Jets - I hate them (Ex 17 and 18B)

Well i was hoping for some solo consolidation again :), but just as i got to the flying school another bloody jet came into circuit. Great weather too!

So we decided to go for Ex 17 and 18B, low level Nav and Precautionary landings.

Quite a good lesson, what with the nice weather and flying at 1000ft AMSL (500ft above ground), looking at possible landings sites at 1500, 1300 and 1000ft AMSL.

Its amazing how little you can see at these heights, we could see Nottingham from where we were, so it was a usefull intro to Nav at low level.

Came back into the zone and screwed up the RT - too much info at once :)
Nailed the landing nicely - smooth as :) although Stuart did wonder if i was going to rudder straight before touching down, he said i just did it in time :)

Anyway, bring on the next solo lesson :)

FIRST SOLO! YIPPEEE !!!!!!!

Well today was the day, i wasnt expecting it all, which is probably why it went ok. I decided to try Martins advise to look at the end of the Rway and keep level, then as the plane sinks, keep the nose rway level if not a bit higher. Well i did 3 circuits and got all 3 landings :) So Stuarts, said "so are you ready then?"

OMG!

I said yes, i really wanted to go solo but the thought of it was very scary. On the 4th circuit downwide he radio'd to ATC to ask permission for a first solo circuit, they gave it but warned it was a little busy with jets coming in and out, so maybe try another day, but Stuart said i would be fine.

So i landed again - 4th landing in a row that was good :)

We were on rway 09, taked off at Mike to the taxi holding area ive not been too before. Stuart un-strapped, and told me to go for it, just ask for a taxi clearance no need for ATIS etc. So off he went, i spoke to ground and got my clearane to taxi the short way to Mike1 for 09. I stopped there, turning into wind (which was 050, 12 Knots, Vis was 12Km, temp 16/12 QNH 1008, OFE 997) Just noting all these down for future reference of all the conditions for my solo :)
Did the power checks and pre-take off checks, called to ground , ready for departure, then called tower, ready for departure, got a clearance to line up and wait 09 (for wake turbulence), then got the clearance to go.

Full power, right rudder, and were are trundling down the rway. Ailerons into wind, 65knots, pull back - this was my first shock, the plane seemed to shoot up into the air with just me in it - at this point i had my first of 2 scary thoughts - "Right im airbourne now, so ive got to land it"

Straight up to 500ft, slow left turn around the village, inline with the M1, 1000ft, downwind leg. I can hear traffic coming in on 5.5 mile final, i call "G-ON downwind 09 to land", ATC respond with, right hand orbit, embraer on 5.5 mile final etc, spelling everything out to me slow and clear - they were great!

So i ended up doing 2 orbits, getting my "report final" half way around the second,
The orbits were great, everything seemed so straightforward, i was looking all around, and actually enjoying it all, id spent so long in circuits, i was quite happy with it all but the landings.

So i turn out on base leg, looking up and down final and the rway, carb heat, power back, white arc, 2 stages of flap, turn onto final, report final.

Here came my second scary thought - "Right ive got to land this all on my own"
I watched the speed 70knots, powered back a little, good approach, right speed, here comes the nasty bit - power back to idle as i go over the numbers, start the flare, levels out the plane, it starts to sink, i keep the nose up at the end of the rway, holding, a bit more - i can hear Stuart in my ears :)
Plonk - im down, nice and smooth - thats 5 good landings in a row !!!!!!

YIPEE! well at least im on the ground now.

Vacated at Mike and held, ATC were great, they congratulated me on a great first circuit, i couldnt wish for a better ATC controller, she was great.
I transferred over to ground, he gave me clearance back to the school, and ALSO congratulated me!!! WOW these guys were so great.

Back to the school, mag check, a fancy bit of parking (even if i do say so myself) and final checks. Back into the office for a load of hand shakes and congrats :) oh and my solo certificate.

WHAT A DAY! I still cant beleive ive done it, it really feels like im learning to fly now.

Land Away Nottingham (Ex 18)

Well finally got some decent weather for circuits and what happens? A jet comes in, so no circuits for me, so we decided to do a landaway at Nottingham. Interesting flight, did the overhead join and landed it quite well, i think im getting there slowly, straight forward flight back and a reasonable landing.

Just give me circuits i want that solo - well im sh1t scared but im ready i think :)

More Circuits and stall training (Ex 12,13,10)

Well the weather is a little poor today, lots of cloud at about 2000ft and a strong cross wind 220/18 Rway is 27. So we did a couple of circuits, all went quite well, landings were ok, just the same old story, either too late or too early on the flare, managed to put one down ok, and used the rudders more this time at the last minute, but still not perfect on the landings.

We then went to the north and went through a hole in the cloud to 5000ft and did some stall practicing again, - power off, nose up - stall, nose down, full power. Then stall in turn, nose down, power, then straighten up - no aileron.

It was lovely above the cloud, really sunny and warm, felt like real flying.

Apart from that yet another day in circuits.

More circuits

I feel like im going to be in circuits for ever more. we did 6 or 7 landings today. I got Stuart to do one whilst i watched just to refresh what its supposed to look like etc. I managed to put it down reasonably a couple of times, but nothing great, the circuits i feel quite comfortable with, remembered checks, and in particular the carb heat when powering back which i normally always forget.

Spoke to Martin - another instructor afterwards and he said he was in circuits for 13 hours - so i dont feel as bad now. He suggested another way to try "point the nose at the end of the runway, and keep it there, as you power back and get lower keeping it there will mean raising the nose etc" so will try that next time.

Weather No Go

Bad weather, so called the lesson off. Im looking for a nice clear calm day, to sort these landings out once and for all.