You must be fed up of QXC posts by now...

[knobbygb]

...but, what the hell, I want my 5 minutes of fame. :D

Sucessfully completed the QXC this afternoon, Sherburn - East Midlands - Humberside - Sherburn. Weather was looking a bit dodgy this morning, but by the time I set off cloud base and vis were fine.

Managed to make surprisingly few mistakes, but did TWICE try to call the next freqency without actually switching the radio, and had to be, er, reminded by the controllers. .;) Never done this before, so must just have been nerves.

The only time I was worried was when the engine refused to start for the last leg :eek: (just as I'd started to relax and pat myself on the back). I'd had the same problem earlier in the week though, and the instructor started it that time by cranking it with full lean mixture and full throttle, then going to full rich/closed throttle while the engine was turning. Did this and it worked a treat, but haven't got a clue why. And it helps to have three hands. Which I haven't.

By the way, if anyone from Humberside tower is reading this, thanks for the very friendly, professional and helpful way you dealt with me. Loads of constructive observations and help, and let me look round the tower too. A credit to your profession. When I pass my skills test, I shall return - with cream cakes!:D (and that's not just because you wrote 'Very good indeed' on my form).

Other firsts today were my highest flight to date (got up to an amazing 4500ft), and fastest (ground speed 160kts on the homeward leg).

I managed to use a whole roll of film en-route and at my destinations, and will post a link here sometime next week if anyone's really interested.

Right, off to the pub.....

:D :D :D :D :D

[Evo]

Well done knobby! With hindsight my QXC was the most enjoyable bit of flying I've done so far, although on the day I was too knackered to really appreciate it. Haven't done anything as demanding since... :)

Enjoy those pints :D

[expedite_climb]

That technique works quite well in certain types of engines if they are hot, or if it is flooded / youve got just a bit too much fuel and not enough air in the engine !

Well done !:D

[Select Zone Five]

Nice one knobbygb...Was it windy up there? I landed sideways today :D

[knobbygb]

Windy? Just a bit!!! :eek:

The ATIS at EGNJ was giving 18kt gusting to 28kts, but luckily straight down the short cross runway (09). Found out afterwards that it was 29kts at 110 at the time I landed.

Reduced LDA on 09 was 535 metres which worried me a bit. I put it on the numbers (a bit sideways too) and managed to stop before the intersection (take a look at it in Pooleys - that can't be more than 200 metres). Same again on departure - 50ft above the intersection. Guess a good wind can be very useful too.

While taxying in, I saw a C150 land on 21 with similar winds.

[FlyingForFun]

Well done, knobby! I doubt many of us get tired of hearing these stories, so keep 'em coming!

Personally, I'd much rather have trouble starting the engine on the ground than trouble keeping it running in the air. Sound like you had a great time and a good flight!

FFF
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[ChiSau]

Nice result kg !! :D :D :D :D

Also - that's way higher than I've ever been (3,400). Any hypoxia??:D :D

And why so high? Terrain clearance or just fancied the view? :cool:

[knobbygb]

Just fancied the view. Was beginning to think the sky stopped at 2000ft and wondered what that big blue thing was doing where the clouds usually are. Thought I'd go investigate, but didn't manage to touch it :confused:

Seriously, climbed that high because I was stuck behind a bl**dy C150 doing about 40kts on the same route. I felt a bit 'rude' overtaking, so climbed to keep the speed down. Still ended up passing to his right climbing at about 1000ft/min. I was only in a Pa.28-161, but aren't those little toy aeroplanes slow
:D ;)

[Aussie Andy]

knobbygb - well done mate! Look forward to the photos...

[Grim Reaper 14]

It'll be a sad day when people get tired of posts like these. Long may it continue and, TWF!! :D :D :D

[Don D Cake]

Keep 'em coming, they make good reading especially as I might be allowed to wander away from the circuit and try to find my way back next lesson. :eek: Now how does it go? QDM, QDM, QDM....

[G SXTY]

Well done knobbygb – it’s a great feeling of achievement, isn’t it. Go easy on C150 drivers though, we get plenty of time to admire the scenery at that speed. ;)

And don’t worry, you’re not the only one who sometimes forgets to change frequency - reminds me of an exchange I heard once in a land far, far away:

Oakland Center: "AMERICAN XXX CONTACT SALT LAKE CENTER 123.45 GOODNIGHT."
American XXX: "123.45 GOODNIGHT" [short pause] "SALT LAKE AMERICAN XXX GOOD EVENING."
Oakland Center: "WELL, IT’S REAL NICE TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN, BUT I’M STILL IN OAKLAND."
Unidentified: [and with impeccable timing] "D’OH" :)

[tacpot]

Well done knobbygb. Especially well done for trying to fly at a sensible height. There are lots of advantages to flying high if the weather allows it. I've taken a Cessna 152 over Snowdonia at 6500ft, so they can climb - if you give'em chance :D

Good luck with the skill test.

[Nordo]

C-grats knobby

I have to agree with the Grim Reeper, It would be an awfuly long time indeed before I were to get tired of these kind of posts. It takes me back a few years to my first xc's. Unfortunatly at work I run into more pilots who have forgotten they are flying than not (there is a whole bunch of forums here in pprune where they converge) So to hear the stories of breakin through 4000 ft...I smile and remember. I seem to remember the sensation of my first Xc more so than my first solo. I remember the date of my solo, but I was scared and focused so I don't remember what happened while the engine was running.

I think Ill post a tribute to my first Xc some time soon...thanks for the stories. Keep them comming.

[sennadog]

knobbygb, well done matey. The skies are getting crowded now.:D

One thing that I'd say to everyone doing their PPL is to enjoy it. I did enjoy it but with the goal at the end of the training I could've made more of it and it's worth making the point that as you are learning, make the most of your time in the air.

So, when is the GFT likely to be?

[knobbygb]

Thanks everyone, and I promise no more digs at Cessna peeps.

Now hoping my amazing good luck with the weather will hold (only ONE weather cancellation since May :cool: ) and I'll be able to get the skiils test done soon. I have seven hours of 'revision' to do to get me up to 45 hours total time, and four writtens to sit, so I'd hope to be doing the test by the first week in November all being well.

You can be assured I'll be posting here when it happens.

Now, Florida in January... Hmmm.... :cool:

[Evo]

Yeah, agree with FFF and the Reaper - it will be a sad day for this forum if we get fed up... :)

[knobbygb]

So here's the pics. if anyone's interested:

My QXC (http://www.pbase.com/knobbygb/flying/qxc)

Quality isn't the best but they are mainley taken through the scratched perspex side windows - I was too busy flying to do any better :)

[Select Zone Five]

Nice photographs knobbygb. I was concentrating far too hard during my QXC to even consider taking photo's. I wish I had now though :(

Good luck with the rest of the training!
Now, Florida in January... Hmmm....
Are you hour building in FLA with a view to ATPL?

[Papa Charlie]

Well Done !

Although I did mine 2 years ago I still enjoy reading other pilot’s experiences – it’s a great achievement. For me going solo was the best, then the QXC and lastly the GFT (I was just too knackered to appreciate the “Well Done, you passed”).

My route in a Katana was Redhill – Goodwood – Manston – Redhill. I had never been to Manston before but easy to find as you fly east into Kent – the land narrows so you can see the Thames estuary on the left hand side, Dover and the English Channel on the right and the North sea straight ahead. Right in front of you is this whopping large piece of tarmac with numbers on it. :eek:

Now I had never landed on tarmac before (my local airfields Redhill, Goodwood, Rochester, Headcorn are all grass). Not only that it is 2,752m long. Anyway I felt really good landing right on the numbers and ATC asked me to vacate on the right. By which time I was down to a walking pace and asked where the exit was – they said about another ½ mile to go! Luckily no-one was on short finals as I taxied what felt like to me miles. I could have landed ACROSS that runway ! :D

But the feeling of achievement was great. Funny really, I think I did 3 of my best landings ever on that QXC, and that includes all the landings I have done in 150+ hours flying since getting my PPL!

Enjoy the rest of your training and hope the GFT goes well!
:)

[What a Loop]

Well done

I agree with the comments, never get fed up of hearing of peoples achievments.:)

Great feeling when youv'e completed it. I still remember my QXC it was only a couple of years ago, Blackbushe - Gloucestershire - Wellsborne - Blackbushe, great feeling of satisfaction when you complete it, went home fully exited to tell Mrs WAL and got "Thats nice dear, here's your tea".

Wish I had the foresight as you have had to take a camera with me, as you will always remember this flight.:D

Best of Luck with the GFT and look forward to the posting of that successful event, don't know about pictures on the GFT:D :D :D :D

:)

[niknak]

Well done Knobby!

I don't know how many QXC's go on to be airline pilots, but I know a lot, so there's no reason not to let the world know about your achievments!

Keep taking the cream cakes to Humberside - they'll need them to alleviate the boredem when Finningly opens! :D :p :D