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I completed all my ground school exams in February 2023 - but here's the problem for those visiting the site in 2024. In ~2021, the CAA changed the format. In the past, they'd select 16 questions from a question bank of 120 questions so pre- pandemic, you could really study and pass one exam per week. The CAA went from one extreme to another. They went from very simple to having to study the books in its entirety. Not only did I study the question bank and the questions within the book, I also found a question bank from an academy in Austria. Now, some questions, e.g., wind from the Adriatic sea, is irrelevant for us, but 90% of the questions were based on our PPL syllabus and I'd find out of a collective 260 questions, I'd get about 2 wrong. Now, a bit of background of who I am. I have a HND/BEng (Hons.) in aerospace engineering and 2 * MSc so I know how to study - and I still failed Ops and Flight Planning (I passed them second time around though). There are even some questions that aren't even in the books. My CFI even said one was an ATPL question. My flight instructor couldn't answer 25% of the questions - because instead of testing knowledge from the books, what they're doing now is introducing very similar answers so it's more about English comprehension than aviation and quite honestly, I was utterly vexed because of this.

@planeoldben Is your Rotax SF25 also used for glider towing ?

Lovely video, I used to do gliding myself in the 80s and 90s in Sweden. I see that the tow pilot has a passenger with him and that he lands with the tow rope still attached. Two things that were not allowed in the past.

What was the reason for the go around?

I,M IN OBAN

The thermal effect on altitude very significant for aircraft flying under cta...

Outstanding presentation and great flight. I lost you on final and decision for the Go Around. Was there a plan prior in briefing for it? I had to hear the intention and clearance. Then the dang thing ended. What was the decision after go around? I'm in curiosity mode. Onward 🌈

love this, this is great!! -DA40dino

white waltham is the best flying club

Blackpool to Leeds Bradford and visa versa in the c152 is my favourite sim flight ,living in Leyland..I love flying up the coast to Heysham and over Quernmore and the Trough and back down the Ribble into Blackpool..Great vids Ben!!

Your background music is too loud.

I am an American pilot, but really looking forward to doing my first bit of UK flying next month. I'll be flying with Echelon too.

Perfect for my studies❤❤!!!

I did 20 take offs from the Green before I actually landed in the same aeroplane. BN Islander. I did some skydiving. Since learned to fly at EGBW and I've been back to HG a few times now as P1.

Where's Ben gone?????

Hi Ben, great video, do you recommend Aeros for a flight school? Cheers

Fantastic video... get a bruner yoke will blow your mind

This video is a little old, but.... It's legal to use a simulator to stay "proficient" but it's not legal to stay "current". At least it isn't here in the US. Unless of course, they are FAA approved, which costs a lot more money. Like a Redbird? $8000 plus US! Some home computers these days are better than the Rebird TD2 I use at the local FBO. Those rules need to change.

the fact that you had to ask naxos atc for oncoming traffic scared me

Great video Ben. Renewing my SEP shortly in the same aircraft type so this is extremely helpful for revision. 👍👍

Fantástico.

Nice video!!! Do you have any idea what plastic tubing you have installed for the fuel tank "sight glass"? Yours looked very clear on the video. Mine goes yellow pretty quickly after a few months (Avgas / Mogas blend). I use the bing alcohol resistant fuel hose from Aircraft Spruce. Thanks

I always wanted to fly from here when I was a child!

Could it also be set it up for infinite flight, cuz that's what i play

What aircraft is this

Ah, the established power pilot’s approach- too low. OK in the early morning conditions but not once thermals and sink are active.

Landing looked scary 😅

a dream for many of us! Thank you for vid!

Wow. The biggest airplane I have flown is a C172 (and it's been 10+ years) so I had to go look up how to calculate KTAS. 190 indicated / (31000 * 0.00002) = 307KTAS. Was that really with ~36% thrust?

Junk!

Thank you Ben for sharing these high quality well produced videos! they really help for the IR :)

I am sure it’s sipping fuel that high up

Very nicely done! curious though as to why you were assigned a 7000 transponder code for hard IMC and also basic service over traffic service as clearly you required radar for any traffic information.

Awesome videos, as always! Thanks for sharing!

I flew 36 hours in the US in 1998 but never continued when I returned. Post-lock down, 22 years later, I decided to restart flying lessons. I've only flown 27 hours but started running low on funds (no thanks to international business trips and new contracts taking time to come through) so last year, I decided to focus 100% on completing my PPL ground schools. Bit of background. I'm an aerospace engineering graduate and I also have 2 * MSc so studying for exams has never been an issue (although I've always hated them). I knew the PPL exams had changed format not not only did I study the PPL question bank but also the questions in the Pooleys books, I also studied the material inside and out. On top of that, I also found a question bank from an flight school over in Europe. Some questions were irrelevant whereas most were very similar. Out of a question bank of ~260 question, I'd get 3 wrong. So, you can imagine how utterly p*ssed off I was when I failed Ops and Flight Planning. With Ops, I complained to the CAA and they replied and said "oh yeah, that's an ATPL question and shouldn't have been in the exam...but it doesn't change the outcome". The CAA went from one extreme (i.e., memorising question banks and therefore very easy) to the other extreme (i.e., questions which aren't even in the books). I would have much preferred (for PPL exams) that they ask you answer 60 questions instead of 16. That way, you'd need a lot more knowledge but can still get 15 questions wrong and pass. While that sounds like a lot, it would mean you'd get 45 questions correct. As an aerospace engineering graduate who really did study all the material (including books), and still ended up failing 2 of my PPL exams, I'm not looking forward to the ATPL exams; especially since some of the books are over 500 pages each!

You'll be able to do dead stick landing any time soon 😂😅😮

Great video Ben. This really is a great help thank you. I also completed my PPL with Aeros at Staverton.

I want to have a similar set up for IFR, VFR training what do you power your system with?

Helpful video, I want start to build up my set up. You recommend Xplane instead of getting flight simulator game? And if I have a laptop what screen can I use it for if I add 1 tablet and 1 monitor?

O ya I didn't even think about it being able to go so much higher

Why does that cockpit door remind me of a Skyranger? 110 hours in 12 months is great. Unless you aim to fly more than 100 hours a year it is hard to justify having your own machine. Of course if you become a member of a group you can be a part owner with slightly more limitations on how many hours you can fit it due to others wanting to use the aircraft too. It's probably the best way to be an owner pilot even with only flying 20-30 hours a year. For a microlight that's a comprehensive fit in the cockpit, very nice.

Is it possible to fly it from the right seat? I've been flying the VisionJet (the original in Xplane 11 AND FlightFX g2 in MSFS) hundreds of hours. I started in 2019 and haven't stopped yet. I absolutely love the plane. But i usually use my left hand on the throttle on my lap and right hand on a side stick next to my thigh. Yesterday, for the first time, i tried to flip it for an approach, so it closely resembles the actual placement of those controls. I almost crashed. Can the SF50 be flown from the right seat? I know it does have sidestick on the right side as well, but the screens are tilted to the left seat, aren't they? Or is it possible to tilt them the other way?

Wow good talking for pilot

Damn . Single engine IFR. Challenging. Hand flying, dialing in the next ATC frequency also a challenge. Well done.

Thank you for that. Ill do that now on flight sim. Ta

why did you change the route from last time ?

2203sqn ATC . Loved the chipmunk ... Our sqn. Was called Hatfield and Dehaviland . So it was built in our home town . Obviously not the DHC version

That’s litteraly my exact setup except the yoke, I have the airbus a320 yoke

That’s a good instructor!

I was directed here by Aeros after a visit a few weeks back. I will be jumping on the fast track cpl early next year hopefully. Just awaiting confirmation on booking my class 1 medical. A little daunting given i am a complete novice! Hoping ill pick things up as i should. Looking forward to obtaining everything i need to start revising etc when i enroll! Onwards & Upwards