Not posting!

Sorry I have not been posting! I have changed blogs to Tumblr which should make it more easy for me to update when I am on the move :D

I will post the link shortly!

I am still here!

Hey all,

I am still here and have filled the first page of my log book! I am going away for a few days and hope to get the blog up to date then!

Tom :d

18/8/09 - Flight 1

I have missed out a few flights on the blog sorry guys just been very busy! Anyway so far I have done around 7 hours! Today we would fly 2 hours needed to catch up on the flight time that I missed last week because of the bad weather!

Taxied out to the runway finally managing to keep to the yellow lines took off and started the flight out towards Sevenoaks then on to Southend so that we could do slow flight around the marsh areas where there is little population!

We did lots of slow flight bringing the speed back and discovering that this made the aircraft feel quite unstable the controls felt very loose and lots more input had to be apply ed for them to be effective good fun! Sun was blasting to the cabin was getting hot!

We then started to head back when we was 3NM deadside when a "MAYDAY" call came in over the radio I wont go into what happened etc there is a news report here. After that all got sorted out we started to join to land flying over the numbers, X wind, down wind , base, final starting to learn what the local areas look like and reference points to turn onto the final leg.

Touch down was quite smooth this time! The last lesson had been very bumpy!!

Next Lesson: Few hours

Air Law`

Have read the book twice now! - Got to now do the mock exams and see where I get with them! Air Law is quite dry though!

Rochester > Biggin

Well it was the return leg and my leg because the aircraft had been out of sight I needed to go back though the pre flight checks checking the outside of the aircraft and then configuring it once in we gave Rochester radio a call who let us taxi it was very odd taxing across a road which is used by cars! Once lined up on the runway I started rolling down it, very different to Biggin and Southends as it is all grass! After getting bumped around we reached 65 kts and I pulled back Bruno told me to aim for the tress (end of the runway there is a forest) this was so that we could build enough speed to clear them! Once airborne we did some more maneuvers slow flight etc and turning etc. Once we did all that we was close to Biggin hill and started to line up to land.

Flight Duration: 30 mins

Total flight time so far: 2:10

Southend to Rochester

Just a passenger on this flight to Rochester was good fun and I learnt a lot! We took off from Southend and headed to Rochester the exercises that Steven was doing was instrument he tuned into DET (Detling) VOR and looked at how it can be used to help if lost etc, also looked at ADF and what that can do to a lost pilot! We then started heading towards Rochester where Steve made a very nice and soft landing, and taxied to the parking. Got to go back up to the control tower the cafe was closed unfortunately.

Biggin > Southend

I arrived at the flying club and had a chat to Bruno about what we would be doing today, he proposed the idea of bringing the student who was going to be flying after me with us (I was then flying again after him) and that we fly to Southend then Steven would fly to Rochester and I would fly the leg home back to Biggin Hill. The exercises that we were going to do (EX 4+6)

• The primary effect of each main flight control



• Flying straight and level in balance at constant power.

I was surprised when Bruno handed me the keys and told me to do the external and internal checks in my own however I really enjoyed this, after climbing on top of wings to check the fuel levels and leaving the checklist up there! I continued around the aircraft checking all the lights were working as well at strobes, flaps etc. Once I had done that Steve had arrived and we discussed the route and exercises and then went out to the aircraft to get all sat in, after getting the aircraft started I made the call to the Tower, which was different to what I had been doing the day before.... I then taxied to the engine run up area the taxing is getting a bit better (i think) then ran the engine up to make sure it was all working how it was supposed to we then continued the taxi out to holding point Alpha One runway 21. We took off and started flying out to Sevenoaks climing to 2000 feet, once clear of Sevenoaks and Biggin Hills airspace we worked our way out towards Southend and on the way did some exercises we slowed the aircraft to 65 kts and increased power to stay level it felt odd because the nose needed to be pitched up to keep the speed at 65 we then did the same by pointing the nose down to get the speed up but maintain the height we then practiced making a few turns and continued flying towards Southend passing over some good sights along the way! Once we was at St Marys we gave approach a call who told us to position for a Right downwind which we did there was two other aircraft flying into the aerodrome which we could not see so had to continue to fly downwind until the 2nd one was well clear, turning onto final we lined up with the runway and a lot was happening trying to: line up, watch the speed, watch the height, listen out to the radio, look out for other traffic, descend think about using flaps, we used up 3/4 of the runway before touching down however it was my first landing and I felt that I more in control and "on my own" which was a good thing even though I did think we was going to have to "Go Around".

After clearing the runway we taxied off and cleaned up the aircraft and parked up, off to pay the £20 landing fee and grab a coffee! - All in all a good flight which I felt I had learnt loads from!

Next flight: Later that evening.

Wednesday 29th July 2009

Managed to get up!

We was scheduled to be flying at 0800 but the weather reports said that it looked like it was going to be bad weather during the early morning/afternoon. We had to pick the aircraft up from the maintenance company as it was having its 150 hour check. After going though the entire checklist checking the outside of the aircraft for spanners we checked the fuel for water etc etc and got in, powered the electrics up placed the key into the aircraft turned it... not a lot happened, the battery was flat had to get the maintenance guys out so we could be "jump started" finally got the aircraft started up and I made my first radio call... "G-BYEA request taxi to Alouette" we taxied back to the club and had a look at what the weather was doing and decided it looks good to go we called up again got permission to taxi out to the runway which we did as well as doing power checks on the way out etc. Once at the hold we got cleared for take off which we did we got up quite well the wind was blowing right down the runway!!.... getting airborne we routed to sevenoaks and then routed out of populated areas to do some training. I was amazed to find us experiencing rain one moment then sun then back to rain we could see that London was having rubbish weather but the south cost was in amazing sun! We got to our training area and started looking at what the effects of the controls did, we first did a roll to the right using rudder and aileron we made a nice turn right we did the same to the left we then try ed the same but with out using rudder to find out what that did we ended up in a spiral dive loosing height very quickly! Once had practiced this a number of times Bruno said that he would mess up the aircraft and I had to correct it we did about 5 of these then we did something I was not expecting the throttle was put to the max and we got our airspeed right up Bruno then pulled the nose straight up to about 20-40 degrees nose up (happened very fast) and told me to correct it on pushing the nose down and feeling "G" change we noticed that Biggin was captued in bad weather so practiced more turns before returning back to Biggin Hill!

All in all was good fun we was going to go up again but weather would not let us!

Next lesson: Today!

Another Weather Issue

Cant go flying as its now too windy!

Next lesson: Thurday - Poss
Friday - 1100

Dam Weather

Well another lesson has been cancelled because of the weather, Bruno said it would have been ok to have gone up but we would not have been able to see the horizon very well and this would have made the exorcises pointless.

Managed to get some ground school done!

Next lesson: Wednesday *prays*

Tom

Flying Eugeniu

Well yesterday I did not get to finish the blog about the day so here is part 2:

The next part of the day involved me going up with a student who had just passed there PPL of course Bruno came along too! We decided we would head to Bewl Water and back, I watched Eugeniu do the pre flight which was very interesting and I learnt a lot we then got into the aircraft and went though all the pre flight checks and got sat in the a/c. We managed to do the run up checks on the C hold (were we are meant to) then we taxied down to hold A1 runway 21, rolled down the runway made the left hand turn out after 2 miles and started flying towards Sevenoaks which was good fun! The flight there and back was very enjoyable and allowed me to learn the ATC "speak" and just get an idea of what was going on we passed over an a/c again I thought he was rather close! As well as a Helli we thought they both must have been going low to keep out of gatwicks control zone as they come into land at Redhill!

All in all... good fun!

Next Lesson: Tuesday

Biggin To Rochester In The Back!

Got a text from Bruno asking me if I was interested in a free seat with a PPL pilot, how could I say no? - I got to the flying club early and met the student before Bruno arrived and we chatted about his training etc he has got just over 45 hours (ish) and will be ready for the exam I think the aim of today was to make sure all was well after a bit of a brake from flying, he had decided that he wanted to go to Rochester for a land away. I did the walk around with the student which was good fun as it was the first walk around I had done on the C172. After checking the fuel, lowering the flaps, checking the aircraft would not full apart once air born we was ready to get strapped in and the sun had come out to shine!. We checked everything was working did the checklists and then started up and taxied out to the hold A1 runway 21. Because of a twin taking up the entire C taxi way asked Biggin App if we could do the power checks at A1 which the tower said sure :). Getting airborne we routed out to Sevenoaks and then direct to Rochester. Positioned on the downwind runway 20R (I think) maybe 16? and landed. Went to the Tower to pay the landing fees had all ready been in the Tower when I made my film but it was good to see the tower on a clear day! Went off to the cafe were Bruno invited me on another flight at 1430 which I was well up for going on (of course!) We enjoyed a cup of tea and had a chat then decided that we should start making our way back to Biggin, we got strapped in and started up taxied out to the runway and took off! After making a few turns we were on track to Biggin Hill, where during the downwind for runway 21 got quite close ( i thought anyway) to a Cessna 152 but we made it in a nice soft landing! - Back to the club where we shut down! A very enjoyable flight

Books and stuff!

Well I got my package today! It was all my flying books and stuff it came to £200! Included in the pack was.......

*Flight Computer>> Not like the one you are currently on ;) its a physical plastic complicated thing which I have no idea how to read
* 7 Flight Manuals - Some are 400 pages long!
*PPL Confuser - Has lots and lots of past papers
*Pooleys Flight Guide Book - Lists every single airport in the UK provides charts and stuff
*Log Book - For keeping track of flights I have one all ready so will use this as a back up one :D
*Chart - Huge map of my area
*Protractor - Come on you did GCSE maths :p
*Ruler - *obs*

So today I have been reading book 2 - Air Law.... book 1 covers the theory behind the practical flying.

Oh my lesson for today (wed) got cancelled the winds are well out of the a/c limits - again!

Next lesson - Next Tuesday!

Tom

Flying with henk

Flying with Henk was good fun and it was interesting to see how the PA28 is different to the Cessna 172. The PA28 which we flew had a GPS, something the C172 does not. The aircraft gave a lot more of a kick too. We decided to stay in the circuit because the TAF was saying to expect 26 kts winds this is over the Piper’s limits. Taxiing out from Cabair was interesting we had to cross 29 and taxi from one end of the airfield to the other. Once airborne turned right onto the cross wind leg and flew down the downwind was amazing to see the sights of Biggin Hill and not be concentrating on flying. The thing is the aircraft was a bit slow but it was going off for a service tomorrow which probably explained why we did a hard landing to account for the wind which was picking up. We then taxied back to Cabair, a short flight but enjoyable. Helped me get more used to the feeling of the air.






-- Post From My iPhone

Hour 1

We went out and did a walk around of the aircraft, we looked at the flight controls this is all stuff which I knew about from stuff I had done with scouts. We then got into the aircraft! This was interesting I managed to find a comfortable position to fly in and it was time to do the checks. We primed the engine and set the mixture up, he then asked me to start the engine by turning the key around to start which engaged the starter and the aircraft sprung into life. We checked out the ATIS and called up for taxi "G-BOTI- Taxi holding point A1 runway 21" he gave me permission to taxi the aircraft so I taxied the aircraft out onto A. We got to the engine run-up area where we did our power checks all went well! Taxied back onto A and continued around to A1, we got cleared for take off I lined the aircraft up on the runway and applied full power coming past 60 kts I pulled the yoke very slowly back and like magic! We lifted into the air climbing at about 600 feet per minute we flew in a straight line so we avoided Biggin Hill village, 2 miles later I got told by Bruno to start a left turn we flew out towards the Dartford Bridge then flew over the river and around the London City control zone - Was amazing! We then had a look at turning the aircraft and making the aircraft fly slow and fast clime and descend. By then it had been 45 minutes so we returned back to Biggin Hill making a left base for runway 21 Touched down and back to the club!

Next lesson - Wednesday 1300 Local

Tom

Lesson Booked

After some confusion with the weather etc I have now booked a lesson for Friday at 1800L - G-BYEA

What Aircraft?

Alouette has 2 aircraft which they fly on on:

Cessna 172 (C172) - G-BYEA
Piper Tommahawk PA38 (PA38) - G-BMTO

I have decided to learn on the C172 I prefer it for a number of reasons the first being that it is a lot newer then the 38 and more likley to be somthing which I fly once I have my PPL. The C172 is also a lot faster it has a 160HP engine where the PA38 only has a 112HP engine, the range on the C172 is about 790 miles the PA38 is 471

Decided

So after visiting Biggin Hill airfare and finding the flying school Alouette I am going to book a trial lesson with them today and hopfully meet up with one of the instructors.... also flying next weekend with Henk!! Lets hope the METAR next week will match todays!

The Task

I have made this document which shows all the flying schools.... well most one of the school was not open when I visited it and have not replyed to my email...

I think it is going to be EFG I go with....

See the next blog EFG VS Classair

Cabair

Looking at reviews of this flying school they seem to be seen as the best they are world known and do lots of licence types, atpl cpl ppl both (a) and (h) they also do IR

When I went into the school the bulding was very nice there was a student doing there rt oral which was interesting to see I was then introduced to very polite person who answered all my questions and went though in deep detail what I would do during my training.

When I was quoted the total cost I allmost passed out, £12,000 I was expecting the flying to come to no more then £10k will have to do a pro/cost table of all the flying schools now I have visited them and come to a desision

-- Post From My iPhone

Allouette

When I visited the club there was no one arround, however I was told that there would only be people arround if flying was happening/ or is it was a club night. Will drop them an email


-- Post From My iPhone

Biggin visit

Off topic I know but still .... Went to Biggin today put the Cubs in a cessna 152 and I was right it gave me the flying bug even more as of a weeks time I will choose what flight school I am using then it is time to find a job and start learning I am hoping to get quite a few hours in during the summer let's hope and see what happens ,....

On way to Biggin

Well I am off to Biggin hill to do the cub badge and helping a scout compleate his this should be interesting going in and out of aircraft just makes me want to fly more will visit Cabair and EFG today then I need to decide what school I am going to go to ....

Dam

Did not manage to visit EFG or Cabair Henk said they would be really busy and I should come on tgursday so I can get a real feel for the places so I will pop up on Thursday who knows might see some a/c practasinf for the airshow

Off to Biggin again

I am off to Biggin hill again this weekend on both days on Saturday I am doing a tour not a lot more on the Sunday I will be doing a badge a lot of fun it seems every time I do the badge I with a group of kids I more want to fly! Think I will try and visit cab air and EFG

RT

I managed to get hold of the ppl training disks amazing they are made by transair I did the rt (radio) mock and managed to get 90% I have a film studys exam next week so I will revice for them and then I will start learning the ppl exams there are quite a few to get threw

CAA

Well I phoned the caa medicle department today I was supprised to find out that they only have one medicle advicer but still ... They said that I should not have any issues with getting the medicle I have to send them a letter explaning my situation to them so will get that in the post tomorrow some time

Odd news

Well today I have to phone the caa and check that I will be able to pass my medicle even though I had a hole in my heart. I am sure that it will be

Another good review

Well today I got another personal message on the pilot forum PPRUNE saying how much this student enjoyed being a member of Classair he also mentioned the other inductors I am starting to notice a trend here... Not one bad word said about Classair but quite a few about another schools on the airfield. We shall see what this weekend brings when I visit cabalr and EFG. I then think I will make my dessision about what school I want to do the ppl with

Mock RT Exam

Well I managed to obtain the oxford avation PPL training disks and thought that I would have a go at a few mock PPL ground exam... I did the RT one and managed to get 90% (pass is 75%) so I am happy and feeling confident about that! Once my last few exams are over I am going to hit the books and start learning the PPL stuff... should prove to be interesting.....

Surrey And Kent Flying Club

This club was interesting to visit! There was a lot more people in the club house however the weather had been bad that day so that could be why Classair had particularly low numbers. I spoke to someone at the desk who was very helpful and went though all the exams that are needed to be sat and all the flying tests! - EFG and Cabair left to visit now!

Classair

Well I was helping out at Biggin Hill Airport (KB) today and decided that I would pop into Classair… I am really REALLY glad that I did. I met with an instructor who I believe was the CFI, her name was Iris…. Someone told me that she had over 8000 flying hours and she seemed like she was in her job to teach others… (Not to do some instructing till an airline offers a job – Most schools do this) She showed me the PA38 and the C172. (Shown below!) I must admit they both have good things and bad thing I felt a bit cramped in the C172. The PA38 is apparently enjoyed a lot by young learners I loved the huge amount of viewing that there was in this aircraft (inc the roof)…

The Decision

Well after having lots of expernce at Biggin Hill airport and going for P2 flights with people I decided that it was time to formally learn my self. I have made contact with all the schools at the airfield and will be visiting them over the next few weeks. Lets see what happens….