Day 3 – 2.5 hours and 3 sorties, total LAPL training time completed 7.1 hours
Well we managed to beat the weather again today, so that was a result but I’m not sure how those Battle of Britain pilots did 6 or 7 sorties in a day when I’m done after 3. And no-one was shooting at me!!
First flight was Bosbury to Gloucestershire. This went pretty well overall. It started off with my first completely unaided departure towards THAT hill. Which feels like a bit of a milestone. Actually the aircraft is airborne and flying at climb speed waaaaay before you get anywhere near the hill but it still feels odd accelerating down a hill towards a hill.. Anyway, I did a good take off and we climbed to altitude to start the instrument appreciation.
This went well and we actually found plenty of real IMC around at 4000 feet (and about -10 degrees) to utilise. I’m very pleased with how this went and now realise the benefit of having played all those flight simulators on my 48k Spectrum when I was a kid. Afterburner anyone? They we so unrealistic that the only way to ‘fly’ them was to fly on instruments!
Bonus, thanks Sir Clive!
After a while we then headed to a small grass strip at Ledbury for some circuits. These were ok, but unfortunately, we got interrupted by the arrival of a snow squall. So, we headed off to Gloucestershire instead, where I performed a passable landing on 09 with a bit of a crosswind. My actual landings, with a few exceptions, have been pretty good, but the landing roll is something different. These tailwheel aeroplanes feel like they are alive and have a mind of their own if there is anything more than a breath of a crosswind. That is something that is definitely a lot easier in a tricycle gear equipped aircraft.
I am also realising that landing on tarmac with a tailwheel is very tricky having come from grass and a tricycle back ground. Still its all learning.
After a quick refuel and a cup of tea in the Flying Shack where we also spent a bit more time covering single crew CRM and watched a couple of videos on this subject (not in the LAPL syllabus but very useful) – we set out for a circuit session. Not cheap at Gloucestershire, £9 a go or £4.50 if you go-around.
We started on 09 but the wind had come around to 050 degrees so after my first circuit we changed to 04. Immediately I felt more comfortable and I enjoyed a pretty good circuit session. Including 1 go around that was very reminiscent of the video on single crew CRM I had just been watching. The pilot was too high and was trying to force it onto the ground. I noticed I was too high and tried to correct but we were still way to high as we got close to the threshold so I elected to put on the power and go-around. This was the right decision and I’m pleased we spent time covering CRM yesterday and more today.
Again landings were ok for the most part, I seemed to have got over the rounding out high issue I was having by the end of the session. Again, landing roll needs more work, but the take offs were pretty good, so all in all a great sortie.
Finally after another tea stop, and a look at the ominous weather heading down from Birmingham we departed Gloucester for my final sortie of the day into clear blue skies! We used 04 grass which was a nice change and much more my favoured surface. I performed a really good take off and climbed away. We did a bit more instrument work on the transit back to Bosbury and also some more emergency practice which went well. Finally after some help with the final turn from base (you are very low, trees, hills, etc.) I performed my first assisted landing at Bosbury, uphill.
A great days flying all in all. I’ve completed the instrument appreciation and done the minimum flight time, so I just need to pass the Nav Test, GST, ground exams and also get another hours slow flight/stalls in, plus I think I still need some more work in the circuit.
Anyway I need to hit the books now in case we can’t fly tomorrow. Got my Navigation test booked tomorrow, but if we can’t fly I will be doing ground exams.
Dan Roach Flying Author 