8 Exciting things to look forward to!!

 

  1. Build your confidence and build your flying hours

Finally you have achieved your Private Pilot’s Licence. The first thing you should start doing is consolidating what you have been taught.  You must actively keep on top of your all your new skills you have acquired by regularly flying in order to gain more confidence and keep yourself up to date with the theory/legislation. The more flying hours you can get, the more experience you will have under your belt and the more confident you will begin to feel.

 

  1. Become a flying tour guide to your family and friends

All the time while you were studying, your family and friends were patiently waiting for the reward of their first flight. So now is the right time to give back those promises! Share your joy of flying with them. Nothing will make you happier than seeing the sparkles in a person’s eyes, experiencing the first flight while you are in the pilot’s seat.

 

  1. Fly over the channel

 When our airfield is on the south coast, it really is a very short flight over to France or the Channel Islands. A favourite of ours is Le Touquet which is only roughly 45 minutes flight. The benefit of this destination is, you can fly the majority of this over the English south coast and then just a short channel crossing. From here you can rent a bicycle and cycle into the town for a spot of lunch.

 

  1. Develop your skills and learn some Aerobatics

 Once confident enough with regular flying, why not try to learn some new aerobatic skills? I mean, learning how to flying upside down, loops, turns and barrel rolls is only going to make you a better pilot overall. Learning these new and exciting skills will boost your adrenaline within a flight and make flying even more exhilarating! After you get your PPL you can book in a series of aerobatic lessons with an instructor.

  1. Giving back you your community – Project Propeller

If you’ve ever wanted to say a special “thank you” to those surviving aircrew who fought in World War Two, then the annual Project Propeller charity event gives you the chance to do just that. Every year, WWII Royal Air Force veterans are picked up from a variety of local airfields around the UK and flown to a reunion by volunteer pilots, who range from the recently qualified to experienced aviators.

  1. Flying abroad

Once you are a pilot this makes all the difference to the possibilities of your future holidays! Instead of being chartered around with a travel agent booked tour – you can rent an aircraft and pilot it around your own planned itinerary!  This is possible in countries like South Africa where you can see the animals, stay at first class bush lodges and camps not accessible from the road, and you have an aircraft at your disposal.  You come home with great safari memories – and the rare experience of flying the African bush!  Please make sure you research the requirements in every country you plan to fly in, you may need validate your licence or your qualifications.

  1. Complete your night rating

It is highly recommended for newly qualified pilots to develop a night flight skill. That will give you both more confidence in yourself as a pilot and a stunning view of nocturnal panorama with many twinkling lights.

  1. Plan a family day out to a flying museum and some lunch

Why not take the family or friends on a fun and educational day trip. You can fly into various Aviation Museums around the UK, park up and have a leisurely wander around the exciting museums, grab some lunch, and then head back. I don’t think the kids will be asking ‘Are we there yet?’ whilst flying along over all the beautiful scenery and the traffic jams underneath.

Some examples of these fly in museums are

  • Farnborough Air Sciences Trust – Farnborough
  • Concorde Conferences Centre- Manchester
  • Fleet Air Arm Museum – Yeovilton