2 weeks to go

Eveningtide, sports fans.

Yes, it's back, and it's more overdue than ever before!

A quick happy birthday to Chazza! Have a quality BBQ, will see you all in a bit.

You are currently reading the words of a registered private pilot, Captain Andrew McAllister. Yesterday I went up in the air with my examiner, a rather large gentleman, and managed to stop the airplane crashing for a full 2 hours before he gave me my license. So 50 hours exactly of flight experience and I'm now a pilot. The national average is about 75, so I did not bad.

And so now yours truly can fly planes for a laugh. When I get back home I'll need to do another couple of tests for the UK aviation industry - I believe you need to don an incredibly english accent on the radios to pass them. 'Roger Roger' as they say. 'Yes, please!' as Dale Winton would reply.

And so what has been going on? Well, lots of flying, studying and more flying. Managed to piss all over my written test which was sweet and have gone on a couple of more night flights. Got a video of an emergency landing with no engine I had to do at night which was fizin - have a look at it here. You may need to turn up the brightness on the video a wee bit.

On my last solo cross country before the checkride I went to this tiny wee airport that's surrounded by hills, a little challenging to bring wee laura down on the numbers but good fun. On the way back to El Monte I get bored and take a few photos...



Plus I got bored and thought I'd take a photo of myself to spread the love...



And so I sit here in the brilliant Universal Air Academy. I've met loads of cool people and some wannabe terrorists to boot, I swear this place is under the watch of the FBI. But now I'm leaving on a jet plane tomorrow to St Louis for a day or 2. Gutted I won't be able to make it up to Canada to see Richie and Glen but should manage to meet up with big Mike Dizel in St Louis. From there it's on to New York for a couple of days, then London for a couple to see Loy and Steve. I'm pretty sure that will be mayhem.

Then it's back home to Glasgow a few days later. It makes me feel physically sick thinking about coming home. Life in LA just now is so sweet - so much so that I'm gonna try my best to come back here next year.

What'll also be weird is putting my backpack on again after a month of living out of a chest of drawers! I'll be arriving into LAX in style. I've been stuck on the VIP corridor list and will be dropped off by Peter in a helicopter. Meh. All these Los Angelinos seeing some scruffy travelling scumbag getting out of a $200,000 copter complete with backpack, may have to take some photos.

My 1st ever qualified flight will be tonight, just going to go and buzz around the area, see what happens. I've also been lending a hand in the hangars to the head mechanic, Marco, a sweaty overwieght mexican dude with a passion for styling his hair with SAE 50 Ashless Dispersant aviation oil...



So the reality of leaving this place is finally hitting home, gutted. In roughly 2 weeks time I'll be laughing at Glesga neds and their immaculately kept tracksuits. It's not all bad, I get to see all my family and friends and get blind for free!

Maybe the next time you'll hear from me I'll be back in Britannia complete with hangover and an empty wallet.

Tally ho,

Mick

P.S. Contrary to popular belief, I actually say tally ho over the radios - almost impossible to accomplish without sticking on an RAF sliver-spoon-in-mouth accent.

My family - See you all in 2 weeks, can't wait. Nice work on the sheets, Rod! Speeches done lads? Enjoy Nice.

My best bud Millar - Meh, blotto, Franz, San Deigo, Maroon. Cheers doll.

Tamp and Co - sorry I couldn't make it up to Half Moon Bay, would have been fiz to see you in the home of the weed bag again - catch you all in Scotland

Phil + Ross - And so the pair are back together. You must feel complete! Email on way.

Sarah - Flip a bitch, more cushion, grow some x

Emma - OOOoooohhhhhh you met a boy eh?? Phil, Ross and I must approve 1st.

My best buddies back home, most of whom are in Spain the now - Muchos Cerveca? Meh u guys must be having a fizin time meh.

Loy and Steve aka London Psychos - A special shout to you guys, will see you soon now! Hope the 1st week of work goes well Loy!

Caz - Your ham sandwich email was brilliant. Cheese next time? Cheese and onion?

Richie, Glen - Lads, can't believe I won't be able to make it up to Canada. Had bought myself a fishing rod and 11 crates of Corona as well!

Mike D - Wha da shizel? See you in a couple of days matey!

Erin Bizel - Email on way about NY.

The Hawaii Crew - Hope you're all doing well, folks! Craig u sicko, u still kicking about in the good ol' South K? Nat, J - the jobs still going well? Adamski - I'll be kicking about in London for a bit - Lime me.

Peter R, my good friend and instructor - Matey, what a quality last month. You've turned me from a daft Scottish drunk into a daft Scottish drunk pilot - can't thank you enough.

Pete - Boss, what a quality laugh we've had over the past few weeks. Tennis will never be the same again. No potato peels between 6-8pm down waste disposal.

Everyone at UAA - See you next year folks. Hopefully by then Medany Airways will be flying from a different base!

Everyone I've met while travelling - You are all welcome to drop in to Glasgow at any time - my brother's flat has a spare room.