Yep, more crosswind circuits

I am now the circuit-basher in chief! Another 6 touch n goes and a landing to a stop today off runway 08; lefthand circuits over Bletchley Park (1,000ft over 2 Spitfire gate guardians!). This time in PA 28 G-OOFT.

The weather deteriorated through the hour to the point where the wind sock was horizontal at almost 90 degrees across the runway - testing conditions. My Pre-flight, radio and circuit flying (loads of crabbing against the wind) were all improved but I struggled on the late finals (as previously). After 2 touch n goes, Dan told me that he had been monitoring me and I was not doing the visual scan correctly: e.g. I was not monitoring my airspeed indicator on late finals - v bad :((

The next late final approach was much better as I kept it at 65 knots. Nevertheless, we did one go around rather than a touch and go as I got the flight profile too messy (euphemism for the final seconds before impact!). My throttle control is still too hesitant and he is encouraging my to be more purposeful in the late stages.

I feel I've improved today, despite the tough weather conditions and really enjoyed the hour. Even more circuits beckon - practice makes perfect (or passable).

Crosswind circuits

On Saturday 30th April (the day after the Royal Wedding), I flew set of southerly circuits off runway 08 with my instructor Dan in pretty tricky crosswind of 15kts gusting to 20.

On the whole, my circuits were good (once I'd found Bentley Priory as a reference on the downwind leg). Quite a lot of crabbing to stay on line. My radio work was not great and I was rushing my downwind checks a little.

But ... my landings just weren't happening at all. Despite pretty good approaches, in every case I fluffed the late final line up and flare: 7 times out of 7! Dan was just shaking his head. He said I was panicking but I didn't and still don't think that - I was just f*&^ing it up! When we (he) finally landed, we had a good talk about what is going wrong. He reckons that I am pulling the nose up too early with the consequent drop in lift and almost stalling in. I'm also drifting left just at the last moment which i just don't get (it was v windy though). Back to the text book and more practice .... sigh ... who said flying was easy... :(

Circuit bashing and learning

Last Sunday, 17 April at 10:20 I flew a set of circuits with my new(ish) instructor Dan. Even though I wasn’t great, I felt the rust coming off and left feeling that I was improving albeit slowly and am starting to believe I will be able to get my PPL one day.

6 touch ‘n’ goes and a landing to a full stop. Take off on runway 26, left-hand circuit to the North just short of Radlett. Weather was sunny, very hazy with cloud base at 2,500ft. The downwind leg was done at 1,000ft.

Takeoff and initial climb and level off were all good and pretty consistent (still need to gain a better rudder feel though). Dan pointed out the way points which were pretty easy to monitor. I did much more of the radio work this time with no problems.

On the first 2 circuits I was a bit slow on the downwind checks and the base leg came up fast meaning that I was not in the best position for final approach. (A new acronym; every instructor seems to have their own favourite: BUMFRASIT: Brakes, Undercarriage, Mixture, Fuel, Radio, Security, Icing, Temperatures [& pressures]. In practice, we get the downwind radio call out of the way first to concentrate on the checks and positioning for coming down on the base leg).

The base leg check – power to 20%, 2 flap settings (25%), altitude and trim for 75 knots - all the time maintaining the ‘picture’ on the left re. the runway threshold.

Then the final flap setting, radio call and landing. Landings 1 and 2 were pretty ropey. The whole of circuit 3 was good but … I’m still not nailing it every time. In particular, I seem to be wayward on the final flare … practice, practice, practice.

One interesting moment: I was on finals at 400ft and just over 30 seconds from touchdown and airtraffic control cleared another aircraft onto the runway to backtrack in my direction to the takeoff hold. My instructor was VERY direct with air traffic who then instructed the other aircraft to do a 180 and exit the runway immediately. We landed without mishap.

I’ve had to cancel both my lessons for this coming weekend (going to Cornwall with Kirsty!) but I’m up again on Saturday 30^th April.

Mad stat

Since I have started to learn to fly, I have had 17 lessons cancelled due to adverse weather conditions ... bloody British climate!

Back in the hot seat

Flew on Sunday, 3 April with a new instructor, Dan N. My previous instructor, Keith L, has a new co-pilot job with Easyjet at Luton Airport. As I hadn't met Dan before we took 15 minutes to talk through my training notes. I explained that not having flown since early November, I felt that I was going to be rusty .... and so it came to pass!

I did the pre-flight check and all was OK (although I forgot to switch on the electrics and test the stall warner and lights). We strapped in and I went through the pre-engine start checks, I taxied out and after clearance I took off to the West on runway 26.

A 15 degree climbing turn to the NW and we headed off, past Bovingdon airfield, towards Amersham and Chesham at 2,300ft at 95kts. The weather was patchy cloud, I'd say 60-70% with a base at 2,600ft.

The plan was to do some basic handling checks to get me back into the swing and allow Dan to cast his eye over my flying. I'm glad he did as I wasn't as accurate as I have been in the past. Medium turns through 180 and onto various different headings were fine though. Climbing turns and descents likewise good. For some weird reason I am left foot heavy on the rudder; Dan's never seen this before (I put it down to being a bit out of kilter after my knee operation in January). Dan also checked out my acronym knowledge and application: FREDA, HASELL, HELL, BUMFRAHL and SHIT - all OK.

We then did a series of stall recoveries. The way we did these varied a bit from my previous experience as Dan made me keep the control column all the way back at idle power past the stall warning and shudder point until the rapid stall pitch initiated - full power and wings level to recover. I did 3 stall recoveries and lost about 300 ft each time: too much, I need to practice this.

On the return, I flew back to London picked up the M25 motorway. Dan asked me where the airfield was and I was able to show him on the map and point it out from 8 miles. My approach to the circuit was good initially but with a little too much power. At 2 miles out and lined up I was a little high and fast and messed up the final approach to the extent that I heard: " I have control" in my headphones and Dan landed the aircraft. I felt frustrated but he was 100% right because we were heading for a late "Go around" call. It was the first time since the very earliest lesson that I hadn't landed the 'plane. To compound matters, I taxied the aircraft back a little too fast for his liking.

The debrief was to the point: good stuff: take off, general handling, some of the radio work (he's going to brief me to do more of this next lesson), situational awareness (radio, air traffic and location). Bad stuff: heavy left foot on the rudder, fast taxiing, slow stall recovery and landing approach. Dan was encouraging in that he graciously put some of this down to my lack of 'currency' (e.g. I haven't flown much recently) - I think he's right...

I've booked another 5 lessons between 17 April and 7 May. Also, I still haven't sat and passed the Air Law exam (!).

Fogged off!

Breaking and predictable non-news: Freezing fog grounds Stephen for the nth (15th?) cancelled lesson due to inclement weather since he started to learn to fly. Am beginning to understand why people go to Florida for flight training ...

At least my Air Law revision is intensifying ... just about averaging the 75% pass rate required in my online test exams. A bit more headache inducing cramming and I should be good to to take the infernal test!

Pilot George ...photographer Stephen

My son, George (15) and I both had separate flying lessons booked for 12:30 today; me with Keith L and George with Alfonso B.. In the event, G-CEEV had a flat battery, so we elected that George would fly with Alfonso instructing with me as supernumerary photographer in the back.

After the pre-flight briefing for George (focusing on flight control primary and secondary effects), we all climbed into PA 28 G-CETD and took off to the East. It was fantastically clear and very cold (-1C at ground level).

George flew the exercises - the secondary yawing effect of full left rudder developing into spiral dive was the most exciting (thanks for bumping my head on the roof George!). He was really good at controlling this with fully deflected right aileron and we crabbed happily through the sky.

We had a great view of the Queen Elizabeth 2 bridge over the Thames and then George flew us back to Elstree following the M25 motorway North and Alfonso landed.

The flight was notable for a brief incident when both we and another aircraft reported to Elstree that we were in exactly the same position 4 miles out of the aerodrome. They spotted us made the call and we then saw them about 100ft below and behind us in the 5 o'clock position. They went round again and we all landed without mishap.

On the downside, I didn't get to fly but am booked in again for next Sunday 5 December.