Beagle Pup, dual, fine August day. Me: PPL student with about 17 hrs. Flying large circuit (forced on us by noise abatement). Instructor (now top mate and co-owner of group aircraft) planning to stop and send me first solo on the very next one (or so he later claims). Climb to 1000 feet, turn downwind: donkey splutters, power dies. Watch and listen with intense interest as instructor takes over, makes real life Mayday call, points towards runway, realises it's too far away (NB: Beagle Pup minus engine equals brick with wings), selects field and sets up for landing. Tense moment as approach what looks like a ditch at edge of field (in fact only a line of green verbiage). Instructor rounds out, holds off, and off, and off, and off....gentlest of landings. Time elapsed since fanstop: approx ninety seconds (to misquote Edward Whymper: " one crowded ninety seconds of glorious life"). Exit aircraft, laugh like hyenas, feel shivery. Observe that field would make very good flying club if equipped with windsock and butty shack. Falmer Palmer arrives, unfazed. Flying club car arrives to take us to pub. Drink beer.
Result: best flying lesson ever: Instructor observes that slack "yeah, flying lessons, whatever" attitude transformed to one of paying attention. First solo a couple of weeks later. Continue and obtain licence. Do PFLs frequently ever since (did a rotten one during skills test, but examiner kind). Could I have done it on my own at that time? Not sure. Could I do it now? I think so, but don’t particularly wish to find out.
EDIT: Instructor mate is sure that it took a lot less than 90 seconds. Given the gliding ability of a Pup, he is probably right.
Last edited by FNG; 23rd February 2003 at 07:51.