A lovely day's flying!

[Aussie Andy]

Well, today was great - and I just have to tell you all!

I passed my PPL several weeks back, and the license arrived 2 weeks ago. Yesterday afternoon was my first chance to go flying, and I just took myself out for an hour and a half or so i the local area, which was fine.

But today was MUCH more fun! Myself and a mate of mine also from BAFC and also low hours PPL (but with more than me!) had planned to head off to Caernarfon, together with a young friend of ours who is currently staying with us and wanted to see a bit of the UK from the air before returing to Australia. However, the wx this morning was not very encouraging to the north, and not real great to the south either.

Anyway, we decided to plan for Sandown, IoW. Our route was to have been Wycombe -> Blackbushe -> Liphook -> Sandown, but the actuals at Heathrow and Farnborough were not at all encouraging - 1000' to 1200', +SHRA, CB etc. However, we could see that things were better further south at Southampton, Bournemouth and IoW with 2500' base and good vis away from the showers.

After a chat with one of the instructors, we decided to head off via a slightly different route, which I was able to hot-plan from the RH seat while Adrian flew the first leg. We just headed for CPT VOR and then tracked a radial south in the direction of Bournemouth. This kept us away from the ominously dark skies in the Farnborough direction. Great FIS from Farnborough was provided, usefully pointing ot several conflicts for us. It was excellent having one of us doin gthe radio and Nav, leaving the other to enjoy the flying :)

By the time we transited the zone at Bournemouth, we could see clear blue skies ahead to the island. We coasted out over Lymington, and then followed the western and southern coast of the island around to Sandown. We made some lovely steep turns over the Needles - with blue skies and sparkling seas, it was a joy to behold!

Sandown was a joy to behold! Bathed in sunshine, the ample grass strip welcomed us. Paid our fees in the tower, then walked over to the excellent Specialist FTO on the north side which had been recommended to us, where we had a lovely but simple (beans/spuds/tea etc.) lunch sitting on the sundeck in glorious warmth! We could see the forbidding black skies and towering CB to the north - this served to make us feel even happier and all the more priveleged to be relaxing in the sun on this lovely island! Particularly as we thought of those left behind us in the heavy showers and grey skies to the north...

After an hour or so we decided to head back. My turn to fly :) We turned to the north and then tracked towards Goodwood, and then followed their 360 radial back up over Farnborough to Reading (WCO). The wx by now was much improved - a few showers, but nothing which presented a problem. Vis. was OK the whole time.

The wx continued to improve, and we were just having too much fun, so we decided to extend the journey by a bit by tracking along the M4 down to Swindon, then back overhead Oxford (good service from Brize - ever so quiet!) and then overhead my house (near the BNN VOR), and finally back to Wycombe for a pleasantly gently landing on the 35 grass rwy.

And after parking, a well earned pint was enjoyed by all :cool:

So what's the point of this long post? Well, nothing really - other than to record this great day out - and only my second flight since getting the PPL. Many more please!

Andy ;)

P.S. Flying with another pilot is great! Reduces the workload and increases the fun!

[MikeSamuel]

Thanks for that insight Andy, this is exactly how I want my flying after PPL to be, although I won't be letting anyone else fly! :D
Can't wait until I can do trips such as this :D

Regards

Mike :)

[Toppers]

Glad you had a good trip out AA. Sounds like you were in my hunting ground for a while today, Swindon, Compton etc.

The feeling of satisfaction never goes away after an enjoyable days flying, hasn't done for me anyway and it's been 12 years now.

DON'T LET YOUR LICENCE LAPSE NOW YOU HAVE IT!!!!!!!

I know too many people who have and they regret it.

Safe flying..........

[DOC.400]

Nice one Andy. It's little jaunts like this that make it all worthwhile.
After ten years as a PPL I still get a buzz out of a flight like this.
Last Monday went Waltham-Goodwood(lunch)-Sandown(afternoon tea)-then around the Neddles, Solent, Lee-on-Solent-Odiham-Waltham with my seven year old poling from the right hand seat!

[Evo7]

Well I'll add my name to the great day flying list. That big damn cloud held off from Goodwood - told everyone that me nervously looking at it every 5 minutes before my lesson would be enough to get rid of it - and got my lesson in :)

5 hours down, 40 to go.... ;)

Oh, Speedbird252? You out there? Haven't forgotten you mate, just up to my eyeballs...

[ 15 July 2001: Message edited by: Evo7 ]

[bcfc]

AA

Sounds like a fantastic day. I too had a good day. Wx couldn't have been better. Went up to do a bit of practice for my skills test (10 days and counting :eek: ) and try and crack the PFL's which are my nemisis. 3 passable ones and a bit of a jolly over the estuary left me smiling and impatient for the big day.

Next trip you plan should be down here in the South West :cool:. Mainly open FIR and service from Exeter & Bristol is excellent.

Keep us posted.

[FlyingForFun]

Andy,

Well done on your PPL! Great feeling, isn't it? Seems like you're at about the same stage as me - I passed last month, and got my license a couple of weeks ago.

Sounds like you had a great day! Mine wasn't so good unfortunately - but I did get to fly, so it wasn't all bad! I had other arrangements for the whole weekend, but a last-minute change of plans meant I had some free time on Saturday - so of course I rushed down to White Waltham to hire a plane - and even got my sister and her boyfriend to come with and become by first passengers!

We planned on flying to Shoreham. Got airborne and got a FIS from Farnborough. They asked us to route to the East of Farnborough - no problem, since that was what I'd planned anyway. Only problem was a huge great rain shower over Wokingham. Couldn't get to the east of it due to London CTR, so I told Farnborough I couldn't go that way, and asked for MATZ penetration. And, for the first time ever, they refused! I'm not actually sure if they're allowed to do that, after all it's Class G, but the reply came back "Negative, I've got departing traffic that way. Please stay East of Farnborough."

I stuck around for about 1/2 hour waiting for the rain to move, but it wasn't going anyway. A couple of times it looked light enough to fly through so I gave it a go, but as soon as the windscreen got wet visibility went way below what I was happy with. Eventually gave up and went home.

Things I learnt from this:

Dont assume that controllers will always give you what you request Showers sometimes stay still! Even if you can see right through a shower and out the other side, the vis inside the shower will be lower than it looks Be prepared to plan alternative routes to the same destination. I could easilly have flown out towards Basingstoke, under the stub of the Odiham MATZ, and not needed the MATZ penetration. I just never thought about doing that. When flying somewhere just for the fun of flying, it doesn't matter where you go! After I landed, I wondered why I didn't head north, or west, or anywhere except where the rain was! I never thought of that while I was up there, either.

Overall, an educational flight even if I didn't make it to Shoreham. And I've got my first passengers in my logbook too! (They both loved it, except when we flew into the rain which my sister didn't like too much. Have to remember that when I take up passengers in future.) Wish I'd been able to make it past that shower, though - sounds like it was great further south!

FFF

PS - This is my first ever PPRuNe post - so Hi to all you PPruNers out there! And sorry for making the first one so long and irrelevant!

[Aussie Andy]

Hi there FFF! Sorry you didn't make it through to Shoreham. I think I saw your shower, but from the other side.

I think the key to success on our trip was that we were prepared to be flexible. We had in fact planned a route between Farnborough & Odiham, but when we got airborne we ignored the plan (except for obvisou things like "do we have enough fuel!) and headed to CPT VOR because:

METARs hinted at better wx to the South & West;
We could see that the sky looked clearer in that direction;
It was very easy to get there by tracking a radial to the VOR; and
It was very easy to plan from there down to the coast by simply picking another radial.


All of this was easily done from in air - but given that we had a non-flying passenger (also my first passenger!), I can say that I would not have done this if I were the sole pilot because I think with my low hours the workload may have been too high.

My buddy flew the first leg (we flipped a coin for it!) while I did the enroute planning "head-down" (HDG, estimates, etc.) and radio calls while he kept a good lookout and avoided the poor vis. under the heavy showers. In fact, I think my workload was highest on this leg, even though I don't get to log it! :( Anyway, this system worked great, and served to boost the confidence of both of us! Having done it, I think I would be OK with similar conditions on my own - but would not want the distraction of PAX.

So, more cross country hours is the prescription I think! Hoping for good wx on Wednesday (fat chance - forecast looks grim with a slow moving low centred on Wycombe!)... if condx. OK I will fly myself up to visit "The Outlaws" near Wolverhampton International (aka Halfpenny Green!).

BCFC: Good luck with the skills test! I'll keep the southwest in mind... which airfields to you recommend?

EVO7: I wonder if we heard you calling inbound from Hayling Island (sp?) as we overflew Goodwood with an FIS at around 15:15 local?

DOC.400: Interesting to hear your 7 year old joined you... I have two seven year olds (twins)... Mummy still too nervous to let them up with me! Waiting until I have 10 hours post-PPL, which I think is sensible really... Can your seven year old see out OK, or are cushions needed?

Toppers: Hoping not to lapse!

MS: It will happen!

Andy :p

[ 16 July 2001: Message edited by: Aussie Andy ]

[You want it when?]

Sounds great Aussie - well done on completing the PPL, with a whole 4.5 hours I've a way to go yet. Only a short hop on Sunday for Exercise 10 - stalling! During the incipienet stall I also discovered (I believe) the negative G pushover :eek: to the amusement of my instructor. Still a nice day to fly - Cranfield was dead as every-one seemed to be at the F1. Even managed my first talked through landing :D

[FNG]

Hello FFF: I see that you have succumbed to the curse of pprune. If my plans for next weekend change, I will maybe see you at WW as per email. Glad to hear that you and Andy are enjoying your licences and wish evo7 and bcfc best of luck in getting theirs.

Failed to fly yesterday: weather fine, aircraft serviceable (enjoyed pulling it out of hangar and up hill then pushing it back again), but had forgotten that the world stands still for Formula One: ninety gazillion dollars worth of bizjets and helicopters in and out of OXF, so last thing they needed was puddle jumpers trying to launch off aerobatically into the crowded FIR, and last thing we needed was 19 hrs at the hold followed by help-help-we're-crashing wake turbulence from Challengers and Learjets. Result, another entry in the s*d all column of the logbook, but much friendly banter and beer with co-owner/instructor/mate bloke so still a pleasant enough day. Also never seen so many people with perma-tans and bolted-on shades indoors since last went to the GP itself.

BTW, I must say that I like the new classifications of ppruners as "desperate ppruner" "get a life ppruner", "sad johnnie-no-mates ppruner" etc. etc. I never much cared for being "flight deck qualified" as I neither am nor wish to be so. I much prefer being a lost cause.

Edit: having posted this I see that we are back to the old classifications. Boo hiss.

[ 16 July 2001: Message edited by: FNG ]

[Evo7]

AA

Wasn't me - Golf Papa India and I were still sitting on the ground then. Got up at around 4:30. You'd recognise me by the bl**dy awful RT, anyway. Medium level turns this time - skipped it due to a lack of horizon the last two times - and kept on doing 360's into the same damn rainstorm over Bognor for most of the lesson. Rest of the south coast was clear, and I was flying in the only bit of rain south of the downs....

You want it when? Hurrah! I'm more experienced than someone. I've got 4.7 hours now... ;)

I was talking to a chap on the ground at Goodwood who went solo after 5 hours. Am I just slow, or was he severely good?? Still got stalling and a couple of other things - I think - and then circuits to go, so I reckon I'll probably take around 12-15, give or take. The idea still terrifies me a bit, so I'm not in a hurry, but still....

[bcfc]

AA

As still Pu/t (just), I'm not the most experienced with the airfields here but here's what I know. If you can get the puddle jumper for a weekend, there are a few worth visiting.

Exeter - very GA friendly & my home town
Eggsford - grass, cheap and a v nice pub nearby
Perranporth - definitely worth a visit, especially with the approach to 09. I think the owner has a hotel or B&B. Landings free if you stay there apparently. Short ride to the beach. (http://www.perranporthairfield.co.uk/)
Newquay (St Mawgan) - never been but loads from my club go and it looks fun.
Then there's Lands End (grass) which is going to be on my itinerary for my first major trip post PPL.

If you get down here, make sure you pootle around Dartmoor. Makes you glad to be alive & flying ;).

Cheers,

Evo7 - Solo after 5 hours :eek: . I think you're more realistic... and I don't think you're slow at all. In fact, I think my instructor said something about the new JAR regs dictating the time required for exercises pre-solo. Maybe a FI could clarify.

[ 16 July 2001: Message edited by: bcfc ]

[DOC.400]

ANDY
Alex sits on a booster seat. He can't quite see over the coming on a PA28, but fine on a Robin. He's been instrument flying for ages and uses the horizon to the sides as a visual reference. Now has 4.5 hours poling in his own logbook and hours upon hours on FS98. He's been pax since he was about 4-5 months old. His older brother was about 4 when he started. Him and wife my first pax after getting PPL in '93. Catch em young eh!

FLYINGFORFUN
Did you enjoy the garden party at WW on Saturday?

[Bluebeard]

Mmmmm...hadn't flown for a few weeks due to indecent beer consumption but had a nice surprise when the threatened thunderstorms didn't materialise in the vicinity of Elstree on Saturday. It looked like lots of others had decided to stay home as it was blisfully quiet.

Took meself up for an hour to get back in the saddle, even snuck in a couple of cheeky PFLs and a circuit for good measure. Nothing complex or ambitious, just a nice little jolly - luverly!

Got a bit of a fright when the DME, which I'd turned up full blast on the ground just to check if it was working (met with wall of silence) suddenly kicked in at 750ft on the climbout. Must remember to turn the bugger down next time! :eek:

[FlyingForFun]

FNG - Yes, definitely a curse. Now then, what do I need to do to get my first pprune promotion? ;)

Andy, sounds like you handled it well! It must be a lot easier with another pilot on board, like you say. It's nice that you found "my" shower, too! I pity the poor people on the ground under that shower - it must have been in the same place for hours! That's one of the many things I love about being up there, seeing weather like that and knowing that I don't have to be in it - unlike if I was driving, or sitting in my garden. :D

DOC.400 - didn't get much time to hang around for the party :( I did see the Pietenpol flying around, followed by a bi-plane (didn't catch what it was, and can't recognise planes too well yet - more practice needed!) doing some gentle aerobatics, but then had to go. (Actually wish I'd stayed, but that's another story...)

Bluebeard - LOL at your DME experience! :eek:

You Want It When: you will find plenty more opportunities to amuse your instructor, I'm sure! I managed to turn a spiral dive into an aerobatic manoever in my GFT revision session (hmm - don't recall these PA28s being cleared for inverted flight...)!

FFF
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[ 17 July 2001: Message edited by: FlyingForFun ]