“Close your eyes (and your ears) and you can’t tell if its a Spitfire V or a Chipmunk” – Charlie Brown, legendary Spitfire display pilot.

Air Experience Flights, Tailwheel Conversion, Stall and Spin Training, Formation and Corporate

Fenland Flying School are excited to offer flight training and Air Experience Flights in de Havilland Chipmunk Mk20 “1350”.

Built in 1958 by OGMA for the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) under licence from de Havilland, “1350” served as a primary trainer for many years. Having a fairly easy life, it left the service with fewer than 2,300 flight hours. After some years in storage, “1350” arrived in the UK and has received a full restoration to original condition in 2014.

Well known around the UK as part of the Vintage Pair Display Team, this aircraft is now available for Experience flights, flight training and corporate event days.

Air Experience Flights (Introductory Flights)

Take flight in the aeroplane that has become affectionately known as “The Poor Man’s Spitfire,” the de Havilland Chipmunk offers superb handling and a very graceful flight experience, earning its place in aviation halls of fame as a firm favourite.

The Chipmunk earned its notoriety through its service with RAF Air Experience Flights, where many a young Air Cadet sampled their first taste of the air.

Strap in and find out for yourself why the Chipmunk is such a dearly loved aeroplane.

20 minute AEF – £100

40 minute AEF – £180

60 minute AEF – £250

Tailwheel Conversion

Already hold a pilot’s licence? You can learn the art of tailwheel flying in the best training aircraft available. The Chipmunk is revered for its legendary handling characteristics, but it is a great teacher, demonstrating the behaviour expected of some of the less well-behaved aircraft at just the right time and right level!

Our highly experienced Instructor will take you through the syllabus to convert you from a tricycle pilot to a tailwheel pilot. Learn the art of 3 point landings, wheelers, short field and soft field as well as hard runway ops.

This is a comprehensive course, not just the basics. Complete the course as a true tailwheel pilot and open a new aviation chapter in your flying career.

Further Training

Already hold a licence? We can offer you further training to enhance your skills. Explore slow speed flight, stalls, and learn to recover from spins. The Chipmunk teaches these aspects of flight better than most others. Strap into a Strong Parachute for extra security and experience spinning and unusual attitudes in comfort and safety. Feel the limits of safe flight.

Formation School

By special arrangement we can offer a Formation Training School. Ideal for two pilots to learn the art of flying in close formation together, we take you from an absolute formation novice to a safe and competent formation pilot.

Learn the formation references, positions and emergency drills. Formation flying is the ultimate skill to make you the smoothest pilot in the club!

The course is flown in two Chipmunks and can be tailored to your ultimate aim, whether for safe close flying with a friend for a cross country, up to and including preparation for Display Authorisation and Airshow formation flying.

If you have your own aircraft, our instructors are also available to teach you in these.

Corporate

The Chipmunk is also available for corporate events. For that extra something on your next corporate day, why not have a short aerobatic flight, or a formation experience?

Activities can be tailored to your needs, please contact us for more.

LIMITATIONS

Generally height limitations can be dealt with.

MAXIMUM WEIGHT 16 stone (101kg)

General mobility should be good to be able to climb over the side and get in.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier this week about changes to lock down measures, the reopening of GA businesses and the safe restart of General Aviation dual and instructional flights will be permitted from 4 July 2020 in England.

We are awaiting CAA guidance as to any precautions we should take and will update you as soon as we have any information.

In the meantime, for all students, hirers, Voucher holders and general enquiries, please get in touch and book your flight!

What we would like you to do:

• Do not attend if you are feeling poorly or are showing any of the COVID-19 symptoms which include a higher than normal temperature, a cough or a loss of smell or taste.
• On arrival at the school, please use the hand sanitizer provided at the entrance door.
• If you wish to bring your own PPE, please feel free to do so.
• Please maintain 2m distance from any other person at all times.
• Please bring with you your own equipment you may need to use such as pens, notepads, Nav equipment etc as we won’t be able to lend any out.
• After your visit, please use the hand sanitizer as you leave.
• Please pay by Bank Transfer if you can.

What we will do:

• We will ensure that there will only be one student at any time in the Flying School reception where we will hold the Ground School instruction.
• We will ensure that those taking exams have the sole use of their own room.
• We will sanitize all surfaces before and after your visit.
• We will ensure all rooms are adequately ventilated.
• We would strongly urge you to pay by Bank Transfer. If you are unable to do so, please let us know and an alternative means will be found.

Also, please familiarize yourself with any policy the AeroClub may have published on their website www.fenlandairfield.co.uk

Since the lockdown has been relaxed slightly, the CAA have approved GA flying again, on the proviso that there is only one sole occupant of the aircraft. Passengers are only allowed if they are members of the pilot’s household. This obviously precludes dual training, and, as all of our members will need a dual check flight before flying solo, it also precludes hiring from Fenland Flying School. Obviously private owners can, and are, flying.

However, the Simulator is available, as is one-to-one Ground School at the Flying School, and also, those of you that need to, can take exams. Obviously, all government guidelines on social distancing, hand sanitizing, cleaning etc will be strictly observed.

If anyone would like to make a booking for any of these, please email, preferably, or ring 07900 411135, as the office phone may not be manned for several days at a time.

We will, of course, resume dual training as soon as we are allowed to.

Stay alert, stay safe!

Following the latest Government advice regarding COVID-19, and restrictions regarding social interaction, we feel obliged to close the Flying School until further notice to protect all staff, customers and the general public.

All vouchers and memberships will be extended for the period of the School’s closure.

We will resume normal service as soon as possible, and in line with Government policy, and hope in the meantime you all stay safe and well.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please either email us or phone Steve or Lisa on 07900 411135.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE         March 17^th 2020

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

Official guidelines seem to be changing on a daily basis. In the meantime, we are going to do our best to keep people flying for as long as we can, and operate as normally as we can, but we would appreciate your cooperation to help us all stay safe:

• When you arrive, please wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds either in the Club’s loos or in the School’s kitchen.

• Please use the hand sanitiser provided before going out to the aeroplanes.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

• If you have recently visited an affected area abroad, or
• If you have had any contact with a confirmed, or even a suspected, case of coronavirus locally, or
• If you have a high temperature (37.8°C or above), a new, continuous cough or shortness of breath, PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE FLYING SCHOOL.

If you are in any doubt about your health with regard to any of the symptoms mentioned above then please DO NOT COME FLYING but seek medical advice just as soon as you can.

Until further notice:

• No further bookings for Trial Lessons or Introductory Flights will be taken, however, the voucher expiry dates will be extended as required.
• The cancellation fee rule will not apply for the foreseeable future.
• Any members over 70 years or with known medical conditions should not visit the School.
• Students and hirers must have their own headsets (we have some brand-new ones available for purchase)

We will keep you updated and would like to thank you for your co-operation during these difficult times.

Great fortune was enjoyed on Saturday 24^th August …… Caernarfon Airfield was lucky enough to receive a select band of aviators from Fenland Flying School on their first visit to a ‘foreign country’ and first trip over mountainous terrain, and Fenland Flying School was lucky enough to enjoy perfect weather for the whole trip, and spectacular views of Snowdonia!

The day involved 4 aircraft and 10 personnel, mostly newly qualified pilots and soon-to-be qualified pilots, calling in at Tatenhill on the way there, and Halfpenny Green on the way back for seat-swapping, enabling each to fly at least 2 legs of the journey.

Everyone did remarkably well; if anyone’s is to be singled out for special praise, it must be Linda for carrying out the navigation the old-fashioned way without the use of a GPS or two…..

It was an invaluable experience for all involved, a lot was learnt, and much fun was had. A thoroughly enjoyable day!

The CFI’s Cup is awarded to the student, who, in the opinion of the CFI, is the overall best student!

This year it has been a particularly difficult task as all 11 new licence holders could have been a worthy winner as they have each impressed us in their own special way. The nominations this year are:

• Aaron for the best comeback after a set back
• Max for being the most technically competent
• Braden for his versatility and diligence
• Daniel for completing in the shortest period
• Thomas for having the highest standard of airmanship
• Steve for being the most pragmatic and forensic
• Carl for his overall aviation and engineering knowledge
• John for being the most persistent in the face of medical issues
• Robin for his entertaining RT and his uncannily accurate altitude reporting
• Tim for being such a great role model for the older gentleman
• Linda for her enthusiasm and newfound self-belief

So……. the award this year goes to the student who has most impressed us with their meteoric level of improvement. They came in to the aviation world with no previous flying experience or knowledge, and have diligently and methodically applied themselves in a dogged and determined manner. In the face of adversity, they have always remained cheerful and optimistic which makes their achievement all the more impressive and rewarding. Congratulations and well done to … Robin!

So….the CFI’s Cup is presented annually to the student who, in the opinion of the CFI is the most deserving! During this year we have had a student who has ticked all the aviation boxes – he has natural aptitude and flair, attended many Ground School sessions where he has astounded his peers with his encyclopaedic knowledge of all matters aviation, won the Christmas quiz, would have achieved 100% in all 9 theory exams except for one silly mistake, been on a fly-out, and even brought us cake!!!! A big well done to Neil.

After literally months of meticulous planning and excited anticipation, plus, not a little worry (would the weather be suitable, would the aircraft be in check / serviceable, would the Instructor be in an amenable mood, etc, etc), the morning of the 18^th May arrived as suddenly as a dust storm appears in a desert. I say the morning, but it seemed like the middle of the night to the bleary-eyed bunch of intrepid aviators that gathered round the Flying School kettle.

There was, though, an almost tangible frisson of excitement and enthusiasm that would, no doubt, have been familiar to the Lancaster crews prior to the Dambusters raid. Amidst nervous jokes and serious mass and balance calculations it became apparent that everyone’s biggest worry had come to nought.

We couldn’t have wished for finer weather, better still, we had a slight tailwind, better still, good flying weather was forecast to prevail all weekend!!

Amazingly, despite only minor technical problems, all aircraft and crews arrived on the unfamiliarly large runway at Albert, France, virtually on schedule.

In no time at all we were all on a bus starting the tour with a visit to the Lochnagar Crater.

The Somme side of events was expertly (no under-statement there) organised by Paul Rogers and Chris Cherry, who, if they are not celebrities yet, no doubt soon will be! These guys normally run tours of battlefields on motorbikes. To say Chris knew his stuff would be akin to saying Stephen Hawking had a sharp mind!

Altogether, we visited several battle sites, cemeteries, memorials, and museums in the Albert area of the Western Front.

Suffice to say the consensus was that it was all round a superb weekend if, at times, rather sobering when witnessing the battle sites and resting places of so many young combatants that will never grow old.

You can read history books and watch TV documentaries as much as you like, but actually being there and picking up 100-year-old shell fragments really brings it home, and stimulates the thirst for more historical knowledge.

The weekend was enjoyed by 18 of us in 8 aircraft from Fenland. Even before we were back, thoughts were being given to the next trip – Flanders and Normandy being 2 possible candidates for a future escapade.