Navigation and Circuits, Always

So I've managed to squeeze in another couple of lessons in the last couple of weeks.

Firstly a session practising circuits. I'm sure I need plenty of this after a two month break. The weather wasn't bad but the visibility was pretty poor and one extended downwind meant we all but lost sight of the runway. My performance wasn't very good - once again slow and low and we all know where that leads. It felt good to be back flying though. Whisky Oscar is back - I love the sun visors, a small addition but they make a difference for me.

The second lesson was a navigation exercise to Westcott in Alpha November. The weather was windy so more circuits were out. The route was straight from Blackbushe on a course of 330 (45 knot wind from 245), turn around at Westcott and come back. I honestly had a great flight, departed more or less overhead and was on course for the whole outbound route without need for course correction. I even maintained altitude and picked out my way-points on the way. Henley was a great way-point from the air and the views were great. Changing to Farnborough North was an education though, so many people desperate to infringe, so much poor English and poor RT work. Even we had a go at it - my turn at Westcott was too wide, we didn't depart overhead and got a bit to close to the Benson MATZ - a warning from LARS N and a sharp left turn! As usual when these things go wrong I was sort of noticing the ground features didn't match up to the map.

The landing at Blackbushe left a lot to be desired, too slow, too high, one go-around and a follow up poor landing. It's time for a few circuits.

It turns out Whisky Oscar had some engine problems while Barrie was doing a trial lesson - he just managed to limp back to Blackbushe though he did do his first mayday!

That night I also went to my first club seminar on Human Factors and Performance given by Mike Bagshaw. I didn't realise he literally wrote the book! He's an old friend of the club and one of the examiners that we use. He was, to use the old cliche, very informative and entertaining. Highly recommended and I'm certainly planning to do other seminars.

Petworth and Petersfield

I finally had another lesson on Thursday after about two months off. Appalling weather and work timing meant a big gap. Thursday was overcast in Newbury but Blackbushe was bright and a little blustery. Barrie had changed the route and we were heading south towards Goodwood. The route went Petworth - Petersfield - Haslefield and back to Blackbushe. The was the odd fierce gust as we took off - not welcome. We transitted Farnborough at around 2000ft - another first!

Some of the Red Air Fleet

The navigation exercise wasn't too bad though the wind at 2000ft was stronger than anticipated and I have this terrible tendancy to lock my focus inside the aircraft when I'm using the map or doing FREDA checks - not good. Add to that the death-grip on the controls means I often lose several hundred feet or turn to the left. These bad habits mean I'm frequently climbing back to altitude or correcting my course and as Barrie pointed out can be fatal if we're flying lower.

Exams are becoming a block to progress at the moment so I really need to get on with that. My new Air Navigation book arrived today so GET SOME WORK DONE!