Sun May 01, 2022 11:25 am
#1909754
Sharing on here and reading the feedback has been quite cathartic, and some great ideas from others. If this is not of interest let me know please.
Weather calm, scattered cloud and some blue skies. Wind was low to start with but choppy and gusty over 300 feet once in the circuit, picking up to around 15 kts. Haze obscured the horizon. Soft field short runway (need to get down well inside the first 3rd otherwise go around).
More confident with my ground work and taxiing. Some small details to iron out, but was somewhat pleased with almost no intervention from my FI, and making all my radio calls, etc.
First line up and take-off was procedurally ok. Not the smoothest as the gusting winds made life tricky above the tree line. Managed the plane entirely myself, which felt good. Speed and heading management were a struggle until around 400 ft, clean configuration and in smoother air. A common theme throughout this lesson was not being able to get the plane trimmed well enough for what I was doing. It may have been the conditions, but I'm not sure.
Was ahead of the plane as we climbed out of the circuit for a little slow flight practice before rejoining for some landing practice.
BTW, despite the fluctuating conditions, the view was breathtaking. I made sure I gave myself a mental break to enjoy that for a few moments.
We then flew an imaginary circuit, practicing checks, turns, and descent, plus a couple of go-arounds. Again, whilst the turns were adequate, controlling speed and ROD was flaky at best.
Next, a quick FEMDO, and I radio for a rejoin, and fly this entirely myself. Overhead join, descending on the dead side for a left hand circuit. I thought the overhead was flown like the circuit, but from crosswind to base was more of an arc following my instructions (lesson learned).
Whilst turn accuracy was ok, speed and engine management were not. Unconsciously too fast, and not managing this enough on the downwind leg. Checks were all good and correct. Height was generally ok, but plenty of times the wind would bounce us about a bit.
Then comes turning onto base and this is where I was struggling. The turn was fine as there is a good landmark to align to. Getting speed inside the white arc and setting flaps was ok albeit untidy. Speed management and controlling ROD was terrible. Whilst focusing on this, I mistime my turn to final. Pre-turn and when on final I have sufficient wits about me to be aware of the traffic and runway condition, so that's a relief. Radio? What radio? Final... too high - go around... next - we just about make the first third and a reasonable settle, followed by a touch and go. Felt good as it was mostly me with the occasional nudge on the rudder and yoke from the FI. Next one was similar.
Feeling flustered I was making mistakes on the radio when I remembered to make a call. I was frustrated with myself with the lack of speed and ROD control. More or less point the nose at the numbers and come what may, that's where I am going... speed? ROD? nah.... fixated on the numbers!
I felt I could and should have done better.
Processing the lesson, clearly this is a very early attempt at circuit work so guess what - I'm not good at it yet. Moving about the sky before the circuit work seemed ok. I was aware of other traffic, heading and altitude management was fine. My FI giving me a heading and altitude and being able to hit that on the nose whilst dodging traffic was actually a very nice feeling. A couple of my radio errors were cringeworthy, and you could tell by the airfield response (you know the tone right? the... wtf are you saying? I think you meant....).
By the time we got back to the school I was absolutely shattered! I sat there for a good 15 minutes just thinking about the lesson and resetting myself before attempting to drive anywhere.
A mixed bag of having come along way from working out how to fly straight and level, to moving about the sky with reasonable execution, but realising I'm not Douglas Barder just yet and much much much more practice is still needed. Oh well, I'll just have to force myself to do another lesson again....
Weather calm, scattered cloud and some blue skies. Wind was low to start with but choppy and gusty over 300 feet once in the circuit, picking up to around 15 kts. Haze obscured the horizon. Soft field short runway (need to get down well inside the first 3rd otherwise go around).
More confident with my ground work and taxiing. Some small details to iron out, but was somewhat pleased with almost no intervention from my FI, and making all my radio calls, etc.
First line up and take-off was procedurally ok. Not the smoothest as the gusting winds made life tricky above the tree line. Managed the plane entirely myself, which felt good. Speed and heading management were a struggle until around 400 ft, clean configuration and in smoother air. A common theme throughout this lesson was not being able to get the plane trimmed well enough for what I was doing. It may have been the conditions, but I'm not sure.
Was ahead of the plane as we climbed out of the circuit for a little slow flight practice before rejoining for some landing practice.
BTW, despite the fluctuating conditions, the view was breathtaking. I made sure I gave myself a mental break to enjoy that for a few moments.
We then flew an imaginary circuit, practicing checks, turns, and descent, plus a couple of go-arounds. Again, whilst the turns were adequate, controlling speed and ROD was flaky at best.
Next, a quick FEMDO, and I radio for a rejoin, and fly this entirely myself. Overhead join, descending on the dead side for a left hand circuit. I thought the overhead was flown like the circuit, but from crosswind to base was more of an arc following my instructions (lesson learned).
Whilst turn accuracy was ok, speed and engine management were not. Unconsciously too fast, and not managing this enough on the downwind leg. Checks were all good and correct. Height was generally ok, but plenty of times the wind would bounce us about a bit.
Then comes turning onto base and this is where I was struggling. The turn was fine as there is a good landmark to align to. Getting speed inside the white arc and setting flaps was ok albeit untidy. Speed management and controlling ROD was terrible. Whilst focusing on this, I mistime my turn to final. Pre-turn and when on final I have sufficient wits about me to be aware of the traffic and runway condition, so that's a relief. Radio? What radio? Final... too high - go around... next - we just about make the first third and a reasonable settle, followed by a touch and go. Felt good as it was mostly me with the occasional nudge on the rudder and yoke from the FI. Next one was similar.
Feeling flustered I was making mistakes on the radio when I remembered to make a call. I was frustrated with myself with the lack of speed and ROD control. More or less point the nose at the numbers and come what may, that's where I am going... speed? ROD? nah.... fixated on the numbers!
I felt I could and should have done better.
Processing the lesson, clearly this is a very early attempt at circuit work so guess what - I'm not good at it yet. Moving about the sky before the circuit work seemed ok. I was aware of other traffic, heading and altitude management was fine. My FI giving me a heading and altitude and being able to hit that on the nose whilst dodging traffic was actually a very nice feeling. A couple of my radio errors were cringeworthy, and you could tell by the airfield response (you know the tone right? the... wtf are you saying? I think you meant....).
By the time we got back to the school I was absolutely shattered! I sat there for a good 15 minutes just thinking about the lesson and resetting myself before attempting to drive anywhere.
A mixed bag of having come along way from working out how to fly straight and level, to moving about the sky with reasonable execution, but realising I'm not Douglas Barder just yet and much much much more practice is still needed. Oh well, I'll just have to force myself to do another lesson again....