This week we ask whether flying is becoming less sociable and what truly makes an airfield a great pilot destination, we take a look at Mike Patey's dramatic engine failure, bring you news of another base for the amazing Aerobility and highlight some upcoming UK flying events

 Whether you're a pilot, engineer, student, or aviation enthusiast, this episode delivers flying news, expert insights, and helpful tips including a SkyDemon briefing trick and your weekend weather outlook. Subscribe for weekly aviation discussions, news, and training content.

If your're after some weird and wonderful, the team also discuss Anequim's speed records, an airworthy WWI bombers that's for sale (about £1,600,000 if you're wondering) and a twin canard pusher, designed by Al Mooney, that didn't quite make it.

To join the The (brilliant) Flyer Club go to flyer.co.uk/membership

NOTAM Nonsense, Solar Farms & STOL Newcomers

This week from the FLYER studio: GA news from Plaistows’ solar farm to partial power failures in PPL training, the CAA’s muddled NOTAM advice, and Electra’s blown-lift L9. We cover Loganair’s pilot return scheme, the elegant Bird Symmetry, and Direct Fly’s new STOL Cruiser. Plus your weekend weather and a SkyDemon tip — your essential UK GA update.

In this packed episode of the Flyer Livestream—recorded using our brand-new studio setup—we bring you the latest general aviation news, flight planning tips, and essential updates for pilots and aviation enthusiasts alike. We break down how to safely fly into the popular LAA Rally with detailed arrival procedures and SkyDemon tips, plus we reveal the latest UK GA accident stats showing improved safety—but reduced flying hours. We also cover the controversial CAA Class 2 medical assessment changes that are forcing some pilots out of the cockpit, the big shake-up as the National Championship Air Races move from Reno to Roswell, and the appointment of a new operator at Solent Airport. In international news, we discuss the arrest and release of a young pilot who landed in Antarctica without permission. Plus, explore rare Goodyear amphibious aircraft, WWII-era flying tank concepts, expert vertical planning advice using SkyDemon, and Simon Keeling’s aviation weather forecast. Whether you’re a private pilot, student pilot, LAA member, aviation engineer, or simply passionate about flying and aviation history, this episode is full of insights, stories, and key information—including a preview of this weekend’s aviation events and fly-ins. Don’t miss it!

You can see photos and video from this episode here https://flyer.co.uk/feature/flyer-podcast-ho…to-the-laa-rally/ 

Welcome to Flyer Magazine's pilot episode, we talk about cancelled events, what would have been and what's coming up in the next issue