Blow by blow account,
Well, started off with the weather breifing and all. I got there early to give myself lots of time to plan the route, study it, get the weather, read the NOTAMS and ring the royal flights number, thankfully nothing to affect our flight was in operation, apart from a small TRA which we were going to be clear of anyway.
Preflight was uneventfull, nothing was broken and with the weight and balance done, tech log complete aswell as the preflight, a very nervous RC and examiner got in the aircraft.
called for taxi, power checks, lined up and went. Quite bumpy once in the air but soon as we got above the murk it softened out. Set heading height and time over my VRP and proceeded with the first leg. Was a lovely view down the south coast and a quite uneventfull, yet very enjoyable first leg, lots of FREDAs and a frequncy change soon marked the nearing of the end of the first leg.
Arrived overhead first turnig point precisely on time we turned onto the next heading. Little bit of trouble working out who to talk to, but after that was sorted I proceeded to arrange the MATZ penetration. This was one of the parts that I was fearing, but depit bad readability of the MATZ controller, it went fine. We dropped down to their crossing level and enjoyed the view and yet more FREDAs.
Once through the MATZ I got a diversion, another part I was dreading, but again, once the line was drawn, and using alittle gizmo the RAF flying schol gave me, managed to get anaccurate plan of time and heading, adjusting for wind.
Once I had got settled and teh examiner was happy that it was working (even tho I had my doubts lol) I tracked a radial of the Land's End VOR, Idented it and then proceeded to intercept it. This took a lot longer than it normally did, which worried me, but after intercepting it, trackin it was no big deal.
Next I donned the lovely hood and did the 180 degree turn, something that I found quite easy. And after that we did the general handling. Started off with fairly rudementry handing such as climbing turns, cruise decents, Vy Vx climbs and so forth then into the slow flight, again something I find not difficult and then after the HASELL checks we did the steep turns. S.Turns are something I really enjoy doing and find a challenge, so these went alright, except I let my height drop a bit o the second one. Next was te stalls, another part I was dreading. These went suprisingly well although I tend to bea bit too eager on some of them. I get quite paranoid bout fulling back into the climb on the "approach configuration" one with full flaps after the wings have unstalled, but I did it quite well and the examiner was happy.
Spiral dive recover, again something I like doing and again something that went quite well and then into the PFL. This didn't go to plan, think I got in a fluff about the field, ending up in a bad choice. Picked one that was at the bottom of a ridge (which I didnt see), but got everything else right I think and the examiner gave it to me. Climbing away and called for an overhead which went without a hitch, and the last part wa the circuits. Greased the first landing, which after taking off again ended up in a EFATO, again, went fine.
Following the circuit into the glide approach, which is fluffed big time. Misjusged the surface wind and ended up going around. Did it again and it went fine, then did the flapless and again went fine. Landed, taxied in and was convinced the expressionless face of the examiner indicated a fail. Had a debreif which was very helpfull, identified points I need to brush up, which also lead me to beleive I failed, then was told I passed.
The grin is still on my face, and if anyone wants it off, your going to need lots of time, or a big stick. Want to know anything else, im only too happy to tell.
Thanks again, and apologies for bad spelling,. .Rusty.