Farmstrip Flying
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: london
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Farmstrip Flying
Afternoon All,
I have got a quick question about flying from farmstrips. I am currently a 70 hour PPL and looking to build up my hours. I read recently that flying with a group from a farmstrip is the cheapest way and offers some more 'challenging' flying.
My question is; would this be a good idea for a low houred PPL such as myself and where can I obtain more info on farmstrip groups in the Herts/Essex area. I currently fly from Stapleford.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Ben
I have got a quick question about flying from farmstrips. I am currently a 70 hour PPL and looking to build up my hours. I read recently that flying with a group from a farmstrip is the cheapest way and offers some more 'challenging' flying.
My question is; would this be a good idea for a low houred PPL such as myself and where can I obtain more info on farmstrip groups in the Herts/Essex area. I currently fly from Stapleford.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Ben
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Earth
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My question is; would this be a good idea for a low houred PPL such as myself
As long as you respect the fact that there are some huge differences in how to fly from farm strips compared to vast acres of tarmac you'll never look back
I cut my teeth on farm strip flying when I had 70 hrs and I bought a Cessna 150. You are heading in the direction of some very satisfying and rewarding flying if this is an area of GA that interests you.
Go for it!!
Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss more
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: E Anglia
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Absolutely!
Farmstrip flying tightens up your skills bigtime:
Farmstrips are on the whole much shorter than the huge blacktops many fly from and you'll learn to plonk it down in the right place every time.
Biggest asset to me is that the farmstrip doesn't close at 6pm: you can fly right on up to official night.
Nothing quite like turning off the engine at dusk, opening the door and as well as the tink tink tink of the engine cooling, you hear the skylarks and the distant combine harvesters.
Get some hours in with an instructor then learn to fly for real.
Oh- and you don't have to fly some cr*p old string bag from a farm strip: I've been flying an Arrow two from the best strip in East Anglia for 10 years.
Safe (and unlimited) flying
Cusco
Farmstrip flying tightens up your skills bigtime:
Farmstrips are on the whole much shorter than the huge blacktops many fly from and you'll learn to plonk it down in the right place every time.
Biggest asset to me is that the farmstrip doesn't close at 6pm: you can fly right on up to official night.
Nothing quite like turning off the engine at dusk, opening the door and as well as the tink tink tink of the engine cooling, you hear the skylarks and the distant combine harvesters.
Get some hours in with an instructor then learn to fly for real.
Oh- and you don't have to fly some cr*p old string bag from a farm strip: I've been flying an Arrow two from the best strip in East Anglia for 10 years.
Safe (and unlimited) flying
Cusco
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
10 hours??
Does it really take that long to learn how to use farm strips when you're getting the owner's briefing each time, or is that a course intended to also teach the farmers how to design and maintain the strips?
Does it really take that long to learn how to use farm strips when you're getting the owner's briefing each time, or is that a course intended to also teach the farmers how to design and maintain the strips?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: london
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for your replies so far.....definately want to give it a try now but need to find a group. Anybody out there know of any in Herts/Essex or where I could find out? Have tried Flyer website and a PPrune search to no avail.
Flies for fun
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Wishing it was somewhere sunny!
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Try the Popular Flying Association website;
http://www.pfa.org.uk/
A lot of people who fly from strips also fly "permit" aircraft which is really affordable flying!
http://www.pfa.org.uk/
A lot of people who fly from strips also fly "permit" aircraft which is really affordable flying!
Join Date: Jan 1997
Location: UK
Posts: 7,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
....also get out amongst the clubs and visit the flying strips in the area.
I got nowhere with publications when I moved south after many years flying in the North West.
Notice boards and just chatting provided a goldmine of information and many excellent day's out. Club notice boards make it worthwhile visiting them but even better the ads point you in the direction of farm based strip flying groups.
It made the search an enjoyable activity in itself and met cracking good individuals and groups at the grass roots. Highly recommended as is taking your time over it.
regards
Rob
I got nowhere with publications when I moved south after many years flying in the North West.
Notice boards and just chatting provided a goldmine of information and many excellent day's out. Club notice boards make it worthwhile visiting them but even better the ads point you in the direction of farm based strip flying groups.
It made the search an enjoyable activity in itself and met cracking good individuals and groups at the grass roots. Highly recommended as is taking your time over it.
regards
Rob
Guest
Posts: n/a
benjamin You don't necessarily need to be based at a farm strip to enjoy farm strip flying. Now I don't know many airfields in the Herts/Essex area, but you might consider trying to get access to a farm strip flying machine first, before finding a farm strip. Visit a few airfields like like Andrewsfield or Earls Colne.
After finding a machine you like, get some hours under your belt, and then go introduce yourself to some farm strip owners, and ask if you can fly in to their strips. Then you will gain experience.
As illustration: I operate a typical simple PFA-type farm strip machine but from a medium-sized regional airfield. Been doing so since 70 hours TT. Now I'm at >1500 hours, and still flying the same aircraft based at the same regional airfield, but I have many happy hours flying to many farm strips.
GtW I think TkF is referring to the Clacton "course". Perhaps like the AOPA Aerobatic "course", it has no legal standing, but offers the trainees some good basic tuition in the chosen subject. Don't knock it.
benjamin I would add that you will either "find" a group (through notice-boards, etc) or become "invited" into a group, and the only way to do the latter is to become friendly with a variety of clubs, etc, and let it be known that you are interested in joining a group, and they shall seek you out.
Hope this helps.
Rob (another one)
After finding a machine you like, get some hours under your belt, and then go introduce yourself to some farm strip owners, and ask if you can fly in to their strips. Then you will gain experience.
As illustration: I operate a typical simple PFA-type farm strip machine but from a medium-sized regional airfield. Been doing so since 70 hours TT. Now I'm at >1500 hours, and still flying the same aircraft based at the same regional airfield, but I have many happy hours flying to many farm strips.
GtW I think TkF is referring to the Clacton "course". Perhaps like the AOPA Aerobatic "course", it has no legal standing, but offers the trainees some good basic tuition in the chosen subject. Don't knock it.
benjamin I would add that you will either "find" a group (through notice-boards, etc) or become "invited" into a group, and the only way to do the latter is to become friendly with a variety of clubs, etc, and let it be known that you are interested in joining a group, and they shall seek you out.
Hope this helps.
Rob (another one)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Essex, UK
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you do get into a farm strip, spend an hour with one of the existing residents, in his RHS and then an hour in your aircraft with him RHS.
The main things to learn are about local areas to avoid, the local joining proceedure and any local wind perculiarities such as rotor from trees when the wind is in a certain direction.
10 hours for a farm strip course seems a ridiculous amount of time and is probably a ridiculous amount of money too.
I have flown from a farm strip virtually since having my license. I have not done anyone's 'course' but got help from the existing resident at my strip.
Its worth staying a member of the club where you learnt, as flying circuits at farm strips is almost always a real no-no. Its TOFO every time. Do your circuits at a public airfield. If in Essex/Herts, Andrewsfield do a circuits season ticket, but I'm not sure if this is for residents only. Its very cheap for unlimited circuits.
The other really nice thing about being on a farm strip is just going down to the hangar for a couple of hours, even when you aren't going flying. It is a kind of sanctuary from wife, kids, work or whatever it is that you enjoy the occasional break from.
Pros:
Your short field/PFLs will be 1st class.
Good comraderie with other residents
Approx 20%-30% cost of being based at a big airport.
No queuing at the hold.
You'll fly a lot more hours as the whole thing is much more accessable.
Cons:
No spares/mechanics other than you. (DI before you put the aircraft away. You'll find any problems before you next want to fly)
May get water logged in winter.
You'll need to do circuits elsewhere.
The main things to learn are about local areas to avoid, the local joining proceedure and any local wind perculiarities such as rotor from trees when the wind is in a certain direction.
10 hours for a farm strip course seems a ridiculous amount of time and is probably a ridiculous amount of money too.
I have flown from a farm strip virtually since having my license. I have not done anyone's 'course' but got help from the existing resident at my strip.
Its worth staying a member of the club where you learnt, as flying circuits at farm strips is almost always a real no-no. Its TOFO every time. Do your circuits at a public airfield. If in Essex/Herts, Andrewsfield do a circuits season ticket, but I'm not sure if this is for residents only. Its very cheap for unlimited circuits.
The other really nice thing about being on a farm strip is just going down to the hangar for a couple of hours, even when you aren't going flying. It is a kind of sanctuary from wife, kids, work or whatever it is that you enjoy the occasional break from.
Pros:
Your short field/PFLs will be 1st class.
Good comraderie with other residents
Approx 20%-30% cost of being based at a big airport.
No queuing at the hold.
You'll fly a lot more hours as the whole thing is much more accessable.
Cons:
No spares/mechanics other than you. (DI before you put the aircraft away. You'll find any problems before you next want to fly)
May get water logged in winter.
You'll need to do circuits elsewhere.
benjamin there are some nice strips in Herts most of which are PPR such as Bennington. The strip I fly from, Rush Green, isn't PPR however, the owner does charge a fiver landing fee for non-based aircraft.
You are more than welcome to visit Rush Green, check your pm's.
You are more than welcome to visit Rush Green, check your pm's.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Wilts
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My understanding is that the Clacton 8 hour farm strip course is a tail wheel conversion course. Their standard tail wheel course is 5 hours, and I believe this course just includes another 3 hours of farm strip flying. Is that not correct?
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Kent
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good point QTS. A quick look on their website reveals:
http://www.clacton-aero-club.uk.com/prices.htm
So it's eight hours including tailwheel conversion.
tKF
http://www.clacton-aero-club.uk.com/prices.htm
So it's eight hours including tailwheel conversion.
tKF
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Oop North, UK
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
5 hours for a tailwheel conversion????????
Depending on ability and experience I would have said this was probably about right for most people to cover everything.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Not a million miles from EGTF
Age: 68
Posts: 1,579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Like all courses, if you demonstrate that you are good and safe, or reasonably so, then the likelihood is that it might be less than 5 hours. There is no set time for this in any official publication - it is only a 'difference' issue.
On the other hand, if you are wedded to spam-cans or have difficulties in seeing the 'big picture', then it might take more than the 5 hours.
Whatever happens, the instructor is the deciding factor - he won't sign off until you can prove to his/her satisfaction that you are safe for flying on your own, given that once you have the signature, they may be held responsible for your future conduct. There are some pilots I would just tell to go away and take up sailing!!
However, tailwheel/farmstrip flying does liberate you, so give it a go
On the other hand, if you are wedded to spam-cans or have difficulties in seeing the 'big picture', then it might take more than the 5 hours.
Whatever happens, the instructor is the deciding factor - he won't sign off until you can prove to his/her satisfaction that you are safe for flying on your own, given that once you have the signature, they may be held responsible for your future conduct. There are some pilots I would just tell to go away and take up sailing!!
However, tailwheel/farmstrip flying does liberate you, so give it a go
Seems a lot to me. I did mine at Thruxton where I took just over an hour (had a few advantages from "other" flying) but the average from chatting to people seemed to be around 2 hrs for a club pilot - and Thruxton is not a place known (in my experience) for low standards, in fact quite the reverse.
I'm sure some people due to lack of ability, or taking a long time over it will require nearer the 5 hours, but it seems a lot for a standard tailwheel check done in one go.
Amen !
G
I'm sure some people due to lack of ability, or taking a long time over it will require nearer the 5 hours, but it seems a lot for a standard tailwheel check done in one go.
However, tailwheel/farmstrip flying does liberate you, so give it a go
G
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: London, UK
Posts: 778
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have done the 8 hour farm strip course at Clacton. It is supposedly 5 hours for the tail wheel conversion then 3 more hours flying in to various farmstrips around Essex. In reality it was more like 2 hours dual, 2 hours solo and the balance visiting farm strips. One was so steep that you needed a lot of throttle after touch down to stop yourself rolling back down the strip.
The whole thing was very enjoyable and worthwhile. The instructors were friendly and the strips we visited varied, some with interesting histories and/or collections of resident aircraft.
The whole thing was very enjoyable and worthwhile. The instructors were friendly and the strips we visited varied, some with interesting histories and/or collections of resident aircraft.