I guess you could say I'm a reasonably experienced flyer these days, but I'm not a commercial pilot. I just fly for fun.

My plan was to fly around the world in a very light aircraft (classed in the UK as a Microlight) in order to raise money for my chosen Cancer charity.

I set off in May 2016 (without knowing if the Japanese would let me through) and unfortunately only got as far as the Middle East. Temperatures in excess of 40c (occasionally higher inside the aircraft) caused a few problems and the final straw (after the propeller stopped spinning in flight, but before the urine infection, and the disorientating dehydration) was ongoing worries about the aircraft battery dying which would have led to the flight instruments & navigation kit going bye byes.

There were more airborne anxieties revolving around Vapour lock, the Fuel Pump failing, and something called "Pre-ignition", which cracks open the engine. None of these are ideal when you're above a desert (or possibly dessert). 

To complicate matters the region was experiencing a mini heatwave (not to mention it's nearly a war zone) and my next stop was India where folk were dying in temperatures beyond 50c. So, discretion being the better part of valour, I turned around and flew home.

In general, I’ve flown into two-thirds of the UK's airfields, travelled the world, and maybe I was getting bored. So the thought came to me to try to do something a little more altruistic with my time, hence Charity Flights came to mind.

The Civil Aviation Authority's "Charity Flying Rules" say that I have to pay all the flying costs (fuel, landing fees, maintenance costs, insurance, hangarage, Permit inspections & general paperwork). I can not take cash, or payments in kind, from anyone. All donations need to go through this site. 

Your flight will be completely at my expense. Hopefully after we've flown, you'll then donate any sum you feel comfortable with to this Cancer Charity.

So, what do I get from this ? An excuse to go flying. You get a different perspective on the world. And the charity receives your donation. Win, win, win.

Please text me on 07746 184198 if you want to fly or generally chat about making a donation.

Cheers

Jon Hilton, Director, Legal Brokers Ltd, NationalSolicitors.com 

Flying stuff.

I started flying at the age of 22 and got a US Pilots licence in Missouri. I was offered a job as a trainee Crop Spraying pilot (c/w Green Card) but, having seen two aircraft that had bounced off telegraph poles, I binned the idea and returned to the UK. 

By the age of 31 I'd saved enough money to do a US Commercial course (so I could fly in Africa) and headed to Florida to get the qualifications. During that time I flew a Cessna through the Bermuda Triangle and onto the Bahamas (as part of the commercial cross country navigation exercise). I landed a couple of times at Orlando International (man or woman, that experience will put hairs on your chest) and was cleared to fly along the runway at Cape Canaveral (where the Space Shuttle used to land). It was past midnight, pitch black, and hugely, majorly, exciting.

Unfortunately, a lady got in the way, as they do, and I ended up swapping my licences around so I could come home and carry on my flight training in the UK (I was love sick, I guess). I picked up a UK Night rating, IMC rat