7 April 2026
We have reintroduced the FLYER First Solo Front Cover!
This is Jon Stones who went solo on 1 April 2026.
Like to see your First Solo as a FLYER front cover? Send a suitable photo plus a few details to [email protected]
Jon Stones is learning to fly at Humberside Airport
I recently completed my first solo at Aeroschool at Humberside Airport — a milestone I won’t forget. The moment my instructor stepped out of the aircraft and I lined up alone on the runway is something that will stay with me; a mix of focus, excitement, and a real sense that this was what all the effort had been building towards. Aeroschool supplied me with a video of my first landing and I am sure it is something I will look at in the future to help remember the occasion.
I initially started on the LAPL syllabus but have since transitioned to the NPPL, and I’m now around 45 hours in. Progress was slightly delayed while I completed my Air Law exam, but with support from TAGs at Sheffield I’ve got that behind me. I’m now continuing my ground school with them and aiming to complete that element by the end of May.
Having covered most of the syllabus, I’m now focused on cross-country flying. With better weather ahead, I’m hoping to push on and complete my licence — I began this journey in February last year.
Jon has already bought an aircraft – a Europa
Ground school has been a positive experience. At £200 per day and £55 per exam, it represents good value for one-to-one tuition that fits around my schedule, alongside online learning through Easy PPL.
Aeroschool have recently introduced a revised charging structure, including a 5% fuel surcharge reflecting current conditions, with flexibility to adjust if needed, and higher rates for advanced instruction beyond the private licence. Flights are invoiced after each lesson, with Humberside Airport landing fees currently £19.50 and £9.50 for touch-and-goes or go-arounds, which does add to the overall cost of training. That said, I was keen to train in a fully controlled ATC environment for the discipline it brings and to remove any fear of radio work early on.
Throughout, I’ve been impressed with the support I’ve received — particularly from my instructor, Richard Hannigan, who has become a friend as well as a teacher. It has reinforced for me how important that relationship is in the learning process.
I have also recently become a member of North Coates Flying Club and hope, in time, to base myself there. I’ve already found it to be a friendly and supportive environment, and have begun building friendships with others who share the same passion.
I may be slightly unusual in that I already own an aircraft, despite not yet holding a licence. Last year, G-STUE — a Europa Classic (high-roof conversion) with a Dynon glass panel, Rotax 914 and variable-pitch prop — came onto the market. It had won awards, and I knew I had to have it. With the help of broker Nick Buckley, I secured it, and it now sits in my warehouse ready for use this summer.
Learning to fly has had a wider impact than I expected. It has forced me to carve out time away from running my legal group and given me space to think more clearly. Flying demands complete focus — you can’t be anywhere else mentally.
It has also prompted a more personal change. Flying a relatively compact aircraft made me confront my own fitness. Years spent largely sedentary in my legal career had taken their toll. One lesson in particular — struggling to reach the fuel selector due to how I was positioned — was a wake-up call.
Since then, I’ve made significant changes to my diet and lifestyle, alongside medical support, and have lost 20kg over the past year. More importantly, I now fit comfortably in the aircraft and can reach everything I need to. Like most pilots, I’m also aware that losing weight effectively increases available fuel — particularly in a Europa — so I’m aiming to lose a further 10kg and, in doing so, build a more comfortable VFR reserve.
Completing my first solo at the age of 48 stands out as one of the more significant moments in my life. It has taken me this long to have both the time and financial freedom to pursue flying, which perhaps also highlights some of the barriers facing those looking to enter aviation — not helped by current fuel costs.
I’m looking forward to completing my licence and finally flying my own aircraft. It’s been a challenging but genuinely transformative experience.
Thank you again for the work you do supporting the community.
