First Solo Circuit session
PostPosted:Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:22 pm
Hi all,
I’ve been a lurker on the forum since starting my PPL is April but given my progress to solo seems to have taken forever ( 28hours) I didn’t feel like contributing.
But having soloed just before Christmas, I was let loose for my first circuit solo yesterday and what a blast it was. I train out of Elstree , which is an interesting adventure every time.
Yesterday I was told to line up on 26, but hold while two walkers and their dog crossed the end of the runway. I loved being to report I had visual on the dog. Moments later I was up in the air , right hand circuit, climbing out over the motorway , turning at the cemetery avoiding the church spire in one of the villages. All too soon I was diving down onto 26 just over the school ,crossing the numbers, just about on the centreline before faffing about with flaps, carb heat, keeping things straight before taking off. I managed 4 circuits before tower came on to advise my circuit time was up. A modern version of “come in No 6, your time is up”
As others have expressed it’s a wonderful feeling flying a small aircraft, with the confidence you know what you’re doing, it’ll be safe. I didn’t feel stressed at all, which is the way it should be, as my FI and CFI have said. Perfect weather yesterday though. Light winds straight down the runway, and non of the turbulence of the summer.
Shame it can’t be always like that, but I can’t wait to be airborne again.
Cheers
I’ve been a lurker on the forum since starting my PPL is April but given my progress to solo seems to have taken forever ( 28hours) I didn’t feel like contributing.
But having soloed just before Christmas, I was let loose for my first circuit solo yesterday and what a blast it was. I train out of Elstree , which is an interesting adventure every time.
Yesterday I was told to line up on 26, but hold while two walkers and their dog crossed the end of the runway. I loved being to report I had visual on the dog. Moments later I was up in the air , right hand circuit, climbing out over the motorway , turning at the cemetery avoiding the church spire in one of the villages. All too soon I was diving down onto 26 just over the school ,crossing the numbers, just about on the centreline before faffing about with flaps, carb heat, keeping things straight before taking off. I managed 4 circuits before tower came on to advise my circuit time was up. A modern version of “come in No 6, your time is up”
As others have expressed it’s a wonderful feeling flying a small aircraft, with the confidence you know what you’re doing, it’ll be safe. I didn’t feel stressed at all, which is the way it should be, as my FI and CFI have said. Perfect weather yesterday though. Light winds straight down the runway, and non of the turbulence of the summer.
Shame it can’t be always like that, but I can’t wait to be airborne again.
Cheers
