From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary
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c-bert, FingersR, & Hampshire Hog
Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll need to believe my instructor when she's telling me "dont' land!". I have a couple of hours booked in just over a weeks time, lets see if I can master it then.
FingersR - As far as the diferences between the 152 & 172 go, I have flown a couple of hours in a 152 and the one thing that struck me for straight and level flight was the engine cowling on the 172 slopes down much more than the 152 which caused a bit of confusion as you could see much more of the horizon and took a bit of getting used to. The space is another factor. There's much more space than the 152 and being fairly tall this is an advantage. Whilst the club has a couple of 152s I am happy to pay the slightly higher hourly rate for this alone, coupled with the fact the 172 is more readily available for bookings when it suits you. The bigger engine gives a great rate of climb and the 172 is much more stable in the air being that bit heavier, however, I have been told this makes it a little bit harder to fly. Whether this is true or not but its a great excuse when you don't get those flares right!
I passed my air law exam a few weeks past and I am currently reading meteorlogy with a view to sitting that exam in a few weeks time. I think that human factors is the next one that my club recommends I do after this. Is it easy to follow and understand?
Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll need to believe my instructor when she's telling me "dont' land!". I have a couple of hours booked in just over a weeks time, lets see if I can master it then.
FingersR - As far as the diferences between the 152 & 172 go, I have flown a couple of hours in a 152 and the one thing that struck me for straight and level flight was the engine cowling on the 172 slopes down much more than the 152 which caused a bit of confusion as you could see much more of the horizon and took a bit of getting used to. The space is another factor. There's much more space than the 152 and being fairly tall this is an advantage. Whilst the club has a couple of 152s I am happy to pay the slightly higher hourly rate for this alone, coupled with the fact the 172 is more readily available for bookings when it suits you. The bigger engine gives a great rate of climb and the 172 is much more stable in the air being that bit heavier, however, I have been told this makes it a little bit harder to fly. Whether this is true or not but its a great excuse when you don't get those flares right!
I passed my air law exam a few weeks past and I am currently reading meteorlogy with a view to sitting that exam in a few weeks time. I think that human factors is the next one that my club recommends I do after this. Is it easy to follow and understand?
Join Date: Jul 2004
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I haven't taken the exam, but human factors is probably the easiest to understand of all the subjects, if you have a basic understanding of human biology and you've ever done a first aid course! I'm doing Met next - seems to have some complicated bits. Did you find anything particularly difficult?
Paul
Paul
I found human factors very easy. And it's only a very short exam as well. Looking through thte Q&A books there are three or four questions that always come up (although I can't remember them off hand
). I'm still studying for Met though as there seems to be an awful lot to remember and all the info is very similar i.e. cloud types associated with warm/cold fronts.
Nav is quite enjoyable if you fancy a break from met, but it pays to have done a couple of practical nav lessons before you get really stuck in as some of it makes a lot more sense then.
I found aircraft (general) to be quite straight forward but then my degree is in aeronautical engineering so some might say I have an unfair advantage!
R/T theory was quite simple as well, at least once you've been using the radio for a good 20 hours.
Still have R/T prac and flight planning to go though.....
). I'm still studying for Met though as there seems to be an awful lot to remember and all the info is very similar i.e. cloud types associated with warm/cold fronts.Nav is quite enjoyable if you fancy a break from met, but it pays to have done a couple of practical nav lessons before you get really stuck in as some of it makes a lot more sense then.
I found aircraft (general) to be quite straight forward but then my degree is in aeronautical engineering so some might say I have an unfair advantage!
R/T theory was quite simple as well, at least once you've been using the radio for a good 20 hours.
Still have R/T prac and flight planning to go though.....
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I think you notice the difference between the 152 and 172 most on climb-out (much less of a struggle!), approach and land (needs more precision to pull it off) and - most of all - go-around (the amount of forward pressure on the column needed before you retrim is considerably more).
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DeltaMike02
I was learning in both the C152 and C172,
I was always told to wait till the last 50' then level off, then very very slowly pull back on the control column till it was almost in your belly!
But thats what all the good text books say!
I had problems with judging the flare height and one day found that a quick glance out the side window (assuming your in the middle of the RW), when i could see the runway edge at the bottom of the spar that was when to cut the power and glide the remainder.
Obviously this depends on the length of runway- but EGPF has a hell of a long runway for a small plane!
Hope that helps but it takes time and patience and a few bounces till you get it right!!
I was learning in both the C152 and C172,
I was always told to wait till the last 50' then level off, then very very slowly pull back on the control column till it was almost in your belly!
But thats what all the good text books say!
I had problems with judging the flare height and one day found that a quick glance out the side window (assuming your in the middle of the RW), when i could see the runway edge at the bottom of the spar that was when to cut the power and glide the remainder.
Obviously this depends on the length of runway- but EGPF has a hell of a long runway for a small plane!
Hope that helps but it takes time and patience and a few bounces till you get it right!!
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The 172 sounds fun! 
At some point in my training I'd like to have a go in a PA38 "TerrorHawk" - Although I love my C152, theres something about low wing aircraft that looks cool!
I found Human Factors quite starightforward - I found going through the book ( Im using the Pratt books) and then making sure i got at least 90% consistently using the PPL Confuser before I took it meant I went in full of confidence. Hope to get airlaw out of the way this or next weekend and then its back in the air and hopefully solo after a few hours!
Got the Nav & Met Pratt book last wekeend and had a flip though. Met appears to be a lot to understand but looks very interesting. Will probably become a weather bore as well as a flying bore - my poor wife!
Thats the next step after airlaw for me. I also been using the Transair CBT course for airlaw and found it an excellent tool. Will certianly be investing in the Met one too!
Fingers
At some point in my training I'd like to have a go in a PA38 "TerrorHawk" - Although I love my C152, theres something about low wing aircraft that looks cool!I found Human Factors quite starightforward - I found going through the book ( Im using the Pratt books) and then making sure i got at least 90% consistently using the PPL Confuser before I took it meant I went in full of confidence. Hope to get airlaw out of the way this or next weekend and then its back in the air and hopefully solo after a few hours!
Got the Nav & Met Pratt book last wekeend and had a flip though. Met appears to be a lot to understand but looks very interesting. Will probably become a weather bore as well as a flying bore - my poor wife!
Thats the next step after airlaw for me. I also been using the Transair CBT course for airlaw and found it an excellent tool. Will certianly be investing in the Met one too!Fingers
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Fingers,
'You're not going to become a weather anorak are you?!!!' My wife's words only a couple of days ago as I was gazing skywards and making comments about 'embedded CB'! Have to remember to keep my mouth shut sometimes.
Paul
'You're not going to become a weather anorak are you?!!!' My wife's words only a couple of days ago as I was gazing skywards and making comments about 'embedded CB'! Have to remember to keep my mouth shut sometimes.
Paul
You think that is bad? Wait until you start learning Practiced Forced Landings. 'Field anorak' anyone?
I recently had the opportunity to go up as pax over in Houston. My only constructive comment was, "Gosh, aren't your fields big over here....."
I recently had the opportunity to go up as pax over in Houston. My only constructive comment was, "Gosh, aren't your fields big over here....."
Spicy Meatball
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PHEWW
Glad I am not the only one who talks about these things with the wife/girlfriend etc. I have passed the air law, and most recently MET - I always find myself gazing into the sky naming clouds and stuff like that - its good in a way because this is stuff that we all should know, not just pilots. The MET is basic stuff when you consider the weather as a whole and its something that people take for granted. I think its great to be able to understand WHY the weather is the way it is - I mean, how many people do you know that could give you a reasonable explanation as to why clouds formed? And as to why the clouds seem to move in a slightly different direction to the wind (corolis effect). Once you have read the book and learned the questions, try and use this new found knowlede when outdoors, even when seeing weather reports on TV - you can see occluded/cold/warm fronts on the chart and I bet not a lot of people could tell you what they are. My girlfriend must get so fed up of me talking about flying and weather and allkinds all the time - but it will pay off one day when I can put my money where my mouth is and take her flying for the first time, only then will she appreciate the true value of all this learning and cost and all the 
that goes with it. I think that people just dont understand all this until they experience it for themselves. Sometimes I find myself explaining to people WHY I am studying for a PPL? Like its any of their business to question my intrest, but like I said - those people who know nothing and say everything, and who are always off the mark to criticise, will never know anything until they can do it for themselves!!
Back on the exam side of things - I thought the MET wasnt too bad. The only thing I thought was quite difficult was looking at various METARS/TAFS and having to pick one which closely matched the metform chart - some of the questions seemd a little vague but with practice it can slowly start to make sense. The one thing that I would recommend after passing your exams, especially the MET, is to always keep looking at weather reports each day, and definately before you fly - you will then be able to appreciate them more and learn them better.
Enough of my rumble (I do enough of it in here dont I
)
Thanks all - this is great reading for me also - please keep it coming
Lee
that goes with it. I think that people just dont understand all this until they experience it for themselves. Sometimes I find myself explaining to people WHY I am studying for a PPL? Like its any of their business to question my intrest, but like I said - those people who know nothing and say everything, and who are always off the mark to criticise, will never know anything until they can do it for themselves!!Back on the exam side of things - I thought the MET wasnt too bad. The only thing I thought was quite difficult was looking at various METARS/TAFS and having to pick one which closely matched the metform chart - some of the questions seemd a little vague but with practice it can slowly start to make sense. The one thing that I would recommend after passing your exams, especially the MET, is to always keep looking at weather reports each day, and definately before you fly - you will then be able to appreciate them more and learn them better.
Enough of my rumble (I do enough of it in here dont I
)Thanks all - this is great reading for me also - please keep it coming
Lee
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Hi mazzy...
Great Diary...keep it coming! I am almost in exactly the same situation as you. I have passed Air Law, Met and most recently Communications. I'm 3/4 of the way through Aeroplane Tech... which is a real ***** incidently. 12 hours 40 on the books.
I went solo this week and, weather permitting, should be back up there on my own tommorow. It was undoutedly the best experience of my life to date... I will never forget it. I am sure yours will be exactly the same when you get there... get excited!
RC
Great Diary...keep it coming! I am almost in exactly the same situation as you. I have passed Air Law, Met and most recently Communications. I'm 3/4 of the way through Aeroplane Tech... which is a real ***** incidently. 12 hours 40 on the books.
I went solo this week and, weather permitting, should be back up there on my own tommorow. It was undoutedly the best experience of my life to date... I will never forget it. I am sure yours will be exactly the same when you get there... get excited!
RC
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Lol!
Can totally relate to the talking about planes/flying/weather/nav etc etc all the time - I have driven my family nuts for years with it!!!
Has grown worse since started ground theory - had Met. & Air law last night. I was at my parents' the other week and the weather came on - my mother said 'okay smartypants, you tell us the weather, then we'll switch to the other channel and see if you're right".......
PPrune is great for discussing all things aviation without driving my friends crazy..... on occasion I've been introduced with "This is SkySista*, she's the one that's crazy about planes...."
(*not real name of course)
This thread helping a lot as to questions that I want to ask once I'm back flying....
As to not being able to fly often, the thing I've been drilled most often with, if you can't fly all the time, at least keep it regularly spaced - consistency is the key! And as has been said, try to read up on your stuff when not flying, to keep it fresh in your mind...
(Lecture over )
Sky (the one who's crazy about planes.... lol
PS - For those of you in OZ who have/know someone with Foxtel, there's a program on (think Sunday mornings) on Discovery or similar, where a guy is building a kit plane, in between they go to the airfield and he shows the pre-flight checks etc. Also last night on Discovery, "Super Structures", they had a segment on Boeing's plant at Everett - completely awesome!!! Catch it if you can!
Can totally relate to the talking about planes/flying/weather/nav etc etc all the time - I have driven my family nuts for years with it!!!
Has grown worse since started ground theory - had Met. & Air law last night. I was at my parents' the other week and the weather came on - my mother said 'okay smartypants, you tell us the weather, then we'll switch to the other channel and see if you're right".......
PPrune is great for discussing all things aviation without driving my friends crazy..... on occasion I've been introduced with "This is SkySista*, she's the one that's crazy about planes...."
(*not real name of course)This thread helping a lot as to questions that I want to ask once I'm back flying....
As to not being able to fly often, the thing I've been drilled most often with, if you can't fly all the time, at least keep it regularly spaced - consistency is the key! And as has been said, try to read up on your stuff when not flying, to keep it fresh in your mind...
(Lecture over
)Sky (the one who's crazy about planes.... lol
PS - For those of you in OZ who have/know someone with Foxtel, there's a program on (think Sunday mornings) on Discovery or similar, where a guy is building a kit plane, in between they go to the airfield and he shows the pre-flight checks etc. Also last night on Discovery, "Super Structures", they had a segment on Boeing's plant at Everett - completely awesome!!! Catch it if you can!
Solo Today!
Beautiful day after two days of very windy weather.
Did four circuits with CFI who then got out and said "Off You Go".
One very careful circuit, uneventful landing and congratulations from the tower and that was that.
Now to build up a few hours solo in the circuit, then solo in the training area. After a few more lessons on precautionary landing, low flying and so on its the General Flight Proficiency Test (GFPT) with that and a pass in basic aeronautical knowledge (BAK) its into a Piper Warrior and Navigation training for the final PPL test.
Did four circuits with CFI who then got out and said "Off You Go".
One very careful circuit, uneventful landing and congratulations from the tower and that was that.
Now to build up a few hours solo in the circuit, then solo in the training area. After a few more lessons on precautionary landing, low flying and so on its the General Flight Proficiency Test (GFPT) with that and a pass in basic aeronautical knowledge (BAK) its into a Piper Warrior and Navigation training for the final PPL test.
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Congrats Sunfish! Must have been awesome!! You're lucky you got some nice weather - it's been really crappy here (WA) for the last week or two - one cold front after another (yes, I've been doing Met.! )
Good luck with the Nav. training!
Sky
)Good luck with the Nav. training!
Sky
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SkySista,
That sounds like the series "A Plane is Born" in which Mark Evans (with more than a little help - seen and unseen) builds a Europa and learns to fly at Gloucestershire.
Watching the build was OK, but the segments on his lessons were the most entertaining bits I found. The programme has a web site at www.aplaneisborn.com. They're selling DVDs of it there, though it does (or at least did) seem to get repeated fairly reguarly on the various Discovery channels in the UK at least.
there's a program on (think Sunday mornings) on Discovery or similar, where a guy is building a kit plane, in between they go to the airfield and he shows the pre-flight checks etc.
Watching the build was OK, but the segments on his lessons were the most entertaining bits I found. The programme has a web site at www.aplaneisborn.com. They're selling DVDs of it there, though it does (or at least did) seem to get repeated fairly reguarly on the various Discovery channels in the UK at least.
Last edited by Fly Stimulator; 27th Aug 2004 at 09:52.
Spicy Meatball
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Hour 10
This morning the weather looked completely cr*p - I drove to the airfield anyway and it was decided that we would do an hour in the training room, talking about the circuit. My instructor gave me an hour lesson on the circuit which was an excellent insight into the process. I really learned a lot today in this lesson, and coming towards the end I just couldnt wait to get up and flying - which is what we then did!
Preflighted the aircraft and got her started up ready to taxi, only to realise we had forgot the headsets - a quick jog back to the school.....
Today was a VERY windy day, we saw gusts up to 25kts and my instructor said that this is the worst you will see it, and wouldnt really fly in anything worse. We done 5 circuits, 4 left and one right due to traffic. It was awesome and it is suprising how quick they go, before you know it, after taking off you are preparing to land! The general procedure was take off, crab the aircraft to maintain runway line, get to 200ft, do various checks, trim aircraft. Once at 500ft, start the turn and then continue to ascend to 1000ft - again, ensuring sufficient crabbing technique to maintain correct line (we had to do quite a lot of crabbing today).
Once at a 1000ft and generally 45 degrees from the end of the runway, begint the base leg. A quick call to tower "[callsign] downwind". Then comes the traffic information and instructions, either number one or number 2, followed by the recommended guidelines for separation between larger aircraft. Then the BUMFFPICHLC (who can give me all of these? And who hasn't bought their checklist??) hahaha.
Onto base, again with a quick call and into the descent. Power to around 1700rpm, maintain nose up, slow down, one level of flap because of strong (very strong) x-wind and away we go to landing. Today I was making full use of the controls in order to put her down correctly, there was a hell of a crab in order to maintain centre line. My instructor pointed out that it was difficult for my first attempt at circuits, but from this lesson onwards, the conditions can only be better (or equal) and things will seem easier next time. I am completely satisfied with the way things went today and am glad that I have got some experience (although very little) of windy conditions, as like I have said a few times, this was one of my original fears. Bloody marvellous and cant wait for next lesson, as always!
SkySista - you are a legend!
Congrats to those who have just gone solo, I get nervous/excited just reading about it.
Safe flying,
Lee
Preflighted the aircraft and got her started up ready to taxi, only to realise we had forgot the headsets - a quick jog back to the school.....
Today was a VERY windy day, we saw gusts up to 25kts and my instructor said that this is the worst you will see it, and wouldnt really fly in anything worse. We done 5 circuits, 4 left and one right due to traffic. It was awesome and it is suprising how quick they go, before you know it, after taking off you are preparing to land! The general procedure was take off, crab the aircraft to maintain runway line, get to 200ft, do various checks, trim aircraft. Once at 500ft, start the turn and then continue to ascend to 1000ft - again, ensuring sufficient crabbing technique to maintain correct line (we had to do quite a lot of crabbing today).
Once at a 1000ft and generally 45 degrees from the end of the runway, begint the base leg. A quick call to tower "[callsign] downwind". Then comes the traffic information and instructions, either number one or number 2, followed by the recommended guidelines for separation between larger aircraft. Then the BUMFFPICHLC (who can give me all of these? And who hasn't bought their checklist??) hahaha.
Onto base, again with a quick call and into the descent. Power to around 1700rpm, maintain nose up, slow down, one level of flap because of strong (very strong) x-wind and away we go to landing. Today I was making full use of the controls in order to put her down correctly, there was a hell of a crab in order to maintain centre line. My instructor pointed out that it was difficult for my first attempt at circuits, but from this lesson onwards, the conditions can only be better (or equal) and things will seem easier next time. I am completely satisfied with the way things went today and am glad that I have got some experience (although very little) of windy conditions, as like I have said a few times, this was one of my original fears. Bloody marvellous and cant wait for next lesson, as always!
SkySista - you are a legend!
Congrats to those who have just gone solo, I get nervous/excited just reading about it.
Safe flying,
Lee
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Sunfish,
Congratulations!!!!! I'm pretty close to my first solo and can't make up my mind whether to look forward to it or be extremely nervous - same as Mazzy really, but I haven't been up in such strong crosswinds yet!
Keep it up all!
HH
Congratulations!!!!! I'm pretty close to my first solo and can't make up my mind whether to look forward to it or be extremely nervous - same as Mazzy really, but I haven't been up in such strong crosswinds yet!
Keep it up all!
HH
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Ive seen them programmes skysista!
He has also built a helicopter and some others!
Paul: I fly a Robin HR200 (Which I cannot find for fs2004 can anyone help?)
Paul: I fly a Robin HR200 (Which I cannot find for fs2004 can anyone help?)
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Errr... forgive the brain lapse Mazzy, but what for....?
I once flew a Robin, not sure what type it was, it had a "bubble domw" if that helps.....?
Lovely little plane, looked greatin black with a yellow chequer scheme on it..... bloody hot in summer though!!!!!
Sky
I once flew a Robin, not sure what type it was, it had a "bubble domw" if that helps.....?
Lovely little plane, looked greatin black with a yellow chequer scheme on it..... bloody hot in summer though!!!!!
Sky