Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
The engine on my Piper Arrow gave me a scare on my flight back to England from Berlin, Germany. It proved that many of you were right after all!
In a previous video I had talked about my avionics upgrade and how I was going for some new digital instruments and a new navigator in phase one and then an autopilot in phase two. Many of you told me that I was neglecting something extremely important - a modern engine monitor.
My upgrade path and priorities were being guided by my goal - to fly my arrow across the Atlantic Ocean to North America. I needed an aircraft capable of flying in the world's busiest controlled airspace. These days that really requires an accurate autopilot. Since the aircraft has done just fine for nearly 50 years with its rudimentary engine monitoring gauges, I didn't prioritise an upgrade to the engine monitoring equipment. Well, during this flight from Berlin to Earls Colne, I had an engine hiccup - a momentary loss of power - and that has forced me to rethink my priorities.
Sadly, my budget won't allow me to splash out on engine instruments AND a new autopilot, so where does this leave me? Is my dream of crossing the atlantic now over?
I make inspirational videos about my flying adventures around the UK and Europe. I have a dream too, to one day fly my PA28 across the atlantic to the USA. Subscribe to my channel for more inspirational flying vlogs and honest post-flight debrief videos.
About me: jonhunt.net
Bonus content on Patreon: patreon.com/join/theflyingreporter
Facebook: facebook.com/theflyingreporter
Instagram: instagram.com/flyingreporteruk
My channel advertisers and sponsors
I'm most grateful for the guidance and support of Aero Anglia - A light aircraft maintenance organisation at Elmsett in Suffolk. The nicest and thorough aircraft engineers I've come across.
aeroanglia.com
I've recently partnered with Aerobytes to promote their services to commercial aviation. Aerobytes is fanatical about flight safety - a passion close to my heart. Aerobytes provide Flight Data Monitoring services to the airlines.
aerobytes.co.uk
AOPA has supported me for many, many months now. They work so hard to promote our interests as private pilots and I'm happy to endorse AOPA UK's mission to secure our freedom to fly. Get a 25% discount on your AOPA UK membership.
aopa.co.uk/flying-reporter-discount-membership-offer
For all my licence revalidations, tests, and flight training I turn to the team at Anglian Flight Centres. It's a friendly flight training organisation (ATO) based at Earls Colne in Essex. With its hard and grass runways and open airspace, it's a great place to learn to fly.
anglianflightcentres.co.uk
Before CloudbaseGA, my aircraft log books were a work of fiction. Now that I have one of their automatic flight loggers fitted, all my trips are recorded automatically and updated to a cloud server. It's a great solution for flying schools, clubs or aircraft shares.
https://www.cloudbasega.aero/
If you should ever need your engine overhauled, require a shock load inspection, or general advice about the operation of your engine, contact Norvic Aero Engines. I only partner with companies who treat their customers fairly and offer good service. I am thrilled to be working with Norvic and I am delighted to be able to endorse their services.
norvic.com
Before I had my propeller dynamically balanced by Proptech, I used to experience quite a lot of vibration in the cruise. Proptech came to my airfield with their equipment and after a short time they'd tuned-up my prop so that the cruise is silky smooth (turbulence permitting!)
https://proptech.aero/
I keep my aeroplane clean and dry in-between flights by using a custom-made cover from Vertigo Covers. The Hampshire-based company prides itself on excellent customer service, an attention to detail, modern designs and materials and covers that are lightweight and affordable.
vertigocovers.co.uk
#generalaviation #flying #privatepilot #pilot #atc #airtrafficcontrol #aviation #pa28 #flight #debrief #travel
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Leaving Berlin city
01:25 Engine start/Taxi
02:09 Background story/Take off
04:21 AOPA promotion
04:54 Looking after my engine
06:08 My current engine instruments
06:27 Engine scare
10:45 Norvic promotion
11:20 Arriving at Earls Colne
The engine on my Piper Arrow gave me a scare on my flight back to England from Berlin, Germany. It proved that many of you were right after all!
In a previous video I had talked about my avionics upgrade and how I was going for some new digital instruments and a new navigator in phase one and then an autopilot in phase two. Many of you told me that I was neglecting something extremely important - a modern engine monitor.
My upgrade path and priorities were being guided by my goal - to fly my arrow across the Atlantic Ocean to North America. I needed an aircraft capable of flying in the world's busiest controlled airspace. These days that really requires an accurate autopilot. Since the aircraft has done just fine for nearly 50 years with its rudimentary engine monitoring gauges, I didn't prioritise an upgrade to the engine monitoring equipment. Well, during this flight from Berlin to Earls Colne, I had an engine hiccup - a momentary loss of power - and that has forced me to rethink my priorities.
Sadly, my budget won't allow me to splash out on engine instruments AND a new autopilot, so where does this leave me? Is my dream of crossing the atlantic now over?
I make inspirational videos about my flying adventures around the UK and Europe. I have a dream too, to one day fly my PA28 across the atlantic to the USA. Subscribe to my channel for more inspirational flying vlogs and honest post-flight debrief videos.
About me: jonhunt.net
Bonus content on Patreon: patreon.com/join/theflyingreporter
Facebook: facebook.com/theflyingreporter
Instagram: instagram.com/flyingreporteruk
My channel advertisers and sponsors
I'm most grateful for the guidance and support of Aero Anglia - A light aircraft maintenance organisation at Elmsett in Suffolk. The nicest and thorough aircraft engineers I've come across.
aeroanglia.com
I've recently partnered with Aerobytes to promote their services to commercial aviation. Aerobytes is fanatical about flight safety - a passion close to my heart. Aerobytes provide Flight Data Monitoring services to the airlines.
aerobytes.co.uk
AOPA has supported me for many, many months now. They work so hard to promote our interests as private pilots and I'm happy to endorse AOPA UK's mission to secure our freedom to fly. Get a 25% discount on your AOPA UK membership.
aopa.co.uk/flying-reporter-discount-membership-offer
For all my licence revalidations, tests, and flight training I turn to the team at Anglian Flight Centres. It's a friendly flight training organisation (ATO) based at Earls Colne in Essex. With its hard and grass runways and open airspace, it's a great place to learn to fly.
anglianflightcentres.co.uk
Before CloudbaseGA, my aircraft log books were a work of fiction. Now that I have one of their automatic flight loggers fitted, all my trips are recorded automatically and updated to a cloud server. It's a great solution for flying schools, clubs or aircraft shares.
https://www.cloudbasega.aero/
If you should ever need your engine overhauled, require a shock load inspection, or general advice about the operation of your engine, contact Norvic Aero Engines. I only partner with companies who treat their customers fairly and offer good service. I am thrilled to be working with Norvic and I am delighted to be able to endorse their services.
norvic.com
Before I had my propeller dynamically balanced by Proptech, I used to experience quite a lot of vibration in the cruise. Proptech came to my airfield with their equipment and after a short time they'd tuned-up my prop so that the cruise is silky smooth (turbulence permitting!)
https://proptech.aero/
I keep my aeroplane clean and dry in-between flights by using a custom-made cover from Vertigo Covers. The Hampshire-based company prides itself on excellent customer service, an attention to detail, modern designs and materials and covers that are lightweight and affordable.
vertigocovers.co.uk
#generalaviation #flying #privatepilot #pilot #atc #airtrafficcontrol #aviation #pa28 #flight #debrief #travel
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Leaving Berlin city
01:25 Engine start/Taxi
02:09 Background story/Take off
04:21 AOPA promotion
04:54 Looking after my engine
06:08 My current engine instruments
06:27 Engine scare
10:45 Norvic promotion
11:20 Arriving at Earls Colne
