Starting on the path to a PPL
Discussion
OK guys you asked for my experiences here it is.
I got my Class 2 medical in Feb & then the weather was bad, then Covid!
So just rung up & booked my initial PPL stint, 3 1/2 hours. Will be Wednesday 26th.
For those that remember or care I was debating between Rochester (30mins Bike, 15 in the car) or Headcorn (45mins on avg in the car). This was also dictated by aircraft I can get into & also availability of airfields as they both flood in the winter but Rochester is probably worse.
I made the decision to go with Rochester https://www.skytrekair.com/ as I work from home & the capability of just popping down there is a big advantage.
Headcorn can be a long run if the traffic is bad. Skipping out for a couple of hours (I work from home) is doable, whereas 3-4 is not so possible.
Rochester do a 5 hour starter package which I'll go for, put on a credit card so I'm protected.
Current Covid regs mean gloves, face mask & own headset. I ordered a headset from Amazon which gets good ratings. I used to service the things whilst an apprentice & wearing one for a long time I know how specific they can be, one persons love will be anothers hate.
Nearly two weeks can't wait!
I got my Class 2 medical in Feb & then the weather was bad, then Covid!
So just rung up & booked my initial PPL stint, 3 1/2 hours. Will be Wednesday 26th.
For those that remember or care I was debating between Rochester (30mins Bike, 15 in the car) or Headcorn (45mins on avg in the car). This was also dictated by aircraft I can get into & also availability of airfields as they both flood in the winter but Rochester is probably worse.
I made the decision to go with Rochester https://www.skytrekair.com/ as I work from home & the capability of just popping down there is a big advantage.
Headcorn can be a long run if the traffic is bad. Skipping out for a couple of hours (I work from home) is doable, whereas 3-4 is not so possible.
Rochester do a 5 hour starter package which I'll go for, put on a credit card so I'm protected.
Current Covid regs mean gloves, face mask & own headset. I ordered a headset from Amazon which gets good ratings. I used to service the things whilst an apprentice & wearing one for a long time I know how specific they can be, one persons love will be anothers hate.
Nearly two weeks can't wait!
ben_h100 said:
How are you getting on with the studying? Has your school indicated whether or not you’ll be doing your exams online, or via the paper format?
I had my first lesson back yesterday; 6 months out due to lockdown. Really happy with how it went and it looks like I’ll be doing my QXC next week - excited but nervous at the same time!
Another thing to consider is the FTROL (RT practical). Perhaps worth thinking about when and where you want to get it done. I wish I’d done it sooner (prior to starting nav).
Spooky the CFI just phoned as I was opening this! He's bought the first session forward from 09:30 to 08:30 this coming Wednesday (26th) I had my first lesson back yesterday; 6 months out due to lockdown. Really happy with how it went and it looks like I’ll be doing my QXC next week - excited but nervous at the same time!
Another thing to consider is the FTROL (RT practical). Perhaps worth thinking about when and where you want to get it done. I wish I’d done it sooner (prior to starting nav).
I've sorted headset & found online a C172S checklist, I've also been reading & watching Youtube for anything UK PPL related. Not sure how they'll do the exams, will be able to answer that on Wed PM!
I'm a long standing aeromodeller so know the controls & movements & basic aerodynamics. I also have Day Skipper theory from when we had a boat, so hoping Nav from that will help. Also have Marine VHF licence & trained as a radio tech on aircraft which may help. Going forward we'll see!
Good luck for the QXC how many hours do you have now?
Well first lesson just completed, around a 2 hours briefing, then a preflight & then onto a lesson. Kent still has the remnants of the storm blowing through so 20knt winds gusting 25 this morning although by the time we flew it had eased. Bumpy take off & landing but surprisingly smooth once up there. All basic stuff today, concentrating on trimming the aircraft & the controls. Flew in a big ACW loop from Rochester down to Bewl water, then east across towards Ashford & then back to Rochester. 1st entry in my Logbook.
Booked a package of 5 lessons, plus documents. All lessons now all in the diary next one at silly o'clock on the 1st Sept. So around £1200 poorer.
Amazon purchased headset worked well, which was good as no way of testing it before hand!
Booked a package of 5 lessons, plus documents. All lessons now all in the diary next one at silly o'clock on the 1st Sept. So around £1200 poorer.
Amazon purchased headset worked well, which was good as no way of testing it before hand!
Well the lesson on the 1st was good apart from an 08:00 start! Compared with the previous lesson weather couldn't have been better, bright sunny with virtually no wind. 1 Hour flying learning what flaps do & power variations change the handling. This was on a different slightly older C172 which threw me a bit as some of the minor controls & switches were slightly different. Also cockpit is some what tighter, especially getting in & out. The CFI got me to do the pre-flight check list so yet another bit ticked off. Also learnt FREDA which is check Fuel, Radio, Engine, Direction, Altitude.
The lesson last Thursday was cancelled which was no surprise, gusty (38kts +!) and low cloud base. Yesterdays was cancelled as well due to low cloudbase. Oh the joys of training in the UK.
Todays went ahead, still 10-15kts so a little bumpy. This is a two part lesson, this was the first part covering climbing & descending both power on & off. Started to come together a bit, also helped that I was back in the C172 I started with so slightly more familiar. I was astonished on how much muscle the controls need at times.
Someone told me about a brilliant app for the phone, PPLTutor. Which covers the 9 exams both revision & dummy Q & A. All for £20. Been bashing away at that & the works in spare time.
Next lesson Saturday which will be a continuation of diving & climbing.
The lesson last Thursday was cancelled which was no surprise, gusty (38kts +!) and low cloud base. Yesterdays was cancelled as well due to low cloudbase. Oh the joys of training in the UK.
Todays went ahead, still 10-15kts so a little bumpy. This is a two part lesson, this was the first part covering climbing & descending both power on & off. Started to come together a bit, also helped that I was back in the C172 I started with so slightly more familiar. I was astonished on how much muscle the controls need at times.
Someone told me about a brilliant app for the phone, PPLTutor. Which covers the 9 exams both revision & dummy Q & A. All for £20. Been bashing away at that & the works in spare time.
Next lesson Saturday which will be a continuation of diving & climbing.
48k said:
tr7v8 said:
I was astonished on how much muscle the controls need at times.
Did you talk that through with your instructor? It's usually a sign the aircraft isn't trimmed correctly.LimaDelta said:
I just extended my SEP another 24 months last week.
Keep at it, it can be a challenge, especially with UK weather and the now added complications of Covid, but it is worth it in the end.
Oh, and the Air Law exam is a real test of commitment. The others are somewhat more interesting and less dry.
I will 4th Lesson Saturday so still trying.Keep at it, it can be a challenge, especially with UK weather and the now added complications of Covid, but it is worth it in the end.
Oh, and the Air Law exam is a real test of commitment. The others are somewhat more interesting and less dry.
Interesting the comment about Air Law. Everyone said it was their hardest but I've been bashing the books as I was told & PPLTutor on the phone & not found it too bad. Classes of airspace still does my head in but generally getting passes on most trial exams.
Once I settle in a bit more I'll ask the process at my school for exams & start on them.
LimaDelta said:
tr7v8 said:
LimaDelta said:
I just extended my SEP another 24 months last week.
Keep at it, it can be a challenge, especially with UK weather and the now added complications of Covid, but it is worth it in the end.
Oh, and the Air Law exam is a real test of commitment. The others are somewhat more interesting and less dry.
I will 4th Lesson Saturday so still trying.Keep at it, it can be a challenge, especially with UK weather and the now added complications of Covid, but it is worth it in the end.
Oh, and the Air Law exam is a real test of commitment. The others are somewhat more interesting and less dry.
Interesting the comment about Air Law. Everyone said it was their hardest but I've been bashing the books as I was told & PPLTutor on the phone & not found it too bad. Classes of airspace still does my head in but generally getting passes on most trial exams.
Once I settle in a bit more I'll ask the process at my school for exams & start on them.
The exam question bank apps are great for passing the exams, but less good at teaching you the subjects. It can lead to people just memorising the correct multiple choice answer to each question, rather than building an understanding of the topics at hand, which is something to be wary of. They are a good aid to revision but don't rely on them for all of your ground school.
Are you using the Trevor Thom/Pooleys books?
Last exam I did was ITIL for work a few years ago & that I found hard.
I think Met is going to be a challenge from a quick read through. Will need some more intensive study & thought.
Thanks IforB.
Well just done lesson 5 of the package. 3 more booked but that will be pay as you go from now on.
Today was turning, both from S & L and also from climbing or diving. Probably did 70%+ of the flying today.
Trying to get out of: Death grip on the yoke (hard), both hands on the yoke, dragging the yoke down with my left hand when doing something with my right hand, main one which was better today was staring at the instruments rather than looking outside at what was going on.
Felt a lot better today, getting more into a rhythm with it. Will kick off exams maybe next week. They are going online on the 5/10 but until then are paper ones done there.
Well just done lesson 5 of the package. 3 more booked but that will be pay as you go from now on.
Today was turning, both from S & L and also from climbing or diving. Probably did 70%+ of the flying today.
Trying to get out of: Death grip on the yoke (hard), both hands on the yoke, dragging the yoke down with my left hand when doing something with my right hand, main one which was better today was staring at the instruments rather than looking outside at what was going on.
Felt a lot better today, getting more into a rhythm with it. Will kick off exams maybe next week. They are going online on the 5/10 but until then are paper ones done there.
Interesting the above, thanks guys.
Lesson for today cancelled as cloudbase too low. Today was meant to be stalling (lesson 10 I think).
Did flying slowly last week which went better than expected. I think it started to come together, although mental overload for the last 5 mins or so which was a pain, so the FI took back control.
Was meant to have two lessons booked last week had the first but then no aeroplane for No.2 as it's due a 50 hour service & then it's annual this week so they've joined them all together, so will be away for a few weeks. There's another 172 available, an SP which is fuel injected, but that didn't come back until last Friday.
Booked Air Law exam for tomorrow. So will be hitting the books for the next 24 hours.
Lesson for today cancelled as cloudbase too low. Today was meant to be stalling (lesson 10 I think).
Did flying slowly last week which went better than expected. I think it started to come together, although mental overload for the last 5 mins or so which was a pain, so the FI took back control.
Was meant to have two lessons booked last week had the first but then no aeroplane for No.2 as it's due a 50 hour service & then it's annual this week so they've joined them all together, so will be away for a few weeks. There's another 172 available, an SP which is fuel injected, but that didn't come back until last Friday.
Booked Air Law exam for tomorrow. So will be hitting the books for the next 24 hours.
Passed Operational Procedures today, 14/16, got two wrong. One is a conflicting one which the training guy said that there is conflicting answers on in the various revision sheets. About biggest wake turbulence behind a Heavy aircraft flying slow with or without flaps. All the books state with flaps down but the correct CAA answer is flaps up GRRRR.
The other one was stop signs on airfields which I'll take on the chin.
Two down & seven to go!
The other one was stop signs on airfields which I'll take on the chin.
Two down & seven to go!
Just realised that I hadn't updated this for an age. Covid has impacted flying lessons so managed to get one in Dec 2 in 2020 & then had 3 cancelled as the strip was flooded before we were locked down again. Next lesson was 14/4 so an element of relearning needed. The 172 I had been flying is now the same price as the newer 172 SP that I flew in December so I have now booked that. This is a fuel injected one so significant differences to a carbed one.
So flying lessons are back to stalling & recovery, This went OK but needed more work. The Wednesday just gone got cancelled as the cloud was too low, in fact solid! The joys of trying to learn to fly in the UK. So much to Mrs TR7V8s disgust I booked today at 16:00 This went much better, good stall recovery.
So a great lesson today. Was shown a couple of circuits & touch & goes, then did one myself, my FI had the throttle so I could concentrate on flying. It went pretty well, very bumpy today so lots of corrections needed but felt good.
Got back & completed my logbook & that is the first page finished with 11:15 which is another milestone.
Next lesson is Wednesday so looking forward to it.
As for exams I did a few once I was able to. The first two I had done on paper but the CAA decided to do it all on line. This was a complete shambles, you apply for a login, which was a major PITA the website I think was designed by a 10 year old. My login was quick at 4 days after I applied, others took 10 days or more. The exams are much harder generally & apparently the failure rate is much higher. The Human Performance exam was very tough. I write ^ read english as the day job & I struggled with the questions, just trying to grasp what they were after! The last exam I've done was yesterday which was communications, I found this one quite straight forward & got 100%. Which makes me the first student at Skytrek to get 100% in an E Exam! Oh well.
So I have done & passed 6 exams, 3 more to go Flight Planning & Performance, Meteorology & Navigation.
Currently need to renew my medical which now has to be applied for on line with the CAAs new portal. I applied over a week ago & still not heard a thing. Everyone is in the same boat & complaining about it.
So flying lessons are back to stalling & recovery, This went OK but needed more work. The Wednesday just gone got cancelled as the cloud was too low, in fact solid! The joys of trying to learn to fly in the UK. So much to Mrs TR7V8s disgust I booked today at 16:00 This went much better, good stall recovery.
So a great lesson today. Was shown a couple of circuits & touch & goes, then did one myself, my FI had the throttle so I could concentrate on flying. It went pretty well, very bumpy today so lots of corrections needed but felt good.
Got back & completed my logbook & that is the first page finished with 11:15 which is another milestone.
Next lesson is Wednesday so looking forward to it.
As for exams I did a few once I was able to. The first two I had done on paper but the CAA decided to do it all on line. This was a complete shambles, you apply for a login, which was a major PITA the website I think was designed by a 10 year old. My login was quick at 4 days after I applied, others took 10 days or more. The exams are much harder generally & apparently the failure rate is much higher. The Human Performance exam was very tough. I write ^ read english as the day job & I struggled with the questions, just trying to grasp what they were after! The last exam I've done was yesterday which was communications, I found this one quite straight forward & got 100%. Which makes me the first student at Skytrek to get 100% in an E Exam! Oh well.
So I have done & passed 6 exams, 3 more to go Flight Planning & Performance, Meteorology & Navigation.
Currently need to renew my medical which now has to be applied for on line with the CAAs new portal. I applied over a week ago & still not heard a thing. Everyone is in the same boat & complaining about it.
ben_h100 said:
Keep at it OP. I have my skills test next week (weather permitting).
Edit: that will be nearly three years since starting. I’ve learned how to be patient, as well as pilot an aircraft..!
Good luck Ben, 3 years wow, I was getting impatient during the 6 month lockdown!Edit: that will be nearly three years since starting. I’ve learned how to be patient, as well as pilot an aircraft..!
Edited by ben_h100 on Wednesday 28th April 21:45
El stovey said:
tr7v8 said:
Currently need to renew my medical which now has to be applied for on line with the CAAs new portal. I applied over a week ago & still not heard a thing. Everyone is in the same boat & complaining about it.
The CAA medical swap over has had some difficulty indeed.I kept getting text reminders that my medical was expiring with the wrong date. I even had to phone my AME to get it sorted. They said it’s been a common problem.
Well done in your exams! Nice to get them out of the way. Lack of flying recency is definitely pretty common at the moment.
Lesson yesterday went fairly well. Very cold at Rochester, coat & woolly hat to pre-flight, then onto Circuits, it was gusty yesterday so busy just keeping the aeroplane straight & level. Was getting better after 6 but need to react on the throttle a lot quicker. Next one next Tuesday so we'll see how that goes.
ben_h100 said:
I’m not the OP, but a quick update. I passed my skills test today!
Weather was looking rather dodgy this morning - so much so that I pulled over to phone the examiner and told him I was thinking of canning it.
We agreed to go up and see what it was like on the proviso that if it was s
t, we’d land. Fortunately for me, after a dodgy start the weather improved as the flight went on.
Nav, diversion and NDB track went really well and the GH the same.
Now just need to sort out the various forms that need to be sent off to the CAA.
Fantastic, only slightly envious Weather was looking rather dodgy this morning - so much so that I pulled over to phone the examiner and told him I was thinking of canning it.
We agreed to go up and see what it was like on the proviso that if it was s
t, we’d land. Fortunately for me, after a dodgy start the weather improved as the flight went on.Nav, diversion and NDB track went really well and the GH the same.
Now just need to sort out the various forms that need to be sent off to the CAA.
Well another update, 13th lesson today and another hour of circuits. Last Wed & Sat got cancelled because of weather.
Well after a shakey weather start in Chatham it cheered up so another lesson in today! My brain is just about recovering now 5 hours later. 6 circuits done today. Looking at the overlay in Flightradar this looked a lot better, with closer tracks than before. Not sure this link will work but will try. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... o#27ad28d3
Was getting better towards the end . Different runway today, we were on 20 rather than 02, also a lot less gusty.
Now on 13hours 15 minutes in the logbook.
Next lesson is Saturday hopefully the weather behaves itself.
Well after a shakey weather start in Chatham it cheered up so another lesson in today! My brain is just about recovering now 5 hours later. 6 circuits done today. Looking at the overlay in Flightradar this looked a lot better, with closer tracks than before. Not sure this link will work but will try. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... o#27ad28d3
Was getting better towards the end . Different runway today, we were on 20 rather than 02, also a lot less gusty.
Now on 13hours 15 minutes in the logbook.
Next lesson is Saturday hopefully the weather behaves itself.
Not updated this for ages, so here is todays.
Well yet another lesson under my belt. Different FI today, 4 (I think, I lost count & it didn't record on Flightradar24!) more take offs & landings in the logbook. Despite being very warm today the circuit was very smooth. There was virtually zero wind & the 172 wanted to float & float....
Back on 02 so I lost some of my markers which was a pain. Not sure how it went today still struggling with speed control on climb out & final. Ended up using full (30 Deg) flap on final to reduce the float. That seemed to make it a bit easier.
Getting frustrated now as before I have always progressed at a reasonable pace. Circuits seemed to have been going on for ever!
So now 22 lessons & 22 hours 20mins in.
Well yet another lesson under my belt. Different FI today, 4 (I think, I lost count & it didn't record on Flightradar24!) more take offs & landings in the logbook. Despite being very warm today the circuit was very smooth. There was virtually zero wind & the 172 wanted to float & float....
Back on 02 so I lost some of my markers which was a pain. Not sure how it went today still struggling with speed control on climb out & final. Ended up using full (30 Deg) flap on final to reduce the float. That seemed to make it a bit easier.
Getting frustrated now as before I have always progressed at a reasonable pace. Circuits seemed to have been going on for ever!
So now 22 lessons & 22 hours 20mins in.
Well yet another lesson under my belt. Weather today was disgusting in Kent. Wednesday night through to Friday torrential rain, with thunderstorms at times. Today dawned as no rain but very low cloud & very grey. Lesson was booked for 16:00 but phoned the school at Rochester & told circuits OK, come down straight away.
When I get there, cloud base still low but OK for circuits. Quite cold 14 Deg. bit different to Tuesday when it was mid 20s, bit of wind around 10kts.
So did 7 Landings & take offs more take offs & landings, much smoother, definitely came together & got a "Well done, good lesson" from my instructor. Did 3 Flapless as part of it.
Flying 02 at Rochester is interesting as there are a lot of trees on the approach.
I was getting frustrated as circuits seemed to have been going on for ever, but today it definitely took a step forward. I am a lot happier now. Next lesson Tuesday but the advance forecast on Metcheck looks grim, lots of rain.
So now 24 lessons & 24 hours 25mins in.
When I get there, cloud base still low but OK for circuits. Quite cold 14 Deg. bit different to Tuesday when it was mid 20s, bit of wind around 10kts.
So did 7 Landings & take offs more take offs & landings, much smoother, definitely came together & got a "Well done, good lesson" from my instructor. Did 3 Flapless as part of it.
Flying 02 at Rochester is interesting as there are a lot of trees on the approach.
I was getting frustrated as circuits seemed to have been going on for ever, but today it definitely took a step forward. I am a lot happier now. Next lesson Tuesday but the advance forecast on Metcheck looks grim, lots of rain.
So now 24 lessons & 24 hours 25mins in.
Quite right I haven't updated it for ages, this will be Looooonnnnggg so here goes.
I have done 7 out of 9 exams, so just Met (yuk) and Nav to do. I have until March next year to get them completed.
As for flying, I am still on circuits, as it just won't click so no solo yet. I have just checked my logbook 32 lessons of circuits to the point where I am sick to death of it & thought about quitting a month or so ago. Got dissuaded by the wife & others (I am on the student flyer section of Flyer forum, which I do keep updated).
Went on a recent holiday to Jersey & managed to book a lesson there in a PA28, very difference experience, Class D airport so flying with the big boys & also tarmac runway that seemed to be miles long! Did a good hour lesson there with some good landings.
Coming back from Jersey got a phone call from the flying school that the C172SP I had been flying had been involved in an incident & wouldn't be available. Which of the other two did I want to transfer to? I have gone to an older C172S that I started my lessons with. It turns out that the SP was the one that crashed (fatally) in Ashford, Kent on the 10th Sept. It won't be coming back.
The change to the different aircraft seems to have helped my landings are better! The take off & climb out are painful though, two biggish blokes & lower power mean a slow climb to height. I think it's meant to be 160HP but a lot of the gee gees seem to have escaped the stable. The SP was 180HP & FI so much faster.
My instructor tries to keep me interested with other things, such as. On my many circuits I have done 4 EFATO & 2 radio failures. The 1st EFATO was a massive cock up. The FI thought I was doing something & I thought he was doing it, We laughed afterwards & agreed that we'd misunderstood each other. The next I went into "Stuka" mode when he called fanstop! :mrgreen: In other words pushed forward much too hard.
The other two were fine, the last one I spotted two horses in the field I had chosen. But had got speed under control & said that I'd call mayday, squawk 7700 if time & close fuel cock. Also pull ICO. Personally I'd want master switch off a well, but that is low down the list.
Rochester, because of its location we can only do EFATO on 20, that goes over the M2 & lots of woods. None of the "emergency" areas are great but the only options. 02 is over the houses & a real EFATO on that runway would be exciting.... Can you land on a school playing field? That's the biggest bits of grass. :shock:
The radio failure I've had 2. Asked what do I do? Squawk 7600 then I call blind & he primes the tower to do red light... Go around & then Green light.... Land on.
Good practice & it gets away from the tedium of circuit after circuit.
Last lesson was:- And another entry for my logbook for yesterday. Somehow have hurt my back so mild sciatica doesn't help the concentration. Osteo today so hope that will relieve it.
Cracking weather, very light winds & pretty much straight down the runway. Flying off of 20 so can do EFATO etc. But the FI didn't. Did a mix of normal & flapless approaches. Went pretty well, got low & slow on one just before the threshold but sorted that out. Was consistently doing circuits starting at 1000ft on the downwind then ending it at 900ft. That got picked up by my instructor, fixed that thereafter. Just need to sort out the actual hold off. So pretty happy. 1:00 for my logbook.
So now 44 lessons & 43 hours 25 mins in.
Was booked today but cancelled as that would have been in another C172 so binned that one off. Next lesson Tuesday & Wednesday next week.
I have done 7 out of 9 exams, so just Met (yuk) and Nav to do. I have until March next year to get them completed.
As for flying, I am still on circuits, as it just won't click so no solo yet. I have just checked my logbook 32 lessons of circuits to the point where I am sick to death of it & thought about quitting a month or so ago. Got dissuaded by the wife & others (I am on the student flyer section of Flyer forum, which I do keep updated).
Went on a recent holiday to Jersey & managed to book a lesson there in a PA28, very difference experience, Class D airport so flying with the big boys & also tarmac runway that seemed to be miles long! Did a good hour lesson there with some good landings.
Coming back from Jersey got a phone call from the flying school that the C172SP I had been flying had been involved in an incident & wouldn't be available. Which of the other two did I want to transfer to? I have gone to an older C172S that I started my lessons with. It turns out that the SP was the one that crashed (fatally) in Ashford, Kent on the 10th Sept. It won't be coming back.
The change to the different aircraft seems to have helped my landings are better! The take off & climb out are painful though, two biggish blokes & lower power mean a slow climb to height. I think it's meant to be 160HP but a lot of the gee gees seem to have escaped the stable. The SP was 180HP & FI so much faster.
My instructor tries to keep me interested with other things, such as. On my many circuits I have done 4 EFATO & 2 radio failures. The 1st EFATO was a massive cock up. The FI thought I was doing something & I thought he was doing it, We laughed afterwards & agreed that we'd misunderstood each other. The next I went into "Stuka" mode when he called fanstop! :mrgreen: In other words pushed forward much too hard.
The other two were fine, the last one I spotted two horses in the field I had chosen. But had got speed under control & said that I'd call mayday, squawk 7700 if time & close fuel cock. Also pull ICO. Personally I'd want master switch off a well, but that is low down the list.
Rochester, because of its location we can only do EFATO on 20, that goes over the M2 & lots of woods. None of the "emergency" areas are great but the only options. 02 is over the houses & a real EFATO on that runway would be exciting.... Can you land on a school playing field? That's the biggest bits of grass. :shock:
The radio failure I've had 2. Asked what do I do? Squawk 7600 then I call blind & he primes the tower to do red light... Go around & then Green light.... Land on.
Good practice & it gets away from the tedium of circuit after circuit.
Last lesson was:- And another entry for my logbook for yesterday. Somehow have hurt my back so mild sciatica doesn't help the concentration. Osteo today so hope that will relieve it.
Cracking weather, very light winds & pretty much straight down the runway. Flying off of 20 so can do EFATO etc. But the FI didn't. Did a mix of normal & flapless approaches. Went pretty well, got low & slow on one just before the threshold but sorted that out. Was consistently doing circuits starting at 1000ft on the downwind then ending it at 900ft. That got picked up by my instructor, fixed that thereafter. Just need to sort out the actual hold off. So pretty happy. 1:00 for my logbook.
So now 44 lessons & 43 hours 25 mins in.
Was booked today but cancelled as that would have been in another C172 so binned that one off. Next lesson Tuesday & Wednesday next week.
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....
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 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
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.
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