(upbeat music) - Coming up in this video,
I get to fulfill a lifelong ambition
of flying aerobatics plane, as well as taking a flight
in a training aircraft that has a full glass cockpit.
(upbeat music)
This is the Sevenair Academy here in Cascades,
just to the outside of Lisbon in Portugal.
And they've very kindly, invited me today to come
to their open day and have a look around.
Sevenair have many sides to their business
including an airline, a skydiving school
and of course, the Sevenair Academy.
So this right here is the simulator
that they've got here at Sevenair Academy.
And it can be configured for a number of aircraft.
At the moment it's set up for TB20 at the moment actually.
(engine simulator whirring)
(upbeat music)
Now, I've never flown in a full simulator before,
so it was great to have a go
at a circuit which resulted in well, a semi-smooth landing.
- [Man] We are high on the plane.
(mumbles) just there just a little more down.
There we go.
(upbeat music)
- So the Sevenair Academy here then in Cascais,
they have a fleet of many different aircraft.
Predominantly these Tecnam aircraft.
The Tecnams are equipped with a full glass cockpit
just like in a commercial airliner.
(indistinct chattering)
- [Man] Okay. And then you have sub menus.
You have one thousand sub menus okay.
Like the departure time, you put in like this.
Calibrated, indicated, the pressure,
the total air temperature.
The coffee machine is not here,
but everything else is incredible.
- That is incredible, the four seater aircraft,
the single engine, this is awesome.
- Here the autopilot, director heading
now approach altitude,
the nose up nose down, which means for the vertical speed
and it has 230 liters of fuel and he makes five hours,
we call it the cow, it takes a little bit to take off,
because everybody complains about the plane.
But I think the plane is actually the dashboard
and all of that, is clean, it's nice.
So one thing that happens here at the
Sevenair Academy open date is
that every single person that comes gets their trial
flight lesson, included in their open days as well.
Something that a lot of the schools don't do,
but they do it here.
But, I'm going to take a ride in one of these Tecnams
with them, and have a go.
(indistinct radio chatter)
(upbeat music & engine whirring)
Taxing the Tecnam takes a little bit of practice
as the nose-wheel is essentially just a loose trolley wheel
and steering is controlled entirely by differential braking.
(indistinct radio chatter)
(upbeat music & engine whirring)
The Tecnam is let's just say a little bit sluggish
on the climb out.
It has 115 horsepower Rotax engine, but combined
with the high temperatures here in Portugal, it made
for a very sluggish climb.
Still the views we got as we flew
along the coast of the West of the Cascade were beautiful
and the slow flight just gave us all
the more time to admire them.
(engine whirring & indistinct radio chatter)
I had a great flight in the little Tecnam,
but my next flight would be something altogether
more special.
- [Man] Very nice, it was a pleasure man.
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For the next part of my Sevenair adventure,
I headed down to Sevenair's base at Portimao
for a ride in something a little more sporty.
So that's my ride today,
it is an Extra 300L based out of here at Portimao.
I'm going to be going up in a little while,
and have some aerobatics.
Very cool.
I am so beyond excited about this.
I've been wanting to do aeros for so long.
My only experience of anything close to aerobatics,
was the spin training I did when I got my PPL.
Since then my wings have remained entirely
in the upright position.
Until now.
The extra is insanely powerful and climbs out steeper
than any aircraft I've flown before.
It weighs just 600 kilos empty, less than a Fiat Panda,
and combined with its 300 horsepower engine,
It all makes for one exciting ride.
After a bit of play time,
it was finally time for me to take the controls.
Once I got used to just how incredibly sensitive
the controls on the extra were,
with just the slightest touch controlling
for sending the aircraft running
from side to side, it was time
for me to unleash my inner Grand Theft Auto pilot.
First roll complete, and I was hungry for more.
So I had another go.
Those hours of playing on flight sim
finally came in handy Rach.
Next up I decided to try my hand at a loop.
Which wasn't perhaps the most stylish.
Yeah I don't think I'll be joining
the red arrows anytime soon.
Still stick to what I'm good at,
let's try another couple of rolls.
After the British version of Patty Wagstaff
had finished my little air display for the residents
of the Algarve.
Julio took the controls again to take us
back to the airport.
How else, but inverted.
Approaching the airport, Julio had one more surprise
up his sleeve, an impromptu air display
right over the airport.
Flying an aerobatics plane has to be hands
down the most fun I've ever had flying a plane so far.
I left Portugal really tempted to
start my aerobatics rating.
If you're enjoying this video, don't forget to check
out my other video from Portimao of me being thrown
out of a plane.
Yeah, it wasn't much.
Anyway, links on the screen now if you want to watch it.
Wow, how flipping cool was that in the little extra 300?
That was like the most enjoyable
light aircraft flight I think I've ever done.
That was so cool.
And I got to do some stuff myself as well.
Awesome.
So there you have it,
all in all another awesome day here flying
at Portimao in the Extra 300, how flipping cool is that?
That is certainly the coolest flight that I've ever done.
For sure. Let me know what you thought
of it down in the comments below as always.
And don't forget to hit that subscribe button
because I do crazy stuff like this all the time.
If you love planes just as much as I do, hit
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another video.
Well in the meantime as always,
Thanks so much for watching,
take care and I'll see you next time.