From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary

[mazzy1026]

John - excellent news mate...........this is what it says on my certificate:

"You defied gravity and and joined that elite band of aviators who flew then landed safely on Terra Firma".

Well done mate

Cheq - I find that the biggest bonus for me now is not having to worry about studying for exams/uni etc. This Christmas will be the first one since I was 5 years old that I won't have to worry about reading for an exam or doing homework/coursework - so that is a pretty good feeling. Also, the finances are much better, but now I work the standard week, getting weekdays at the flying school is difficult, especially as my instructor only works week days (a good excuse for a week off!).

Well, when I started this thread I never ever thought it would reach 1000 posts!

Thanks all,

Lee

[kookabat]

More from the 'things you do after you get your licence' file!
I was lucky enough to get a back seat this morning with a mate in a Citabria. I wasn't doing (much of) the flying, just sat back and watched and enjoyed - off to a grass strip literally next to the Hume Highway (main road between Sydney and Melbourne) near Marulen for a fly-in breakfast organised by my mate's flying school. About a dozen aircraft went down (which meant some 'fun' in the circuit for the private strip we flew into!!) - a few Citabrias, a Pitts, a Tiger Moth, a Stinson plus a few of the usual Piper or Cessna offerings all made the trip - a big conga line following the highway all the way.
Had an awesome morning - did a few aileron rolls and wingovers on the way down which is GREAT fun and I think I'm hooked on the whole taildragger/aerobatics thing... this has the potential to turn very very expensive for me!!
Then a challenging landing on a rather undulating grass strip, brekkie and watching a bit of the action as others went flying around for a bit - a few were making the most of the opportunity to fly into an 'unimproved' strip with a few circuits or even aeros in the near vicinity. I was out very near the strip, camera in hand of course!
Then fly home again, following the highway as the weather was starting to look kind of dodgy (IFR -I Follow Roads!!) in a long line of various aeroplanes. Back into Camden, shutting down just as a rain shower started. Perfect timing as always! So - I had a great morning... then I went to work but that's another story.
For me, this typefies what private flying is all about. A bunch of pilots flying a variety of types into a small private strip for the sheer heck of it, and having a lot of fun in the process.

All I have to do now is learn how to fly a tail dragger!!!

[mazzy1026]

camera in hand of course

Post some pictures

That sounds like an amazing flight - I am dying to go up in a Citabria for a go, it looks fantatsic

[mazzy1026]

Guys - check out my post regarding Sherburn-In-Elmet in this forum....................

[kookabat]

Here ya go... a few shots from Marulen. Only the static shot is mine, the rest are from my mate. I was shooting film so I have some more to process later on.
OK. The trusty steed for the day. Citabria VH-RRW.


RRW on the runway. Check out the dust!!


Finally, a spectacular arrival by a Cessna. We think the pilot's used to taildraggers... check out that attitude!! They got it down just after it passed us.


Good fun!!

[mazzy1026]

Great pictures Kook - it just reinforces my desire to fly the Citabria !!



Neil and myself are hoping to fly today, we have the aircraft booked until 1600 but it isn't looking promising!!

[NT42]

Just thought I'd give another quick update on my progress!

I've had two lessons since my last post. The first we couldn't do circuits, so I had my first taste of navigation! Once I'd plotted a nice and simple route, we were off. It's nice to know that all flying isn't as hectic as in the circuit - I had forgotten that! Was fantastic to take in some of the Northumbrian scenery from the air! The lesson was only 45 minutes, but it gave me a nice insight as to basic navigation. After entering the Newcastle control zone, we orbited a while and made our approach. A nice, relaxed lesson was finished with a pretty good landing. (Lesson time - 45 minutes).

We were able to do circuits this lesson, but it was very windy. Luckily the wind was directly down the runway, so we could fly. Everything went as normal (except me managing to nearly get us lost on the taxiway!). As we took off I felt the real force of the wind, probably the worst conditions I'd flown in. It was perfectly safe, though and the circuit went as planned. My approach was good, and the landing ok. Although it seemed like it took 10 minutes to actually get onto the ground! Anyway, off we go again and on take off my instructor decides to throw an engine failure at me. Apparently I dealt with it fine, so we were back into the circuit. About half way down the downwind, he asks me if I want to do one by myself. To be honest I didn't, I wasn't happy with the conditions, but he just said, "we'll see how the next landing goes". It went ok, so I dropped him off, and I was on my own again (still air lawless!). But anyway it was all fine. I seemed to deal with the increasing traffic and poorer than usual weather conditions. Did one T+G and then called it a day. Was very happy to be sent solo again. (Lesson time - 35 minutes dual, 20 minutes solo).

So that brings us to today. I was in the club area, and even though there was no chance at all of flying, I thought I might as well pop in. During the drive there, I persuaded myself to do air law...could be a mistake, wasn't totally sure I was ready...but anyway, I took the plunge. Found it quite hard, some questions required a great deal of thought, some I had seen in the confuser. The majority I knew from extensive revision, though. Score: 90%.

Got lessons booked all week, now. So hopefully can finish solo consolidation (might as well do something during half term!).

Thanks,

John.

[mazzy1026]

Cheers John - sounds like you had a very successful few days, solo, nav and air law! Well done How did you find your first nav trip?

Well, further to my last post, Neil and myself did manage to get up into the Liverpool circuit. ATC asked us if we could wait an hour, as there were two other aircraft in the circuit, so we complied.

I have to say, that this could quite possibly be the most detailed circuit session I have ever seen - it certainly enforces the reason why you spend so much time in the circuit when doing your training. Anyhow, the first circuit went ok, and after being asked to orbit a couple of times, and extend downwind - we eventually got onto finals. It was then we were asked to go around, as another aircraft had caught us up on finals (however scary it may seem, it is a wonderful sight to turn around and have the bright lights of a 737 zooming towards you! So up we went for the go-around.

The next two circuits went fine, again with plenty of orbiting but it was the third that was the most tricky! When we were on finals (bearing in mind we were RW27 left hand) there were 3 other aircraft to join, another 737 on 6 mile final, and two other light aircraft, one approaching Jaguar (to join right base) and the other approaching from Helsby (to join left base) - so after we were told to go around, it was then when the controller said something along these lines:

"Go around with immediate RIGHT turn to join late downwind - I will call you back......"

So, we complied and then watched the 737 come in, and two helicopters (they took us by surprise). We eventually got onto quite a long final, to see a Ryanair 737 waiting for us on the ground

So, in summary - it was very good experience and the controller thanked us for our co-operation, to which we duly replied with a good "thank-you" for the help. Thanks to Neil also (DiscoChocolate) for letting me come along.

Regards,

Lee

[TJF97]

Hi,
Can anyone post there progress here?

If so, I started my PPL on the 29th September this year and I've manged eight and half hours so far this month. Its been quite frustrating because I've also had eight additional lessons cancelled during the last month (bloody weather!).

I took my air law exam yesterday and passed with 85% which was a real shock!!

I've got most of next month off and I'm either trying to complete most of my PPL here in the UK or I'll fly out to the states, my decision changes daily!! Before yesterday I was off to the States, then I had three good hours of lessons and I changed my mind again!!

My instuctor's here are so good and not just hour building that I think I'd become a better pilot as they are more interested in my progress than being another entry in there log book. Trouble is it may take a bit longer because of the weather!!

TJF97

[Lister Noble]

After checking out a few local places I have picked an excellent training school,very professional,good ground school and well maintained PA28-180 aircraft.
I am also frustrated by the weather,I book well ahead, six lessons between Friday and Sunday hoping to get some flying in but had five lessons cancelled last weekend and two this Friday,although I did manage to get nearly four hours in over this weekend.
I do notice it if I miss a week it takes me a while to get back in the slot, I have thought about training abroad but all my pilot friends say it is not a race,so enjoy it here even if it is frustrating.
Anyway this is the weather we are going to get when we eventually have our liceneces so we have to get used to it.
I started in August and have now done 17 hours,passed Air Law and Human Performance , doing some good landings and about ready for the solo,I had thought I would do the solo before this but the weather and of course my progress have got in the way.
Asking around there does not seem to be an exact time for solo,anything between 10 and 20 hours seems to be the going rate although some take longer ,age has quite an effect and I'm 62 so maybe that's why it is taking me a a bit more time?
Lister

[Bob Stinger]

TJF97,
Welcome to Mazzys great thread,anyone can post on here and everybody learns from each others efforts, my advice as somebody who has held a PPL for 6 months is to do your training here in the UK.
Why, well I think we all fly better if we have our lessons closer together but, not all in a couple of weeks I certainly needed time for reflection , not a few minutes before the next lesson maybe a few days , if the training was intensive you wouldn't get that, some of my best decisions have come three days later whilst driving to work.
The one other thing I would do is if your lessons weathered off and you live close to the airfield go anyway , talk to your instructor ,talk to the engineers , hells bells even talk to the hangar cat ,you will learn something!
I learnt a hell of a lot talking to other pilots, just because its not fit for you to fly does not mean other people aren't , and you can if you are full of enthuasiasam(?) get a ride with them.
Good flying
Bob

[NT42]

Hello all.

Mazzy - was a very nice flight indeed. Probably the most simple navigation excersise I'll ever do, but very enjoyable indeed. A nice change from circuits, too. A short 45 minute, gave me a nice insight to basic navigation, follwoing the map, looking our for lakes and roads...really enjoyed having a good look at the scenery, makes a nice change to trying to find the airliners hurtling towards you! Was a rather wierd experience when the darkness set in as well - seeing the beacon flash against the wings. I felt like a proper pilot (don't ask me what the significance of a flashing light in darkness is - simple things...)!

I was very pleased with the air law indeed, I'd been getting 80% (average) on the confuser, but the day before the exam i took a fair few notes on the weaker points and it obviously payed off!

I've been grounded because of the weather today, which is shocking up here, so I'm going to have a day of meteorology study, and can hopefully do that exam sometime this week.

As for the first solo, there's tonnes of factors which come into play. I was lucky enough to get it done fairly quickly with not too many circuit sessions. But the weather was perfect, traffic was quiet, I'm only 17 and I've a very good, willing instructor - he's old school. Points at the 'plane and tells you to fly it. It also depends on the school, some request that certain excersises are done before sending their students on solo. At the end of the day it doesn't matter - it's not a race.

Finally - I also agree with Bob, if the weather is poor try and get down to the club just to "hang out". There's always someone about, who can offer some wisdom. And you often can pick up the odd free flight, which is always good! Instructors also seem to be willing to go through some theory as well, such as the whizzy wheel.

Anyway, cheers all.

John.

[mazzy1026]

Can anyone post there progress here?

Yes of course! Welcome TJF97 and Lister Noble - brilliant to see new people here, and thanks for sharing your experiences - you do realise that you have keep us all informed now don't you

Lister/TJ - what you have said in your post is 100% normal to anyone doing the PPL (I think anyway). The first one: the weather, this is or can be the butt of all our problems and cancelled flights. Secondly: trying to make the decision about whether or not to go to the States to do the PPL - I went through this phase at first and even went around contacting all the training organisations, however, for me it would have been the wrong decision, which I am now glad for. I do hear of people who make a success out of it, but there are horror stories also - this is something which has been battered on pprune!

I think you have summed it all up in one phrase though:

Anyway this is the weather we are going to get when we eventually have our liceneces so we have to get used to it.

No only that, but you may come back from the USA (or wherever you may have done it) and not be ready for 'UK' airspace, as I believe things are done somewhat differently over there. I suppose it's purely a matter of personal circumstance, and what you want to do with your license once you have it.

Bob - thanks mate

Jon has summed things up spot on about going solo - couldn't agree more, however do be prepared to get frustrated when you are well up for going solo but other factors prevent you - if you recall in some earlier posts before my solo, I just couldn't seem to get a day when the wind would go away - even conditions for my solo weren't perfect.

Regarding getting yourself down to the flying school to meet people etc - this is a fantastic idea, so far through this diary and being around other pilots (aside from meeting loads of people) I have flown in a Chipmunk and done some fantastic aerobatics, flown a C152 with pponting, flown our schools Cherokee, been shown the R22 and R44 helicopters (I promise Whirly, I will take you up on the offer for a flight) and flown with Neil a few times! Definitely a good idea to show your face

Don't forget MSN Messenger, the list of 'flying buddies' gets bigger: [email protected]

Thanks again,

Lee

[MyData]

Blimey. Nothing for days then a storm of postings!

Mazzy - referring to your earlier post:

"ATC asked us if we could wait an hour, as there were two other aircraft in the circuit, so we complied" - I read that as meaning that you were IN the circuit and had to wait an hour. That's a LOT of orbits ;-)

whereas...

"bearing in mind we were RW27 left hand" ... then when the controller said something along these lines "Go around with immediate RIGHT turn to join late downwind - I will call you back......"

So you joined up late downwind for R27 Right Hand? Is that what was intended by the instruction?



jwf

"except me managing to nearly get us lost on the taxiway!" - been there, done that. Get a copy of AFE or Pooleys and learn the taxiways by heart - I always carry a copy of Leeds, Humberside etc. with me just in case.

I had great fun at Sywell - all grass. No nice yellow line to follow. Makes for a interesting change.



No flying for me for a few weeks now. I cancelled my lesson yesterday as I had a cold and headache and DID NOT want to repeat any of the bad feelings that can happen when in the sky and not 100%. I guess that the weather would have canned things anyway.

[wbryce]

Hello TJF,

If you enjoy reading write ups..have a wee look around my site - www.wbryce.co.uk started after my PPL though and currently recording an IMC rating diary.

Hope you enjoy your flying.

will

[DiscoChocolate]

MyData - We (me and Mazzy) were on a 1 mile final and told to turn right and report ready for right base for 27, and THEN instructed to extend downwind due to the helicopter traffic on Left base. So it all got very confusing but a very good day for learning! I think all the confusion we encountered that day was due to the fact the controller couldnt see us on his primary radar for some reason, anyone know why this could happen?

Neil

P.S Welcome new people!

[mazzy1026]

Data - Yes that's the closest I can describe it with a keyboard

If you can imagine that after we established the go around and applied full power, we were turning right and climbing over the numbers where we would normally be flaring over, to to intercept downwind (kind of like a very early crosswind). From what I can recall, there was another aircraft that had just took off, and I don't think the controller was happy with the spacing

Will - I had a look at your site earlier, it's very good - I will try and get it all read

EDIT

Thanks Neil - I needed some backup there hehe It seems we are writing at the same time.........

[wbryce]

Mazzy, no problems...the site will probably be developed more as time goes by! sometimes progress may be slow like it is just now....should hopefully have a few more IMC lessons under my belt in the next couple of weeks.

[Say again s l o w l y]

Yes you will! But you and I are going to have to have words about your unusual positions recovery technique!!
Doing it all at the same time....... Indeed. Did I not explain about torsional loads?

Seriously though, a good site. See you next week for more under the hood fun and games!

[Chippik]

like the site bryce, stick in at it (the flying that is) look forward to seeing ur progress