Chris Puddy - Articles

 

First solo in Cessna 150 at Maroochidore in Australia.

Accepted for pilot training in RAF in 1966, but turned them down as they would not take him for less than 8 years and a 6 month wait till joining.

Worked on Oil rigs in North Sea, driving for BMW when no one knew what a BMW was and various selling jobs while the desire to find a way to start flying built up.

Then got a job at Leicester washing aeroplanes and cutting the grass, and getting a Heron out of the hanger ready to fly at 7.30 every morning. In exchange an hours flying and £10 a week.

Built up hours and started instructing, and got commmercial pilots licence in 1975.

Flew Twin Otters, Islanders and Trislanders and PA23 for several companies in Scotland, then flew in the Seychelles for a year, before returning to UK to fly Twin Otters for Brymon Airways.

Then to Miri in Malaysia and Nigeria to fly for Bristow Helicopters and flew both the Twin Otter and King air.

Back in the UK was a freelance pilot flying many aircraft on charter and photographic work, until starting night freight work for over 5 years all over Europe.

Then back to Nigeria for Bristows and gave up flying in 1996 to make a fortune on the Internet.

2008 after not making a fortune, back into flying at Bristol and Kemble as a flying instructor wondering why he had stopped flying for so long?

How to quickly work out the head and tail wind component in your head

While flying it is important to know the strength and direction of the wind and be aware of what the effect of the wind is on the aircraft. Read

By: Chris Puddy | 16/11/2009 | Hobbies

How to work out a cross wind component in seconds when on final approach to land an aircraft

When flying an aircraft it is necessary to be aware of the head and cross wind component when landing in order to stay within the pilots, or aircraft limits. Read

By: Chris Puddy | 16/11/2009 | Hobbies