This article provides a list of the top aero clubs in the area and what you can look forward to for entertainment in the county.
Are you looking for a quick weekend getaway to fly to in your own aircraft that won’t have you compiling all of your documentation for a licence upgrade? You are in luck since the United Kingdom has much more to offer than meets the eye.
The country is home to some gorgeous counties and stunning cities that you can fly to for the weekend, or even for a day if you plan well! Devon, which is a treasure trove for the lovers of the great outdoors, is definitely one such county!
For private pilots with local licences such as the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) or the basic, yet-to-be-upgraded Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Brexit came with a host of disappointments. Pilots holding UK-specific licences can no longer fly to areas outside of the borders of the country. Europe is no longer as easy to travel to as it once was before the split, which is why you may feel like your options for a holiday seem far too limited.
However, the UK is filled with wonder and beauty if one knows where to look! Devon is home to some lush natural scenery as well as opportunities for hiking and hunting dinosaur fossils. A private pilot can easily fly to the county without having to worry too much about licence upgrades and other customs requirements.
Easily accessible from the airfield in Sherburn Aero Club, there are many flying clubs in Devon as well that you can fly to. This article provides a list of the top aero clubs in the area and what you can look forward to for entertainment in the county.
There will seldom be a dull moment in this often-overlooked holiday destination!
WHY SHOULD YOU VISIT DEVON?
If you are unsure of what kind of experience you are looking for on your next holiday, you may want to consider a trip to Devon thanks to its diverse offerings! The county is an absolute must-visit for nature lovers, as well as those who foster a love of heritage and history.
Devon is deemed diverse for a good reason. Each corner of the county has something unique to offer to all those who visit this wonderful region in England. The South of the county is home to waterside towns and resorts, perfect for those who wish to relax by the English Riviera.
The area also has on offer cliffs riddled with dinosaur fossils for a true prehistoric throwback! In the North of Devon is the seaside for when you are craving some sun and sand, as well as a hefty dose of rocky headlands.
For those who wish to indulge their inner fantasy lover, the inland offers lush forests that bring to mind legends of yore and mythical beasts!
EAGLESCOTT AIRFIELD
The Amateur Sports Club located in the Eaglescott Airfield is the perfect place for private pilots to fly to. The airfield is equipped to cater to both visiting pilots as well as the general public.
Established in 1983, the club welcomes visiting aircraft on Saturdays and Sundays, making it the ideal place to land when you are hoping to make a short weekend trip to Devon. For members, there is a flight training facility that helps aspiring pilots train towards the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) as well as the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL).
For those interested in microlights, the club also offers flight experiences and training on the aircraft, which is part of the club’s fleet.
DEVON AND SOMERSET GLIDING CLUB
The Devon and Somerset Gliding Club caters mainly to pilots who are interested in gliding and has been providing services for the past 60 years. The club offers a training facility to budding pilots who are new to the world of gliding, allowing them to build their skills and apply for a pilot licence.
For those who are interested in gliding but are unsure whether it is right for them, the club also offers trail flights for the uninitiated, so that they can experience gliding before committing to training. For younger aviation enthusiasts, mainly those falling within the preteen and early teen age bracket, the club provides junior gliding to foster a love of gliding in youngsters and encourage more of them to take up the unique and thrilling sport.
WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER JOINING A FLYING CLUB?
There are so many great features of a flying club membership that makes it beneficial for a pilot. Those pilots who have a passion for flying but do not have access to an aircraft can easily use the club’s aeroplanes which are a part of its fleet.
Private ownership of aeroplanes is expensive and comes with the added cost of maintenance. Members of a flying club can easily rent out an aircraft from the club’s fleet on an hourly basis. The fact that most flying clubs are member-owned means that the money you give to the club in form of membership fees is often used for the benefit of the patrons of the club only.
The money is used for the maintenance of aircraft, as well as upkeep of the airfield and the social area in the clubs. The club also provides a marketplace where members can buy and sell aircraft. These are verified aeroplanes, so those interested in buying aeroplanes do not have to worry about buying faulty aircraft.
Apart from this, flying clubs also provide members with a great opportunity for pilots to socialise with other like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about aviation. Members of a club include pilots from a variety of age groups, backgrounds, and experience levels. This leads to a sharing of knowledge and experience that pilots would not otherwise have access to.
WHAT LICENCE WILL YOU NEED TO FLY TO DEVON?
If you are interested in flying to Devon, you can rest assured that the licence requirements aren’t too stringent. The United Kingdom’s recent exit from the European Union has led to a widespread sense of uncertainty among pilots about which licences are right for which type of flight.
Following Brexit, the national licences, such as the standard Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL), issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom, are no longer valid for flying outside of the UK into EU territory.
This is because the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) no longer falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). However, since the county of Devon is within UK borders, flying to the region in your aeroplane as a UK national should not be a problem.
The licence of choice for most private pilots is the Private Pilot Licence (PPL), due mainly to the fact that it is versatile and rather easy to upgrade in case the pilot is interested in international travel. Apart from the PPL, the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) is also a popular choice for hobbyists interested in flying smaller aircraft.
THINGS TO DO IN DEVON
Hiker’s paradise
There is so much to do in Devon, with a visit to the Dartmoor National Park being one of the top contenders! The park is a staple for visitors to the area and is perfect for nature lovers. The park offers some rather dramatic natural scenery, which includes forests, wetlands, rivers and moors.
There are many hiking trails within the park, allowing visitors to admire the scenery and the stunning natural beauty of the area while travelling on foot. You definitely will not want to skip this! The park is bound to give you the much-needed reset after a long week of work.
Admire stunning medieval castles
Devon doesn’t just have gorgeous natural scenery, it is also home to some stunning medieval castles that are sure to make any history buff, architecture enthusiast, or fantasy lover jump with joy! Castles aren’t the only things on the list, the cathedral in Exter is around 1000 years old and still as beautiful as ever. These historic buildings have many guided tours on offer, or you can go rogue and explore on your own!
Coastal beauty in South Devon
There’s a little bit of everything in Devon! Next on the list is the county’s seaside towns, surrounded by sea caves and cliffs that make for some stunning scenery, both when viewed on foot as well as when you fly over the area!
The coastal area is also great for kayaking, with many visitors and locals taking to the sea with their boats. If you are new to kayaking or have never tried it out before, you don’t have to miss out on the fun. There are many kayaking courses available that are bound to give you the confidence you need to head out to sea. There are also opportunities to kayak your way to remote beaches where you can build a fire and camp under the stars!
Great location for wildlife spotting
If you love animals, you will love Devon! There are a host of unique animals populating North Devon, in the area known as Lundy Island, that makes for some fun wildlife spotting. Among the inhabitants of the island are the adorable little puffin, wild goats, sika deer and the adorable pygmy shrew!
Hunt for dinosaur bones
Transport yourself to prehistoric times 95 miles from Devon in the region known as Jurassic Coast, which is littered with dinosaur fossils that you can hunt for yourself! The area is a world heritage site and makes for a wonderful day trip.
It is perfect for history lovers, archaeologists, students, children, as well as anyone interested in exploring a little piece of the past. The fossils are embedded in the cliffs, which have formed over a span of 185 million years.
However, keep in mind that visitors are only allowed to hunt for loose fossils and are not allowed to excavate within the cliff formations in order to avoid damage to the area.
Scenic train rides
Love a good old-fashioned steam train ride? Then the Dartmouth Steam Railway is perfect for you! The train goes along about seven miles of Devon’s south coast and is one of the most beautiful and exhilarating experiences in the county, and, in fact, in the United Kingdom.
You can admire the natural scenery and spot some interesting wildlife while you’re at it, which includes kingfishers, dolphins, herons, seals, pheasants, and egrets!
GETTING TO DEVON FROM SHERBURN AERO CLUB
The average time for a direct flight between Leeds, where Sherburn Aero Club is located, to Exeter in the county of Devon is one hour and 15 minutes. However, it is important for the pilot to keep in mind that the flight can take longer or a shorter period of time depending on a host of factors.
One of the most important factors when it comes to an aircraft’s speed is the wind direction. If the wind is blowing in the aeroplane’s opposite direction, then this will create resistance and cause the aeroplane to slow down slightly.
Similarly, if the wind is blowing in the same direction, the aircraft gets an extra push and flies relatively faster. Another reason for differences in flight time is the experience of the pilot. A beginner will proceed with more caution and will take time to familiarise themselves with the route they are taking, while a more experienced pilot may find things much easier and hence fly at a greater speed.
Also, the type of aircraft you are flying will play a key role in determining flight time. A smaller single-engine aircraft is slower than a multi-engine aeroplane, which flies faster due to the added power. When flying from Sherburn to Devon, there are some documents that you should definitely have on you. The most important of these is your pilot licence. Secondly, you should be carrying your aircraft’s certificate of airworthiness as well as your pilot log book.
Even though this is a relatively short flight, it is a good practice to have a survival kit on hand, complete with excess food, water, tent equipment, as well as first aid in case of accidents or illness.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB?
Sherburn Aero Club opened its doors in 1964 and went on to become one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
The flying club opened a flight training school in the 1970s which was followed by several major investments including a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse.
Being both a flying club and a flight training school, we are well-positioned to cater to our members and their friends and families, before, during, and after they become qualified pilots.
We aim to give all of our members a fun social environment whilst providing the opportunity to continue to build on their experience and expand their horizons. Whether you are taking to the skies for an experience flight or starting your flying career, Sherburn has it all to offer.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licenses, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
Call us on 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information about flying to Devon and airfields in the area.
Photo by Rory Collins on Unsplash
