the longest trip I have ever made in G-AWRK, have a look at www.andytobias.co.uk/Romeo Kilo Goes West.pdf Sadly RK came to a sticky end at Deanland in Autumn 2008; fortunately with no injury to anybody.

When I decided to start to learn to fly helicopters I had to sell the TB10 share to raise some funds for training but I bought a small share in the Oldbus Flying Group’s PA28 Archer G-BMIW. (video (c) Paul Dean)

In May 2009 I had a fantastic trip to the Shetlands and Hebrides in G-BMIW. This was written up in the April 2010 edition of Pilot Magazine. In May 2010 a couple of us took it on a trip round the republic of Ireland and this was also written up in Pilot and printed in early 2011. In May 2011 IW went to France. There is a video on You Tube, and you can read about it here.

Along the way I have gained Night, Multi and IMC Ratings. If you want to see my logbook there is a copy here produced by PilotLog, (www.PilotLog.co.uk ) but I only update the copy on this site every year or two.

Whilst the night and IMC ratings all went smoothly, the twin rating, in the Flying Hut’s (Now Flying Times') Piper Aztec G-BCCE in must have been one of the most drawn out ever. I started it in 2003 and finally completed the course and passed the test in 2007.

When I gave up my own general practice, I joined the Southdown Gliding Club at Parham, but as my aviation medicine workload picked up I found I really didn't have the time that I needed to make any progress with unpowered flight. I'd still like to do a bit more gliding as I have never flown one solo. I have lost the logbook from my sheep herding holiday in Challock as a teenager, so there is only 10 hrs 12mins in my gliding logbook, all from Parham.

IN 2005 I started learning to fly R22 Helicopters with Fast Helicopters at Shoreham. (video (c) Paul Dean)

After about 60 hours training in the R22 I finished my PPL( H) in 2006. I completed an Enstrom piston helicopter type rating and, for a few years, owned a quarter share in G-BURI, an Enstrom F28C which was based at Goodwood. (picture and video(c)John Henderson)

Whilst most of my flying has been in "the usual" types, I have had lessons in a Harvard, a Tiger Moth, and a Bell 47 (MASH) Helicopter. At some point I would like to have another go at open cockpit flying.

The most exciting thing that has happend in my flying over the last couple of years is that I have now become the proud owner of a 1961 C172B G-ARMO. I've owned it outright since October 2009 and have now logged over 200 hours in it, (mainly commuting between my two aviation medical practices at Shoreham and Booker).

In August 2011 I passed the statistical milestone of 1000 hrs total time. (157 hrs 42 mins Rotary and 845 hrs 16 mins fixed wing) My next aim is to exceed 1000 hours P1 before age or finances force an end to my flying :-)