Are you in the British Military? if so there was a great flying club at RAF Akrotiri (where I learned to fly back in ’95).
There was also some GA activity at Larnaca airport. I don’t think Paphos airport had much (when I was there).

I guess I should have asked which part of the Islan you are visiting (North or South) ?

Dean,
Sounds like you did a great job! I live over in the States now and hold an FAA license which includes the night rating (as standard). Flying at night is one of my favourite times to fly (you can see city and town lights for many miles around on a clear night), and generally the air is smoother. I do like to have a PAPI, VASI or ILS available for landing though as it is easier to miss judge your approach angle at night.

Happy Birthday! 🙂

I think a memorial at Duxford would be very fitting. I am supprised that “Duxford” would not want to support the idea. After all, without the people that fly the aircraft, Duxford would not enjoy it’s present reputation as the heart of European historical aviation.

Sorry for jumping down your throat Stormbird, it’s just a touchy (and painful) subject for me.

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The cheapest solution is a ‘twisty sick’ which will give you smooth control of all the major control surfaces (ailerons, elevator and rudder). Most sticks come with a basic throttle control too. You can pick up a decent twisty stick at a very reasonable price these days.

I used a Microsoft Force Feedback stick for a long time (recently upgraded to a full CH Flight Sim Yoke and CH Rudder pedals).

Yes, I heard about that. In any case, I think it is fair to say that the kill was a team effort and they were very lucky that the North Korean pilots were poorly trained.

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In a straight guns fight the jet would win every time. There would be no “Turn Fight” because the highly trained jet pilot would not allow him/herself to get into that situation. Now, if you strapped a couple of sidewinders (or maybe stingers) under the wings of the Spitfire then the fight would become very interesting.

You can simulate the gunfight scenario to some extent using an online sim (like my favourite “Warbirds”). Try flying an A6M2 Zero against an Me262 or even the F86 Sabre. The jet pilot will always be able to dictate how the fight is played out. I have occasionally shot down players flying the 262 while flying the A6M2 or other prop fighters, but only because of bad mistakes made by the other guy or catching the jet taking off or landing. A well flown jet is impossible to beat (particularly if the jet pilot is patient and does not get frustrated easily). That is just in a game played by gamers, not professional combat pilots (although a supprising number of pilots play Warbirds and other online combat sims).