Flyer Magazine

“Why do people get all misty-eyed about an old oily piston single with only two seats?” But this isn’t any old piston single, this is the de Havilland Chipmunk! Yes, on this week’s show we talk to Ben Griffiths, journalist, pilot and author of a book celebrating 80 years since the Chippie’s first flight. All sorts of fascinating facts and awesome stories are revealed… the Chipmunk Cold War Spy Plane, for one!

News
There’s news about the reopening of Old Sarum Airfield to visiting aircraft, the record number of gyrocopters turning up at Old Warden Airfield, and tickets on sale for the Aviator’s Ball.

In What Caught My Eye:

Annabel is thrilled by the appearance of a North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco at the RAF Cosford Air Show - and it will be sticking around for some more air shows this summer.

Dave spots the first signs of this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with the start of SimVenture, a virtual fly-in based on Oshkosh. Fly at the iconic Fisk Approach and hear the unusual instructions from the Oshkosh air traffic controllers.

Ed remembers the unusual McDonnell 220, a four-engine business jet that sadly failed to find a market leaving the one and only 220 ever built languishing at El Paso Airport. Now there’s a campaign to save the survivor.

Plus:
SkyDemon tip of the week
Simon Keeling’s weekend weather forecast
FLYER Club latest
Events for the busiest weekend of the year

Links: 
Aviator’s Ball tickets https://www.aerobility.com/aviators-ball-2026
SimVenture https://pilotedge.net/pages/simventure
Pre-order Chipmunk at 80 book https://chipmunkat80.carrd.co/

#GeneralAviation #aviationnews #pilots #airfield #aviationhistory #chipmunk

We call it YADS (Yet Another Drone Story), but last week the CAA launched YAC (Yet Another Consultation), publishing three hefty documents capable of curing insomnia even after five double espressos. Despite the eye-wateringly dull and confusing content they offer a fascinating glimpse into how the regulator sees the future of UK Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone ops. We took one for the team and read them so you don’t have to. Watch the segment to find out why we think Electronic Conspicuity is set to play an increasingly significant role in everyday flying.

In the News:

Continental Aerospace Technologies, which was acquired by AVIC, the Chinese state-owned aerospace giant in 2011, is back in US ownership following its purchase by Arcline Investment Management. Meanwhile, Cirrus Aircraft, also owned by AVIC, has been designated a Chinese Military Company by the US Department of Defense (we know).

Closer to home, the UK CAA issued infringement avoidance advice for Coventry just days before the airspace was withdrawn, then followed it up with some positively dangerous guidance for pilots using the North West Transit Corridor.

In What Caught My Eye:

Ian spotted a classic Cessna 185 in a starring role in The Dog Stars, a major film due for release later this year and Ed’s attention was captured by a beautifully restored DC-3 that managed to escape Coventry before the closure.

Join the FLYER Club today: flyer.co.uk/membership
London Flying Club Event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lfc-evening-with-ian-seager-tickets-1987319557293?aff=oddtdtcreator

#GeneralAviation #aviationnews #pilots #airfield #aviationhistory #DC3 #Cessna185

Few of us can afford a genuine warbird but there’s a world of replica aircraft out there, many built from kits, some from plans and others – the really dedicated – from studying museum pieces and or photos. Some are full-scale, others scaled down. Many use modern components such as engines although a few hardy, brave souls with deeper pockets go for the real thing. 

We picked three replicas available right away in the aviation classifieds:

Nieuport 11: chosen by Dave who was really looking for a Nieuport 17 because its was the favourite fighter of British WWI ace Albert Ball. However, this 11 is a stunning choice with its New Zealand builder spending time studying an original at Le Bourget’s famous aviation museum.
Sopwith Scout: chosen by Ed. It’s a factory- accurate replica and powered by an original Le Rhone engine and original instruments. 
Airdrome Sopwith Baby: chosen by Ian. Airdrome Aeroplanes offers kit versions of many early aircraft and this one was ready to fly from its current home in Serbia. Beautifully finished, it had somehow gained an extra seat!

In the News:
Bye, bye Bicester: Bicester Motion is doing great things with the former wartime airfield but for the classic car industry not to preserve the site’s aviation heritage.
Save Nottingham Airport: Campaigners refuse to give up! Now they’re asking for a Judicial Review of the decision to build houses on the site.
Ireland’s Newcastle Aerodrome, just 30 miles south of Dublin and right on the coast, is up for sale.
Tuning up: CubCrafters has come up with a way of enhancing the performance of the Rotax 916 engine simply by tuning the software.
Farnborough fling: There’s a very unusual aviation related building up for sale close to the airport: the Farnborough Centrifuge.

In What Caught My Eye:
Dave falls for flying in New Zealand with a video of a de Havilland Beaver swooping across the countryside flown by a handy cropsprayer.
Ian spots a chateau in France with its own air force: more than 100 ex-military jets parked on its lawn.
Ed finds an impressive way to supply remote communities in North America with essentials: beer! Yes, it’s the keg drop!

#aviationnews #replica #aviationhistory #pilots #airfield

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

“To make a small fortune in aviation, start with a large one!” It’s as hard as ever to stay in business in General Aviation (GA) with manufacturers struggling to make money or even break even. We take a look back at three of the big name brands that have faced tough times, run through some of the many casualties - and end with a couple of surprises.

In the News:
Popham Microlight Trade Fair was a huge success
Sonex Aircraft bounces back
Drones get loadsamoney Govt support - but at what cost to GA
DeltaHawk update: Jet A burning new engine is causing a stir

In What Caught My Eye:
Dave is shocked by Robinson Helicopter’s electric plans
Ian spots signs of a long gone and much missed airfield
Ed has a mad twin! Blimey, can we cope?

Plus:
SkyDemon tip of the week
Simon Keeling’s Weekend Weather forecast
FLYER Club news
Flying events coming up

Links
FLYER #FLY2026 Challenge: https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=139024
FLYER Club membership: https://flyer.co.uk/membership/

#generalaviation #aviationnews #popham #waco  #aviation

Ahead of the Popham Microlight Trade Fair we take a look at the UK’s booming 600kg Light Sport Microlight category: what aircraft are approved, what’s on the way and our Top 5.

In the News:
AERO 2026 was a huge success: Ed has the numbers
What’s new in radio chat: CAA updates CAP 413, the R/T manual
Blackbushe flight school aiming for record airfield landings
Popham Microlight Trade Faire this weekend

Club News:
Free landings for May: Causeway, Perth, Felthorpe and Jersey
Catch up on a brand new webinar about flying to and from the Channel Islands

In What Caught My Eye:
Ian spots a new easy to use Traffic Display
Dave marvels at a French two-seat jet, the Sipa S.200. Think mini Vampire
Ed is stunned by the very last Beech Staggerwing, a beautiful biplane once owned by Walter Beech himself… and it’s for sale

Links
Video Best of Aero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmJ5YP1-OUM
FLYER Club membership: https://flyer.co.uk/membership/
Donate to Airfirst’s “Beyond the Record” Challenge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/beyond-the-record-airfield-challenge

#aero2026 #aviationnews #popham #microlight #aviation

This week's show comes to you live - the team will be bringing you all of the hot news from AERO 2026!

Yes, the FLYER team is off to Europe’s top General Aviation show staged at Friedrichshafen Messe which just happened to be adjacent to the local airport, on the shore of Lake Bodensee in southern Germany. Aircraft, avionics, engines, propellers and a zillion accessory and service providers from all over the world descend on what is a stunning location. This week on The FLYER Show we preview the show, looking at some of highlights we’ve already heard about.

In the News
British Airways opens its 2026 fully funded airline pilot training programme
Garmin launches a new pilot watch with InReach satellite comms and much more
MagniX proposes an electric power system for Vans RV-10 kitplane
The Alto NG 600kg microlight kicks off its UK type approval process 
New 7-blade prop for the Piper M700 Fury
French maker Aura Aero is awash with cash to build more of its two-seat aerobatic aircraft
Europe’s business aviation show, EBACE, cancels with just weeks to go

What Caught My Eye this week
Dave is getting wound up about the Chipmunk’s upcoming 80th anniversary
Ian ponders the little known Sreya Aviation Envoy which promised so much but delivered… well what?
Ed finds a bunch of aviation geeks building a 60% scale replica of a late 1950s V-bomber

Links
Video: Essential advice for BA’s 2026 pilot sponsorship course https://youtu.be/1oOYxjb3_YE?si=oVE7HDudJ8dss8kD
FLYER Club membership: https://flyer.co.uk/membership/
Pilot Careers Live April 18th - https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/heathrow-april-2026/

#aviationnews #aero #generalaviation #aircraft #pilots