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From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary

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Old 18th Jan 2006, 22:47
  #1281 (permalink)  
 
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Good luck on the mocks and even better luck on the real thing Mazzy. I have followed the thread from the start with total envy
This forum thread has inspired me to get on with the diet and shed the rest of the weight I need to get anywhere near "flying weight". At 23st7lb I have a LONG way to go (lost 1 st 7lb so far) and hope that you will all continue to post on the forum long past Mazzys undoubted sucess, purely as the spark of inspiration and motivation to others that the thread has become.
Plan Z Z plural Z alpha has me starting next year, fingers crossed.
Good luck to all of you already on your way to gaining your PPLs
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Old 19th Jan 2006, 12:44
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Managed to pass the met exam this morning,so that's one less to worry about.
Re weight loss,I manged to lose 15 kilos last year just by walking for an hour each day and just eating a bit less,no stupid faddish diets which don't really work ,nothing stringent just one slice of toast instead of two etc.
I'm hoping to get some flying in over the weekend,probably my first land away at Cambridge.
Lister
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Old 19th Jan 2006, 13:05
  #1283 (permalink)  

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g0kmt - welcome aboard my friend - good to have you posting!

I think the key word here is 'inspiration'. I remember many moons ago, I was pondering over whether to save up enough money to complete the PPL, or just start it with what I had. I made a post in the private flying section, to which I received a lot friendly, positive responses, saying that I should go for it and start flying - basically, a kick up the arse, and that if I didn't start then I would always be messing about trying to save etc. So I did - and here I am, nearly complete!

Lister - another hurdle of many - well done!

Like I say, my mock test is on Thursday, so I can 100% guarantee that it will snow, rain, hail and be generally blizzard like conditions all day!

Lee
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Old 20th Jan 2006, 16:03
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....Had the QXC planned for today, but in the end I was beaten by the weather. What was incredibly annoying was that within an hour of it being cancelled, the cold front had passed and the weather was clear Oh well, that's flying in the UK I guess. QXC, now booked for a fortnight's time. In the meantime, it's practice, practice, practice....

Looks like Lister's been going great guns. How many more exams do you have to do?
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Old 20th Jan 2006, 16:28
  #1285 (permalink)  
 
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Wow,what a day,started grey with rain and very windy,the front went through then a sunny clear day although wind was always strong.
I've had around 2hrs 30 mins flying with the CFI, including landings at Cambridge and Norwich,a MATZ penetration at Lakenheath and had four USAF F15 Eagles go over our head 3000 feet above us,they looked huge for fighters.
I also had some practice diversions with no planning,just eyeballing it and estimating heading with windspeed.
It was very windy on approach back home and gusting up to 30knots on finals but straight up the runway,even so quite a handful.
I said to the CFI "I might need a hand here !" but he told me to see how I got on,I managed most of it but it was very turbulent at 50 feet and I felt his re-assuring touch on the controls.
The Stearman was out flying today and it took two of us to hold it back against the tailwind on the ground outside the hangar before we chocked it,it was some wind!
A solo nav exercise tomorrow then my first solo landaway at Cambridge,either tomorrow or Sunday.

I have now passed the Air law,Human performance,Meteo and Navigation exams.
I have Aircraft technical,Aircraft performance and R/T left to do.
I thought the aircraft subjects were one exam but now understand they are two seperate ones.
I find the Airquiz site most helpful combined with reading and doing the exercises at the back of the books.
Now quite tired, but we are out to dinner tonight so I should sleep well!!!!
Lister
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Old 21st Jan 2006, 10:51
  #1286 (permalink)  
 
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the cold front had passed and the weather was clear Oh well, that's flying in the UK I guess.
Not just in the UK!!!!

A few mates and I have been trying to do a group fly-in thingo to a nice little airfield down the coast from here for the last three months - each time we try the weather turns to crap on us so we can it... twice it's cleared up a few hours after we called and cancelled our aircraft bookings.

Try again next week!
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Old 21st Jan 2006, 12:14
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Well done Lister, as I said, sounds like you're getting on really well. Good luck with the rest of the exams.

For me, well, no flying yesterday coz of the weather, and today whilst doing my checks, one of the mags starts playing up, so again no flying.

However, my instructor has a Pitts, so we jump into that and head off, and what great fun we had doing loops etc. After a while he let me have a go at some flix rolls - me little 'ol me, I was dead chuffed.

I must admit that I was feeling a bit sick tho' so we headed back. But what an excellent morning after all.

C23
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Old 21st Jan 2006, 16:59
  #1288 (permalink)  
 
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Lovely day,blue skies ,little cloud and lightish winds.Lots of interesting aircraft in and out of Old Buckenham today,hopefully a sign of Spring around the corner?
Did an hours solo nav in Norfolk and Suffolk,it was great to be on my own again,all went well and according to the plan,completed with a 90 degree crosswind landing, but ten knots so not too demanding.
Tomorrow is my first land away at Cambridge wearther permitting.
Lister
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Old 22nd Jan 2006, 15:12
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No land away at Cambridge as vis not too good,maybe better luck next week.
So we spent an hour at 2500ft in cloud using the Clacton VOR and Norwich ADF ,very interesting and time well spent.
Even so,I've logged 4.5 hrs in the air this weekend.
Lister
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Old 23rd Jan 2006, 20:06
  #1290 (permalink)  

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Great to see so much decent flying going on - a flight in the Pitts eh, I would love that (then again I would love a flight in everything, something which cannot be achieved)

Still looking good for me on Thursday so got a lot of reflective concentration to do, so I can make sure I get things right

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Old 30th Jan 2006, 09:39
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Sra

I had a bit of a problem yesterday on my first land away to Cambridge, the visibility was excellent with some scattered cloud at 1500 ft.
Approaching Cambridge from the east I could not locate the airfield, I over flew Cambridge and although I knew where it should be, I was concerned about the patchy lowish cloud and thought it best not to fly around hoping to locate the airfield in busy airspace.
I called Cambridge and explained my problem, the tower asked me to squawk and gave me an SRA bearing to steer for the airfield, I ended up at the airfield and had a trouble free landing.
The Tower was very helpful and I think (hope) I was calm re the SRA guidance.
After landing the tower spoke to me and asked what the problem had been and I explained that my navigation had been spot on to Cambridge but I just could not see the airfield, although I must have flown almost over the top of it!
I was told that it happens about once every weekend and was asked to call my instructor before I departed to make sure they were happy for me to continue the exercise.
They were happy and so was I, and the rest of the flight worked out according to plan including a MATZ penetration over Lakenheath.
When I got back I was half expecting some sort of talking to but not at all, I was de-briefed at length and told that I had done exactly the right thing, if in doubt don’t fly around hoping it will all somehow work out OK.
So how do I feel about it all?
I am a bit disappointed ,feeling a bit low and it has dented my confidence, not so much in my navigation, which has been spot on to date, but in my awareness of the terrain.
I told my instructor I would like to do the Cambridge trip again although not to land, I think it will restore my faith in myself.
He does not think it necessary but said if it made me happier then it is no problem but it will just cost me a bit more, although I need the solo hours anyway.
I spoke to a friend who is an airline pilot also ex instructor ,he told me I had done the right thing and that it happens to everyone sooner or later so it was good experience.
Lister

Last edited by Lister Noble; 30th Jan 2006 at 09:52.
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Old 30th Jan 2006, 15:52
  #1292 (permalink)  
 
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Lister, your flight just proves that things can and DO go wrong. Don't feel bad about it, the best plans flown by the best pilots will not always go as we think and you handled the situation well. Don't knock yourself about it. Good job.

Mazzy, any more flying yet?
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Old 30th Jan 2006, 21:09
  #1293 (permalink)  
 
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Remember me??

Hi everyone,
It seems that I've not posted here for ages though I've not had much to say really!! I last flew on the 22nd December when I got my solo landaway in the bag (EMA/Turweston/back to EMA via Podington. All went fine, and subsequently waited for a break in the weather for my QXC. The break never came - every slot booked was canned through low cloud etc etc. Then it was Xmas/New Year, and then hols for a couple of weeks (Caribbean), back on Saturday last. I'm pleased I didn't book anything this week, 'cos the jet lag is really killing me, and flying would not be a good idea in this state (don't know why it's got to us this time, we arn't generally affected) It does make me wonder how long haul pilots get on though!.
Now I'm off to Spain for the rest of the week (business), so can't do anything until next week, AND of course I'm now out of landaway currency, as well as stalling/PFL etc!! I'm booked for a couple of hours next Tuesday to regain currency on these things, and get in some circuits to get me up to speed, and HOPEFULLY get my QXC done next Thursday.
I'll believe it when I see it!! I've got my medical renewal on saturday, at least that shouldn't be canned by the weather.
Good luck all
CF
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Old 30th Jan 2006, 21:23
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Chequeredflag, this is exactly what happened to me. Got my solo landaway in at Lydd on 23rd Dec, and then nothing for a month. Grounded due to weather, Aeroplane going tec (twice), and no slots available. Thenof course as you say out of currency.

However, unlike you I didn't go suning myself in the Caribbean (sounds good), and went flying on Saturday. So, I now have my QXC booked for this Thursday. Redhill-Goodwood-Southend-Redhill.

I'll report back in due course.
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Old 31st Jan 2006, 20:08
  #1295 (permalink)  

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Yet again I am overwhelmed at how this thread is still going strong, even with my severe lack of input - thank you all

I did manage to get my mock test done (it's more of a "this is what you'll do on your real test" than a mock really). We did everything, including a successful nav, but I won't go into detail tonight - more tomorrow!

My MSN and Skype links should be uner my prune name now, so if anyone would like to join the party, feel free to send the invite

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Old 1st Feb 2006, 13:04
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Quickest of quick posts - my computers knackered for now, so have to rely on school to keep up to date!

Great to see all the progress, congrats everyone! For those grounded - bad luck! I symathise, very annoying eh. Hope you all get up soon!

I'm currently at the landaway stage - got two solo landaways planned and then it's the QXC! Planning on getting met and nav. exams done soon, so currently studying for them!

Good luck everyone.

John.
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Old 1st Feb 2006, 20:39
  #1297 (permalink)  

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Right then - mock test/GST walkthrough.......

With all the recent happenings in the family, it felt like an eternity since I last flew. When I arrived, my instructor was out flying, and he had left me this instruction:

"Take us to Lichfield".

Lichfield is a small disused airfield on the north west tip of Birmingham - I thought it was quite a long leg, pretty much the same distance as the first leg of my QXC. This was an area I had not flow in precisely before, so I would have to pay special attention to features along the way (Crewe, Telford etc). The wind was 25 knots and from the north east, so it would be a slow initial leg. The vis was, well, rubbish - the corona effect of the sun was apparent, and this was to prove highly problematic later on.

I done all the planning - which was minimal to be honest, one leg and a return plan. I knew he would throw us off course for some dead reckoning so I wasn't worrying about the return journey too much. When we got about two thirds of the way down he said:

"Ok, take us to Welshpool".

I found it on the map and my initial thought was:

"(insert four letter expletive here) that's a long way off!"

It was about 50nm. He took control whilst I drew the line on the chart and estimated a heading to fly based on the wind. Bearing in mind that the length of your thumb from tip to first joint is approximately 10nm and 7 minutes flying time on a 1:50,000 chart, I gave him my estimations and off we went. When we turned onto the new heading, we had our first shock (well I did). Couldn't see a thing. The sun was dead ahead and the mist/haze meant that we could only see what was directly below us - meaning I had to work extra hard. I think the flight would have been considered legal for a PPL as we were not in any cloud and could see the ground - but anyone flying solo without training in this would be a fool.

I contacted Shawbury for a FIS and MATZ penetration without hitch and to my surprise, we were actually tracking exactly as intended, picking out features close by as we went. Welshpool is located (near or in I think - Neil will know?) a valley, so once we had this in sight, my instructor was happy with everything, it was time to do some radio nav. He said:

"Take us to Sleap".

"Great" I thought, Sleap is hard enough to find in full VFR, never mind in these conditions! However, to my relief, I remembered that Sleap has an NDB on the airfield, to which I promptly tuned into, identified, tested and followed (TITS !!). Before that though, I was asked to give a couple of position fixes using the VOR, which again went very well. After a few minutes - Sleap was dead ahead and as we turned overhead, I was asked to climb to 3000 feet for some upper air work. My feelings at this point were relief and excitement, as the Nav had finished and handling was about to begin - something of which I have not done in a long time, after all this navigation training!

First thing's first - stalling. Carb heat on, power at idle, ailerons level, apply enough back pressure to maintain height (not go up or down) and keep level with the rudder. "RECOVER" Nose down, full power, carb heat off (I forgot this the first time) and climb away. I was a little too gentle on the first attempt, having remembered my first attempt at stalls about a year ago, when on the recovery, I shoved the controls forward, and as the centre of pressure shot backwards to the trailing edge of the wing (I hope you are still up to scratch on your theory ladies and gentlemen!!) the aircraft literally took a dive, and our heads hit the top of the canopy. In the Tomahawk, simply by removing the backward pressure on the controls, is enough to get the nose down to a recoverable position. A few more later, including with flaps etc and it was onto steep turns. These went well - always remember to apply power as you turn, not once fully developed - I was duly notified!

A couple of rate turns (15 degree turn through 90 degrees should take 30 seconds I think (off the top of my head)) later and an attempt at a PFL (the visibility was shocking, and kept losing the field - may need to do one or two of these again) and I was asked to take us home, using only local knowledge for navigation. This wasn't a problem, as we were pretty much over Wrexham, so it was a case of heading north for a rejoin at Chester.

The approach was exciting actually - we were asked to keep it tight, having been given number one with a 737 on long final. The approach was diagonal all the way to over the numbers - very strange indeed! A successful landing and debrief, followed. My next flight will be a couple of PFL's with a solo on the end (I opted for solo circuits to keep up to scratch).

Until then, thanks for reading.

Lee
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Old 2nd Feb 2006, 14:08
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Hey mate only just joined these forums, but great topic. I'm about 30 hours into my ppl but havent flown since July, so reading your earlier posts is good revision! Sounds like you're blazing ahead with it, should have no trouble with the test, look forward to reading about that! Cheers

Waldo
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Old 3rd Feb 2006, 09:04
  #1299 (permalink)  
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Mazzy

Sounds good - and quite tough!

Did you do any recovery from spiral dives?* The other area I was tested on was slow flying. Bimbling about at 60kts (IIRC) and also climbing at that speed. Otherwise good luck in the coming days when you do it for real.

*I hadn't practiced for this either, but it came up in the test. So I did what I thought was appropriate: throttle back (carb heat on), wings level, pull back to level flight.
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Old 6th Feb 2006, 12:37
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I flew on Saturday with the CFI, practising glide approaches,power failure after take off and aborted take off's,and had hoped to get some more nav exercises in yesterday but vis was not too good.
But a bonus is that I passed the aircraft general exam this morning,which leaves just aircraft performance which I will take on Thursday and R/T which a few of us students will do as a group at the club, when we fix up an appropriate tutor/examiner.
I'm now thinking and talking seriously about what to do after I actually have the licence,I'm very keen to be involved with vintage stuff and offers of local groups and aircraft are being made and it is all becoming very exciting.
Lister
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