Starting on the path to a PPL

[jjones]

Keep at it. I also spent many hours on circuits, everything was good apart from the last 5 seconds before touchdown. Not sure why but everything seemed to go to pot just before touchdown no matter how good the circuit and approach had been. Tried all the advice such as "just keep trying to fly the plane and it will land itself", "look down the run way and keep this picture", none of it seemed to make any difference, I just eventually got better at that stage and that took practice/time (and loads more circuits!).

[Mercdriver]

When flying a new aeroplane for first time I used a Chinagraph pencil to put a small line on the canopy where the other end of the runaway was helped with getting the round out correct, won’t work though if runway has a dip in it or on a hill. Even worked on seaplane in Florida, but that’s another story.

[MattyD803]

Great stuff to read, thanks for all the updates. I am just about to embark on a similar thing, albeit over at WLAC (White Waltham, Maidenhead). Following the OP's progress with much interest! Do you have a feel for how many hours your likely going to require in total prior to passing out as a fully fledged pilot?

I did my first "introductory lesson" with blue sky and sunshine on Friday and loved it. Even got to watch a Mk5 Spitfire take off beneath us whilst we held in circuit over the airfield, which was an amazing sight.

Best give my bank manager a call and break the bad news of what is to come....

Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 20th September 12:04

[tr7v8]

MattyD803 said:

Great stuff to read, thanks for all the updates. I am just about to embark on a similar thing, albeit over at WLAC (White Waltham, Maidenhead). Following the OP's progress with much interest! Do you have a feel for how many hours your likely going to require in total prior to passing out as a fully fledged pilot?

I did my first "introductory lesson" with blue sky and sunshine on Friday and loved it. Even got to watch a Mk5 Spitfire take off beneath us whilst we held in circuit over the airfield, which was an amazing sight.

Best give my bank manager a call and break the bad news of what is to come....

Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 20th September 12:04

Matty, I have no idea. I have flown models for years & worked on the full size as a day job so thought grasping it would be easier than it has been. Maybe an age thing, I dunno. Worth going to the Flyer forum as there is a good student section there. https://forums.flyer.co.uk/search.php?search_id=ne...
I am currently paying £240 an hour on a 172 & I am still too heavy for the 152 & not flexible enough. Currently £11K in so I have already spent a lot getting here. 44 lessons in. Your bank manager will not be happy! Mine wasn't happy after the aircraft I was training in crashed & killed the pilot. I was instructed to stop NOW but haven't on the basis we'll wait for the report & see what actually happened.

[MattyD803]

tr7v8 said:

Matty, I have no idea. I have flown models for years & worked on the full size as a day job so thought grasping it would be easier than it has been. Maybe an age thing, I dunno. Worth going to the Flyer forum as there is a good student section there. https://forums.flyer.co.uk/search.php?search_id=ne...
I am currently paying £240 an hour on a 172 & I am still too heavy for the 152 & not flexible enough. Currently £11K in so I have already spent a lot getting here. 44 lessons in. Your bank manager will not be happy! Mine wasn't happy after the aircraft I was training in crashed & killed the pilot. I was instructed to stop NOW but haven't on the basis we'll wait for the report & see what actually happened.

OK fair enough. I will check out the Flyer Forum too, many thanks.

WLAC run a fleet of PA28 Warriors for training and although I'm "fairly young and flexible", at 6'2" I found it very cosy, but I guess that is the nature of the game.....although I do think the seat runners were jammed on my outing and it had a little more room if I had really tried.

As for the crash - wow, that really isn't great to hear. Nonetheless, good luck with your remaining lessons/tests etc - I look forward to some pictures of you holding your certificate in due (or whatever the license resembles these days)....

[tr7v8]

MattyD803 said:

tr7v8 said:

Matty, I have no idea. I have flown models for years & worked on the full size as a day job so thought grasping it would be easier than it has been. Maybe an age thing, I dunno. Worth going to the Flyer forum as there is a good student section there. https://forums.flyer.co.uk/search.php?search_id=ne...
I am currently paying £240 an hour on a 172 & I am still too heavy for the 152 & not flexible enough. Currently £11K in so I have already spent a lot getting here. 44 lessons in. Your bank manager will not be happy! Mine wasn't happy after the aircraft I was training in crashed & killed the pilot. I was instructed to stop NOW but haven't on the basis we'll wait for the report & see what actually happened.

OK fair enough. I will check out the Flyer Forum too, many thanks.

WLAC run a fleet of PA28 Warriors for training and although I'm "fairly young and flexible", at 6'2" I found it very cosy, but I guess that is the nature of the game.....although I do think the seat runners were jammed on my outing and it had a little more room if I had really tried.

As for the crash - wow, that really isn't great to hear. Nonetheless, good luck with your remaining lessons/tests etc - I look forward to some pictures of you holding your certificate in due (or whatever the license resembles these days)....

You'll be OK in a PA28, I had an hour whilst in Jersey in one & although considerably different to the C172 it was OK. I am 64 & had major back surgery around 3ish years ago so not very flexible. I was a while ago 120kg as well which exacerbated the whole thing. I have now shed close to 20kg with more on the way to keep the AME happy for my Class 2 medical. The CAA don't do porky pilots!

[Sticks.]

tr7v8 said:

You'll be OK in a PA28, I had an hour whilst in Jersey in one & although considerably different to the C172 it was OK. I am 64 & had major back surgery around 3ish years ago so not very flexible. I was a while ago 120kg as well which exacerbated the whole thing. I have now shed close to 20kg with more on the way to keep the AME happy for my Class 2 medical. The CAA don't do porky pilots!

As someone with impaired mobility, before I could obtain a C2 med, the CAA required me to show I could exit a plane in an emergency quickly and without impeding passengers. Hopefully you'd never have to but worth bearing in mind when choosing what to fly.

20kgs is some achievement, good luck with the flying.