Mike's Profile

 

Having had a keen interest in airplanes and aviation from a young age, I first started flying as a teenager with the Air Training Corps. I was lucky enough to live near RAF Manston which had gliders, Chipmunks and an Air Sea Rescue helicopter squadron. Most weekends I would be up at the airfield getting flights with anyone who would take me. It was with the Air Training Corps that I first soloed in a glider when I as sixteen.

After leaving school, work got in the way of my flying at first, but I eventually started training for my Private Pilots Licence at Wycombe. Having got my licence I started touring but soon realised that I needed more qualifications to fly the planes that I wanted to fly, to the places that I wanted to fly to. So over the next few years I acquired night, instrument and multi-engined ratings and then went for a Commercial Pilots Licence. About thirteen years ago I went back to Wycombe to train for my Instructor Rating.

Having flown all sorts of airplanes all over Europe I felt the urge to get back to more "grass roots" flying, proper airplanes but smaller and simpler and flying for the pure enjoyment of flying and not just to get from A to B. So two years ago and with the help of Chris and Reg, I started instructing at Chatteris on fixed-wing microlights. I still occasionally fly the bigger stuff to Europe but it's hard to beat the satisfaction of seeing your student come back from their first solo flight and later achieve their Pilot's Licence.

 

Mike with Chris Thompson	Chris and Mike with Dave Collier owner of the DO27

 

Mike's Latest Project

 

Rans S-4 G-MWES

 

I had been aware of G-MWES since I started flying at Chatteris in 2008, sitting in the corner of the hanger having not flown for about six years and buried under years of miscellaneous abandoned items.

I had not given it much attention but in June 2010 someone suggested that I try to buy it and get it into the air again. I contacted the owner via G-INFO and agreed a price. Once the deal had been done I hauled the machine out of the hangar, uncovered it and gave it a good wash to have a look at what I had bought.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that underneath the six years of hangar dirt that it was in remarkably good condition although some parts were missing and various rubber parts (tyres and bungees) were past their best. At that time I thought a few weeks work should see it back in the skies, I should have known better. Work, holidays and family soon saw weeks turn to months but with advice from Mike Hallam and help from friends at Chatteris the inspetion was completed in October. I then went abroad and did not test fly until November.

What a wondedrful plane! I must admit that I was surprised how well the airplane flew, amazing short take offs and landing, well harmonized controls and very stable. Now that it is all permitted I have flown it on several more occasions but with the short, cold winter days I decided to put the covers back on and return it to the back of the hangar until Spring. At that time I intend to enjoy my little Plane with the "hi-vis jacket" and get some serious flying time in it.

Mike