In order to have the highest probability of passing my flying test first time, I blew my 'play money' budget. As a result, I am reduced to flying (at most) once every pay cycle. So I have to make the most of each and every flight I get to do. How does one do that? Well, I guess the first thing is not to have too much time between drinks - I don't want to be spending the first half an hour of a flight 'getting back into it', and also to work on the areas that I most need to work on.
I haven't sat down and just done a session of circuits for a quite a few weeks. I had been rehearsing the upper air work and circuit depart/rejoining techniques for what seems like forever! Manny had a full book for the day, but said that he'd booked a two hour block for another student that would only be using one hour of it. He encouraged me to take the aircraft for a couple of circuits while he debriefed the earlier student and briefed the next one. Great! A couple of takeoffs and landings - here I come!
It had turned out to be quite a nice day. Quite sunny, however the wind was strong-ish at about 16 knots. Nothing I can't handle. The student arriving back reported that it was as smooth as silk above 3000', but a tiny bit bumpy in the circuit. Good. It will be an excellent revision on dealing with windy conditions!
I grabbed 4781 and plugged my new headset in (thanks eBay! As good as new pro model - $50!), then taxied straight out to the runup bay. I didn't want to waste any time, but I made sure I still did everything methodically and completely. There had been quite a bit of activity beforehand, but oddly the radio had gone quiet. To make sure it wasn't my headset, I quickly flipped the radio to the AWIS - nope, that works perfectly! Oh well, area clear, announce that I'm entering 36 for circuits and I'm off!
A tiny bit bumpy was an understatement. It was challenging, yet still flyable. The first circuit was a little bit wonky as I got a feel for how much I needed to lay off the drift - more than I originally thought, it would seem! Coming in to land, I could see Manny and the other students standing out the side of the hangar. Uh-oh, an audience... Pressure! Better make this one good!
I had decided to keep in close when turning from downwind to base, owing to the fact that the wind was trying to push me away from the runway. Unfortunately, I had over estimated how close I needed to be, and ended up quite high when turning final. Bugger. I pulled the throttle to idle and basically made it a glide approach. This put my right on the numbers, and I managed a respectable touchdown. Ok, not my prettiest, but I'll chalk that up to experience.
The second and third circuits were comparatively uneventful. This time I'd managed to get the drift right and flew perfectly rectangular circuits - well, at least they felt like it by comparison! I'd left the turn to base a little later and resulted in a much more conventional glide slope. Oh, an number three was one of the softest touchdowns (or in the vernacular: a 'greaser') I'd ever managed. I looked towards the hangar... No one. That would be right! I manage an awesome one and no one is there to see it!
Not wanting to hold up the next student too much, I announced the fourth circuit as a full stop. I could have easily gone on for ages... I was having too much fun - and now had everything under control. Oh well, I'm thankful that Manny let me take the Jab while he was briefing.
I think the time left before my passenger endorsement should go like this: two sessions of circuits, then a local flight. Lather, rinse, repeat.
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