My first full circuits …in poor weather!

On Friday, 12 March I flew my first full circuits (take off, climbing turn onto the cross wind leg, levelling off at 1000ft for the downwind leg, descending on the upwind base leg and turning back onto the final leg for landing). I flew G-CEEV again but this time with a new instructor, Chris. This was daunting because on this lesson (my sixth) I had to put together everything I have learned so far.

The weather was really quite poor, very low cloud (about 1,600ft) and an 18knot crosswind from the North.

My takeoffs and climbs were OK (although at times I was using insufficient right rudder in the climbing turn). I flew the southern circuit four times with three touch and goes and landing to a stop on the fourth circuit. The main lesson (apart from the mental pressure of sticking the whole process together) was remembering and acting on 'BUMFRAHL' on the downwind leg: brakes (foot brakes operational and hand brake off), undercarriage (fixed), mixture (not relevant on this diesel 'plane), fuel (electric fuel pump backup on), radio (called "Echo Victor downwind", followed by "Echo Victor" when acknowledged by the control tower), altitude (confirm still at 1,000ft), harnesses (secure and tight) and landing light (on). It may not seem like much but remembering the sequence, doing the checks, and making the radio call whilst controlling the attitude and altitude correctly with the cross wind chucking us about was pretty challenging. I think I did OK though.

Also, my trimming in the descent was not always great but I understand this and am getting this under control (being poorly trimmed on finals means the control column is harder to manage on landing - this may be contributing to my variable landing performance!).

Both instructors have said my final flare on landing will improve and this will come with practice; I'm sure it will but it's frustrating! Still, apparently if I can do circuits in these conditions, I will find it easier when the weather is better. Next lesson is Stalls Part2: stalls in the turn (slightly more dicey apparently!)