Biggin to Biggin via Rochester/Southend Overhead

[ConcordeBA]

Hello All,

I thought I'd share it because it was a fantastic flight, oh and it was 'Friday 13th (Superstitious much?) even though I never took pictures/videos (My mate did - so I'll upload once there ready) yesterdays lesson got cancelled so the instructor went through some of the air navigation theory which pretty much helped as expected, and what I had read so far.

So the plan was set yesterday, when he was driving away from the airport or I would go solo circuit. But I opted that I'd prefer to go Nav due to the fact that my NAV exam is pre-booked for Sunday, and that it would greatly help and that it's still hours towards my license and I wasn't loosing out, as I'd have to do EX 18 sooner or later again.

Anyway managed to get a decent plog done, and the INST agreed and liked it - so went through weight and balance and all was good and within our limits. 20 minutes later we was airbourne, so I climbed towards Sevenoaks and once again it was quite - so looked at my chart, looked at my plog and started the timing (Really need to get a watch, as I was using the Instructors arm - must have laughed at the thought) but anyways - tracked off Sevenoaks at 071M, towards Rochester, so I knew where Rochester was, but obviously being a noob at NAV I couldnt really find what I was looking for, but finally did. Only problem I had was I was looking for the mast and flew 2nm off track and right over it instead of south of it, but hey hi ho!

Gave Rochester a call, and there was no answer at all - so we did a courtesy call saying we was going overhead at 2300ft and once we got there what a lovely view we got of the River Thames Estuary and Medway. Reminds me why I love flying, because that's part of why we love it right? The views?

Then tracked towards Southend, which was also quite gave us a Overhead at 2200ft - once we got overhead I turned on track for Swanley - and thankfully managed to find my way home once I managed to sort out the compass. We was at 2400ft, and someone else at 2400ft also going right at us - so instinct I said to my instructor I am dropping to 2000ft, does that meet my safety height? yes - power off, carb heat on.. bye bye 2400ft and hello 2000ft. Woooah that was close, if we had of stayed at 2400ft, that's all I can say - 400ft looks close, 0ft - or so, hmmm!


Anyways, Biggin kindly gave us a straight in via the left base for Runway 21 and as soon as this happened the Runway lights came on, that made me happy for some reason but there you go - it was for the jet behind wasn't it Biggin ATC, not for me? haha!

Flying is one thing, but navigating also is interesting and the workload initially can be a lot!




See image, full for some details of my messy plog.
http://twitpic.com/4x759d

Has anyone else noticed how quite it's been GA wise lately?? (Guessing due to the fuel price - Jan/Feb/Mar was so busy I couldn't get a word in edge ways)