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I moved the lessons into a higher gear from June 2002, booking lessons early or late in the day to benefit from the better weather conditions.
By September 2003 (after my first solo) I was getting close to the GFT so I pushed the training into top gear for the remainder of the year. Progress from this point was fairly quick, due in part to some excellent weather conditions in late-November and December, plus some outstanding holiday.
I finally acheived the NPPL (National Private Pilots Licence) for Microlights in February 2004.
Total tuition costs, that includes ground school and exams plus flying lessons in the school and my own aircraft, amount to just short of £4000 - substantially more than originally budgeted and not the cheapest of hobbies!
My Pegasus XL 447 |
 February 2001 Preparing for the first lesson with instructor Nick Esterson |
Nick assessing the weather prior to my first lesson - just as well, it closed in completely within 5 minutes of this photo. |
 February 16 2004 with examiner Brian Palfreyman after passing the GFT.
|
Nailing the pass plate to the Pole of Fame |
After gaining a pilots licence you are are permitted to take passengers, here is a selection of my intrepid human ballast
Ginny (my beautiful wife) |
Dick |
Matthew |
Craig (almost night when we returned) |
Alison |
Aled |
Kelly (had a most alarming flight due to a local cloudburst) |
George |
Kev |
Graham |
Mick |
Bolton (Pete) |
| Date | Duration | Instructor | Status | Exercises | ||
| 02 Feb 2001 | 1:00 | Nick Esterson | P.U.T | 3,4,6 | ||
| 30 Aug 2001 | 0:35 | Mick Moulai | P.U.T | 4,5 | ||
| 01 Sep 2001 | 1:00 | Mick Moulai | P.U.T | 4,5 | ||
| 20 Dec 2001 | 0:40 | Nick Esterson | P.U.T | 4,6,7,8 | ||
| 04 Jun 2002 | 0:50 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 6 | ||
| 11 Jun 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 7,8 | ||
| 25 Jun 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 7,8 | ||
| 23 Jul 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 6,7,8 | ||
| 28 Jul 2002 | 0:55 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 9a | ||
| 31 Jul 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 9b | ||
| 02 Aug 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 9b | ||
| 06 Aug 2002 | 0:35 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 10ab | ||
| Subtotal hours | 10:35 | |||||
| 14 Aug 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12 | ||
| 16 Aug 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 20 Aug 2002 | 0:50 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 7,8,9a | ||
| 21 Aug 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a | ||
| 28 Aug 2002 | 0:40 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 10 Sep 2002 | 0:55 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a | ||
| 11 Sep 2002 | 0:35 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a | ||
| 17 Sep 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 20 Sep 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 01 Oct 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 20 Oct 2002 | 0:40 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 02 Nov 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a | ||
| Subtotal hours | 21:15 | |||||
| 03 Dec 2002 | 0:50 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13,16a | ||
| 05 Dec 2002 | 0:35 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 17 Dec 2002 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 18 Dec 2002 | Pass Air Law exam | |||||
| 19 Dec 2002 | 0:45 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 09 Jan 2003 | 1:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a | ||
| 18 Jan 2003 | 00:50 | Helen Harknett | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 23 Jan 2003 | First outing in G-MWVF (highlighted in this colour) | |||||
| 23 Jan 2003 | 00:55 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 2 Mar 2003 | 00:45 | Helen Harknett | P.U.T | 12,13,16a | ||
| 18 Mar 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13, 16a | ||
| 20 Mar 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 27 Mar 2003 | 00:55 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 03 Apr 2003 | 00:50 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13,16a | ||
| Subtotal hours | 31:30 | |||||
| 08 Apr 2003 | 00:20 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 15 Apr 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 30 Apr 2002 | Pass Navigation exam | |||||
| 28 May 2003 | 01:00 | Rob Ware | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 19 Jun 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 24 Jun 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 13 Jul 2003 | 00:35 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 16 Jul 2003 | 00:50 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a,12,13 | ||
| 23 Aug 2003 | 00:45 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 27 Aug 2003 | 00:35 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a,12,13 | ||
| 31 Aug 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a | ||
| 31 Aug 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 2 Sept 2003 | 01:05 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 03 Sept 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 7 Sept 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 16a,12,13 | ||
| 14 Sept 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| Subtotal hours | 43:45 | |||||
| 16 Sept 2003 | 01:15 | Rob Ware | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 21 Sept 2003 | 01:00 | Rob Ware | P.U.T | 12,13,16a | ||
| 24 Sept 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 24 Sept 2003 | 00:10 | P.I.C | 17a | |||
| 30 Sept 2003 | 00:45 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 21 Oct 2003 | 00:30 | Rob Ware | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 26 Oct 2003 | 00:30 | Rob Ware | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 26 Oct 2003 | 00:25 | Rob Ware | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| Subtotal hours | 49:10 dual 0:35 solo | |||||
| 1 Nov 2003 | 00:25 | Rob Ware | P.U.T | 12,13,16a | ||
| 1 Nov 2003 | 00:30 | Rob Ware | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 6 Nov 2003 | Pass Aircraft General (Part 1) exam | |||||
| 12 Nov 2003 | 00:35 | Mick Shea | P.U.T | 12,13 | ||
| 12 Nov 2003 | Pass Meterology exam | |||||
| 12 Nov 2003 | Pass Human Performance Limitations | |||||
| 15 Nov 2003 | 00:30 | Mick Shea | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 16 Nov 2003 | 01:00 | Mick Shea | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 16 Nov 2003 | 01:10 | Rob Ware | P.U.T | 18 | ||
| 23 Nov 2003 | 01:15 | Rob Ware | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 23 Nov 2003 | 01:15 | Helen Harknett | P.U.T | 18 | ||
| 27 Nov 2003 | 02:25 | Helen Harknett | P.U.T | 18 | ||
| 27 Nov 2003 | 01:00 | Helen Harknett | P.I.C | 18 | ||
| Subtotal hours | 52:35 dual 4:50 solo | |||||
| 28 Nov 2003 | 03:20 | P.I.C | 18 | |||
| 2 Dec 2003 | 00:50 | Helen Harknett | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 5 Dec 2003 | 01:45 | P.I.C | 18 | |||
| 5 Dec 2003 | 00:35 | Helen Harknett | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 7 Dec 2003 | 01:10 | Mick Shea | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 9 Dec 2003 | 00:55 | Mick Shea | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 16 Dec 2003 | 01:00 | Helen Harknett | P.U.T | 14 | ||
| 16 Nov 2003 | 01:00 | Helen Harknett | P.U.T | 15 | ||
| 17 Dec 2003 | 01:00 | Helen Harknett | P.U.T | 17c,16b | ||
| 17 Dec 2003 | 02:00 | Helen Harknett | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 02 Jan 2004 | 00:50 | Helen Harknett | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 4 Jan 2004 | 00:55 | Helen Harknett | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 18 Jan 2004 | 02:10 | Mick Shea | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 25 Jan 2004 | 01:30 | Mick Shea | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| Subtotal hours | 55:35 dual 20:50 solo | |||||
| 15 Feb 2004 | 01:00 | Rob Ware | P.I.C | 17b | ||
| 16 Feb 2004 | GFT passed | Brian Palfreyman | P.U.T | GFT | ||
| 4 | Effects of Controls |
| 5 | Taxiing |
| 6 | Straight & Level Flight |
| 7 | Climbing |
| 8 | Descending |
| 9a,b | Turning (climbing and descending turns) 30 degree bank |
| 10a | Slow flight |
| 10b | Stalling |
| 11 | Spin Awareness |
| 12 | Taking Off |
| 13 | The circuit - final approach and landing |
| 14 | Advanced turning (up to 60 degree bank) |
| 15 | Unusual attitudes |
| 16a | Forced Landing |
| 16b | Operation at minimum level |
| 17a | First solo circuit |
| 17b | Solo circuit, local area, general flying |
| 17c | Dual revision for GFT (General Flying Test) |
| 18 | Pilot navigation |