Got some flying in.

Managed to get two sessions in this weekend as the weather has improved dramatically. Was a tad hazy today (which made actually being able to see the horizon rather tricky) but absolutely perfect conditions yesterday.

Got to do a few new things this weekend. Started off with my first go at taxing the aircraft, which I will be doing moving forward. Fairly straight forward, just got to remember to keep my speed down at times. Also today for the first time had to do all the pre-flight checks myself, doing a complete aircraft inspection “A” Check, startup procedures, taxi checks, engine checks at the hold point and altimeter setting. I also got to do my first two takeoffs, all on my own which was rather exciting (managed to use a tad too much of the runway the first time, managed to mess up the trim on the second occasion, but getting slowly better). So apart from using the radio to get taxi and takeoff clearances (which I sense is coming soon) I can pretty much (with the aid of a checklist) get the aircraft started and in the air.

Up in the air we went through a number of different exercises which included:

1. Flying at a different airspeeds straight and level
2. Ascending and Descending at different airspeeds
3. Rate 2 turns while maintaining altitude
4. Rate 1 turns while ascending and descending.

Basically all the basics you need to manoeuvre the aircraft to a particular altitude and heading.

We then moved on to do all the preparation stuff for a simulated landing (essentially preparing for it as though we were coming into land but staying at 3,000 feet), getting the flaps deployed, going through the various checks you need to do and reducing your airspeed while controlling your descent. We also did a session on slow speed flying (about 15 knots above the stall area), again doing turns, descents, ascending at those much slower speeds (where the controls are much less responsive).

They also got me to do two landing approaches, with the instructor taking over as we got to the last 100 feet or so and me just following on the controls. Landing is definitely the most hands on element of the basic flight - pretty much all the other manoeuvres are quite slow and methodical, working through the stages and trying to move the aircraft as smoothly as possible. The final stages of landing by contrast requires a lot of constant little adjustments on the controls as your trying to ensure you hit the runway as accurately as possible. Still it looks doable, and it’s not a lot of use being able to get an aircraft up in the air if you can’t get it back down again!

Got to study up on stalls and spins for next time, which will hopefully be next Sunday.

Hour count = 3.2 Total Flying Hours