From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary
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EK,
I was very worried before my skills test and managed only a few hours sleep so was really tired before I started.
It is a long test around 2.5 –3hrs and although my navigation section was OK I was absolutely knackered when we got to the flying exercises and only managed a partial pass, thankfully when I re-sat the failed section it was OK second time round.
I wish I had taken a mock exam of the whole skills test, having said that, I never asked and I suppose if I had it would have been allowed?
Anyway wishing you good luck.
Mazzy,
I’m sorry for your distress and know a little how you must feel.
My father died when I was 18,and I still miss him,my mother died when I was around your age so for a lot of my life had no parents to share things with
We had a small engineering business and dad would have been interested in my journey through life, I really missed not sharing my various exploits into sailing, motor racing, now the flying and of course also my career which although agriculture based has also been strongly linked to engineering..
Luckily I have had fantastic friends and partners, and now a good wife who has shared a lot of my pains and pleasures over the years.
I’m afraid I don’t believe in the afterlife but know that we live on through our deeds, so your father will live on for you through his influence on your life.
My best wishes for the future
Lister
I was very worried before my skills test and managed only a few hours sleep so was really tired before I started.
It is a long test around 2.5 –3hrs and although my navigation section was OK I was absolutely knackered when we got to the flying exercises and only managed a partial pass, thankfully when I re-sat the failed section it was OK second time round.
I wish I had taken a mock exam of the whole skills test, having said that, I never asked and I suppose if I had it would have been allowed?
Anyway wishing you good luck.
Mazzy,
I’m sorry for your distress and know a little how you must feel.
My father died when I was 18,and I still miss him,my mother died when I was around your age so for a lot of my life had no parents to share things with
We had a small engineering business and dad would have been interested in my journey through life, I really missed not sharing my various exploits into sailing, motor racing, now the flying and of course also my career which although agriculture based has also been strongly linked to engineering..
Luckily I have had fantastic friends and partners, and now a good wife who has shared a lot of my pains and pleasures over the years.
I’m afraid I don’t believe in the afterlife but know that we live on through our deeds, so your father will live on for you through his influence on your life.
My best wishes for the future
Lister
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Mazzy, I really am sorry to learn about your Dad. I paid for my PPL training with my inheritance following my Dad's death, he never knew his son was a pilot. I bet your Dad was really proud of you!
EK4457, If your instructors reckon you are ready you'r ready. It's like your QXC, only you have a passenger. If you would be uncomfortable with the weather for a solo flight don't go. You are the Captain, it's your call. If you drift from height or heading put it right. If you make changes to height, heading ETA tell him and tell him why. If you see other aircraft tell him.
It's a long flight without a break and with general handling at the end you will need to brush up PFL's, EFATO's, slow flight, stalls, steep turns etc if you havn't done any for a while. Plus a few circuits with normal , flapless and glide approaches. It dosn't have to be perfect, just demonstrate that you are safe.
I was really nervous for mine but in hind sight it was because it is the first excersise you do without practicing with an instructor. You'll be fine
Regards Chris
EK4457, If your instructors reckon you are ready you'r ready. It's like your QXC, only you have a passenger. If you would be uncomfortable with the weather for a solo flight don't go. You are the Captain, it's your call. If you drift from height or heading put it right. If you make changes to height, heading ETA tell him and tell him why. If you see other aircraft tell him.
It's a long flight without a break and with general handling at the end you will need to brush up PFL's, EFATO's, slow flight, stalls, steep turns etc if you havn't done any for a while. Plus a few circuits with normal , flapless and glide approaches. It dosn't have to be perfect, just demonstrate that you are safe.
I was really nervous for mine but in hind sight it was because it is the first excersise you do without practicing with an instructor. You'll be fine
Regards Chris
Spicy Meatball
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EK I will second exactly what Mersey has said, and no matter how much prep you do for it, you somehow never feel ready. No matter how many times you go over the mock, like Mersey said, you are being sent for it because your instructors think you are ready. You won't do anything in the test that you haven't already done in the training (well, that's not quite true for me!).
Best of luck and let us know how you get on,
Lee
Edit: Guys, looks like were posting at the same time - I really do appreciate those kind words, they mean a lot....
Best of luck and let us know how you get on,
Lee
Edit: Guys, looks like were posting at the same time - I really do appreciate those kind words, they mean a lot....
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Mazzy, I'm so sorry to hear of your sad loss. Your dad would be proud as punch of you anyway, I'd bet your exam and PPL success just added to that pride. He'll be smiling down on you from IMC land somewhere!!
Hope to see you back in the air very shortly, mate.
Hope to see you back in the air very shortly, mate.
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Thanks guys,
Just wanted to know if it was normal to be a bit apprehensive. Seems it is!!
Mazzy, I don't belive in the afterlife either, but your old man would most definately have been proud.
EK
Just wanted to know if it was normal to be a bit apprehensive. Seems it is!!
Mazzy, I don't belive in the afterlife either, but your old man would most definately have been proud.
EK
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Skills Test Duration...
You can request to do the skills test in 2 parts. I did due WX; but you can request to do the nav on one day/trip and then the general handling on another.
Spicy Meatball
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Top notch 1d ! Now get out there and take your first victim flying!
How did the test go ?
Lee
How did the test go ?
Lee
Last edited by mazzy1026; 7th Sep 2006 at 11:53.
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1d2d..
Congratulations. I bet it wasn't as bad as you were expecting!
I completely failed to report my ppl pass on here. It was back on one of those incredibly hot days in July. Had a brilliant NAV section in the morning, followed by a general handling session during which I entered a spiral dive from my first attempt at a steep turn and nearly exceeded Vne on recovery
Nonetheless, my examiner clearly thought I got enough right to pass me. The circuit work was very interesting, because it was so hot that my pa28 was practically scraping the trees at the end of Wycombe's runway, during the touch and goes.
I have taken two victims flying so far - a friend who had flown quite a lot before, followed by my father in law, who was pretty nervous.
My wife wants a trip next week - but she's always really calm, so should be fun.
I think it's really important to select your first passenger post qualification carefully. You will be a little tense yourself (all that new responsibility) and the last thing you want is to get distracted having to calm someone down. If you can, I would really recommend choosing someone who is comfortable flying in small aircraft and knows what to expect.
Mazzy, sorry to hear about your dad. My dad passed away long before I took up flying, which was a shame because he was in aviation himself. He worked on the Comet testing programme and Concorde development at Farnborough.
Happy flying everyone.
HH
Congratulations. I bet it wasn't as bad as you were expecting!
I completely failed to report my ppl pass on here. It was back on one of those incredibly hot days in July. Had a brilliant NAV section in the morning, followed by a general handling session during which I entered a spiral dive from my first attempt at a steep turn and nearly exceeded Vne on recovery
Nonetheless, my examiner clearly thought I got enough right to pass me. The circuit work was very interesting, because it was so hot that my pa28 was practically scraping the trees at the end of Wycombe's runway, during the touch and goes.
I have taken two victims flying so far - a friend who had flown quite a lot before, followed by my father in law, who was pretty nervous.
My wife wants a trip next week - but she's always really calm, so should be fun.
I think it's really important to select your first passenger post qualification carefully. You will be a little tense yourself (all that new responsibility) and the last thing you want is to get distracted having to calm someone down. If you can, I would really recommend choosing someone who is comfortable flying in small aircraft and knows what to expect.
Mazzy, sorry to hear about your dad. My dad passed away long before I took up flying, which was a shame because he was in aviation himself. He worked on the Comet testing programme and Concorde development at Farnborough.
Happy flying everyone.
HH
Spicy Meatball
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Thanks HH - I am sure these things are either punishment, or something that is sent to test us - perhaps a bit of both!
Cheers,
Lee
Cheers,
Lee
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Thanks all
Mazzy I reported on my GFT a page back. Got an aircraft booked for Sunday morning for my first flight as PIC on my own license, Wx permitting, but the forecast is pretty good so far.
Regards Chris
Mazzy I reported on my GFT a page back. Got an aircraft booked for Sunday morning for my first flight as PIC on my own license, Wx permitting, but the forecast is pretty good so far.
Regards Chris
Spicy Meatball
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Sorry 1d - slip of the mind there!
I always find that a great part of the flight is when after you have landed, and you disembark the spamcan, and just take a step back and reflect on what you have just done!
Enjoy!
Lee
Spicy Meatball
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Bet you got a shock then when you got the email telling you about a new post in here
The reason I am re-incarnating this thread temporarily, is because I am about to host this diary on a site of my own.
I have thought of a lot of ways of doing this, and have come up with a few ideas. Originally I was going to display all of the diary posts of my own, I.E those which documented all my flying. However, I thought it would make more interesting reading, if I simply posted everything by everyone.
So - would anyone object to me doing this? It will show your usernames....
BRL - any objections from you or the powers that be?
How are we all doing? Feel's like years ago since I last posted here
Lee
The reason I am re-incarnating this thread temporarily, is because I am about to host this diary on a site of my own.
I have thought of a lot of ways of doing this, and have come up with a few ideas. Originally I was going to display all of the diary posts of my own, I.E those which documented all my flying. However, I thought it would make more interesting reading, if I simply posted everything by everyone.
So - would anyone object to me doing this? It will show your usernames....
BRL - any objections from you or the powers that be?
How are we all doing? Feel's like years ago since I last posted here
Lee
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No problem with me Mazzy. What are you up to now? Keep us posted.
I have not flown for over 10 weeks because of knee surgery. I've only flown twice since my skills test
. Still I've got a check out tommorrow so should up up and away from now on.
Regards Chris
I have not flown for over 10 weeks because of knee surgery. I've only flown twice since my skills test
. Still I've got a check out tommorrow so should up up and away from now on.Regards Chris
Spicy Meatball
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Cheers Chris
Well what a year it has been! Lots of good and plenty of bad!
I now work in Deeside - North Wales (yehaa) in a Pharmaceutical firm (Every time I meet another pilot they are never surprised I work in IT
)
So far, I am averaging an hour a month, which I am happy with considering I bought the house in May. It is just a money eating machine! It is difficult keeping up the hours, but all the more enjoyable when you do fly. Hope your doing ok with the knee recovery...
Hope you are all well,
Lee
Well what a year it has been! Lots of good and plenty of bad!
I now work in Deeside - North Wales (yehaa) in a Pharmaceutical firm (Every time I meet another pilot they are never surprised I work in IT
) So far, I am averaging an hour a month, which I am happy with considering I bought the house in May. It is just a money eating machine! It is difficult keeping up the hours, but all the more enjoyable when you do fly. Hope your doing ok with the knee recovery...
Hope you are all well,
Lee
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Hi Mazzy,good to hear from you and no probs at all with me and your proposed website.
Re - flying I now have approx 85 hours total including 28 hrs solo in PA28-180 and Piper Cubs.
I'm averaging around 1 hour per week in the WW2 Piper Cub of which I have a very small share!
Mostly local flights around East Anglia but it really is great fun and well worth all the stress,hassle and expense of getting there.
Best wishes ,good luck in the new job and keep us posted
Lister
Re - flying I now have approx 85 hours total including 28 hrs solo in PA28-180 and Piper Cubs.
I'm averaging around 1 hour per week in the WW2 Piper Cub of which I have a very small share!
Mostly local flights around East Anglia but it really is great fun and well worth all the stress,hassle and expense of getting there.
Best wishes ,good luck in the new job and keep us posted
Lister
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lo mazzy,
no problems here either. For those that care, I'm just getting towards the end of my commercial training, got just over 200hrs now, currently 2-3weeks away from the IRT
Passed my CPL test in September so am now offically a commercial pilot Hope your all good and enjoying your flying!
no problems here either. For those that care, I'm just getting towards the end of my commercial training, got just over 200hrs now, currently 2-3weeks away from the IRT
Passed my CPL test in September so am now offically a commercial pilot Hope your all good and enjoying your flying!
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Mazzy's proposed diary
Mazzy
I was a lurker and possibly rare contributor to your thread, but I really enjoyed it. I've put all my own lessons on a public website, which is actually pretty bold as the domain name is my name (those were more innocent days). According to the pprune forum rules I'm not allowed to use my real name here, so I guess that means I can't post a link to my site
.
I have nearly 40 hours, but stalled somewhat after a runway excursion landing after my first area solo (blooming tailwheelers).
Vey interested in Lister flying around in a Cub, as on Flight Sim I find the Cub harder to handle than the Citabria I use.
Actually I'll be back in Blighty in a couple of weeks (mainly Scotland). What's the weather lilke for flying in the middle of winter? I might just try a 172 out of Cumbernauld or somewhere for perspective and to remind me what I'm missing. And at least it won't try to swap ends on me
.
Let me know when your diary shows up. If anyone wants a laugh at mine they can pm me.
I was a lurker and possibly rare contributor to your thread, but I really enjoyed it. I've put all my own lessons on a public website, which is actually pretty bold as the domain name is my name (those were more innocent days). According to the pprune forum rules I'm not allowed to use my real name here, so I guess that means I can't post a link to my site
.I have nearly 40 hours, but stalled somewhat after a runway excursion landing after my first area solo (blooming tailwheelers).
Vey interested in Lister flying around in a Cub, as on Flight Sim I find the Cub harder to handle than the Citabria I use.
Actually I'll be back in Blighty in a couple of weeks (mainly Scotland). What's the weather lilke for flying in the middle of winter? I might just try a 172 out of Cumbernauld or somewhere for perspective and to remind me what I'm missing. And at least it won't try to swap ends on me
.Let me know when your diary shows up. If anyone wants a laugh at mine they can pm me.