View Full Version : Future Top Guns. Which Stage Are You At?
sennadog
22nd Mar 2002, 19:13
Well, I fancy myself as a bit of a Top Gun on the ground but as soon as I get up there I turn into a flapping mess...... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .For the record, I've done a grand total of 15 hours now and am doing circuits and as yet have not gone solo. Exam wise, I've completed Air Law and Human Performance with Met to be done within the next fortnight (work permitting) and hopefully with the lighter evenings coming up, I'll be able to accelerate things a bit.. .. .I thought that it would be interesting to find out how the rest of you peeps are getting on.... .. .So, how are my fellow students doing?
Hi, I'm Evo, and I'm an addict... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . .. .18 hours P.u/t, 12 minutes P1. Waiting for the weather to sort itself out for more solo circuits <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . . .. .Exams: Done Air Law, Met and Human Factors. Flight Performance and Planning is lined up for this weekend. Then the dreaded Nav <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> ...
sennadog
22nd Mar 2002, 19:25
Evo - it looks as though we may "finish" at more or less the same time. Maybe we can meet up when the Class of 2002 passes out?
At my current, weather-limited, rate of 2.5 hours in three months I reckon I'll be done in the summer of 2005... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> . .. .Its gotta get better. If it gets worse I'm going for the PPL(seaplane)... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 22 March 2002, 15:33: Message edited by: Evo7 ]</small>
Don D Cake
22nd Mar 2002, 19:50
Hello. .. .12 hours in a PA28. No hope of going solo as I can't land the bloody thing. If there was a bouncing or ballooning competition I would win it hands down. If there are, say, 10 things you have to do to land, I can only get about 7 different ones right each time. Praying for high pressure (with no fog) or even easterly/westerly winds so that I can try without a crosswind.. .. .Thinking of taking up bowls instead <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
Don. .. .Take a look at <a href="http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=53&t=000746&p=" target="_blank"> this thread</a>. I got lots of good advice - but my landings can still be a bit dubious <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .Also, take a look <a href="http://www.monmouth.com/~jsd/how/htm/landing.html" target="_blank"> here </a>. . .. .Don't give up - I thought I was never going to get it, and then I nailed one. After that is started to click, and now they are mostly OK...
sennadog
22nd Mar 2002, 20:33
Don, the best thing I found is to get your instructor to take you off to a nice long RWY such as Lydd or Blackbushe where you have plenty of space. I did this and it gives you much more time to get it right rather than trying to plonk it down on a short RWY.
Don D Cake
22nd Mar 2002, 21:26
Bigger runway? Oh gawd, there's no hope for me, I fly out of Luton <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> . .. .Lots of good advice in the links, cheers.. .. .I've identifed some of my problems...... .My seat was too far back, I had it set up like I do in my car, I couldn't use full rudder!!!!. .My instructor reckons (and he's right) that I'm using the same force on the rudder and aileron controls when cross controling. I end up straight down the runway and overbanked or I control the drift and point the wrong way.. .. .It's not a race, I'm not going to give up and I've got a bottle of champagne waiting to celebrate my first greaser <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
HelenD
23rd Mar 2002, 03:11
Well I have just done 30 hours passed all the ground exams though I still have the RT practical to go. Have yet to go solo though thats more due to the CAA than me. Have just started Nav so still have some way to go.
knobbygb
23rd Mar 2002, 10:08
10 hours total - 0.2 P1. Nothing since Autumn (except 0.8hrs in Arizona on hols - great experience but wont count to the required 45) The joys of grass runways - I'm told they'll make me a better pilot in the long run - maybe by about 2008! Thank god its not just me thats frustrated! What is it with the weather - it was never this bad 'when I were a lad'.
MikeSamuel
23rd Mar 2002, 18:32
Weather has been terrible lately, always seems that one variable is too nasty to fly, whether it's cloud, wind, snow... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> Managed to get an hour done today, first time in 5 weeks, very enjoyable <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .6hours 35mins TT, 25mins P1, 6hours 10mins P U/T.. .No exams done <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Keep Flying!. .MS <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />
sennadog
23rd Mar 2002, 19:07
SOLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. .. .Hehe. Finally managed to get my first Solo in at Blackbushe today - YEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!.. .. .Oops, got a bit carried away there.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . .. .Felt amazing during take off. First of all - no grass, so G-PC felt like an Impreza off the blocks and then I was bit surprised how much difference it makes not having the extra weight on board and then as I banked to the right it really hit me! There was a big hole where my instructor normally sits..... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .I could actually see the airfield clearly downwind for a change.... .. .Can't stop <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> all the time, <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Mrs.Sennadog brought me back down to earth when I got home though - she refused to call me Captain and told me that it didn't mean that I was in command at home! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
Nice one mate! Still haven't stopped smiling about mine... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
knobbygb
24th Mar 2002, 00:00
Well done Sennadog.. .. .Have already soloed but only done an hour or so since and not flown for months - think I'll be back with the instructor for a few hours! Hence looking forward to the 'second solo'. To be honest I can hardly remember the first - it seemed to last about 40 seconds and I was concentrating so hard I didn't have time to actually enjoy it. I'll have more idea what to expect this time (better performance, clear view out the right side of a/c etc.) so will savour the experience a bit more.. .Now, if it'll just stop raining...
DKosky
24th Mar 2002, 20:12
20 hours 35 mins P.u/t still hoping the weather will improve so I can go solo. oh will you look at that, I go back to work and the sun appears <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> . .. .Exams completed:- Airlaw and Meteorology got Nav lined up for the April 16th
Passed my glider skills test. 12 hours(ish) and 100 flights. . .. .50 some hours in SEL, and about 3 hours of stuff to do to meet the requirements. Should get the SEL skills test/checkride done in next month or two and allow my taildragger endorsement to be attached to an actual rating...
Who has control?
25th Mar 2002, 16:36
pokes head round door and says 'Am I allowed in here? . .. .Just to say congratulations to Sennadog <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .Its not the training that is the problem, its the staying current afterwards thats difficult.
merronys
25th Mar 2002, 18:49
41 hours P/ut, only 3.6 solo - mainly due to change of aircraft at FTO <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" /> . .. .Human factors, flight planning, law & met all passed.. .. .Lots of time and GFT booked in 3 weeks <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
Passed flight performance and planning at the weekend, but completely sucked in the circuit during my lesson. Hadn't flown for three weeks due to the weather, but still... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" /> . .. .Anyone else go solo and then have an awful session afterwards, or is it just me...? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
sennadog
25th Mar 2002, 18:56
Thanks guys! Hopefully, the decent weather has now arrived so I hope to see you all up there - but not too close.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> hasn't left my face yet...
DKosky
26th Mar 2002, 01:19
Evo,. .. .Don't let it get to you, I think the sudden spate of fine weather has thrown a lot of people off. We've all be so used to flying with strong x-wind, dodging heavy cloud etc etc. . .. .My last lesson (7th March) was awful, did 6 landings and had to do 2 go-arounds as my approaches were way too fast and the ones I did land on were a bit too firm. Bearing in mind it was a lot better than the one prior to that when on the downwind leg and doing my BUMFICHH check truncated version... carb heat..looks good..hatches..*gives door a push to check it's secure* door flies open. I could have sworn that was secure on take-off.. .. .I think I spent a good couple of hours after my lesson beating myself up over how terrible I did.. .. .so don't let it get you down, I'm still waiting to do my first solo, so I'll let you know if my session after the solo was any good.. . . . <small>[ 25 March 2002, 21:29: Message edited by: djk ]</small>
Cheers mate - needed that <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
Saab Dastard
26th Mar 2002, 03:24
Sennadog,. .. .You are supposed to announce your first solo with a new thread, larded with smilies, not modestly hide it away in another thread! Well done, another confirmed addict!. .. .BTW, I've done 42.5 hours and am waiting for the haze to clear for my QXC. I've done all the exams (just within a year by a whisker!), so a bit of practice and the skills test beckons. It feels strange to be this close - I can smell it!. .. .Evo, I've had days when landings are easy and lovely, and have also had days when I scare the **** out of myself, but the former gradually outnumber the latter, especially if you spend an hour or so circuit bashing. Now if only I could make my short field landing just that, not an arrival.... .. .Good luck all, roll on the summer!. .. .SD