A great session today, perfect vis and a stunning day for flying, gorgeous views out over the North Sea. Lots of pillowcase clouds up at about 2000ft, really choppy in the heat - at times I felt more like a glider pilot as the thermals ballooned me upwards, except I was fighting to keep the aeroplane down rather than up!
More circuits. It's been a couple of weeks so the first few dual circuits were a little sketchy as the rust came off, landings were variably a little too fast, a little too steep, too much momentum, but safe enough to get out solo for 45 mins and then things came together.
Still wracks my nerves going up on my own - kind of like going on a huge rollercoaster but with real jeopardy, and I'm still not sure whether that's actually the thing that attracts me to it despite misgivings when the instructor hops out with a smile! Anyway, did 6 touch and goes and the landings came together just lovely, I was really happy with all of them. My accuracy needs some work - often losing 100ft or so during pre landing checks when the carb heat goes on, and sometimes gaining 100 ft or so on crosswind with the thermals (or once or twice as I slightly relaxed into the brief cruise, took my eye off the ball and allowed myself to take in the view).
One nervy moment, I knew I had a couple of hours of fuel, had checked the tanks, but in the chop the fuel needles were bouncing around and pretty much useless. I glanced at the fuel on downwind - just as I hit an updraft and the needles both hit 'E' at the same time. That gave me a somewhat squeaky bottom... had I screwed the caps on properly?
But I got out today and three different people commented on how impressed they were with the landings, it made me glow, although I'm not going to let it go to my head because pride before the fall from 1000ft would probably hurt, briefly. It's a proper credit to my instructor - he's a very good and patient teacher.
35 minutes left and I can graduate from circuits into the nav exes.
Found myself talking about flying to my dad the other day and I felt myself gushing about it. I honestly can't think of anything I've done in my life previously that has been so simultaneously engaging, challenging and enjoyable. Days like today... what it's all about.