Flying without an engine

A Robin DR-400 aerotug towing us to 2500ft above the Hampshire countryside

Last Tuesday I had go at gliding at Lasham Airfield, one of Europe's premier gliding centres. After a quick safety briefing on the ground, the aerotug took us to 2500ft where the rope was disconnected and the glider left to gently turn inside a rising thermal. During the flight I was shown the the proper gliding attitude and airspeed, followed by the effects of the controls-climbing,descending,turning and flight close to the stall. Obviously the main differences to the powered flying I am used to is the absence of an engine-no mixture and throttle to worry about, this makes it alot quieter, although the rush of the airflow around the canopy breaks any eerie silences.

The airbrake was another feature different to a small GA powered aircraft,used to create drag and increase the rate of descent by disrupting the lift over the wing. I found the glider which was a German built K13 to be very responsive, and the increased amount of rudder needed quite pronounced- the large wingspan of a glider incurs alot of adverse yaw and aileron drag so rudder is used to coordinate all turns.

The K13 glider at rest

I will certainly be doing more gliding alongside my PPL course- as it not only develops your general handling and flying skills but its great hitching a lift with mother nature as you have to be able to recognise areas generating thermals therefore lift. A good challenge!

Another one bites the dust...

Just completed yet another exam- Aircraft General Knowledge and Principles of Flight achieving 80%. Pretty pleased with that. It certainly helps studying this exam later in the course as I was able to relate to many questions having seen it for real in the aeroplane. Very useful if your a visual learner!

3 down 4 to go

The' flying navigation classroom' inside a Vickers Varsity, an ex RAF training aircraft

Without any flying in the last two months (sadly, bit frustrating-but what can you do with the wonderful British weather!) so I was committed to bury my head amongst books on navigation. Just over a month later and navigation is now done...not the easiest exam by no means, but interesting and practical. Progressing well, look forward to flying soon and getting back into it, hopefully if we get some settled weather...

First Solo

'Oscar Alpha' after one fantastic flight

Turning up to the Aeroclub on Friday, I thought I was in for another ordinary lesson. Three circuits and one EFATO (Engine Failure After TakeOff), I was instructed to make a full stop landing and my instructor said those stomach dropping words, 'I'm going to send you solo now,...'

Well what an experience, all that training and 'circuit bashing' paid off and I felt confident, happy and calm during the 7 minute long flight. As my own 'autopilot' kicked in, it was only on crosswind leg that I realised just exactly what I was doing-flying this marvellous little aeroplane all by myself! What a confidence booster! I was very surprised how quickly the machine accelerated with just one soul on board. I then made a fairly decent landing on runway 32L, not perfect, bit of a balloon before touchdown- but I managed to control it and hold off nicely!

Overall I was pretty damn pleased with my first solo to say the least, not just the fact that I'd reached this milestone but also the fact that I was ready for it, so I could remain confident and enjoy every minute of the experience.

Next up-building solo hours in the circuit and finish Navigation theory...

Smooth flying

Last Wednesday I had the pleasure flying in some of the most smoothest, calm (but very cold) air. It was a bitterly cold morning with fog clearing inland and a very very slight north westerly, but these conditions made for some very satisfying and rewarding flying in the Cessna, even my instructor said it was some of my best flying to date!...All in all, not a bad morning, but enough to warrant a blog entry!

I'm now a very small step from my first solo flight...hopefully some favourable weather and decent landings till then

Circuits

I am now well into flying the circuits at Goodwood, building up experience and practice in takeoffs and landings. The circuit is a rectangular flying pattern around the airfield involving the takeoff,climb,turn onto crosswind leg,then fly onto downwind leg (parallel to the runway in use),turn onto base leg,begin descent, one final turn onto final leg to line up with the runway followed by the landing(hopefully a smooth one!). I'm finding circuits hard work but good fun, and there's always some progress with each lesson, which is encouraging.

Cloud base

After a small break from flying I was back to work flying the circuits. The first attempt was cancelled due to a low cloud base of 900ft, too low-as when flying in the circuit at my flying school you need to be at 1200ft-easily clearing the terrain of the South Downs. I was hugely unlucky as the weather had been so good ( almost too good) up to then (when I wasnt flying) and the day I turn up-its dismall! Anyway, thats the challenge when flying in UK airspace and one we have to live with.

I found even after a four week break from flying how your flying skills can change. Needless to say I was a little rusty, one thing which was unplanned was flying into a cloud, in one moment my outside view turned into a grey, nothingness murk. It was easily corrected by descending to clear the cloud base-I found it fun and exciting but at the same time will avoid it in the future since i'm not qualified to fly through cloud, I need to remain in VMC or Visual Meteorological Conditions meaning in most cases I need to remain with the ground surface in sight.

Till next time Practice,practice,practice!