With only about 7 hours to-date this is by far the hardest bit (and reading Air Law on the train of course). I guess I've flown about eight or nine circuits, each time with the instructor loading more of the RT on me - and Cranfield is a busy circuit with a lot of ATPL and Helio ops (I'm getting good at RH orbits at least).
I've slammed the poor C152 into the ground, flared at 20' (applied stall recovery, flaps 10, +ve ROC etc.. not so much a touch and go as go and go). I've had to go around as someone was sitting on the threshold from the base turn - despite being asked repeatedly to expedite. It is however coming together - the turns are smooth, the height is there or there-about, speed is all of the place - I once forgot to pull the power so we crossed the threshold - I rounded out, and up we went - "climbing trim it is then" said my poor white haired instructor. In all this I've actually pulled off a greaser as well (my first funny enough).
I think - if you cast your mind back to the first flight, learning to taxi, turns climbs etc... it is amazing how much you've taken on board. It has to be easier look how many idiots are in the circuit (no offence to other Cranfield regulars). It will come - hopefully to me as well at some point, before the school charges me for a new set of tyres - or re-alignment of the creep marks at the very least! I've pretty much got all the bumps and creases out of RW 22.
Got to admit - flying isn't fun at the moment - any experienced PPLs out of Cranfield want to take me up for an hour to re-introduce me to the joy of flying (I'll go 50% of course)?
