Stewy

Thanks again for the kind words. The way my CFI did the test certainly eased any nerves but he has always said when you are ready you are ready and no use going to do it again just to fatten his pocket. He has been terrific has taken me for about 6 hrs flying that he didn't charge me for because he was going anyhow so got to experience some cross country which was great. Cant weight to start navs etc when time arrives the learning just dosnt stop! Stewy

Thanks everyone cant wait to go and have a fly as a Pilot within 25nm and have a good look around and practice all that I have been taught. It has been a great experience so far and have been lucky to have such a great CFI who just loves talking about flying and is only to happy to sit down and have a chat with a coffee and answer any of my silly questions. Stewy

Went for a fly today and get back to hanger and CFI puts his hand out and says well done that was a good job. Say thanks and go inside for cuppa and ask about what we have to do next. He says get certificate forms and fill em out and then I finally twig that I have just passed my flight test:clap: New I was close to doing it but didn't let me know before we took off just told me that you just did everything you need to do and you did it well enough for me to prove you are capable! Add one more very happy pilot to the sky's Stewy

Well after completing time doing solo circuits time came to start doing some work in the training area. Monday we left circuit and rejoined etc, wouldn't recon a few new radio calls would get you out sync so easy! Tuesday did the same and after first re join of circuit instructor said let me out and you have ago on your own!, that was something I wasn't expecting but took off again for training area climbed to 2500 and cruised around training area for a few minutes, actually started to feel like a pilot out thee on my own!!!. Rejoined down wind landed and got out with another big grin on face.:big_grin: Stewy

Yeh David certainly is a great way ti finish the day! Got to have another go last night to with more wind etc everything went nicely again so now we are ready to head out of the circuit to training area again and rejoing circuit etc. That will be good as it think I might have forgot how to turn right after so many left hand circuits!!! Stewy

Go to have another fly yesterday evening. Finished work about 5 and thought the wind didn't look to bad about 10 knts cross wind on 08 and thought there would be a chance of it dying down a bit as the evening went on. Caught up with instructor and he said yeh lets give it a go with cross winds and if you are not comfortable we will come back to hanger. (Great having a flexible instructor that don't have to book time with) Did a couple of circuits with him and all went well and he said see ya your fine I am getting out! Did 2 more solo and was very pleased with it all not perfect but pretty good, must be learning something! All in all great .7 of flying had nice way to finish a day at work. Stewy

Well after the high of my first solo have had to endure more than a week of crud weather and have not been able to get back up. Finally today the weather gods smiled again and got to do some more solo circuits. My first solo circuit was better than todays which was disappointing but they were still successful and the plane is still usable. But the buzz was still nearly as good as the first Stewy

Well done had the same experience myself today it certainly is a thrill They do climb a lot faster don't they with only one up

Thanks Dave they certainly do climb well with only one up thats why I think it only felt like halve a circuit as it just did everything quicker. Thought I was just putting a bit of back pressure on to take weight of nose wheel for take off and up she went!! Yes fair to say I have a bit of a grin, the landing went well could of held of for a bit longer but 8/10 I reckon (could be biased opinion though)! Stewy

Well the weather finally worked in my favor this morning and I completed my first Solo:clap: All went according to plan which was good only thing that caught me by surprise was how much more responsive the J160 was with only me in it! I thought I was ready for it but it took of so much quicker and climbed so much faster I really only did halve a circuit it felt like! But i now know why every body gets this big grin going after completing that fist solo:big_grin: Stewy

Well done Dave great feeling I am sure My instructor told me a couple of weeks ago that I should be right to have a go a my first solo after flying in perfect weather for the last week or so, just see what the weather is like tomorrow! That was about 2 weeks ago and still waiting! Bloody wind won't go away but hopefully soon. Stewy

Yeh mt beauty is a good 1/2 hour away as you have to go over the hills. The strip at bright I think is for the landing of hang gliders as they fly form the hill that is near it. Don't quote me on that but I think it is right. Have not flown into any of them but have been there several times in the snow season and to my knowledge nothing at Bright to land on. Stewy

Went up for a quick fly this evening did 4 circuits and had the best run in the air so far. All landings were good and felt like it all is starting to fall into place. Amazing how when you get the start of the circuit right it flows through to the end. Had my first go at engine failure on take off the other day gee that puts the wind up ya the first time around don't it!!!! CFI tells me to study up on pre solo test over the next week while away mmm time will tell I suppose. Still having a ball though Stewy

Oops bet the boss was a bit grumpy after that

Yeh Rach you are right there it was great to get the feeling of doing one right, felt like I was improving every time but it just wasn't quite happening until yesterday. Still managed to stuff a couple up after that but nice to know you can actually do it right. Heading back up this arvo so we will see if it was a fluke or not I spose, a little bit more wind out there today so will keep me from getting to far ahead of myself.

Had another .8 in the air this arvo. Yep circuits again, come in for first landing and all of sudden it all falls into place, turn to final good, speed good, height good, approach good, and touch down with just a slight bump woo hoo now that has to be close to a good landing I think. Instructor quietly says nice job:clap:. Come on back up he says, do another 5 circuits some landings pretty good and one not so but I think I have now worked out a lot more out about the art of landing. Still have a lot to go but nice to finally get some right:)

Up again this morning for some more circuits 10kt cross wind certainly made life a bit more interesting! Glad instructor was in with me managed to frighten XXXX out of myself on the first take off when we shot across the runway heading for the grass oops. Instructor just calmly fixed the problem and had a little chuckle but I certainly didn't think it was funny for a start, apparently got a dose of the wheelbarrow thing happening:blush: After settling the nerves down again managed to make it look like hard work but got lots out of it and still had a great morning flying

Yes Yenn it was much more fun than doing circuits I dont know about being better for me as I am to new to this game to comment just happy to be up there. But having to change course to dodge some weather, fly lower to stay under cloud and in general just getting to see a different perspective on flying was great and valuable experience.

Well back up today after a couple of weeks out of the cockpit,(Too bloody long this flying is addictive !). Was thinking we were going for some circuits but instructor asked if I had time to go over to Echuca and pick up a plane that he had to service for their Areo club. Couple of quick phone calls re work and we were off! So got to have 1.5hrs in the cockpit a couple of take offs and a couple of landings and ask a heap of questions and best of all he didn't even charge me as he was going anyhow:clap: Only got to fly the same type of plane (Both J160) but cant complain about that and managed to get the hang of the steering with the feet etc a bit more as well and landed not to bad Stewy

Ahh went up this morning again at first light, what a morning for flying no wind clear sky's who would want to be in bed! There is light at the end of tunnel I think! Wont go as fare as saying I mastered the landings etc but started to get the feeling of how this should all fall into place and have now got the confidence that this will all come together in the near future. Bloody feet and hands don't talk to each other still every now and then but we are improving. Skippy still found his way onto the runway a couple of times with me getting a bit excited a bit to early during a couple of nice looking approaches and pulling back to hard to early but hey you pay money to ride roller coaster rides to so took it as having twice the fun!! although frustrating so close yet so far. Still having a ball though Stewy

Thanks for that burbles will check them out

I am heading to Darwin on the weekend and would like to take me and the missus for a flight around the area. Anyone know of ant good charter operations in Darwin Thanks Stewy

Ah we will get there Tomo not hard when you enjoy something But have decided early that once you take off landing a is compulsory subject that you need to pass:laugh: Nice to know that others share the same problems though. Instructor reckons it took him ages to master as well so that gives us all hope I spose Stewy

He he Gerry yeah a bit starts to happen on that turn to base hey. flaps carby heat(usually forget that bugger back to cold) turn to final line the bloody runway up try and think what I haven't done fly of course again straighten back need power to get there oh bit more flap oh to fast etc etc. But still bloody good fun though Stewy

Went up again this morning still managed some of the same mistakes, managed to iron out a few others and then stuff those up next time around and fix the others! Landed a couple not bad though:big_grin: You are right Big pete he is great and we have a great time in the process. I am slowly getting the hang of it some times frustrating but never not enjoyable, will get there with some more time. Stewy