After a hiatus of 6 weeks while the Olympic airspace restrictions were in full force, I was finally able to go back up on 18th August. The weather could not have been more perfect for the exercise no pilot can ever forget.
Exercise 14 only appears in the log book once. It's the first time you solo. Despite having been doing all of the flying myself for the last few times, there's still the fact that my instructor is sat right next to me in case I do something daft, but if she thinks I'm ready to go then I'm going.
We started the day with half an hour in the circuit dual, practicing some normal approaches, and then after 3 approaches and touch-and-goes, she asked me to land full stop and pull off the runway. "Would you like a go on your own?"
After a bit of paperwork and emergency briefings for engine fire on the ground, in the air and EFATO, a check of my valid medical and that I have passed Air Law, she jumped out and sent me off with a cheery "Enjoy!"
I pulled up near the hold and re-did my power checks, before calling the radio room with my new callsign "Student, Golf-Bravo Hotel Echo Charlie, ready for departure two two left". With a perfect 5kt headwind, I lined up, pushed the throttle forwards for full power, and at 55kts rotated and left the ground on my own in an plane! I talked myself through the entire circuit, giving a dull running commentary to an empty plane, and just 10 minutes later, I was calling "Student, Golf Echo Charlie final full stop". After a smooth landing, I pulled off the runway and received a call from the radio room "Student Golf Echo Charlie, welcome to the club!"
Exercise 14 only appears in the log book once. It's the first time you solo. Despite having been doing all of the flying myself for the last few times, there's still the fact that my instructor is sat right next to me in case I do something daft, but if she thinks I'm ready to go then I'm going.
We started the day with half an hour in the circuit dual, practicing some normal approaches, and then after 3 approaches and touch-and-goes, she asked me to land full stop and pull off the runway. "Would you like a go on your own?"
After a bit of paperwork and emergency briefings for engine fire on the ground, in the air and EFATO, a check of my valid medical and that I have passed Air Law, she jumped out and sent me off with a cheery "Enjoy!"
I pulled up near the hold and re-did my power checks, before calling the radio room with my new callsign "Student, Golf-Bravo Hotel Echo Charlie, ready for departure two two left". With a perfect 5kt headwind, I lined up, pushed the throttle forwards for full power, and at 55kts rotated and left the ground on my own in an plane! I talked myself through the entire circuit, giving a dull running commentary to an empty plane, and just 10 minutes later, I was calling "Student, Golf Echo Charlie final full stop". After a smooth landing, I pulled off the runway and received a call from the radio room "Student Golf Echo Charlie, welcome to the club!"
