Wednesday 9 January 2013

Lesson 41 - Solo time baby




Lesson: 41


09/01/2013

  • Lessons time: dual - 0.7h, solo - 1.5h

  • Total time: 39.8h (2.6h solo)

  • Location: EGAD

  • Aircraft: G-UFCM (Tecnam 2002JF)
I was hoping for a nice weather Today. And there it was :-) Bit nippy, but still, clear skies, little wind.
Got greeted by the instructor for the day, who was very happy to take me out for few circuits "and then we will see".
I stopped flying for two reasons, money and frustration. I was doing circuits with instructors for hours, not being able to do solo consolidation. Part of it, was the fact that I couldn't afford more then 2-3 hours a month. And flying after 2-3 week break each time is not ideal. This time, I'm spending more money hoping I'll get more done. And so far (apart from few little things) it's better. Anyway..

Went up with the instructor, runway 04 right hand circuits (bit of a wind was favouring that runway in the morning).  This was my first lesson this year, so the first circuit was a warm up. I ended up too high, too tight (quite visible from the gps track). As a consequence, I had to go around twice. Each time extending the downwind a bit more. What seemed like a good turning point in 152, didn't seem to work in Tecnam for some reason. Altho, I'm sure experienced pilot would be able to fly it - I'm not one.

I was asked to do a glide one too. The aircraft seemed to glide forever. But that's ok. I suppose it's better for it to glide further in case engine stops, then not!

I won't bore you with the usual stuff. At this stage I wrote about circuits more then one should anyway.
Suffice to say, about 40 minutes in I was asked to make it full stop and taxi to the apron.
Here's the difference from 152. In 152, instructor was just able to pop out and let me loose like that. In Tecnam, because of the way you get into it (leading edge of the wing), you have to stop the engine. Like the instructor said, no one fancies to be minced. I fully agree :-)

So I had a chance to do an engine start up on my own too !. Cool.
Taxied all the way through triangle, did power checks (by myself!) and off I went. It was bit bumpy over Newtownards sometimes, so I kept speed on the plus side and tried making gentler turns to crosswind. The guy flying in front of me, in PA28 was flying quite a long crosswind and downwind. So I had to follow his steps. That also gave me bit more time to reflect on my situation. Solo again. Yay. By the 3rd circuit novelty wore off, and I had to pinch myself back into focus. I suppose, that's one of the reasons we're let loose to do solo!
All in all, I think I did pretty well.  After few circuits it was time to go back. First part 0.7h solo in Tecnam done :D Instructor offered me to do more circuits in an hour or two (after lunch and when aircraft is back). Offer I couldn't refuse of course :-)

Had lunch, etc. I was suppose to have RT lesson, but the guy I'm doing it with - advised me to take the opportunity to fly if one arises, we can do RT anytime - he said.

Once the Tecnam was back from another lesson, I asked if I could take it now, and was given permission to do few more circuits solo. Yay.

So off I went. This time favoured runway was 22. Again, done everything from start to finish by myself. Which was a nice feeling. 22 takes you over the loch, and then you end up on base and finals over the city. So bumps now happened there.

For about half the time I had C172 in front doing circuits. So I had to follow his lead. Again, quite large circuits from what I would usually do. But ok, again, more time to do things.

After 3-4 circuits C172 stopped flying and I was alone in the circuit. I decided to have few more, it felt like I'm getting enough of this fun for Today. Around the same time, I did another thing on my own (I know, sounds silly). Made the decision to change tanks, from left to right.
I made few mistakes, such as ending up too low over the city once (followed by two high approaches), or forgetting to retract flaps at 300ft (only spotted that mistake bit later :/ ). Forgot to call finals once or twice too. So it was time to make this one a full stop.

I thought I'd never say that, but I felt towards the end, despite few little things - like I'm having enough of circuits. There's more to PPL course then just flying circuits. As much as I do understand the importance of practicing approaches and landings, I hope to move on to navigation exercises soon (navex's for short). Still have to do 0.4h solo, let's hope I'll be able to do that on Friday (weather permitting of course). And few more with instructor of course, to see if I started developing any nasty solo habits ;)

All in all very good day!

Quite busy. It's good that I'm self employed now. Being able to fit work around my life, is really a good thing. Spent pretty much whole day (10am till about 8pm) in the club!

Per usual, gps traces:



  • Route: burning holes in the sky

  • Milestones: Solo in Tecnam !

  • Exercises covered: 12,13, solo circuits

  • Weather: quite calm for NI. Bit nippy in the morning, bit warmer later