RossK

Well, reality bites! 3rd Solo yesterday and a flaw in my landings became an issue yesterday. I've been having a bit of an issue keeping the plane straight after getting it on the ground. Initial phase of landing and touch down are fine, its the bit immediately after that I was having issues with, ie all wheels on the ground, veering right then harder left as I over corrected. After a couple of landings where I explored both sides of the strip I pretty much lost the last one and exited the strip to the left, hard left! taking a marker cone with me. At no stage was I fearful of getting hurt, more worried about bending the plane. So this morning, back at it with the instructor doing dual circuits. We did a debrief and review of yesterdays circuits and landings and what I though I was doing right and wrong. Early on we worked out that I've been so focussed on getting the plane down smoothly that it was unlikely that I was looking up to the end of the strip, just keeping my eyes fixed about 10m in front of the nose. So we did a couple of landings with a determined effort to look to the end of the strip just at the hold off. The touch downs were heavier than last weeks solos, but the thing just tracked down the middle of the strip. So now I'm back to working on my landings for the next lesson or 2, working on my flare and hold off. Better now than later. Cheers Ross

I thought it would be soon, as my instructor said I need to do my pre- solo exam this week. So this morning, before we fly, he hands me the exam and says " do this , then we fly" So I do the exam, pass and off we go. Did a few circuits, some very average landings which had me thinking not today, not with landings like those. Last circuit he says, make it a full stop and take us back the office. So I do that, knowing no solo today and lay it on the strip like a feather, best landing to date and taxi back. Do all my shut down checks and switch off. He gets out and says, "do all your checks and then one circuit, I'll wait here!" and shuts the door! Checks done, taxi, run-ups, enter and rolling and airborne! Just like that! Neat circuit, but too high initially, this Jab climbs well with only one person. Final going well, almost down, transition and float, and float and balloon, and float and aw crap. Full throttle, go around and do it again. Radio call - go around. Another neat circuit, but again too high initially. Good approach, good speed, gentle transition, hold off, and gently touch down! I so much wanted to open the throttle and go again, but I let it roll out and turned off the strip, called clear, and cleaned up. First Solo - DONE! Cheers, Ross

You land in the first paddock. The lone cow in the second paddock is probably a Bull.

So I'm up to 6.6hrs to date and into circuits now. First circuits were crosswinds, had my instructor laughing and apologising at the same time. At the end of the lesson, his comment was, "well it looks like we can still use it (the plane), so not too bad". Those Jabs are pretty tough. I will admit I'm surprised at how much coordination is required, and how things get out of shape really quickly. I'm starting to use my feet better, not great, but better, but it's taken a while. Luckily my instructors reactions are quick (i'm sure they all are), I can count 2 landings and 2 take-offs that I wouldn't have walked away from on my own. I've initiated 2 go-arounds, which my instructor said was the right call, he could have landed them but was happy with my decision. Having a ball, got some landings today and did some flapless and glide approaches. Cheers Ross.

Well I survived , booked another 6 lessons over the next 4 weeks. Hooked! Actually got to land it (with some assistance I'm sure ), wasn't pretty, but I'm still here. Cheers. Ross

Hi All, 0 Hours! First lesson booked for Wednesday, pretty excited. Thanks for a great forum, so much information which has helped me decide which route to take. Plan for me is RPC, the Passenger endo then XC endo. Ross