For some, including Ian, it’s a bucket list item. For others, ferry pilots, it’s a job. Whatever, it’s not a flight to be taken lightly because of weather, distance, weather, over water, weather, over ice, weather, fuel availability, weather… and did we mention, weather?

We examine the difficulties and how they can be tackled or at least minimised. What aircraft to choose? Potential mods. Intelligent safety aids to carry. What’s the paperwork required? What’s the best routing, both VFR and IFR.

In the News
Why is squawking a monitoring code a good idea around Oxford Airport?
The Flying Reporter’s transatlantic adventure takes off… with an emergency
RIAT cancelled
Paraglider’s Great Escape after mid-air collision
Glenforsa stages its 54th Annual Mull Fly-in

FLYER Club news
June free landing: Easter, Kingsmuir, Eshott and Yatesbury
New safety webinar: Gliding and Shared Airspace
Send your flying photos and videos to us!

In What Caught My Eye
Dave marvels at the action at Wolverhampton Halfpeny Green Airport over last weekend: Chippies galore plus a totally gorgeous and rare Douglas C41A makes the airport its new base
Ian falls in love again for a French beauty: this time it’s the Renault-Caudron C.460 replica which made an appearance at La Ferte-Alais air show at the weekend
Ed heads straight for the burgers at the first Popham BBQ of the summer season and has nothing but praise for the chefs, the marshals, airfield managers and all the other pilots who also flew in. Flying at its best!

Links
FAA North Atlantic Flight Planning document: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/media/NAT%20IGA%202004.pdf

Flying Reporter: https://www.flyingreporter.co.uk/

Gliding and Shared Airspace webinar: https://youtube.com/live/Xtnc_TVrrFg

#aviationnews #atlanticcrossing #aviationadventures #pilots #aviationcrash

So what’s a warbird? Any aircraft with a military purpose at some point in its life, is what we’ve gone for. But not the £MultiMillion exotica like Spitfires and Hurricanes, but something an ordinary pilot could own outright or have a share.
So what have we chosen?
Ian has plumped for the Chipmunk, of course, because the subject is inspired by this week’s International Gathering of Chipminks at Halfpenny Green (Wolverhampton) which will celebrate the aircraft’s first flight 80 years ago.
Take one Piper Cub J34, paint it drab green rather than bright yellow and you have the L4, an aerial reconnaissance aircraft used across the European theatre during WW11. Ed loves a Cub, so that’s his choice.
Dave found an absolutely gorgeous Boeing Stearman PT-17 dating from 1941. The big biplane was a primary trainer and almost all US pilots and 10,000 British pilots learnt the basics. It’s big, brash and very, very tough.

In this week’s News:
British company announces a composite kitplane Spitfire
World Airsports Day has been decreed: it’s 14 October
Flown west: aviation writer Rod Simpson and Sportys founder Hal Shrevers
Pilot Careers Live North gets a new venue after outgrowing the old one. Tickets are available now for the event on 11 July

FLYER Club News
Next webinar: Gliding activity in shared skies with Pete Stratten of the Britosh Gliding Association. It’s at 7pm, Wednesday 27 May and open to all. Find it here, on FLYER’s YouTube channel

In What Caught My Eye:
Floatplane flying in the Italian lakes: Dave splashes down at Aero Club Como where it’s possible to not only complete a Seaplane Rating but also train for a complete PPL(A)
Ian gets fired up about a strange press release from a drone company fitting machine guns (yes, really)
Ed remembers Sheila Scott, who became the first British pilot to fly solo around the world in 1966

Links:
Historic & Classic (Stearman and L4) https://historicandclassicaircraftsales.com/
Pilot Careers Live North https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/uk-manchester-11-july-2026/

#warbirds #aviationnews #aviation #pilots #ww2history #historicalaircraft

The world’s greatest ever movie, Top Gun, was first shown in May 1986 so it’s now 40 years old and still as appealing as ever! We celebrate the date with our favourite scenes and lines, plus reveal some of the back stories which are just as bad-ass.

In The News
Doncaster Sheffield Airport inches closer to re-opening
4Air’s electric aircraft gift to Aerobility
Royal Aero Club annual awards
Popham’s neighbours need our help
CAA wants our feedback on Manchester’s North West Transit Corridor
PPL Skill Test standards document updated
Special offer from Hangar Homes

Plus SkyDemon Tip of the Week, Weekend Weather Forecast, Club News and Events

In What Caught My Eye
Dave finds a classic tailwheel aircraft for just £3,500
Annabel makes a splash in Scotland with a Seaplane Rating
Ed spots one of FLYER’s best ever flight test aircraft is up for sale

Links
Popham’s neighbours need our help: https://flyer.co.uk/pophams-neighbours-need-help-to-defeat-hgv-nightmare/

North West Transit Corridor feedback: https://consultations.caa.co.uk/safety-and-airspace-regulation-group/nwtc-pir/

PPL Skill Test Standards Document 19A: https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/standards-document-19-a/

Special offer on hangar home at Enniskillen Aeropark: https://flyer.co.uk/special-offer-on-a-hangar-home-at-enniskillen-aeropark/

Lockheed12A Electra Junior Flight Test: https://flyer.co.uk/feature/lockheed-12a-electra-junior/

Behind the Scenes with Top Gun: Maverick Aerial Team / Cinejet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQUGwYHhCKw

#topgun #topgunmaverick #aviation #aviationnews #pilots #movies