I had decided due to one thing and another to take the afternoon off and go flying, it has been a stressful couple of weeks so it was just what I needed.
I arrived and we decided to run through some role play radio work... oh my god it was hard, its so different from anything I have done before, its logical and just needs some practise, but remembering what to say, what to write down and what to repeat back is quite simple, but try doing it...
Anyway, we got airbourne at 13:50 and headed off to Sandtoft for circuits, the radio work was good/bad and ugly, flying and landing seems so simple by comparision. I entered the circuit without any real prompting from Justin, I understand it a lot better than I did all those hours ago.
If anyone is reading this and is thinking of learning to fly or is just embarking on it then my advise would be to sit down, draw a simple layout of an airfield and get your instructor to explain the joining instructions and then learn them.
So I joined the circuit on the deadside and then turned crosswind and then onto the downwind leg. Pulled the throttle back so the engine was just ticking over and banked right, pulling the nose up to slow the aircraft. Once we were down to about 90 knots (in the white arc) and then put down a stage of flap as I turned onto final, putting down the final stage of flap. Maitaining about 75 knots as it was a little windy. I pointed the nose at the airfield numbers and descended, once I was about 20' above the runway I flew level and then flared the aircraft. I was down, no drama, no prompting from Justin I was down, put the drag flap away, full power and then off, I did this about four more times.
Justing then decided to introduce a landing without power. He climbed us to 2,000' throttled the engine back and basically glided down, perfect landing. I was scared stiff, I don't know why, in the DA40 there is no drama, it doesn't drop out the sky or anything.
My turn, first two attempts and there was no way I was going to get to the ground so it was a "go around", the third attempt I got to the ground without problems, but bounced and it nearly went bad as I pushed the stick forward, which Justin reminded me we should never do.
So, on went the PMA and off we went, this time perfect. We then went through a engine failure after take off, I was terrified until I realised that we were not actually going to do one. Got did I feel a burke, we then did another circuit with me landing. Justing then parked the aircraft and announced he was getting out... I thought he was kidding, but no he got out and told me to do a single circuit and wished me luck.
I can tell you now that it really focuses the mind, not having your instructor next to you. So off I went, 1 stage of flap, at 300' remove the flap, at 500' bank right by 90o then at 1,000' level off and bank right again. On the radio "Golf Foxtrot Sierra Downwind", throttle back and back right again, pulling the nose up to slow down. Bank right into dead mans corder, stage of flap, maintaining 70knots, little bit of power (40%) and drop the next stage of flap. "Golf Foxtrot Sierra Final", point the nose at the numbers on the runway and down I go, the wind had picked up but I just did it, a couple of minutes later I was down....
What a buzz, my first solo flight and it was great. I have never sweated so much in all my life, but its an amazing feeling and at times I never thought it would happen, but it has.
The picture is of the actual plane I fly, although the rate of climb is not as good as the previous PA28-180 I have been flying, she is a great piece of machinery and very easy to fly.
