For once the weather played ball!! What a fabulous day, cold (0 degrees at 3000), but sunny, clear and with fantastic visability - a few scattered at 3500, but that was it. I managed to get in the two solo navs I've been trying to complete for what seems like weeks (well, about 3 actually). the first, this morning, I found I was a bit "edgy" (it was my first solo nav), but it went well, except for getting my call sign wrong a couple of times (I usually fly in Oscar November, but for the first time in several months I was in Romeo Yankee, and habit kicked in. This rather confused the tower controller who did not have me booked out as G-CDON ("are you sure you arn't Romeo Yankee Sir?!"). Red face!!
Later, I repeated the mistake whilst switching to Coventry Approach for FIS, when it ALSO confused another student that was close behind me (in my "normal" Warrior, Oscar November on his QXC, and also talking to Coventry. I saw him afterwards and apologised, and we had a good laugh about it - he told me he had to look twice to be sure he WAS in Oscar November, 'cos my mistake made him doubt it!!
The afternoon nav, was much longer, involving lots of R/T exchange/changes, and a MATZ penetration at Cottesmore. This second exercise was fantastic, everything went well, all the waypoints coming up on the nose (good viz always helps, though the headings were spot on). I was much more relaxed second time, more "on" it, and REALLY enjoyed the hours flight.
Both these exercises were rounded off with a couple of my best landings ever (with no instructor there to witness them - he reckons next time he's going to the edge of the runway with his video camera!) I have to say that I was pretty tired after the exercises - a little under two hours in total, but my advanced(ish) years raised their ugly head!!
I've got a lesson booked tomorrow, weather permitting, and it doesn't look too promising at the moment, when we are practising forced landings - according to our CFI (who is also an examiner), PFL's are ALWAYS the weakest part of anyones Skill Test - something worth remembering. Then it's a long distance solo land away, and the QXC.
Safe flying all.
If you want to see some real skill, take a look at the post on the PPrunes\' "Rumour and News" Forum - the thread is entitled "pod strike at LHR", then see page 3, and the posting by WILEY, and click on the "leathermans" link.
Awesome crosswind stuff with 777\'s