From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Shoreham
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Thanks all for your kind words. Just got back from Shoreham and doing the RT Practical (passed). All the paperwork now done and in the envelope, which I shall deliver personally to the CAA at LGW tomorrow.
Roll on the famous poo coloured folder !
Now for a nice glass of Shiraz
Cheers. Hic
Lysander
Roll on the famous poo coloured folder !
Now for a nice glass of Shiraz
Cheers. Hic
Lysander
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Hello all,
First of all,well done to LysanderV8 and Chequeredflag.
I've been a bit silent of late on this forum as I've been practising for my own GFT which was yesterday and which I'm glad to say I passed. Yippee! thank goodness for that, what a relief etc!! I've never felt so nervous since I did my driving test-I felt like throwing up before we took off!
Anyway, to the flight itself.
The first of 2 surprises was that after the rain and snow at Redhill was that it actually went ahead. The second surprise was that we were using runway 36 for circuits, and whilst I have landed on it, I've never done circuits! Oh well, Murphy's law I suppose.
For those of you who know Redhill, you may remember that the downwind leg points straight at Gatwick and therefore the turn onto base has very little margin for error. Anyway, the 3 circuits (normal, flapless and glide) went ok, but I forgot to brief my 'passenger' regarding what to do in the event of an EFATO, and rather worryingly we were nearly t-boned by a Cessna from another club who wasn't looking where he was going!
So with that over, we were off to Southend. No dramas, got my calls in and with a nice clear day, it was easy flying and actually quite pretty with the snow on the ground. Gave Southend a call overhead,and then off towards Lydd, carefully avoiding the danger area which was active by Sheerness.
After about another 10mins I'm asked to don the foggles and the examiner proceeds to wander around the sky, passes back control to me and asks me to do a few turns. This is ok, but he then asks me to do a position fix with the foggles still on! Dialled Detling ok, but then proceeded to have a 'brain fart' (as he called it), by marking 210 off, rather than 310. Ops, I knew something was up, and after a little helpful prod, I worked it out. Dialled Mayfield ok,and once I'm happy, he lets me take the foggles off and asks me to confirm our position map to ground - thankfully they matched!
So, with our new position identified I'm asked to divert to Rochester, which I plan ok, and head off, calling off the waypoints. Everything starts off ok, but could I find the damn place, could I heck. Anyway, after a comment - about there being 'a nice river down there', it all clicks into place.
That's the nav completed, and like others I've read, I'm starting to wonder if I've cocked things up.
Anyway, put it behind I figure and it's into the steep turns (ok), spiral dives (ok), slow flight at 55kts was a bit ropey, and for good measure he asks me to do some slow turns, and my HASELL checks at the same time. Stalls, Clean (ok), 1st stage of flap - what a prat, I try to pick up the wing drop with the aileron, and rightly get a b@ll@cking, and am asked to do another 2. These and the full flap went ok, and whilst we were climbing away, it's throttle back and into the PFL.
Nose down, but no decent fields visible, so a smart 180, and there she blows! But it's a bit tight, as it was only a stones throw from Tonbridge. However, I manage to squeeze it down without too much trouble, although my workload meant that I didn't brief the 'passenger', and I didn't do the shutdown checks. But at least we'd have got in.
Heading back to the airfield now, and after a bit more VOR tracking we rejoin the circuit and land. Flight time 2hrs and 5 mins
Yep I passed, but was given another talking to on the stall, and the briefing passengers re the PFL.
Regards to all, thanks for the helpful advice, and happy and safe flying.
C23
First of all,well done to LysanderV8 and Chequeredflag.
I've been a bit silent of late on this forum as I've been practising for my own GFT which was yesterday and which I'm glad to say I passed. Yippee! thank goodness for that, what a relief etc!! I've never felt so nervous since I did my driving test-I felt like throwing up before we took off!
Anyway, to the flight itself.
The first of 2 surprises was that after the rain and snow at Redhill was that it actually went ahead. The second surprise was that we were using runway 36 for circuits, and whilst I have landed on it, I've never done circuits! Oh well, Murphy's law I suppose.
For those of you who know Redhill, you may remember that the downwind leg points straight at Gatwick and therefore the turn onto base has very little margin for error. Anyway, the 3 circuits (normal, flapless and glide) went ok, but I forgot to brief my 'passenger' regarding what to do in the event of an EFATO, and rather worryingly we were nearly t-boned by a Cessna from another club who wasn't looking where he was going!
So with that over, we were off to Southend. No dramas, got my calls in and with a nice clear day, it was easy flying and actually quite pretty with the snow on the ground. Gave Southend a call overhead,and then off towards Lydd, carefully avoiding the danger area which was active by Sheerness.
After about another 10mins I'm asked to don the foggles and the examiner proceeds to wander around the sky, passes back control to me and asks me to do a few turns. This is ok, but he then asks me to do a position fix with the foggles still on! Dialled Detling ok, but then proceeded to have a 'brain fart' (as he called it), by marking 210 off, rather than 310. Ops, I knew something was up, and after a little helpful prod, I worked it out. Dialled Mayfield ok,and once I'm happy, he lets me take the foggles off and asks me to confirm our position map to ground - thankfully they matched!
So, with our new position identified I'm asked to divert to Rochester, which I plan ok, and head off, calling off the waypoints. Everything starts off ok, but could I find the damn place, could I heck. Anyway, after a comment - about there being 'a nice river down there', it all clicks into place.
That's the nav completed, and like others I've read, I'm starting to wonder if I've cocked things up.
Anyway, put it behind I figure and it's into the steep turns (ok), spiral dives (ok), slow flight at 55kts was a bit ropey, and for good measure he asks me to do some slow turns, and my HASELL checks at the same time. Stalls, Clean (ok), 1st stage of flap - what a prat, I try to pick up the wing drop with the aileron, and rightly get a b@ll@cking, and am asked to do another 2. These and the full flap went ok, and whilst we were climbing away, it's throttle back and into the PFL.
Nose down, but no decent fields visible, so a smart 180, and there she blows! But it's a bit tight, as it was only a stones throw from Tonbridge. However, I manage to squeeze it down without too much trouble, although my workload meant that I didn't brief the 'passenger', and I didn't do the shutdown checks. But at least we'd have got in.
Heading back to the airfield now, and after a bit more VOR tracking we rejoin the circuit and land. Flight time 2hrs and 5 mins
Yep I passed, but was given another talking to on the stall, and the briefing passengers re the PFL.
Regards to all, thanks for the helpful advice, and happy and safe flying.
C23
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Brilliant stuff
Yet another success, well done Cricket, and a great write up to boot!! Fantastic. Now please pray for some decent weather for a mate who is rapidly running out of time to complete his GST, or face having to do ALL his exams again, 'cos they were taken some time ago. The weather has really stuffed him. We need a couple of nice days in the next week. On your knees everyone, he needs some "positivity" from all of us (as Noel Edmonds would say on 'Deal or no Deal'!)
Cheers
CF
Cheers
CF
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Cheers CF, and thanks for your comments. I thought your write up was good, and by the sound of it I'd say that you had a tougher test than me. How long were you in cloud for?
Good luck to your mate. I hear that the weather might get better by around Easter Sunday.
C23
Good luck to your mate. I hear that the weather might get better by around Easter Sunday.
C23
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Well done Cricket. The ranks of PPLs are growing rapidly !
I have now been advised that my examiner, assuming that he does not fail the candidate, always awards a PWB ! Pass With Boll***ing. Sounds like you had a similar experience.
I have everything crossed for the weather for your mate, CF. I know the feeling, sort of, as I had to resit Air Law 10 days ago because I took it more than 18 months ago when I did my first solo. A humbling experience. It's surprising how much stuff you forget, and I still think some of the questions, particularly in Air Law, are irrelevent to practical safe flying. Ask me anything that I need to recall in the air, but don't ask me about the paper colours of AICs. I can sort that out on the ground. Sorry - end of rant.
Weather this morning in Sussex is beautiful. Crisp and clear, but no flying for me until Friday, when I am up with my instructor getting more practice on the steep turns I did so poorly in the test.
Have a great Easter one and all
Lysander
I have now been advised that my examiner, assuming that he does not fail the candidate, always awards a PWB ! Pass With Boll***ing. Sounds like you had a similar experience.
I have everything crossed for the weather for your mate, CF. I know the feeling, sort of, as I had to resit Air Law 10 days ago because I took it more than 18 months ago when I did my first solo. A humbling experience. It's surprising how much stuff you forget, and I still think some of the questions, particularly in Air Law, are irrelevent to practical safe flying. Ask me anything that I need to recall in the air, but don't ask me about the paper colours of AICs. I can sort that out on the ground. Sorry - end of rant.
Weather this morning in Sussex is beautiful. Crisp and clear, but no flying for me until Friday, when I am up with my instructor getting more practice on the steep turns I did so poorly in the test.
Have a great Easter one and all
Lysander
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Well done to the recent PPLs!
I was away in Cornwall last week, lovely weather, but wife wouldn't let me go off to Lands End for a fix of flying!
Now I'm back home, I'm supposed to be doing my second solo cross-country tomorrow, but the weather looks quite questionable. Such is life. Hoping to join the ranks of new PPLs sometime in the next couple of months though!
HH
I was away in Cornwall last week, lovely weather, but wife wouldn't let me go off to Lands End for a fix of flying!
Now I'm back home, I'm supposed to be doing my second solo cross-country tomorrow, but the weather looks quite questionable. Such is life. Hoping to join the ranks of new PPLs sometime in the next couple of months though!
HH
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Originally Posted by MyData
I'm now doing my IMC - which is a great follow up. And I understand your trepidation - going into real cloud is a quite shocking and takes some getting use to!
Lysander
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QXC at last
Just back from my QXC,Old Buckenham-land Southend-land Cambridge via Sudbury,Cambridge-land Old Buck via Lakenheath with lots of F16's and heavy's about.
Excellent feedback from MATX controller at Lakenheath,all the militaryt stuff popped up exactly where he said it would
Good visibilty but some light rain showers initially with lowish cloud,the CFI had told me to return if the conditions were not good and I thought,B***er it,I've waited all this time and I'm 10 mins into the QXC and considering returning,anyway it improved and I continued,thank goodness.
I had moderate to strong cross winds for each landing but just within limits and it all went well ,I got a satisfactory and a good at both land-aways so am very pleased.
I was told at one place that the satisfactory was because of my poor R/T,not reading back everything I should have done on approach.
I asked for a QDM bearing on approach to both fields as the exact location was not perfectly clear,they told me that they considered that good airmanship,they'd rather that than have someone flying around in the area trying to locate the field.
A bonus was as I climbed away from Old Buck at the start,an airliner passing high overhead wished me luck,the pilot is a mate next door and was just passing through en route to Europe ,quite a co-incidence and made me feel good through the whole trip.
I called to thank him when I got back home and he was in Copenhagen!
CFI is now looking to get my skills test done asap.
Lister
Edited to add a bit more content,but not in the class of some forumists!
Excellent feedback from MATX controller at Lakenheath,all the militaryt stuff popped up exactly where he said it would
Good visibilty but some light rain showers initially with lowish cloud,the CFI had told me to return if the conditions were not good and I thought,B***er it,I've waited all this time and I'm 10 mins into the QXC and considering returning,anyway it improved and I continued,thank goodness.
I had moderate to strong cross winds for each landing but just within limits and it all went well ,I got a satisfactory and a good at both land-aways so am very pleased.
I was told at one place that the satisfactory was because of my poor R/T,not reading back everything I should have done on approach.
I asked for a QDM bearing on approach to both fields as the exact location was not perfectly clear,they told me that they considered that good airmanship,they'd rather that than have someone flying around in the area trying to locate the field.
A bonus was as I climbed away from Old Buck at the start,an airliner passing high overhead wished me luck,the pilot is a mate next door and was just passing through en route to Europe ,quite a co-incidence and made me feel good through the whole trip.
I called to thank him when I got back home and he was in Copenhagen!
CFI is now looking to get my skills test done asap.
Lister
Edited to add a bit more content,but not in the class of some forumists!
Last edited by Lister Noble; 13th Apr 2006 at 08:52.
Fixed+Rotary (aircraft, not washing lines)
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How soon after you got your PPL did you start IMC training? Should I build up my hours a bit first? What do y'all think?
Skills Test (passed!!)
IMC General Handling
So from a flying perspective I started the minute I got my ticket. In reality I passed the test in mid November, sent off for the licence, received that on Christmas Eve (nice present) then waited and waited and waited for the weather to clear to go for my first flight. It became my longest break from flying by mid January and I was a bit apprehensive about taking friends up. So I had a word with the CFI - could we go for a short refresher. Instead he suggested we make the most of the overcast weather and so my IMC training began... Since then I've been flying VFR quite regularly and looking to do IMC once a month or so, 3 hours in the bag so far.
Although the IMC course is 15 hours, I need to gain at least 25 hours from my PPL issue before I can claim the rating. At least 10 of the 25 have to be PIC and I think 5 have to be on XC flights. But I'm in no rush at this time. It is something to do to improve my skills and to learn a new discipline.
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Thanks MyData. My CFI suggested I start IMC training as soon as I can as well. I suspect this may be sensible as I aim to do a regular run to Haverforwest from Shoreham to visit my granddaughter, so with the Welsh hills en route, an IMC rating could be really useful.
Cheers
Lysander
Cheers
Lysander
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Congrats Lister! 
Very good news indeed. Sorry I couldn't have helped out before. When you've got the prized poo coloured wallet (it's darker than it was a few years ago.. more like it came from an elephant instead of a cow) we should go on a flight together.
Not to forget all the other achievements as of late
Congrats to all and safe flying.
Your resident secret reader
ffw
Very good news indeed. Sorry I couldn't have helped out before. When you've got the prized poo coloured wallet (it's darker than it was a few years ago.. more like it came from an elephant instead of a cow) we should go on a flight together.
Not to forget all the other achievements as of late
Congrats to all and safe flying.Your resident secret reader
ffw
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FlyFW,thanks and we must meet up when I have the licence.
It appears that I may be doing something along these lines this weekend,depends on the weather.
Fingers crossed!
Lister
It appears that I may be doing something along these lines this weekend,depends on the weather.
Fingers crossed!
Lister
Intelligent Idiot
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Not much to report progress wise for me as yet.
Twice now I have tried to start circuits and twice had to abort after one touch and go.
Damned weather does'nt want to play ball.
Head on wind virtually so theoretically shouldnt have been too bad but instructor pulled the plug after once around and getting a right buffeting.
Better luck tomorrow hopefully.
Twice now I have tried to start circuits and twice had to abort after one touch and go.
Damned weather does'nt want to play ball.
Head on wind virtually so theoretically shouldnt have been too bad but instructor pulled the plug after once around and getting a right buffeting.
Better luck tomorrow hopefully.
Fixed+Rotary (aircraft, not washing lines)
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Bahn - based on your location, are you learning at Sandtoft? That is where my circuits were brought to life and I never really got to grips with the narrow strip. Doing it on a buffeting day, with the fences, hedges and street lamps to contend with wouldn't make me happy. YMMV
However the weather recently has been strong westerly so perhaps you are out of Humberside or Sheffield?
Sheffield on Saturday was fun with 25kts down the runway. I decided to practice a short field take off, it was the nearest to being a Harrier pilot that I'll ever get
However the weather recently has been strong westerly so perhaps you are out of Humberside or Sheffield?
Sheffield on Saturday was fun with 25kts down the runway. I decided to practice a short field take off, it was the nearest to being a Harrier pilot that I'll ever get
Intelligent Idiot
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MyData,
Humberside is my home field.
Used the short runway, 27 as the crosswind on 21 would have been too much.
A Cessna took off just before me and it looked like he was stationary in the air at times.
Wind was 18 knots when I started to taxy and 25 knots when the plug was pulled.
Flew a PA28 Warrior as it had slightly bigger wings than my normal steed, a Cherokee, hoping that the larger wing area would make it less twitchy in the winds.
Experienced a lot of sink on approach together with a good buffeting and my insructor even managed to balloon on landing thanks to the wind.
Another PA28 behind us commented on the lumpy ride down and he had aborted his planned flight to return to base.
Humberside is my home field.
Used the short runway, 27 as the crosswind on 21 would have been too much.
A Cessna took off just before me and it looked like he was stationary in the air at times.
Wind was 18 knots when I started to taxy and 25 knots when the plug was pulled.
Flew a PA28 Warrior as it had slightly bigger wings than my normal steed, a Cherokee, hoping that the larger wing area would make it less twitchy in the winds.
Experienced a lot of sink on approach together with a good buffeting and my insructor even managed to balloon on landing thanks to the wind.
Another PA28 behind us commented on the lumpy ride down and he had aborted his planned flight to return to base.
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Its fun on days like that! I hit my head on the roof hard enough to put me right off when on short final for 27,about 35kt gusts at the time.I reckon my gs over the fence was about 25kt pretty much stopped dead on landing complete with bruise! That wasn't too long ago,got its own climate that part of the world.
Spicy Meatball
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Not that anyone will be THAT interested.....
Mark, the first lessons are always very exciting, and your hunger to fly will grow. My only advice is to enjoy your flying, and work hard at the theory. You will come across times of doubt (like my first northern nav-ex) when you think "Is this really for me"? But believe me now, it DOES start to fit together nicely and you don't have to do 3 hours a day for a year for it to do so. Just be disciplined with yourself and do things as you have been taught - remember your checklists and you will do just fine! Before you know it we will be reading your GST report soon!
With regards to the study material. I have to be honest in saying that I do like the Pratt (AFE) books, however I have not used the Thom ones. The Pratt books are very easy to read and have been written well for the reader who may know nothing on the subject. I don't know a lot about the Thom one's but they do appear a bit more like a manual...... just MHO.
I have to say that I did enjoy the reading (and still do). Aviation is a subject which I love, so it wasn't like trying to learn French at school which I couldn't stand. If you are interested, then you will learn it well and enjoy it.
Lysander - you are welcome to join me any time for a flight into/out of Liverpool!
Best of luck and keep us informed as to how you get on,
Lee
------------------------------------------------------------
I actually emailed the above post to myself in work last week in order to make a post at home, as I can't access prune at work. I have only just managed to get on the PC having been at hospital etc but I am really made up to see so much progress. Lysander, Cricket and Lister - very well done to you all and thanks for the fantastic write-ups, I am truly amazed to see this thread still going!
I hope I have not missed anyone out, if I have then I apologise....
Anyway, I got a new job the other week and I am currently working my notice, I am due to start early May and will just have to see how things pad out - the bonus is more pennies for flying but the negative is that I may be forced by the other half to invest it in the mortgage!
Thanks again everyone, and happy/safe flying - the class of 2006 is becoming a big one!
Stalling demos - a tip
Well, I enjoy reading this thread, especially since I'm stuck in India at the moment, with an Australian SPL/GFPT and a half-baked JAR-PPL. Hopefully, when I get a week back in the UK in May, I'll get my QXC done, weather permitting. Fingers crossed!
Well done to all you recent PPL-grads, and good luck to those about to GFT.
A tip on stalling demo that an instructor in Australia mentioned to me - don't hold the yoke with a grip as you're pulling back to stall, but pull the yoke back with your left hand placed behind it, but stretched out flat. This helps avoid the temptation to use any aileron input. It worked for me on my GFPT test flight - hopefully it'll work again on my GFT!
Best of luck,
A
Well done to all you recent PPL-grads, and good luck to those about to GFT.
A tip on stalling demo that an instructor in Australia mentioned to me - don't hold the yoke with a grip as you're pulling back to stall, but pull the yoke back with your left hand placed behind it, but stretched out flat. This helps avoid the temptation to use any aileron input. It worked for me on my GFPT test flight - hopefully it'll work again on my GFT!
Best of luck,
A
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Hey all,
VERY MANY CONGRATULATIONS to all GFT and QXCers! As already said, there's tonnes of progress, and it's great to read about it!
My computer is being a complete
so I'm missing the posts.
I'm still waiting on the QXC, yet another cancelled yesterday - didn't fancy the 50 knot gusts!
Anyway, happy flying all. (Hope you get flying again soon Lee!)
VERY MANY CONGRATULATIONS to all GFT and QXCers! As already said, there's tonnes of progress, and it's great to read about it!
My computer is being a complete
so I'm missing the posts. I'm still waiting on the QXC, yet another cancelled yesterday - didn't fancy the 50 knot gusts!
Anyway, happy flying all. (Hope you get flying again soon Lee!)