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After flying Radio Control
model aeroplanes since 1986, I learned to fly in C152s and PA28s at
ShorehamAirport in
1992.
I started with
Mercury Flying Club, and when this folded half way through my training, I transferred to "Air South," which was
run by Jenny and John Pothecary.
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.
However 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.
This was a C172
G-ASVM.
After the members of this
group went our separate ways, and the plane was sold, I bought a share in a
TB10 G-BLCG. I flew about 90 hours in this, and went as far afield as Holland
.
When I decided to start
to learn to fly helicopters I had to sell this share to raise some funds for
training.
But I still have a 1/30th share
in the Southern Strut Flying Group’s EGKA based C150 G-AWRK.
If you want to have a look
at the details of the longest trip I have ever made in this aircraft, have
a look at www.andytobias.co.uk/Romeo Kilo Goes West.pdf (but be warned it can take a long time to
download).
I also own a small
share in the Oldbus
Flying Group’s PA28 Archer G-BMIW. (video (c) Paul Dean)
Along the way I have
gained a Night Rating and an IMC Rating with "
The
Flying Hut ," and now have about 600 fixed wing
hours in total. If you want to see my logbook up to the end of 2007 then
there is a copy here
produced by PilotLog, (www.PilotLog.co.uk
).
I had started looking at
the possibility of a fixed wing Commercial Licence, (and I even went as far as
having an initial class 1 medical at Gatwick with this in mind), but I really
didn’t feel that I had the dedication to do all of the CPL examinations. So, I
looked for another challenge.
First, I started a Twin
Rating in the Flying Hut’s (Now Flying Times')Piper Aztec G-BCCE in 2003. I did about 12 hrs
training but no test.
Eventually, I learned to fly R22 Helicopters with
Fast
Helicopters at
Shoreham. (video (c) Paul Dean)
After
about 60 hours training in the R22 I finally completed my PPL(H).
I also completed an Enstrom piston helicopter type rating as I
have bought a share in G-BURI which is an Enstrom F28C
based at Goodwood. I’ve recently passed 130 hrs
rotary time. (picture and
video(c)John Henderson)
My
most recent project was to complete the Multi Engine Piston rating
which I started in 2003 and finally finished in March 2007. Grateful thanks to
instructor and examiner!
(And, yes, I do still occasionally fly radio controlled
model aeroplanes with the
Sussex Radio Flying Club )Andy Tobias 08/06/2008
If you want to send me an email, you can do so
by sending it to :-
This is my "Flying Page." 
