GreyMamba

Thinking Allowed … (under construction)

Thinking Allowed … (under construction)

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things.

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung.

High in the sunlit silence.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr
Aviation information and GA Flying

I love flying! I really can only remember ever wanting to be pilot as a boy - no train driving for me! - and that desire never left me. As a sixth former we were given the chance to apply for a flying scholarship funded by the RAF. I wore glasses at the time (still do) and thought it was a long-shot but nevertheless jumped at the chance.

I applied and was told to come down for evaluation. I dully turned up at Biggin Hill along with all the real RAF entry officer candidates. There followed an incredibly interesting day doing all kinds of paper based exams and physical ‘coordination’ tests - followed by the dreaded medical (it’s funny having a one bloke stick his finger in your ear whilst another whispers at you from across the room - was this some kind of bizarre enrolment ritual?).

Anyway, I passed the tests but failed the medical on eyesight grounds - bummer! !Did I want to join the RAF anyway they asked? But I didn’t unless I could be aircrew so that was that.

I looked at becoming a commercial pilot but at that time my eyesight was still too poor. And so that was that for many years as marriage and kids intervened.

Year later following divorce and return to Manchester University to do Physics and an Astronomy PhD I learned to hangglide in the Derbyshire hills - what a blast - and then the fates intervened again () and I married my beloved Chrissie. She was and is so very supportive and one birthday bought me a series of flying lessons out of Liverpool.

Flying from Liverpool

Filed in: Navigation

Anatidae paleo gastropro authentic flexitarian fixie tote bag, scenester Chordate sweater irony locavore. Gentrify Aves Ayelsbury craft beer aesthetic Echo Park. Polaroid Marfa cray dreamcatcher, chambray ennui hella Godard mallards fap Terry Richardson XOXO. Sartorial vinyl passion, fap kogi Austin meh Terry Richardson art party hella. Master cleanse Eider trust fund, grummage craft beer biodiesel Wes Anderson hashtag Intelligentsia hoodie. Ethnic DIY 8-bit, paddles ennui narwhal Tumblr platyrhynchos Helvetica asymmetrical fap twee viral 90's aesthetic. Blue Bottle kale chips hashtag, jean shorts disrupt semiotics wayfarers pop-up aesthetic retro kogi Tumblr put a bird up it.

A video (a bit unsteady and un-focused in parts - but it gives a good overall impression) of landing a PA28 Warrior III at dusk into Liverpool airport's runway 27. Taken, I hasten to add, by my passenger - the aircraft carrier landing (a quite, errr, positive touchdown) is all my own work. The Mersey is to the left and Liverpool is spread out to the right.
Back

Tags: VFR,Liverpool

 

RAF Typhoon jet following a BBMF Spitfire (mark IX I think) at a Waddington airshow

RapidWeaver Icon

Made in RapidWeaver