A Great Afternoon's Flying

It was another hot sunny day last Friday. We were back on runway 025L - my favoured side, although after last week's lesson it would have been nice to practise maintaining height in the right hand turn. Today's aircraft was Alpha November - I just have to remember we land at 70 kts and since knots are the only thing on Alpha November's air speed indicator - don't land at 80 kts! There was notable effect from thermals today - quite lumpy sometimes and the odd random lift.

I had a great lesson, circuits were neat and controlled and approaches were good and I actually managed to focus on the flare and landing. Out of nine landings Barrie said I did three landings he was pleased with. You know you're doing okay when the flying instructor hardly says a word throughout the circuit.

Air Tourism

A bit of a late entry for last week's lesson since I'm flying again today.

As we discussed last time I flew with Barrie we went into the local area to practise some basic maneuvers - flying straight and level and medium level turns.

Once again we had a clear sunny day, although the wind was pretty variable and gusty. Runway 07 in use and we were flying my old friend Tango Echo.

This is a shot of Reading on the way back:

Things seemed quite different today. There was a normal take-off followed by a constant climb to around 2000ft and we headed west. A few miles out (and when there was actually breathing space) Barrie radioed Farnborough 122.5 requesting basic service for a VFR training flight.

We spent a good while practising medium level turns to the left and right. Barrie noticed I tended to climb on right hand turns - it's more of a struggle to look out on the right hand side plus I'm a bit stiffer on that side. All of this means I pull back on the controls slightly when looking right! This also explains why right hand circuits are more difficult for me. Quite an insight!

Heading back to Blackbushe - Blackbushe and Farnborough just visible:

The Fine Weather Continues

Another perfect day for weather on Friday. Again runray 07 but this time in Alpha November. This was a much better session, this time with Steve. He's always keen to get the student doing everything so for the first time I took the aircraft for fuel - look at me with my taxis solo! I taxied and turned into the wind by the bowser and he joined me once the refuel was done to show me signing for the fuel and noting the correct amount (not the big display). All good experience.

This week my circuits were a bit messy, but much better than last week's debacle. I was having a mental blank over the air speed indicator being in knots in Alpha November where Tango Echo shows MPH on the outside. I did the first couple of landings at 80 kts thinking that was 80 MPH or 70 kts - very shabby. We placed much more focus on the final and landing. As usual I'm landing too flat, need to hold off longer. The heat means there are some strong themals when decending over the car auction car park - massive piece of tarmac just before the boundary. I also made some more positive decisions to go around. Remember Ian, don't exceed 400ft over the airfield. 

There was another PA28 in the circuit with what looked like a less experienced pilot - they certainly were well over the 800ft mark - a place I know well! A couple of circuits were skewed trying not to catch them up so Steve radioed the tower and advised we'd like to cut the corner off, turning just on the far airfield boundary after the tower so we could nip ahead. This odd manouver once again spoiled my concentration for a bit but we were soon back on track. I probably shouldn't let this kind of thing get to me. We even caught them up again by the end of the session.

Stunning Day, Not so Stunning Flying

Last Friday was great for flying if perhaps a little warm. The wind scarcely got over 4 kts and visibility was good if not perfect. I mean look at the sky behind the control tower:-

For some reason I was pretty awful though. I couldn't do medium level turns without climbing, couldn't manage straight and level, was behind the aircraft all the way. We were in Tango Echo and using runway 07 (not my fave). We'd taken off for the first circuit when the tower said they'd forgotten to tell us about Class D airspace taking effect in 6 minutes. They were happy for us to fly as long as we set the transponder appropriately. Sadly Tango Echo doesn't have a transponder (nor pitot heat, nor landing light) so we had to land for 35 minutes until the restriction cleared. Normally this restriction is because of a Royal Flight, the cynical story in the club house was that Prince Andrew was off to play golf. Once cleared we rushed to the aircraft, dashed off the checks and galloped into the air. All of this seemed to put me on the back foot though. All too high, trying too hard to get down and generally making a hash of things.

Barrie said next time we'd go into the local area and practice these 'easy' manuouvers until they were polished. Fair enough. I think on reflection I was feeling a bit under the weather and the heat, lesson disruption and right hand circuit didn't help - one to consider for the future I think.

I'd seriously like to spend a whole week doing lessons but my immediate work schedule is going to make that difficult.

Kinda Like Texas

This week was pretty warm, gentle winds and with hazy sunshine. For a change I was never really in any doubt that the lesson would go ahead. The wind was somewhat variable and I think it maxed out at 7 kts. We were using runway 25 as almost usual and today's aircraft was Tango Echo.

I didn't have many problems with the circuit today and so the final and landing were very much the focus. For some reason I started letting go of the throttle below 500 ft again - a habit I thought I'd knocked on the head.

Barrie said my approach setup was very good but I kept neglecting to check the power settings. I should make a rough setting once out of the turn onto base and then check again once the flaps, attitude and trim have been set. A good set up on base allows for a consistent glide slope on final.

The part that really reminded me of Texas - apart from keeping the door open as long as possible - was the round out and landing. I did one really amazing 'greaser' as Barrie called it but only with him saying hold off, hold off, hold off. I was pulling the stick back at just the right rate during that landing, in time with his instruction. I just need to judge that for myself! At one stage we flew along the runway holding off - just like Texas only with less room.

Must get a few pix from the air one day!