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Another good week of weather has allowed given me another two lessons and nearly 4 1/2 hours flying time. Most of the time has been spent going solo in the circuit and Sandtoft... and I must admit its getting boring., but my skill level is increasing and I'm feeling more confident about the flying as a whole.
Due to the DA40 still being away for its service, its allowed me to fly different varients of the PA28, the school has use of a PA28-180, which can move... Its rate of climb is amazing, buts its getting on a bit and is due a new engine so its not in the best of condition.
I think my favorite has to be G-BODD, which is a PA28-161 Warrier, although its only a 160 engine, due to the wind design it is a really nice plane to fly, very smooth. My regular instructor was away on holiday so I have had a new one for the last three lessons, a guy called Christian. Just for the record he really loves his job, he wants to be a commercial pilot and the instructor route is his way of building the hours and paying for his flying career to date.
I'm looking forward to moving onto the next stage of flying, which will be the navigation, but I still need to master the radio, not too bad in the circuit or setting off, its while in the air. Made a right mess of the zone transit through Doncaster, just couldn't get the words out.
On our last return into Sheffield, Christian thought it would be a good idea to do a glide approach, which isn't something I've done many of and the bulk were in the DA40, which is basically a glider with engine so I was a little apprehensive. It didn't go too bad, but the flare was somewhat early and we hit the ground with a bit of a thud, I think I need to practise them a let more.
The picture is of Sandtoft from the downwind leg of Runway "05" during my visit on Thursday, as you can see the weather was very nice.
Its been a while since my last post and I have managed to fit in another 7hrs flying, including another 1hrs 50 mins solo in the circuit at Sandtoft. I am also back in the PA28s, which was a worry the first time as I kinda like the DA40 and only have bad memorys from trying to land at Sandtoft in one. I'm glad I did because it has given me renewed confidence.
How it came about is down to the fast that the DA40 is away at Diamond having its 50hr inspection/service etc so the only choice was to go up in Golf-Yankee-Mike a PA28-160. When I was told about the DA40 I was tempted to cancel the lesson until the DA40 was back, but I decided not to and go up in it anyway.
So off we went, out of Sheffield over Doncaster, routing to Sandtoft... as we approached Sandtoft and joined the circuit I got quite nervous, but landed her without any issues or drama, I did a couple of circuits with the instructor and he then let me go solo again, adivising just to do two and then we would return to Sheffield. It was a good feeling landing the plane without issues, knowing that I can do it.
I had a single lesson booked in on the 12th, but got a phone call part way through the morning from Justin my instructor who said that the student after me had dropped out and wondered if I fancied a double lesson....
Well, work is a bit of a nightmare at the moment and we are at a critical phase in the testing of the system so... I said I would check and let him know when I get there, I sort of knew that once I was there then I was going to take a double lesson and I think he did.
I arrived and the weather was glorious, next to no wind so it became a no brainer... I was going to fly for two lessons. We did a recap on engine failures and glide approaches.... bit of a nightmare, but got the hang of it in the end and the same for engine failure after take off, the thing to do is remember trim your plane for 70 knots then find somewhere suitable to land. Justin keeps saying, and he is right, get the plane to 70 knots and it will fly all by itself, no drama to hastey decisions are needed.
I then landed and Justin got out and off I went, circuits, each time I spoke to the airfield when on final I dreaded Justin telling me to vacate at Echo, which would mean that was it over for this lession, it was nice, just flying in a cicuit taking off and landing. My concerns about being back in the PA28 were put to rest and I emjoyed it until the lesson was over.
Since then I have had a couple of sessions in the PA28s as the DA40 is still away being serviced, during one of the lessons I had to travel to Sandtoft to pick up the place that I was going to fly during the lesson, but due to logistics and various rules about solos flights for that lesson as I had a new instructor. I ended up with three other people in the plane and thankfully had a perfect landing.
I now have 2hrs solo under my belt, another 8 to go for the PPL, hopefully the weather for the rest of April and May will allow me to get a lot more hours in.
Till next time.
