From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary
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Tiredness
I'm interested, and somewhat relieved to find that some of you "youngsters" also feel knackered after being airborne for a couple of hours. I assumed it was my advanced years that made me feel so tired straight afterwards.
I can drive on busy roads/motorways for hundreds of miles, and for several hours at a time without feeling really tired. You might think that driving at motorway speeds, on roads as crowded as they are today might be just as tiring as flying, but it seems that being "up there" brings stresses over and above those that are found "down here", even though to a large extent, they are not prominent at the time.
God knows what state I'm going to be in after the GFT!!!
I can drive on busy roads/motorways for hundreds of miles, and for several hours at a time without feeling really tired. You might think that driving at motorway speeds, on roads as crowded as they are today might be just as tiring as flying, but it seems that being "up there" brings stresses over and above those that are found "down here", even though to a large extent, they are not prominent at the time.
God knows what state I'm going to be in after the GFT!!!
Spicy Meatball
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I would use the word 'drained' rather than tired or worn out. I think being excited takes over and counteracts it. When I finished my QXC, i didn't feel tired until I got home, and even then, it wasn't that bad. I have been more tired, for instance when I done my first dual nav - it was so bad, I was just knackered. Stress has a lot to do with it I think, so the more stressful a flight, the more tired you will be.
That's just me anyway
That's just me anyway
The Original Whirly
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Flying is pretty exhausting - so much to do, such a lot to think about. It does get easier the longer you fly, as you get used to it and it becomes more natural. In my albeit limited experience, it never becomes as easy as driving, but that could be because I drive nearly every day, but few of us fly that often. So we're always rusty to a certain extent, and usually stretched in a way we're not when we're driving.
That's how I see it, anyway.
That's how I see it, anyway.
Spicy Meatball
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Also, with the driving, I tend to go into autopilot mode - for example, when travelling on the motorway, I wont remember half of it when I reach the end, I just drive. I don't even have to think about driving now, I can just do it!
Different to flying, as I can remember every bit of my QXC! I will try and write up a diary entry next time I take a journey on the motorway
Different to flying, as I can remember every bit of my QXC! I will try and write up a diary entry next time I take a journey on the motorway
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C F : it will be the best 2+ hrs of your life, go for it and as for the age bit I am 25+24 years of experience and managed so dont let that put you off !!!
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It is very tiring, I recall my QCC, Bpool-Hawarden-Wolverhampton-Blackpool , instructor out and then Bpool-Wolverhampton-Hawarden-bpool , knackered , I nearly crawled home, i think the more hours you have the less tired you feel as some of the stress is taken out of it. Bob 28
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GonTak - you are Sir, but a mere spring chicken!! I have 25 years plus 37 years of experience.
Bob Stinger - Blimey, no wonder you were wiped out!!
Bob Stinger (2)
I have been told by the school, that on QXC, I have to land at two airports, one of which (Cambridge) has to be one I\'ve never been to before. I notice you did a sort of dummy run on yours with the instructor. Various schools do seem to interpret the syllabus in different ways.
I still think that was a marathon day you had - one run will be enough for me I think. I\'ve now run out of solo landaway currency \'cos the weather\'s had me grounded for over three weeks, so have to do a a local landaway with the instructor before I can do the QXC!! It\'s bloomin\' frustrating!!
CF
Bob Stinger - Blimey, no wonder you were wiped out!!
Bob Stinger (2)
I have been told by the school, that on QXC, I have to land at two airports, one of which (Cambridge) has to be one I\'ve never been to before. I notice you did a sort of dummy run on yours with the instructor. Various schools do seem to interpret the syllabus in different ways.
I still think that was a marathon day you had - one run will be enough for me I think. I\'ve now run out of solo landaway currency \'cos the weather\'s had me grounded for over three weeks, so have to do a a local landaway with the instructor before I can do the QXC!! It\'s bloomin\' frustrating!!
CF
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Also, with the driving, I tend to go into autopilot mode - for example, when travelling on the motorway, I wont remember half of it when I reach the end, I just drive. I don't even have to think about driving now, I can just do it!
Flying is not at that automatic stage for me yet!
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C F : Sir ,with age comes experience......
The older you are the more experience you gain,question is do you learn from it ? (why on earth learn to fly????)
Here in the frozen north QXC consists of trip to Carlisle ( EGNC )
via west coast for milage - Tesside (EGNV ) return Newcastle (EGNT ) NCL >CAR>TEES>NCL. So you get to mix it with the big boys twice in one day,all good fun. Glenrothes/Fife is an eye opener aswell.
Anybody still get a bit nervous about flying before you get in the seat even after getting a few hours under the belt ??
Safe flying/happy lessons all....
The older you are the more experience you gain,question is do you learn from it ? (why on earth learn to fly????)
Here in the frozen north QXC consists of trip to Carlisle ( EGNC )
via west coast for milage - Tesside (EGNV ) return Newcastle (EGNT ) NCL >CAR>TEES>NCL. So you get to mix it with the big boys twice in one day,all good fun. Glenrothes/Fife is an eye opener aswell.
Anybody still get a bit nervous about flying before you get in the seat even after getting a few hours under the belt ??
Safe flying/happy lessons all....
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Flying is not at that automatic stage for me yet!
I'd sort-of hoped that bits of it would eventually get automatic ... like, for example, straight-and-level would be a nice start, so that I could for example decide I wanted to fly at 2100' and simply do so without any conscious effort to hold the level. Hasn't happened yet.
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Gon tek ,I am always nervous right up to the point when i get to the aircraft then im fine, dont know if thats a bad thing or not?
Last edited by Bob Stinger; 8th Dec 2005 at 16:44.
The Original Whirly
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I'm always nervous until I get in and start the checks.
Is it good? It's certainly better than getting complacent or over-confident. Nowadays I just kind of accept it and see it as my mind doing its usual routine tricks. Same as when it tells me, every morning, that getting up is awful and terrible and I really need another three hours sleep. I get up, and feel fine. Similarly, I get in the aircraft, and remember how to fly. So I let this silly mind run on, and don't listen.
Is it good? It's certainly better than getting complacent or over-confident. Nowadays I just kind of accept it and see it as my mind doing its usual routine tricks. Same as when it tells me, every morning, that getting up is awful and terrible and I really need another three hours sleep. I get up, and feel fine. Similarly, I get in the aircraft, and remember how to fly. So I let this silly mind run on, and don't listen.
Spicy Meatball
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straight-and-level would be a nice
I won't use the word stress. Stress to me is something like finding out one of your degree module results, and realising you've missed the target by 5% - then worrying what to do next.
I've always said this kind of thing throughout my whole diary:
"It was a good scary feeling"
"I was nervous but in an excited way"
....etc
It's hard to explain, but if I was worried before I went flying, I wouldn't do it (OK I would start to worry when things go wrong). With me, the QXC wasn't a worry (OK weeks before the flight, I would nit-pick about things and worry about things going wrong) but it was more like a massive up-hill climb (not struggle) and I thought that if other people have done it, then I can do it too - I just looked ahead and then worried when the wheels left the ground
Nerves are always of the plenty when I go flying, before, during and even when I am driving home - but this I think is where the feeling, also known as "buzz" comes from, like that one we all get every time we fly
Safe flying all
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I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!
Lovely day today - pity I was one day out of currency to do my last solo land away before QXC, but nevertheless set out to regain currency with a local landaway with my instructor. One mile from East Midlands Airport, I got a phone call to say the Warrior had gone tech. and the other one was in for service.
Will I ever fly again???
Will I ever fly again???
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Personally, the nervous bit I think is good, as complacency is not.
Reading the post's it looks like all PPL's have more or less the same experiences pre/post licence grant. Why do we do it ?
Just for a bit of fun boys and girls try this one (dual ) Climb and descend/turn without using yoke - Power and rudder only.
Straight and level....... mmmmmm only cracked that one on GFT
Did navex at 2700 ft give or take 10, examiner asked why in debrief. Answer :- It was flying ok why adjust it..... he never replied.
Fly safe.
Reading the post's it looks like all PPL's have more or less the same experiences pre/post licence grant. Why do we do it ?
Just for a bit of fun boys and girls try this one (dual ) Climb and descend/turn without using yoke - Power and rudder only.
Straight and level....... mmmmmm only cracked that one on GFT
Did navex at 2700 ft give or take 10, examiner asked why in debrief. Answer :- It was flying ok why adjust it..... he never replied.
Fly safe.
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Lovely day today - pity I was one day out of currency to do my last solo land away before QXC, but nevertheless set out to regain currency with a local landaway with my instructor. One mile from East Midlands Airport, I got a phone call to say the Warrior had gone tech. and the other one was in for service.
Think I've said it before (maybe even multiple times): you need (while you';re training towards your PPL) three things - good weather, an instructor and an aeroplane. In my experience it's been 'pick any two of three'!!
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Finally...
Well, the weather was very dodgy, but I finally got into the air today!
Checked the METAR and TAF, both showed good weather, so I set off. About half way to the airport I rang to check, and it was all fine so I carried on...
Got the the club, had a quick chat with the instructor about emergency situations and went to check the 'plane out.
Everything was fine, short field TO and we were flying. It became apparent very quickly that the weather wasn't going to be kind. The turbulance was the worst I've experienced since learning to fly, and we decided I wasn't going solo. Fair enough, so we came in for a touch and go, and off we went again. This time we decided to make it a full stop - the wind was very gusty and turbulance not getting any better.
After driving the 30 miles or so, I wasn't keen to go back after 20 minutes in the air, so we thought we'd go and do some navigation. So off we go again - TO was fine, standard VFR to the North, but the weather was still pretty poor.
We were going to do some more instrument flying, but elected not to with the tubulance. So it was a basic navigation lesson in the end - FI told me where to go, and I had to get there.
To be honest - simple enough. Vis was fairly good so had no real problems. Had to alter course due to the increasingly strong wind but managed to find my points.
The cloud was lower than that indicated as well so we nearly got caught a few times. Some quick altitude alteration needed, but nothing too bad!
When requesting rejoin I managed to completely balls up my RT, but never mind, we all make mistakes! And then I followed a 757 in for a rather tidy landing!
Overall a nice lesson, flighting with the controls for the majority, but I enjoyed it!
Next booking is for monday, will hopefully be doing an hour of solo circuits. If the weather allows! Then that'll be it on circuits for now!
Checked the METAR and TAF, both showed good weather, so I set off. About half way to the airport I rang to check, and it was all fine so I carried on...
Got the the club, had a quick chat with the instructor about emergency situations and went to check the 'plane out.
Everything was fine, short field TO and we were flying. It became apparent very quickly that the weather wasn't going to be kind. The turbulance was the worst I've experienced since learning to fly, and we decided I wasn't going solo. Fair enough, so we came in for a touch and go, and off we went again. This time we decided to make it a full stop - the wind was very gusty and turbulance not getting any better.
After driving the 30 miles or so, I wasn't keen to go back after 20 minutes in the air, so we thought we'd go and do some navigation. So off we go again - TO was fine, standard VFR to the North, but the weather was still pretty poor.
We were going to do some more instrument flying, but elected not to with the tubulance. So it was a basic navigation lesson in the end - FI told me where to go, and I had to get there.
To be honest - simple enough. Vis was fairly good so had no real problems. Had to alter course due to the increasingly strong wind but managed to find my points.
The cloud was lower than that indicated as well so we nearly got caught a few times. Some quick altitude alteration needed, but nothing too bad!
When requesting rejoin I managed to completely balls up my RT, but never mind, we all make mistakes! And then I followed a 757 in for a rather tidy landing!
Overall a nice lesson, flighting with the controls for the majority, but I enjoyed it!
Next booking is for monday, will hopefully be doing an hour of solo circuits. If the weather allows! Then that'll be it on circuits for now!
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That's more like it...
Hello again!
Turned up at the club today to be told to get lost for an hour, which was nice So off I went, a happy lad, only to end up waiting for 25 minutes to TO!!! That's the problem with an international airport, can be left waiting for a long time.
But I eventually got going, with a nice short field take off. As I climbed into circuit height and got onto the crosswind leg, I noticed a 152 (also in the circuit) taking it very, very wide (not wanting to start a debate on the size of circuits, but it really was massive!)
So I take a wider circuit too, not wanting to cause any mayhem. About a second after I do that, ATC ask me to "keep the circuit wide" - obviously spotting the problem. I called to say I was ready for downwind, and was asked to orbit before turning.
All fair enough, and I go downwind, cleared to finals and cleared to land. 2 stages of flaps and a (fairly) gentle landing.
I go around again, this time with an entirely uneventful circuit and landing with full flap.
The next circuit I end up orbiting for a long time. When I get cleared to land I get a rather frantic call from ATC asking me to go around. Didn't know what that was for - it seemed she hadn't left enough room between me and the easyjet behind me - didn't fancy having that ramming into me!
Anyway I went around for another circuit or two. Which were fine - a glide approach and flapless. On what I elected to be my last T + G I had to go around again. Not ATC's fault, but the op's 4X4 was at the other end of the runway, and I didn't think it would be off before I landed. So around I went. This time a right hand circuit and a full stop. Again, rather uneventful. 2 stages of flaps and I'm down.
Overall a bloody good lesson. Knackered, to say the least. That's the most mentally draining flight I've had before - but enjoyed it immensely.
The weather was beautifyl - 40km vis, no cloud, and still. Couldn't ask for any better!
I was up for 1H15 mins, and that's solo consolidation over! I've been given a route to sort out for saturday. Have to turn up an hour early and do everything.
This feels like a big milestone, looking forward to navigation.
Anyway cheers all and sorry to bore you!
Really enjoyed todays flight - makes you realise why you're doing it!
Turned up at the club today to be told to get lost for an hour, which was nice So off I went, a happy lad, only to end up waiting for 25 minutes to TO!!! That's the problem with an international airport, can be left waiting for a long time.
But I eventually got going, with a nice short field take off. As I climbed into circuit height and got onto the crosswind leg, I noticed a 152 (also in the circuit) taking it very, very wide (not wanting to start a debate on the size of circuits, but it really was massive!)
So I take a wider circuit too, not wanting to cause any mayhem. About a second after I do that, ATC ask me to "keep the circuit wide" - obviously spotting the problem. I called to say I was ready for downwind, and was asked to orbit before turning.
All fair enough, and I go downwind, cleared to finals and cleared to land. 2 stages of flaps and a (fairly) gentle landing.
I go around again, this time with an entirely uneventful circuit and landing with full flap.
The next circuit I end up orbiting for a long time. When I get cleared to land I get a rather frantic call from ATC asking me to go around. Didn't know what that was for - it seemed she hadn't left enough room between me and the easyjet behind me - didn't fancy having that ramming into me!
Anyway I went around for another circuit or two. Which were fine - a glide approach and flapless. On what I elected to be my last T + G I had to go around again. Not ATC's fault, but the op's 4X4 was at the other end of the runway, and I didn't think it would be off before I landed. So around I went. This time a right hand circuit and a full stop. Again, rather uneventful. 2 stages of flaps and I'm down.
Overall a bloody good lesson. Knackered, to say the least. That's the most mentally draining flight I've had before - but enjoyed it immensely.
The weather was beautifyl - 40km vis, no cloud, and still. Couldn't ask for any better!
I was up for 1H15 mins, and that's solo consolidation over! I've been given a route to sort out for saturday. Have to turn up an hour early and do everything.
This feels like a big milestone, looking forward to navigation.
Anyway cheers all and sorry to bore you!
Really enjoyed todays flight - makes you realise why you're doing it!
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JWF. Sounds like you had an interesting day!! The weather was not too bad at E.Mids today, but not good enough for my final solo landaway (which should have happened after I had got my currency back this morning with a landaway at Leicester with the instructor). The cloud base was scattered at around 1800, and we ended up going over the top at times. An absolute "no no" of course, except with the boss sat with me.
Anyway, at least I'm current for landaway again now, and enjoyed the company of a different instructor than normal. Hopefully I'll get the final landaway, and the QXC in before Xmas, but somehow ,this time of the year I doubt it!!
Cheers all, and if I don't post again before, have a great Xmas and successful New Year. PPL's for one and all, I trust in 2006!!
Anyway, at least I'm current for landaway again now, and enjoyed the company of a different instructor than normal. Hopefully I'll get the final landaway, and the QXC in before Xmas, but somehow ,this time of the year I doubt it!!
Cheers all, and if I don't post again before, have a great Xmas and successful New Year. PPL's for one and all, I trust in 2006!!