Airplay Aviation - Latest News
September 2008: Despite the poor weather, we managed some flying in the short spells of sunshine over the Sutton Meadows 25th anniversary fly-in weekend. The barbeque was excellently timed between rain showers, and everyone had a great time.
Both Steve Wilson and Will Minns have taken delivery of their new Dragonfly single-seat flexwings, and have promptly completed their license courses on them. Steve simply had to do the two navigation cross-country exercises, and at 2.5l/hr it was a cheap way to complete the unrestriction!
August 2008: Airplay has pleasure inviting you to the Sutton Meadows 25th Anniversary fly-in & Marie-Curie Cancer Care fundraising day, on the weekend of the 6-7th September. All are welcome, pilots or not, and please do bring the family! There will be a barbeque on the Saturday night (and overnight camping is encouraged), and discounted trial flights on the Sunday (including a donation to the charity). Our usual £2 landing fee will be waived for the duration of the weekend. This is the biggest event in the Sutton Meadows Calendar- make sure you get there early! For more details, please look at the BMAA Events Page.
July 2008: We've been enjoying the hot summer weather here at Airplay. It's rare to be comfortable when flying in T-shirt & shorts, so we've been taking full advantage.
As has William Furniss, who recently flew his first solo and loved the outstanding climb performance of the 912 Quantum without the weight of an instructor in the back!
June 2008: Congratulations to Steve Wilson, who has now passed his General Skills Test and obtained his NPPL (restricted). Steve is now eagerly awaiting delivery of his single-seat Dragonfly soaring trike (which is just one of the many fine types of flexwing microlight Airplay are dealers for) before completing the navigation elements of the unrestricted license.
Also, new student Tom Larnach has gone from complete ab-initio to solo inside 3 weeks. Tom first flew solo on Friday 13th (good job he wasn't superstitious)!
May 2008: BMAA approval has now been completed for the Thermoflash heated suit installation on our school aircraft (the only one in the UK). Initial testing has promised comfortable heat conditions for our students all year round; simply dial in the required temperature, and 'Bio-fluid' coolant is pumped around your suit. Cold winter training is a thing of the past!
April 2008: Despite the poor weather, a number of pilots & aircraft flew into the official opening day for a rather rain-soaked barbeque, and a photographer from the Ely Standard was on hand to capture the event. This follows a number of improvements made to the airfield and facilities, which now sports an improved garden & patio area (with soon to be erected sunshade), and repairs made to the entrance road.
Congratulations to Steve Wilson, who has recently become Airplay's first student to be sent solo. Since starting his course in February, Steve has accomplished his first solo after only 18hrs dual training.
Steve was shortly followed by Will Minns, who has now flown solo following a 10year child-induced break from microlight training. Well done to them both!
March 2008: Preparations are well underway for the Airplay official opening day fly-in and celebration, to be held at the airfield on Saturday 5th April. Already more than 50 people have expressed an interest on coming to the event, with any interested parties or future students welcome. A barbeque will be running throughout the day and into the night, with the usual £2 landing fee waived if you bring some food/drink.
Those who would like to partake in the local brew would be welcome to camp on the airfield, or there is the award-winning Anchor Inn just down the road.
For more details and to register interest, please look at the BMAA website
February 2008: Training has commenced, with both trial lessons and new students booking in. The weather has been very kind, and an intensive training programme (along with the freedom of having a dedicated microlight field) means that our early students have made fantastic progress already.
January 2008: Airplay Aviation begins trading, and over the winter period a portacabin has been installed at Sutton Meadows. The plan is to renovate this 40' cabin over the next few months into a waiting room with tea/coffee making facilities, a briefing room and office with a shop for popular microlighting spares & equipment.