Navigating LONDON’S BUSY Airspace in this ROCKET!

I fly solo through the busiest and most complex airspace in England, from North London to the South Coast in a Cirrus SR22T. Watch the flight, hear Air Traffic Control radio calls, see how I execute this flight from London's Elstree Airport to Shoreham (East Brighton Airport) on the South Coast whilst avoiding Heathrow, Gatwick, and other London Airports.
I asked AI to write a paragraph about this video, this is what it said: Flying the sleek and sophisticated Cirrus SR22 amidst the bustling airspace of London is an exhilarating experience that captures the hearts of aviation enthusiasts and flying aficionados alike. As the iconic cityscape unfolds below, pilots navigate the intricate web of air traffic control, weaving through the busy corridors while maintaining a sharp eye on landmarks like the majestic London Eye and the historic Tower Bridge. The cutting-edge avionics of the Cirrus SR22 come to the fore, effortlessly blending with London's modern air traffic management system, ensuring precision and safety in this dynamic urban skydance. The adrenaline rush intensifies when soaring over iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and the Gherkin, all while adhering to strict airspace regulations. London's airspace, a unique blend of history and modernity, beckons aviators seeking a challenging and unforgettable flight adventure with the Cirrus SR22.
If you want to fly in the UK/Europe, or have any aviation questions about aircraft hire or scenic flights, talk to my friend Philippe: www.echelonair...
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VERY IMPORTANT: I am a private pilot and am NOT qualified to give flying instruction. This video, like all videos on this channel, has been significantly edited from the original source footage and is provided for entertainment purposes only. Many radio calls and procedures have been omitted. If you have any questions about anything you see or hear, please speak to a Certified Flying Instructor first.

[@VL3861]

love listening to ATC in other countries, learn so much about what they do differently, great video stef!

[@StefanDrury]

Interesting to hear the subtle differences and similar hey? Thanks for watching.

[@afirgaming]

So do I, this aint another country displayed in this video sadly

[@SenZubEanS]

Love that giddy little kid grin after you get the traffic service confirmed.

[@logicreversed18t]

Considering you're production levels, and the fact you almost always have a story to tell, lesson to explain, or wisdom to share, it shocks me how underrated this channel is. I'm not even a pilot, or really an aspiring pilot anymore, but you produce such solid content, I'll always watch. And after watching your around the world announcement, I realized I've been a subscriber for years. Time flies, man - even if I don't.

[@StefanDrury]

Thank you for this comment, that's a very kind thing to take the time to say to someone. I'm grateful to have you here in the community, and knowing that that stories I make here on KZbin are still being enjoyed is so motivating for me to keep improving and make more entertaining stories for you. So thanks again, that's a great comment to read at the start of the week.

[@logicreversed18t]

@@StefanDrury You're very welcome. As a below average writer (as evidenced by using "you're" in my original comment - it hurts my soul so bad), I understand how much of ourselves we put on display to the world when we endeavor to create. It ain't easy, my friend. Some years ago I made a comment we should go for a run together. I'm just gonna' keep mentioning it every now and then!

[@davevanbeers6944]

Thanks Stef! I really like these videos where you fly outside of Australia. I hope to see you flying abroad more, to prep for your around the world trip in a few years. 😊

[@StefanDrury]

Thanks Dave, this is the first of a few flying outside of Aus, more to come!

[@AirlinersLive]

Fantastic video well done! Great to hear the atc and how to navigate London

[@amcconnell6730]

I was an Ansett pilot, but ended up flying out of Luton for the last 20 years as an airbus captain. Having said that - I would be too afraid to do this flight, outside controlled airspace and dodging all of those boundaries... :D

[@StefanDrury]

Haha. I can understand your trepidation! Electronic Flight Bags and a really good PFD/MFD with GPS waypoints helped me a lot on this occasion. But it was definitely a high concentration flight.

[@HerbertTowers]

I'm glad that I was never one of your SLF. (Self-loading freight)

[@amcconnell6730]

@@HerbertTowers Haha. Oh, I'm very good at what I do. I was just pointing out that I don't do single pilot GA piston OCTA work in busy airspace.

[@747dan]

Amazing video as always @StefanDrury! I've recently had my PPL(A) issued to me by the UK CAA, and I fly out of Redhill/EGKR (under Gatwick's CTA). Great to see you flying in the same places that I have throughout my training - such as QEII, Brands Hatch, and Shoreham. And yes... you definitely don't want to bust LGW's airspace otherwise you'll get a phone number to call 😂. If they have time though, you can get a Gatwick transit (I was lucky enough to get one with my instructor on the way to Sandown (Isle of White)). Anyway, safe travels - and hope you are on the mend after your brain surgery! ✈

[@matthewdowning6009]

I’m doing my PPL at the moment and finding the radio phraseology particularly intimidating. I’ve been super worried about it as I’m probably doing my first solo this week. It’s really good to see that it’s not as ridged as the training books make out. The ATSU all seem very friendly and helpful. I was worried I’d get things wrong and annoy them! Good video; It’s really helped me relax a bit about the communication part. Loved the way you mentioned it as your “Old home country of England”. Welcome back 👍

[@tlangdon12]

Don't worry - you'll get the hang of it, but you do need to try to stick to the standard phraseology as much as you can. It will reassure the ATSUs if your inital call is in the correct format and delivered with little hesitancy - you should know where you are flying from and to, and what height and heading you're at! Practice makes perfect. Hope you managed to go solo. You won't forget it when you have.

[@HerbertTowers]

That's a very bad habit that you just heard. Practise RT comm's on the ground (in the crew room perhaps} with a chum with the same needs. Remember, your chat will block other people trying to communicate. Imagine how you would feel if you had talked over somebody's MAYDAY call! Or vice versa.

[@fireflyrobert]

Stefan great video! You are correct that (legally) there is no requirement to talk to anyone on the radio in Class G airspace in the UK. However it makes sense to utilise any ATC/Radar services which are available and around the London area Farnborough Radar do a superb job at keeping an eye out for you. Re confidence I've always like the saying that the superior pilot uses his superior judgement to avoid getting into situations where he has to use his superior skill. Confidence comes from competence. In some ways you're probably safer when in a slightly unfamiliar situation like you were on this flight as you're more on your toes looking for the gotchas.

[@DeadReckoner]

Yeah, there's no NEED to speak to an FIS (Flight Information Service) in uncontrolled airspace, but I always do. It adds safety. Also, a lot of major airports have "listening squawks", so you can show them that you're listening to their frequency, but don't require a service while outside their zone. It's stops them getting nervous that you're going to bust their zone or whatever 😊

[@ScrotusXL]

Mate, flying in Sralia which is massive with loads of space then flying in our teeny tiny UK airspace with 1 billion airfields and airports must be an overwhelmingly stressful step up at times. You bossed it 😊

[@tlangdon12]

The airspace around London is particularly busy, but to give credit to our CAA, they provide routes for VFR that anyone can use.

[@FiendishBeret]

Like the thumbnail a lot nice job :)

[@tomrayner7884]

As a controller at farnborough, shame I didn’t get to speak to you!

[@StefanDrury]

Likewise Tom, hopefully on the next trip. Thanks for all the work you do in ATC looking after us pilots.

[@tomrayner7884]

You did a great job! Indeed, hopefully chat to you next time you are over. Take care

[@GodAtum]

how long will you be in the UK? I'd love to show you my 747 sim!

[@IkinAaron]

Great video, would love to see you flying some more in British airspace

[@StefanDrury]

Well, stay turned. A few more UK flying adventures still to come…. Thanks for watching.

[@lewysphillips2652]

This is so awesome. I appreciate how big of a jump it would be to Solo in unfamiliar skies! No way I could just jump in an a/c and fly amongst Oz’s busiest bits of airspace like that. Awesome vid.

[@tristanabbott8720]

Love this. I remember learning to fly in UK airspace and the feeling of being constantly 'freaked out' at the prospect of busting airspace is real!

[@unclebob1981]

Great video Stefan. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@nagow_360]

Took my first trial flight at Shoreham last Monday, glad to see it on your channel. Your videos have definitely made me want to pursue my ppl! (now I have to justify the cost to myself lol)

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

Flying over the old home town: great achievement and in a SR 22 Turbo. 🌏🇭🇲

[@StefanDrury]

Thanks John, yes I never imagined as a kid down there, one day I'd be flying over my old house as a solo pilot. This was a great flight! Thanks for watching.

[@jasonzhang8577]

I’ve flown my PA-28 out of Elstree to my base Liverpool. Before I was able to make the initial contact with Farnborough, I came the closest to another aircraft than I’ve ever been in my life and that guy was already making an avoidance turn to the right. It’s really not comfortable when I hear people say they don’t want to talk to anyone under London airspace 😢

[@mikep4821]

I hung up my headset and quit flying for good after a 2nd near miss (near Elstree). I’d already had another up North, just missing a non-transponding RAF Grob coming straight for me in the Low Level route near Liverpool & Manchester. Flying a Cirrus with its ’Skywatch’ feature was no help and Manchester Radar couldn’t or wouldn’t help with my Airprox report.

[@eddthirty4065]

@@mikep4821 please still report it. Sorry to hear you've given up flying. Perhaps you can re-consider after a short hiatus?

[@HerbertTowers]

Verbosity and umms and errs. - don't do it. especially in congested airspace. Courage is important, but OVER CONFIDENCE is dangerous, Know your limits.

[@saildreamer]

Know Otford very well, lived in Chelsfield, then Fort Halstead, then Bromley before moving to London. Later had a friend with a PPL and we flew out of Goodwood several times

[@StefanDrury]

I used to go shopping in Bromley as a kid! Would love to get to Goodwood again one day, the FOS looks like a brilliant weekend.

[@paulponting5335]

@@StefanDrury Great video as always. I operate a DA40 out of Stapleford that you flew past. The FOS is great to visit, I have been a few times over the years sometimes flying in on some occasions, although you need to book a slot, they then chauffeur you into the FOS from the airfield. Well worth doing if you get the chance, especially if on a Thursday or Friday where it is a little less busy and easier to get around. Glad Philippe sorted you an aircraft - he has organised some great aviation talks / events in London / online over recent years! 👍 🍻

[@Neill.E]

Just discovered and really enjoying your channel. Thanks! I'm low UK hours PPL. Any chance you could link your flight plan to duplicate on simulator or next time out of my local airport - White Waltham - worth a visit for a couple of flying WWII Hurricanes and their Ham & Cheese Panini 🙂

[@russturner3454]

Gatwick ! Landing there Tuesday night from Mornington Melbourne, Stef !

[@Jerseytrucksci1]

Cool video mate. Always find your thoughts and words inspiring. 😊 As for Air Alderney its based in Alderney - one of the other channel islands and serves Guernsey and Alderney unfortunately it doesn't serve us here in Jersey. Their callsign is "Puffin" 😃

[@jonathanstanford1603]

Great video Stef. I can relate completely with the confidence spectrum. Good insight, thanks!

[@StefanDrury]

Cheers Jonathan, thanks for watching.

[@sil8127]

you 100% messed up the read back of the QNH, squawk and basic service and cut it! hahaha I'm just kidding as I would have done the same. They always just throw a squawk in when you're not expecting it

[@kieranbeauchamp3209]

Awesome video Stef. Student pilot flying out of Redhill and throughly enjoyed watching you navigate the tricky airspace in the South of the UK as well as your confidence to ask ATC if unsure. Keep up the happy and safe flying!

[@clivejohnson6468]

The intrepid aviator Amy Johnson died in the Thames Estuary 1941. I thought of her as you flew over the QE2 Bridge.

[@navmohindra579]

Well done mate for going out and pushing your comfort zone. Does put me off learning to fly, far from the relaxing experience I'm looking for. Any people do gliding here? Think I might take lessons as they're not subject to ATC.

[@aaronsaviation142]

I’m a uk ppl and controller. Great video, it’s not a requirement to be under a service in class G, however it’s upmost recommended. The airspace in the uk is small and congested. LARS are extremely valuable services, worth their weight in gold

[@DustMite-s5u]

I buddy hope you are well and enjoying life.your confidence should be sky high you have done the hard work flying round australia.hows philipe keep ok nice to see him.philip want's to no if you are giving any flying lessons what a dream to be able to fly a cirrus sr22t for Philip.👍🍀🍻🍺

[@colinadams7383]

A very interesting and entertaining video. I learnt to fly out of Shoreham in 1982 in a Cessna 152. Eventually became a QFI for one of the clubs there in 1988 before going commercial in 1989. Retired now after 15000 hours as a Captain with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. I'll look forward to your next video.

[@SpectrumGeeks]

Great video as always, and great to watch and listen to your experiences flying in the UK. I also grew up in Kent, near Brands Hatch also :) Fly safe.

[@BenSoar]

Hey can you try out gliding, it would make an awesome video too!

[@StefanDrury]

I’d definitely love to try gliding, been on my radar for a while. Hopefully one day soon, would be good for my stick and rudder skills.

[@highendaudio]

What’s your thoughts on turbo vs non-turbo (NA)? What are you flying now Stef?

[@haydenblades9349]

Did/do you find British airspace easier or harder than Australian? Also, I don’t know who designed that airport building, but it looks like the same bloke as Archerfield airport

[@StefanDrury]

IFR is basically the same. VFR is fairly different with the FIS/LARS services en route and Radio/Information services for smaller airports. I’d say there’s more layers and complexity to the British services compared to Australia. But that’s what I love about flying in different countries, nice to see how others do it.

[@t.p.mckenna]

Not to put a downer on this great video, but as his name came up ... RIP Graham Hill who came a cropper along with his team when attempting to get into Elstree from where you started. He was piloting his twin engine Piper Aztec when hindered by fog he struck a tree on Arkley Golf Course about three miles away. He was no longer racing and managing his own team, He and his occupants had been in Marseille at a car testing session.

[@Meadie69]

I drive freight trains through Otford most days… and I’m a regular and Brands Hatch too. 🤙🏼

[@sheilamorrison1954]

To anyone in the area, go sit in the Hummingbird on a summers day at Shoreham. You are a white picket fence and 10ft away from the apron with unobstructed views of the whole field.

[@Tianton1]

Novma1X departure from Gatwick is the busiest departure I do!

[@thisandthat871]

Proud of ya 👍🇬🇧

[@FlightProgramAborted]

Over confidence is never a good thing. You did a good job mate, If you got into trouble always ask the controllers, best in the world, they will look after you

[@taylorblair7208]

Love the videos! Just a tip, always wrap the cowl plug strap over one propeller blade so they get ripped out if you forget them instead of no airflow inflight 😅

[@colinelder8603]

why not fly into our fantastic airfield - Oaksey Park (EGTW)

[@clarencechung9833]

Omg it’s kinda mad you were at my airfield where I instruct. I even can recognise all the people on Elstree radio!

[@WhiskeyAlphaPilot]

Welceom to Elstree...my local aerodrome.... love the circuits 🙂

[@John-pn4rt]

it's a bit odd calling it 'East' Brighton given that the last time I looked Shoreham was most definitely west of Brighton!

[@BrianDias007]

Shoreham Airport beautiful 1930s tea room and art deco airport, lovely to stop and grab a cup of tea there

[@melonade8626]

I Did my LAME training at Shoreham, great to see it and great job putting yourself in a new situation and growing a bit more.

[@stevenbarkess7791]

Loved the episode, you are flying in my area, landed at shoreham on my qualifying xc.

[@classicraceruk1337]

Well done avoiding all the restricted airspace during that flight. Did you manage to see London City Airport? It’s fun watching the STOL approaches.

[@StefanDrury]

I could see down the runway of LCA but it was too far for the camera to pickup. I like watching the approaches from the West at the top of the Shard, that's a good viewpoint.

[@classicraceruk1337]

@@StefanDrury I guessed the camera could not pick it up. My wife works in the city and has an excellent view. I worked at Stratford for a while and we used to watch the aircraft at lunchtime from the roof.

[@Dr_Hotdog1247]

was there a landing fee at Shoreham? I'm thinking of flying over there some day and I want to work out how bankrupt I will be after it!

[@cockpitdrummer]

Live next to Shoreham, great sporran of you come on on 02 over the sea. Lovely 1920s art Deco terminal

[@ReptiChat]

This is so cool! I want to learn to fly. Also, Shoreham airport does a fantastic breakfast 😋

[@HerbertTowers]

Top tip: In that sort of area ask if you can fly the helo (rotary) routes. I've done it in an aeroplane with 4 engines!

[@somebloke2238]

Great video but I think it might be worth developing a slightly more unique style, it's quite Casey neistat at the moment

[@ScrotusXL]

You also talk about mental health as well as it being an av geek vid. Im really impressed . Your channel desrves to be liked and subscribed big time

[@johnball4826]

Bet you enjoyed the landing fee at Shoreham !!!!!! Should have gone to Goodwood !

[@iainmillar1532]

Really interesting video! Coincidentally I’m also antipodean, went to school just 10 miles from Otford in the 1990s! I’ve flown commercial VFR in many countries and currently IFR in the U.K., but this would be a really daunting flight for me. Great to see your confidence improve a bit 😊

[@aaronhowardjudd]

Hi Stefan. I'm new to the channel, but just wanted to say how much I'm enjoying your films. I like the fact you are honest with your approach so we get a real story. good luck for the future.

[@polarleon1423]

My college is at that airport and I’ve eaten my lunch inside the airport before

[@Rcfullscale]

Awesome video. I especially loved the lack of big anoncements lol

[@StefanDrury]

NO. MORE. ANNOUCEMENTS!!

[@Rcfullscale]

​@@StefanDruryI know lol

[@aerobaticflying]

Good to see that even native speakers struggle with confidence in complex airspaces. I had so much respect when flying to the UK or in the US for the first time, because for me English is a foreign language.

[@brydentiddy4893]

Amazing work Stef. I love this type of content with the heavy ATC and the learning element!! Quickie - roughly how many hours did you have before you moved to a cirrus? Lots of people say they are a bit faster than the 172 and you need plenty of experience before moving up to something like it. I am always hanging out for your content- keep up the great work!!

[@mikep4821]

Great video, as a (now-retired from flying) UK pilot, the confidence angle is key. If you sound confident ATC will assume you know what you’re doing and will obey the airspace rules. Hesitate or stutter a lot and you’ll rarely get a traffic service.

[@craig.watson]

Fantastic video - growing up in the east of England (Essex), and being an avid aviation fan from a young age, one aspect that I've always been curious about from an absolute beginner's persepctive is traversing the various airspaces around London, with Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Southand all operating!

[@OlympicAirwaysAirlines]

dno how you can be asked to fly through London. Nice to see you took off from Elstree my local aerodrome

[@WingC3]

That flight was part of my qualifying cross country :) Stopped at Blackbushe on the way back to Shoreham.

[@StefanDrury]

What a coincidence! Lots of airspace to navigate, that’s a good one for a check ride!

[@JonTheBrush]

Quality service from NATS

[@1hornet1]

Cool tour around the London area Stefan. One of my life goals is to fly my RV-8 to England (if I ever get it built) and do some exploring there. My sister lives there so I might visit her. Who knows.

[@StefanDrury]

That's a great goal, I wish you all the best with that. Hope you get to fly your RV8 to the UK!

[@idlewise]

Interesting that you have to write down the registration: in the aircraft I fly, there is a small placard right on the instrument panel!

[@angusgtw]

Never thought I'd see you in Brighton! 🔵⚪🔵⚪

[@ianmillar9743]

Again another excellent video the more I watch the more it gives confidence in my own abilities. Very informative and honest as always

[@StefanDrury]

Thanks Ian, glad you enjoyed this one.

[@cirruscapo]

I find it interesting that so many aircraft have the US registration "N" instead of the UK "G" there in the UK.

[@johnathanasiou9284]

Proud of you Stef for undertaking such a flight solo in the UK. Whenever I get a chance to visit the UK will definitely take some flight instruction there. Phillippe is an awesome resource, great instructor & hope you give him a real treat if he ever visits Australia & fly him around. UK ATC is top notch & loved the video, especially seeing all the areas. Please continue to do all these overseas flight adventures whenever you possibly can & if you ever get a chance to fly in Greece, speak to Kyprianos Biris @ Hellas AOPA who knows Nikos Wings very well. Confidence reminds us once in a while that we're still human & we should be adventurous, yet cautious in the face of obvious danger & risk. Ps (edit). Air Alderney ICAO is PUF & their callsign is PUFFIN. Unsure if they're also related to Puff Diddy

[@davenottingham3254]

Your videos are awesome, I can only dream of doing this for real but I sim a lot and really want to get involved with the vat sim community. Your explanations really do make sense of all the radio chatter that seemed so daunting and stopped me trying. Keep up the great work!

[@branimirfilovski8388]

We have FIS (flight information service) here in Slovenia and neighbour countries also have it. Every flight school here teaches you right from the beginning to always file a flight plan and use FIS even if it is not required in G and E airspace. FIS here can provide everything - recommended tracks if someone gets lost, weather info, frequencies, traffic info, they can ask the radar for you when requesting to fly in controlled airspace, they warn you about active restricted areas … I have never flown a cross country flight without flight plan and FIS. As you said - why wouldn’t you use it if its available. But I know some pilots who refuse to use it and they fly close to controlled airspace without contact and flight plan. Since most of GA VFR pilots fly at around 1000 - 1500 ft AGL I usually request a higher cruise altitude (sometimes in class C) to avoid most of the traffic. My friends always ask me why would you fly VFR at such altitudes but I think it is safer and you have more time in case of engine failure especially in mountanous regions like Slovenia. Also the views at 8000-10000ft are stunning!

[@peanuts2105]

I always say altitude is your friend! It buys you time

[@ScaledNotesMusic]

@@peanuts2105 Yeah. Hard to get higher in the UK here sometimes with the weather being the way it is, but I always try to get as high as I can. You even get a ton of people at 1000-2500 AGL on really clear days. Tbh there's no point un being that low (unless forced by airspace) when you can climb a few thousand feet and be in less bumpy air with less traffic and like you said, more time if things go wrong!

[@jasonbirnie977]

I fly from Shoreham regularly. It’s a great airfield.

[@tomhermens7698]

Air traffic control is absolutely terrific!!!!

[@Stanlee202]

Spot on, I think the line between over confidence and arrogance is very thin.

[@TomCook1993]

Seems like it’s “VFR flight following”

[@richarddavies8670]

As someone who has only really known uncontrolled airspace in uk with no radar services , that was a great watch. Thanks for putting it together!

[@shawflygirl]

I’ve got a cross country flight coming up and this video really helped me feel at ease with how much support there is

[@lisakienholz9828]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm a So Cal vintage aircraft pilot. Flying in the UK is on my bucket list if/when I get back there again. Your commentary about confidence hits the nail on the head, it is crucial in general aviation. The UK is great scenery from the air even on a cloudy day.

[@cavok1984]

Great video Stefan! I think the ATC service in the UK is fantastic considering how congested the airspace is in places.

[@douglas2510]

Well done from your aircraft engineer colleague here.

[@High_Alpha]

The only thing I've never understood with UK ATC is that they use SO MANY words with all their different services. It's like going to a bank rather than an ANSP. But maybe that's because I've only ever worked with Australian airspace. I know I'm preaching to the choir as you get flight following often, but SIS is VERY under-utilised in Australia. It's meant to provide exactly what you are enjoying here, a watchful eye and some guidance if/when you need it. So we always tell pilots here a) Put in a flight plan, even if it's a bare bones A DCT B one. It puts in a LOT of the stuff, we can change the route really easily. Putting in a full flight plan whilst working traffic is akin to having you do a flight plan whilst flying the plane... in the circuit. b) Get flight following when you can! Only time it's not a great idea is when you are say ploughing through a major training area around a Metro D (formerly GAAP) zone. The Moorabbin's and Parafield's of the world have WAY too much training traffic that it makes the service hard to provide as we would be giving you constant traffic alerts. If you have followed tip A then it's not hard to get set up, just remember to tell us if you change route or altitude. If it helps we can also do a certain distance from your route left and/or right or a certain block of altitudes. A little secret... if you are VFR and are trying to get a clearance through approach's airspace... get a SIS early with centre! This way the centre controller has plenty of time to find your plan, activate it, modify it if required, couple it to you in the system... and you'll show up on the approach controllers screen as approaching traffic rather than a generic 1200 VFR paint. Won't guarantee you a clearance, but it will certainly grease the rails when the approach controller doesn't have to try to do all that stuff when you are 10ishNM from the boundary and closing whilst working their existing traffic! They can see you coming and tell the controller you are talking to if you can expect a clearance, or an alternative or sorry nothing this time. And it's better to know that early rather than 2NM from the boundary of the airspace right??

[@ScaledNotesMusic]

The incessant passing of flight details with every initial call is down the the way UK airspace is designed (especially for VFR and IFR outside conrtrolled airspace). It is not joined up whatsoever and there's very minimal coordination between controllers (if at all). It's not uncommon to have to do 5 different squawk changes on a decent length flight (vs the US there you get 1 or 2 max). There's also no class E south of scotland, so huge swathes of busy class G. Even going from LARS (lower airspace radar unit) to another LARS requires re-stating all your details and getting a new squawk. It's very rare that the controllers will do a radar handover for you. Oh, and a good few of the LARS units are run by the millitary and don't provide service on weekends, so you may get yourself into one of the many LARS deadzones. You can still contact a FIS on various frequences but they have no radar therefore of limited use. The UK is pretty GA unfriendly compared to places like the US, France, or maybe even austrailia.

[@xplane11fun83]

I would like a New Zealand trip land into Queenstown

[@sachaedwards2935]

lol when the ATC for Shoreham said "straight in approach" the auto captions picked it up as "Australian approach" - not sure how you make one of those, but I guess it would involve reciting the lyrics of "Waltzing Matilda" to ATC whilst flying inverted...

[@StefanDrury]

Haha, I hadn't noticed that. Sometimes I correct the auto captions but I am 100% leaving that one as is. I look forward to many other Australian approaches for future flights.

[@mhossen]

Amazing Stef. I have to say I’m very impressed at the ATS available in the UK. So civilised, which I guess is to be expected from your countrymen.

[@StefanDrury]

Honestly I've never flown anywhere where ATC were anything but helpful. Maybe just my good luck, but certainly in the UK I found ATC fantastic on all the flights I did on this trip.

[@alexaviation8107]

ATC is fantastic availability of airspace not so 😂

[@idlewise]

Wasn't Shoreham where the Hunter crashed?

[@barrydraper]

You are one of the best story-tellers, video editors and always an interesting adventure! Thx again, for sharing...

[@StefanDrury]

Thank you Barry, I appreciate you saying that.

[@speedbird-bw5cq]

It’s great to see you fly part of the route I did for my skill test about a month ago! I was so paranoid about straying into the controlled airspace and that’s quite a narrow and busy sector between Southend and City’s class D. Great video!!

[@StefanDrury]

Hope your test went well Speedbird, thanks for watching.

[@speedbird-bw5cq]

@@StefanDrury it did indeed! Thank you 😊

[@LTTPUK]

Strange coincidences!?. I've never heard of you until you popped up in my suggestions just now. You've just flown from my old home town to my new home town and I'm also a Pomstralian!!

[@StefanDrury]

Now that IS a coincidence! Thanks for watching, pomstralian high five.

[@MrMilanoLau]

Do they allow ultralights to enter the air space?

[@jeromefleury5245]

Any plan to cross the Channel and fly to France ?

[@MattyCrayon]

Dartford hey? Not far from my childhood town of Tilbury. I'd like to fly there one day, but it does look intimidating. 👍 Thanks for the trip.

[@StefanDrury]

Yeah that's my old hood. Thanks for watching MC.

[@offshorefour7911]

Watching from Dartford 🎉