Hi - first time poster here but have been lurking on this great site for ages and thought you might be interested in some photos of "bush" flying in the UK...

I'm a Kiwi living here at the moment and have a C180 and my Super Cub friend is a Doctor.

One of the great things here is that if you have the owners permission you can land anywhere so any farmer that comes into my friends surgery gets asked first, does he have a field that he can land on?...then "what's the problem"?

We then go and have a blast and a good day out...OK it's not like Utah or Montana but it's the closest we'll get over here

There's photos at the start of the thread then some more as you scroll though...

http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=36772

Nice pics,looks like fun.

Every time I fly to London it is amazing to see how many old WWII airstrips still exist. From high altitude they are still easy to spot! Where does your friend keep his Cub? I fly into Gatwick


Idaho SuperCub.

He keeps the Cub in Devon [about three hours drive from Gatwick] and I keep the 180 near Bath. We were going to do so more of the same today but the weather is lousy.

How often do you come to Gatwick - transport can be arranged!

Great shots, thanks for the link. I have always been curious what GA is like in GB. It appears you have found a way to have a good time. What is your opinion of it?

Kiwi
and here we thought GA was dead in the UK!! Great pics. I once flew into Netherthorpe and actually HAD to use the brakes, but my bigger problem was finding that particular little grass field in a whole country of grass fields.

I'm going to be in Hull in middle of October. I suspect everything there will be buttoned up for the winter, but I will be looking... I recall one trip to England when it only rained twice: once for two weeks and then again for four weeks.

YB

Usually twice a month. Next month once. I have noticed quite a few grass strips! I have often thought how great it would be to fly a Cub throughout the countryside in the UK! I would guess GA is more friendly in the UK than the rest of Europe. Great shots.

Idaho SuperCub

This isn't exactly mainstream GA over here ...a group of us meet up occasionally, besides the Cub and 180 there's a couple of guys with a Maule and one with a French Jodel.

GA is a mixed bag here...when I first came here 4 years ago and bought the 180 and started flying to the larger fields I didn't find it to be all that friendly but I'm not easily put off so am now enjoying the 'backcountry' flying here with a few like minded people.

GA is very regulated, it's not the 'can do' attitude that you guys are lucky enough to have and having a N reg aircraft here makes it simpler.

The weather does not help - wanted to go flying today but no luck.

Usually twice a month. Next month once. I have noticed quite a few grass strips! I have often thought how great it would be to fly a Cub throughout the countryside in the UK! I would guess GA is more friendly in the UK than the rest of Europe. Great shots.

PM when you are coming next - I could be around.

Have done a few trips down through France and have found the attitude and welcome there much better than in the UK and the fees a lot cheaper.

What are the regs as far as keeping a US registered aircraft in the UK?

Idaho SuperCub

What are the regs as far as keeping a US registered aircraft in the UK?

As you can imagine the CAA here and in the rest of Europe hate it but at the moment can't do anything about it.
Approx 1000 N regs in the UK according to some.
They did try to stop it a few months ago but that came to a sudden halt as many larger types, G5s and the like are here on the N register and I guess their owners have lots of pull with those in power...

That is some beautiful countryside! Welcome to forums, enjoy.

Do you need an American IA to sign off the annual every year? That could be a real bank-buster.

Eric

Kiwi - I saw there was some fussing on that site (good images by the way!) about you retracting flaps on touchdown. Lots of us dump flaps as a matter of course, kills lift in situations when you want lift killed - welcome to the club.

Brad

Do you need an American IA to sign off the annual every year? That could be a real bank-buster.

Luckily there is an increasing number of IAs here who, fed up with the local system's bureaucracy, get their FAA qualifications.

Working with one of these guys an annual takes a few days compared to a friends UK registered C180 which seems to go into the hangar for weeks and emerges with a massive bill - usually about three times the cost of mine.

Kiwi - I saw there was some fussing on that site (good images by the way!) about you retracting flaps on touchdown. Lots of us dump flaps as a matter of course, kills lift in situations when you want lift killed - welcome to the club.

Yeah, always done it since my 'bush flying' days as a youth but it can create the most intense debate on forums here

Hey Kiwi

Those are awesome pics. I have been living in England for about 2 years while my wife is on exchange with the RAF. I am on a leave from an airline and get my fix from this site and the stories from my wife flying low level out in your area! She flys out of Boscombe Down in Wiltshire.

Do you make it to any of the flyins? I went to one in North London and saw a hanger owned by a guy who has a P-51, P-40, and a Spitfire! I heard he is getting a Hurricane to finish his set! Unbelievable most people just have a model set!

Anyway the Brits do love aviation but I looked at the local flying club and can't afford the price for rental and fuel!

Let me know if you get out into this area and we could possibly hook up.

Paul

N143mb wrote Those are awesome pics. I have been living in England for about 2 years while my wife is on exchange with the RAF. I am on a leave from an airline and get my fix from this site and the stories from my wife flying low level out in your area! She flys out of Boscombe Down in Wiltshire.

Glad you enjoyed them!

Wow...your wife is flying out of Boscombe Down, must be VERY interesting there!!

She probably has flown over our house as it's right on the low level route near Glastonbury

We are not far from Boscombe so please get in touch - I'm PM my contact details.

Anyway the Brits do love aviation but I looked at the local flying club and can't afford the price for rental and fuel!

Yeah - and the weather is lousy most of the time too...

Hello, Kiwi.
Good to have another one lurking on the site. Nice collection of photos, and also to see that 180 getting some good work on the grass.

Good to have another one lurking on the site. Nice collection of photos, and also to see that 180 getting some good work on the grass.

Gidday - CYA looks a lot different from the last time I saw her...nice job!

N143mb

Are you around - it looks like the one good day this month and I'm meeting up with my Cub friend - call me on the number in the PM