Welcome to FLY-UK

The Round Britain Microlight Adventure

Building on the success of previous years' events, the aim of Fly-UK 2010 is...

"To fly by day and socialise by night".

In 2004 we had 16 aircraft (including one gyro),
in 2005 about 30 joined our band,
in 2006 there were 50
in 2007 there were 40
in 2008 we saw 30
and in 2009, 46 (including another gyro)

The 2009 event started with dubious weather throughout the UK. We were almost stranded at Fishburn but just managed to sneak out under the clouds to spend an evening at the fly-in at Strathaven . A good day of flying and we were at Culbokie on the Black Isle for their airfield open day and the Sunday night, but poor weather prevented most of us from reaching John O'Groats. The rescue of a damaged aircraft from the beach of Sandwood Bay in Wester Ross (reported elsewhere) gave us an adventure on the Monday - then we headed south for Wales, Land's End, the south coast and for those that weren't caught by the weather, the destination airfield in the heart of the fens.

We all had a great week of flying and the finally destination at Sutton Meadows was topped by a grand barbecue and an evening's entertainment. The Sunday saw us watching a round of the Nationals before heading for home. There was varied weather during the week with some challenging times with low clouds and strong winds in between the sunny days.

The Fly-UK team supports the less experienced pilots and ensures that everyone has an enjoyable time and one to remember.


So just how tough is it then?

Here's what Sandra has to say about it

"Another brilliant Fly UK.

A lot of people we spoke to prior to departing, particularly some of our local club members, were under the impression that Fly UK is only for the gung-ho hard nuts. The truth couldn't be further from this!

Fly UK is as soft, or as gung ho as you want it to be. Despite the fact that Tom puts a huge amount of effort into organising the route and the pilots in advance (for which we are eternally grateful, thanks Tom), weather and other factors always see pilots scattered all over the place. That's part of the fun of it though. We naturally migrate into groups of like minded (and similar speed) groups, and we look after each other when the inevitable niggles happen.

Don't think this is limited to just aircraft and flying either. The biggest mess several of us got into this year was getting lost in the sunken lanes walking back from the pub in deepest Cornwall - not because we were sloshed, we just hadn't paid enough attention on the way there. Thank goodness we still had phone reception!

It's also a tour that you can dip in and out of quite easily if you can't make, or don't fancy the whole week. Also, if you're not going with anyone you know particularly well, it only seems to take a matter of minutes for everyone to start jabbering away together, and before you know it, you're swapping stories and have great friendships established. Despite the fact that we get scattered around the country, there are still several nights where loads of us end up at the same airfield, and Tom's mission 'to fly by day and socialise by night' really comes into its own.

If you can't get your mind around a huge trip around the UK, just think of it as two or three navs a day - sling them together for a few days and you've got yourself a bit of a tour. If you want to go all out and 'capture' as many airfields as you can, that's fine. Equally, if you get to a beautiful place that you've never been to before, stop for a day and enjoy it.

Fly UK can be all things to all people, and that's the fantastic thing about it for me. We ended up flying to Spamfield with three generations of one family in our group (couldn't quite fit them into one trike though!).

We're all supposed to be flying for fun, and Fly UK is one of the best ways I know of doing this. It's not so good being back to work today though!

Sandra
Pilot on Fly-UK 2004/5/6/7/8/9

  So, why not join us this year?

        We are starting in the 'Midlands' as usual;

              Heading for Land's End;

                    Through Wales and on to John O'Groats;

                          Back through the Western Isles;

                                And down the east coast;

                                       Finishing with an evening of entertainment at Sutton Meadows.


  Don't miss this rally around Britain...   A real challenge for the less competitive pilot!

"I recommend the trip to all pilots, who should move heaven and earth to be there!" - Jeff ( 2005 & 2006)