Fri Feb 11, 2022 6:24 pm
#1898663
Normal positive service is resumed...
Nice morning for flying and my first go on 04/22.
It seems (probably unsurprisingly to most of you) that my instructor was much less concerned about my dodgy landing last week than I was. Flatly refused another circuit session, agreed to a land away at Wellesbourne and back. If all OK, the aircraft was available to get back on the horse with a quick solo after.
Planning the short trip to Wellesbourne was OK (seems stupid really - almost took longer to plan it than fly it). Wiz wheel becoming more natural to use (shouldn't have got SD though - the temptation to just use that is strong but won't help me pass the skills test). Booked out for the first time. No drama although they did seem to think it would be busy (which in the end, it wasn't particularly and definitely been snarled up in a lot more traffic previously). Did the PPR and paid landing fee online (first time doing both of these - again, no drama). I'd already printed out the Pooleys plate so had a rough idea of the layout of Wellesbourne and what runway I would be on. Did the pre-flight again too.
It's definitely nice to be taking off on a brand new runway - could barely feel that we were moving. All very uneventful on the way over to Wellesbourne. SOHJ and landing on 18 was OK - nothing to write home about, no stall warning or greased landing but all wheels, wings, teeth and pride still intact. Another first today - parking on grass (I know, how spoilt are we Gloucester'ites). Good to do it though. Quick brew (bacon sarney smelled great but the W&B with both of us and full fuel is getting a bit close on the 152) and back to Gloucester for another SOHJ onto 22. Bit different flying a new (to me) pattern. Mildly disconcerting that we were called number 1 on downwind to find as we were turning base onto final that there was another aircraft doing the same. Instructor took over and some muttering later we were back on track behind the other aircraft. Again, landing not going to win any prizes but uneventful so instructor happy for me to go off as the weather was so good.
Just did a solo bimble up to Worcester and back - no planning required. Was all uneventful too. As I have been on all my solo time so far, I was respectfully nervous but once I get the first radio call in, the training seems to kick in and everything falls into place. I flew up and over my house - wondered if Mrs M might pop out but should have known better - belly button fluff holds more interest for her than my flying. Still ever hopeful that one day, she might come up and enjoy my new hobby with me but for now, it's just a pipe dream. Back into Gloucester and it was pretty quiet - straight into a SOHJ and first onto 22. Landing acceptable. Whilst I'm getting it down OK and I understand all of the principles of descending, levelling off, wait for the sink and pull back, I don't feel yet that I'm fully comfortable with exactly when and how it should be happening. I'm doing it when it seems right but I don't know if it is or not. Just practice and familiarity I guess. It's a tricky thing because you can't pause and dissect what you're doing and it's over in what seems like a flash.
It's a nice short taxi pretty much direct off the end so was back in good time. Another 40 minutes of solo logged. Sort of wished now that I'd gone a bit further but actually, I'm quite comfortable with my progress. I'm enjoying learning (despite last week - and that's the last time I mention it) so in no rush to build up hours on a relatively pointless bimble.
Next week is hopefully a dual land away to Shobdon for a brew and back again. All being well, the one after that will be a solo landaway. I do like the learning process because at this particular moment in time, I'm not phased about doing a solo landaway. I basically did all the prep for Wellesbourne, it went OK so I feel respectfully confident that I could do it on my own. That said, I wasn't 100% sure where the cafe was when I got there but had I been on my own, I expect I could have sniffed out a bacon butty.
I'm still amazed at how fortunate I have been with weather. Started in August last year and missed very few. Not good for cashflow but hopefully the regularity will pay off as most weeks seem to have been progress. I noticed looking back that @PeteSpencer had a similar (but shorter) experience to mine with a mild winter. Hope it can continue but as said before, I'm in no rush and enjoying learning. Will almost certainly carry on with some IFR training straight after but not counting chickens yet - still a long way to go.
Excited to be doing the radio course with Irv Lee tomorrow too - probably good job it's on zoom as off out for a curry now.
Lesson 22, 25h45m total, 21h55 dual, 3h50 solo
PPL(A) gained 30/8/22, started Aug 21, C-152, EGBJ