Cessna Time Again

I had another lesson today with Christian, its revision time on the run up to my PPL skills test so today we went through some forced landings. A forced landingis where you recover the plan and land it after you have suffered an engine failure.

Its actually a lot easier than it sounds, I remember the first couple of times I practised it, it was a nightmare, you have your instructor telling you we're gonna die if you don't fly the plane so you panic.

If you are embarking on your flying and haven't gone the far with your instructor then don't worry, relax. The trick is to fly the aircraft, basically trim for 65-70 knots, whatever is the safe slow speed of your plane is. Once you have the plane flying level, pick a suitable landing spot, into wind. Don't panic and don't fly too far away from your intended landing spot.

As daft as it sounds, but its amazing how many people forget that you can loose height, but can't gain it. Take your time, pick you landing spot and go for it, if you are too high then drop some flap to reduce the height, again don't panic.

I've a couple of more lessons booked and I still have two exams to take before my skills test, but I'm on target for taking that before the end of the month.

Solo Cross Country Navigation....

Wednesday saw the arrival of my Solo Cross country Navigation qualifier, those of you that know about the PPL will know that it is a solo flight of 150 nautical miles stopping at two other airfields.

The orginal plan was to fly from Sandtoft to Teeside, then to Humberside and then back into Sandtoft. Due to the glider competition (400 of them apparently in the air) we had to come up with a plan "B", plan B turned out to be Sandtoft to Connington (Peterborough) then to Leicester and returning back to Sandtoft.

Easy I thought, I got my plog ready the night before, except the headings/gs and also times as this would depend on the wind of the day. Drew my lines on the chart and thought "I can do this"...

I arrived at Sheffield and flew over to Sandtoft with my instructor (Christian) in the Firefly, not sure I have said this enough, but it is a lovely plane.... We got out, got her fueled and off I went. I was somewhat nervous, my real concerns were the radio and joining the circuits at the various airfields. On my plog I had 7 ATCs that I would need to talk to, 3 of them being military.

After a while I settled into it, the Firefly has 2 radios so I was able to get all the stations I would need all programmed up, which made things easier. When I called up Barston Heath and gave my details I remembered a comment a few people had made about being solo so I tagged on "Solo Student on Nav Ex", at that point ATC was brilliant with me, it made things so much less stressful for me. It really fealt like they we diverting traffic around me (sounded like it) which left me to get on with the navigating.

If anyone from Barkston Heath or Cottesmore ATC is reading this then all I can say is thank you. I found Connington without any real issue as its located between a railway and the A1. Joined overhead, I was a little high so I lost quite a bit of height while descending on the deadside. The only problem with that was the Firefly then goes like a rocket, I had to shed quite a bit of speed as I entered the circuit at nearly 140 knots !!

I managed to slow her up and landed nice and soft, I know I said it before, but she is a lovely plane to fly. Backtracked and attempted to park up... *sigh*, mental note, but learn to park a plane !! I signed in and got my paperwork sorted had a quick drink and an ice cream and then got back in and headed to Leicester.

It was really nice at Connington and if you are passing I can't recommend it enough, there landing fees are only a tenner and it has a nice little bar/cafe with plenty of seating inside and out, plus a conservatory. They made me feel very welcome and I will certainly be going back (their site is http://www.flying-club-conington.co.uk/).

So off I flew, 20 minutes later I had Leicester insite, so called them up. "Good afternoon Leicester Radio, Gold Bravo Lima Victor India request information for joining." I know you don't need the "Good afternoon" and it is sometimes frowned on, but it feels impolite not using it. Their response... "Negative Golf Victor India the airfeld is closed we have had an incident please divert". At this point I thought f@*k, everything was going so well. I put myself in an orbit while looking at the chart to find somewhere else to land so I could ring Sheffield to find out what to do and there is nothing round there so I thought,well I can write today off and go back to Sandtoft and it would be one very expensive day. But no, I decided to head back to Connington and ring the School and find out what to do next.

After a quick chat they suggested ringing Leicester to find out how long they would be closed for and they were going to be closed for the rest of the day... again f@*k. The lady on the desk at Connington said she could get their CFI to come up with another route if I needed, which sounded like a plan. I rang Sheffield and they said just head to Humberside an then return to Sandtoft as it would probably be easier.

I hated the last time I went into Humberside as it seemed so alien, I'd only been there once and it had been my first landing at a controlled airfield and it sounded like they were talking a strange language. So with a lump in my throat I drew the track on the chart... great... I was also going to pass through a MATZ just as the day couldn't get any better. Again Connington were very helpful and offered to check my chart, but as it basically straight north and I needed to get off I decided against it. But it was a nice offer and made me feel a lot better, they really looked after me.

I got to the plane and took the photo above (top left) and then couldn't get the plane started... eventually managed it and headed north again once I was approaching the MATZ I called the correct ATC and passed my details adding the Student Pilot bit and they told me to fly at 2500 and basically stay there. Again they diverted everything around me, at one point they called me up to advise that there was "heavy traffic" moving from my right to left... They were not kidding it was some sort of passenger jet.

Those of you who have flown round the area will recognise the crossed runways of Wickenby.

A bit later they advised that they had multiple contacts, probably gliders, height unknown. It was at this point that I thought WTF, how can we have things in the sky that people can see on radar, but don't know the height of. I really think everyone should carry a mode C transponder if they are above 500'. Having seen a glider on the way down to Connington, who seemed completely oblivious to me and I was in a yellow plane I can see why its quite dangerous.

I can see the appeal of a Glider, doesn't do anything for me, but with the skies getting busier and busier we need to know where everyone is.

I swiched to Doncaster, who then passed me to Humberside, I called the tower by mistake, but the in the tower was great, got me to join right base and directed me in as their runways are massive! I again got my paperwork signed to the ATC who directed me in, he came down to do it and he was a friendly bloke and its nice to be able to meet them, he made this visit to Humberside so much less daunting than the last one.

After a quick bottle of diet coke (in a real glass bottle!!) I headed off, got the plane started and headed outbound to Sandtoft which I found without issue and landed without ploblems.

Its was a very stressful and long day, but what a buzz. I'm glad that I decided to learn to fly and I can only thank the various people who have helped me get this far.

I only need two more exams some revision flying and then off on my skills test, end of August I will be a PPL.