Hello gang
I had my first post-lockdown lesson on Saturday but have been very busy turning a year older on Monday and then back into a busy working week because I dared to take a day off
(I never work my birthday, it's depressing)
Anyway, like many of you, I'd been building myself up to it for several weeks now. Getting a bit nervous and wanting to hit the ground running.
Without tooting my own trumpet, I think I achieved that. It went really, really well.
I did all the checks, radios, movements and flying. Landed my first t&g in 6 months pretty darn well too, and the second, and the final landing back at Biggin.
This isn't gloating though, it's pure relief! I'm now at 45.2 hours so have reached minimum hours and, thankfully, my ability hasn't disappeared into the ether.
My next lesson will be a longer solo nav circuit, and then probably the QXC. Followed by revision and the check ride!
Things that went wrong(ish):
- the visibility was pretty poor and I followed my calculated heading but ended up tracking far too northerly, aiming directly for Headcorn. I did realise it didn't look right and verified it with the map and then GPS. All in good time but an important lesson. Why can't I just have skydemon in the cockpit?
- ballooned a little on the landings but didn't aim the nose down, just added a little power, settled the plane and landed. Wasn't bad enough for a go around.
- got a little out of sorts when we went straight from a pfl to joining instructions with Biggin so wasn't set on my distance from BIG, still had Lydd in the box. Didn't think it'd be great to say to Biggin "I'm 32 odd miles north of Lydd"... Er okay, thanks. Instructor owned that one to be fair.
- very nearly turned right instead of left after crossing overhead the runway at Biggin. Right is for rwy 21 and left is for rwy 03. Caught myself though.
All good though and can't wait for my next lesson on the 8th May!
~ Scott