Liverpool Flying School

[Biggles]

Just a quick thanks if anyone from LFS looks in on this site I had occassion to visit the club today 20th for a "fitting" I guess you could call it, of the Tiger Moth. Sadly it was on blocks undergoing an annual and major put back together. So I had to be satisfied with a look to see if my frame would squeeze into the seat. (it will even if I have to cut parts off) Anyway the visit was part of a family birthday treat having reached another unwanted age . I have to say the treatment offered by staff upon arriving was nothing but freindly, informative and extremely hospitable, from the lady on the desk to the flying instructor who showed me round,didn`t get his name, but tall grey hair and in his 60`s, also the young lad Ben I think , who I have to mention (he is a member of Speke ATC unit) who conducted himself in a manner to be proud of. I am looking forward to the day the Moth is put back together again, the weather is better and I can fly for a whole hour. Who needs Cessnas, Biggles needs air and fumes and a leather flying jacket ;D

[johnoakes]

;D ;D

Envy envy--hope you have a great day.
Watch out for the Red Baron.LOL

[RICEY]

the guys at lfs are very nice. i went for a lesson in december in G-LFSH and they showe me what to do and let me land back at jla.

[mynameisnemo]

Its a shame that She's not up in the air yet, I know last time i visted there her lower wings where being re-covered and strung again as seen here:


And a couple of Macro Shots:



John

[adamj]

I'm a big fan of jumping in the plane I fly with GPS and a Heater which makes it a nice bubble away from the outside world , But I would give my left foot for a go in a Tiger moth ;D

[Biggles]

Latest news on the return to the air of me and the Moth, is that we should be flying weekend 13th June, as she is back in one piece now and ready. Just need to dust off the Irvin (which probably wont fit but??

[mynameisnemo]

How was your flight today biggles? looked ideal for a flight from this end.

[Biggles]

Totally superb. I arrived at LFS around 12pm for a 1pm departure. The guys are really freindly and I was well catered for by ground crewman Sven, who in turn introduced me to my pilot Mike Farrilly. We did a pre flight chat and as I had an hour booked I worked a route out that was acceptable. I chose a right turn departure from 27 towards a Seaforth zone exit and then a left turn along the sea front at Wallasey towards my flat at the far end of the prom. Turned out Mike and I had a similar aviation background in that we both flew gliders at RAF Sealand and had a few people we knew in common, it later got even spookier when I found out I knew Sevens father from business he and I did. small world.
Mike decided that I could have control more or less as soon as we got airborne which was nice, Start up was a small effort but eventually it fired up and then we got delayed as an Ezy which went Tech at the hold for 27 and would not allow us to pass behind due to jet blast.
Mike decided to call and get a clearence to Foxtrot hold for a take off, which was agreed by ATC only to arrive and time it with a bunch of helicopters landing, so that also delayed us a bit.
Eventually a short run and we got airborne climbing to not above 1500 we, or should I now say I flew it along the eastern side of the river coastline to depart the zone at Seaforth, do a left turn along the Wallasey coast and then see that my wife had gathered what appeared to be every available relative to stand on the flat balcony and wave a flag or small child up at me as I orbited a couple of times. We then did a couple of wingovers and waggled the wings to say goodbye and headed out towards Hilbre Island. The views where stunning, passing to the West of the bird sanctuary at Hilbre I was requested to head to Point of Ayre lighthouse and we dropped down to a couple of hundred feet along the sandbanks, looking down at sand yachts and sunbathers. The controls remined me of the Sedburgh with the exception it needed a little bit of rudder more prior to a turn. Open cockpit flying is the only way to do a ppl I am sure.
Anyway a 360 turn got me heading back toward the River Dee and a 70 mph trip along the Welsh side to about Neston and a left turn back to join the zone at West Kirby, with that sorted from ATC into the Wirral toward SPITAL and heading to Cammel Laird and the city center then the festival site not about 1500 I seemed to be attracted to about 1100` when ATC asked us to keep a lookout for a Military Trainer departing after a run down 27 he was leaving by the River heading to Seaforth, even with 4 eyes scanning it was hard to pick it up visually, so Mike decide it needed the Moth to be zig zagged so the sun reflected off the upper surfaces to make us more visible, it worked we apotted the Grob at the same moment whizzing down middle river, a corteous waggle to each other veryfied a happy sighting and we carried on towards Jaguar for a right hand downwind landing back on 27. looked down on quite a few picnic people amongst the landing lights and a very smooth landing brought me back down to earth and a return back along Foxtrot to LFS and shutdown
I was unaware but the Moth is fitted with a HD Video camera that recorded the whole flight. Should be edited and dispatched in about 10 days. The kids will soon get bored of seeing biggles flying I am sure. I wont though.
All in all I am now extremly satisfied and also very depressed as I didn`t win the Euromillions, and will now have to ring Martin Keen and tell him he will have to hang onto G-AMCK a bit longer. Highly recomend a trip in this aircraft to anyone. Hope that gives you a small taster.

[RICEY]

glad you enjoyed the flight biggles. the stearman was out yesterday making use of the nice weather aswel

[superian]

hi biggles, great report. sounds like you had a fantastic time. i'll have to start keeping in the wife's good books!! this would make a great pressie.

[maverick]

Biggles et al -

Glad you enjoyed it.

I was up in the Tiger at about 11am so must have been the slot before you. (Beauty before age!)

Who'd have thought Merseyside would have seen Biggles and Maverick in the air on the same day. Pity I didn't have my F-14 with me.

I must confirm everything said about Keenair-LFS, Sven, the lads and Mike Farrelly - the pilot. Absolutely first class - professional, compassionate, friendly and humourous.

This is real flying!

Maverick

[Biggles]

LOL, like you I can`t praise them highly enough, trouble is now I want one.I missed the Euro Lottery win of £25m only just though, by £24m,999, 950.00p. Dam so close. But seriously open cockpit, It`s the only way to fly. "Superian" just do what you have to with the wife to get a flight.

[RICEY]

i enjoyed my flight in an enclosed cockpit of a tomahawk. would do it again if i got chance