It’s probably one of the most beautiful and exciting things that anyone can do. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of lining up on the runway, advancing the throttle, and lifting off into the sky. Every single takeoff still feels exhilarating — that unique mix of freedom, focus, and pure joy as the ground falls…

I started learning to fly in January 2010. Back then, I was a complete beginner with zero hours in my logbook and a head full of dreams. Training took place under the old NPPL (National Private Pilot’s Licence) scheme in the UK. It was a fantastic, hands-on experience that taught me the fundamentals of flying…

The time it takes to go from zero hours to flying passengers on an airliner depends on whether you choose the integrated or modular training route. Modular Route (Most Common for Self-Funded Pilots) This is the path I took. You train at your own pace through a Flight Training Organisation (FTO), paying as you go…

The cost of learning to fly depends entirely on what type of pilot you want to become a Private Pilot for personal flying, a Commercial Pilot for paid work, or a fully qualified Airline Pilot. Costs have risen in recent years due to higher fuel prices, instructor rates, aircraft maintenance, and regulatory requirements, so the…

As of April 2026, I had logged over 540 total flying hours and more than 500 landings. Of those, over 400 hours were flown in the Diamond DA40 G-ZANY, the aircraft you see most often on The Flying VLOG. These hours represent the journey from my early student days to confident IFR airways flying across…

In addition to the SEP (Single Engine Piston) Land rating that was issued with my PPL, I also hold a Night Rating and a full Instrument Rating (IR). The Instrument Rating has been one of the most challenging and rewarding achievements in my flying journey. It opened the door to safe, professional-style flying in the…

After many years of dreaming about flying in the clouds and many months of intense hard work during the Coronavirus pandemic, I finally became a fully qualified Instrument Rated Pilot on 21st July 2021. That day marked a major turning point in my flying journey. It was the moment I could legally fly in real…

I currently fly a non-equity Diamond Star DA40 D – G-ZANY, based at Stapleford Aerodrome in Essex, UK. G-ZANY has been my faithful flying companion for many years and features heavily in The Flying VLOG. This modern glass-cockpit Diamond DA40 is an absolute joy to fly, efficient, responsive, and perfectly suited for both local training…

The Instrument Rating training (fully described here) does not fully prepare you for outside the training regime; it merely scratches the surface of what is practically possible with the rating. The course is designed largely structurally – it’s baked into how the training system is designed. The training is deliberately structured and procedural, designed to…

I currently use an iPad Pro 2021 (11-inch model) as my primary device in the cockpit. Loaded with SkyDemon and Golze, it serves as my main electronic flight bag (EFB) for IFR flight planning, en-route navigation, charts, and real-time weather updates. The large, bright screen makes it easy to read even in bright sunlight, and…