So we've been to Lydd, now it's time to go to Goodwoods. Weather was good Today and with few cancellations - instructor let me know we can go.
I planned the whole route day before, in the anticipation. We were suppose to go there on Friday afternoon right after work. But that was stretching it and the weather wasn't great either.
I was late on Saturday morning, somehow after the week at work - I felt very knackered and needed some sleep. I got on with planning quickly, there was virtually no wind (VRB) - but I took the Biggin wind, 060/10 for planning.
With everything done and quick preflight we were airborne in 20 or so minutes. From the start I was slightly behind the aircraft and going west there's a lot going on. I have to keep very good lookout, because I know the attitude of the glider pilots - and that they don't care about ATZs, controller airspace and propelled traffic. On top of that , radio was very busy, unfamiliar territory. I don't know, but in general it wasn't the best day for me either. and it did show. Instructor didn't scream or took over, so I was still safe - but if I was on my own on that day, I would have turned back. It did get better later on tho. Somehow I feel double pressure when I know that there are gliders in the area.
With the proposed airspace changes in the area - I think it will make things even more frantic in the air and less safe.
I had 270 radial tuned in on the BIG VOR, so I don't bust LTMA, and was aware where I was - but somehow still I felt like I'm behind the aircraft. To add confusion, even tho the day was nice - it was very bumpy. Everything that did heat up - was creating thermals - and I had to make small adjustments from time to time and some bigger ones when the aircraft decided to turn 20 deg due to the wind. Later on (towards the end) it was actually a bit grotesque like this. There were two fires/smoke sources on the ground about 20 miles apart. Each one was showing wind blowing in opposite - pretty much - direction. Never seen anything like that before :-)
We ended up pointing more towards Woking - so I did call in all the features around and pointed us in the right direction. The first hint was us being slightly closer to the Epsom Track - but again, being tossed around and not in front of the aircraft meant that I didn't got that hint. Another lesson learned.
Once over Guildford we turned roughly South. Called some features, again - completely new area to me. Instructor started asking me about some features around me - but I couldn't point them clearly on the chart. This part of the world is littered with features on the chart - it takes me half a minute or a minute sometimes to locate clearly a mast, or such and confirm that it is the one. On top of that, I did feel a bit agitated knowing that I wasn't ahead as much as I would love to.
After identifying all the features, we tuned in Goodwoods VOR, I did nicely identify it, etc. It was obvious that we need to track slightly to the left to reach Goodwoods. I asked Farnborough for frequency change, which took a bit - the frequency was very busy. Next time I'll do it about 15 miles out - otherwise it might be hard.
Once in sight of Goodwoods we planned an overhead join at 2000ft, and then drop down to 1200ft circuit level (QFE). It has been a while since I talked to non-ATC - so it was bit odd. Things were very busy at Goodwoods as well.
On finals for 06 I ended up rather high, so I had to go around. Altho calling go-around is the last thing on the list, it helps people around to get the picture more clearly. The next circuit was extended slightly - due to other traffic - and we ended up just right on finals. We were to use short field take off and landing technique there, since it's grass. I did however let aircraft slow down on its own on the ground, didn't want to brake too much on grass. That was pointed out to me later, as something I should have done much earlier.
Once we landed, I got confused on the radio. For some reason I thought controller said 'stand 13 to the left of the tower'. But I couldn't spot anything saying stand 13. Turned out, he said 3rd stand to the left of the control tower. Oh dear.
Once we parked up nicely, we went to pay the landing fee and have something to drink. I've been to Goodwoods before, albeit drove in - so it was nice to see the other side of the airfield for change.
I did quick check on the chart, as to the way we need to take to the 06 and where to do the power checks.
The landing fee was reasonable, but price for a can of fanta - has to be said - wasn't. £1.20 - that's rather steep. Tap water is free tho!
We went back to the aircraft, started up. It took a bit power to start rolling - I think wheels got a bit buried in the soft soil, they looked alright from outside.
We took off 06, and turned east. I mocked up on the radio (again), and had to ask Goodwoods Information which frequency I should talk to next. They suggested Farnborough West. It was very busy again, so I got on with navigation. We used VOR and NDB few times to fix our position - I misallocated Brighton (doh!) - again - slightly behind the aircraft, curses. I was only able to get my call in, once we were abeam Shoream - so controller asked me to switch over to Farnborough East pretty much as soon as I finished passing my details.
About 2-3 minutes later as I was trying to identify my half way point - we spotted a glider ahead - doing turns - well into the Gatwick zone (we were at 2400ft, he was at least 400ft above). So I did a sharp turn to the right to avoid it - as it was pretty much going at us. The guy was well above me - so it took me a bit of effort to keep him in sight - due to the high wing configuration. But I think they spotted us at some stage too - and turned to their right. That was a bit of a blood pressure raiser. You'd think that if you're close enough to the edge of the zone - Longitudinally - there should not be anything trying to descent down on you. Well, gliders are apparently exempt from zone clearances.. (sarcasm implied).
So after that nice distraction - I had to come up with our whereabouts - knowing that instructor can pretty much identify the area no problems. Turned out that we weren't much off our course in the end. The town ahead - Uckfield - was pretty clearly identifiable with all the towns and roads, railways in the area. I then turned towards Tunbridge and Tonbridge. Confusing to me, two separate towns - with very similar name. We were suppose to do some PFLs and such around here, but since we were running slightly behind - all we did is just track towards seven oaks using Biggin VOR - this time - intercepting a radial 330 - which would let us over to Biggin pretty much. Again, I did fuck up few things here - that sort of a day... Instructor did however pull power on me, to see what I'll do in simulated engine failure scenarios.
Once about 5 miles south of Sevenoaks we requested frequency change, tuned in ATIS and I asked Biggin about the rejoin instructions. Did a bit of a mockery on radio there too - as I forgot to mention that we are coming from Goodwoods - but I don't know what significance would that have.
The airport was clearly visible, runway 03 this time in use. One thing I did wrong on base tho - apparently - was sudden nose drop to maintain airspeed. I pulled power, put the flaps on - in the mean time the speed decayed to about 50 kt - so I quickly pushed the yoke to recover. Too quickly it seems, instructor did mention that and said that I should make the gradual change in anticipation there - instead of reaction to speed drop. Dully noted.
We landed, filled er up - and that's it. I did notice that instructor wasn't as happy about the lesson as one would hope, but he said that I was safe at all times - and didn't do anything that would raise questions. I was told that next thing on the list will be the solo QXC - so I'm looking forward to that. It probably won't happen this coming week tho - will see. I think the aim is to do it during week, when it isn't as busy around. So I'll need to take a day off for that.
I'm looking forward to that. And in the mean time - I have to speed up my theoretical exams. I have 4 that I have passed in NI, but I'm still waiting for instructor there to send those over.
