Frustration
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
That's really awful.
In such a case, I would recommend finding an experienced pilot to fly with (in his plane, with you as a passenger) to keep the cobwebs off, until the wx improves enough to resume the "official training".
I've done that with a few people. It's good fun.
There is little point in banging circuits because circuits just make one sweat like a pig and (due to the stress) have minimal learning value, and flying in bad weather is not much good unless it is done in the context of learning radio navigation (GPS/VOR/DME) which is important but is rarely done in the basic PPL except for very basic stuff.
In such a case, I would recommend finding an experienced pilot to fly with (in his plane, with you as a passenger) to keep the cobwebs off, until the wx improves enough to resume the "official training".
I've done that with a few people. It's good fun.
There is little point in banging circuits because circuits just make one sweat like a pig and (due to the stress) have minimal learning value, and flying in bad weather is not much good unless it is done in the context of learning radio navigation (GPS/VOR/DME) which is important but is rarely done in the basic PPL except for very basic stuff.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: UK
DON'T believe the Denham weather page - it isn't always accurate.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 200
Likes: 5
From: London, UK
I often have a peep at the webcams at Booker and White Waltham (not a million miles from Denham)
I've had some lovely flights in the winter - still, sunny, and sodding cold. At least you engined lot have heaters - I've had to supplement my ski gear with extra layers before!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Ruislip
I was very pleased to get a phone call on friday afternoon to say there was a lesson available on Saturday morning. As it was 5 weeks since the last lesson (of 5 to date) the instructor said we had better going over the previous exercise "straight and level at different speeds/flap settingsm with constant heading". Not a problem I thought as the last lesson went really well.........................it was a shambles I ended up chasing myself the whole time.
However hopefully some good came of it as the instructor is going to see if he can get me a lesson every weekend immediately after Xmas. Hopefully with some continuity I will start to make some progress. I can't believe how hopeless I was - I took 5 lessons to pass my car test and breezed through my motorbike test as well but this seems a lot more difficult or maybe the passage of time isnt helping. I have revised my aspirations and will be happy if at soem point I can at least land a plane on my own.
Despite this even Saturday was fun. Have a good week all.
However hopefully some good came of it as the instructor is going to see if he can get me a lesson every weekend immediately after Xmas. Hopefully with some continuity I will start to make some progress. I can't believe how hopeless I was - I took 5 lessons to pass my car test and breezed through my motorbike test as well but this seems a lot more difficult or maybe the passage of time isnt helping. I have revised my aspirations and will be happy if at soem point I can at least land a plane on my own.
Despite this even Saturday was fun. Have a good week all.
