Lesson 34 - consolidation flight

22 April 2012

VH-TXU

Moorabbin (YMMB) 35R
Weather : 17c Wind 360 15kt, QNH 1007, light rain in parts of the training area.

Another consolidation flight - basically go out and practice performing all the maneuvers I'll need to do for my GFPT test.

Lesson 28 : consolidation flight

26 February  
Warrior III VH-TXU

Weather QNH 1012; Wind: 20-25kt NW, Temp: 29c, broken cloud at 5000ft  

Runway 35R

Today's lesson was a consolidation flight. While Jason didn't teach me anything new,  I learnt a lot about how to put everything together.

Lesson 24 : Second Solo

24 Janurary  

Warrior III VH-TXU

Weather QNH: 1013, Wind: N 10kts, Temp: 29c 

Runway  35L & 35R


Another great looking day to go solo.  I'd got a taste last week and now I want more!!
 
We took TXU to the run-up bay and listened to the ATIS.  35R was shut as they were doing some maintenance, so circuits were being conducted on 35L however they were using 118.1 (the east tower frequency).  35L is the narrower of the 2 runways and means a left hand circuits.  I'd only used it maybe once or twice before.

So off we went.  The plan was for Jason to do 3-4 circuits with me then I'd drop him off and do 3-4 more solo. My first crosswind leg was a bit off as I tried to establish new reference points, besides that my landings were good and after the 3rd landing we headed back to the southern run-up bay so Jason could jump out.  Unlike last week, he was walking back and I'd bring the plane back to the school after I finished.

I redo my run-up and taxi back to 35L and take-off again.  The first circuit goes the some way as the previous 3 with Jason but when I make my downwind call on the 2nd the tower opens 35R.  They clear me for the touch and go on 35L and ask me to make a RIGHT turn to join crosswind for 35R.

This all goes without drama and I quickly re-establish my reference points for right hand circuits on 35R.  I then continued with 2 more circuits of 35R before pulling off the runway onto Bravo and heading back to the school.

I also mounted my GoPro in the plane for the first time (just for the solo part) so you are welcome to watch the raw footage

Really loving the solo flying and after so much trouble getting the hang of basic landings it's a enjoy to finally feel like a real pilot.


VH-TXU Piper Warrior III  - 2nd SOLO - 0.5hrs Dual, 0.6hrs SOLO (Total time 25.9hrs)






View 2nd Solo in a larger map

Lesson 16 - Circuits (8)

October 23

Warrior III VH-TXU

Weather QNH 1019, Wind NE 7kt, Temp 16C

Runway 35R

Circuits once again but today I'm flying with Warren as Jason wasn't available.  It was looking like a nice day so was hoping I'd manage to stick a few good landings today.

I also decided to try out MyTrack, which is an Android app that allowed you to capture my GPS track, then store it and share it on Google maps. (see below)

View Lesson 16 in a larger map (Let me know if you can't see the map and track.)

As you'll see I managed 9 circuits including a go around and a couple of flapless landings. My landings are getting better but Warren wants me to use my feet a lot more - especially when I get onto final.  Once I did I released how much more control I have.  While the landings weren't perfect they are starting to get better.

After the flight while looking at the track log I noticed a couple of things 1) I'm not flying completely parallel to the runway on downwind, just tightening up a little,  2) My crosswind and base legs aren't square (Either because I following the roads or the slight NE)  but all in all I'm happy with my pattern.

I'm getting closer to being able to go solo, so I need to sort out my solo theory test and hopefully CASA will sort out my Student licence soon.

Circuits, Go-Arounds, Flapless

Lesson 11 - Circuits (3)

18th September 2011  VH-TXU

CIRCUITS

It had been a couple of weeks since my last lesson but it was a better day for flying  – still overcast (with low cloud) but much less wind.  I was concerned about the low cloud while heading for the airport but luckily we were doing circuits again.

This time we would use 17L – this was only the second time I’d taken off to the south and the first time for left hand circuits.  This meant different taxiways, different reference points and of course, left hand turns.  The other thing this meant was the wind was coming from the south, something I almost forgot as I entered the run-up bay and started to line up to the north for my run ups!.

The low cloud meant at one point Jason needed to request “Special VFR” (In Class “D” VMC requires you to be 500ft below cloud ) however for most of the time the cloud stayed above 1500ft and we always had the required 5km visibility.

So around and around we went again.  Flying the circuit is starting to come together, I’m trimming better and quicker, getting through the pre-landing checks more effectively, but still struggling with the landings.  While I managed a couple of rough landings, my biggest problem is wanting to "push" the plane onto the runway – especially when I “balloon” or "bounce".   I need to relax and wait for the plane to settle itself onto the runway.

Being a better day also meant there were other aircraft in the circuit.  It one stage we were following a slower aircraft doing looong finals.  This meant we needed to slow down on the  downwind leg in order to give ourselves some space.  Luckily the tower gave as the option to “pass” them after a very late landing clearance.  Jason took over and rather then best rate of climb (79kt) we climbed at “best angle of climb” (63kt) and at ~300ft we turned crosswind and joined downwind ahead of the other aircraft.  

Another enjoyable but frustrating lesson.  I making progress and while I managed a couple of rough landings, I was far from consistent.  –  maybe next week.

VH-TXU – Piper Warrior III 1.1hr (11.8hr)

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Things to watch

1. Think about the wind direction when entering the run-up bay.
2. Make sure to stay on the ground frequency until ready for take off.
3. Watch the turn on to final (especially overshooting as this puts you in conflict with the aircraft landing on the parallel runway.)
4. DON’T push forward on the yoke once I’ve started the round out. Pause and wait for the plane to settle or go-around.
5. Make sure to keep my feet off the brakes while landing,
6. Relax on the flare (couple of times I yank the yoke back which caused the plane to balloon) Aim is for a smooth round out.

Lesson 7 – More stalls

31^st July 2011  VH-TXU

Back with my normal instructor this week and off to practice some more stalls and my radio calls.   I feel like I’m starting to get the preflight, start, taxi, and run-up, but there is always little few to improve next lesson.  Next week I want to focus on ; learning to to operate the transponder fully, making sure I have my “radio calls” cheat sheet with me for each flight, maintaining good taxi speeds.

Once cleared , we took-off and head straight for the turning area without issue.  (Need to watch my heading and height control, as well as making better use of the trim during the climb.)

Like last week we did our HASEL checks then a number of stalls. (couple of “clean” stalls with powered recovery, couple with no power recovery, and a few with flaps.) Again I’m surprised by how much back pressure I need to get into the full stall and how benign the plane behaviours when it does finally stall.  (review HASEL checklist,  don’t be timid pulling back, Power then retract my flaps)

All too soon, it’s time to head back to Moorabbin via Carrum.  By the time we get to Carrum We need to be at 1500ft.  To do that we start descending from 3500ft around Cranbourne (2000ft @ 500ft/min requires 4 mins, @ 100kts GS = approx  7nm). 

Before I get to Carrum I need to check the ATIS on 120.9 and swap to the West tower (123.0).  It’s worth doing this early, so I can get a chance to listen to any another aircraft making their inbound calls. (Thus building situational awareness of the other aircraft).  Finally we need to switch the transponder from 1200 to squawk 3000 and call the tower.  “Moorabbin tower, Warrior TXU, Received <ATIS>, Carrum One thousand five hundred, Inbound.”

As I’ll be starting circuits soon, Jason gives me an introduction to “landings”.  We a doing a straight in approach, so first we need to get down to pattern altitude 1000ft (before we reach 3nm) and do the pre-landing checks (Will cover these in my circuits post), set up the descent, power back, flaps, attitude, & speed. If we  get a bit low add power and if too high reduce it. Finally the flare and landing.    This is going to take some practice.  (I’ve got a million thinks going through my head and felt way behind the plane.  Need to relax )

Another great lesson with the promise of more fun to come.

Piper Warrior III VH-TXU,  Flight Time 1.2hr (Total 7.9 hrs)