Subterranean Flight?

[ChiSau]

Having received my shiny brown licence (thanks a lot CAA - nice colour choice) and been signed off on a PA28 (having learnt on C152s) there I was ready to take my first flight as a "real" pilot.

Was accompanied by a mate who flies a lot (has his own plane etc) so felt a little pressured going through my checklists etc - combination of rustiness and "exam-like" conditions of a more experienced pilot being next to you...

Sure the day had been wet, but the weather had cleared and we were just going to do a very quick local flight and come home. No problems.

The start up and radio call went well and we taxiied out across the grass heading for somewhere to do our power checks.

Headed left a bit to avoid some rough ground and we started to slow down - first a bit, then really quite a lot. No problem - wet ground - more power. Still slowing, more power, still slowing, full power - stopped. Errrr.........help?

After a bit more rocking and powering - still nothing. Not quite a CAP413 radio call...."Er....XXX Information....G-XXXX stuck in the north side grass.....er......shutting down and seeking assistance?"

Jumped out to find mud over ankle-hight, plane wedged solid. Took 6 of us 20 mins to get her free. Just as we finished, huge cloud, much rain, we're all soaked. Cup of tea time.

First flight as fully-fledged pilot - hight achieved -8 inches.

Its all glamour this flying malarky.......


:( :(

[Hairyplane]

I hope you didn't leave it muddy for somebody else to clean...??

I'm sure you didn't.

However, looking around at aero clubs there seems to be a mentality of - 'I'm the customer - I don't clean aeroplanes. '

Nobody does it - well other than when the moon is well and truly blue - and the net result is the hirer complains about the state of the aircraft fleet.

it is a battle at this time of year.

Help keep the costs down - your costs down ultimately - by just slooshing the aircraft down in the winter and in the summer - get the bugs off for the next punter.

I always wash my aircraft after flight - so nice to take the dust covers off to reveal a gleaming machine rather than one bugged and crudded up.

As a student - flying doggy old Condors - we were expected to do this and got a bxxxxxxxxg if we didn't, customer or otherwise. A habit that has never died after 27 years.

HP

[AerBabe]

Similar to my first "flight" as a licensed pilot. My friend, who has a lot of experience, and time on helos as well as fixed wing, was coming with me. The weather wasn't great, so I opted for a few circuits (also keeping things simple, thus reducing embarassment potential!). When we got to the holding point I was sure the cloud base was lowering, so called ATC to check. It had dropped 400 foot in 15 minutes, to 800'. So we taxied back to park the aircraft. :)

[Warped Factor]

ChiSau,

Been there, done that as they say :o

Welcome to the joys of winter flying :)

WF.

[Keef]

Glad I am, this time of year, that Southend is all tarmac etc.

Retractables and grass don't really mix too well in winter. I've had my "microswitch gummed up with mud" experience and don't want a repeat. TWO green lights on final; lots of flying past and inspection with binoculars...

[FlyingForFun]

ChiSau,

I hope you logged your "flight"!

Remember, the time you log is the time from when the aircraft first moves under its own power with the intention of taking off to when the brakes are applied at the end of the flight. Since you had every intention of taking off when the aircraft first moved, you're allowed to log it! :)

FFF
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[sharpshot]

FFF

Bet you log taxiing to the fuel pumps:D :D :D :D

[FlyingForFun]

Can't, sharpshot, since the aim of the taxying is to get to the pumps, not to take off :D

I've never logged a "flight" where I haven't got airbourne. But I do know someone who has ;)

FFF
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[big.al]

Don'tcha just love the British weather....

My last three flights have been cancelled due to low cloud, fog, rain or all three. Due to go up Sunday but I'm not too optimistic, and now I'm also out of currency so need a quick check-ride - probably just a couple of circuits, all being well - with an instructor to remain within club rules. That's all assuming that the Netherthorpe (Netherslop) runway isn't waterlogged or turned into a quagmire by now....:(

[AerBabe]

That would be me then FFF ? :p
At least I don't break aircraft when friends take me flying :eek: :D

[poetpilot]

Handy Hint/Something to think about....

...If the aircraft you're flying has spats and it picks up lotsa mud, it can freeze whilst you're up there and cause rather effective braking when you touch down again.

I've also known it where it happened on an unspatted PFA aircraft, that had drum brakes, where the mud found its way in and froze.

Certainly, the spats have just been taken off my 172 for this very reason. They'll probably stay off now until April/May.

I would imagine that the risk of freezing mud on retractables is also quite high at this time of year.

[sharpshot]

Come on then Aerbabe - who broke what, where & when!

At least I can vouch for you not breaking anything ;)
By the way, Pete tried starting that ship up a couple of weekends ago........and walked away from it:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

FFF - yes, I appreciate its all about "Intention", but I'll bet some have taxied out with that same intent and then done a double take at the fuel guage.........
and then there are some who are no doubt prone to changing their minds..............:)

Big.al,
You'll be okay this weekend - clear skies and close to zero temp.

Just de-ice your plane if it's been outside all night.

[Circuit Basher]

FFF - I have once logged 0.1 hrs for a non-departure flight!

It was my solo QXC, when I taxied to the hold, did power checks and found that I had a power drop on one mag. Asked ATC to get my CFI to meet me in the club a/c parking and taxied back (he didn't come out, so I had to shut down, walk to the club, drag him out, etc which all took around 30 mins). He then did all sorts of weakening the mixture, high revs sort of tricks and it still dropped on one mag. He told me 'it'll be alright - just go with it' and was a little miffed when I refused. Finally convinced him to let me use another a/c and got on with it, but was around an hour late setting out on my QXC.

Out of sheer cussedneess, I decided to log some time for the taxi out / back!!:D

[Who has control?]

ChiSau,

Did you pay for your taxi-ing?

I think the rule of thumb has to be 'if you pay for it - book it'

I once had a mag. drop when I did the power checks at the hold and taxied back the runway to the club. I didn't get charged for it and I didn't book it either.

[FlyingForFun]

You got me, AerBabe. On both counts :)

FFF
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[vancouv]

Circuit Basher - A CFI miffed because you didn't take out a plane with a mag drop??????????? While you're still a student?????? Boy, that sounds well dodgy. Well done sticking to your guns as PIC and telling him where to go.

[AerBabe]

Sharpshot Come on then Aerbabe - who broke what, where & when! I took FFF flying with my brand new PPL, gave him control, and we had a alternator failure... Fortunately (?) FFF has these quite frequently, so was able to be my checklist. I've not taken him up since though ;)