What's going on with Ryanair?

[TimberWolf]

You get more freedom if you are IFR rated. Sadly, mine expired a few years ago, but will not take too long to get back.

There's nothing more spiritual than busting through the clag during sunset.

VFR provides a great degree of freedom, allowing pilots to go where they want, when they want, and allows them a much wider latitude in determining how they get there.[5] Pilots are not required to file a flight plan, do not have to communicate with ATC (unless flying in certain types of "busier" airspace), and are not limited to following predefined published routes or flight procedures.

Sounds like a contractor of the skies.

[Pity the fool]

I hate the ryanair website. Why do i have to accept their terms and conditions when I just want to see flight prices? Don't have to do this with any other airline. Also, the Captcha security check does my head in. They certainly are not as cheap as they used to be. I'm far more impressed with Easyjet. A little bit more expensive, but at least you don't have to sit in a flourescent cabin where they try to sell you scratchcards and electronic cigarettes for 4 hours, even if its a 6am flight. Going a flight with Ryanair is like some kind of brainwashing exercise.

I did like the idea of making us stand on the flights though so that they could cram more folk on. Thats very inovative.

[hyperD]

Sounds like a contractor of the skies.

Yeah, most of my flying has been under VFR, as it's purely recreational. Flying in Oz (Western Australia) was purely VFR because the WX was great and the views were outstanding.

However, in the UK when the WX changed to blow VFR minima, it was nice to have the option to switch to IFR and continue flying, rather than diverting to the nearest airport. Although it's a slightly different mindset, as you are "slaved" to ATC directions until you are able to drop the service.

IFR for me was an additional safety layer rather than a definitive way of flying, unlike the necessities of commercial. On the occasion when I did file a flight plan for IFR or a channel crossing, it felt very much like flying a flight sim: not much to see outside, lots of T scans and head in cockpit, but nonetheless a great feeling of satisfaction.

[minestrone]

For the last 2 years or so I've been able to nip down to Ibiza for less than £50 return, but now the price is more in the £150 range. You also have to type in tricky captcha to see the prices and book, almost as if they don't want you. And taking a hold bag would add another £50, plus £12 booking fees, so add another monster £62 to any initially advertised price. Cheap ticket or tulip service is fine by me, but tulip service and expensive ticket trickery and awkwardness doesn't make economic sense.

I'm going Easyjet.

I think the budgets are getting mighty pissed with skyscanner and the like scraping their sites.

[TimberWolf]

I think the budgets are getting mighty pissed with skyscanner and the like scraping their sites.

Easyjet still allows cheaper flights to be found, but Ryanair has gone the other way. Even with Ryanair one just has to invest 30 minutes or so to trawl through several months or weeks of prices, renetering captachas every half dozen screens. Maybe some people can't be arsed with the hassle, but at the same time it must be alienating the bargain hunters. Doesn't he want people taking the cheap seats, which used to be the majority of them. I don't know what he's up to, but then again I couldn't figure out how he got me to Ibiza every year for £32 return

Skyscanner is pretty inaccurate now for Ryanair flight prices.

[Cliphead]

Well, once I get check flighted on this:



I can get you to Ibeza in 3 1/2 hours for about £1,000. And that includes the pleasure of my company to boot!

Mind you, it'll be touch and go on getting there with extended fuel tanks. But hey, that's half the fun!

Bring your swimwear, just in case.

That's a nice machine. I'm not multi rated so no chance of stick time on that baby.

[hyperD]

That's a nice machine. I'm not multi rated so no chance of stick time on that baby.

Indeed sir, indeed. DA-42 FTW.

But herein lies the problem, once you've had some twin, you can never go back, much to my dwindling bank balance...

I had the honour and pleasure of speaking to one of the chaps at Diamond during the Farnborough trade show (non public). The MD got my number and is going to ring me to let me know where they have sold the aircraft for training.

I sat in the a/c last week - pure glass cockpit, autopilot, FADEC,... wonderful.

Looks great too and flies up to 200 mph.

[Cliphead]

Indeed sir, indeed. DA-42 FTW.

But herein lies the problem, once you've had some twin, you can never go back, much to my dwindling bank balance...

I had the honour and pleasure of speaking to one of the chaps at Diamond during the Farnborough trade show (non public). The MD got my number and is going to ring me to let me know where they have sold the aircraft for training.

I sat in the a/c last week - pure glass cockpit, autopilot, FADEC,... wonderful.

Looks great too and flies up to 200 mph.

I'm having a over that one. Microlights for me these days cos of my eye problem but that will end soon too, the flying not the eye problem.

Still, got some types in my log that most pilots would give their eye teeth to fly including some vintage military aircraft, think 50's and 60's jets.

You gotta post some pics when you get your hands on that.

[hyperD]

I'm having a over that one. Microlights for me these days cos of my eye problem but that will end soon too, the flying not the eye problem.

Still, got some types in my log that most pilots would give their eye teeth to fly including some vintage military aircraft, think 50's and 60's jets.

You gotta post some pics when you get your hands on that.

LOL!

Hope you get over your eye probs - you know and I know that flying is better than ladies and gentlemen!

re: jets are you talking Jet Provost? Would love to fly a jet after seeing the displays over Farn the last week!

Once I get trained on one, will promise you Clippy to post a few pics. It'll beat the Seneca any day!

If I can get the format right, will PM you some Seminole twin vids I did in Oz.

[Cliphead]

LOL!

Hope you get over your eye probs - you know and I know that flying is better than ladies and gentlemen!

re: jets are you talking Jet Provost? Would love to fly a jet after seeing the displays over Farn the last week!

Once I get trained on one, will promise you Clippy to post a few pics. It'll beat the Seneca any day!

If I can get the format right, will PM you some Seminole twin vids I did in Oz.

Jets:

F4 Phantom
Hunter
Jaguar T2
Canberra
Vulcan
Buccaneer (backseat, no dual control)

Some older types;

DH Dove
DH Devon
Vickers Varsity
HS748

And taxied a DC3 but didn't get stick time. Never did get to fly a JP.

Please PM me the vids.

PS Spent a few years at Farn in the good old days hence some of the types.

EDIT: flying is better than anything.