FLYING

Scholar Will's Video Diary

Gryphon Aero Club

Aircraft:
PA28 G-AYVL

Instructors:
John Griffin
Peter Shawe

Directions to the club

The Gryphon Aero Club is based at the Cotswold Airport (Kemble) which is situated approx. 6 miles West of Cirencester. It be can entered via the North Gate on the A433 Cirencester to Tetbury road.

To find our club you will need to follow the access road towards the Tower and AV8 until you come to very large Welcome to Cotswold Airport sign, where you will see a car park on your left behind the sign. Ahead of you is a maintenance yard belonging to ASI at the end of which you will a White Porta cabin with a red door, that’s us. The club is made up of an office / ops room, a small kitchen with microwave and toaster and a briefing/study room.

Useful Information

The airport has a fantastic restaurant called the AV8 which serves good food and drinks at reasonable prices. (www.cotswoldairport.com/av8)

Within a 10 mile radius there are a good number of interesting places to explore. Cirencester being an old Roman town has many places pf interest, and a wide selection of eating places. The Cotswold Water Park has a good selection of water sports, country walks and pleasant Lakeside Cafes. We operate a Piper PA28 Cherokee 180 aircraft equipped with hand controls for anyone that may need them. We try to fly a maximum of two flights each per day (weather permitting !!) but the programme is tailored to suit individual needs and capabilities. We aim to have a social element while you are with us, usually in the form of BBQs and evening meals in a local pub called the Thames Head. On any non flying days we can normally get access to some of the large aircraft which are at Kemble.

“If you have any questions or think there’s more you would like to know please feel free to call me on

07890 189552. All you need to bring with you is sense of humour and beer tokens!” CFI John Griffon

Accommodation

TBC

Bristol Aero Club

Aircraft:
PA28 G-BBXW

Instructors:
John Sorsby
Debra Ford
Steve Moore

Directions to the club

From your hotel its only about a five minute drive to the club. For your first day just follow the signs to Staverton airport then we’ll show you a shortcut for the following days! Once through the main airport entrance turn left and follow the road along for about 200 yds. You’ll see a hangar with RGV written on the side. Immediately after that you’ll see a single storey building with our Bristol Aero Club sign on it. Immediately after that is a small car park where you can park.

Building SE18
Gloucestershire Airport
Staverton
Gloucestershire
GL51 6SP

Useful Information

Club has kitchenette with fridge and microwave. Ladies and gents toilets that can accommodate a wheelchair. No steps or ramps and parking outside the club. A full modern disabled toilet is available in the terminal nearby.

Accommodation

TBC

Shadow Aviation

Aircraft:
Ikarus C42 G-CCZL “The African Queen”
Instructors:
Fiona Luckhurst (FSDP Trustee)
Raymond Proost
Kathryn Hutchings

Directions to the club

Compton Abbas airfield is on the border of Dorset and Wiltshire in the Cranbourne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is 2 1/2 miles south of the town of Shaftesbury, and 25 miles west of Stonehenge. The airfield has many interesting aircraft based there, vintage and modern, and a friendly club atmosphere.

The airfield is well signposted from all directions, the satnav code SP5 5AP will bring you to the entrance of the car park. The car park is adjacent to the airfield premises. The restaurant is well known for its good food and drink.

On arrival you will be met by one of the instructors. Shadow Aviation room/s are within the airfield building, overlooking the runway and right next to the hangar where the aircraft is based.

Useful Information

Compton Abbas is a stunning grass airfield with plenty of history and interesting aircraft. It has plenty of facilities available including the lovely Compton Café. (https://comptonabbasairfield.co.uk/airfield-cafe)

“Arriving at the airfield I would make scholars aware that there is disabled parking right beside the clubhouse and restaurant. It’s then only about five steps from the parking space. It’s also tarmac so very flat and accessible. Best to use this as the main parking area has a gravel surface however it wasn’t a problem for me parking there either even with my walking aid. Access to the club house – the external door is quite wide with a medium step, followed by an internal entrance door which is flat. The staff are extremely helpful and there are ramps available.

The airfield is lovely. Everyone is really friendly and willing to help. The food is also gorgeous”!!

Matthew Monaghan 2018 Scholar

Accommodation

TBC

Turweston Flying Club

Aircraft:
PA28 G-BOKX

Instructors:
John Marriott
Paul Shenton

Directions to the club

Turweston Aerodrome is located just off the A43 between the M40 and M1.

Local railway stations are Bicester North, Bicester Village and Banbury (Chiltern Railway); or Northampton and Milton Keynes (London Northwestern Railway)

Turweston Flying Club Ltd
Turweston Aerodrome
Biddlesden Road
Westbury
Brackley
NN13 5YD

Useful Information

“So, a guide for Turdy……The onsite cafe is wonderful and has a good menu, but it can be quite expensive if you just want a light lunch and cuppa. The flying club has a small kitchen area with fridge and cupboards where you can leave provisions to make your own sandwiches or leave pot noodles etc. If you are a coffee or tea drinker, there is stuff there to help yourself to a hot drink. The instructors are usually grateful of a cuppa and they keep the drink making stuff replenished between themselves. My other tip is, Beware of John Marriott’s magic tricks!!! ha ha

The instructors are all amazing and will become your friends. During your two weeks there, they may arrange social evenings either at a curry house or restaurant, or a BBQ at a local airfield where a few of the instructors keep their private aircraft. These are really great opportunities to get to know the instructors better and meet their families and friends. You don’t have to go, but these evenings were among the highlights of my time there. Myself and previous scholars may very well attend these evenings too!”

Alvin Lee Sephton, 2019 Scholar

https://www.turwestonflight.com – this will provide details on all the facilities at Turweston. It has had a lot of investment and has a great meeting facility and café – The Flight Deck Café.

Accommodation

TBC