Random Stuff!

[rollo]

Kevin,
That looks a superb experience and some great photos, Ive been lucky enough to have flown over Niagara Falls in a helicopter
And to the grand canyon on Scenic Airlines Twin Otter then down to the bottom in a chopper.
Great experiences but your flight looks something special.

Thanks for sharing
Rollo

 

[Ray Finkle]

Maybe we can hit the magic 22,000 posts tonight fellow FFA members. I hope we can

In just one week the Birmingham forum has seen 300 more posts.

It's great to see it doing well with more new members joining in

 

[Brum X]

In just one week the Birmingham forum has seen 300 more posts.

It's great to see it doing well with more new members joining in

Great to see FFA doing well especially the BHX page. Well done to Aviador and his team for creating an excellent website. I really would be lost without it.
Also a warm friendly welcome to Rollo.

 

[wolfheze]

Kevin,
That looks a superb experience and some great photos, Ive been lucky enough to have flown over Niagara Falls in a helicopter
And to the grand canyon on Scenic Airlines Twin Otter then down to the bottom in a chopper.
Great experiences but your flight looks something special.

Thanks for sharing
Rollo

Have to agree it sounds fantastic. I have a dream that one day I might have a couple of thousand spare to blow on a ride in a two seat spitfire.
Like yourself I have been to the Grand Canyon. After taking off from Grand Canyon airport in a helicopter we flew at around fifty feet over forest before reaching the rim of the Canyon, it felt like you had flown off the edge of the world.

 

[rollo]

Thanks for the welcome chaps, yes wolfheze when you fly over that edge it is a true wonder of the world I was open mouthed and luckily sat next to the pilot(weight distribution -don't snigger at the back )

Rollo

 

[rollo]

While I'm on have any of you tried things you've always wanted to but they don't turn out as you hoped.

I fancied learning to fly and once the funds allowed i.e. kids left home I had a few lessons and it really didn't do anything for me so
I then tried gliding with the same result, all very strange.

 

[wolfheze]

Thanks for the welcome chaps, yes wolfheze when you fly over that edge it is a true wonder of the world I was open mouthed and luckily sat next to the pilot(weight distribution -don't snigger at the back )

Rollo

Luckily me Julie and I also had front seats in a eurocopter 135 which made a nice change as all my helicopter flights until then had been as a back seat passenger.

 

[wolfheze]

While I'm on have any of you tried things you've always wanted to but they don't turn out as you hoped.

I fancied learning to fly and once the funds allowed i.e. kids left home I had a few lessons and it really didn't do anything for me so
I then tried gliding with the same result, all very strange.

Have been up a couple of times in a light aircraft, can't say it made me want take it up particularly. Might have been the worry that a mistake or a mechanical failure could result in disaster or maybe that my small brain wouldn't be capable of processing enough information! The things I had the most difficulty coming to terms with was the fact the control column dosent self centre like a car steering wheel does and that the smallest of back or forward movement seemed to have a disproportionate effect on pitch .

 

[Ray Finkle]

While I'm on have any of you tried things you've always wanted to but they don't turn out as you hoped.

I want to say getting married but it's probably best if I don't

 

[58terminus]

I want to say getting married but it's probably best if I don't

Oh dear Ray.That really is one of them posts when you should pause and read again before pressing post reply.
Anyway best of luck

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I want to say getting married but it's probably best if I don't

Blinkin flip, Ray you like to live life on the edge

Kevin

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Kevin, That looks a superb experience and some great photos, Ive been lucky enough to have flown over Niagara Falls in a helicopter And to the grand canyon on Scenic Airlines Twin Otter then down to the bottom in a chopper. Great experiences but your flight looks something special.

Thanks for sharing
Rollo

Thanks, Rollo

I have also been lucky enough to visit the grand Canyon, but unfortunately we didn't get to fly over it.
No photo or film footage that I've seen has ever captured the true majesty and grandeur of the canyon. All seem to make it look much 'flatter' than in real life.
We were however lucky enough to trek down to the bottom and stay overnight in a log cabin. There was a communal restaurant with long tables, where you were not allowed to sit next to or directly opposite your friends (they could be diagonally opposite you and one person away to each side - if that makes sense). There was a great mix of nationalities and everyone was buzzing from the thrill of completing the ten to twelve hour trek. Add in a few cold beers and a great steak dinner - one of the best evenings I have experienced.
Next morning, up early to start the trek back to the top, about 10 miles in distance but climbing a vertical mile!
The strangest thing was, that on the outbound flight my (then) girlfriend and I were sat next to a young American lady who turned out to be a travel agent. When we told her we were going to Arizona, she said 'why on earth would you want to go there?'.
We based ourselves in Tempe (AZ), as one of my colleagues was there working on sabbatical at Arizona State University. From there, we ventured out to not only the Grand Canyon, but also Tucson (where the 'Biosphere2' project was underway), the Painted Desert, Monument Valley, the Saguaro National park, Sedona and many other fascinating places.
The only downside was, as we were travelling we learned of the death of Kurt Cobain.

Kevin

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Have to agree it sounds fantastic. I have a dream that one day I might have a couple of thousand spare to blow on a ride in a two seat spitfire.

Cheers, Wolfheze
The flight was wonderful. We had the choice of doing formation or aerobatics. I couldn't take my camera if we did aerobatics and had done aerobatics previously, in a DHC Chipmunk when I was in the Air Cadets.
As for your wanting to one day fly in a Spitfire, I think we all dream of that.

Regards

Kevin

 

[rollo]

Hello wolfheze
Yes it's really a wonderful place to visit and we tend to forget how aviation makes these things possible for ordanary
Folk. When we reached the bottom we had a trip in a inflatable RIB and the Indian guide powered it up river turned the boat and cut the engine.

The silence and stillness along with the landscape was as the Americans say awesome. We then flew back up to the rim and had a cowboy type meal on metal plates etc before flying back to Las Vegas passing over the Hoover dam.

 

[rollo]

I know a good lawyer Ray!

A couple of weeks ago we were with some friends and talk turned to holidays when my wife said in that special voice they have that i would go anywhere so long as it involves aeroplanes, tell me where you fancy was my reply, a cruise came the answer.
It turns out she wanted to go to the Caribbean so the dreamliner it is then in December from BHX of course.

Rollo

 

[Ashley]

Our thoughts go out to all those who have lost loved one's n those who are injured in lastnights explosion in Manchester .

 

[rollo]

Yes dreadful news from Manchester why can't the human race live in harmony.

Condolences to all affected.

 

[paul]

Condolences to all affected

 

[Paulsstrange]

Sincere condolences to all affected by what's happened in Manchester these people won't beat us and we must all stand united and not let these people change our lives...

 

[Jerry]

My condolences and thoughts and prayers to the victims and families of this attack.