tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44027212905974872032011-04-21T14:45:43.126-07:00Blog for the musings of two trainee pilots learning to fly microlights (NPPL) at East Of Scotland Microlights with Gordon Douglas.Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.comBlogger81100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402721290597487203.post-41306603957846778032008-12-15T07:35:00.000-08:002008-12-15T07:46:04.065-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h1QM8Inbbp0/SUZ7jf0wm2I/AAAAAAAAAIw/jWmxG8jryd0/s1600-h/east_fortune_runway_w_circuit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h1QM8Inbbp0/SUZ7jf0wm2I/AAAAAAAAAIw/jWmxG8jryd0/s200/east_fortune_runway_w_circuit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280043462906911586" border="0" /></a><br />For the past few lessons I have been training with Gordon Douglas in the circuit.<br /><br />Feels very strange to sit back and look at the concept of flying never mind landing!<br /><br />Really enjoying the flights and the need to focus on so many tasks and checks whilst flying the vehicle really does set a high performance expectation.<br /><br />Up again this Thursday so hopefully the weather will be spot on.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4402721290597487203-4130660395784677803?l=flymetodunoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402721290597487203.post-75008885957645675952008-10-23T07:12:00.001-07:002008-10-24T01:38:07.452-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h1QM8Inbbp0/SQGJRf7iGwI/AAAAAAAAABo/57e9q-cTmcg/s1600-h/kencollaugh.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h1QM8Inbbp0/SQGJRf7iGwI/AAAAAAAAABo/57e9q-cTmcg/s320/kencollaugh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260636773467429634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h1QM8Inbbp0/SQGJBwYJt9I/AAAAAAAAABg/x71d5ScuT7Y/s1600-h/kenchuffed.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h1QM8Inbbp0/SQGJBwYJt9I/AAAAAAAAABg/x71d5ScuT7Y/s320/kenchuffed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260636503004526546" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4402721290597487203-7500888595764567595?l=flymetodunoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402721290597487203.post-70054651716940739972008-10-22T02:03:00.000-07:002008-10-22T02:08:27.121-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.juniorjetclub.net/uploaded_images/gt450-743709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.juniorjetclub.net/uploaded_images/gt450-743676.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This awesome vehicle, manufactured by P &amp; M Aviation in the UK and featuring Rotax power, is what we are learning to fly in with Gordon at EOSM.<br /><br />P &amp; M have recently launched the all new QuickR which I certainly have my eye on.<br /><br />"The topless QuikR is the fastest and most advanced weightshift today with a 100MPH cruise and slow 40MPH stall. "<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.juniorjetclub.net/uploaded_images/QUICKR-783661.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.juniorjetclub.net/uploaded_images/QUICKR-783657.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />More aicraft news very soon...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4402721290597487203-7005465171694073997?l=flymetodunoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402721290597487203.post-72241767008469408822008-10-21T07:58:00.000-07:002008-10-21T08:19:25.676-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.juniorjetclub.net/uploaded_images/weather-703445.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.juniorjetclub.net/uploaded_images/weather-703417.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So, as of a few weeks ago, I am currently sitting at 6 hours of flight training.<br /><br />I have been training with Gordon Douglas at East of Scotland Microlights and have now become a member of the club.<br /><br />Jill has been great through all of this and even sorted me out with my 1st flight suit via Ozee. (Gordon was right, you <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">do</span> fly better in your own suit)<br /><br />More detail to follow on how the lessons have been going as well as my thoughts on the learning process and the sport itself... soon.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4402721290597487203-7224176700846940882?l=flymetodunoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402721290597487203.post-8163241646706978792008-10-21T07:51:00.000-07:002008-10-21T07:52:09.501-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.colinusher.co.uk/uploaded_images/kencol-701460.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.colinusher.co.uk/uploaded_images/kencol-701454.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So, last night was the last ground school class with Jill &amp; Gordon Douglas at East of Scotland Microlights.<span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span><br /><br />Now... onto the actual flying...<br /><br />My pal, Ken Kerr &amp; I will be embarking on as many hours in the air as possible now...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.colinusher.co.uk/uploaded_images/kenfly-747968.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.colinusher.co.uk/uploaded_images/kenfly-747965.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4402721290597487203-816324164670697879?l=flymetodunoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402721290597487203.post-45714633818596525662008-10-21T07:48:00.001-07:002008-10-21T07:57:55.435-07:009th of January saw my enrollment into Ground School with East of Scotland Microlights.<br /><br />To date I have sat 4 written exams;<br /><br />1. Technical (90% = pass)<br /><br />2. Air Law (95% = pass)<br /><br />3. Human Performance &amp; Limitations (100% = pass)<br /><br />4. Meterology (72% = pass)<br /><br />So, 1 more written exam in navigation to come (the hardest one!)<br /><br />Wish me luck...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.colinusher.co.uk/uploaded_images/fly3-770417.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.colinusher.co.uk/uploaded_images/fly3-770414.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4402721290597487203-4571463381859652566?l=flymetodunoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402721290597487203.post-35465643309461201802008-10-21T07:46:00.000-07:002008-10-21T07:48:03.340-07:00<span class="style15"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 20th December</span><br /><br /><span class="style19">Colin took to the skies at East Fortune with </span></span>Chief Flying Instructor at East of Scotland Microlights,<span class="style15"><span class="style19"> Gordon Douglas for his test flight.<br /><br />Colin was joined by his good mate Ken Kerr who also took his 1st flight with Gordon.<br /><br />John Need came along to take some pics for us and ended up flying too... What a morning... we're all still grinning and behaving like children.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.colinusher.co.uk/uploaded_images/fly1-743182.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.colinusher.co.uk/uploaded_images/fly1-743175.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4402721290597487203-3546564330946120180?l=flymetodunoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402721290597487203.post-64946304004392171902008-10-21T07:03:00.000-07:002008-10-22T01:59:27.195-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.juniorjetclub.net/uploaded_images/paris-air-766531.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.juniorjetclub.net/uploaded_images/paris-air-766525.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="style3"><span class="style9">In September of 2007, I filmed the 19 Booby Birds and 1</span></span><span class="style3"><span class="style9"> Booby Bloke who bravely jumped out of a wee plane above St Andrews to raise funds for breast cancer.</span></span><br /><span class="style3"><span class="style9"><br /><strong></strong></span></span><span class="style3"><span class="style9"><strong>Sally Anne Hunter</strong> then took her 1st piloted flight of a microlight a few weeks later...<br /><br />I was so inspired by this brave gang that I decided I wanted to learn to fly. I am now training for the General Flying Test in a microlight (N)PPL along with my good pal Ken Kerr.<br /><br />Ken and I have worked on media projects together that have taken us to Paris &amp; Farnborough Airshows... This has obviously spawned a passion for flight and aircraft in both of us.<br /><br />It's going to take at least 25 hours of training, including 10 solo hours </span></span><span class="style3"><span class="style9">in the air... and written tests on Technical, Air Law, Navigation, Meteorology and Human Performance &amp; Limitations.<br /><br />Both of us will be adding to this blog over the duration of training in then onto our adventures once we get our wings...<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4402721290597487203-6494630400439217190?l=flymetodunoon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Colin Douglas Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02795977813740087033noreply@blogger.com0