Ah yes, the checklist nightmares! I went through this stage myself - it is documented a couple of hundred posts back :D Keep up the good work ;)

THE FLY-IN
Now then - I need to see if it would be possible for people to make the fly-in on a weekday - reason being, is that there is a possibility of a very nice surprise coming to Tatenhill for us, but it has to be on a weekday. It's not a 100% definite, but it's possible.

Please let me know your thoughts - like I say, it will be around the spring time....

Cheers,

Lee :ok:

Paul - don't be saying that! QXC :oh: skills test :oh:

Makes it sounds rather scary! But thanks, it was very god fun the nav. And very good to meet you.

I really need to get cracking with the exams mind, would like met (maybe nav) done before the QXC. And class of 2006....fingers crossed. Just need you lot to pass first!

Cheers.

And the "suprise" - I'm dieing to know :confused: Will try and make it down, school and pilot permitting!

Mazzy, weekday or weekend are all fine for me, nice to see progress all round come on guys and girls keep it up!

Just a very quick post:

Had another flight today. The second official dual navigation exercise (for those who know the area - Newcastle - Barnard Castle - Seaham - Newcastle).

After arriving at the club I had a very long wait. One of the aircraft wouldn't start, one was lacking a nose wheel, and one was being taken elsewhere for a maintainence check! But after an hour or so we got in the 'plane and we were off...

...the the fuel pump! Once we'd filled it up, we really were off though.

Not a lot to say about the flight really, the visibility closed in a little, but was still perdectly safe. My first experience of talking to different ATC (Teesside approach) which was nice. Stayed pretty well on track, found all my points, and got back safely. By the time we at the airfield it was very dark though! Nice to fly over the Newcastle Quayside. We orbited for 5 minutes or so, then got cleared to finals - the runway looked amazing fully lit. And whilst not the best of landings, I got it down fine.

Next lesson is booked for wednesday (21st) - been told to turn up an hour early, plan my route, check the 'plane and go off on my own! :D Should be fun!

Cheers.

Great to hear the progress made by all. Looks like things are coming together nicely.

Earlier, Lister stated:
I recall in the pre-9/11 days when, if you asked nicely, you could sit in the jump seat on scheduled flights. I've been fortunate to sit up front for a couple of trips from Leeds to Heathrow with BMI. The approach to LHR was awesome. Anyway, the point here is that I was very surprised at how much checklists are used in the cabin. Of course, here on PPRuNe those that fly professionally will think nothing of this, but at the time it was interesting to see just how regimented the activities at all stages of the flight were.

Checklists are vital. I've even made notes on mine to add to the standard ones (e.g. HAND ON THROTTLE before ignition). I've also made my own A5 kneeboard pad in Word with the various critical acronyms expanded out for those airbourne checks.

Mazzy - a weekday would be doable for me, just need as much notice as possible so I can book a day off work. It would be interesting to fly mid week, I've heard it gets busy and those RAF chaps are also to be seen buzzing around...

Good progress John :ok:

I will say now then that the fly-in will be a weekday, most likely a Friday I think.........I hope people can make it as it will be a day not to be missed !!!!!



:cool:

FLY-IN
 

Sorry chaps,afraid I've lost the plot.
Are we saying to meet up the end of this month or end Jan 2006 or another month?
A really beautiful day today and hardly a small plane in the air,can't wait to pass and have that licence!
Lister:D

Hehe - Lister, the fly in will be spring some time (presuming I have passed by then) and I that is my main priority at the moment (that, and organising the fly in).

Also, at any time people like, we can gather for a few scoops in a pub somewhere mid-England !

:D

Thanks Lee,
I was getting it mixed up with the Christmas fly-in.
Lister:D

Am afraid that there is no chance I can go anywhere on a weekday so am gonna have to give it a miss :{

:confused: :oh: :hmm: :sad: :ouch:

It feels like ages since I last wrote something up!

On Friday, I am booked in to complete my solo flying, which is the requirement for the PPL. If the weather isn't good enough, I can see us doing an hour of radio navigation, probably starting off with ADF & DME - so fingers crossed :8

Hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year - wish you all the very best, with lots of flying! Bring on the class of 2006.....

It seems like I'm posting a lot on here at the moment - rather suprising how much I'm flying considering it's the middle of winter!

Anyway, today was to be my first solo navigation exercise. I turned up at the club an hour and a bit early. Got the wind, and plotted my route straight away. A simple one - Colt Crag - Rothbury - Newcastle.

I then found out that my usual instructor wasn't here, but asked another (part-time) instructor to send me off. Whilst it shouldn't have, this got me a little nervous. But never mind, he checked all my calculations and I was ready to go. Checked the ATIS - damn, cloud at 1500 feet. Decided to leave it for half an hour, and hoped it went.

Around 10 minutes later another instructor lands, and informs us there's hardly any cloud. So I give it a visual inspection, agree with him, and go to my 'plane! Everything was ok with the checks, I got it started, and called for taxi clearance. And got a prompt reply saying they hadn't received a flight plan - DAMN. The FI mustn’t have told them. After a few non-CAP413 RT calls I'm allowed to go. So two things not gone to plan...surely not a third?

Everything else goes as planned. I'm instructed to follow another of the clubs AC, and another was following me. All three of us to line up, and then go off one at a time. I was second, and it didn't take long until I was cleared for take off.

No problems on take off, expect for one large-ish gust of wind, but it was all kept under control. I got onto my heading, and all seemed fine. Cruising along at 2400 feet. Already had the first turning point in sight, so was feeling a little more relaxed. Re-checked my checks. DAMN - fuel pump! Other than leaving that on, it all seemed ok. Until I was reminded by ATC that I hadn't switched the transponder on....

So I contacted radar, flew over my turning point, did a nice little circle around it, and got onto my new heading. All seemed fine, the right landmarks were in the right places, and I was on track. Once I was overhead my next point, I did another nice little fly-past, and turned onto my new heading, direct to Newcastle.

At one point I lost one of the significant landmarks I was looking for, but that wasn't a big problem, as another popped up nearly straight away. Now was the time to deviate off course, though. I routed straight into Newcastle, from the West. But needed to be the East of the VRP. So a little correction and I'm heading in the right direction. Called for re-join, and was promptly cleared to enter CAS. The three aircraft I departed with, also wanted to land at the same time as me. Never mind, I was second in line, but I could not find number 1. I looked and looked, and eventually got him, when he was on short finals. Shortly after I was cleared onto finals. Was warned about the military helicopter to my right, which was indeed pretty close, but posed no risk.


So I was cleared to land. Decided on two stages of flaps, but the AC was still on the runway, and was taking a long time to vacate. Luckily he eventually did, and I had some time to spare before landing. For some reason, I did not get my approach right, speed was wrong, and when I eventually got the 'plane down, it was a heavy landing. Perfectly safe, but not as smooth as I'd have liked.

And that was it - my first solo navigation exercise completed! A more complex one is planned for Friday, and then it's landaways, so I've been told! Overall I'm ver chuffed, just wish the landing was a bit better! And I will remember to switch the transponder on, and fuel pump off next time! (And to be 100% my flight plan's been filed!) :O

Good flight, and past my 20th hour! :D Good day overall.

Thanks all,

John.

Ah the first solo nav! Well done there, it's a good achievement, and builds you up nicely for the QXC :cool:

jwf - sounds like fun. It great to be able to read up on other's experiences here and 'fly' the route with them.



Did they mean a flight plan, or that you hadn't booked out? I never filed a plan during my training. I did have to book out at Leeds though: Type & Reg, POB, Land away or local, duration, vfr, routing out of the zone, captain's name. It is preferable to do this over the phone rather than the radio - as you found out ;-)

What type do you fly? I'm thinking about the point you made regarding 2 stages of flap and wonder why you chose to do this - I'm used to PA28 where 3 stages are used for landing.

MyData - yeah, I hadn't booked out. Didn't mean my flight plan! And yeah, all had to be done over the radio - like you say, it's much easier doing it by phone before you leave!

And I fly the PA-28 as well. I was initially taught landing with 2 stages of flap. Then used all the posibilities. I guess, because it was my first outing, I was keen just to stick with what I'd been taught originally. In other circumstances 3 stages (or indeed none) would have been used. Hope it's not frowned upon only using two!

Now that's interesting that we have both been taught quite differently. I had eight different instructors and one area they were all in agreement was 3 stages at 500ft on final, and carb heat off*

I was taught to be able to land with any flap configuration and how to adjust approach etc. accordingly. You never know when those flaps might fail.

*Until my very last lessons where this changed and the consensus was that carb heat should be on until needed at, perhaps, a go-around.

Hmm. Not to sure about that one. I've been taught with no flap, 2 stages and 3 stages. And whenever I'm flying dual, he'll always ask me how I'm landing. Sometimes I chose three stages, sometimes two and sometimes none at all.

Whilst I've only flown with two instructors since re-starting training, I seem to remember my initial lessons (mid 2004) were conducted in the same manner - 2 stages.

I don't know what to say really, anybody else with experience on PA28 care to comment? Like I said, I've done a lot of landings with 3 stages, but I was originally taught (and my 1st solo was completed) using 2 stages to land.

:confused:

i was taught on this aircraft to use all 3 stages of flap on landing and by 500 ft at all times unless there was a strong wind and then to use 2 stages and the carb heat was to be off but the carb heat had been on during the downwind checks!

I fear I may become the minority! :{

Never mind though. Will talk to my instructor about it tomorrow. I'm going to use 3 stages by 500 feet now! Anyway I'm off for sleep, so g'night!