Flyer Magazine

Blimey, this has to be one of the biggest news weeks we’ve ever seen (and Dave’s on holiday!) Big news from Garmin with a new integrated and configurable avionics ecosystem. Cub Crafters has added a turbine to its Carbon Cub, Cirrus has launched an all new training aircraft, the TRAC10 and Dynon has announced an IFR GPS to go with its HDX screen. Plus, your weekly SkyDemon tip - weather from Dr Si...

It ain’t half hot, Mum! With weather like this week’s, what we need is a nice, simple aircraft for a cool bimble in the evening air. The team chose three aircraft that are perfect for an enjoyable, stress-free flight but the kicker is: they have to be on sale now, either from the classified ads or from a broker or dealer! Do you agree with their choices? What would you choose? PLUS In the news Fol...

“Why do people get all misty-eyed about an old oily piston single with only two seats?” But this isn’t any old piston single, this is the de Havilland Chipmunk! Yes, on this week’s show we talk to Ben Griffiths, journalist, pilot and author of a book celebrating 80 years since the Chippie’s first flight. All sorts of fascinating facts and awesome stories are revealed… the Chipmunk Cold War Spy Pla...

We call it YADS (Yet Another Drone Story), but last week the CAA launched YAC (Yet Another Consultation), publishing three hefty documents capable of curing insomnia even after five double espressos. Despite the eye-wateringly dull and confusing content they offer a fascinating glimpse into how the regulator sees the future of UK Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone ops. We took one for the team and...

Few of us can afford a genuine warbird but there’s a world of replica aircraft out there, many built from kits, some from plans and others – the really dedicated – from studying museum pieces and or photos. Some are full-scale, others scaled down. Many use modern components such as engines although a few hardy, brave souls with deeper pockets go for the real thing.  We picked three replicas availa...

For some, including Ian, it’s a bucket list item. For others, ferry pilots, it’s a job. Whatever, it’s not a flight to be taken lightly because of weather, distance, weather, over water, weather, over ice, weather, fuel availability, weather… and did we mention, weather? We examine the difficulties and how they can be tackled or at least minimised. What aircraft to choose? Potential mods. Intellig...

So what’s a warbird? Any aircraft with a military purpose at some point in its life, is what we’ve gone for. But not the £MultiMillion exotica like Spitfires and Hurricanes, but something an ordinary pilot could own outright or have a share.  So what have we chosen? Ian has plumped for the Chipmunk, of course, because the subject is inspired by this week’s International Gathering of Chipminks at H...

The world’s greatest ever movie, Top Gun, was first shown in May 1986 so it’s now 40 years old and still as appealing as ever! We celebrate the date with our favourite scenes and lines, plus reveal some of the back stories which are just as bad-ass.  In The News Doncaster Sheffield Airport inches closer to re-opening 4Air’s electric aircraft gift to Aerobility Royal Aero Club annual awards Popham’...

“To make a small fortune in aviation, start with a large one!” It’s as hard as ever to stay in business in General Aviation (GA) with manufacturers struggling to make money or even break even. We take a look back at three of the big name brands that have faced tough times, run through some of the many casualties - and end with a couple of surprises. In the News: Popham Microlight Trade Fair was a...

Ahead of the Popham Microlight Trade Fair we take a look at the UK’s booming 600kg Light Sport Microlight category: what aircraft are approved, what’s on the way and our Top 5. In the News: AERO 2026 was a huge success: Ed has the numbers What’s new in radio chat: CAA updates CAP 413, the R/T manual Blackbushe flight school aiming for record airfield landings Popham Microlight Trade Faire this wee...

This week's show comes to you live - the team will be bringing you all of the hot news from AERO 2026!

Yes, the FLYER team is off to Europe’s top General Aviation show staged at Friedrichshafen Messe which just happened to be adjacent to the local airport, on the shore of Lake Bodensee in southern Germany. Aircraft, avionics, engines, propellers and a zillion accessory and service providers from all over the world descend on what is a stunning location. This week on The FLYER Show we preview the sh...

NASA has created many experimental aircraft over the years and operated many others. In the week Artemis II flew to the Moon and around it for the first time in 53 years, we pick our favourites… and it’s an eclectic mix, we admit. Especially since one of us (DAVE!) mis-understood the brief. No matter, watch, listen and let us know your thoughts! PLUS In the News Great Britain’s Vertical Aerospace...

£10k? £15k? £20k? We run through some of the figures, some of the options and remember our first solo flights - which vary from a flex-wing microlight to a glider to a Piper Cub! Plus, in the News: Sonex Aircraft closes Avid founder and designer, Dean Wildon, RIP Microlight Awards + video chat with Owain Johns, CEO of the BMAA The Reno, sorry Roswell Air Races are back and this time all the really...

Oil prices are rising quickly and the £3 litre of 100LL avgas is a definite possibility. In some parts of Europe, it’s already close. We take a look at current UK, Europe and USA prices, talk to the suppliers for their view and ask where’s it going? Plus, in this week’s News Swift Fuels 100R unleaded avgas is approved for hundreds more aircraft We look back at the life of Mike Melvill, kitplane bu...

The sale of the busiest General Aviation airport in the UK to Horizon Aero Group has collapsed. What do the two local councils which own the airport do now? We visit the airport - still functioning and busy - and look at what it could be. In this week’s news: Sale of Gloucestershire Airport collapses Consultation over the airspace above Manston Airport in Kent when it reopens Update on the new MD...

What flying competitions can you take part in as a General Aviation pilot? There’s a surprising number of events and a wide range of sports, from air racing to short take-off and landing (STOL) competitions. For the tourers, there’s the Pooleys Dawn to Dusk Challenge, navigation exercises or precision/rally flying. The SkyDemon tip is about integrated AIPs and airfield guides. In the news we discu...

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has sent the strongest signal yet that ADS-B electronic conspicuity will become mandatory for most aircraft operating in UK lower airspace. Why? How? When? We don’t know all the answers yet but here’s what we do know. Plus, in the News: 90th anniversary of the Spitfire’s first flight - and news of a very special Spitfire event at Shuttleworth Italian manufactu...

Which is the best app for finding information about that airfield you’re thinking of flying to? In the news: What’s happening at Andrewsfield? What’s K59? Tecnam revamps fleet to fit new US sport pilot rules General Aviation did well in 2025 but which aircraft were the big winners? FLYER Club News Latest webinar on better radio use is live, plus four new free landing fees for March In What Caught...

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 st...

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 Friedri...

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 helicopter...

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 disso...

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...