Monday 28 February 2011

Into the Circuit

With a determined rush our hero leapt back into the cockpit. This time he was serious.

I'm having a determined effort to get flying. It's a new year and I have a new will to fly and a new instructor - hi Tony!

I had one lesson last weekend with barely flyable conditions. The cloud was between 1400 and 1800 feet which meant some practice of circuit technique around a disused airfield. Things felt really good and Tony had me flying almost all of the time. Very little in the way of horizon and failing visibility had us navigating back to Blackbushe landmark by landmark.

Following on from this I took a day off work on Thursday and took two lessons in a row. The weather was clear if somewhat breezy and we went through circuits at Blackbushe. I found this exercise very taxing and was all but shaking after the first lesson. We were using runway 25 and all turns were to the left.

  • Take off - full power, wait for 60-65 knots and rotate.
  • Climb (with one hand on the throttle) to 500ft maintaining a speed to 80 knots on full power.
  • Turn left onto the Base leg, (15°) climbing to 800ft and leveling off. Adjust attitude, power (2100) and trim for straight and level.
  • Turn left onto downwind leg, (full 30°) before M3 otherwise we're in Farnborough's airspace.
  • Ensure 800ft, straight and level and perform pre-landing checks.
  • Turn onto the crosswind leg (full 30°) at Hawley Lake, turn on carb heat. Choose stables aiming point.
  • Reduce power, wait for the aircraft to slow (to Vfe) and lower two stages of flap, maintain 800ft.
  • Continue slowing to 70kts and begin descent.
  • At stables, turn left onto final approach. 15° turn. Allow plenty of time to turn.
  • Choose the runway aiming point (25). Descend maintaining 70kts.
  • At 300ft add third stage of flap, turn off carb heat.
  • Check "Are we fast, are we slow, are we high, are we low"
  • If we're too low add power, too high, reduce power.
  • If we're too fast or slow adjust the attitude of the aircraft.
  • Never go below 70kts or take your hand off the throttle, Ian.
Things to do when landing next, this is a novel in itself.

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