This is my "Flying Page."
For details and prices of Aviation Medical
Examinations please click on this picture...

After flying Radio Control
model aeroplanes since 1986, I learned to fly in C152s and PA28s at

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

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.
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.
Then, for a while, I joined the Southdown Gliding Club at Parham.

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 :-