Lesson Number One
Woo hoo!
Finally today the weather gods smiled upon me and I got airborne!!
The day started well when I awoke to a text from my instructor that unlike yesterday, the weather was looking good and the flight was likely to go ahead. Additionally I had an invitation to join him on a flight to the Popham microlight show. After a small discussion where I confirmed that I would indeed be back in time for my evening plans it was decided that I would be able to accompany him to Popham.
I turned up at the airfield early (ever the keen student) and met my instructor for the pre-flight briefing. We went through a few bits about the controls of the aircraft as this is what I would be practicing and discussed Bernoulli’s principle as I had been struggling on this.
Then it was out to the aircraft. A quick discussion ensued about how to check the engine when it had already been flown that day (oil and coolant). A demonstration on how to dip the fuel to find out how much we had and then in we got.
Once onboard, we ran through a few checks in accordance with the pre-issued checklist I had been given and then we started her up. On with the headsets, the switches, a press of the ignition and then she fired up like the graceful machine she is.
Once the radio had been switched on the tower was contacted, the request placed and clearance given. At this point I was allowed to begin the taxi with the rudder pedals (while the instructor controlled the power and covered the brakes) to the hold for some power checks. With these completed we were instructed to follow two cessna’s on a backtrack down the active runway before turning around to be number one for departure. This instruction was acknowledged and carried out.
Once we had done an about turn, full throttle was applied and we proceeded down the runway. The speed increased, the stick came back slightly and that was it, we were airborne and I was speechless. Finally after days of daydreaming, hoping and wishing my dream had been realised, I was in a plane that was climbing steadily and I had a hand on the controls (admittedly at this time only following the instructors inputs lightly). A left turn at the end of the runway for noise abatement procedures and a quick communication with the tower and we left the circuit.
The height continued to climb and we leveled off at 2500ft, set a rough heading for Popham, then it was over to me. It was the beginning of exercise 4. Exercise 4 is all about the effects of controls and getting used to the aircraft.
First up was pitch. Nose up and nose down. What happens when you push the stick forward. The nose drops, but what about the secondary effect? Well the speed increases. Pull the stick back and the nose rises but the speed then drops off. Once I had had a few goes at this it was on to roll. Push the stick one way and watch and feel the wings roll. Then the other way too. Again there is the secondary effect to think of. With this covered it was on to yaw. A push with one rudder pedal and feel the aircraft yaw one way followed by letting off to feel the effects of stability. A push with the rudder pedal the other way and feel the same effect.
A few more attempts at this and before I knew it we were calling up Popham to tell them we were inbound. At this point it was over to the instructor for the approach and landing.
Once landed we spent a good hour and a bit wandering around the show, chatting to various people that my instructor knew (everyone I met was so friendly) and drinking cups of coffee. Then it was back to the aircraft for departure, or so I thought…….
Just as we were about to get in the aircraft, another of the club members who had taken a different plane down to Popham came running up asking for help in mending a puncture he had just noticed on his plane. We then went and assisted for about 20 minutes with the changing of an inner tube and mending of his puncture. With this mended we went back to our aircraft, went through all the checks again and then taxied to the hold of the active runway. Did a few more power checks here before lining up for takeoff and commencing our run down the grass.
Once in the air we set a heading back towards Wycombe got to altitude and then it was back over to me. This time it was getting used to getting the aircraft in trim. Well this is not as easy as it seems at first. When my instructor had done this on the way down it seemed like a quick touch of the trim lever and all was well. When I was doing it, the nose was pitching up and down all over the place, we may had well have been on a rollercoaster. Eventually however after much patient encouragement from my instructor I just about managed to get the hang of getting the aircraft in trim so I could ‘hands off’ fly.
At this point we were within sight of Wycombe so a quick call to the tower and we were cleared for straight in to 06. Again I was to follow through with the controls and get a feel for what was going on. We lined up with 06, confirmed we were number one for landing and she was gently eased down onto the tarmac. Pretty much as soon as we touched she started to veer rather violently off to the side and we ended up coming to a rapid stop on the runway. A quick call to ATC and the aircraft behind us was heard to be told to ‘go around’. The aircraft was shut down and then we got out, the plane still on the runway. My instructor suggested that it felt like we had a flat tyre and a quick look on exiting the aircraft proved him right. The right side main tyre was as flat as a pancake.
The duty crew were dispatched and with their assistance the aircraft was moved a good distance off of the tarmac onto the grass (I’m sure I was told we had to be at least 30m off). At this point as we were already behind schedule (due to fixing a puncture at Popham) my instructor suggested that I leave him and the duty crew to sort the issue while I went off to my plans for the evening. A quick sign of my log book and I was off. I did feel very guilty about leaving a stranded plane with just my instructor and the duty crew to fix it but also I did need to be elsewhere.
On reflection:
Today I have learnt a lot. Effects of controls, trim and how to fix a puncture on a plane tyre. I’ve already visited another airfield, met a few people and have cemented my desire to fly. All this and I have only had my first lesson. Oh, and I’ve also realized how tiring it is to learn new things. I’m sitting here typing this and I’m practically asleep. I think that tonight I will be dreaming very much of flying (helped by hearing Typhoon’s on exercise echoing across the South Bucks valley).