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Is the UK the best place in the world to learn to fly? This week, we compare the sub-ICAO pilot licences across the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, looking at flight training hours, medical requirements, aircraft privileges, passenger limits, night flying and instrument flying. We also discuss the challenges UK pilots face when flying abroad and whether greater international recognition of the UK NPPL could open up more opportunities.  In the news, we cover the latest developments following the Elixir aircraft accident in France, the CAA’s plea for us to get more involved with local airspace infringement teams, the Professional Flight Training Awards and the latest news on the Ellipse RG microlight powered by the Rotax 916.  Plus, Fantasy Hangar tackles the best aircraft for cockpit visibility. It;s just Ed and Ian this week (Dave's busy elsewhere), so who wins? We also have this week’s SkyDemon tip, the latest flying weather forecast and upcoming aviation events. Do you think the UK offers the best route into general aviation? Let us know in the comments. Links: SkyDemon - https://www.skydemon.aero/  Join the FLYER Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership/ FLYER - https://flyer.co.uk/  Pilot Careers Live - https://pilotcareerlive.com/ Weather Coach - https://weathercoach.uk/ Adventure of Flight - https://www.aerobility.com/upcoming-events/2026/11/1/the-adventure-of-flight #generalaviation #flying #airfields #pilots #aviationnews #pilotlicense

What do you choose? A new car or an aeroplane? Yes, after last week’s show where we talked about expensive new high-performance microlights, we go to the other end of the price spectrum. You can buy a whole aeroplane, airworthy and flying, for less than £30,000. We identify a range of possible aircraft available now in the small ads - there’s something for everyone. And on a similar subject, TV chef Jamie Oliver achieved his PPL at Andrewsfield over the summer - now he’s helped save the airfield from closure. To celebrate Jamie’s involvement in flying, we decided that Fantasy Hangar should look at aircraft to suit Jamie. Some great choices! - Dave picks something Italian… - Ian is thinking culinary… - Ed reckons a cool family wagon is needed… In the news - Elixir grounds its entire fleet of aircraft - Wormingford Airsfield closes - Mike O’Donoghue, formerly GASCo, is now General Aviation Programme Manager for CHIRP - Jamie Oliver, who is dyslexic, achieved his PPL ground exams with the help of Pooleys and an audio app - New brooms at the top at Continental  - Three Johns appear at a special Aerobility event Plus - SkyDemon tip - Weekend weather forecast - Events coming up Links: SkyDemon - https://www.skydemon.aero/ Join the FLYER Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership/ FLYER - https://flyer.co.uk/ Aerobility Adventure of Flight tickets https://ow.ly/5zSX50ZSe2B #generalaviation #flying #airfields #pilots  #aviationnews

Thanks to the latest Rotax 916iS engine with its 160hp max power, there’s a flock of superfast microlights becoming available - and the latest, the JMB VL3, has just been approved for the UK. As well as the power (cue: MORE POWER!), this new breed of 600kg microlights are also well-equipped, look sensational and, well, expensive. In the News: Owner of Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green killed First UK JMB VL3 delivered STOL UK Competition at Popham Fairford RAT Game Aerospace flies GB2 firebomber Is NASA planning to fly an SR-71A Blackbird  First UK Islander ready for delivery In Fantasy Hangar All the world’s talking about AI, it seems, so we’re joining in. This week’s Fantasy Hangar subject is aircraft that look as though they were designed by AI. Dave picks a cross between a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft Ian goes for what’s probably Burt Rutan’s strangest aircraft (and there have been a few) Ed goes all Eastern Europe with a futuristic looking beast Plus SkyDemon tip on user waypoints Weekend Weather forecast from Simon Keeling What’s on this weekend LINKS SkyDemon - https://www.skydemon.aero/ Join the FLYER Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership/ FLYER - https://flyer.co.uk/ #generalaviation #flying #airfields #microlight #aviationnews

Does general aviation have an organised crime problem? A report from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) looks at the use of general aviation for smuggling drugs, weapons and people, and makes recommendations for tackling it. We discuss the report, the problems it identifies, and what some of its proposals could mean for GA pilots — including mandatory electronic conspicuity. Plus: News Popham remains under threat of development, with another consultation on the new local plan Coventry Airport: the airport has closed, but the proposed gigafactory has yet to materialise GloucestershireAirport sale back on the cards after the first attempt collapsed The WT-9 Dynamic with the Rotax 916iS is now approved in the UK The Propeller Inn at Bembridge is closed until further notice A reminder of the 1 October deadline for LAPL revalidation requirements Aviators Ball returns to the Fairmont Windsor Park in November FANTASY HANGAR This week's challenge is all about trousers. We pick our favourite aircraft with trousered undercarriages — and there are some spectacular contenders. Annabel goes for the Northrop Gamma 2G, with its streamlined looks and rather elegant trousers Ian chooses the Supermarine Type 224, predecessor to the Spitfire, with cooling trousers Ed picks the Miles Hawk Speed Six, which he reckons has the ultimate trousers PLUS SkyDemon Tip of the Week: Creating and completing an aircraft profile Weekend Weather Forecast from Simon Keeling Weekend flying events LINKS RUSI report on organised crime and general aviation - https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/research-papers/organised-crime-and-general-aviation-uk-and-benelux SkyDemon - https://www.skydemon.aero/ Join the FLYER Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership/ FLYER - https://flyer.co.uk/ Aviators Ball - https://www.aerobility.com/aviators-ball-2026 #generalaviation #flying #airfields #crimestories #aviationnews

New guidance from the CAA sets out what instructors should cover during the one-hour refresher flight for SEP revalidation by experience. They make it clear that the hour is more than simply going flying with an instructor. For instance, they want pilots to improve they can navigate by dead reckoning and a paper chart rather than rely on SkyDemon (there are other moving map displays available)! We run through the CAA’s vision for the ideal instructor hour and ask, isn’t this really a mini Skills Test? Would we be better off with a US-style [Biennial] Flight Review? NEWS Swansea Airport swans off with Aerodrome of the Year Award while losing CAA licence Solent Airport gets digging Politics and Red Tape at the CAA? No, really? Hello, Good Bye. Yes, Bye’s eFlyer2 electric aircraft is finally ready for its first flight Risen gets another speed ticket for its 916iS SuperVeloce FANTASY HANGAR Ed sets a really tough challenge: choose a flying car… Dave refuses, choosing an Extra 300NG for the flying and a super–sized car rental deal for any car, any place, any time Ian gets into the spirit of the idea with the Fulton Airphibian, perfectly proving Dave’s point Ed comes up with the equally ancient Taylor Aerocar, thus also proving Dave’s right (guess who’s writing this bit) PLUS SkyDemon Tip of the Week: Turning Points Weekend Weather Forecast from Simon Keeling Weekend flying events LINKS Flyer - https://flyer.co.uk/ Join the Flyer Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership/ #flighttraining #flyingcar #aviationnews #aviationlaw #generalaviation

Airfield, airport and air strips: They’re the life-blood of General Aviation. We take a look at what’s going well, what’s not and what’s in between. It’s a subject we’ll return to in future shows. Be assured: painful though it is to lose an airfield, there are also lots of good things happening. Plus: News LAA Rally 2026: A huge success for the Light Aircraft Association and for Leicester Airport. Watch our video “Best of the LAA Rally”: https://youtu.be/S_3UJG7xvz0 GippsAero GA10 Airvan single-engine turboflight flies again Free money! BWPA scholarships - there’s loads Fred To, British aviation pioneer, to fly with SolarStratos this autumn Electronic Conspicuity: The CAA’s consultation ends soon so have your say Fantasy Hangar Is there such an aircraft as a beautiful single-engine turboprop that grown out of a piston engine version? The question is prompted by the GippsAero GA10 Airvan - useful it may be, pretty it ain’t. So who chose what? Ian went for the Taylor Speedstar 850, an oddball aircraft fitted with an 840hp Garrett TPE-331 turboprop engine, called “a beautiful masterpiece” Dave plumped for the Tarragon Turboprop, fitted with TurboTech’s 141hp regenerative turbine, which made its first flight in July this year. It’s very very sexy! Ed went for the Turbine Toucan, a one-off Pitts Model 12 usually powered by a giant Vedeneyev M14P radial piston engine but now equipped with an equally giant 750hp 601D turboprop engine Plus: SkyDemon tip of the week, weekend weather forecast and events coming up. LINKS BWPA Scholarships https://bwpa.co.uk/scholarships/ CAA Electronic Conspicuity Consultation https://consultations.caa.co.uk/safety-and-airspace-regulation-group/ec-mandate/ Join the FLYER Club https://flyer.co.uk/membership/ LAA Rally - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_3UJG7xvz0 #generalaviation  #ukaviation  #pilots  #aircraft  #airfield #aviationnews

The Light Aircraft Pilot’s Licence (LAPL) has been a popular choice for many pilots but as the CAA has sought to streamline licensing (for all the right reasons), so the LAPL has been replaced by the National Private Pilot’s Licence (NPPL). Existing holders carry on though but with one big change to renewal. In this week’s FLYER Show we outline the changes which come into effect at the end of September. PLUS In the News: The FLYER Fly-in at Steventon. Brilliant event, brilliant location, just brilliant. Shuttleworth’s damaged dh.88 Comet air racer will be rebuilt! Redhill Aerodrome faces a really serious threat Solent Airport gets a new manager Compton Abbas Airfield makes a runner Deadline coming up fast for the Professional Flight Training Awards FLYER Club price increase on the way - subscribe now to lock in the current price Return of Fantasy Hangar! Yes, by public demand, FLYER’s Fantasy Hangar is back and this week’s subject is choosing an aircraft to fly all four of September’s free landings: Barton, Cromer, Old Warden and Strathaven. Ian chose the Miles Falcon Major, an air racer from 1934, ignoring the fact that only three remain airworthy worldwide Dave, for once, is the Sensible One, choosing the latest Bristell B8M, a 160hp high-wing rocketship, ignoring Ed’s jibes about ‘M’ standing for ‘Mobility’ Ed, as usual, came up with an aircraft none of us had ever heard of before, the Waco SRE. Yes, it’s a Waco biplane but not as we know it Jim. JIm? Who’s Jim? PLUS PLUS! Yes, there’s more. This week’s SkyDemon tip: the Yellow Arrow. Simon Keeling’s weekend weather forecast. And events coming up, including the LAA Rally. LINKS Entries for the Professional Flight Training Awards: https://www.pilotcareerslive.com/awards/ FLYER free landings for September 2026: https://flyer.co.uk/flyer-free-landings-for-september-2026/ Join the FLYER Club: https://flyer.co.uk/membership/ #generalaviation #ukaviation #pilots #licences #aircraft #airfield

We had so much material from this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (OK, ‘Oshkosh’ for short) that we decided to cover the left-out bits in the show. There’s some really good stuff here, honest: - ICON A5 + Safety Sense - Tecnam Rivale - Vashon Ranger Grand Teton - Jabiru Twin  - Cirrus TRAC10  - Pipistrel Voyager (and what about the Panthera?)  - Van’s RV12is - Zenair CH750 Super Cruzer - Lycoming engine TBO raised - Continental’s engine STC swap for Piper Archer NEWS Two ace GA people remembered: Geoff Weighell, microlighting champion and former BMAA boss, and David Roberts of Europe Airsports who quietly got on with promoting GA at government levels. Horten Flying Wing project for sale. Perfect for someone with a large fortune looking to downsize. CAA webinar coming up on the subject of mandatory Electronic Conspicuity. FLYER Fly-in on 11 August at Aces High, Steventon (PPR and Briefing essential). Four new free landings for August. What Caught My Eye  Dave: Shuttleworth’s simple gorgeous Blackburn B.2 at Breighton. Ian: Over 153,000 commercial flights in one day - that's almost two takeoffs & landings per second. No accidents - amazing! Ed: Pedal Venture sets a record! Plus, SkyDemonTip, Weekend Weather Forecast and Events coming up. Links Join the Flyer Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership/  Best of Oshkosh video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyhV3JR-qy4 Oshkosh Preview Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ6V_vBs7NQ #oshkosh #generalaviation #aviationnews #aviationtech #airshows

EAA Airventure Oshkosh starts next week and there’s lots to see. The FLYER works through the highlights that we know about: aircraft launches, product updates, new propulsion units - combustion and electric - visiting aircraft and much more!  Plus there’s ton of news: Mandatory electronic conspicuity is coming: CAA launches a consultation. This one’s important! Sleapkosh was a huge success last weekend, with great weather, lots of aircraft, music, parties, food and much more. Kirkbridge Airfield is for sale: fancy it? Flying to Iceland in a flex-wing microlight: Trev Lee and Dave Bromley made it and we catch up with them in a video call Sad news: Metal Seagulls is to close. The Pembrokeshire-based engineering workshop (and Zenair agent) calls it a day. Blackbushe Airport is on the up! Lightspeed launches a new version of its DeltaZulu headset with an anti-noise profile specific to a Rotax engine. FLYER’s Ian Seager wins an award! A proper one! In What Caught My Eye Ian spots an aeroplane with a Bluebird connection. Dave raves about the line-up for this year’s Roswell Air Races. Ed meets a rare British 1930s survivor: the Foster Wikner Wicko Plus: SkyDemon tip Weekend weather forecast Club news Events coming up Links Donate to Trev and Dave’s fundraising microlight mission here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/iceland-flying-expo-2026 Mandatory EC consultation https://consultations.caa.co.uk/safety-and-airspace-regulation-group/ec-mandate/ Kirkbirde Airfiled Sale - https://www.hopesauction.co.uk/propertyhopes/kirkbride-airfield-kirkbride/ Join The Flyer Club https://www.flyer.co.uk/membership #oshkosh #generalaviation #aviationnews #aviationtech #airshows

Blimey, this has to be one of the biggest news weeks we’ve ever seen (and Dave’s on holiday!) Big news from Garmin with a new integrated and configurable avionics ecosystem. Cub Crafters has added a turbine to its Carbon Cub, Cirrus has launched an all new training aircraft, the TRAC10 and Dynon has announced an IFR GPS to go with its HDX screen. Plus, your weekly SkyDemon tip - weather from Dr Simon Keeling (spoiler, it’s going to be hot), Events and What Caught our Eye. Links:  flyer.co.uk/membership Garmin Axis - https://flyer.co.uk/garmin-unveils-axis-a-new-generation-of-highly-integrated-flight-displays/ Ian's flight test of Garmin Axis - https://flyer.co.uk/feature/flying-behind-garmins-new-axis-avionics/ CubCrafters - https://flyer.co.uk/new-ult-sees-carbon-cub-get-a-turbine/ Just Plane Silly Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCo2pHK7VPS0_0Tza4ll0SAw Dave vs Bryan Livestream - https://www.youtube.com/live/GNa0Z1uG92A  #aviationnews #garmin #cirrus #generalaviation #aviationtech

It ain’t half hot, Mum! With weather like this week’s, what we need is a nice, simple aircraft for a cool bimble in the evening air. The team chose three aircraft that are perfect for an enjoyable, stress-free flight but the kicker is: they have to be on sale now, either from the classified ads or from a broker or dealer! Do you agree with their choices? What would you choose? PLUS In the news Follow up on the cardiovascular rule changes: we ask 5 questions of the CAA Thruxton, Popham and Solent are three of Hampshire’s airfields. Coming up is an event linking all three Sywell Aerodrome is closed to visiting aircraft during the week EGNOS, no, not Gran’s favourite Christmas tipple, but Europe’s satellite system for improving GPS accuracy and usefulness, is back on the Govt’s agenda The Raduno is happening this week with a fantastic itinerary! Club News Four new free landing fees for FLYER Club members coming up in July In What Caught My Eye Annabel is stunned by a Solstive Eveing Flight on video Dave spots the Short Take-Off and Landing competition at Breighton Ed embraces his inner Elon Musk celebrating the 35th anniversary of the movie The Rocketeer There’s more: SkyDemon tip of the week (user waypoints), Simon’s weekend weather forecast, Events coming up. #GeneralAviation #aviationnews #pilots #airfield #summerflying #aircraft

“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