My First Solo
Rob Hughes
Every time he lands, Rob Hughes still gets a sense of achievement and relief. Interview by Yayeri van Baarsen
Solo stats After being Chairman for seven years, Rob Hughes has now been appointed as the new CEO of the British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA). When: 28 March 2001 Where: Shobdon Airfield Aircraft: Thruster T600N microlight Hours at solo: Approx. 19 Hours now: Approx. 400
How did you get into aviation? In 1995, as an adrenaline junkie, I went skydiving in Florida (USA). After breaking my ankle on my 31st landing, I ended up talking to the pilots and realised they had way more fun. That’s what started the dream. Six years later, my cousin John took me up in a flexwing microlight. About 20 minutes into the flight, he said: ‘I think you knocked the throttle with your knee’. Turns out there was water in the fuel, so we had to land in a field. I thought, ‘If this is the worst that can happen, sign me up…’, which I did, immediately after returning to the airfield. How did your flight training go? I enjoyed the whole experience of learning to fly, from the moment I reached the aircraft to the minute I drove home. At first it was overwhelming, flying this tiny 190kg microlight, but I soon got used to it. Although I felt flying came naturally, my instructor disagreed. He was a bit controlling, which made me nervous, so I switched and finished my training in Antequera (Spain) where I was the only person on the entire airfield. My new instructor, Graham Slater, was great. He corrected my mistakes without constantly interrupting me. After the first flight, he asked, “Why haven’t you already passed your test?”
How did your first microlight solo compare to your first GA aircraft solo? I wasn’t expecting my microlight solo, which happened on a beautiful evening. I said to myself, ‘If this goes wrong, you only have yourself to blame’ and did two circuits – all went well. After landing, I still couldn’t believe it. It was the most amazing day of my entire flying career. I recently chose to add the NPPL SSEA rating, as it’s one way to fly 600kg microlights. My first PA-28 solo was expected. It happened in September at Gloucestershire Airport, with business jets, helicopters, and a really busy ATC. I only had one hour and 45 minutes in the aeroplane and it still felt new to me. Flying a fixed-wing aircraft is all about speed and attitude – in a microlight, I’d come into land at 50mph, in the PA-28, at 65kt. Soloing it gave me the same sense of achievement and relief. I remember thinking, ‘I successfully got this aeroplane on the ground!’. To be honest, I still feel like that after every landing... How do you see the future of microlighting evolving? It’s a really exciting time now. I’m keen to expand at both ends. From the very lightweight and minimal aircraft in the sub-70kg category, which can be a step
“In the air you can get away from everything else because you concentrate solely on flying” 36 | FLYER | January 2022
into microlighting, all the way up to the very sophisticated two-seaters. We’re becoming a wider family and as CEO it’s my job to ensure these distinct categories all feel part of the BMAA. If you want to fly, microlighting has something to offer, whatever your budget or experience. With the new 600kg limit, there might be pilots who now fly PA-28s or Cessna 150s, both more expensive and less environmentally friendly aircraft, and may instead choose to fly a microlight in the future. In the past, microlights have been seen as somewhat inferior, but nowadays that’s certainly not the case anymore. What aircraft would you have in your fantasy hangar? The Silence Twister, a single-seater which looks a bit like a small Spitfire. I’ve longed for one for a very long time. It’s only 330kg, so it could now be approved as a microlight. I’d also like something faster and fully aerobatic, like an MX2 – I was lucky enough to be taken up in one by Nigel Lamb, which was incredible. Plus, of course, a Spitfire. Because of the whole vintage experience of noise, history, and romance, and because my uncle flew them in the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flights. What do you love about flying most? The physical sensation, combined with the travelling and the social side. Put all three together and I’m a very happy man. I feel so privileged to fly. For me, it’s a release. In the air you can get away from everything else because you have to concentrate solely on flying.
