We set a maximum budget of £50,000 and went looking in the classifieds (and elsewhere) for two choices: Hot (aircraft we’d really like) and Not (aircraft we’d rather not). Ian falls for a beautifully made Chilton monoplane, even though it’s too small him to fly. Dave eyes a Luscombe (no surprise there) and Ed goes for a Yak 50 even though it’s life limited (the Yak, not Ed).

In the news:

• GASCo starts winding up after 60+ years promoting safety in aviation
• Red Bull’s Dario Costa lets the train take the strain (and his Edge 540 aircraft)
• Pilot Careers: Opportunities with Jet2, the new Oxford Airline Training and Leading Edge

In What Caught My Eye:

• Ian is surprised to find a Dyn Aero (now SE Aviation) MCR4S with no windscreen, hard points and a distinctly different purpose
• Dave sees Aerobility being given an all-electric Pipistrel two-seater to take disabled people flying
• Ed spies the lesser spotted Pasped Skylark… that’s Pasped as in Pas-Ped, not Passed as in Expired.
  
  Join Today www.flyer.co.uk/membership
  
  Thanks to AFORS www.afors.com
  & Plane Selling plane-selling.com
  & Rare Aircraft www.facebook.com/primoresto

Britain’s airfields and airports are under threat. Popham, Coventry, Tollerton, Gloucester and Old Sarum are just some facing an uncertain future. This week we bring an update - likely to be the first of many.

In the news, we discuss:
Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD) - yet another CAA consultation
In the US, the powerful Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is in turmoil. Why?
AERO Friedrichshafen: fly in slots open and news of a FLYER Club special discount
Closet air racers: time to shine as Popham stages race school
“30 feet… 10 feet… 5 feet… 15 feet… oops!” Garmin releases its Height Advisor (radar altimeter to you and me) for certified aircraft
Dawn to Dusk Challenge 2025 winners announced
PLUS Breaking News: new agent for Bristell certified aircraft in the UK

In What Caught My Eye this week:
Ian bursts with amazement at Monte Warne’s ‘Bubble Plane’
Dave salivates over this year’s Raduno in Italy
Ed whirls over a lightweight helicopter which flies on just 62hp

Links
CAA PMD Consultation https://consultations.caa.co.uk/ga/pilot-medical-declaration/
Register for Air Race School https://www.royalaeroclubrrra.co.uk/event-list
Pooleys 2026 Dawn to Dusk Challenge https://www.pooleys.com/dawn-to-dusk/
Tollerton Crowdfunder campaign https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-nottingham-airfield

Simple but effective tips to improve your R/T! ATC expert Darren Lewington gives three straightforward ways to transform mumbling and stumbling radio calls into a thing of fluency.

In the news we discuss:
Cirrus launches Generation 3 Vision Jet with six seats and more than 30 tweaks
N-reg drama over: FAA starts to reissue aircraft certificates
Volocopter buzzing: Back with two electric helicopters
Pilot caught short: the story behind our lead item

In What Caught My Eye:
Dave spots the truly gorgeous Junkers A50 Heritage landing on ice
Annabel returns tongue Thai-d from flying in Thailand
Ed finds a dream floatplane business and house for sale

Links (to follow)
Join the Flyer Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership
Pilot Careers Live - https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/
Thailand Flying Club - https://www.bfaflyingclub.com/
#FLY2026 - https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=139024
ATC Story Forum Link - https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=139106
Float Plane Business for Sale - https://www.barnstormers.com/classified-2025443-FLOAT-PLANE-OPERATION.html
Gamston treasure hunt - https://flyer.co.uk/event/aerial-treasure-hunt-retford-gamston-airport/

#aviation #aviationnews #pilots #generalaviation #flying

Will your revalidation refresher flight turn into a test?

That's one of the top three takeaways from this week's news of CAA licensing changes. Others include: Microlights are OK for Commercial Pilot Licence training and there are dark clouds ahead for instructors using a Pilot Medical Declaration. Plus: Return of the IMC Rating.

In the news we discuss:
· Tayside Aviation faces dissolution leaving students out of pocket
· Mooney Aircraft thrown a lifeline
· Aerotech to close ahead of Coventry Airport's final day
· Airfield Petition receives 10,000+ signatures
· Microlight hero Malcolm McBride RIP

In What Caught My Eye, Dave fantasises over a final flight for Coventry's Nimrod, Ian congratulations the pilot of NASA's Canberra after a belly landing, and Ed tinkers with Shuttleworth's de Havilland Comet (and sits in the pilot seat making noises).

Links:
#FLY2026: https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=139024
Airfield petition (ends 1 February!): https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/732869
CAA Wave 2 Comment Responses: https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/cap3212/
Nimrod final engine run: https://youtu.be/hLgdt0uOgZs?si=5Lh5eraMdEKpFdHo
Shuttleworth Collection: https://www.shuttleworth.org/

#aviation #aviationnews #pilots #generalaviation #flying

We visit Compton Abbas Airfield to talk with new Accountable Manager Ben Perkins and Head of Aviation James Wolstenholme about some welcome changes coming up at one of the UK’s most picturesque airfields, set in the Dorset countryside.

Plus we run through this week’s top news stories including:
French Superstar: latest 2026 Daher TBM 980
Update on the grounded N-reg aircraft
Launch of Pooleys Dawn to Dusk Competition 2026
Update on the Colin Hales and LAA situation
Flying scholarships at Goodwood Flying School
Popham Airfield: 1 day left to act

This week we also have ‘What Caught My Eye’ with Dave in rapture over a US YouTuber strapped to the loading ramp of an RAF A400M flying the Mach Loop (yes, you read that right), Ian on the very public row between Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary and X’s Elon Musk, and Ed spots an ad for a very thirsty (and expensive) aircraft, a 1963 Howard 500.

Links:

Popham Airfield consultation: https://flyer.co.uk/feature/save-popham-airfield-now-is-the-time/

Pooleys Dawn to Dusk 2026:
https://flyer.co.uk/2026-international-dawn-to-dusk-competition-announced-by-pooleys/

Sam Eckholm A400M Mach Loop video: https://youtu.be/g60IkGJwkjU?si=uGi9FGHUhlJKZy3F
Howard 500 advertisement:
https://www.platinumfighters.com/inventory/1963-dee-howard-500/

Send us your “Welcome to The FLYER Show’ video:
Via WeTransfer to editorial@seager.aero

#aviation #aviationnews #pilots #generalaviation #flying

This episode of The Flyer Show takes a look at the latest general aviation news, brings you your weekly SkyDemon tip, and of course your weekend weather outlook.

The team discusses the FAA decision that has grounded N-registered aircraft held in trust with Southern Aircraft Consultancy, and what the possible solutions might be.

There's the latest in the Colin Hales/LAA story, the financial position of Lydd Airport, the proposed sale of Gloucestershire Airport and the consultation around Popham Airfield.

#aviation #aviationnews #pilots #generalaviation #flying

The links!
Join the Flyer Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership
Pilot Careers Live - https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/
Popham Consultation - https://www.pophamairfieldmatters.org/
That FAA grounding story - https://flyer.co.uk/n-registered-aircraft-held-in-trust-with-southern-aircraft-consultancy-grounded/
A&P investigates G100UL (YouTube) - https://www.youtube.com/@mluvara

In this episode of the FLYER Show – the first of 2026! – we bring you the latest general aviation news and we look forward to general aviation flying in 2026, including launching our #FLY2026 challenge!

- SkyDemon top tip covering flight log analysis
- First real-world emergency landing using Garmin’s Autoland system
- Rotax 916-powered Bristell B23 gets EASA certified
- Cirrus Aircraft deliver their 11,000th SR aircraft and launch the G7+ model for 2026
- Plus time is getting critical to make your voice heard in the consultation threatening Popham Airfield.

Looking ahead to flying in 2026, learn about the winners of our #FLY2025 Challenge, and are you ready for #FLY2026 Challenge?

Plus there’s reflections on GA, microlighting and gliding activity, and previews of major aviation events such as AERO Friedrichshafen, the LAA Rally, Popham Microlight Trade Fair, Oshkosh and SleapKosh.

A comprehensive episode for anyone interested in aviation, flying, aircraft engineering, aviation news and staying active as a pilot in the UK.

#aviation #aviationnews #pilots #generalaviation #flying #aircraft

The links!
Join the FLYER Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership
Pilot Careers Live - https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/
#FLY2026 - forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=139024

Join us for a comprehensive end-of-year aviation review as we look back at 25 of the best and worst stories from flying in 2025.

This episode covers major UK and international aviation news including PPL licensing changes, partial power loss training, moving maps, the Manchester Low Level Route update, Jeppesen and ForeFlight leaving Boeing, and landmark achievements such as CubCrafters reaching 37,609ft, Skyfly Axe’s first cross-country flight and 100 years of the Goodyear Blimp.

We discuss key aircraft developments including the RV-15 going on sale, Cirrus Autoland in piston singles, the Skyleader 400 finally gaining approval, the end of Bonanza and Baron production, and new designs from Robinson, Spirit and Groppo.

The show also examines pilot mental health following Xyla Foxlin’s case, changes within organisations such as the BMAA, and the sale of Flight Design and Icon.

Rounding out the episode is Best aircraft of the year, good news airfield and bad news airfield of the year, and Best events of the year, from Aero Friedrichshafen, Oshkosh and Sleapkosh, This is a great watch for anyone interested in aviation, flying and the future of general aviation.

#aviation #aviationnews #pilots #generalaviation #flying #aircraft

The links!
Join the FLYER Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership
Pilot Careers Live - https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/

Links to Videos!
The end of Bonanza & Barron - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw4uf6ltBDM
Goodyear Blimp - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci7xnzeRGFk
Owain Johns - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJziJZkcCl4
Skyleader 400 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHIl-c87vYw
Cirrus Autoland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkYa1SO9XLA
Xyla Foxlin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxPfLQuNHM0
Popham 50th - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiZD3A48XzM
Brian Lloyd Popham - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVsCi_uLjd0
Best of Aero 2025, Includes Groppo Enduro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm3JzMXCR2o
Best of Oshkosh 2025, Includes Spirit SE 1 & Vans RV - 15
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M14OJwVNwH8
Sleapkosh 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gRScB-DcOQ